Chapter 106: Crystal Capital Jasmond

This one's not moving either. I wonder if there's some trick to moving it...

They're not broken, I assure you. It's just that most of the technology in our world is powered by magic.

Does that mean it'll respond to my magic, too?

Well, it doesn't seem to work for the Imperials, so I doubt it. It's just something us roks are born with.

A unique type of magic, huh? It's really impressive that you were able to reach this level of technology using a naturally occurring power.

By the way, what year is it here in the Crystal Age?

By your calendar it would be 1,100 AD.

1,100?! That's the same time period I'm from!

So, in 20,000 BC this world was home to the miu, who by 300 AD had been replaced by the meks... If this is 1,100 AD, then they're absolutely nothing like the corresponding time periods in our world.

It's going to be difficult to get around ze city if we can't use ze elevators...

Don't worry, I might have a solution for that. The blacksmith in the Sulata District might know a way for you to use our world's magic.

The blacksmith, huh? Would you show us the way?

Gladly. This elevator will take us there.

Hey there, Commonsarg. Lookin' for some new hunting gear?

Actually no. I'm here about something else today...

Visitors from another world, 'eh? And they're havin' trouble workin' the elevators?

Yes. I figured you might know a way for them to use our magic.

That's easy. If you don't have any magic, just go and get some. Here, use this.

A red staff?

It's an enchanted crystal rod used to collect and store magical energy. Bring it back after storing up some magic and I'll see what I can do for you.

Okay...but how exactly does it work?

Just find a place with strong magical energy and raise it over your head. The rod will collect the energy automatically. The Lightspark Tree would be a good place to start.

Wait. Did you just say the Lightspark Tree?

It's that huge tree you can see towering outside of Jasmond. The area around it is permeated in powerful magic. Supposedly it's been watching over this planet for thousands of years.

I wonder if that means it's...

If you leave the city from the Sulata District you'll find yourself in a sprawling meadow. The Lightspark Tree lies beyond there. I'll wait for you by the gates, so let me know when you're ready to go.

We should visit the blacksmith first.

Welcome back. Did you enjoy seeing the sights in Jasmond? If you're ready to go, we can get to the Lightspark Tree by crossing the meadows.

This isn't what I was expecting when you said meadows...

Look at all shiny gemstone plants, Miss! We could make a fortune off these!

Whoa, no kiddin'... Grab yer shovels and forget all yer troubles, We'll be filthy stinkin' rich by the end of this dig!

Showing your true colors already, Velette?

Urk!

I-I was just jokin'! I'm only here to find the truth about the age of the Hollow God, honest!

But still, plants made of crystal? I wonder if they're a holdover from the age of the meks.

Look, Feinne! You can see the sea of clouds from here, too!

It's so pretty! How does the meadow float like this?

The people of the Crystal Age have really managed to prosper amongst the clouds.

Indeed. Which begs the question...

Would Guilty Hades be able to fly this high up?

Oh...

Negative. Guilty Hades is only equipped for low altitude hovering.

Exactly. And if you're wondering how I flew it to stop that imperial riftbreaker, honestly, I don't even know myself. I was almost in a trance when that happened.

No, I understand that. I was just curious if we could modify the hover function to float on the clouds. You can't tell me you two don't want to see Guilty Hades gallantly soaring these azure skies at least once!

Hmm, now that you mention it...

I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but it can't be done. The hover function requires you to be close to a solid or liquid surface because of the way the technology works. Just think of what would happen if you suddenly lost power our there...

......

Ch-Cheer up, Guildna! We'll find a way to do it someday! Maybe we can use magic or something...

I don't need any cheering up. I'm fine. I'm going on ahead.

Guildna...

Haha... It does make me a little happy knowing how much he loves Guilty Hades.

Well, in any case it looks like it's gonna be difficult to get it airborne any time soon.

Well done everyone, we've safely arrived at the Lightspark Tree.

Yep, it's definitely something we've seen before.

Yeah, that's our lightspark all right.

Is this where the lightspark comes from? It looks like a living heart of stone.

Maybe it's a mineral lifeform. It looks like it's growing all around.

So lightspark is the source of life for mechanical lifeforms? Where's life start here, and where's it go?

I really couldn't say yet. But I have no doubt we'll find the answer on our travels.

You visited other eras on your travels, right? This is the same lightspark from the age of the meks.

You know about the meks?

Of course, they share a connection with the origin of our people, so everyone knows about them.

Well now ya've got me curious. Where did the roks come from, anyhow?

Oh? Are we finally getting a glimpse of the archaeologist you claim to be?

