Bab 14: THE CROW'S NEST AND THE RIDDLE
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Rhyys stood at the front of a small wooden shack with a black sign saying 'Crow's Nest'.
There was nothing special about the establishment. No sign indicated that anything special existed in the place, but Rhys could feel that something was amiss.
"Careful kid" Alvin said.
"Of course."
Rhys pushed open the door to the Crow's Nest.
Inside there was a large wooden counter. There were a bunch of tables in the room with various chairs surrounding the counters and all of them had a few people sitting at them.
At the back of the bar was a staircase leading to another floor, it seemed like they would go all the way down to the cellar. At the side of the stairs a young boy was cleaning the bar.
"Hi, welcome to the Crow's Nest!" He greeted them cheerfully.
"Um..." Rhys muttered nervously not knowing where he should look or even who he should talk to.
The young boy suddenly turned around and pointed at him curiously "You're new aren't you, I can sense you are an Elemental Cultivator from a mile away".
"Uh....yeah, that's right"
"Be Careful! That boy is too powerful "Alvin cried out to his host.
"Which Rank is he,System can you tell me?"
[UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T READ THE DETAILS OF A BEING WHO IS TWO OR MORE RANKS ABOVE YOU]
"What? ,two or more Ranks?" Rhys questioned in shock.
[YES,THREE OR MORE RANKS. FROM MY ASSUMPTION, I THINK HE'S IN THE KNIGHT RANK]
"But...he's young " Rhys cried out .
"Age reversal or "Youth Restoration Drugs" , he's very old". Alvin answered.
Rhys nodded weakly, not really sure how to react to such shocking news.
"Anyway,how may I help you?". The teenager continued.
"Err...well..." Rhys stuttered as he thought to himself what to ask him. "Ohh ...I was sent by my Master to inquire about the "Crow's Leaf Eye ".
"Ohh that. I assume your Master has quite the wealth " the "Young " boy said with a chuckle.
"Yes. Quite wealthy...let me see it first,if you Don't mind " Rhys replied.
"Oh no. Not at all " the boy replied "It'll be my pleasure, follow me please" As he finished talking, he opened a small door at the corner of the room and motioned Rhys to follow.
Rhys followed the boy into the small hallway behind the room they were in, the hallway was completely dark except for a couple of faint rays of light that leaked from a few cracks in the wall above him.
As Rhys reached the end of the hallway, the young boy stopped near a wooden door which was slightly ajar.
The teenager gestured Rhys inside before he closed the door behind him. After making sure there wasn't anyone else lurking behind the door,Rhys turned his attention toward the small bed located just to his right. A pair of grayish blue eyes stared back at him, staring into Rhys like it was trying to analyse him.
Rhys couldn't move, he stood still, his feet glued to the floor while his heart raced rapidly inside his chest.
His eyes shifted to the side as he found the source of the grayish eyes.
In the corner of the room there sat a small girl, she had long black hair tied in twin tails with white flower crown on her head. She wore a loose white blouse with a white collar and white pants with green socks and brown knee high boots.
Her expressionless face stared intently back at Rhys without any emotion in its gaze.
"Your Highness, he's here for the "Crow's Leaf Eye " . The young boy said as he prostrated before the girl sitting on the bed.
"Kid,mind your words here,she's not normal. A single mistake and we're done for" Alvin warned his host.
"Okay "
"You may leave now" the girl with the grayish blue eyes spoke out,not to Rhys but to the other boy.
"Bless you Your Highness" The "Younger " boy said obediently "I'll be taking my leave now,your highness " with that, he bowed respectfully in the direction of the bed and turned and walked out of the room shutting the door behind him.
Rhys wanted to scream out to the young boy for leaving him alone, but he knew better than to do that. A "boy" who was at least two ranks above him was showing reverence and upmost respect to the girl sitting on the bed.
He could just imagine how powerful the girl must be.
She stared cold at Rhys.
"So you want to obtain the "Crow's Leaf Eye ",is that correct".
"Yes...Your Highness " Rhys responded with Fear.
The young lady remained silent as she observed Rhys with a blank expression.
"Please forgive my lack of manners,I..." Rhys stammered.
"Why do you need it?" the young girl asked.
"Master...My Master sent me ...Your Highness "
"The "Crow's Leaf Eye " is a very dangerous herb. Not all persons are supposed to get their hands on it,Who is your Master?"
"Erhh..Master...Cody " he lied through gritted teeth .
"From?"
"From ...here...Your Highness "
"Pryno?"
"Yes Please "
The young lady nodded and rose from her position. She began walking towards Rhys as if she was inspecting a new specimen in her garden.
"I used to sell my Herbs and items for Heavy sums. They're of no use now,gold and silvers and diamonds. I make Footwears out of them. I won't charge you,I'll ask you a question, answer and the "Crow's Leaf Eye " will be yours".
