FINAL CORE - Chapter 59 (Patreon)

Jizalia

Human, Female, Herbalist

Rain softly trickles down all around her, water cusping on the edges of thick, verdant leaves. The rain, while mild, gathers into thick, heavy drops that drip down from the crowns of the trees, giving the spring rain the sensation of being a quiet, summer’s storm.

Jizalia squints, trying to focus her blurry vision on the odd plant before herself. It’s a white, cupped flower with a golden stalk inside of itself. She’s never seen anything like it before. Rain collects in its open petals, filling the flower up to the brim. The weight of the water bends the flower over, so that it can pour itself out and then, a moment later, the rubbery, strong and very flexible stalk straightens itself back up again.

She’s never seen anything like it.

A holy dungeon is interesting and all, but that isn’t really her department. What she’s into are flowers, particularly exotic flowers. Those are what her customers are after. Every two-bit herbalist can go and collect some roses and some lilies for romantics, or some shrubs and herbs for the alchemists. But for the people she does business with, a certain amount of time in the deep-field is required.

Expertise.

[Weissbloom Bitter]

A hardy, surprisingly robust flower. It has a single, long, dark-green stalk. Its cupped head is composed of several long, tightly squeezed petals with an off-white cream color. Despite its delicate appearance, its petals and stalk are composed out of a firm, tough celulite.

Use Cases: [Medicinal][Aromatic][Other]

[Master Herbalist’s Insight]: This flower has been birthed from a seed washed through with holy-water. This flower has innate magical properties and is extremely toxic for anything affiliated with the DARK element.

Secret Use Cases: [Sensual][Ambrosial]

Value: 99 Obols

Jizalia squints, looking at the menu-screen that had appeared for the flower. Rain trickles off of the glassy surface, trickling down to the ground below. Her wide, flat hat billows slightly in the wind, water dripping down it. Long, black braids of hair hang at her side.

She reaches down into her belt-pouch, pulling out some scissors.

Her client is going to love this.

_________________________________________

Isaiah

Grand Icon

The name of Isaiah has been uttered.

+210 EXP

“Does that ever stop?” asks Red from the side. Isaiah looks her way, watching as she zaps out of one the portals that she had learned to create at worker level four.

[Prayers]

Prayers have been said at the shrine.

+12 EXP

It shrugs. “I would hope not,” says Isaiah. The tower rises up another floor in height.

[Floor Eighty-Two]

{Empty}

The Eighty-Second floor of the tower. It is currently empty.

Monster-Capacity: {166}  Traps: {08}

Monster-Point prices per monster

• F-Rank: 1
• E-Rank: 2
• D-Rank: 4
• C-Rank: 8
• B-Rank: 16
• A-Rank: 32
• S-Rank: 64
• SS-Rank: 128
• SSS-Rank: 256

“- After all,” says Isaiah. “It is a sign that all of our work is finally starting to come to bear fruit, Red.”

– Rorate, standing off to the side, beneath an overhang, writes something down in her notes.

“How has your work in the village progressed?”

“Well… considering that the territory expanded again, bad,” she explains. “I stole Magenta and Beige from Black for a while. We set up a new village on the island, on the same corner where their old one was. We made new houses and everything, but not all of them took the bait.”

Isaiah nods. “I appreciate you taking self-initiative these days, Red. You are a big help.” Red waves it off. “And the others? Those who would not move to the island?”

Red shrugs. “I assume they went to the city, probably.”

Isaiah thinks for a time. People going to the city and telling stories of their homes being destroyed by the tower isn’t great for their publicity. But perhaps their distraught voices will be drowned out by the cries of prosperity, opportunity and faith in the city.

– A somewhat callous thought. But the survival of the tower and its inhabitants must be prioritized.

“How many levels can a worker have?” asks Isaiah.

“How many experience points do you have?” asks Red.

Grand Icon

The name of Isaiah has been uttered.

+100 EXP

“A few,” replies Isaiah.

Red looks at it suspiciously. “Not that I don’t mind special treatment, I clearly deserve it. But maybe summon some more workers instead?” she asks. “I’m basically almost human-sized now and it’s making me feel sick.” The uthra crosses her arms.

“I am sure that you would make a fine human, as you would any other creature, Red,” says Isaiah. “Hold still.”

Red flies back a foot. “I’ll live to regret this. I can feel it.”

