Chương 26: A Thorny Rose.
Suddenly, In the grand Elder's office, the candle's flame started flickering, as the shadow being cast behind him began to expand, stretching and contorting in an eerie dance. The transformation unfolded before his eyes, revealing the emergence of a figure from the depths of the shadow. Like a cloak lifting, the complete darkness dissolved, revealing the form of a woman.
Clothed in sleek and form-fitting black attire, the woman exuded an air of elegance and grace. Her slender frame and average height were accentuated by her tanned complexion, contrasting beautifully against her striking long white hair that cascaded down her back. It was an ethereal sight, her pristine beauty captivating all who beheld her.
As the woman fully emerged from the shadow, her presence seemed to command attention, radiating an aura of beauty, mystery and power. Her eyes, the color of deepest obsidian, gleamed with a keen intelligence, suggesting knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
The woman, remained eerily silent, her presence exuding an air of enigma. Like a specter from the depths, her form seemed to blend seamlessly with the shadows that surrounded her. The Grand Elder however, seemed to realize her arrival even before she made a single movement and addressed her with a calm and measured voice.
"You're finally here, Nathara," the Grand Elder spoke, his words carrying a weight of familiarity and respect. He then opened his eyes, meeting her gaze.
Nathara, however, seemed far from pleased. Her voice, dripping with annoyance and impatience, shattered the tranquility of the room. The beauty that would captivate anyone was now marred by her rude demeanor and evident frustration.
"Why did you call me here, old man? You know my team had almost subjugated that dungeon right?" Nathara's words were laced with disdain, her tone curt and devoid of respect. It was as if her pristine visage had been tarnished, revealing the raw edges of her impulsive nature and lack of restraint.
"Oh, don't be like that. Shouldn't you respect your elders?" the old man said playfully, reaching out to touch her legs inappropriately. However, his hand was swiftly met with a sickle made of complete black substance, piercing through his flesh. Blood trickled down from his wounded hand, but the Grand Elder seemed unfazed by the pain. "Still stingy for this dying old man, are you? Why not let him have his fun once in a while?" The Grand Elder pulled the blade out, and both the weapon and the wound vanished into thin air.
"Tell me what the emergency is, or I'm leaving," Nathara demanded, positioning herself in front of his desk to discourage any further advances.
"Well Of course I called you here for something important. Otherwise I would've waited until you brought us the good news and loot of the dungeon first, wouldn't I?"
"Then get to talking already."
"Oh, you, young ones are so impatient," he lamented, shaking his head with a hint of disappointment. "Nevertheless, I have a test for you. Answer without hesitation, understand?"
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Nathara's curiosity mixed with a touch of frustration. She was about to voice her confusion when the Grand Elder cut her off, swiftly transitioning into a pop quiz.
"Pop Quiz time!" he announced with an air of amusement. "Tell me, what sort of demon orbs can you receive from a Demon Hare, one of the most common and weakest demons in the vicinity?"
Nathara's face twisted with anger, her frustration seeping through her voice. "What are you talking about, old man? Have you gone senile already?" Her words dripped with a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
The Grand Elder remained unfazed, a calm expression on his face as he uttered a single word, "Beep." It was a simple sound, but it carried the weight of disappointment.
Nathara sighed, her annoyance palpable. She realized that she had no choice but to play along with the Grand Elder's little game if she wanted to accomplish anything during this meeting. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she swiftly provided the correct answer.
"The Demon Hare can release six different Demon orbs," Nathara recited, her words flowing in rapid succession. "There is one Class Orb, three Skill Orbs, and lastly, two Demon Armament orbs."
The Grand Elder's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at Nathara's swift correction. He pressed on, challenging her knowledge further. "Very good. Now, tell me, what kind of Demon armaments drop from Demon Hares?"
Nathara, determined to finish this meeting quickly, responded without missing a beat. "They are the Horned Blades, a weapon armament, and the Hare's Feet, a foot armor armament."
