Master Of None
Chapter 2591 2591: 2591. Wanderer

Approaching the bridge to the elemental planes Walker had found in the mountains, Midnight noticed that the shadows seemed to be stretching just a little too far. That the air was somewhat stale here even though the wind was blowing just as much as on any mountain.

"You noticed the added dark mana around, hm?"

"Very strong." Midnight responded quickly to Walker. She could tell it was dark mana but with the strength of it she felt that there had to be more to this.

"Look at the way that the sun is rising and casting shadows on half the lands around the mountain. That is allowing the dark mana to condense differently than usual. It's not moving on as well as it should be. It's not stagnant though, the sun just needs to rise higher and everything will balance better."

This was an interesting interaction between light and dark manas influenced by the natural terrain of an area. While the bridge itself was working and sending some dark mana around, there were clearly some benefits for the mana coming through right now. Later in the middle of the day the dark mana might even find itself pushed very thin as long as the skies remained clear in this area.

This was also one of the bridges that did not have anyone watching over it just yet. Simply because the location was more or less on a sheer cliff. Yet, one of the ten bridges being in a dangerous place like this, was not unexpected. They could have been anywhere.

It wasn't like they were balanced and placed along the world in perfect equal distances from one another. That just wasn't how the nature of the world worked. No mana was perfectly balanced in all places, they gathered here or there in different densities in their own method of balance.

All this aside, Walker and Midnight landed on a simple open section of rocky cliff. It wasn't much to walk along but it was enough to create a space for the small mapping orb. They would have the information for this area and even the section of the mountain they were on.

It would be ideal for the grand global map to be able to show the land here. It was treacherous and discovering routes through it might be something perfect for the braver travelers or merchants who wished to pass through. The adventurers would get the most benefit though since rarer materials could be found in dangerous mountains like this.

Sensing the density in dark mana, Walker found that it was a bit much right at the edge of the bridge to the elemental planes.

He noticed that the opening was full of denser dark mana while the bluff flat nearby the pending was also wreathed in denser dark mana. It was only a few moments before he noticed a pitch black figure resting at the entrance.

"You are playing a risky game sitting there. You might regret it." Midnight perked her head up. She thought that Walker was speaking with her until she noticed the figure.

She hadn't felt its presence or even noticed it whatsoever. For her, it had been an absolutely blank space, even the denser dark mana had been missed. She had stronger dark mana affinity than her other affinities too, but still she had missed it.

The longer spindly limbs showed Walker and Midnight that it was a pitch black cloak the humanoid being was wearing. The slight glimmer of yellowed eyes under a darker floppy hat had also put Walker a little out of his comfort zone. He didn't want to see more clearly right now, he was sure that there were more strange features hidden by the dense dark mana around the being.

"Just looking for customers. This place is new. Nothing stopping me from roaming about." The voice was high pitched, grinding almost. It wasn't malicious though, more amused than anything.

"Unless you have something to resist other manas, your body will take a lot of damage if you come further than here. This is the world, it has every mana in a balance. Those from the elemental planes might not be able to roam freely just yet." Walker was firm but trying to be informational.

He could tell that this being was someone used to moving about the dark elemental planes freely. That they preferred to travel as they wished rather than to be bogged down by rules or territories.

"Oh is it? Is that why that old thing tried to keep me from here? Little tricks like making walls or pulling away the mana don't work on me." The high pitched laughter made Walker's skin crawl, Midnight even narrowed her eyes and flexed her claws slightly.

"You didn't think it was for your safety and not some territorial dispute?" Sighing, Walker felt that these sorts of people would be everywhere. That didn't stop him from using the all around appraisal and attempting to get more information about what sort of race this person was.

'Shadow man

This is a shadow man, known to be a race of pure dark mana affinity but thought to once have walked the world with a dual affinity-'

"No no no, not appropriate using appraisal on me. Rude very rude. I am just here to sell my items and wander but you distrust me." There had been some sort of skill that interfered with Walker's all around appraisal. He didn't feel it was malicious or powerful, just enough to halt the information. A protective skill.

"You should understand my curiosity and hesitation. You are not a race that lives within the world." Walker was clear that there was a line not to be crossed here. He even pulled more mana toward him making it even clearer that thing anything would be a foolish endeavor.

"Well well well aren't you something else. I've never seen something like you. That one is like those dragons but smaller and all mixed up. You are, different." A higher pitched laughter of amusement broke through cause the denser darkness to spread out. The dark black skin of the shadow man wanderer was easier to see now.

"You said you were looking for customers. Let's make a deal then. If you are selling or buying I can do both, but I expect you to bring warnings for anyone you pass by. My doing a deal with you would be your reward in advance for wanting the next twenty or so customers you have that the world is unsafe and dangerous without the right resistances or preparations."

The shadow man wanderer was about to respond but when the quest generated he looked at Walker with wider yellow eyes. The dark mana around even shook slightly. Walker could even sense a hint of fear. He'd done something that shouldn't be able to be done. He's given it a quest, only the most powerful beings could do that.

"Oh, sorry about that, I know being given a quest like that might seem odd. I am Walker, the origin being guiding and protecting the world. I will go to meet the true sages and elemental kings at some point in the future. They are quite nice and I look forward to it."

The darkness receded as the shadow man wanderer began opening a pitch black bag and retrieving herbs and a few stranger objects made from dark elemental materials. The wanderer didn't speak but it was clear he was accepting everything now. The mischievous and strange actions were silenced now.

While selecting items and bringing out dark mana crystals in trade along with a few mana gems that could store denser dark mana, Walker looked up and spoke. "The world is developing fast. The elemental planes are coming closer and sooner than later safe travel methods will be shared. If you want a good report with merchants and various groups within the world, you should ask for a registration with the merchant guild. There are rules but that comes with connections. You're one of the few merchants I've met from the elemental planes."

Being kind and leaving an opportunity like that was enough to show he didn't plan on harming the shadow man wanderer. It also showed that the world might be more strict than expected.

"You tried to slip by again. I will drag you back." The small voice came from the blob of dark mana that formed.

"True dark sage, no problems occurred and this wanderer is safe. I gave them a small quest. Thank you for coming to safely escort them back." Walker smiled and the blob dissolved but a pulling force dragged away the shadow man wanderer. It left Midnight and Walker a little on edge but enlightened.

There would be more instances like this. Meeting wanderers and explaining the dangers of the world was part of Walker's quest for a reason. Midnight saw this and believed she needed to help Walker even more in whatever way she could now.

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