The Ethersmith [Runesmithing Progression Fantasy]

"Evacuate?" Vivi asked, voice hazy.

Coshi tapped her finger repeatedly on the table. "We've tried to contact the Exalted Knights, mercenaries—anyone who would be interested in clearing a few storms for free. Typically, whenever Shivenar has been too weak to survive storm season, fighters all around rush in to earn what ether they can. This time, however… Well, take a look for yourself."

Coshi flicked a switch, and the large map shifted to a landscape Vivi had not yet seen before. Most of the map was covered in dark lava-filled environments, but there were livelier biomes as well. Snow, forests, mountains, as well as cities, roads, railroads. The map looked even more lived in than the fifth.

And of course, the map was filled with red dots.

"The sixth level is even worse than the fifth," Coshi said. "The Exalted Knights are struggling to defend their own goddamned cities! Not to mention, three of them are stationed on the fourth level to deal with the tsunami threat. I hear they've succeeded in preventing that disaster, but in turn, look at this."

The map flickered twice more, this time to a grassy landscape. "The eighth level," Coshi said. "The calmest level of all. There's nothing but grass and more grass. No storms, no surges. It's a calm zone in between levels. The place where retired hunters settle down for a calm life."

The eighth level, too, was filled with red dots. Coshi frowned at a section of the map. The grassy landscape was broken by a line of stone. The sight reminded Vivi of the wastelands of the fourth level, though this place appeared even less lively.

"This is a recent rendition," Coshi said. "The stripe of stone you see resulted from a tsunami. A real tsunami, one that destroyed grass, eating the soil, leaving the eighth level with nothing but its levelstone. Thousands are already dead, and I don't think the towns were evacuated."

She turned to Vivi, who stood in place, unsure of what she should have been saying. None of this seemed real.

Coshi sighed. "We chose a bad time in history to be born, it seems. The Age Of Typhoons started precisely five thousand years ago. The age when the world was coated with ether to the point that even levelstone couldn't resist reanimating. Looks like something similar is happening now. This amount of storms just isn't normal."

She flicked the map back to the fifth level. For a while, they just stared at it. More text appeared on the device. "I am currently negotiating an evacuation path," Coshi said. "Fenlor's Fortress on the sixth level has room for around forty thousand refugees. Just enough for all of Shivenar. No one is willing to assist in escorting the citizens, but if we do make it there, we might have shelter."

Slowly, Vivi began to understand the implications behind Coshi's words. "But… There's no need to evacuate. We're building a weapon to defeat colossi! We can defend the city!"

Coshi snorted, an amused smile on her face. "Sure, Vivi, we can try. And we'll all quickly die. We're not just dealing with reanimated mountains and colossi here. Without preparations—ether sticks and host bones, which we do not have for twenty-seven storms—ether is going to flow rampantly, spawning bosses. Sand bombards and wyverns, golems, colossi, probably godslayers straight from the abyss. You could craft us a ten-runed sword, Vivi, and we still wouldn't compete. You cannot shoot godslayers with missiles, as powerful as your weapons have proven themselves."

Godslayers? Vivi thought. She vaguely remembered the name of that specific monster category. Goslayers were rarely talked about on the surface. The teens of Fellwater dreamt of defeating dragons and twilight monsters. The types of monsters that looked cool and grand. Godslayers, however, were an apocalyptic monster category. The type of monster that spawned from the worst surge hazards if something seriously went wrong.

"Godslayers are essentially humanoid monsters," Lucius said. "They're concentrated balls of ether, like Iszul with his full aura out. Except there's no demon or human beneath. Just more ether."

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"So, the city will just be left out to die?" Vivi asked. "The ancient city of runesmithing? After all we've built, it'll just disappear?"

"'The will of the surge the demons obey,'" Coshi said, quoting something. "Our homes are mere twigs in front of true fear, Vivi. Ether commands, and we will follow. The fifth level is not safe. We are lucky if we manage to evacuate."

Another but wanted to blurt out from Vivi's mouth, but she bit her lip instead. We can defeat the storms, she thought. I know we can. If we improve the ballistas… if I learn to wield exalted ascension skills…

An ethereal aura showed up in her sixth sense behind the doors. Vivi's head rose, recognizing the aura immediately. The doors burst open, and the arrogant steps of the fourth knight resounded across the room.