What can I say? The age of meks isn't exactly my specialty, but I'm still curious about it. How could I not be after seein' how far they progressed in just 800 short years?

You make a good point. Things changed a lot between the ages of the miu and meks, too.

Indeed. It must be connected to that red meteor somehow.

Can you tell us more about what happened 800 years ago, Commonsarg?

I'll try.

Everything began 20,000 years ago...the day the red meteor fell to our world. The once prosperous miu culture fell to ruin shortly after, though we don't know for sure if the meteor was the direct cause.

What we do know is that the meteor brought the lightspark to our world, allowing new forms of life to flourish.

You mean meks and other mineral life forms?

Exactly. And over time, the meks continued to evolve until ultimately becoming...us.

Wait, what?! The roks evolved from the meks?!

......

The meks themselves evolved from the original mineral life forms creating mechanical bodies for their hearts. Over time, they absorbed the plants of this world, rendering their mechanical bodies unnecessary.

And the end result was the roks?

I guess that means that the meks never really died out, they just evolved.

Shouldn't you already know all this, Minalca?

I've never been too interested in history. Past and present doesn't mean much when you're trapped here in the Hollow Time Layer.

(Trapped, huh? She says that, but it just sounds like an excuse to me.) (I've faced my past head on, and now I'm forging my own path to the future.)

Now then, shall we return to the task at hand?

Yep. Let's use the crystal rod to absorb the tree's energy.

The crystal rod is glowing now... I guess that means it worked?

Yes, that should do it. Let's head back to the blacksmith now.

Wow! It actually moved!

Congratulations, Aldo!

Didn't they just finish telling us how easy and simplistic the spell was?

Haha... While it's true you can only cast elementary spells right now, your crystal rod will get stronger with time. The more magical energy you collect, the more powerful spells you'll be able to use.

That's good to know. I'm guessing we can just gather it from the Lightspark Tree like we did before?

That's right. I've heard that ours isn't the only Lightspark Tree. You can increase the rod's power by finding more of them.

Alright, got it. We'll try and find more sources of magic to power the rod.

In the meantime, it should solve your elevator problem. You should be able to move around other small items as well, so try it out when you can.

And with that out of the way...

You had somewhere you wanted to go, right?

Yes, the Glass Mausoleum. It's out in the meadows, just like the Lightspark Tree.

...Before we agree to anything why don't you tell us what it is you're after there?

We can discuss that on the road. Just know that everything I'm asking of you is for the betterment of this world.

So, you're just telling us to blindly trust you? That's not something I like to make a habit of doing.

...Though I suppose we don't really have any other choice.

You have my gratitude. Let's be off.

Hey. I don't know how you came to know Commonsarg, but I can tell ya that he's a trustworthy fellow. He's basically a hero after savin' us from the butcher.

The what?

First you've heard of it? Then maybe it's not my place to say any more. But if you need any other smithing work done, you know where to find me.

Yeah. Thanks again.

We really don't know anything about this era or the Golden Sword...

That's not entirely true. We know that the council is after it, and that they're enemies of the Empire.

Yeah. This definitely has to be connected to Emperor Chronos's plans somehow.

I'm sure we'll figure out more if we keep helping Commonsarg.

Yeah, you're probably right. Let's head over to the Glass Mausoleum he told us about.

We gathered up the magic energy like you asked. Now what?

Not wasting any time with it, I see. Let's have a look...

Yep, that'll do it alright. In fact, I don't think I'm gonna need to resupply the shop's magic for quite a while.

I should've known you had ulterior motives...

Don't you worry, I'll keep my end of the bargain. Here, take this.

A book?

It's a tome that'll teach you how to use magic.

It only covers a rudimentary method of moving objects with magical energy, but it's more than enough for the elevators.

Thanks, you've been a big help.

So basically, it's a two-step process of learning new magic and gathering the energy to use it. Interesting.

Yes. With the right magic tomes you'll be able to cast all sorts of different spells.

That's actually kind of exciting...

But is it really that simple? Shouldn't we at least practice it a little?

The crystal rod was designed to allow anyone to easily cast spells, but yes, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to practice. Why don't you try it on that stuff over there?

Okay, I'll give it a shot.

Are you sure, Aldo? You've never used magic before...

Yeah, slinging spells kinda goes against your whole image...

Agreed. You're more suited to the blade arts, my friend.

We wouldn't want you to blow yourself up!

I wouldn't care if you did actually, but I'd rather not get caught in the blast.

...Come one everyone. Let's take a few steps back.

Now hold on just a minute! Why are you all so sure I'm gonna mess this up?!

Argh, whatever! I'm doing it!

Let's focus on gathering magic for the blacksmith back in Jasmond.