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

Zalan quickly ran to catch up with Rep who was moving to the guild with his head down. His eyes were glued to the ground, and he was nibbling away at his lower lip anxiously. Zalan tried to think of supportive words to say, but wasn't sure if he would accidentally offend Rep. He had grown more socially conscious in his time in the realm, and could tell when his words might strike into hearts more than he wanted.

"I got you a new sword," Zalan said casually, handing out both Rep's sword and his money.

Rep grabbed both items, storing his money in his pockets and sword in his sheath.

"You have my thanks," Rep grumbled.

They continued to pace toward the guild in silence.

Feeling awkward, Zalan tried to open the conversation. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"All this time I thought that a strong man would be enough to get a good woman. I grew several Levels, defeated legendary monsters, and even made myself a fortune along the way. Yet I am still not enough. I must change my nature to match hers," Rep said, sounding disappointed in himself.

"Hey, don't make it sound that way. Junill and Valens just need some time to think about it, that's all."

"They have had plenty of time. That is why they gave me such a harsh ultimatum. It was a measure of my loyalty to Junill. But how can I abandon my guild and still call myself loyal?"

"I mean… Do you really want to still be part of the guild after all this?" Zalan asked.

"I do not know," Rep considered. "But if I were to leave, I would want to do so on my own terms, not as part of an agreement for marriage. Journey House took me in when my parents passed away to illness. I do not take that lightly."

Zalan opened the door to the guild, leading the way inside. Heads picked up from beds, glancing at the two entering. Epanor and Heron were laid back, looking tired.

"Zalan. Rep," Heron acknowledged, stifling a yawn. "How are the two of you?"

Rep said nothing, his face inscrutable. Zalan cleared his throat.

"We're doing pretty well, just came back from the Depths of Despair," Zalan said.

"Back from the Depths of Despair and you are doing well?" Heron asked, picking himself up from bed with interest. "What Levels are you at now?"

"I'm at Level 10, and Rep Level 8," Zalan answered.

"Level 10!" Heron laughed, excited. "You will have a much harder time gaining Experience from now on. What was a trickle of Experience before will be almost nothing now! I am Level 14 now, and struggling to see any more increases. Epanor is Level 9, so he will soon know the struggle."

"How did you outstrip me in Levels?" Epanor asked, leaning on his side and looking somewhat annoyed.

"We killed the Mind of Madness," Zalan admitted.

Heron pumped a fist in the air where Epanor looked distraught at having fallen behind.

"That is why I had no qualms with having you join the guild! What a kill! The Mind of Madness!" Heron said.

"You had plenty of qualms, Heron," Zalan reminded him.

"Ah, do not get stuck in the past," Heron said, laying back down on the bed. "Epanor, Liv and I have just returned from a long journey to kill a Leviathan. And there was a whole slew of Grimfangs on our way back, acting as a single unit for some reason. The realm has become significantly more dangerous in the past few days. We still have not had a wink of sleep, so keep quiet if you do not mind."

"Sure," Zalan said, realizing he had carried the entire conversation while Rep stood, completely zoned out.

Making his way to the table in the center of the main room, Zalan placed his book on Aetheria in the center. He waited for Rep to do the same with the book he carried, but he seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes focused on a random point in space. Zalan cleared his throat.

"I'll start reading this one, and you can read that one," Zalan offered.

"Indeed," Rep said monotonously, his gaze unfocused.

Zalan nodded, understanding that Rep needed some time with his thoughts. He popped open his book and ran his finger down the first page. Frowning, he found the first page of preamble to be very lacking. Sparse, at best. It spoke of legends and tall tales that revolved around the concept of Aetheria. Like the sky was carried along the back of the city. Or that it simply one day rose out of the ground, without any reason. The old residents of the city had no choice but to accept their new way of life, given that there was no way back to the ground.

Flipping through pages, Zalan found it more like a collection of anecdotes and theories than anything resembling academia. The author's best guesses as to why the city might still exist to that day and why finding it might advance civilization. Skimming through some of the more outlandish things, like Aetheria controlling all weather in the realm, Zalan landed on an intricately drawn image on the last page.

Aetheria was a sprawling city with several tall buildings in the center, and farmland at the edges. It was difficult to discern from the illustration, but it seemed the city became more decrepit the closer to the center of the island in the sky. A bed of clouds carried the entire city on its back, like a raft carrying it through air currents. Behind the city was a massive image of the sun looking down over it, as though the sun were a constant backdrop to the city.

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Zalan studied the picture for several minutes, tracing over the image with his eyes and fingers. He wanted to know more about the person who drew it, and whether it was based in fact or just more legends. He peered closely at the sun, wondering what role it might play in the city being in the sky. He pursed his lips in confusion, shaking his head when not coming up with anything plausible. Completing the book, he felt just as lost as he did before opening it.

Glancing up, Zalan saw that Rep was still giving a wall the thousand yard stare. He was far more zoned out than Zalan had ever seen him before. Junill must have meant a lot more to him than Zalan realized. It made sense, considering he wanted to marry her. It must have been difficult to wrestle with his time as an adventurer.

"Rep?" Zalan asked.

"Hmmm?" Rep's eyes met his.

"I finished with this one. Wanna trade?"

"Mmm." Rep nodded and placed his small tome on the table.

Zalan swapped the two books on the table and opened the other to begin reading. He raised an eyebrow at Rep, wondering if he would be able to help him think this investigation through. Rep however, looked to be in a world of his own, not even acknowledging the new book before him. Returning his focus, Zalan began scanning the second read.

