Chapter 344 Our Mayhem [Part 4]: Dilemma
Northern stood in the engine cabin, where Terence also sat and had started the ship allowing it to take flight.
He stared around for a couple of seconds.
A soft hum filled the air, accompanied by the faint, rhythmic pulse of energy.
The room was expansive yet efficiently organized, designed to accommodate the intricate systems that power the airship while allowing for easy maintenance and navigation by its crew.
At the heart of the engine room floated a small, luminous crystal, suspended effortlessly in mid-air.
This crystal, about the size of a human finger, radiated a soft, multicolor glow that illuminated the entire chamber with a serene, otherworldly light.
The floating crystal was encased in a delicate lattice of golden filigree, which enhanced and channeled its energy.
The crystal, rotating slowly and emitting a calming hum that resonates throughout the room.
Surrounding the Core Crystal are a series of intricate, translucent tubes and conduits that extend outward like the branches of a tree.
These conduits pulsate with the same ethereal glow as the crystal, transporting its energy to various parts of the ship.
On either side of the engine room, large, sleek engines hummed with a quiet, mechanical grace.
These engines were encased in polished, metallic housings adorned with runes and symbols that signify their enchanted nature.
Northern slowly walked to the center of the room where the crystal was situated. Then he observed carefully.
[Item]
Name: [Vae'ri]
Type: [Utility]
Rank: [Unknown]
Description: [This crystal is cut out from the tree of Ayuva's citadel]
'It's the exact same thing!'
He had first suspected it because the color, even though the one in the tower was shattered, there was still that resemblance.
But looking at it with [Soul Eyes] really made him realize.
They are the exact same!
The crystal that was supposed to be the main powerhouse of the tower was the same kind of crystal that was serving as the main powerhouse of this airship.
Northern felt baffled.
'Does that mean the airship belongs to the tower?'
That would mean all those soul cores belonged to whoever was in the Tower at the time. Most likely, Fagnur.
Northern felt the dots connecting.
Maybe Fagnur left the Tower, and went in search of something. He killed a lot of monsters but never used their soul cores because he didn't need them.
'Just like me...'
Northern was aware that this was him all trying to force connect the dots, he didn't have to be precisely accurate with his notions.
But he was sure that he was on the right path.
The tower came to this world, most likely from the underworld.
The person whoever it was that came with it, went out of the tower with the airship, to the sleeping mountains to find something.
However, he or she never made it back.
Which left Northern with a very important question.
'What could they have been looking for?'
Northern leaned on the wall and exhaled.
Noticing the heaviness in his tone, Terence asked:
"Is everything okay?"
Northern looked at her and nodded with a small smile.
"Yea. I was just thinking about something."
She also nodded in response with a pale smile. She seemed to be in a somewhat melancholic mood.
Which was quite the opposite of what Northern expected. Raven was back after all.
Instead of asking, he decided against it.
If there was one thing he learned from their conversation at the tower it was to learn how to not mind Terence's businesses. Much further anyone's.
But Terence in particular now, being a vessel of Ul, she held a huge amount of responsibility for every information she shared.
It'd do her no good prying into her matters. If he cared about her any bit then he should keep his eyes out of her business.
...Was how he viewed it.
"I'm sorry..."
Her voice distracted him from his thoughts, causing him to turn to her with a solemn expression.
"Sorry about what?"
"I was not able to be of much help in the rift. Even though I saw it coming."
Right!
'There's that...'
Northern had forgotten that Terence actually saw the whole thing coming and said nothing, acted nothing. She just allowed it to happen.
He understood the responsibility placed on her and the burdens. But he would be lying if he said he didn't feel offended a little.
Who knew what could be going on in her head right now. What she could be harboring to herself.
He couldn't bring himself to trust her.
Then again, it isn't like she's asking to be trusted.
Northern smiled and said:
"You helped well enough. There's nothing you should be sorry about. Saintess."
Terence smiled sadly,
"Saintess..." She muttered, "feels cold."
Northern looked at her for a moment and averted his gaze, bringing it to the crystal.
What was he to do regarding this situation...
WHAM!
He was in his mind when a sudden force clashed with the ship, causing the entire vessel to tremble to tremors.
Cracks ran around the body of the ship, even the humming of the engines became distorted.
Shocked and surprised, Northern ran out of the engine room.
When he got to the deck, Raven also was already there, two swords in her hands.
Helena was on one knee, the acceleration rods had been broken by strong branches that grew from below the deck.
Stunned at what was going on, Northern raised his head, only to realize they were completely surrounded by darkness.
Raven who had abruptly come out, stood there, unable to move an inch from where she was because she was blinded.
Helena seemed to have been severely injured by the attack just now.
To make things worse, the colossal head of the creature was looming above them with slightly opened maw.
Definitely ready to swallow them in whole.
The ship's movement had been slowed. He could try his best to burn the branches but it'd be of no use, they'll only be flying slowly because the control of the propellers—the rods had been broken.
More so, the ship has been impaled from below, he didn't think that was just an ordinary damage, the ship would be slow.
And there was the never-ending darkness and the colossal boogeymonster.
If doom had never been spelled for them before, right now was spelling doom for them in block letters.
Their only way out of this situation was to abandon the ship.
But abandon the ship?
The ship he had waited so long to have?