Alongside it is a map that shows the whereabouts of the book. I don’t recognize the location of the book at first, but it seems to be a couple of hours away from my current location. Not bad. The rest of the information doesn’t mention anything about the contents of the book.
There is one warning, though.
Do not open the book.
Easy. I don’t need to know what’s inside.
The information concludes with a bonus. If I finish the mission within twelve hours, I get another one hundredslova.
My eyes sparkle at the prospect of a bonus, and I pat myself on the back for bringing a vial of Zantrax with me since it saves me the time of going home and back. Luckily tomorrow is my day off work, but considering the Zantrax could wear off anytime, the faster I complete the task, the better.
Then I’ll also be able to treat Moe to something special. The thought of her smile when she sees I got her a gift makes me flush. We’ll also be able to afford better cuts of meat, maybe even something as rare as thevidribird or theslepka, a type of fatty wild cat that is considered a delicacy in many parts of Tartareia.
Popping off the lid of the vial, I drink the entire liquid.
This time, as the powerful essence spreads through my body, the pain is not as bad as before. I take a few breaths, close my eyes and assess the situation.
Level three, Adept.Yes! Perfect!This mission will be easy money.
The main ability of the user is ice. Strength, speed and perception are all increased according to a typical level three, so I am familiar with that from last time. But the ice ability is interesting and I wonder how that will be of use to me during the mission. Somehow I miss the previous one: controlling gravity was quite handy.
As I take in all the information contained in the essence, I can’t help but wonder what my main ability will be once my seal dissolves. The elements are the most common ones from what I’ve read: Fire, water, earth and air. As soon as I can afford it, I should buy a book that goes more in depth into the main classes of abilities. After all, knowledgeispower, and the more I know about potential opponents, the better I’ll fare. The books in my library do not go into detail, mostly talkingabout the Primordials alongside some general terms for the elementals. And from what I’ve gleaned from the Zantrax vials I’ve consumed so far, each domain has an official name and each level has a certain name which suggests the degree of power one would have—which is why this is not public information.
I suppose my father was careful to give mesomeknowledge but not too much in case it might endanger me; that it might make me yearn for… more.
The only issue is that I’ve never needed a certain trigger. I’vealwaysyearned for more. And the more experiences I have, the more I exist in this world, the more I see whatcouldbe, the stronger my yearning grows. But it’s notjustfor myself anymore. Now there’s also Moe. I want nothing more than to be someone better for her, more worthy, just…more. She deserves to have someone who can protect and provide for her, and at this moment, I don’t fit that criterion. That’s why I must work harder.
With my resolve growing stronger, I follow the map toward the designated location.
Although my speed is increased, because I’m heading to an unknown location, I need to be careful not to get lost.
It’s only when I reach an area that is not only uninhibited but also lacking any structures that I have to ask myself whether I’m going in the right direction.
I glance again at the map. The spot is a few thousand steps away—somewhere in this vicinity. I keep walking.
The desolate area gives way to a small patch of forest. Though the weather is still relatively cold, all the trees are full of life, their leaves colorful and vivid. They loom over me with a frightening height, obscuring everything beyond this point. Their branches and leaves are laid out strategically. Not a speck of light makes it through them. In fact, their arrangement seems more like a puzzle, with every piece having a designated spot.
I consult the map again. Nibbling on my lower lip, I trace the landmarks with my finger, thinking I might have missed something—again. There isnoforest on the map. At least, it hasn’t been illustrated. There’s only an empty stretch of land between my location and that of the book. And to reach from my point to that location, Imustcross through this forest.
Although the situation is not ideal, I try not to give in to all the frightening ideas in my mind. Perhaps the map is simply old, dating before the appearance of these trees. Or, maybe it’s not supposed to portray everything as found in nature. I’m sure there are explanations for it.
Moving forward, I simply walk through a small path between the trees, counting the steps so I know whether I’m getting closer to the location.
It’s within a couple of minutes that Ifeelsomething shift.
I pause, right in the middle of the forest and look back. The small path I entered through is now gone. I blink.What?
As I turn my attention forward again, I notice that the trees in front of me have disappeared. Instead, the entire area is once more desolate and barren. Somewhere in the distance, some thousand of steps away, there is a square stone construction resembling a building.
After a few more moments of deliberation, I come to the conclusion that the buildingismy target location where the book should be.
Easy. I activate my speed and start toward it.
One blink later, however, and the dense forest appears again in front of me. The trees are much closer than before and they seem to be crowding toward me, almost as if they had a mind of their own.
What…
I’ve never heard of anything like this.
