Chapter 74 - A Thief
The guild was filled with additional people the morning of the next day. Frederick invited the officials of Etheoria to discuss what they wanted to do with Ed and Nataniel.
Ed was still in contract with the guild. Although they can easily nullify the contract, the decision will be left in the hands of Ed.
And he will announce his decision later that day.
Elliot tilted his head to the side after seeing what Ed was wearing. "Err, what are you doing?"
Ed hid his face with the tall collars of his cloak. "This is my life now."
"Remove that." Elliot pulled the large cloak that covered Ed's face and body, revealing the black disfiguration of his arm's skin. "Dude, did you let this get to you?"
Connor and Hope got to the table and pouted. They were carrying trays for their breakfast, sliding into the table to join the other two.
"We told him so many times that it doesn't look as bad as he think," Connor said, taking a bite of his pancake. "Bwuf hwi shwomhow–"
"Don't talk when your mouth is full, please," Lance sighed, sitting beside Elliot. "We don't need to see what happens to your food inside your mouth."
Connor gulped his food down, "Rude. Anyway, he somehow puts the cloak back again."
Elliot snapped back to Ed and saw that he indeed wore the cloak over his body again.
"This is my life now. Great power comes with great responsibility," he said darkly.
'Quest [ Gallantrium Upgrade ] available.'
[ Gallantrium Upgrade
Reward: Mettelium X 40
// Bring your Gallantrium to your trusted blackstmith and forge the following pieces:
X1 Chest plate
X2 Shoulder plate
X2 Knee plates
X1 Scabbard ]
"I can forget in my Console, why do I have to go to Francoise?" Elliot deadpanned but had no choice but to follow the instructions.
He was also curious about what the new reward was. It seemed liked it was another metal based on the name alone, Valorium, Gallantium, Mettelium.
"I'm gonna go to Francoise," Elliot announced.
"By the way, what materials do you need for my new staff?" Connor asked.
"I still don't have–"
'Recipes unlocked.'
You sly book. Elliot thought.
<< Staff of Infernal Flares >>
<< Dragon Claws Armor >>
<< Metellium Arm Sleeve >>
Elliot could only scratch his head and look at his friends. The Manual does great things but it doesn't stop supporting his friends somehow. He knew too well that the new recipes were for the three. That was obvious.
"Have you heard?" Ethan walked up to them and casually sat on their table. He did not bring his tray, meaning he wouldn't stay for long.
"You really like gossip, huh?" Lande chuckled.
"Shut up," Ethan deadpanned and turned to the others. "There's a theif in the city. They said the thief would lure their victims somehow and would binge on their money."
"Why is that thief on the loose then?" George asked, also sitting on the table beside Ethan. "You may ask that question but the thing is, the victims would forget the place, name or even face of the thief. Basically, they erased themselves from the victim's memories."
"I'll go to Francoise for now," Elliot announced. "See you later."
"Be careful!" Ethan yelled from inside.
<< Staff of Infernal Flames >>
Recipe:
Gallantrium X6
Obsidian X3
Flamering Stag Horn X2
Legendary Weapon Gem X1
Elliot pouted at the last item on the list. Connor was still at Sacred and they're having a hard time leveling up these days. Given the fact that there were tons of problems thrown at their way, they couldn't go to quests. And the queste seemed to get less and less too.
"Has the world solved its own problems?" Elliot asked out loud.
Someone whistled at him, seemingly calling him.
"Young man, I have the answer to your problems," a woman said. She was the age of Midnight and looked very beautiful. She looked like she was one of those fortune tellers with gems adorning their clothes and a veil over their heads.
She entered her shop and gestured her finger for Elliot to follow. He looked around and thought he had nothing else to do so Elliot followed the woman inside.
"My name is Esmeralda," she said and sat on her chair. There was a table in front of her and a magic crystal in the middle of the table.
The shop was dimly lit but Elliot could make out the items on the shelves. He could also tell that they were alone since he couldn't feel any other presence in the area.
