Rune Seeker - Book 3: Chapter 39: Four Islands

“Sorry, did you say two years?” Seeyela asked.

Meanwhile, Hiral pulled open his status window to look at the dungeon timer.

999:99:99again? Just like the Forge of Ur’Thul.

“Hopefully sooner,” Dr. Benza said. “The Enemy’s atmospheric alterations continue to cross the globe faster and faster with every passing day. We estimate it will take, at the least, a year to get this island up and minimally operational. Then another year after that to bring the rest of the systems online and add the finishing touches. The other three islands should follow the same schedule?” With that last bit, he looked at Cederk for confirmation, and the other man nodded.

“The buildings and the primary rune system willbe up and running in a year; I’ve already given my word on that,” Cederk said. “It’s the other things that will take longer.”

“Wait, did you say the other three islands?” Hiral asked, pointing back the way they’d come. “You’re saying you’re going to put four islands in the sky over the EnSath River?”

Instead of answering, however, Dr. Benza looked at Laseen, and his eyes narrowed. “It was my understanding that those who worked on the piping project weren’t to be made aware of the bigger picture.”

Laseen blanched at the doctor’s tone. “I… I don’t know how they could’ve gotten that information, sir. It wasn’t given to the project’s foremen.”

“The need-to-know information we were told before going to find you in Ratchett,” Hiral quickly said, pure relief washing over Laseen. “Just like how we knew about… your project…” he added, though he glanced at Cederk and the others. Do they know about the PIM system?

“Is that so?” Dr. Benza asked, arms crossed and toe tapping as he looked at Laseen. “I guess that would make sense. Well, then, to answer your question, yes. All four islands will move together as part of a single system. Balance. Ah, since we’re here, and you’ll be one of the groups defending this place in case something goes wrong…” Dr. Benza trailed off. “Now that I think about it, weren’t there more of you last time we met?”

The obvious reference to Nivian and Wule—along with the twins suddenly vanishing from the Party Interface—cast an immediate pall over the conversation.

“We… we had another task to complete after we met with you last time,” Hiral said. “There were… complications. Nivian and Wule weren’t able to come with us after that.” No point trying to explain the undead situation.

“The twins,” Fenil whispered to Dr. Benza, and the older man nodded.

“It’s barely been a few weeks since you saved us in Ratchett, and you were sent to another task in between there and here? You must be good if they’re working you that hard,” Dr. Benza said, half-thinking to himself. Then, as if he realized something, his face softened, and he focused on the party again. “I’m sorry about your friends. The role they played in saving us—and our work—is more important than most people will ever know.”

“Thank you,” Seena said. “You were saying something about the other islands?” She was obviously interested in shifting away from the painful topic.

“Of course,” Dr. Benza said, catching on. “Since you’ll be guarding us while we work, and we’re already close to the center of the island array, we’ll give you a quick tour.”

“Must we?” Cederk asked. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

“And none of us, including your daughter, would be here for that work if not for the people standing in front of us,” Dr. Benza said. “These are the people who saved us—and our research—from the Infested’s attack in Ratchett. Besides, it won’t take long.”

“Dad, please?” Laseen said, one hand going to the large man’s arm. She stared up at him with wide eyes from under her hanging bangs.

“Oh, buttercup,” the engineer said, sighing at the look on the woman’s face. “Your mother never should’ve taught you that. Fine. Fine! I didn’t realize they were the ones who brought my girl back to me.” Then, turning to the party, he stepped forward and bowed slightly at the waist. “Thank you for what you did. I’m sorry for my rudeness.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Nothing to apologize for,” Seena said. “And we’d very much appreciate the tour, as well as being told anything you can offer about what’s expected of us here. We were… uh… sent without a lot of explanation.”

“Typical,” Dr. Benza said with a shake of his head. “Not your fault, though. Of course, we’ll tell you what we can as we walk. Cederk, I’m sure your people need some measurements from the edge anyway, don’t they?”

The engineer thought for a minute, then nodded. “Might as well if we’ll be there anyway. I’ll arrange that while you explain things?”

“Excellent.” Dr. Benza started ahead, his steady steps causing the others to jog to catch up.

