/////
“*Gasp*” Vincent inhaled sharply as well as retreated from Amelia's body.
After a few gasps for air, he calmed down his pounding heart.
[Are you alright?] The system asked.
“What was that?” Puzzled, Vincent as he made an effort to figure out what he had come in contact with a few moments ago.
[You came across a very powerful being.]
“Powerful… Amelia’s mother, I… I felt so weak in her presence. She could have taken my life before I even muttered a word.” Vincent shuddered at this realization.
“Why wasn’t there more information about such a person on Amelia [Status].”
[I told you from the get-go, if any Information on the [Status] of an Individual would be harmful to the host, I am tasked to withhold it until the host crosses a certain threshold of strength.]
“Harmful? Wasn’t this harmful!” He protested.
[Trust me, Host, if you knew something whether little or much, you would have been in more harm than this.]
“…*Sigh*”
At this time, the system saw this juncture as a moment to motivate, [I remind you at all times. Your strength is nowhere near those that stand at the peak of the world. You would need even more than this strength that you have acquired to accomplish your dream.]
[What is more, that woman is just a shard of the original. Tha~]
“That means the original is even more powerful.” Vincent completed the System sentence.
[…]
“And someone like that is dead”, “*Chuckle*”, “I’ve gotten too comfortable with this measly strength I have come to possess”
“After this, I must get the seven ringed paths of healing and find the next treasure of Elohim.” He said with determination evident in his eyes.
[Agreed]
“Good.”
“Mmh.”
The sudden grumble of Amelia made Vincent end his conversation with the System and focus on her.
Amelia awoke with a slight headache, “Aarg.”, As her mind stabilized, her eye met Vincent’s. “Stop staring.” She said with no emotion.
‘She’s colder.’ Vincent noticed, causing him to sigh, ‘I guess the illusion hurt her more than expected.’
“How long are you going to keep staring?” Amelia asked again.
Now conscious that he was indeed staring, Vincent did well to shift his eyesight, a little flush could be seen on his cheek, “S~Sorry.”
Before they could carry on, a bright light similarly fell before them as the previous times. When it dissipated, a snow-white door remained.
This caused the previous awkward atmosphere to change into a serious one, they got ready themselves and went nearer the door on alert.
They glanced at each other briefly, she nodded at him signifying her readiness, and he did the same. After that, they opened the door and entered into the bright light that fashioned out.
Soon after, the brightness dimmed and Vincent and Amelia found themselves in an enormous room that was a marvel of architecture. All around the black stone walls and ceilings were flawless markings and linings that converged at the podium before them
They stood on an exquisite black stone flooring that extended to a large podium, From the podium, four stairways extended out. One went to the west, Two to the north, and the last to the east.
On the podium was a glowing orb that shined in different hues, around it were four white stone columns stationed to either serve as support to the structure or a piece of beautification to this room.
As Vincent entered the room, a blue screen popped up before him.
[Quest name: Survive the Inheritance Trial of the Maeth Clan with Amelia alive.
Description: You have found yourself in the inheritance trial of the great Maeth Clan, successfully clear and survive the trials with Amelia Maeth still alive. Although the rewards of this trial are best suited to a Maeth, there could be something useful for a Cadmean and you within its glory.
Rewards: [Alchemy], [Elvin Iscisyelda True Root], Connection to the Maeth Clan, Favorability with Amelia Maeth Increased
Failure: Possible permanent loss of [Alchemy], Loss of [Elvin Iscisyelda], Death of Amelia Maeth, Loss of Maeth Clan connections.]
[Quest Completed.]
The contents of the blue holographic screen afterward changed to a map that had two glowing points and a way-point from Vincent’s current location to those two set locations.
‘Could this be the map of the treasury? If so, then the two points should be the location of the [Alchemy] skill and [Elvin Iscisyelda] root.’
[3 points added to wisdom.]
‘Wow, have you finally decided to become a more useful system?’
[… Fuck off.]
‘Haha, I’m just kidding. So, I just need to follow the directions.’ Quipped Vincent.
[Yes]
‘In that case, I need to get away from Amelia.’ He planned.
“Amelia.”
“Mmh.”
