As soon as the inspection was over and the carriages were allowed to proceed into the city, Kaizen and his friends began planning their next move.
The shed they were led into was imposing, with dark stone walls and reinforced gates to protect the supplies from the extreme climate of Niflheim. The wagons entered and then the Shaccares were removed, so that they could rest from their journey in a suitable place.
Before closing the large metal doors, Valthorn looked around and said:
"Guys, I'll be back later, after dark, to pick you up. It'll be safer to use the elevator to the palace when most of the guards' shift is over."
His voice echoed through the shed to Kaizen and the others inside that cloth-covered carriage, and finally the doors closed with a bang and then the sound of a lock clicking shut.
Xisrith stepped out of the carriage, still looking a little suspicious, and offered Alina a hand to climb down as well.
"Do you think we can trust that man that much, guys?" Xisrith asked, unsure as ever. "I don't know if he likes us."
Kaizen looked around, analyzing the interior of the shed where they had been placed, and smiled with the corners of his mouth. "Don't worry, I think we're safe here."
Then Og'tharoz and the others also looked around, admiring the grandeur and organization of the shed. The dark stone walls, the solid wooden beams that supported the high, sturdy ceiling, all conveyed a feeling of solidity and security. The lighting was provided by strategically placed crystal lights, which illuminated each of the shelves in the large warehouse.
Alina got down from the carriage with Xisrith's help. Her blonde hair, which was normally loose, was now tied up in a long ponytail to make it easier for her to move around.
"It's amazing how they manage to keep everything so well organized and protected," commented Alina as she looked up.
Kaizen nodded, looking at the shelves full of precious supplies and artifacts. There were boxes of exotic spices, finely embroidered fabrics, ornate weapons and even some magical artifacts protected by invisible barriers.
All of this had been collected from other towns and cities by these elves, and the reason for this Kaizen couldn't answer, as it was all sitting in a warehouse and was more than that small town at the foot of the mountain seemed capable of.
"It's like a hidden treasure," murmured Jayaa, her green eyes shining with fascination.
After admiring the shed, Xisrith suggested that they follow Valthorn's suggestion and rest until nightfall, and everyone agreed that it would be a good idea, especially the players, as they needed to get back to real life.
So Kaizen logged off, and although his avatar still remained in the shed because he was in the presence of NPCs, to Alina and Og'tharoz it seemed that Kaizen was just sleeping peacefully in his seat.
*
The deep-diving machine opened with the sound of the lock's pistons, and Klaus climbed out slowly, his muscles still stiff from being still for hours. Klaus stretched, raising his arms, and his yawn woke Hollie Rees, who was asleep on the room's control panel.
"Oh...?" Hollie, confused, raised her head, a little startled.
After Klaus' yawn woke Hollie Rees, she blinked a few times, trying to get her bearings. Her honey-colored eyes met Klaus', who smiled gently at her, because her glasses were crooked on her face, there was a bit of drool running down the corners of her mouth and she was even eating a bit of hair.
"Sorry if I woke you up, Hollie. I'm a bit stiff after all that time in the deep end," said Kaizen, stretching his neck muscles.
Hollie stood up from the control panel, shaking out her brown hair and adjusting the white outfit she was wearing. She was Klaus' support technician, responsible for ensuring that Klaus had a smooth and safe experience.
"No problem, Klaus. You were on a long mission, weren't you? How was it?" asked Hollie, walking over to Klaus to check his health and energy status.
Kaizen nodded. "It was smooth. Somehow, I managed to build up a relationship with the leader of the dark elves who was tormenting the dwarven village and now I'm at the foot of the mountain where the Emperor of the Mist's palace is. And the rest of us are going to wait for nightfall so that we can use the elevator that will take us to the palace."
"Elevator? Ah, yes. I just remembered that dark elves aren't good with magic, so they use their intelligence and strength to create some ingenious technologies." Hollie explained as she placed the pressure gauge around Klaus' left arm.
The pressure gauge inflated gently, squeezing Klaus' arm as Hollie carefully monitored the data appearing on the monitor high above the deep immersion capsule. Her honey-colored eyes sparkled as she checked Kaizen's vital signs.
"Your pulse is a little fast, but within acceptable parameters considering the mission you've just completed," Hollie observed, moving her deft fingers over the gauge's controls. "I'm going to adjust the muscle regeneration dosage to help relax your muscles and speed up recovery in your next immersion session."
"What? Muscle regeneration dosage? Are you injecting things into me while I sleep?" Klaus asked, startled.
Hollie Rees laughed briefly. "Of course not. That's just a term for saying that I'm going to increase the pace of the capsule massages. We didn't inject anything into you."
Klaus took a deep, relieved breath, and then he took a moment while changing in the living room to ask Hollie:
"And have you had any updates on the process of that cure for my brother?"
The woman sat down in the chair in front of the control panel, looked at Kaizen with regret and denied it with her head. "It's still in the early stages of development. It should take some time yet. For now, focus on your special program. You'll have the monthly test soon, won't you?"
Klaus was a little discouraged, but nodded. He understood perfectly well that the results of the research to bring his brother out of his coma wouldn't come overnight, but it was impossible not to be anxious, because now he was closer than ever to seeing his brother talking and walking again.