Chapter 56: Ground folk (2)
I said I wanted to meet the Ground folk leader, but that was something much more difficult than what I expected, not because he was someone hard to meet, but because I couldn't stand up properly.
"Do you need help?" Eliza asked as she watched me failing miserably in getting up from the bed.
"No need"
God, why must it be so painful.
I released a bit of mana to strengthen myself, just a bit enough to help me stand and not enough to tire me too much. Standing up I moved towards the door as Eliza accompanied me.
We left the place revealing a complete society hiding under the ground, countless huts made of clay just like the one I was previously, as well many people live in it.
"Surprised?" Eliza asked me.
"Somewhat, it's truly impressive"
I saw the floating city but didn't see the city itself, but I know from the novel's description, but the Ground city I never saw or read about it before. It's truly something else, but I think that the black market is much more impressive.
"I was also surprised the first time I saw it"
"How long have you been here?"
"A week and a few days, I only got here a day or two after the start of the exam"
"And you became the one leading the army against the Sky people in that short amount of time?"
"We needed a leader, I was picked by the others of our team because I have more points"
The same thing happened with the Sky people, they decided that Liam would be the best to lead the students of the Sky people team because he had more points by then.
"Though, now that you are here you are threatening my position" She said in a joking manner.
"I don't want to do something as tiresome as leading people"
"Yeah, you prefer suicide missions right? Like fighting a grade 5 monster"
"Yeah, that's more my thing"
My sarcastic answer made her chuckle a bit, then she asked, "Why did you even bother to save Aaron? You could have escaped from the Colossus by yourself, that did nothing for you, and even annoyed you the past month, so why?"
I question myself about that as well. And I can't find a satisfying answer.
Then she added, "And it's not like we are going to die anyway, we must suffer some sort of shock and trauma, but that's doable"
"There's no specific reason"
My answer didn't seem to satisfy her curiosity, but she didn't question any further, and sincerely even if she did, she wouldn't get any answer other than that.
We continue to talk about useless things, about the exam, or about anything at all. Until we arrived in the cabin, it was a much more well built cabin than the rest, and it was protected by some people.
Who I did not recognize by appearance, but I could feel they are ascenders. When they saw us approaching one of the guards came towards us.
He had straight dark hair with blonde tips and a pair of brown eyes.
"Hey Eliza, how's it going?" He said as he approached us.
"Fine, Leon, this is Iske Grace, Iske, this is Leon, he's an assistant, guard, combatant, and any other function or position that I may lack people"
He glanced towards me and extended his hand, "I'm Leon Kened, it's a pleasure"
Leon Kened, another character from the novel, but this one doesn't show up much in the story.
"Iske Grace" I answered as I shook his hand.
The introductions ended there, then Eliza asked, "Is Sike inside?"
Leon nodded as he answered, "That guy never leaves this place; it must already be creating roots inside there"
"Wait here, I'll talk with him before" Eliza said and entered the place.
I waited outside together with Leon, and I was enjoying the silence, until he decided to break it.
"So you are the guy that killed Julian Rose?"
"Yeah"
"How was it?"
"What?"
"How was it? Killing him I mean"
What kind of question is that?
"Not pleasant"
"I imagined that"
Then the conversation ended and I pretended to be indifferent, but the truth was that I was kind of taken back by his sudden questions. Fortunately Eliza appeared from the cabin and saved me.
"Let's go, he's waiting for you"
I accompanied her and entered the cabin. The place was not made of clay like the rest but of wood, it was much more refined and a little bit more luxurious than the rest.
As we walked through the place, I noticed many eyes looking at me, from the Ground people, looks of apprehension but also awe.
"We are the first ascenders they have seen"
"Haven't they gotten used to you guys yet?"
"Apparently not, or it's just because you are new and have a striking appearance"
"So I'm the new animal arriving in the zoo, that everyone wants to see"
She rolled her eyes, "Don't be so dramatic, you are not that attractive"
If you say so.
Their looks quickly stopped once we reached a corridor that led to a single door by the end of it. We walked towards the door and before I could open it, Eliza stopped me.
"I just want you to know, that guy is extremely difficult," she says.
"I was not expecting to be a walk in the park anyway"
She shook her head, "No, he's very, very difficult, stubborn, and everything along those lines"
This time I rolled my eyes and opened the door, revealing a small office with an old man standing in the center of it, looking at a map on the wall, as we opened the door he quickly turned his attention to it.
He has a short height, dark skin, bald and a gray beard.
He approached me and asked Eliza, "Is he the boy you mentioned?"
"Yes"
He looked me up and down, then said, "I'm Sike, the leader of the Ground folk"
"I'm Iske Grace"
And I'm here to take your weapon.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone