Chapitre 17: Are You Sure?
Viella hadn't expected to enjoy the lesson Raden gave her about the items she had just purchased, along with those he had gifted her.
Despite his capacity for harsh words, Raden was an entertaining teacher.
He didn't simply tell her what the items were but explained how to use them, weaving vivid stories or scenarios into his lessons—many of which she couldn't imagine herself ever encountering.
Trix's Heart of Fire was a stone infused with the life essence of a fire fairy, capable of summoning light tailored to any need—whether to illuminate the dark, act as a beacon, or scare away ghouls and vampires.
The Deep Pouch from Cherry was even more remarkable, capable of holding anything without limit, as long as she thought of the item she needed.
The Mixing Bottle, which enhanced the potency of any medicine mixed inside it, made Viella long for potion-making skills, though Raden had compensated by gifting her a box of herbs and a recipe book.
Finally, the dagger, forged from what Raden called "a piece of the sky," was imbued with arcane magic.
It was deadly to vampires, werewolves, ghouls, Mordaths, and more—justifying its steep price.
Only the dice had yet to be discussed.
Viella was more than happy with these items, now knowing she could easily pack small necessities in the pouch.
However, Raden had insisted she needed more, and he had not asked for anything in return.
The first was a chainmail shirt made of wyvern scales.
The second was a spell he placed on her chest, at the center of her power.
He explained that if he had given her a necklace or bracelet, someone might easily have stolen it, mistaking it for an ordinary piece of jewelry.
This way, the spell would always stay with her—a spell to help her manifest her healing powers, something Viella had never known she possessed.
"I thought all this time it was because I had a natural talent for being a herbalist," Viella said, dazed. Never in her life had she imagined she possessed any magical abilities.
"Goodness, no. How could you have been so naïve?" Raden asked, searching her face for a hint of deceit. "So no one ever told you who the Ivella family was?"
"No one ever told me. The only thing I know is that they were royals of a fallen kingdom," Viella replied, recalling her father's words.
And that was only recently. All this time, she had been as clueless as could be.
"They weren't just royals; they were descendants of the High Elves of the South. Unfortunately, they're extinct now.
Your blood isn't as potent anymore, but with my spell, perhaps you can reclaim your talents," Raden said while taking out a few potions from his bag—three red ones and two yellow ones.
"The red ones will help you survive if you lose too much blood. They'll restore what you've lost, but of course, you'll need to close your wounds; otherwise, it will be for nothing," Raden explained, slipping the three bottles into the Deep Pouch.
"The yellow ones are for life-or-death situations. They'll heal your body completely. These are rare potions, so please understand their worth," he added.
Viella nodded gratefully.
"This is a Polydra—a fairy's garment. If you're caught outside and can't find shelter, wearing this will keep you dry," Raden said, shoving the fabric into her pouch. Viella nodded again.
All of these items were extraordinarily useful.
"And lastly!" Raden exclaimed, pulling out a small stone trinket with a tiny maze carved into it. "Because of my crafty nephew, you'll be needing this to know whether it's really him or not."
Viella's lips parted in surprise as Raden suddenly cut his finger and let his blood flow into the maze.
Didn't it hurt?
The trinket began to glow with a faint green light.
"With this, if you come close enough to him, the item will glow, letting you identify him," Raden said, placing it in the Deep Pouch.
Then, he opened a small wooden chest filled with neatly rolled pieces of rectangular paper, each tied with string.
"Where you're going," Raden began, slipping the bundle into her pouch, "you won't be using gold coins. They have a different monetary system there—paper money and smaller, less valuable coins. This was what I had left when I left Itop for good. Now, you get to use it."
"What about the rest of the gold coins I have?" Viella asked.
"You can sell them as gold, but not all at once. Little by little," Raden advised, his tone sharp with caution.
"If you show them everything you have at once, they'll try to buy it cheap." He pointed a finger as though instructing a child, his sternness underscoring the gravity of his words. Viella nodded seriously, committing his advice to memory.