“Why don’t we split up for now to cover more ground, we can meet up later at this podium? Does that sound alright with you?”
“I guess so.”
“Good, two hours from now, let’s meet up. I’ll take the first road in the middle.”
“Then I’ll take the other one to the right.”
With the plan set, Vincent headed off to the left stairway, which was the path to the first waypoint.
After Vincent trekked to a certain extent, He came upon a shined brown door that when he went through led into a new section altogether.
This new section could be said to be a library but nothing too large. From Vincent's standpoint he was able to count 10 shelves, 5 on the left and 5 on the right “A library” Vincent said, examining an array of bookshelves before him.
[Every single book on these shelves are skill books.]
“I guessed as much. However, I’m sure that most of them don’t match my skill set.”
[Unfortunately.]
[Nonetheless, there should be some techniques here that can be useful to you.]
“I guess I’ll keep an eye out then.”
Vincent scrolled through the shelves, with only a few books catching his eyes.
[Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Comprehension of Pole arms]
[Foundational Stances]
[Body Building Exercises Tailored for Combatants
[How To Break Out of Illusions for Beginners and Intermediates.]
[Comprehension of Mana, Od, Ether and Divinity Series.]
[Artifacts and Treasures]
[Map of Migas]
[Map of Eulogeo]
[Map of Earthland.]
After the above books were collected into his storage ring, he again set his sights on the waypoint and was soon at his destination.
Highlighted in blue by the system was a thick book with a green title-less cover.
As soon as Vincent set his hand on it, a blue prompt came out of thin air.
[Do you want to absorb [Alchemy] Skill.]
“No, store it in my storage ring for now.”
[Careful, you’re learning.]
“Don’t flatter me.”
[Ok.]
“I was kidding.”
[I wasn’t]
“*Sigh*Just leads me to the next point.”
The map came up again, indicating the way to the next reward location. It had him return to the podium and take the stairway to the right.
Following that path led him into an ethereal greenhouse where different plants and trees of bright and dull colors were grown.
“Wow! I can sense strong Ether from these plants.”
[Don’t be tempted by this field, most of the plants or fruits here are not for a Cadmean. The ones that are useful mainly for the ice element won’t be that helpful to you that have the Inheritance of an Ice Giant.]
‘Ok.’
Vincent went deeper into the greenhouse to come before a small tree stick planted into the soil. He would have missed it if not for a blue outline by the system that caught his eye.
“This is the true root of the Elvin Iscisyelda tree. It is just a stick!” Vincent doubted the existence of the stick.
[Don’t let its appearance fool you, the reason it looks like that is because the root was not planted well. As luck would have it, it is still recoverable.]
“Mmh, Ok, store it in the ring.”
The plant disappeared from his view and was placed into his storage ring.
[Done]
“Ok, I guess I should meet up with Amelia now.”
///// An Hour Later/////
Vincent and Amelia met up at the podium as beforehand planned. Amelia almost sprinted into Vincent due to her enthusiasm.
“Have you seen the treasures here! Weapons, Armors, Skill books, even long-lost Bloodline cultivation plants, and techniques. They are all here!” Sputter Amelia excitedly.
Vincent is taken aback by this new side of Amelia, as opposed to the previous cold demeanor. Also, to see her with a bright smile that did well to boost her beauty and alter her ice princess aura also brought a smile to his face.
Before he could reply, the orb on the podium shot up in majestic blue light. Vincent and Amelia are caught off guard by this but recovered right away and went on alert, they also noticed a great decrease in the surrounding temperature.
Before long the blue light took a shape that was all too familiar with Amelia, when she recognized it she immediately bowed down in respect.
Vincent however, was focused on a conversation with the system.
[That is a divine being.]
‘Really? A Deus, The strongest race!
[Don’t worry, The Creator's has long before set Universal rules/laws that bind them. They can’t display their divinity when outside Deus. However, that doesn’t mean that they are not still powerful.]
‘I see.’
From the orb, the familiar voice of the trial guide was heard “Finally! After all these years. A descendant of mine has found this place and completed the trials.”
“Now descendants tell me, what is your name?”
/////
AN: Read [Important Announcement] Chapter, (The now first chapter of the book)