Chapter 130: Gardenia

“Everyone is gathered here. Good.” Vivian said. She looked much different from any other day, it was to be expected after all. They were about to head into unknown danger, anyone wise would take precautions. Vivian was wearing additional armor which made her resemble a samurai marching to war. Light plates along her forearms, upper arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen and along her legs. She even wore a custom made head piece which guarded her temples, cheeks and forehead. Gone was her usual kimono, instead she wore a skin tight bodysuit much like the one Bracha and Gigi wore beneath it all.

Her two weapons , her shape shifting blades, were already transformed and sheathed at her side.

“From here on out, the mission begins. The task is simple. Rescue the members of Dealla’s chapel, Guiding Light. There are two shards and we will search both, just to make sure there aren’t any survivors in either. We will take any who are still alive outside of the shard, this will be the job of the rescue team. If they are injured, you’re to use one of the many potions on them to preserve their lives.”

“Team one will consist of myself, Oliver and Ryo.” Vivian motioned towards the tall, well built man standing motionlessly next to her. Neither his gaze nor his demeanor shifted as Vivian continued her explanation.

Agni was beginning to allow her agitation to get the better of her, partially because no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t inspect this ‘Ryo’. His class was a mystery, as was his rank. The harder she focused the more the words began to blur and distort. Ultimately she gave up.

“Team one is the attack team. If there is any trouble we will be the ones to handle it. Under no circumstances are you to engage unless your attacks serve to hasten your retreat.” Vivian explained.

“Team two is the rescue team and will consist of everyone else present. Because there is possibly a high number of people who may need to be rescued, I’m also giving you these.” Vivian motioned for the nearest person to step forward and she placed a necklace into Gates’ open palm.

“This is an Accelerator. It is an extremely rare item. Normally something like this would only be used on the frontier, and even then only in dire situations. I say this so that you understand, don’t activate this trinket unless your life is in peril.”

“For a short time, you will be able to double all of your current stats. It lasts roughly two minutes, perhaps less if you really push yourself. If you have to use this, spend every possible effort to escape the shard with the time you have.”

Vivian handed off each of the necklaces known as ‘Accelerators’.

“Did you make these too?” Agni asked, her question was directed towards Katrin as she placed the accessory over her own choker.

“No. I can’t make something this powerful right now. Whoever did this is a master craftsman. ” Katrin remarked as she placed her own Accelerator on.

“Once this accessory’s effects wear off, you will feel the backlash from the item’s effects. In some cases it can be crippling so keep this in mind.” Vivian shot a particularly vicious glance towards Gigi who was eyeing the Accelerator with a dreamy expression painted across her face. The Spellsword quickly fixed her face, allowing Vivian to continue her explanation.

“With that, our preparations are complete.” Vivian explained.

“I guess I’m with you guys, yes?” Bracha said as she placed her arms around Katrin and Agni’s shoulders at the same time.

“How did you manage to get away? Didn’t you say you weren’t allowed to leave the Trainer’s Chapel?” Agni asked as Bracha pulled them both closer.

“Secret, it’s my secret!” This was all Bracha offered as she winked in Agni’s direction.

The people gathered split into their designated groups as Vivian started the process of using the chapel’s teleportation.

Soon everyone involved found themselves in a new destination, a place that was familiar to some and foreign to the rest.

Based on the nearby environment Agni felt the small town before her was somewhat nostalgic. She quickly realized that the trees which surrounded them on all sides resembled those which grew in the Lull Forest.

“Where is this?” Gigi asked as she cocked her head at an angle, pressing her fingertip to her lips.

“Gardenia.” Gates answered as he tugged at the large mage’s hat he was wearing.

“Indeed. Gardenia. Town of normals.” Oliver said as he materialized along with the rest of Team one. They moved ahead of the others as the portal closed, leading the group towards a wooden wall composed of thick logs.

“Normals as in–?” Agni asked.

“As in…a town of former adventurers.” Katrin replied , her eyes shone a bit — a tell tale sign that her curiosity had been piqued.

Agni thought as much but now that she knew for certain she was curious as to the fate of those who were no longer adventurers. Thanks to Vivian, Agni already met at least one such person — the shopkeep back in Kirlunst. She distinctly remembered feeling bad for Vivian at that time, having lost someone who was once a close party member.

“Why are we here?” Shula asked as she walked along with her arms folded.

“This place is closest to where we need to be.” Dealla added to the discussion.

“We passed through Gardenia on our way to the nearby forest. The shards aren’t too far from here. Maybe an hour’s walk at most.”

The group now entered the unguarded gates of Gardenia, if they could even be called that. Although the wall was about four meters high (12 feet), there was no gate to speak of. One could literally wander inside, and that’s what they did.

