"Look where? The telescope?"

"Where else you damned fool! Come now, I don't have all day!"

Soren swiftly walked toward the large instrument, afraid that Solyara's patience might run out quicker than he'd imagined. Taking one last glance at the High Mistress, he turned toward the end of the telescope and positioned the end of the tube in front of his eye.

The world had now become restricted. His vision limited to only what the telescope showed. And yet, in that moment, Soren felt that was enough.

Presented before him in all its glory was a reddish-white marble that shined eerily bright. Scars of times past stretched for miles across its surface, as if they were signs of a catastrophic war from eons ago.

"Astrea?" It was the planet nearest to Yarian in orbit, and it represented the Mother of Silver. In some legends, the Silver Eyed Moon was said to be Astrea's gift. Its heavenly gaze now watches over the sins of man from above. Pure and eternal…

Unlike the life-like projection he had seen previously, there was something more profound to witnessing the planet in this way… Astronomy had never really interested him all that much, but being here in this moment to observe a distant celestial object chart its path amongst the stars was certainly surreal.

Perhaps it was the feeling of holiness emanating from its presence that invoked such emotions. Its radiant glow felt alive, as if responding to his gaze.

"To think I could see the planet in such detail when it's so far away…"

Solyara nodded. "Tonight is a good night to stargaze. The cloud cover is far less obstructive."

"I noticed." Soren confirmed.

"However, what you want to see isn't Astrea, but the items you need for your ritual. Let us change our perspectives a bit."

As She said this, a dark veil began to obstruct Soren's vision through the instrument. It was as if someone had covered the far end of the telescope.

Just as he was about to question Her, a sudden flash of light beamed through the narrow tube, blinding him briefly. Soren flinched back in pain.

"What the?!..."

"Look again," Solyara assured.

Without wasting a breath, he placed his eye before the telescope. What he saw greatly shocked him.

A vibrant blue world with a colossal piece of land at its center that's shaped like a hook…

Yarian.

The very planet they were standing upon.

"What in the Six Divines?!"

Solyara chuckled—in the same way one would at a toddler discovering their own reflection. "Surprising isn't it?"

"Yes! Of course it's surprising! How is a telescope on Yarian seeing Yarian?!"

"Because this telescope is a bit special, you see." She answered proudly. "Its a relic one of our ancestors discovered during her travels in the Avalon Ruins. I use it as my personal divination medium. And because of the Temple of the Star's connection to Sienna's Soul Weapon, we are technically not on Yarian when inside the dungeon."

"Not on Yarian?!... What…"

She twirled the wine glass slowly. "As I said before, the inside of this dungeon mirrors the Orbits of Fate Stars that reside within Sienna's Soul Weapon. Her Vessel of the Stars is intrinsically linked to subspace."

"Subspace?" Soren furrowed his brows.

"Yes," She nodded. "The boundary between the material and immaterial. That is what we call it. There are many subspaces in this world—a lot of them are related to the existence of dungeons."

The words reminded him of his own journey across the Beyond. Before ascending to the immaterial plane, Soren had to pass through a strange and liminal place that was both connected to the natural world and the Beyond. He remembered his time in that place very vividly…

So that's what that was. His Soul Weapon made sure to chronicle this information into a new entry.

"Dungeons like the Subterranean Shunning Grounds or our very own Temple of the Stars exist in subspace, connecting them both to the Beyond and the real world. In a way, you could even include Philosopher Stones in this category—they are essentially creating their own miniature subspace within the crystal through your anima. That is how they are able to project your thoughts."

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As he stared at the distant yet not so distant planet, a growing desire to learn more kindled inside. And yet, Solyara was not adamant on continuing Her lecture. She swiftly steered the conversation:

"If you want to learn more on subspace, research it on your own. There are many scholars at Luvinica losing their hair over it—helpless fools…" She sighed.

"For now, I want you to focus on the task at hand. What exactly are the Materials of Influence you require?"

Quickly recalling the information, Soren explained everything he learned about the Mushroom Dance Ritual.

"What an awfully annoying ritual… Though, it somewhat fits your personality." She clicked Her tongue.

"...."

"Anyhow, I assume what you need most right now is the Dragonstone Mushrooms, correct?"