"Sit," Esmeralda said. "Young man, you seem to be deep in thought. What is bugging your mind?"
"Isn't that your job to tell me what's going on?" Elliot retorted.
Esmeralda touched her chest in shock, gasping. "Oh, no, no, no. It seems like there are plenty of problems that are fuzzing you. The book is just one but tell me. What bugs you the most?"
"Holy cow," Elliot gasped. "Y-You're not fake?"
"I am nothing but a Grandseer. I can only see things but I can never interrupt the flow of time," Esmeralda said and leaned in. "And whatever I tell you, you must never change anything. For I've seen the end of everything and it is for the best."
"What changes would ultimately change everything?"
"The Time Priest," Esmeralda said. "There comes a time where you must choose to change fate. But you must never. Never."
"And why is that? If it's for the good of everything, why shouldn't I change it?"
"That's only because what you change would only benefit that time," Esmeralda paused and waved her arms in the air.
There were several crystals throughout the room. It lit up like the color of the galaxy and spurt rope-like lines that traveled throughout the room. Esmeralda raised her right hand and pulled one line in front of them.
"This is the flow of fate." She picked a string from the line and plucked it. Immediately, the rest of the line darkened and slowly vanished. "Pluck one event out or change it."
She returned the string but it was on reverse. The rest of the lines glowed back for a moment before returning to darken and vanishing. "The rest of everything will fall into chaos."
"W-Why is that?"
"Fate wasn't chosen easily. It was debated by gods and deities as to what outcome is best for everything. The death of one man, the destruction of a kingdom, the end of a realm, they are pillars for the betterment of everything. And you. I saw a future in you that would tempt you to change something but no, you mustn't."
"W-What if I did end up changing it?"
"Then the heavens will rain down their white rain upon us," Esmeralda said darkly. "But that time is not today or tomorrow. It'll happen not so near us. So, you don't have to worry. Goodbye!"
The woman pushed the now baffled Elliot out of her shop.
"Hey, wait a minute," Elliot said but the door was closed right in front of him. He tried to knock but heard a coin drop beside him. He looked and saw that his coin purse was opened, the opening was out of his pocket. "Thief!"
Elliot slammed his hands to the door but it was useless. The door had been barricaded with magic reinforcements. He kicked the door repeatedly until it opened, revealing an elderly woman.
"I-Is there anything I can do for you, young man?" the old woman asked.
Elliot narrowed his eyes. "I can see through your disguise, hag."
The old woman gasped. She took her walking stick and tried beating Elliot. "What do you mean, hag? You youngsters keep knocking on my door and take your anger out on me like I did something wrong. Argh!"
"Ow. Ow. Ow."
"Granny, granny, hey," a boy ran up to them and stopped the old woman. It was Sun. "Hey, granny. I'm sorry for his actions."
Sun told the old woman what happened. About Esmeralda, her crimes, and her magic.
"Oh, I'm sorry, young one," the old woman hugged Elliot.
"It's okay, granny," Elliot said, pursing his lips and stopping the tears that were threatening to flood out of his eyes.
"Let's go?" Sun offered but paused. "Oh, I'm sorry. I still have to go to the city hall so that I could report the house Esmeralda used for her base. There are already 7 victims including you but we still lack a lead because of her Spatial Magic."
Elliot had realized thag Esmeralda put on the same magic Isabelle used for her training grounds. She would simply deactivate it when she pushed her victims out of the door.
Evil but smart. That woman must've some Adventurer experience for her to analyze and use magic that efficiently.
"I'm gonna go to Francoise anyway," Elliot smiled. "Thank you, Sun. I owe you a drink."
"Yey," Sun chuckled and bid farewell. Looking at Sun, you would never believe that he could fight dragons and beasts and that he's almost at Breakthrough.
Elliot took a deep breathe and shoved everything Esmeralda said. When she mentioned the book, this caught his attention without realizing that most magical artifact are books.
"This is frustrating," Elliot sighed and walked up to Francoise's shop but the door opened before he could even reach it.
"Gallantrium!" Francoise beamed. "I could feel it!"