The second book contained a somewhat more believable story to Zalan. It explained that Aetheria was made as a result of an Elemental Challenge. Apparently a Dark Elemental, the one that granted the most difficult challenges, sent the city into the clouds, telling the challenger to bring it back to the ground. The author noted that this was speculation, as no one had witnessed the land being lifted into the sky outside of those living there. If the story were true, the city would have used to sit where the Elemental Rage Tournament currently took place. Zalan blinked as he realized that the canyon in the earth was Elemental-made. It made some amount of sense considering there was no river in the area, cutting through it.

The book went on to conclude that the only people who would truly know about Aetheria and how to locate the city were its current inhabitants, if they existed, or the Dark Elemental that gave the challenge. Scrunching his face, Zalan wondered if it was even possible to ask an Elemental for information. The Bright Elemental he got his Elemental Light from seemed to be a little more forthcoming, asking him to save other Elementals from extinction. Maybe if they found a Dark Elemental, they would find a way to the city in the sky.

Leaning back in the chair, Zalan sighed and plopped the book to the table, feeling mildly disappointed. He knew it was a longshot for the books to have a quick solution to a city that was considered legend, but he still wished there was some hint he could dig further into. Hearing the book hit the wood, Rep blinked and looked at Zalan, acknowledging him.

"I apologize, I have not read a page," Rep admitted, expressing what Zalan already knew. "Did you find anything useful?"

"The first book has a drawing of the city, if it can be trusted." Zalan pointed.

"A drawing!" Rep repeated, somewhat enthused.

Zalan realized that Rep was excited to have an excuse not to have to read at his slow speed. Whatever the reason, Zalan was glad Rep was part of the conversation.

Rep threw the page open and leaned over the illustration. Zalan joined him, trying to search for anything notable in the scene. The large sun sitting in the back felt like it should mean something significant. Zalan scratched his head, tilting it to one side. Rep frowned, shaking his head to himself.

"I do not see anything particularly special," Rep said.

"I get it!" Zalan jumped up suddenly. "The city doesn't stay in place! It's moving across the sky like an airplane! That's why no one knows exactly where it is!"

Heron shifted in his cot and Zalan and Rep went into a low whisper.

"An airplane?" Rep asked.

"Like a big bird."

"Very well. Does this make it any easier to locate the city? If it is always in motion, then I would assume people of the realm would have seen it by now."

"That's why it's a legend, right? Because people saw glimpses of it and thought it was a city. But then when they looked back up or tried to let someone else see, it was already gone!" Zalan said, feeling more confident by the word.

"I do not see how that would make sense. One would only need to keep his eyes on the sky and point for others to see. The proof would be quite clear to see. A giant unexplainable form above others," Rep pointed out.

"Unless…" Zalan stabbed a finger into the drawing, a smile across his face. "The city was always moving in a way that would put the sun behind it! Then no one could look at the city because it would be too bright. It just needs to be high enough and people wouldn't notice the little dot in front of the sun!"

"You think the city moves at a rate to always stay in front of the sun?" Rep asked skeptically.

"Yeah! It's gotta make sense! You didn't trust me when I read about the Storm Elemental before, I think I'm right about this too!" Zalan said.

"I just think we need to find more proof," Rep said skeptically.

"I can get you proof right now!" Zalan bolted to the exit.

Rep stayed seated as Zalan rushed out the door, threw it open, then looked straight up, staring directly into the sun. Rep's face turned into scrunched confusion.

"What about its shadow? Would people not have seen a large city's shadow by now?" Rep asked.

"Quiet, let me concentrate!" Zalan said eagerly.

Rep shrugged and nodded. His look of confusion slowly turned to amusement. Every few seconds, Zalan's squinting eyes would blink with pain, but he refused to look away. For whole minutes, Zalan forced himself to stare at the sun. Finally he looked to the ground.

"Rep, can you get over here?" Zalan asked, his voice a mutter.

"Did you see the city?" Rep asked, stunned.

"No, I stared at the sun too long. I need you to lead me to a cot so I can do the Healing Rest," Zalan said sheepishly.

"You were so certain of your theory that you blinded yourself?" Rep laughed.

"Just get over here," Zalan mumbled.

Chuckling, Rep guided his friend back into the cot to heal his burned retinas. For a moment before falling asleep, Zalan feared that his eyes wouldn't be restored since he caused the damage to himself. It wasn't necessarily his own doing, the sun did the real damage, he didn't make an effort to hurt himself. But would the Healing Rest know the difference?

With that chilling fear running down his spine, he fell asleep. Minutes later, he awoke with his vision back to normal. He sighed in relief, placing his hands over his eyes with gratitude. Rep was at the table, reading through the second book with his eyes squinted

"It says here that Aetheria might be able to be found by a Dark Elemental," Rep said.

"Yeah. Do you know how to find any?" Zalan asked, remaining lying down on the cot.

"No, but I know someone that has completed a Dark Elemental's challenge."

"Really? Who?"

Rep didn't respond. Zalan found it odd to be left unaware, then was hit with the answer suddenly. He bolted upright like bread popping from a toaster, his eyes wide.

"You sure you wanna talk with Ma?" Zalan asked.

"She is the only person I know who has ever even seen a Dark Elemental."

"And you think she got extra information out of it?"

Rep tilted his head one way, letting Zalan consider his own question.

"You're right. If there's anyone that could interrogate an Elemental, it's Ma." Zalan pushed himself off the bed. "All right, let's go to the port."

"I hope we retain all of our toes in this visit," Rep said, leading the way.