For the most part the people seemed….normal. Cloth clothes, simple appearance and technology. Nothing like the city of Grenvale which had well maintained streets and service crystals of various types at key points. Dirt roads, wooden homes which looked quaint and well lived in were the norm.

What’s more, the people in the village seemed eager to avoid the group of adventurers altogether. The vibe that Agni got strongly suggested that they were somewhat unwelcome. This was confirmed as a young child moved a bit too close towards the group of adventurers. Agni offered her best smile and waved at the young boy, only for his mother to cover him in her arms, bow her head and carry her son away post haste.

“That’s…weird…” Agni muttered as the woman’s eyes burned into her.

“It’s not weird, it’s…expected.” Gates chimed in, he kept his eyes forward as he continued to walk.

“What do you mean?” Agni asked, her curiosity had been legitimately piqued.

“Well, think about it dear.” Bracha said as she placed her arm across Agni’s shoulders and began to explain.

“As an adventurer you’re basically like a god to these people. Compared to them even the weakest adventurer is something to be revered. Your body will heal from wounds, even mortal ones if given enough time. Your strength can cleave stones, split trees and the earth. You can even use skills and magic which defy the laws of the world, yes?”

Now that Bracha mentioned it, she had a valid point. One that Agni never really considered.

“Yea. And some adventurers take advantage of that.” Gates said, and Agni couldn’t help but notice a tinge of anger in his voice.

“Take advantage how?” Katrin asked.

“Well…if you were a god, placed in a situation that was completely advantageous to you and there were no rules to restrain you — what would you do?” Bracha asked.

“Well, if it were me…I…I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been put in a situation where I wielded that much influence.” Katrin said after pondering for a moment.

“I’d have a bunch of willing slaves who did my bidding and waited on me hand and foot!” Shula was honest and forthcoming with her intentions as a little tyrant. Even Agni was forced to think about what she would do, though rightly she couldn’t answer. A succubus with a complex about sex was , in her mind, not the right person to ask. She couldn’t even reconcile her own priorities currently, so of course there was no idea she could comment on what she actually wanted.

As she stared from face to face, eyes locked onto her quickly averted and Agni began to realize that these people must have been abused in some form or another. To them a group of adventurers must have undoubtedly spelled trouble, or perhaps even death.

*What even happens when normals die?* Agni wondered. She remembered having been told that normals were like reserve adventurers. Each time an adventurer somewhere perished due to second death they would be changed into a normal while another existing normal would transition into becoming an adventurer once again. At least that was the story she’d been told.

She wondered how long that cycle had been forced to play out in this world. According to Vivian, normals no longer had memories of their past lives or experiences. There was a good chance that the people staring upon her in reverence mingled with caution might have once been just like her.

The town of Gardenia was very small. Perhaps three dozen or so homes nestled on either side of a road which ran the length of the settlement. Within a short amount of time the heroes exited the town of normals and moved further into the forest surrounding it.

The further into the woods they continued, the more Dealla seemed to become distant.

“Is something wrong?” Agni said as she slowed up to match the dragon kin’s pace.

“Hmm? No. Not really. Just nerves… I guess.” Dealla held up her left hand long enough for Agni to realize that she was shaking uncontrollably.

Dealla gave a nervous smile even as she focused on steadying her breathing, which seemed to grow more heavy with each step. Everyone else was quiet, focused which in turn caused the mood to affect Agni. The only one among them who seemed unbothered was the tall, muscular man known as Ryo.

The noise of rustling came from their rear. Everyone reacted quickly, turning to face their emergent foes. Several Fulger Stags lumbered out of the brush, so many that Agni wondered how she’d failed to sense them.

*Perhaps I’m getting a bit rusty.* She thought as she materialized her halberd.

“Ryo.” Vivian’s voice conveyed her all business attitude. Speaking the man’s voice was enough to have him step forward.

“Hmph.” His hands were placed in his pockets, his grunt suggested that he resented the fact that he would even need to deal with such small fry. That didn’t stop him from dispatching all of the creatures instantly, however. Agni’s eyes widened as a wave of oppressive energy expanded rapidly outward from Ryo’s location. The sensation was a strange one, for a moment it was as if time stopped and all color was drained from the world. Agni could feel a cold sensation creeping through her body, one that caused her to freeze in place.

In the next instant the sound of splattering, followed by falling corpses filled the air. Each of the Fulger Stags which emerged to attack were instantly taken out — by something. The truth was Agni had no idea what could have happened.

As an ill chill settled over her brow Agni glanced at the man standing just a few meters away from her. He shifted his gaze towards her, an eerie glow lingering within his eyes — traces of the powerful technique or magic he’d just used to defeat dozens of foes instantly.