Chapter 27: Hey, Guaranteed Baseline
Vick’s Realization Vick left Maple Whisper Village, feeling off. He hadn’t asked where he was. Checking the map, he’d wandered the furthest corners. The mage tower was a brief pass-by. He doubted she was there. But not checking left him uneasy. Her cryptic promise baffled him. Find her, then what? No name, no face—just white hair and a broken scale. A century later? Absurd. Glennmbak, Snow-Welcoming City, demons—beyond the agreement’s scope. Only Winger caught his attention. But her gentle nature didn’t match. The sword-wielding woman from years ago wasn’t like that. No one stays unaged for a century. Even the capital’s figure couldn’t. He crossed off the robed girl from Maple Whisper. His fingers traced the map, tapping visited places. No leads emerged.
A Journey for Clues Vick headed to the mage tower. He bought dragon vein stone on credit. Maybe some practical gifts, too. What do girls like? He sat atop the tower, watching sunset. The tower’s bell echoed far. Its sound carried a timeless weight. Dusk was silent, the horizon still. Life’s changes were subtle. The kingdom stood for centuries. Nothing major happened in his time. A bishop’s prophecy once stirred unrest. Vick stayed out, partly because his brother inherited the title. He was half an outsider. The Elindor legacy wasn’t his to bear. His brother decided for him. A silent sword held more weight than a marquess’s title. It wasn’t his choice, nor his family’s. Now, he didn’t mind. Strength trumped reason. The Elindor name opened doors. Bullying the weak wasn’t his style.
Seeking Seyang City Vick planned for Seyang City. Glennmbak’s hub might hold clues. Centuries changed much. Finding someone familiar was like chasing ghosts. White hair was rare here. Crotia Empire’s royals had it, but ties were tense. Few crossed borders openly. Her mask back then made sense. Should he visit Crotia? His identity made it risky. War had begun; he’d fought for Kael. Going to an enemy nation would spark suspicion. Her century-long promise seemed a jest. Yet, her nature lingered in his mind. A young mage brought a potion. “Kael’s order, prepared by the tower master.” Vick sat silently at the tower’s edge. His aura faded with the sun. Regret felt mocking in his life. He didn’t regret his choices. Nor did she, he believed. Worrying couldn’t help her.
Winger’s Experiments Winger’s days at the mine weren’t fruitless. She cleared land nearby, planting flowers. Trees became a small cabin. By a fire, she made cotton candy. The game didn’t include such items. They clashed with its style. Magic-era tech lagged her past life. No machines spun sugar at high heat. Frivolous tasks were rare. Southern lands pushed tech, she heard. A player’s perspective missed this. The game ignored future settings. Worlds evolve, no matter where. She’d love to see it. “Teacher! Want me to guard?” Veyi’s shout echoed. Winger looked up, seeing her with a dragon egg. A pink slime, Peach, warped Veyi’s face comically. She looked like a drooling coin-head. Veyi sat on a bench. “You can’t guard. You didn’t learn.” Winger stuffed cotton candy in her mouth.
A Curious Dragon Egg “Mmm—sweet!” Veyi mumbled. Winger eyed the dragon egg. Maybe roast it now? Too much trouble. The egg shook slightly. Winger noticed. Veyi, thrilled, shouted, “Teacher, it moved!” “Don’t choke. I saw.” No further movement came. Annoyed, Winger avoided fruitless tasks. She grabbed tools for the field. What beat reaping tenfold from effort? Flowers were for testing colorless crystals. Blooming would take months. The crystals’ energy was dense. Otherworlds suited mages wielding magic. A good testing ground. But Winger couldn’t enter alone. It’d be better than the cramped mine. These days were calm. She’d grinded [Forging] often. [Forging: 1/500] Progress was slow but steady. The baseline guarantee kept her hopeful.