“Expected you to be in the wagon,” Yanily said as the party settled around the doctor and his two assistants.

“Our… experience… in Ratchett instilled in me a new appreciation for physical fitness,” Dr. Benza explained. “No more wagons or carriages for me. Cardio is very important.”

“Could let us ride in a wagon, though,” Fenil muttered.

“Don’t be silly. You may be young, but that won’t save you if another Infested comes after us. We can’t always rely on people like Hiral and his group to rescue us.”

“It’s actually Seena’s group,” Hiral said, side-eying the party leader, but she only chuckled.

“Regardless, the point stands. You saved us from the abomination. What did you call her? Ah, yes, the Lady of the Web—I still love how dramatic that is.” Dr. Benza looked to Seeyela in her obviously familiar armor. “You’ll have to tell me why you’re wearing that later.”

“Sure,” Seeyela said with a nod of her eight-eyed helmet.

“Where was I? Right, the abomination, and then you fought the Infested almost immediately after. You may not always be around, so we need to at least be able to run more than ten steps without being out of breath…” Dr. Benza continued from there, explaining more about his new fitness routine.

Hiral wasn’t listening by that point, though, his mind stuck on yet another reference to The Buried City. That had been the first wild dungeon the group had encountered, and where they’d met Dr. Benza for the first time. And here he was now, referencing very specific things that had happened there. Then again, maybe that wasn’t so strange.

Geckodiana—Odi—had done the same thing during their multiple encounters. Though, it hadn’t been until the end of the Palace of Creeping Death the Lizardman had realized they were humans. He’d seen them as Lizardmen like him until that point, so was that what was happening here?

Was Dr. Benza seeing them as somebody else from the actual events in the past? But he was using their names… and talking about things they’d said and done…

A hand landed on Hiral’s shoulder, and he pulled himself out of his thoughts to find Seena walking beside him as Dr. Benza talked about squats and lunges. “I know that look,” she said quietly. “You’re thinking about how real this is, aren’t you? Wondering if we really went back to the past in The Buried City.”

“Kind of, and it hurts to think about,” Hiral said with a small chuckle.

“I know, which is exactly why I’m not trying to figure it out. Look, we need you here, in the present… er… the past… whenever we are. We need you listening. We don’t have a quest from the PIMP telling us what we need to do, so Dr. Benza is our next best clue. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not too keen on spending two years in this dungeon.”

“Me neither. Grandmother seemed to think it was important we went to the Grandfather, though, and the dungeon interface had to be there for a reason. Probably something to do with what Fitch took.”

“Exactly, and we need to all be paying attention for any hints as to what that might be,” Seena said.

“Right. Sorry. I’m listening again.”

Just then, the party got back to the edge of the island.

“… and that’s why lunges and squats work wonders,” Dr. Benza was saying, tapping his stomach.

“He lunges around the lab,” Fenil said. “Doesn’t walk anymore. It looks… elegant. Absolutely elegant…” He’d clearly changed what he was about to say at a glare from the doctor. “And very good for him. You know what? Next time I get back to the lab, I’m going to start lunging too. Right, Laseen? Right?”

Laseen just shook her head.

“So, those islands,” Hiral said before things could go any more off track, pointing to where the huge shapes sat connected to the ground.

Since the last time they’d been at the edge, it was almost like a haze had lifted, making the other islands clearer to the party. Just like Yanily had said, each almost looked like two mountains touching at their peaks—or maybe the mirror reflection of one. Considering the one the party was standing on now, the four islands were equidistant from each other, with a wide valley between. Down on the ground, just barely visible at this distance, looked to be a small town bustling with activity.

“Since you were likely brought into the island tunnels through underground Discs of Passage, and wouldn’t have seen any of this, I bet you’re wondering how there’s a town there, hmmm?” Dr. Benza said.

“I very much am,” Hiral said. “How would that town survive an Enemy attack?”

“It wouldn’t. Which is why it’s very important the Enemy never finds it.”

“I dunno, these four upside-down mountains kind of stick out,” Yanily said. “How can the Enemynot find them?”

Dr. Benza looked from his two researchers, to Cederk, then to the party, a wide grin splitting his face. “Because we’re inside a dungeon.”