PftA Book 5 - Chapter 38 - A Sudden Change in Plans

“How was your visit with Wilham?” I asked.

My mentor had started spending time with his fellow Alchemist during the monthly markets shortly after his arrival, and seemed to enjoy his visits greatly. I’d tagged along at first, but it quickly became clear that I was more of a third wheel since I did not share their interest in the field.

Instead of joining them during their monthly chats, I started taking advantage of the various amenities available at the Challengers’ Retreat, to include spending more time than was probably wise in the spa.

Having exhausted the regeneration boosts I could acquire from the actual ‘hot spring’ after a couple of years, I usually opted to hang out in one of the normal soaking pools or splurged on some of the other services.

Today, I got a full-body massage and finished the visit with a long soak in one of the herbal pools. The actual benefits were limited for someone at Tier Ten, but the process was still enjoyable.

Or at least, it usually was.

The weight of Kai’s news made enjoying such simple pleasures difficult, and I found it hard to think about anything else as I sat in the pool.

He’s leaving without me.

I lingered in the pool a bit longer than was probably acceptable, only leaving the normally relaxing heat when Kai finally messaged me to let me know that he was finished saying goodbye to his Alchemist friend.

I knew that saying goodbye was often hard, especially when you’d developed a friendship with someone. With this likely being the last time the two Alchemists would get to see each other, I’d expected the visit to go long.

But he wouldn’t have to say goodbye so soon if he hadn’t agreed to enter the trial early, I reminded myself.

I was still reeling from the news since Kai had only informed me of his change in plans a few hours earlier when the new batch of messages from outside the dungeon had arrived. It was going to take some time to get used to – time I didn’t really have.

Though I’d reached level one hundred a few years earlier, I still had quite a bit to go before I reached the pinnacle. Even if I could earn a good bit from the trial, it would still be years before I had enough to ascend.

Knowing that, Anya had still somehow convinced Kai that he needed to challenge the trial the day before the next message exchange was scheduled to occur.

I wasn’t sure why she was so adamant about him challenging the trial on that particular day, but I was sure she had a reason.

She claimed it was because doing it on that day would all but guarantee he’d get the second affinity as a reward, but I suspected there was another reason. Given how close to ascending she was, I felt pretty confident she was trying to align her ascension with his.

I didn’t know why she wouldn’t just come out and say that if it was her intent. It wasn’t like Kai would deny her, even if it meant leaving me behind.

Kai trusted her completely, and if she told him that he needed to challenge the trial on that specific day or risk losing a significant advantage that would impact his entire future… well, it made sense that he’d listen.

I still didn’t like it, and knowing he was going to ascend without me after everything I’d gone through left a sour taste in my mouth.

To make matters worse, I’d recently agreed to ascend as soon as I could so that Kai and I could explore the next realm together.

For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ascend right away. But with each level I gained, the draw of the next realm grew closer. Now that I was level one hundred, the itch to ascend was almost palpable.

Knowing it would only get worse when I reached the actual pinnacle, I’d agreed to ascend after visiting my family one last time and completing whatever favor the dungeon asked of me.

Kai had seemed ecstatic about my decision… for about a month. Then the messages from Anya started, and he grew withdrawn.

At least I understand what was bothering him so much now.

“It was good,” Kai replied with forced cheer. “It was a little sad, knowing I likely won’t see him again, but still good. Wilham plans to ascend in the next few years. He might even beat you if you drag your feet too long.”

The last bit was said almost playfully, though we both understood the truth of the statement.

A few years might not seem like much, but with how inconsistent the passage of time was supposed to be between realms, it might equate to a difference that made it all but impossible for us to reconnect.

It was a bitter thought, and I found myself resenting Kai a little for creating the situation.

“I promised I’d try to catch up as soon as I could,” I reminded him. “But we both know it’s going to be years more before I even come close to the pinnacle. There’s a good chance you’ll have long moved past me by the time I get there.”

“Hopefully, the time variance works in our favor,” Kai replied. “Even if it doesn’t, I’ll be sure to make it up to you. I know you tried your best, and I really do feel bad about leaving you right here at the end.

“But I trust Anya. For her to insist so firmly that I need to challenge the trial on that particular day…” Kai shook his head before looking at me with apologetic eyes. “I just can’t risk the possibility of losing such an obvious advantage in the next realm. I really hope you can understand.”

