Aozaki Aoko Case File [504] (Patreon)

“Well, that’s understandable,” Aoko responded to Simon. “While not common, Chardalyn stones were widely used by the Netheril and aren’t extremely rare. That’s why Waterdeep wizards use them, and so do devils from the Nine Hells.”

“So, we can’t really get any useful clues from this stone?” Doric said. “Lots of different people use them.”

“Not necessarily,” Aoko shook her head. “Devils are still rare in the Material Plane, and their power has distinct characteristics. But honestly, I don’t think this matter has much to do with us. Since we’ve saved Hwafo Mofeng, there’s no need to investigate further—unless whoever’s behind this Chardalyn magic stone comes looking for us.”

“You’re right,” Doric said, arms folded in thought, then nodded. “We really don’t need to get involved in this mess. Edgin and the others here in the Everlasting Rime don’t seem to have much to do with devils either.”

“I’m still a bit worried about the mother and son,” Simon said hesitantly. “We don’t know why those people targeted Hwafo Mofeng, or whether they’ll send someone after him again now that the curse is gone…”

“But that’s not our responsibility,” Aoko said. “We’ve removed the visible threats, lifted the curse, and even healed his wounds. That’s as much as anyone could be expected to do. There’s no need to shoulder unnecessary burdens.”

“I get what you mean,” Simon said, having worked through his worries. “Let’s set out to find Edgin tomorrow and hope everything’s still holding together.”

Simon didn’t say “everything’s fine,” because at this critical moment, Ten Towns was lucky not to be falling apart one by one. He just hoped his friends were safe.

“If the road to Targos hasn’t been completely blocked, I think they’ll be okay,” Aoko said after a moment’s thought. “But if their village is low on supplies and completely cut off, that’s really bad. Never test human nature in extreme situations.”

“With Edgin and Holga there, it should be fine,” Doric said more lightly. “Not to mention Edgin, Holga alone could take out everyone in Targos with one hand.”

“Well, let’s hope so,” Aoko replied. “Edgin has a wife and child, after all, and in some situations, they’re his biggest weakness.”

…

The planned departure was delayed by a day due to the curse removal and watching for aftereffects. On the third day after arriving in Bremen, Aoko, Doric, and Simon set out together by sled.

Before they left, Kira Mofeng brought her still-weak son Hwafo out to say goodbye and insisted on stuffing some rations into Aoko’s hands. Aoko reluctantly accepted the humble provisions and had Simon carry them for her.

According to locals, it usually took about two hours to get from Bremen to Targos when there wasn’t heavy snow.

But this time, a recent blizzard and a landslide caused by lightning had blocked the only road with a huge chunk of ice, severing all travel between the two towns.

After about an hour and a half, Aoko’s sled finally reached the blocked mountain road. The ice completely sealed the way; in this magic-infused medieval world, only powerful supernatural abilities could remove such an obstacle.

“Do you think you can clear it?” Simon asked Aoko as they stood before the ice. “I was going to use Fireball and chip away at it day by day, but when I came back the second day, the ice was restored—probably because more snow had frozen solid.”

“No problem, I can handle this ice,” Aoko said confidently. “But I don’t think its restoration is due to cold alone. There must be some supernatural factor at work.”

Although Simon and Doric were curious, they didn’t ask further, as Aoko had already raised her staff and begun casting.

Aoko activated her Arcane Reservoir ability and immediately felt the Weave gathering around her, granting her a temporary ninth-level spell slot as the wielder of the Midnight Staff.

9th-level Evocation: Meteor Swarm!

From the dark, cold sky, four burning meteors fell, smashing into the giant ice block that blocked the road. One missed a little, but it didn’t matter.

The massive flames and bludgeoning force shattered and melted the cursed ice, which Aoko thought was unnatural.

Now, the road between Bremen and Targos was open again.

“Ninth-level magic, just to clear a road?” Simon said, a little speechless.

“As long as it gets the job done, it’s not a waste,” Aoko replied, clapping her hands in satisfaction. “How you use a spell always depends on the wizard and the problem they’re facing, Simon.”

The three climbed back onto the sled, and the two sled dogs pulled them through the newly opened path. Even though there wasn’t much snow left, the sled runners were worn down by the rough ice.

After another two hours or so, the group finally reached the outskirts of Targos, nearly double the usual travel time, but the important thing was they’d made it.

The last time Aoko had been here, Targos was a barely flourishing place. Now, aside from endless white snow, nothing was clear.

At the town’s wooden gate, they were stopped, but unlike the dwarves in Bremen, the human guards of Targos just asked their business and let them in.

Aoko found this a bit odd, but then remembered this wasn’t a dwarf-run town—humans, after all, were more open and communicative.

“I think that gate guard looked at us oddly,” Doric whispered to Aoko.

“How so?” Aoko trusted Doric’s instincts—perception was her specialty.

“I don’t know, but it’s better to be careful,” Doric replied, shaking her head. “Let’s go to Edgin’s place. If there’s trouble in Targos, they’ll know.”