The Rascor Plains (Immortal Great Souls Book 2) by Tucker Phil

Author:Tucker, Phil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 39

Different ranks, different levels.

The Emberlings were capable of descending to Iron; that was the limit of their tolerance, where they felt the first edgings of the Curse. A rotating cast of Flame Vaults oversaw their meditation practice and training; the goal was to condense their reservoirs to the point where they could Ignite as quickly as they had as Cinders.

Scorio had walked that road already.

So it was with reluctance that he parted with Naomi, who descended the next morning with Lianshi, Leonis, Zala, and Juniper. He ate well, stretched, and stood in wonder for a spell in the day cycle’s early light, simply staring at the tortured mound of rocks and boulders they’d abandoned.

It almost felt wrong. To not have executed their plans to the last stone, leveling the site and tossing all of it into the Chasm.

Jova found him standing thus, staring blankly past the shaft. She strolled out of one of the buildings, clad in a new set of Manticore robes with the red trim denoting her status of Flame Vault.

“Miss it already?”

Scorio startled. “No. Not at all. But after all this time, not taking up the hammer feels like that sensation when you think there’s another step at the top of a flight and you stumble, surprised.”

“Perhaps you’d found your vocation.”

Scorio didn’t answer. Merely stared back at her. She looked different. It was subtle, but there. More… relaxed. More confident. Poised? No, she’d always been self-assured. It was hard to pin down. She looked like someone who’d hitherto always been searching for confirmation, and had finally found it.

“Perhaps.” If she wanted to get a rise out of him she’d have to work harder. “Congratulations, by the way. On your ascension.”

“Thanks.” She didn’t sound grateful. “Guess I’m more than a punching bag at last.”

“You were always more than that.”

“That so? I was led to believe otherwise. Foolish of me.”

Scorio pursed his lips. Despite how calm she looked she was itching for an argument. But the past five months of backbreaking labor had sweated the issue out of him. He couldn’t even remember why they’d argued.

“I’m sorry if I offended you.” Had he apologized before? If so, that memory was also gone. “I was rude and out of line. My apologies.”

She pursed her lips and drew herself up. She was clearly adapting to his new demeanor on the fly. Had she thought he’d not changed at all? Perhaps she’d simply been too focused on herself.

“Apology accepted. But enough chatter. Let’s go.”

“Go?”

“I’m your escort to the Bronze level. Dameon said it’s time I started earning my keep. Given how generous he’s been, I can’t find it in me to argue.”

“I see. You’re going to do what—just stand around while I meditate?”

“You think so little of me? No. I’ll engage in my own training. I’ve much to accomplish if I’m to make Dread Blaze soon.”

Soon.

It was thrown in his face like a slap. Of course she knew how badly he was lagging. Scorio tried to smile and managed a grimace. “I’ll try to not get in your way.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.