The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Rep and Zalan took their seats across from Madam Hikma. Rep breathed deeply, seeming nervous to Zalan. Zalan was mostly at ease. He could accept whatever kinds of answers he would get. He just hoped that Rep would be equally amicable to whatever Madam Hikma could have to share. Madam Hikma held back a yawn. Zalan wanted to get out before he made her any more tired. He already knew the line behind them would be hours' worth of questions for her to answer.

"How are you feeling, Madam Hikma?" Rep asked, placing two gold coins on the table as a donation.

"I am fine, how are you?" Madam Hikma replied sweetly, her smile climbing to her eyes.

"We're good," Zalan replied. "I'm ready to accept. I think. That was what you said that I had to do when I first asked for a way back home, right? I need to accept? Is that supposed to mean that I need to accept that I'm stuck in this realm or a different acceptance?"

Madam Hikma looked excited for a moment, true energy fueling her body. She sat up straighter and regarded Zalan with enthusiasm.

"Good! Excellent! I am happy for you, Zalan," she said sincerely.

"Thanks… It wasn't easy," Zalan admitted.

"I am sure. I am sorry about your mother," Madam Hikma said.

Tears welled up from nowhere, stinging in the back of Zalan's eyes. He nodded to her, accepting her condolences silently. Rep turned and realized that Zalan wasn't going to continue speaking when he wiped his eyes.

"We were wondering if there was still a means for Zalan to go back home," Rep said. "With the Homeseeker or otherwise."

"It is nice to hear a question that does not involve Elementals that are no longer living," Madam Hikma mentioned to Sholou. Sholou nodded in agreement.

Madam Hikma scanned Zalan with her Artifact-infused eye. She nodded slowly, her lips curved upward. Then, her smile waned and she seemed a little appalled by what she saw.

"Everything okay?" Zalan asked.

"I see a new Artifact on your person. One you earned from the Mind of Madness," Madam Hikma said cautiously. "May I see it?"

Zalan nodded, pulled the Artifact from his pocket, and placed it on the table. The small black eyeball with a red pupil rolled slightly on the wood, then came to a halt. Zalan noticed that Madam Hikma leaned away from it. He and Rep waited for her to speak. She continued to stare at it, her eyes narrowing the more she focused.

"That Artifact is the Oculus of Annihilation," Madam Hikma declared. "A very powerful Artifact."

Rep leaned forward, nodding for more information. Madam Hikma shook her head slightly.

"I am concerned that Zalan will intend to use it once he knows what it does," Madam Hikma said.

"Well, I definitely wouldn't use it without knowing what it does," Zalan joked, trying to bring some levity.

Madam Hikma did not smile. It made Zalan feel more concerned about the Artifact.

"Madam Hikma, please," Rep said.

Madam Hikma sighed and nodded.

"The Oculus of Annihilation can be used to destroy anything on any living thing. But it destroys something belonging to both the user and its target. The user will lose the same thing they intend to destroy," Madam Hikma said.

Zalan thought about it for a few seconds.

"So, like, I can use it to take off someone's arm, but I'd have to lose my own?" Zalan asked, rubbing his forearm lightly.

"Precisely," Madam Hikma nodded. "An arm for an arm… Or a life for a life."

The words hung in the air for a second. Rep looked over at Zalan, an intensity in his eyes.

"What?" Zalan asked

"How do you intend to use it?" Rep asked.

"I don't know, I just learned how it works!"

Rep eyed him, then turned back to Madam Hikma. Madam Hikma continued to stare at the Oculus of Annihilation. Slowly, Zalan reached out and picked it up. He tucked it away in his pocket, Madam Hikma watching closely as he did so.

"What about the other matter of getting Zalan home?" Rep asked.

"Well, I have seen something that may facilitate that, but after what I have learned, I believe it is an impossible feat," Madam Hikma said.

Rep was at the edge of his seat, scooting forward even further. Zalan could see the eagerness in every inch of his posture.

"Anything! We must know all the avenues!" Rep said.

"It requires you to use the Homeseeker, but with additions to enhance the Artifact," Madam Hikma said.

Zalan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He pulled out the Homeseeker to get a better look at it.

"The way home still needs me to use the Homeseeker?" Zalan asked.

