The Earth Online

56 The Third Commandment

“What the hell is the Wicked Peruvian Lilly?” One of the warriors asked the beast tamer while scratching his head.

He looked around the field and tried to look at where Thaleos was staring, but to no avail; he saw nothing. His fellow teammates nodded their heads in agreement except for one of the alchemists.

The timid looking man hesitatingly spoke out, “I think that w-we’re already c-crossing the line, Jay. They’ve already saved us, not to mention allowing us to loot some goods from the large black wolf.”

The warrior glared at the alchemist and grunted, “It wasn’t just them that killed the wolf though, we also helped.” Their assassin member just rolled his eyes and proceeded to look if he can loot anything else from the wolf.

The alchemist was about to repeat something but decided to keep his mouth shut. The man named Jay’s face shifted into a smug look—seemingly satisfied with how he dominated over his team members.

“Mind telling us about it, Captain, whatever your name is?” The warrior edgily stared at the beast tamer. Thaleos just shook his head in disappointment but still decided to answer the man’s question,

“It’s just a significant and valuable flower.” He tried to make it cryptic as much as possible. He knew the consequences of getting that flower; James was pretty adamant that this world isn’t as easy to loot as the last one.

You had to make strategic choices to survive, hence the third commandment.

His teammates knew about the Wicked Peruvian Lilly and how each flower amounted to 1,800 shekels. It was one of the most expensive and rarest flowers in the second stage.

Its herbal medicine capabilities were unparalleled as it had 27 healing capabilities—they ranged from healing cuts to restore the life force of beasts. They were rare as they only grew during eclipses.

That’s why the second stage’s beasts guarded these flowers and other rare herbal medicine. They were meant to be taken by those worthy of them.

James explained in his journal that the gods were fickle and created an impossible set of standards per type of medicine; that’s why the probability of dying to get these plants or other rare items is quite high.

The warrior named Jay tried looking around the location, alongside the two other alchemists. The timid alchemist and assassin just stayed by the wolf and were crafting potions together.

“But James mentioned something about the guardian beasts mostly attacking lower level players, right?” Haya stated as he stared at Thaleos in curiosity.

“Yeah. James said that when unprovoked, they have a higher chance of attacking lower level players compared to higher level players.” The bearded man explained as he hid away the golden pair of Insight Glasses.

“Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Why would they do that?” Kedrick chimed in with wrinkled brows. Haya nodded his head in agreement and waited for the other man to respond.

“Well, based on our trusty old journal, it says that it’s because lower-level players tend to steal those rare herbal medicines compared to higher level players.” Thaleos knew how his friends would react, and when he saw how everyone rolled their eyes, he chuckled under his breath.

“Trust it to the gods who’ve ruled for millions of years but still believe in stereotypes.” Ygritte started in frustration. The druid was ready to pull her hair out because of how fickle the gods were.

“Ugh, lord, if you’re there, I’m ready to throw some hands. Hand them to me in peace, Lord, and I will do your command.” Kedrick jokingly prayed while loudly cracking his knuckles.

They all had a good chuckle, except for the other group members looking for the flowers. Jay seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation and unconsciously responded,

“I call that bullshit. That makes no sense at all. If the gods were able to create a world like this, surely they won’t make stupid rules like those.” The warrior was raising his hands in exclamation.

Thaleos tried to reason with the other group, but they, well Jay, in particular, refused to budge and just kept stating that their group was filled with a bunch of liars.

The warrior even had this deranged and paranoid look on his face when he shouted, “You’re all just saying this because you want to keep that valuable flower for yourself!”

The bearded man knew that the man was probably not an inherently bad person; maybe the apocalypse's trauma and the desperation to survive was causing him to think like this.

Maybe their group was betrayed before, and that caused him to be paranoid of everything and everyone.

But the beast tamer’s patience was thinning as the man refused to listen to them. He could only help people who want to be helped.

He could force himself on people who look like they need his help, but he knew there was a fine line between being a well-intending friend to being someone’s punching bag.

As a psychiatrist, he knew the pacing people needed when healing. So, he decided to say one final piece,

“Look, Jay. I have nothing to gain from lying to your group. Honestly, I also want the flower because it can really help our group, but I know when it’s not meant to be picked yet. I’m just giving you this advice; it’s your choice if you want to take it or not. Just know that there will be consequences if you do decide to take it.”

After saying those few final words, the warrior, getting swallowed in his pride and desperation, decided to ignore the beast tamer’s advice and continued to look for the rare herbal medicine.

Haya clasped the bearded man’s shoulder and just shook his head to signal that it was a lost cause. Kedrick and Ygritte also communicated through their eyes that they did their best to convince the man.

“Ahah! I found it!” Jay, the warrior, exclaimed in excitement. His loud voice made everyone near the vicinity look at where he was.

The warrior was standing between two large ancient trees, and he was pointing at an enchanting-looking flower that emitted gold flakes.

It was hiding under one of the ancient trees' unearthed roots on the left, almost as if protecting it from any form of harm.

“I warn you, Jay, please do not take the flower,” Thaleos uttered in a serious and grave tone. He was carefully eyeing the man and his surroundings.

He knew how the gods were playful with their punishments.

Contrary to the beast tamer’s intention, the man’s warning further egged on the warrior to get that flower for himself and trade it in for the crystal shekels.

As soon as the man touched the majestic flower tips, a Wintersbite beast appeared from one of the aged trees. It had the figure of a wisp and was floating around like a wyvern.

Before the warrior could run away, it swiftly swooped in straight through the man’s chest. Leaving the man with a bleeding gash, thankfully, it wasn’t on his vital points.

Just as Thaleos and the others were ready to take out their weapons and attack the beast, a woman wearing a cloak appeared out of nowhere and took out a silver whip.

Spotting the woman, the Wintersbite beast headed towards her direction and attempted to go through her body as well.

But before it could even approach her, regardless of its inhumane speed, the woman successfully lashed out her silver whip and trapped it.

Kedrick immediately moved to heal the man, and the beast tamer, druid, and berserker helped the mysterious woman sedate the wisp-like beast.

Cool to the touch, they tried all kinds of skills to weaken it, but thankfully its weakness seems to be incantation spells. Because as soon as Ygritte sang her sleep-inducing lullaby, it was momentarily sedated.

This gave the beast tamer the chance to cut through its head using his black katana. They were shocked as to how easy it was, but the woman explained in a low voice, “The Chromatica Silver Whip can absorb a beast’s powers and life force.”

Everyone nodded their head in amazement, except for Thaleos. He recognized that voice anywhere, as he spent a good five years hearing it. He carefully lowered the woman’s hood, and he smiled, knowing who the woman was.

“Natalia, is that you?” The beast tamer asked in a kind voice. “Hi Thal, how have you been?” The gorgeous redheaded woman with elven features asked the beast tamer.

Ygritte knew better than anyone who Natalia was. She was Thaleos’ girlfriend for five years, even fiancée in their last year of being together.

The young druid flinched a little bit when looking at them stare at each other. She knew how much the two loved each other, and they were just forced to break up because Natalia’s parents didn’t like the beast tamer’s background.

The hooded figure was none other than Dr. Natalia Rosenthal, Ellis Town’s most known psychiatrist and kindest philanthropist.