Chapter 97: New Companions

Adrian who was only observing the situation between the dialogue of the father and daughter could only smile as it only affirms that the two were close. Adrian could only chuckle as the two in front of him was still going back and forth in their dialogue. When the two noticed Adrian's chuckle, they became embarrassed as they were quarreling in front of their savior.

"I know that it is not right to ask you this since you save us and all. Could you please give us the labyrinth key if it is in the loot? Of course not for free as I would pay you for the trouble. We need that to access a dungeon for our mission." Vayu said as they already used about a week in game just to find that drop as the Cursed Wraith can only be spawned every two days.

The father and daughter looked towards Adrian with great expectations. Adrian felt the pressure especially Soleil who looked at him with cute eyes. He was a sucker to those stares as he used to play with the children at the hospital he used to stay in.

"I am fine with it as I am not the only one who damaged the field boss anyway" Adrian said with an expression that he gave up resisting the puppy dog eyes the little girl did.

"Yay! Thanks a lot big brother!" Soleil rejoiced and headed towards the loot pile.

"I would not get my hopes up as it would not drop easily since you guys have been hunting it for about a week right." Adrian said as to not get their hopes up.

A few seconds later, Soleil could be seen frowning then started throwing a tantrum. Vayu immediately went over and saw why his daughter had that reaction because the key was not in the loot pile again. They had to wait another two days just to try once again hoping that it would drop by that time. Adrian who saw the little girl's reaction could not help but frown.

Adrian was about to comfort the little girl when his dad suddenly gripped his sword on the sheath and did a striking motion towards Adrian. Adrian could not believe it! Did he mistakenly judge their character? Or was he too soft? He did observe the situation before helping them and he knows he can judge others characters really well.

Adrian can use Blink to avoid the strike but it was so fast that even his eyes cannot see the slashing motion. He was sure he was about to be hit but the sword slash just brushed his cheek and did not damage him at all. Vayu then shouted at Adrian to get out of there as there seemed to be a wraith trying to sneak up behind him.

Adrian who heard the warning immediately jumped towards the father and daughter. He then faced backwards and saw the wraith that was 'sneaking up' towards him. It looked like the Cursed Wraith that they attacked earlier but in human size. Adrian was about to attack but he then saw that the name was not in red.

"Stop!" Adrian said which bewildered the father and daughter duo.

"It is currently a quest NPC look at its name. It is currently in white. I think it will ask for a favor or something which is why it wanted to come close to me." Adrian stated.

"Huh? How is that possible big brother? I mean aren't monsters just monsters?" Soleil asked.

Adrian did not know how to answer the little girl's question so he just said that it was related to his job class. When he said that the father and daughter duo tried to use their Inspect skill on him but it was repelled and no details were seen.

"Big brother, why is your status full of question marks? We cannot even see your name." Soleil grumbled.

"Soleil that is a bit rude." Vayu scolded.

Adrian then realized that he has yet to introduce himself to the duo and even he did not know why his status are question marks to them because he could see theirs very clearly. Adrian speculated that it must have something to do with his persona that is higher than other people.

"I am sorry. I actually forgot to introduce myself because I thought you two could see my name. My name is Equinox." Adrian said. The two were about to introduce themselves when Adrian spoke again, "I already know both your names: Vayu and Soleil."

"Your name finally popped out when I tried inspecting you but your level and job class are still question marks." Soleil said with a frown.

"We will handle that matter later because it is rude to keep Mr. Wraith waiting." Adrian said with a smile. He then continued with a serious tone, "So what do you want from me then since you wanted to approach me so badly?"

The wraith then answered in a raspy voice that as if it was gasping for air, "Guider of Souls! I beckon you to help thyself in his misfortune. I have been tormented for eternity and want to be released from the curse that plagues thyself."

Adrian then received a notification for a quest. The quest was given by the cursed wraith itself and it wanted Adrian to free it from its everlasting torment.

*QUEST NOTIFICATION*

FREE ME FROM BONDAGE

The Cursed Wraith imprisoned by the mad warlock, Cristobal, wants you to free it from the seal its soul was placed in. Journey to the Distorted Labyrinth and find the chalice where its soul is sealed.

Reward: Unknown

Clear Conditions: Find the chalice and break the seal.

Failure: The soul of the Cursed Wraith will forever be bounded in this canyon and your reputation as the Guider of Souls will go down.

[Do you want to accept the quest?]

Before Adrian could accept the quest, he asked the Cursed Wraith a question. "Where is the Distorted Labyrinth?" Adrian asked.

As if on cue, the father and daughter duo then said, "That's where we need to go!" Adrian was startled because the duo became so excited when they heard the words 'Distorted Labyrinth' that they shouted when they were about only a foot away from Adrian. The eyes of the duo then sparkled and looked at Adrian to ask them to form a party.

"So the place you want to go to is this Distorted Labyrinth right?" Adrian asked as the father daughter duo nodded their heads eagerly.

Adrian then looked towards the wraith and asked, "Can I bring companions along?"

"It is not a problem O Guider of Souls as my seal is being guarded by a malevolent spirit but you could only bring those two as only three could enter the Labyrinth at a time. If you bring more than that number then the Mad Warlock might return because I will use my remaining powers to mask your presences to fool the labyrinth."

"What do you mean fool the labyrinth?" Adrian asked as he was extremely curious.

"The Distorted Labyrinth was made by the Mad Warlock as a way of keeping my seal hidden from the world. He made it so that the labyrinth was alive and could feel the presence of outsiders to fool whoever goes inside. 'All who wonder will be lost forever' was what he shouted before leaving this place."

"Before I accept there is one more thing that I need to know." Adrian said.

"What is it O Guider of Souls?" the wraith said while the father and daughter duo was also expecting a very serious question involving a serious matter.

"Where am I?" Adrian asked with a straight face.

There was a long silence that if you dropped a pin, you could probably hear it make a sound. The father and daughter looked at Adrian in disbelief while the wraith looked like its fading soul was growing much faint. The one who asked the question was showing a V-sign with his tongue sticking out in a cute way. The first one to speak was Soleil as she knows when to break the atmosphere when things get awkward towards adults.

"We are in the realm of Forsacan that is located at the very outskirts of the spirit realm." Soleil while smiling.

"I see that old man did not even bother to send me to Nebulon and just chucked me somewhere to train. I mean it makes sense since he gave me a scroll that was different from the last ones I got." Adrian thought. Adrian was brooding over and ranting about Ascalor when the wraith once again spoke.

"Will you not take care of my plight Guider of Souls?" the wraith asked once again.

[Do you want to accept the quest?]

Adrian looked at the wraith and then towards the father-daughter duo before he accepted the quest. It was the first time a spirit actually gave him a quest and he wants to examine if it was different from quests from living NPCs.