Aimless Ascension



"Should I fly slower?" Gale asked the girl latched onto his chest.

"No," Ai answered with a hum. "This is actually exciting."

"Do you want me to go faster?" Gale asked.

"As long as that doesn't inconvenience you," Ai said cutely.

"Hold on tight!" Gale accelerated, his speed rising by another notch, though still far from hitting his full speed even without using his third fate lock.

The blind girl yelped, pressing closer to his chest, her soft modest breast squishing harder as the wind slapped against her face. She hung on as Gale flew over the trees, going on in circle as he was pretty lost to the way where the dungeon was situated. Of course, since Vale was there he didn't bother to remember, not to mention, he could find the way if he focused on the bond.

Even with all her effort, Ai found herself sliding off from his chest as Gale was going at a tremendous speed. Gale pulled her up as she latched onto his neck again, blushing at the indecent touch and rubbing. She understood why Wang Li left her with Gale.

The journey wasn't long, barely took about five minutes even after all the flying in a circle. Gale landed, his semi-corporeal wings flapping down.

"Here you go," Gale said, letting the girl stand on her feet.

"Thank you," Ai said. "That is. . . One of a lifetime experience."

Gale smiled as Vale came in his bigger form, Wang Li latched onto his back, her stomach in a twist. Their path had been mostly bumpy.

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Wang Li breathed in and out evenly to calm herself after Vale stopped. Gale helped her stand, catching her before she could fall.

"Thank you," Wang Li said and moved away.

"Okay, for the divination," Ai asked, addressing Gale. "What do you want me to divine?"

Gale considered her words. "As much as your ability lets you without backlash," he answered her. "The direction should be, about these trials, I guess you'll have a better idea about if after we enter."

With that, the four of them entered through the glowing dungeon entrance as a similar message welcomed them in.

[Welcome, contestants, to Trial One.]

[Please select your difficulty level: Easy | Intermediate | Hard ]

[Easy: A thirty-day survival trial in the wilderness where you have to do miscellaneous tasks in the meantime. Rewards: Common/Uncommon Fate marks, Artifacts, or treasures of similar value.]

[Intermediate: A twelve-day survival trial in the wilderness where you have to complete various miscellaneous tasks in the meantime: Rare Fate marks, Artifacts, or treasures of similar value.]

[Hard: A four-day survival trial in the wilderness where you have to complete various miscellaneous tasks in the meantime. Unique Fate marks, Artifacts, or treasures of similar value.]

[Participation type: Solo | Group (4/5)]

"Wow, I have never seen something like this," Wang Li said, reading the message that flashed before them.

"Ai, can you interpret them or should I narrate to you?"

"No need, the message was transmitted to my mind's eye," Ai said as she grew contemplative. She sat down in a lotus position, her stick-like staff in her hand as she divined.

"I feared it is as you pointed out, Sir Gale," Ai said after a quarter of an hour. "This seal realm won't be open until someone passes the final trial."

Gale narrowed his eyes. "Can you tell me how many trials are in there?"

"More than three," Ai answered, uncertain of the exact number.

"Do the dungeons force you to move on to the next trial after you pass the first trial or let you exit?" Gale asked.

"I can't tell," Ai answered, her voice solemn, "there's a powerful veil implanted obstructing from getting any useful information about these trials."

"Can you divine which difficulty Xiaolin and my senior sister chose when they enter?" Gale asked as that would point out the time they would be able to meet them again.

If it was Hard, then he probably had to wait a day, if the dungeon let them exit, though he thought it was unlikely. Maya wouldn't be reckless to take Xiaolin into the hard difficulty.

"Give me your hand," Ai explained. "You have a deep connection with your disciple, so it will be easier for me to divine."

Gale listened to her, stooping next to her to give her his right arm. Ai closed her eyes again, her small palm clasping his palm.

This divination didn't take long, as Ai came to an answer quite easily. "You'll meet her twelve days from now."

"Twelve days?" Gale repeated. "Is this a cryptic way of telling me to choose the intermediate difficulty?"

Ai didn't answer his question and said something properly cryptic. "If you don't meet her in twelve days, I fear you'll miss her for a long time."

Gale frowned. "Why?"

"I don't know."

This was why he hated oracles. They never have a full answer for anything.

Gale sighed. "I guess I have to take your word for it."

"Do you want me to take a soul oath about the authenticity of my words?" Ai offered. "Of course, I plan to come with you in the trials, so I think a soul oath will be a fast way to gain trust."

Gale considered for a moment. That was really a good choice, but then he looked at Vale, who appeared completely serene.

"No need," Gale said. "Vale thinks you're trustworthy, that's already enough."

"That means you agree that I can come with you?" Ai asked, her voice hopeful.

Gale perked his eyebrows.

"Don't get me wrong, the rewards are well satisfactory, but I think it is my calling to accompany you into the trial," Ai explained. "My master sent me to this town with some cryptic message, saying if I came out of this disaster I'll be a complete Oracle. I didn't understand that until I had that vision."

Gale grunted. "What vision?"

"I'll explain later," Ai said, her palm still clasping his.

"Who is your master again?"

"The grand oracle of the first school of spirit arts."

Gale groaned. "That white-haired old lady with a high pitch and condescending voice?"