I Have a Task Log

Morel stepped out of the office and glanced down below.

He shouted, "Most of you know what the situation in the Supreme Forest is like. Follow me. This time, you’ll be going through a Teleportation Array."

’Looks like we won’t be able to buy horses for now,’ Colin thought, shooting Kase a look. The Half-Orc grumbled a few times before letting out a sigh.

Morel walked down the stairs to lead the way, and the assembled squads fell in behind him.

After passing through several courtyards and corridors, the group arrived in the main hall of a massive tower within Horn Castle.

Several thick stone pillars stood within the hall. The space was vast and devoid of any decorations or furniture, giving it an empty, cavernous feel.

At the same time, neat strings of Runes were arranged on the floor along the walls, forming several circles about three meters in diameter.

Three elderly men dressed as Mages stood inside the hall, silently watching the Adventurers arrive.

Colin took a closer look at the Runes on the floor.

’It must be a Teleportation Array,’ he thought. ’This Tier Five Magic can open a portal between two locations that both have an Array drawn. As long as the two Arrays are on the same plane, they can facilitate a stable Teleport.’

Morel, at the head of the group, went forward and exchanged a few words with the three Mages. Afterward, the four men each stood before a Teleportation Array.

"Alright, each squad pick an Array and step inside. Just make sure you’re all within the circle."

As the squads made their way to the circles, Morel added loudly, "Remember, once we start, stay put! Don’t wander around, and keep your hands to yourselves. If you get tossed into some godforsaken corner of the world, don’t come crying to me."

Colin led Kase and the others into the circle in front of Morel.

They all stared curiously at the Runes on the floor.

Morel, meanwhile, began to inscribe new Runes around the circle with an ink bottle and a quill. Colin could tell the ink was likely mixed with powdered Gemstones, a type of Casting Material.

According to the books he’d read, that ink was worth about fifty Gold Coins.

So this Teleport was burning through two hundred Gold Coins.

As he marveled at the cost, Colin lowered his head to get a better look at the Runes Morel was drawing.

He felt a strange nervousness as he watched the Teleportation Array near completion.

"Hey, Colin." Morel set down his things and stood up. "First time in a Teleportation Array?"

"It is, actually..."

Just as Colin spoke, Morel gave a wicked grin and quickly recited the Spell. The moment the last syllable fell, the stone floor beneath Colin’s feet suddenly transformed into a mercury-like substance.

In that very instant.

Colin didn’t move, but a strange sensation washed over him.

It felt like a warm current surging from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making his entire body tingle.

The scene before his eyes slowly twisted like a reflection on fast-flowing water, stretching out into streaks of light.

The sounds around him seemed to recede, growing deep and muffled until only a strange humming remained.

A few seconds later, the streaks of light converged, and the warmth from the Runes dissipated.

With a soft WHOOSH, the humming vanished. Familiar sensations returned to his ears as the converging streaks of light rapidly reformed into a new scene.

When he came to his senses, Colin’s feet were once again on solid ground. He found himself in a new place.

The floor beneath his feet had become uneven tree bark, inscribed with an Array identical to the one in Horn Castle. The regular walls had been replaced by a twisted, gnarled wooden structure that looked for all the world like the inside of a hollow tree.

The hollow was just as spacious as the Teleportation Hall in Horn Castle, making Colin wonder if he’d been hit with a shrink spell and reduced to the size of an ant.

At the same time, figures in long Cloaks stood around the tree hollow.

Colin scanned the area and noticed pointed ears poking out from the edges of their hoods... ’So these must be the Elves of the Silver Star Court.’

’Thousand Masts City must be a few weeks’ journey from the Silver Star Court. To arrive in the blink of an eye with a Teleportation Array... Magic really is convenient.’

"I feel..."

As Colin was lost in thought, Kase’s voice reached his ears.

Colin turned to see that the rest of his squad, who had entered the Teleportation Array with him, were all nearby.

The brawny Half-Orc beside him was crouched on the ground, his brown face pale as a sheet, looking as if he’d just been stabbed.

Dorn stepped forward and patted Kase on the back. "The big lug’s got Teleport sickness. He’ll be fine in a minute."

"I’m... not..." Kase retorted, clutching his head.

Just then, an arm reached out from the side. A blue light flashed, and Kase’s color immediately improved.

Colin glanced up to see it was the fully armored Edwin.

"Looks like your journey wasn’t a pleasant one," the Paladin said with a smile.

Colin shrugged. "I’m fine, personally."

After nodding at the group, Edwin walked to the front.

At the front of the assembled Adventurers stood several Elves.

Except for the leader, who wore a pale gold Cloak, the others all wore pale silver Cloaks.

The Elves in the silver Cloaks all wore large hoods, obscuring their faces.

The lead Elf, however, wore a form-fitting white gown with a crimson short-robe over it. Her collar and cuffs were embroidered with a delicate pattern of suns and oak leaves.

She had the same pale gold hair as Ale, which cascaded over her shoulders like molten gold. Her wheat-colored skin radiated healthy vitality, and her elegant features were certainly worthy of the Elven race.

Colin studied the lead Elf.

’Moon Elves have pale skin, and a Wood Elf probably wouldn’t dress like this. She must be a Day Elf.’

It was worth noting that within the Silver Star Court, Day Elves held the highest status, followed by Moon Elves. These two types were generally referred to as High Elves, and it was said their affinity for Magic was far greater than that of other Elves.

Below them were the Wood Elves and, at the bottom, the Half-Elves.

Of course, beneath them were humans and other non-Elven races.

This was a generalization, of course. Ale, a Half-Elf who still held a high position, was the best example.

’Then again,’ Colin wondered, ’are the offspring of a Day Elf and a Moon Elf called a Half-Elf? Perhaps it’s a local Elven tradition...’

As he was thinking, Colin glanced at Ale, and her appearance gave him a start.

Ale had fashioned her old Cloak into a hooded mask, wrapping her entire head up tightly. She looked just like a ruthless bandit preparing for a highway robbery.

’What in the world is that girl up to?’

Just then, Edwin, standing at the front, clapped his hands.