Chapter 26: Infinite Core
1177 Words
Before Arion gets sane from not knowing the quest everyone fears so much about, Adriel ushered him and Lilith on her secondary office proceeding the second floor of the Guildhall.
"I now believe you're not from this kingdom if you don't know what 'that' quest is." She addressed the main issue at hand.
"Just what is 'that' quest? Please don't make it anti-climatic and tell me right now. It gives me chills when people mention 'that' quest and they are already shivering, what more of its true title?" Arion sat on a chair beside Lilith near the wooden desk where parchments that seem to be documents and a bottled ink and plume were placed above it.
The quest parchment Adriel was holding in her hands carries the burden, not just the mages, but the entire Guildhall as well. For it to be so hard to the point they fear the idea of accomplishing such a quest, it must be the toughest mission the Guild can offer.
"Listen Arion, what do you think is the reason why Lilith became a slave in the first place? Why do you think she suffers so much social stigma? And why did she sunk so low that you needed to save her on your own?" A barrage of questions was thrown at him one after the other.
The worst part is that even though he cared for her and saved her from the hands of those who hurt her, the prodigy inventor still couldn't answer her inquiry as he doesn't have the answer.
"I..." Arion doesn't have anything he can say.
Harder for him to breathe natural air at such circumstances, Lilith held her hand and said. "No... I'm sorry for not telling you when you're so kind to me... I will tell you the reason right here and now." Her emerald eyes glimmer the hope she had left, along with the acceptance she should dispense on her newly formed companions who welcomed her wholeheartedly.
"Tell me everything. I seek answers, and I'm hungry for it." He's truly concerned and finally, he'll be able to learn what 'that' quest truly is.
"The quest that incites fear to those who heard the tale is non-other than this..." Adriel gave him the parchment.
Skimming through the contents written in their way of writing, he read it aloud with certainty. "Hunt the mythical beast." Uttering the title of the quest parchment is enough for Lilith to widened her eyes in anxiety.
"I will never forget the day my party members were slaughtered by the mythical beast from the north..." And so Lilith told her past so he can understand a part of her hidden while he's focusing on how to survive in the magical world where he reincarnated.
No one knows where it originated nor it came from because even the Guildhall receptionists never heard or remembered posting the quest parchment on the update board. Yet, it's considered as a signed mission to let mages undertake it.
However, it happened that it was Lilith's team who somehow first found it without appraising its credibility.
Apparently, the quest 'Hunt of the mythical beast' is an S-Cass quest with the reward of 1 million gold coins; riches enough to be set on life without worrying about anything else existing in luxurious, wealthy living. Lilith told to Arion that his party master accepted the quest and they headed towards the north where they can complete the mission.
But they expected much from it and didn't think of the risk they would fall into. An unprecedented occurrence of the possibility where it was put up by an unknown entity who desired diabolical acts.
What they observed at the end of the path, towards the north is Boulderkeep Plateau where they were welcome by the mythical beast. At first, it was harmless, and as they pet it further, it grew into the size of an S-Class monster devouring anything that comes in his way.
The worst part Lilith told him is that they never had the chance to draw out their weapon nor defend themselves from such an atrocious beast as his comrades were being killed one by one, she escaped unscathed; the blood of her companions is all over her garments.
She returned in the Guildhall at that time after the worst-case scenario and witnessed her unbearable state requesting the higher-up parties to deal with the situation so they can at least save her remaining companions that were left.
Sadly, no one believed Lilith and her world turned upside-down when they accused her of sabotaging her party. It's the fact that a weak fire mage such as herself survived than those who are stronger party members. The guild deduced it was some kind of trap and never aided her plea.
It was also the day where she banished out of the Guildhall and the law deemed her guilty of the crime of subverting her comrades. Eventually, since she couldn't get bronze coins or silver coins, she began accepting illegal quests and ended up as a slave.
"It's because I'm weak... It's because I don't have talent in magic that my comrades ended up like that... it's just..." Before Lilith's tears flow like a running waterfall, Arion turned off his Mechanical Exoskeleton all over his body and hugged the sobbing lady so tightly until she couldn't breathe anymore.
"Cry it all out, Lilith..." Arion more than anyone felt just how broken she was inside as she tells the story of her past. It must be hard for her and he was glad that she was honest and true to herself.
"Why...? You believed me?" Lilith's tears drift onto her red cheeks, and Arion wiped it and said. "How could I not believe a lady such as yourself who shed tears despite your bashfulness? I found your honesty as profound, and it's merely my will to help you with this..."
Yesterday when both Lilith and Adriel were sleeping soundly, he actually lied about the thing he will invent and the only material he needed is the Eye of Moonlight, Magic Signature Stamper, and a material he already had to create his first-ever invention.
He simply lied for the purpose of getting extra materials to create his full-getup protection.
However, in the span of overnight, he already created the invention that utilizes the concept of perpetual motion through smelting the Eye of Moonlight in a circular object above the anvil where the Magic Signature Stamper will be blended, and the alternative for the Orb of Geyser is none other than the magic potion vial that can store not just magic, but also material lifeline evident from preserving healing properties.
A prodigy such as himself learned advanced ironing and combining materials back when was on earth, a method of preserving the materials natural effects, naturally, only complex stuff a nerd like him apprehend.
Arion grabbed a small object from the side pocket of his jeans and a blinding light filled the very room in its radiance; its light is an incandescent existence flowing with mana and magic.
"If you said you were weak... or you don't have any talent, then this will solve everything."
[ Infinite Core - Acquired ]
[ Leveled Up - 2]
- Writer