"Indeed."

"And what kind of enhancement must be done to the Artifact?" Rep followed up.

"There are slots on the side of the Homeseeker. Small slits that look no larger than a coin's width. You must insert a Ring of Range into each slot. It will increase the range that it considers when sending users back home. Most users never need it to search beyond the realm, but Zalan requires much enhancement. You will require six different Rings of Range to reach your destination. But I am afraid that is impossible. A single Ring of Range is rare enough. Six would be a one-in-a-lifetime find," Madam Hikma said sadly.

Zalan frowned in consternation. Rep looked at him expectantly, an excited look in his eyes.

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"We have seen more than that in one place before!" Rep said, excited.

"Really? Where? Castle Docrun or something?" Zalan looked up in thought.

"No! Morloch wore eight on his hands!" Rep answered, wiggling his fingers.

"Oh, yeah, I totally forgot about that." Zalan smiled.

"Morloch the Manipulator?" Sholou gasped suddenly.

"Yeah, that guy."

"He is a powerful one. More powerful than anyone alive. Something written out of a legend. He has gone on a killing spree, killing all Elementals that the people are aware of," Madam Hikma informed them.

"Yes, we are aware," Rep nodded.

Madam Hikma and Sholou shot one another a confused glance.

"You are?" Madam Hikma asked.

"We talked to some people outside," Zalan said. "Plus we know how strong he is since we fought him before."

"He has only become more powerful," Madam Hikma said gravely.

"So, all we have to do is get his rings and I have a way back home?" Zalan asked, ignoring her somber tone.

"We tried to defeat him once before," Rep reminded him.

"Yeah, but I thought about that. Last time Madam Hikma gave us advice about it, she said that we would be able to overcome him so long as I fought him with my friends. I only fought with one friend. I just gotta make another friend and we can take him on," Zalan said.

"Finnegan?" Rep suggested.

"Nah, he's more of an acquaintance."

"What do you think of Gorb?"

"Yeah, Gorb's a good pick. But I think he's retired," Zalan said thoughtfully. He turned to Madam Hikma. "Anything you can tell us about Morloch, specifically? Do you know what Level he is? Any of his stats?"

"I do not. I know that he will be found in Aetheria. And I have seen something new since we last spoke… If Zalan fights him again, you will both lose everything," Madam Hikma said sagely, bowing her head sadly.

Rep and Zalan looked at one another in thought.

"It sounds vague enough that it might work out for us." Zalan shrugged.

"Yes, perhaps she means you will lose all every hair on your head," Rep nodded.

"Or all our money. Do you think Morloch has more gold than us?"

"I am doubtful. Perhaps you will both lose your lack of foresight! That seems to come up in everything you do," Rep said.

Zalan began to laugh and Rep sat back in his chair, satisfied with himself.

Madam Hikma stared in wonder at the two of them. She hadn't realized how much these two men had grown when they weren't in her presence. They were ready to take on Morloch, the same man who betrayed them and showed them his immense power. It was a complete turnaround from the last time they spoke.

"You two are very calm about this dire situation," Madam Hikma said, curious.

"I mean, maybe we are," Zalan reflected. "But, it helps when I think about the last time you told me we were going up against him. You said we could succeed. Well, when you related the Guidance Gem you said it—and I quote—'offers nothing but certainty on this matter.' So long as I take him on with friends."

Rep smiled to himself. He didn't think Zalan had registered Madam Hikma's words on their last visit on account of his mental state.

"And now we know that he's on Aetheria for sure," Zalan continued. He blinked in thought and turned back to Madam Hikma. "How do we get to Aetheria?"

"I do not know, but you are welcome to have all the books in my library that speak of the city in the sky." Madam Hikma nodded to Sholou.

Sholou quickly rushed to the tall bookshelves behind her and placed two thin books in front of Rep, then curtsied and rushed back to Madam Hikma's end of the table.

"Not much information, it seems." Rep picked up the narrow books.

"Not many people believe the city exists," Madam Hikma replied.

Rep nodded in thanks and took the books into his lap. He looked to Zalan, checking to see if he was ready to leave yet. Zalan had his lips pursed in thought. He looked up to Madam Hikma, opened his mouth, then tilted his head as he tried to figure out how to ask his question.