"But wait!" she exclaimed suddenly, her thoughts snapping to the one item yet unexplained. "What about the dice?"
"They'll protect you when a larger beast comes." Raden gestured toward the center of his wide office, clearing space.
"The dice, I believe, have a name, though I never cared enough to ask. But I think you should introduce yourself to them."
"How?" Viella asked, her curiosity piqued.
"To greet the dice, simply drop them on the ground," he instructed, then added, "Stretch your hand—not too close—out in front of you." He demonstrated the motion with exaggerated care, his movements deliberate.
Viella followed his lead, unsure of what to expect.
The dice tumbled from her grasp, clattering against the ground before beginning to shift.
Like clay, they twisted and grew, gaining form and mass with an otherworldly fluidity.
Viella stepped back, her eyes wide as the dice morphed into the shape of a young girl.
She appeared about fifteen, with long, neatly braided blonde hair that trailed down her back and large, sleepy blue eyes.
Her simple dress was plain but tidy, lending her an air of innocence.
"It's a girl!" Viella exclaimed, still trying to make sense of what she was seeing. The girl stood motionless, her expression blank, her gaze distant as though unaware of her own presence.
"Wrong," Raden corrected, stepping closer with measured interest.
"Well, what is she then, if not a girl?" Viella demanded, her voice rising in exasperation.
"This girl," Raden began, his tone carrying a note of awe, "is an ancient arcane artifact. A collectible weapon, centuries old."
Viella knelt before the girl, her hand instinctively reaching out to touch her face. A surge of protectiveness swelled within her. Such a frail artifact, she thought, her heart aching.
"Do not be fooled, Viella!" Raden warned sharply, pulling her back as if she were in danger.
Viella shook off his grip, determination hardening her expression. "I don't care what she is. She's just a child. How could anyone create something like this and call it a weapon?"
Raden sighed, exasperation battling with something softer in his eyes.
"Did you not hear me? She's the only one of her kind—a shapeshifter containing the essence of many monsters." He approached the girl carefully, as though she might flee.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Dice," the girl answered softly, her voice like a child's whisper.
"Give me the dice," Raden ordered.
Without hesitation, Dice handed him the same two dice Viella had cast moments before. Raden turned, excitement lighting his face as he presented them back to Viella.
She took them reluctantly, anxiety stirring in her chest. Who would make a child into a weapon?
"Now, go and try it," Raden instructed, gesturing toward the cleared circle.
Viella clutched the dice tightly against her chest. "No," she said firmly.
"What are you doing?" Raden's mustache quivered with indignation.
"I will not use this child like a puppet. If I need her, I will ask for her help. She's just a girl!" Viella's voice cracked, her plea carrying a note of desperation.
Raden sighed, his frustration melting into resignation. "Women," he muttered under his breath, though his expression softened as he watched Viella kneel once more.
Viella pulled Dice into a tight embrace. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you," she promised, her voice gentle.
For a moment, Dice hesitated, but then she returned the embrace, clinging to Viella as though she had found a home for the first time.
Raden cleared his throat, drawing their attention as he pulled a cord to reveal what Viella had assumed was a decorative tapestry.
Behind it stood a round stone archway, its surface etched with four glowing symbols.
"This will be your portal," he said solemnly. "I must warn you—I cannot guarantee where you will land, or if you'll be safe. Itop is a vast realm, twice the size of Earth. Once you step through, you will truly be on your own, with only Dice to accompany you."
Viella swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling in her chest.
"If you wish to change your mind, now is the time," Raden offered. "I will not hold it against you."
Viella hesitated, her thoughts racing.
She considered her life in Olaos, the burdens she carried, and the truths she had uncovered about herself.
She could not imagine finding happiness in her current world, nor could she endure the King's wrath for abandoning her mission.
The pull of the unknown was irresistible.
"Raden," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart. "Thank you for everything. But I will go. I will find your nephew."
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone