Elevation of Mana Chapter 176 Reactions

As the scout finished we all stood stunned. Beasts that seemed devoted to nothing but killing, and ones that were of the size he described, almost unheard of. Sadly almost was an operant word in that, as there were monsters like that in this world. Large monsters came and went, mostly sticking to defined, remote territories until and unless they were in some change of their life.

The killing was the most concerning part. To many it might have seemed as if it was just random, but to those of us who'd heard the stories, those of us old enough to know it was clear. These creatures weren't just slaughtering to slaughter, they were slaughtering because they needed the territory, mixed with the fact that they'd just shown up this told us they would be growing and soon.

It was like a pond with thousands and thousands of spawn laid in it. Be they frog spawn or fish spawn or even insects they would devour all those around them as they grew, they would also devour each other, until only the largest and strongest survived. In a pool of thousands of frog spawn there might be only a few to make it to adulthood, but those adults would be something else when compared to their infant form.

What would these things be when they were done, what would they become? I didn't know, perhaps they were the ancestors of the beasts whose bones lay in the cave below my first home, but that didn't make sense. No, those creatures had wings, where these had none, and while I couldn't rule out the possibility of them going through some transformation it just didn't seem likely to me.

“So what do we do?” asked Shorin, ever helpful.

“We must send someone to deal with this before it gets out of hand. I've only heard stories, but those stories suggest these will get larger and larger until they're destroyed.” It was the speaker Edana who'd suggested that, though not who.

“No,” I interrupted before one of them tried to suggest me. “We should send messengers to the nearby ancients. They have lived longer than us, and may well know what these creatures are. They may also be planning to deal with them themselves.”

“What brings you to that conclusion?” she asked, turning to me.

“They're closer to Matriarch Neera's lands, and Rolan seems to me the responsible type. If they don't already know of the issue they will want to, and if they do they're likely making their own preparations.”

“You suggest we hide behind one of them?” accused another of my fellows, one of the older elders who didn't much like me.

“If you think you have the power of an ancient feel free to go oppose one of them. Otherwise be silent,” I told him. We were of the same station now, so there was no need for me to even bother being polite to someone stupid.

And it was stupid, there were limits to what we could do. Sure, I might be able to hack together something that could fight even these things, and I was in fact working on doing just that, but it didn't change that all such things I put together would be a trick, not a thousands of years old warrior. Tricks worked, but in cases like this it would still be best to consult a professional.

“Who shall we send then?” Edana said, eyes slipping towards me.

“You've a messenger here, send him. I'll do what I can to prepare should we need to fight these ourselves. None seem likely to be as strong as an ancient ready to go to war, but perhaps we can manage something.”

I didn't even bother acknowledging what she clearly wanted, what they all did. They were still afraid, and for good reason; if I were ready I could probably take all of them. They were also cowards and sincerely getting on my nerves. After all, if I'd wanted to take the city, I'd have made my moves long ago.

I wanted to scoff, if I hadn't known what a right pain in the ass they would be I might consider taking over Atal. I might still have to if I wanted to be left alone, but for now that seemed unneeded, so I avoided trying to think too much about it. Still, the idea of Isha and I in the palace she certainly deserved did poke its head into my thoughts, and before I knew it I was starting to design the place, rooms, halls, what materials to use.

“Justin, did you have an answer?” the calling of my name stirred me from my daydreaming, and quickly I played back the conversation in my mind. Being an elf certainly had its advantages.

“Weeks, maybe months before my current project it done. It all depends on getting the right cloth in the right amounts,” I informed the council.

“My niece is in a village making that stuff. Should I call her and ask to change over to what you need?” a member asked, helpfully.

The rest of the meeting was much like that, questions of supply and who needed to do what. Mostly I sat back, answering a few questions now and again. Other people needed to prepare too, and I was glad to see they were doing so. The leaders of the city guard were working on adding to the walls, and increasing the number of siege weapons they had, the casters were talking about training and tattooing those who could be of use. Someone even brought up the idea of boats to flee with, not a terrible idea.

Sadly my own experiments in boating had been limited in use at best. There was a lot that went into it, and I frankly didn't understand it well enough to be of use. Could I have figured something seaworthy out? Maybe, but I didn't want to, it wasn't interesting to me.

By the time I got home I was tired, and headed straight for my workshop. There were always things to do always more and more bits and bobs. As the door began to close behind me I head someone calling.

“Absolutely not, you need to rest.”

Turning I saw my wife headed my way, along, so she could only be speaking to me.

“If I must then come join me,” I said, motioning her inside.

Isha seldom joined me in my workshop, and by seldom I mean never. With a pout she tried to pull me away, but seeing that wasn't working just came along. It was cute, how she sometimes got like this, angry that I was too busy.

“You've improved it,” she said as we entered, looking around.

“Quite a bit. It's been what, forty years since you came in here?”

“Something like that. I didn't realize you'd made it so much bigger inside.”

“Want me to show you around?”