"If I ...fail?"
"Smart Lad,you'll die!"
Rhys gulped and started shaking nervously. His perspiration had soaked his clothe wet and he turned pale all of a sudden.
"Don't worry kid,we have an advantage here " Alvin calmed him down.
"What advantage "
"The system " Alvin replied.
"Good" Rhys said as his countenance changed. His skin restored its colour and the fear had subsided down a bit.
The mental conversation ended .
Rhys looked around eagerly, wondering if he could escape from this situation incase things went south. The "young girl" seemed to notice his changed behavior.
"You don't seem scared." She said in a flat tone.
"I'm fine"Rhys replied with a confident tone.
"Mmmm,ready for the question?"
"Ready as ever...Your Highness " he managed to reply.
The girl stepped closer as her grayish blue eyes locked onto Rhys. He shuddered again. The strange feeling she gave off reminded him of the goddess. It felt like the entire atmosphere had changed when she had spoken.
"What is a man's greatest Rival?"
"How many chances?"
"Two and only two,be quick!"
Rhys furrowed his brows, he closed his eyes and summoned the system.
"What is a man's greatest rival?" he asked internally.
[IT HAS TO BE HIS ENEMY...OR SOMEONE HE HAS ...OFFENDED...]
"Lawks! To think I just put all hopes in the creation of a Witch" Alvin cried out.
"The System is wrong... right ?" Rhys asked.
"Totally wrong, it's programming doesn't involve these kind of things...unless...maybe I merge with it"
"Do it"
"I don't trust it"
"We'll die if you do not "
"I might become corrupt or something worse if I fuse my existence into an unknown system"
"It's the only option Alvin"
[HE'S RIGHT. FUSE YOUR EXISTENCE INTO MINE AND UNLOCK MY FULL POTENTIAL. MY CREATOR DOESN'T TRUST ME ,I NEED A DOMINANT OR SUPERIOR EXISTENCE TO FULLY OPERATE]
"Okay okay. How do I do it then?" Alvin finally gave up and succumbed to the pleas of His host and the "Annoying " runts of the system .
[JUST DON'T REACT AND BE STILL. I'M STARTING THE PROCESS]
"What's taking you too long" the girl asked with a malicious smile on her face.
"Hold on. I'm thinking "
"You don't have all day"
"Alright "
[MERGING PROCESS HAS BEGAN]
[4%]
"Hurry!" Rhys screamed internally.
The girl had started licking the blade of a saber knife . Her face had become more sinister and horrifying.
[14%]
"F*cking Hurry "Rhys wailed.
[27%]
[38%]
"F*ck" Rhys whispered under his breath, sweat dripping down his forehead.
[48%]
[53%]
Rhys closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
[54%]
[60%]
[68%]
Rhys opened his eyes and saw that the girl's face resembled nothing more than an evil mask,all emotion had disappeared and he could see nothing but malice behind those dead grayish blue eyes.
The girl's eyes lit up with satisfaction and a sinister grin formed upon her lips.
"You're dead" she spoke in a voice that sounded like nails on chalkboard.
Her smile widened even further before she lunged at him. Rhys reacted quickly.
"I know the answer "
"Speak "
"It's death " Rhys answered.
The girl laughed maniacally while clapping her hands together as she paced around the bed.
"Clever, very clever," she mocked before she stopped pacing and sat on the edge of the bed facing him directly.
Rhys had bought himself some time.
[74%]
[81%]
[83%]
A huge shadow covered everything around the two of them.
The girl let out another eerie laugh before raising one arm slowly and pointing the dagger with her finger and motioning a death sign .
[90%]
[93%]
"Last Chance, hurry up!" the girl shouted.
"Just wait!"
"Wait until what? What good will it do you?"
[96%]
[97%]
Rhys clenched his jaw tightly, he tried to keep control of himself and prevent himself from screaming. His eyes were focused firmly on the screen because his life depended on it.
[99%]
[ACHIEVING PERFECT SYNCHRONISATION]
[SETTLING....]
[SYNCHRONISATION PERFECTED]
[100%]
"The Answer?" Rhys asked internally.
Instead of the usual Automated high pitched tone,a familiar cold tone spoke out. It was Alvin's.
"You're now...the system?" Rhys asked again.
(AN: Alvin has fused with the System, from now onwards, all conversations in Square brackets are his. He has become one with the system ).
[Questions later,The answer to the question is Time. Time is a man's greatest rival]
"Time up!" the girl shouted as she dashed towards Rhys.
The latter stood still, with a smile on his face.
"Won't you like to hear the answer? I still have one last chance "
"Spit it out! You're dead Already "
Rhys laughed before answering.
"A man's greatest rival is Time"
Hadiah
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