"Gross," was all Alanna could think when she saw the being moving off the chariot and onto the sandy beach. This man moved like an old wind up toy with his center leg moving forward then maintaining balance as the side pair moved forward; and it was freaky in a way that made the druidess shiver in revulsion. His face was just a bit too perfect and it she had an instinctual dislike for the man that she couldn't begin to understand. He also did not take his hands off his hips and was pose walking which also seemed to press her disgust button. It must have shown on her face because Scáthach's throaty chuckle broke her out of her staring.
She looked to the older woman who shook her head and clapped Alanna's shoulder. "I am surprised he came himself." The warrior said. "He can act a bit childish and has a temper if you insult him or his beliefs. He may look unusual but he is quite powerful. Alanna nodded in understanding and relaxed her expression as the man came to a stop in front of them. "Interesting look you have chosen Nuada." The man said with a laugh. Alanna started dumbfoundedly and couldn't stop herself from replying. "Wow, pot meet kettle." Scáthach chuckled again and pointed toward the man's central leg. "Really went all out there didn't you?" She asked the man who laughed in reply. After a moment he looked at the both of them and nodded in satisfaction. Then his central leg shrank slowly until it disappeared beneath his clothes. Alanna couldn't hide the shudder of revulsion and stared blankly at the spot the man's leg had been. "Why?" She mumbled and looked up at the strange man thing in front of her. He just looked confused and shrugged then motioned the pair toward the chariot.
"Come along then." The man said and started walking normally back toward the open back of the chariot. "Today Emain Ablach welcomes you." Alanna turned toward Scáthach as the pair secured their belongings before falling in step behind the man. "Is he—" Alanna started but Scáthach nodded and interrupted her. "Yeah that's Manannán mac Lir. I am surprised he came and didn't just send the boat as he usually does. I guess you really are special." She ended with a thoughtful expression.
The pair moved forward and followed in Manannán mac Lir's footsteps. The large man entered the chariot and moved to stand at its front and picked up a set of reigns. Scáthach stepped aboard the chariot and moved toward the right side of the sea god leaving the left open to Alanna. The druidess sighed and took a step onto the chariot only to stumble as an influx of energy hit her and a fog screen formed in her mind's eye.
Alanna looked over the notifications and internally sighed. "So, I did get some credit for killing the formorians. I guess they counted toward the trial? Who knows? The quest and level system is so arbitrary. It feels somehow incomplete like this is an alpha test with no place for feedback suggestions and the developers are only half paying attention. What rewards are pending and what are they waiting for? What does that even mean?" Alanna sighed and brought her attention back to the chariot where the sea god was starting to move them back out toward the sea.
Once they started moving Alanna found that the sea they were on had changed to a vast prairie filled with what appeared to be red coneflowers and the chariot was pulled by winged white Connemara ponies. She stared in awe at the change in scenery and took in the beautiful landscape. The sky was lightening into a perfect blue but had vivid red and orange hues near where the sun was peaking up over the horizon. The red coneflowers popped up everywhere through a vibrant green grassland that appeared as though it belonged in a painting.
It was quite the contrast to the blue grey water and overcast morning she had seen but a moment prior. It was quite the sight and Alanna appreciated that she did not have to cross the sea in a boat given her current view. She smiled as she started out over the endless grasslands. It was a moment of peace and calm that was appreciated given the past few days. After her brief moment of peace, Alanna turned her attention back to her personal status as she wanted to find out if there were any significant changes. She did not really feel much different. Unlike her initial transformation, her subsequent levels did not have a large impact on what she could detect. The exception was she did feel slightly more after her mana body experience, but the individual levels did not really appear to do anything. She could rationalize that she was in fact stronger and faster and could tell that she was a bit more durable after having been skewered a few times. However, there was no real way to understand and test her increases. Yet, there was still a compulsion to visualize her increases so she withdrew into her mind's eye once again.
"So, some constitution and intelligence increases this time." Alanna thought to herself. She wished she could control where to spend her points. It was all just so strange. However, a part of her understood that she already had a predetermined perfect form and this whole system was just a means to understand what she was becoming. It was not a game nor did it feel like one. She didn't have control because she could not perfectly control those aspects. She could reasonably expect that if she worked her body physically she would see some increases to her strength and endurance. Some stretching would likely help increase her fine motor skills. Speed would be tied into strength but practicing quick movements could help adjust her body somewhat. Studying could help her mind and her overall life experience would or should affect her wisdom. Products were available to make her more physically appealing but studying human interactions and how to speak to people could also make her more appealing.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
This was a natural way that humans bettered themselves and she was no different even if she was not completely human any longer. So, she had to assume that her overall increases in her status numbers were not large jumps in capability. She just had to shrug and walk the path she had chosen. She would find out more just by continuing that was certain. She even had the quest to drive that home when she forgot or started to doubt. Not that doubt was much of a concern. She felt drawn to do something more and if she were honest with herself, the land was guiding her long before the fog screen came into existence. Even if she were not aware of the call at the time.
She pulled her mind back into the mythical world her physical body occupied and continued to look out over the vast landscape. The three rode in silence each content with the view or their own thoughts and when the sun had started rising fully they crested a small hill and the landscape started to change. There were several small bodies of water where various swans played and rested and where the occasional fish would jump up out of the water after an insect. Large fruit tree groves were scattered around the area where their different colored fruit stood in contrast the vast green and blues that made up the majority of the landscape.
Alanna turned around and saw that behind her was a vast sea and the overcast blue grey sky she had seen from the other side. She shook her head in wonder then turned her view back in their direction of travel in time to see a massive floating island with an equally massive palace in the distance. It was awe inspiring and that inspiration created a sense of wonder, along with the excitement of exploration that a child would have, within the young druid.
Scáthach couldn't help but smile ever so slightly at her young student's reactions. Meanwhile, Manannán felt proud of the lands that were his domain. Nuada never did get to see this land and while he did not feel overly close to the old king, he still held a semblance of respect for him or rather her. So, seeing her reactions his pride flared and he stood taller on his now two legs.
The remaining trip toward the palace went quickly and when they closed in on it the Connemara ponies began to utilize their wings to push the group off the ground and into the sky. Defying Alanna's expectation, along with physics, the chariot flew behind the Pegasi as though it were merely traveling on an invisible road and neither dipped below them nor dragged them down.
The group made their way toward the gravity defying land mass and lined up with an arched gateway that stood over a long golden paved road that lead toward the walled compound that housed the massive palace complex. The grounds leading toward the palace were perfectly manicured as were the hedges and other bushes and trees that made up the exterior lawn. Someone had taken the time to trim and grow the bushes into various shapes which included serpents, birds, and one that appeared to be a large bear. The far exterior of the floating land mass was covered in a pine forest that seemed out of place amongst the other type of vegetation.
The palace was was massive and had a Renaissance style architecture with large columns with domed turrets and rooves. The whole building was painted ivory with golden trim and while it was stunning architecturally speaking, the color scheme seemed a bit contrived. The palace had multiple attached structures with the main entry building housing the a massive ball room. The complex had outbuildings that included the stables where the chariot made its first stop forcing the trio to dismount and walk toward the main entrance.
The strange thing about the area was that there were no other people around. The horses shed their tethers as though they had never been there and walked into the stables without being led. Alanna watched in surprise as the chariot moved itself into a garage that was attached to the stables. She wondered momentarily if the horses were feeding and grooming themselves a well but assumed there was some magic to them as they had been serpents. Of course, that could have been an illusion she was not really sure. The water in the sea was definitely water until it wasn't. So maybe some kind of transmutation or transfiguration. She didn't know the difference and while it was a passing curiosity she was more interested in what was going to happen next.
Alanna had just gone with the flow thus far. She understood that she was to meet with this man and that there would be some sort of revelations to progress her along her path. However, it would be a lie to say she wasn't the least bit nervous. This man was weird even compared to everything she had beheld in the otherworlds to this point. He did not feel overly dangerous or even malicious to her senses. He was just odd. Perhaps odd wasn't the correct word and eccentric would be more apt. His outward appearance showed that he liked the finer things and had an air of arrogance about him. He was also not exactly demanding but it was obvious he expected to be heeded.
Alanna did not like him but she knew this was mostly due to his third leg. That thing creeped her out on a level that was borderline irrational. Combine it with his natural arrogance and it was highly unlikely they would become fast friends. Still, Alanna was not one to judge solely on her initial impression. Plus she didn't see where it was written that one had to befriend everyone. So, she followed behind the man who was chatting amicably with her teacher as they entered into the palace proper and into the next step in her quest.
