The only people visible in the streets in the early hours of the morning were guards. However, these were not city guards, but the countess’ personal troops making sure nothing harmed her.. including city guards. Dallion didn’t need to know the politics of this world to tell that the two groups didn’t like each other. Keeping that in mind, Dallion made sure to keep his distance on his way to the Icepicker guild hall.

This was the first time Dallion had gone into the building this late. From what he had heard, there always was someone at the guildhall to keep an eye on the guild’s item stash. Nil had kept on insisting that Dallion wait for a few more hours, so that at least he’d be able to come up with some valid excuse of being there, but was quickly ignored. As much as Dallion wanted to admit it, the talk with Euryale had a profound effect making him want to do reckless things just so for the sake of them. Dallion had already decided to enter the sword before she had passed by, but now he had thrown all caution to the wind.

The door is usually opened, but I suggest trying to be as quiet as possible, Nil said.

That’s what splitting is for, Dallion said, and split into three instances. The moment he did, the door opened on its own.

“Dal?” Spike emerged, surprised just as much as Dallion himself. “Why are you here?”

“Restless night,” Dallion kept as close to the truth as he could. “Thought I’d do something before my fight tomorrow.”

“Right, right. Good one trashing the scrapforger. That’ll be something to drink about,” Spike laughed. “At least it’ll shut them for a while. Pity the other four didn’t get hit.”

We lost half hour fights, by the way, Nil said. Just in case you’re actually interested in the guild’s performance.

“What are you doing here?” Dallion quickly changed the topic of conversation. “I thought you’ll be out.. celebrating.”

“I wish.” Spike sighed. “I’m not allowed to party during the festival. City’s orders. That’s why I’m stuck with guard duty. Thought you were a thief for a moment.”

“I thought there weren’t any thieves.” Not pargeting guilds, in any event.

“One can always hope,” Spike laughed. “Come in.” He ushered Dallion into the guild. “People don’t usually combat split when entering their own guild, you know.”

“I didn’t want to be seen,” Dallion replied. “Was hoping to spend some time alone.”

“I can understand that. Well, don’t worry about it. Imagine I’m not even here. I’ll be playing cards with Vend on the second floor, anyway.”

“Cool.” Dallion smiled, but beneath that calm exterior he was screaming.

Of all the things that could happen. Having Spike here was bad enough. Having Vend—that would cause serious problems. Now Dallion knew how Spike came to the entrance so fast. Vend must have sensed the splitting and Spike had the speed to go down from the first floor before Dallion could open the door. There was no doubt about it, both of their abilities remained terrifying, although Dallion was starting to see chinks in their armor.

“Come up if you feel bored,” Spike offered as he turned around.

“Isn’t it risky gambling against Vend?”

“Definitely.” Spike grinned. “That’s the best part.”

Everyone has a different definition of fun, Nil said. I suppose this also means you won’t be entering the sword again, at least not today.

Why not?

There’s no way you can sneak past Vend. The boy will hear you no matter what you try.

The normal reaction would be for Dallion to agree and spend an utterly boring time practicing his whip blade skills. However, in his current state, Dallion decided to do what he was good at—think out of the box. If he couldn’t go up the standard way, he could make use of his new abilities to find an alternative.

At first Dallion went down to the basement and took a training item, as normal. He chose the room closest to the staircase, but never went into the item. Instead, he waited for a second, then went back up.

“Spike,” he shouted, making his way up to the second floor. “Spike?”

One of the doors opened. However, it wasn’t Spike who was standing there.. it was Vend.

“Vend,” Dallion said.

“Hey, Dal,” the elite said. “Congratulations on the fight. You did well.”

“Thanks. Haven’t seen you since the expedition. What have you been up to?”

“This and that.”

The answers were suspiciously evasive. For some reason, Dallion felt conflict within Vend. His teacher was both glad to see him, but also preferred that he didn’t. If Dallion had any plans to share his discovery in the sword’s realm, they were now seriously in doubt. There was a spark of hope telling Dallion that Vend would understand, but it was quickly swept away.

“Any news on the sword expedition?”

“No. March is discussing it with the guild master, but I doubt anything will come to it. Having most of the real flooded messed up things a lot and not only in the guild.”

But it’s not flooded, Dallion wanted to say. There’s a whole other land mass beyond the sea, beneath the illusion we thought was an ocean. All you need to do is step beyond the veil to get there!

Hey, don’t be hard on him! a voice said all of a sudden. It was a young voice, belonging to someone in his teens. It’s tough enough that he has to bust his ass all the time for March!

Dallion paused. He could tell two things: that Vend couldn’t hear the voice, and that it was coming from the right side of his belt, just where a dagger was hanging.

You’re his dagger guardian? Dallion asked.

Pfft! The dagger replied, creating the mental image of crossing his arms. I’m more than that! We go way back. I’m the first weapon he was given when he came to the guild. We’ve spent centuries fighting one another.

Ah, Dallion smiled. You’re his training weapon.

I’m your instructor’s instructor! The dagger corrected. Pretty much the same as that excuse of a stiletto you were given. What happened to him? I don’t see him hanging on you right now.

Item rivalry. To be expected, also a sign of things to come. So far, the vast majority of items were silent around Dallion, but that was going to change soon enough. The moment they started hearing his thoughts, and seeing others having conversations with him, more were going to join in. At the moment, though, this was very much to Dallion’s advantage. As Nil had said, the best way to learn things about a person was from their items.

Splitting into three instances, Dallion was about to continue his conversation with Vend’s training dagger, when suddenly all his instances faded away.

“Never do that,” Vend said. “If you have something to say, just say it directly.”

Cold chills went through Dallion. Being caught on the spot with such ease was bad enough. Being caught by Vend was more than that. He was one of the people he wanted to remain in good relations with, and this stupid mistake had made it all the more difficult. Today just wasn’t Dallion’s day. First it was Eury, and how he was having issues with Vend. Could things get any worse? Most likely, yes, though that wasn’t a goal to try and achieve.

“What if there’s a way to reach the fourth temple?” Dallion asked.

The question had the desired effect. Vend’s anger faded away, then was replaced by a lot of curiosity and an inkling of hope.

“Will things get better then?”

“They might. What exactly do you have in mind?”

This was it—the crossroads Dallion had found himself in real life. On the one hand, he could tell Vend everything. He would ask that Vend vow not to tell anyone until after a few days, and let him know of the illusion that was the ocean, as well as the deal he had made with the fourth guardian. That would earn Dallion some favor, and potentially make him a permanent member of the expeditions. Of course, it would also make finding whatever the Star was looking or all the more difficult.

On the other hand, Dallion could just as easily say enough so as to get Vend’s suspicions off him, then secretly make his way to the sword and do another solo expedition. The risks were greater, but so was finding his prize.

“I think that—"

“Vend,” Spike shouted from below. “We’ve got a problem.”

That was impressive, to say the least; Dallion hadn’t even noticed Spike pass by and somehow the elite had managed to reach the first floor. By the calm expression on Vend’s face, that seemed normal.

“There’re a bunch of guards at the entrance.”

“I’ll be right with you,” Vend shouted back, his eyes still fixed on Dallion. “We’ll finish this once I’m done.” He passed by Dallion. “Stay here. I don’t want you downstairs until I see what’s going on.”

“Sure thing.” Dallion nodded. He never expected to get such a break. Not only were both Vend and Spike out of the way, but Vend himself had told him to remain on the upper floors. From her it was only a few seconds to the fourth floor and back if Dallion used his awakened skills. The moment he heard the door open downstairs, he did just that.

Rushing up as fast as his body level allowed him to, Dallion made his way to the fourth floor and directly to the room with the sword. He didn’t bother creating instances of checking for other guards. Instead, he ran to the middle of the room and grabbed the tip of the blade.

WORLD ITEM AWAKENING

The room disappeared, replaced by the inside of the starting temple. Only once there, Dallion allowed himself a sigh of relief. His heart was pumping like crazy.

That, dear boy, was really stupid, Nil grumbled, his words drenched with disappointment.

You prefer I told him?

No. I would have preferred that you had cooled off before making any rash decision whatsoever.

I need answers, Nil. There’re too many mysteries surrounding the Star and the Moons. Since no one can tell me anything, I need to find the answers by myself.

The Moons and the Stars have been shrouded in mystery for millennia! The truth is that we know very little about our world. Entire swaths of history have been removed from existence. Civilizations have risen and fallen with merely a hint as to why. Three of the seven races have been permanently banished into the awakened realms, and no one has an inkling how or even why. Yes, they tried to conquer the world, but why do so when they were already at their peak? And why did each resort to taking advice from the Star when they were at the height of their glory? There are so many questions that people can’t list, let alone answer, and you think that by going on an expedition in a world item or getting yourself noticed by the higher nobility will help you understand all that?

Dallion remained silent. This was the first time he had heard Nil blurb out as much as he did. There was much more to the man than Dallion thought. He wasn’t just an old gambler who had come to the guild because he couldn’t find a job anywhere else. He must have been someone quite skilled, possibly important in his youth, not to mention extremely knowledgeable.

I’m not sure, Dallion replied after a while. But I feel this is something I must do. I believe there was a reason I was drawn here, and not only me, but every otherworlder in the province. This city was built on the ruins of an imperial capital. There have to be answers here. The sword is the fastest means I’ve found. Maybe I’m wrong, but I need to try.

And if you fail? What then?

Then, I’ll know that I’ve been wrong about a whole lot of things.