Iszul was not in a good mood. Each step was fueled by annoyance. He walked straight to the opposite end of the long table and faced Coshi. "You have called me, Lady Insight."

Coshi went into her usual pose, chin resting on her hands. Vivi took a subtle step back, then stood by the sides, as if she was a statue.

"If you are asking me to defeat the storms for you, I am afraid I cannot," Iszul said. "And you know this."

"Shivenar is evacuating," Coshi said. "We're not crazy. We would, however, like to live." She flicked the map back to the sixth level. "I called you because evacuation itself is proving to be a problem."

"Ah," Iszul said, a frown forming. "You wish for me to escort your people."

"Yes," Coshi said. "Precisely that. Fenlor's fortress has the capacity. The problem is these three storms."

Coshi pointed at the map. Ether gathered in her finger, and a beam of light extruded from within, showing as a small orb on the map. She pointed at a connection between the fifth and sixth level underneath Shivenar, leading to the dark lava biome. From there, a path of a few hundred miles led to the closest city: Fenlor's Fortress. Multiple red dots had gathered near the path, one exactly on it.

"If Shivenar is to evacuate now, the storms between cities will break right on time to catch us within the eye of the typhoon," Coshi said. "If we leave later, the storms near Shivenar will have destroyed our walls, and we will die. Our only hope is to clear our way through at least one storm."

Iszul didn't look impressed. He faced Coshi coldly. "I've been told not to assist you with this, Luminary."

Coshi's eyebrows rose.

"Evacuating each and every citizen of Shivenar is inefficient," Iszul said. "Fenlor's Fortress will prioritize shelter for Ingfried's valued citizens. The aforementioned storms will not be dealt with upon breaking. The knights will lay ether sticks, after which we will leave the storm be, concentrating our defenses at city walls."

Coshi's voice was quiet but stern. "Surely the knights can spare men to clear a storm before an evacuation of thirty-seven thousand people."

"We will not," Iszul said. "My personal recommendation is to gather your valuables, your nobles, and your most influential personnel. Evacuate them past the storms. Fenlor will accept you."

The Luminary was silent for a moment. "You're telling me to abandon my city. With the people inside."

"Abandonment is by far our best option," Iszul said. "Shivenar is important. But not crucial. Many cities will fall during this storm season. It's impossible to keep every peasant alive. The losses will hurt, but we will rebuild."

"It's thirty-seven thousand people, Iszul," Coshi said. "And not slum children either. These are people with lives and families."

"The will of the surge the demons obey," Iszul said. "Shivenar has been chosen to die."

Coshi's eyebrow twitched at that. Vivi hadn't seen her look so angry in a long while. Her foot took half a step subconsciously back, in case a fight broke out.

"Very well, Iszul," Coshi said calmly. "Thank you for your insight. You may leave us."

Iszul stood still, not moving. His eyes turned to Vivi. "One more thing," Iszul said. "This girl, Elizabeth. She is Vivian Runeblessed."

Vivi flinched back. Lucius cursed in Vivi's head, his instincts flaring warnings. Coshi was frowning now.

"For a Zand escapee, you've found remarkable success and achievements, young miss," Iszul said. His arms were crossed, but he looked stern more than hostile. "Ingfried will accept you in his hall for a hearing of your crimes."

"Will you arrest me?" Vivi asked.

"You are a millionaire, a runesmith, and a strong fighter," Iszul said. "As long as you aren't deemed a threat to empyrean rule, leniency will be allowed. Ingfried will accept you in his halls. You qualify to meet him personally. Considering this city will fall, I expect to see you in Noxyn soon."

Thanks, but no, Vivi thought, a sick feeling in her stomach. She bowed to show that she was very much honored.

Iszul turned for the door. On his way out, he said, "Zand's prisoners will be left in Shivenar. They will die as casualties of storm season. Let us meet in Fenlor's Fortress, Lady Insight."

His footsteps echoed as he stepped out. He left the doors open. Coshi stared at his back, until his head disappeared underneath the stairway, and the room became silent.