Ignoring Her quip remarks, Soren nodded. "Also the Wind Whistling Leaves. But I am not even aware of where I can find them."

"Those pesky things are fairly easy to find actually. It's a common alchemy ingredient. All you really need to do is find a Whistling Canary and pluck one of its feathers. They are usually found in the Selkie Federation."

"...." He was once again left speechless.

The Emberbloom Shrooms were in the Feylith Forest, the Dragonstone Mushrooms were in the Runic Mountains, and the Wind Whistling Leaves could only be found in the Selkie Federation.

These were three different geographical locations that were hundreds of kilometers apart. With only eighteen or so days left, how was he going to gather any of these ingredients?

Seeing his pitiful expression, Solyara sighed. "Don't be discouraged. For now, focus on locating them."

Taking a deep breath, Soren nodded. Solyara then snapped Her fingers, and with it, the telescope zoomed in on exactly what he needed.

The Runic Mountains had now come under full display.

Soren watched as colossal volcanos erupted, spilling an endless ocean of lava. Fearsome black wyverns flew in circles around the hellish ruptures, as if to guard their territories. Occasionally, they would fight amongst themselves in the air. Soren spotted one such altercation in the distance—it ended badly for both beasts who rapidly fell from the smoggy and ash filled dark skies into the lava rivers forming below.

The volcanos themselves were also strange. Soren could see strange formations in the rock, as if entire symbols were inscribed upon the sediment. Next to each one, a colossal tower jutting from the side of the cliffs were found which he assumed were Vyakist shrines.

Suddenly, the telescope shifted once more. Rather than a distant shot of the cluster of volcanos, they were now looking at only one specifically. Inside its gaping hole, a large stone platform was seen, surrounded by a sea of violet-colored lava.

But it was what sat above this strange platform that left him petrified.

A Dragon.

Massive creatures that surpass the narrow categorization of 'Spirit Beast.' Some scholars even argue that their intelligence far surpasses that of the "wise" races. Comparing them to the wyvern he had seen earlier would be akin to comparing humans to apes.

Some myths even ascribe the origins of the Drakari race to them.

As he slowly analyzed its form, Soren's fear slowly turned into astonishment. He realized that this was not any average dragon. Its features were far too distinct from the ones he had read about.

The most obvious distinction was the flames on its back. They were not the usual yellow—just like the volcano's own magma, they were a vibrant purple. Even stranger, reality seemed to bend around them, as if it were being melted away. The more Soren stared, the more drowsy he began to feel. As if he was being hypnotized…

"You should quickly look away," Solyara warned. "That's Nelxrayda, the Dreamfire Lord."

A sudden chill ran down Soren's spine as he watched the massive beast with clearer eyes. He quickly glanced away, but that was when he noticed something.

Wrapped around its fiery tail was a small field of mushrooms. Their stems looked rigid—like pure obsidian. And their caps contained a faint glow, as if they were alive.

Sitting above the field was a colossal egg covered in scales—strange runes were inscribed into each one that pulsed with light.

Is it… protecting its kin?

Theory after theory formed in his mind, but in that moment, his gaze had been fully drawn to the strange, stone-like mushrooms.

"Is that what I need to obtain?"

"Correct," Solyara answered, crushing his hopes.

How the hell am I going to obtain them…

He was beginning to regret even choosing Cantor's Crown as his second rune. Though, equally, his passion for new thrills was also growing.

Just as he began to brainstorm ways to obtain the Dragonstone Mushrooms, a sudden change drew his attention.

The Dreamfire Lord… He was now looking at him.

Soren saw them both—the glassy eyes that drowned him in a void deprived of mental strength.

Death gripped at his heart as his eyes widened more than he could ever lift them. And yet, despite his growing fear, Soren could not look away. The petrifying gaze of the dragon had stunned him in place.

He had even forgotten how to breathe…

Suddenly, a vibrant flash of light occurred, momentarily freeing him. He jolted back only to land on the floor. Above him, Mistress Solyara floated freely with Her wine glass held tightly. Her expression remained bored.

"Congratulations. You are now likely the only 1st Circle magi to ever look the Dreamfire Lord in the eye and survive. Now then, shall we view the locations of the other items?"

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