"Madam Hikma, did you know about what I was going through this whole time? From the beginning?" Zalan asked.

Madam Hikma nodded stoically.

"I apologize, Zalan. But you would not have believed me if I first told you what the Monsters of the Mindscape were. You hardly believed you were in a new world. You had to go through the process. With your friends," Madam Hikma said.

Zalan ran a hand through his hair, uncomfortable.

"It might have saved me a lot of pain to know a little more," Zalan said, feeling a little betrayed and vulnerable. "I made friends who passed away on journeys they went on to help me. That didn't need to happen. You led me straight to Morloch, too."

"Those would have gone on adventures regardless, and they may have died regardless," Madam Hikma said. "They had their own reasons to go. Just because you were involved does not make anything your fault."

"But it might have been yours," Zalan grumbled.

"Zalan!" Rep said, offended.

"No, do not reprimand him. He speaks true," Madam Hikma said. "I made a judgment, and I very well may have been wrong. Zalan is right to question me. The Guidance Gem is not infallible, nor is it an easy answer for questions of the world. I have had problems of my own ever since I saw my age catching up with my usage of the Guidance Gem. I know I am not long for this world."

"Do not say that, Madam Hikma," Sholou said sweetly.

"The world does not pretend that any one problem matters more than all our other problems. We are forced to deal with everything at once. And I must face my mortality, even as I try to solve others' worries. Whether he is right or wrong, I am still dying. So, Zalan, I apologize to you. Sincerely. It's true that you may have fared better if I was more forthcoming about my uncertainties. I tried my best, but I may still have been in the wrong," Madam Hikma said with grace.

"Your apology means a lot," Zalan said sincerely. "I don't think you did anything wrong. But it's nice to know that not everything was as set in stone as I originally thought."

"Then, if it would not be a burden to you, can you grant a dying woman one last favor?" Madam Hikma asked.

"Of course," both Rep and Zalan replied simultaneously.

"Morloch has set the balance of the realm askew. The Beasts of Slumber… I sense they will wake soon. Can you stop his killings of the Elementals? The people tell me the Elementals have stopped appearing entirely, perhaps afraid that Morloch would be there to end their lives. I think it would ease me greatly to know he had no more power over the people who want to seek Elemental Power," Madam Hikma said.

Zalan stopped to consider a moment. Madam Hikma was wise enough to know that his intentions lay at defeating Morloch at this point. The reason she was asking the favor was because it was a lot more dangerous than he thought. It was likely that Madam Hikma believed that he or his friends could die in the battle against Morloch. She said that if Zalan fought him, it was likely he would lose everything. Did that mean his friends? Or maybe everything he held dear at home? He might be trapped in the realm. Zalan had to think before answering. Rep watched him closely. Zalan met her gaze with steely focus.

"Yeah. I'll do everything in my power to stop Morloch. Even if it kills me," Zalan promised confidently.

Zalan was surprised to see Sholou smile gratefully at his words. She may have come to be able to forgive some of the aggression he expressed toward her. He was still ashamed of his past, and wondered if she could ever find herself comfortable around him again.

Rep also smiled, seeming pleased at the response. Zalan wasn't certain why. It could have been because Rep was pleased that Zalan would be going to the place that could get him home. But it also could have been because Zalan was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of others. Rep would have been proud to see him come to that conclusion after his selfish and flippant beginnings in the realm.

"I join him in the promise," Rep said to Madam Hikma. "We will work together to stop Morloch. Elementals will be free to give challenges once more. The realm will be able to recover."

"Thank you both," Madam Hikma said sincerely. "God be with you."

With that, Rep and Zalan stood to leave. Zalan had the sudden sensation that it was possibly the last time he would be in Madam Hikma's presence. She was old and weakening. Tears welled up in his eyes once more. He already knew he would miss her and her kindness. She was the closest reminder he had to his own mother in this realm. He felt his mom's presence as he left the wonderful, aging woman.

"Thank you for everything," Zalan said, wiping a tear from his eyes.

Madam Hikma smiled and nodded in return. Rep and Zalan left, preparing themselves to find the city in the sky and stop the calamity killing all power in the world.