(Isaiah) upgraded (Uthra{4}) to [Uthra{5}]

Cost: {20} SOUL / {500} EXP

A familiar glow encapsulates Red, coating her body with a crimson aura. Her bones stretch and crack as her form extends itself out further. Her legs grow, her arms grow and she manages to awkwardly land on her feet this time as her wings give out, unable to hold up this new weight. A moment later, they grow in size as well.

Red balances herself, her wings buzzing. However, they change. The insect-like wings of the uthra seem to be in an odd half-state. They still remain insect-like, but the edges of the wings are growing into patterns that very strongly resemble feathers. “Ah, I hate this already,” she says, as the growth stops. Isaiah looks at her. She’s only a head smaller than it itself is now. She is well within the range of human height.

[Worker{5}]

HP: 40/40

SOUL: 30/30

New Ability - [Core Connection]: Tinges the worker with the element of the dungeon, allowing it to use any element specific abilities owned by the dungeon core.

A voice calls in from the side. “You look great, Red!”

Red waves Rorate off, looking down at herself and then at Isaiah. “Okay. What’s the catch this time?” she asks. “I never get a free meal around here.”

“Free meals ought to be for those who can not afford them,” says Isaiah. “I have thought much, Red,” it says. “My last appearance amongst the humans had led to disaster,” it explains, looking up towards the sky. Perhaps it is beginning to understand why the gods had decided to stay out of things, if they had experienced something akin to what it had done with the ascension. “However, a presence is needed to affirm the faith. For times of crisis, I need someone to act as my messenger.”

Red groans. “You want me to hold pretty speeches and put on a show?” she asks. “You know I hate that kind of stuff.”

“I know,” replies Isaiah.

“Then go ask White,” says Red. “I’m sure he’d love to droll on while reading some scroll for hours in front of a crowd.”

Isaiah shakes its head. “For faith to grow, passion is needed to fuel its flames,” says Isaiah. “You have a passionate heart, Red.”

“Uh, yeah? Passionate for killing humans?” she says. “Can we please just go back to the ‘drop big rocks from the top of the tower’ phase?” she asks. “I really liked that one.”

“I found it quite stressful,” says Isaiah. “Rorate is preparing a gospel. It will strengthen our message and the tower. Work with her. Learn it and when the time comes, as it will soon, use it. Look, Red,” says Isaiah, gesturing down towards the forest, far below the island.

Colors move abound. The forest is flush with activity. People are moving every which way, the fabrics of their clothes visible from high up, even through the trees.

“I have need of you. Please. There is too much to me to do alone.”

Red sighs. “Fine, whatever,” she replies. “But don’t expect me to believe any of this nonsense. I fed you when you were chirping about worms. I know what you are.”

Isaiah nods. “As I recall, I was chirping about fish,” it replies. “And you were there to help me, as you are now.”

“I’m gonna gag,” replies Red.

“It’s gonna be fun!” says Rorate, from the side. “We’ll stay up all night and read together!”

Red looks her way and doesn’t reply. She turns back towards Isaiah. “At least I don’t have to wear that stupid get-up.”

– Teal flies in from the side. “Hey, sorry. I had to deliver some fabric to floor eighteen. Gray told me you wanted me, boss?” asks Teal, holding a roll of fabric beneath his arm.

Red looks at him and then at Isaiah. “Oh, come on!”

“So do you want a dress, or a robe?” asks Teal, snipping with a pair of scissors.

_________________________________________________

Jizalia

Human, Female, Herbalist

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Jizalia looks around the forest, studying the growth of the various plants and fungi around her. Many of these she’s already far more than familiar with. However, some of these, like the flower she had just picked, she has simply never seen before. Others, she’s never even heard of.

It must be the influence of the holy-tower, spreading out over the landscape.

Very, very interesting.

She rubs her chin, thinking as she begins to walk back towards and then down the staircase.

If this is the case up here, then the rotting land, down in the eastern half of the forest, might have some interesting counter-specimens to collect.

She might as well. It’s on the way to her customer’s house.

Jizalia squints, trying to make sure she sees the stairs she’s walking down. The rain makes them a little treacherous to walk, but that’s okay. Only a few more interesting flowers and herbs and the witch will keep her promise to fix her eyes.

The herbalist smiles and says a quiet thanks to the tower, for letting her have this blessing.

She can’t wait to see what flowers look like for real.