The Grand Elder's face lit up with excitement at Nathara's correct answer. "Right! You're correct! Full points to you!" His voice brimmed with enthusiasm as he continued their small game, eager to challenge her further. "Okay, next question. What is the minimum level requirement to kill a Demon Hare solo?"
Nathara let out another exasperated sigh, her impatience growing with each passing moment. She would much rather be attending to her duties than participating in this trivial exercise. However, she knew better than to argue with the Grand Elder. With a tinge of annoyance in her voice, she replied, "A minimum level of 5 if you possess demon armaments and some skills, or level 10 if you have neither."
The Grand Elder nodded approvingly, acknowledging her accurate response. However, in an instant, his demeanor shifted abruptly. The playful atmosphere dissolved, replaced by a serious and intimidating aura that enveloped the room. The sudden change in his mood sent a shiver down Nathara's spine, as if the lightheartedness they had just experienced was nothing but an illusion. "Yep, that's how everything is what's supposed to happen. Yet, that wasn't what happened for this person."
Nathara's eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident in her voice. "What are you talking about, old man?"
The Grand Elder leaned forward, his expression grave. "We had an unusual visitor this morning. A person who arrived here through a teleportation accident. But that's not the truly extraordinary part. What's truly remarkable is that this individual, at just level two and without any class, skills, gear, or demon armaments, managed to defeat a Demon Hare. And to add to the mystery, he obtained a bone arm-blade Demon armament from the slain creature. That's impossible because such armaments only comes from demons with bone blades on their limbs."
The weight of the Grand Elder's words hung in the air as he stared intently at Nathara, waiting for her response. However, she simply shook her head in disbelief. "You must have lost your mind, falling for such a petty lie." Her tone carried a mix of annoyance and dismissal, refusing to entertain the idea of such an extraordinary occurrence.
"But they're not lies," the Grand Elder continued, his voice steady and certain. "Talfen himself seemed genuinely surprised by all the truths that person said when he questioned him. Moreover, I took the liberty of confirming the information with the Hunter's Guild, and it turns out he did sell them a Demon Corpse, specifically a Demon Hare along with some fish and critters. Every claim he has made until now has been validated."
Nathara's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. This was not something she could dismiss lightly. Her bewilderment grew as the Grand Elder hinted that there was more to the story.
"But that's still not the most unusual thing at all," he declared, capturing Nathara's full attention. The air around them seemed charged with intrigue and mystery, and she leaned in, eager to hear what else lay behind this peculiar tale.
"He's in between 20 to 25 years old," the Grand Elder repeated, his gaze locked on Nathara as if seeking a reaction.
Nathara furrowed her brow, her mind racing to connect the dots. "Huh? Why is that unusual?" she inquired, her tone reflecting her confusion. She couldn't help but wonder if the Grand Elder was simply toying with her or if there was something deeper at play.
The Grand Elder's gaze remained steady, his expression serious. "Did you already forget?" he asked, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "I just told you. He's level 2."
Nathara's mind raced, grappling with the implications of the Grand Elder's revelation. The very fabric of their world seemed to be unraveling before her eyes. It was an unwritten law, an unbreakable truth, that individuals would inevitably level up as long as they possessed a class. Whether it was a common class obtained through basic training or a rare class acquired from demons, progression was guaranteed. The passage of time alone ensured that one would accumulate experience and grow stronger.
A sense of disbelief washed over Nathara as she considered the unfathomable scenario. The level of 2 at the age of 20 to 25, defied all logic and reason. It was an aberration, a violation of the fundamental principles that governed their world. How could someone have reached adulthood without gaining a single level, without engaging in any form of training, combat, or skill development? The very notion seemed inconceivable.
Even the simplest of actions, such as crafting, would contribute to experience and lead to progression. It was an inexorable march toward strength and proficiency, an inherent law of their existence. Yet, this person had managed to elude this fundamental law, remaining stagnant and untouched by the inexorable flow of time. And yet, somehow, he had triumphed over a Demon hare, a feat that should have been impossible for a level 2.