“I do understand,” I said. “I get it. I just—” I stopped myself. There was no reason to put words to my feelings. “Let’s head back to Zone Five. I’ve got a lot of grinding to do if I’m going to catch up to you.”

= = =

The next month passed far more quickly than any that had come before it, even with my demesne stretching the time out significantly.

We hunted and trained a bit more together while discussing the myriad possibilities of the next realm.

We also used Lisa to look up a few tidbits of last-minute information that we thought might be of value.

Things like how to know if an unfamiliar plant was edible.

Though the primer indicated civilization would be easily accessible, it did not mention the circumstances that we’d find ourselves in immediately upon arrival. And since Kai wouldn’t have any of his skills or spells beyond the one or two he’d get to keep, it made sense to review the process of testing plants (and animals) for edibility.

Sure, the primer mentioned that the system automatically provided basic information similar to an Identify spell, but I remembered how little information was given for the basic version of that spell. It wasn’t enough to know whether a plant was edible or not.

If I remembered correctly, that feature didn’t come until the spell was evolved once or twice.

If Kai found himself in the wilderness, he’d need some way to ensure he could find sustenance, especially if his body was going to effectively be reset.

Even with the primer and Anya’s divinations, there was still so much we didn’t know. The uncertainty made our last weeks very full as we tried to fill any last-minute gaps in his knowledge that we could think of.

When the day of his trial finally arrived, I was a bit of a wreck.

He is going to leave me. After decades spent together, he’s just going to ascend and leave me behind.

The unwelcome thought immediately made me frown. Though it was a selfish thought, a part of me felt like a bit of selfishness was justified after everything I’d done to make ascending together possible.

What was the point of everything I’d gone through if he was just going to leave me behind? I was so close to the goal. I only needed a few more years.

It just seemed wrong.

I’d missed out on so much time with my family. I’d practically given up my life to fulfill a contract that I didn’t truly understand the weight of. And now he was going to just ascend without me, even though there was still time remaining before the deadline.

It would be easy to resent him for it, but I tried not to let myself. Harboring such ill feelings toward someone who’d been a friend and kept me company for decades would do nothing but hurt me in the end.

“Good luck,” I said with as genuine a smile as I could manage as we stood outside the portal leading to the floor’s trial.

“I’m sure I’ll see you again before I ascend,” Kai said before glancing toward the portal. “I’ll resist ascension at least long enough to say one last goodbye. Besides, I’ve got to give you my storage ring to pass on to the sect before I go.”

That was true. I’d already agreed to take it back with me when I went to say goodbye to my family.

“You’re still going to challenge the trial after I finish, right?” he asked curiously.

I’d considered waiting until I was closer to the pinnacle to challenge the trial since that was the original plan, but with Kai leaving, it no longer made sense to wait.

I’d become eligible as soon as I reached level one hundred, and waiting wasn’t going to benefit me at all. If anything, I could see the advantages of challenging the trial immediately instead of delaying. At least this way I’d get a bit more use out of whatever reward I received.

“That’s the plan,” I replied almost curtly.

“Well, good luck to you, too,” my former mentor said before turning toward the portal. “I’ll see you soon.”

He didn’t hesitate as he stepped toward the portal. Kai didn’t look nervous at all. If anything, he looked excited.

At the last moment, Kai hesitated and glanced back. I forced myself to give him a friendly wave. Seeing it, he smiled and stepped through the portal, leaving me standing alone.  

It was something I’d need to get used to again.

At least I still have Lisa.

I was about to remove a chair from my storage and make myself comfortable when the portal flared and Kai stepped back out.

At first, I thought something must have gone wrong. But then I noticed that his mana was churning in a way I’d never seen before, and my heart dropped as I realized what was happening.

The trial obviously had its own time dilation – it was something I should have realized already. Clearly, Kai had been successful and was now in the beginning phase of ascension.

“Looks like Anya was right,” Kai said with a bittersweet smile as the mana surrounding him started glowing. He removed his ring and handed it to me. “Here. Thanks for taking care of this for me. I really do appreciate everything you’ve given up on my account. I promise, I’ll make it worth your while when you ascend.”

I stared at the ring solemnly. “I’ll hold you to that,” I said before meeting his gaze. “I guess you experienced an epiphany when you got the second affinity.”

“Something like that,” Kai agreed before flashing a bright smile. “Don’t take too long catching up.”

“I’ll try not to,” I replied quietly.

The glow was growing brighter.

“Be safe, Emie.”

With that, my friend and mentor faded from reality, leaving me alone once again.