Chapter 42: Finding The Hermit Flint II

As the night passes and Cera sleeps, the church of light in Ancients World is going crazy. There is a literal army in the city of eclipse right now and they are all stationed outside of the shrine of Monrell and creating a serious defensive parameter around the city. I should actually say they were, because the shrine to Monrell is gone and Cera can no longer be found. A general by the name of Samuel Mart is currently inspecting the park and location of where the shrine went. He looks over to his most trusted friend and mage Hamon Khris. "So any theories on what happened? He cleared the trial and obviously left. We should have encountered him by now." Samuel Mart is confused as to why the shrine would disappear and the person they are looking for as well.

Hamon Khris already knows what happened because he is extremely knowledgeable about anything magically based. he is one of the best mages in the army of the church. They are both wearing appropriate gear for the status they hold. Elegant and powerful items are being worn by the 2, nobody in the player base stands a chance against these NPC's. "The Son of Arch-Angel Michael clearly isn't someone who is unprepared. He took on the trial, completed it, and then found a way to leave undetected. This is one of the hardest known trials in the world. Now the trial is no longer available to be completed since its been cleared for the first time." That explains why the trial is gone, but not why they couldn't find the son of Michael.

Samuel Mart takes a deep breath and releases a long sigh. He knows that both The Pope and The Saintess are not going to be happy with what happened. He should inform them and get the bad news over with. Its even worse since they don't have any good news. "I'll inform the church back at the temporary headquarters we set up. Stay here and see if you can find anything that would be useful in our search. Let me know if you find something." Samuel leaves the the area of the the statue and makes his way out of the park being escorted by the very best of his regiment. As he is walking back to headquarters Hamon begins casting magic to see if he cant find out something.

As this is happening in Ancients World the forums are still blowing up. Everyone is talking about the clearing of a trial. Some of the posts at the very top of the forum are talking about the lore of Sword Saint Monrell and the trial. Many of the players have attempted different trials in other places, but this is the first clear in the world and one of the most difficult trials out there. Many of the top guilds are having private conversations in private calls. One of these conversations is between Wilted Rose and Dark Blade.

They decided to have a meeting without Sir Erikson and actually try and make some progress instead of listening to the middle aged man go on and on about things he thinks should be changed. "I heard that you are also on your way to the country of Salamander in search of the world boss. Most guilds are heading there, which begs the question. Are you planning to team up with another guild?" Dark Blade is wanting to address something other than the hidden player right now. It would be ignorant to say the top guilds are unwilling to work together for something as momentous as defeating a world boss.

Wilted Rose knew that this is where the conversation would steer after their private discussion about The Son of Arch-Angel Michael. "Why are you asking? I heard you already formed an alliance with the Steampunk guild." Information is easy to come by in the top guilds, there are spies everywhere and nobody can keep a secret for long. Its rare to form an alliance between more than 2 guilds. Usually there are massive conflicts over rewards and gear, having that happen between 3 guilds is even worse.

Dark Blade is not looking for what the other guilds are looking for. His guild is number 1 and nobody is capable of taking that from them. So it begs the question of what is he really after. The wheels are turning everywhere else in both worlds and the night passes as Cera sleeps. After about 6 and a half hours the alarm goes off and now its time to go downstairs and wake up before he hops on.

I get up at the sound of my alarm and make it to my closet and grab a new pair of pajama's. I hop in the shower and clean myself thoroughly. I have been wearing nothing but my pajama's as of late since I haven't really been doing anything other than play Ancients World and make progress in-game. The real world has no need for me, but I do set aside time to be with my family when ever I can. I get dressed in my clean clothes and head downstairs to be with my family. Surprisingly mom and dad aren't up yet, but Hailey is.

This is the first time I have seen her up before anyone else. I'm glad that mom and dad are actually sleeping in now that they are free from the horrors of massive debt and deadlines. She is sitting on the couch and watching some of the news today, the news station that reports anything about Ancients World should also be doing a segment now. "Hey, can you change it to my favorite station for just a second?" She jolts hard and takes a deep gasp. I must have scared her like I did my parents.

She turns her head around and looks at me. "You should have become a soldier, I didn't hear a sound come from you. Buy a bell next time you go out, for the sake of everyone's heart." She picks up the remote and changes the station for me. I really do wonder why she is up and not in bed sleeping in like she usually does. I give her a worried look as the commercial plays during the break that we just joined on the news station. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She must be growing annoyed with my constant starring.

I look back to the T.V. without saying a word and listen to the reports now that the station is off break. The female reporter that is on begins to talk and I learn some surprising news. "The guilds Willow Tree, Steampunk, and Cloudless Sky have formed a rarely seen triple alliance in hopes of successfully taking on the world boss in the country of Salamander. In addition, The Steel Legion has decided to pullout from their pursuit of the treasures of Sinbad and join the massive search for the world boss in the country of Salamander." The pursuit of the world boss isn't what is surprising me, the treasures of Sinbad grabs my attention more than anything else. Lore states that the treasure of Sinbad will make you more rich than anything or anyone in Ancients World, but there is a catch.

Should you enter the great vault of Sinbad with more than 2 people than you will be cursed and killed. I don't know what the curse is, but this is probably why everyone in Steel Legion has given up on it. Once the truth about it comes out solo players everywhere will waste there levels trying to get in. I wont waste my time with that, the only thing in there is some epic and lower items and huge amounts of gold. I get why others would be attracted to it, but I'm not. Speaking of gold I think today my shop opens and I'll be getting payments. I still have to go to a local bank, but I'll have a steady source of income.

I do want to make sure Hailey is alright though, I feel kind of scummy prioritizing news over her right now. "How are you doing Hailey.... You know you can tell me anything." She may have made bad choices in the future and caused mom's death, but I still love her and care about her very much. She is my sister after all and she was never horrible to me like most older siblings are.

She curls up into a ball and buries her face between her knees. She must be having a hard time with what's going on between her and mom. "Thanks for saving our family Cera, I want to let you know I love you and I'm happy that you are in my life." Now I'm really worried. I have never seen her like this before and I have no idea how to handle it.

Instead of saying anything I just wrap her in my arms and give her a big hug. Dad said sometimes actions speak louder than words. I feel her body shuffle and she hugs me back as she begins to open;y cry into my shoulder. I just let her cry and cry for as long as she needs to. She doesn't say anything and neither do I. She calms down after awhile and I am overcome with an urge to make sure she doesn't do anything to herself.

I make sure that she is looking into my eyes when I tell her this. "I know that things are hard between you and mom, but that is no reason to do something you will regret. Promise me that if you start to have dark thoughts you will go to me or our parents. I promise mom will forget about everything if she knew how hard this is for you." She looks for any signs of doubt in my face, but there is only confidence and security. She looks down at her clasped hands and nods her head silently. I am now okay since she knows she has people who she can lean on. I kiss her forehead and head upstairs.

I hear the channel change and some news reporter starts talking about things happening in Korea and Japan. I always loved the cultures there and always wanted to visit. I should make plans and head there someday. I close my bedroom door and hop into my gaming pod and load into Ancients World. While Cera is getting ready to continue his journey there is an important meeting happening at J&X Inc.

COO James Raymond is having a heated discussion with the head of system integrations. "What do you mean the players information is blocked.... So we have no idea who he is and what is happening to the system?.... Find me answers, I want to know why something we designed isn't working. FOR!! US!!.... I don't care if we don't have the technology, JUST GET IT DONE!!" With the final command yelled into the phone, I slam my fist on the table multiple times. I take a seat now that I have vented my anger and make a deep sigh. We have no idea what's going on and no way to fix what's happening. I know Xander is going to hate this news.