The Arcadia System

Chapter 238 – The Puzzles

Marya opened her eyes so softly. Everything was back to normal, the beautiful colors filled the environment once more. 

She blushed as she was in Reve's firm arms. 

She wanted to stay like this forever but Reve's voice woke her up, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah….I just feel a little numb," replied Marya. 

She quickly jumped away from Reve's arm while her mind kept replaying the previous scenes. 

Shaking her head, she said, "I underestimated your sensory skills. As expected of Reve Amethyst."

"I didn't think I could interact with the world, but seeing you in danger… it was worth the risk."

"Oh." Marya blushed.

The ignorant Reve talked further, "Anyway, I guess we have our confirmation. The Prophet is dangerous. I will need to report back to the Gehenna Order, but first, the Prophet might slip away if I don't do something."

"Let's track him then. You can figure out what you want to do once you find his location." 

"But you said–"

"Oh, I didn't say I have no means of tracking him. Since I can't directly track him. I can track his followers who are less affected by the life-code radiating from the shard."

"Hmmm….will that work?"

"Not sure. Theoretically, it should work, but I guess it depends on what spell I use. I have a spell in mind, but I would need materials objects that are of huge value to the target. If that is not possible, I have another spell that requires me to go to places the target has been before."

Reve thought on her words before giving his opinion, "The requirements for the second one are easier to procure. Although, it seems we will need to go to Elderpass."

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Five hours later. 

Marya screamed as she rode on the Reve's beastly form. 

She grabbed his antlers to face against the sharp winds and nearly broke them. 

Reve wanted to shout at her but he could only pay attention to his fast movement. If he got preoccupied, he might hit something. 

After five more hours, he stopped. 

In front of them was a green plain field filled with wooden huts that were protected by a low rickety fence. 

Reve morphed back to his Kimon form. 

His eyes danced around the village. 

He announced the obvious, "We are officially in Elderpass."

The village was empty and the doors of some huts opened and closed frequently, giving a freakish vibe to this place.

While the both of them walked into the empty village, they conversed. 

Marya asked, "Won't leaving make NIRA suspect you?"

"No. Today is Friday. There are classes on the weekends. For all they know, I could be anywhere. It is easy for me to create an alibi."

"Oh, I see, as expected from Reve," smiled Marya. 

Reve sighed, "Can you stop saying that?"

"Saying what?"

" 'As expected from Reve'. It is unnerving," told Reve.

"Hehehe, it is just like Reve Amethyst to be humble."

"Hmmm….."

"Reve, are you in a relationship?"

"Where did that come from? That's too random."

"Well, are you?"

"No, Why are you asking?"

"Nothing. Just curious."

Reve said, "Relationships are for people without vision."

"What do you mean?"

"People who have seen the true face of the world don't have time for relationships."

"Is that what you think? I feel like you are projecting."

"I'm not projecting."

"To think my dear Reve would be scared of relationships."

"I'm–You know what. Let's focus on the task at hand."

"Okay, we shall discuss this later."

"There is no later."

"Why are you running away from this conversation?"

"Because there is nothing to discuss."

"Now, you are sounding like someone who is avoiding a conversation."

"I– Let's focus, please."

Knowing Marya, Reve didn't give her time to retort and entered one of the huts. 

It was small, only capable of fitting a small straw bed and a cooking stove. 

Reve thought, 'Do people still use these primitive appliances?'

Perhaps, he was wrong all along. 

There existed some part of the world where development receded instead of advanced. 

Elderpass was one of them. 

Only people that couldn't survive in the other regions lived here. 

Reve said to Marya, "This place will do, right?"

"Yes."

She entered the hut and caressed the objects around, "This will do."

"Okay, I will head outside to see what I can find. Do what you can do," told Reve. 

He left the hut and wandered around.

There was something on his mind that needed pondering. 

'If The Prophet has the shard of Sheol, why hasn't he opened it? What is he waiting for? Why all these reckless movements?'

It was pretty clear that the shard was in The Prophet's hands. 

'…Unless he can't open it! Is that why he is gathering followers? He needs them for a ritual?'

A ritual was all that he could think of. 

The people that created the shards wouldn't allow them to be easily opened. It was understandable that there would be some kind of lock. 

However, there would always be a ritual that can counter magic locks. Seeing as The Prophet exposed himself just to gather followers, then he probably wanted to use them for a ritual. 

'Where did he find the shard, anyway? Who is he? How powerful is he? How powerful are the gifts he grants? How much contact does he have with the titans?'

'Damn, all these questions are making me uneasy. If not for the urgency of the situation, I would have contacted the Gehenna Order through Demis.'

'I always knew I'm not the only one pursuing the shard so will I meet the others? Moreover, how will I evade the eyes of the Defense Force and the court mages?'

If he was a fourth circle mage, perhaps he might have small confidence in himself, but with the way things are right now, he had no confidence in himself to pull this off. 

'I'm not going to die for the Order's cause. Once I detect this is past what I can endure, I will run away!'

Suddenly, something touched him which made him jerk. 

He looked behind to see Marya.

"Reve, the clues I found are not literal. They are puzzles. Nevertheless, we should be able to figure it out."

"What are the clues?"

"A silver moon. A lake.. A book."