"Now do you understand why I called you?" The grand elder said as Nathara nodded.
"Good, I want you to stick to him, spy on him, make him fall for you if you must, I don't care about the method you use, as long as you can find out how he can break the laws of the universe. Also, make sure you don't get him killed until the truth has been revealed."
Nathara nodded dutifully as the Grand Elder started discussing with her his plans to get information out of Dian.
Dian didn't know what the Grand Elder was planning when he woke up later. The first thought in his mind was to quickly start training, He took off his shirt and began his morning routine, the sun had just begun to cast its gentle glow over the world outside as Dian engaged in his usual exercises, he felt a sense of determination coursing through his veins. The thought of improving his stats, enhancing his abilities, fueled his motivation to push through the physical exertion.
However, as he immersed himself in the rhythm of his exercises, a sudden knock on his door disrupted his solitude. Dian's curiosity piqued, wondering who could be seeking him at such an early hour. Setting aside his routine momentarily, he made his way to the door, his body still warmed up and energized from the exercise.
Dian contemplated whether he should quickly change into more presentable attire, but the sweat still clinging to his body persuaded him to simply open the door as he was.
Dian was surprised to see it was the Grand Elder himself outside him room. "Yo," the Grand Elder greeted casually, his presence commanding and enigmatic. There was an unspoken tension in the air, as if Dian stood on the precipice of a precarious situation. He couldn't help but wonder why the Grand Elder had chosen to visit him at this moment.
As the elder expressed his intention to enter, Dian's instincts went into high gear. He knew that the Grand Elder had been observing him, waiting for the perfect opportunity to seize him for reasons unknown. Every interaction with the elder carried the weight of scrutiny, as if the slightest misstep could trigger dire consequences. Yet, refusing him entry would only arouse suspicion, intensifying the scrutiny upon him.
Swallowing his apprehension, Dian mustered his composure. He understood that this place, despite being his temporary residence, ultimately belonged to the Grand Elder. With a measured response, he gestured for the elder to come inside.
"Please do. This is your place in the end," Dian replied, his voice tinged with caution.
As Dian allowed the Grand Elder to enter, his attention was suddenly drawn to the presence of a maid standing beside him. To his astonishment, he realized that he hadn't noticed her when he initially opened the door. It was as if she had materialized out of thin air, leaving Dian perplexed by her sudden appearance.
The maid exuded an ethereal beauty that captivated Dian's gaze. Her slender figure and graceful demeanor were enchanting, making it difficult for him to avert his eyes. Even though he had never been particularly interested in the opposite sex, he found himself unable to look away from her idol-like face.
Her tanned complexion accentuated her features, and her silky white hair cascaded down like a shimmering waterfall. Her eyes, black as obsidian, possessed a captivating depth that seemed to hold secrets untold. There was an undeniable allure that emanated from her, making it impossible for anyone who caught a glimpse of her to divert their attention.
Dian couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in the presence of such beauty. It was a rare and mesmerizing sight that left him momentarily entranced. Yet, he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that there was more to this maid than met the eye.
"Oh, I see that you're entranced by our newcomer." The Grand Elder teased Dian.
"A-Ah, Sorry about that, I've just never seen anyone so beautiful before." Dian blushed slightly at the Grand Elder's playful remark, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his own honesty. He hadn't intended to reveal his captivation so readily, but the beauty of the maid had momentarily rendered him speechless.
"Oh, and you're honest to boot. Fufu. That would make things interesting." The Grand Elder continued to tease him, clearly enjoying the situation. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he directed Dian's attention towards the maid, who gracefully responded by bowing and raising the cuffs of her uniform ever so slightly.
Her movements were executed with an air of elegance and refinement, as if she were performing a delicate dance. The way she bent forward, acknowledging Dian's presence while maintaining her poise, added to her aura of mystique. It was evident that she possessed not only exceptional beauty but also impeccable grace.
"Meet Nathara. Your new maid."
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