-------------
Three hours before...
-------------
Tree branches of a large tree intertwine and integrate, birthing a majestic tall nature tower at the centre of Foresnagh.
Sunlight filters through the verdant canopy, casting enchanting patterns of light and shadow on the tower's intricate structure.
This is the Tower of Jurisdiction, the abode of governing forces that maintain peace and harmony.
Mina stares up at the roots.
"Rising gracefully in the sky, all must revere beneath nature," Mina says.
"That must be the quote from Yan's Journal." A young girl behind Mina says. She has a distinct resemblance to Mina, possessing a timeless charm with hair extending to the shoulder, and her blue eyes exuding captivating innocence.
"Oh? Since when did Ruby read classical literature?" Mina smiles gently and says.
The young girl, named Ruby, chuckles. "That is an exception. It is the guideline for adventuring, every adventurer has read it once."
Mina turns to a servant behind Ruby and exchanges nods. "Ruby, big sister has something to do in the tower. Be obedient and listen to Mr Ken alright?"
"Aw, no fair. I want to go in!" Ruby sulks.
"In the future, we will have another chance to visit Foresnagh, I promise to let you in then, alright?"
Ruby nods and reluctantly leaves with the servant.
Walking through the door teleports Mina into a space within the tower, high up in the sky.
She is in a room with several terrifying presences around a table. An old elf exudes wise grace, silver hair cascading down his shoulders as ancient woven robes etched wisdom into every wisp. His staff of polished oak adorned with magic floats with regality.
The elf kingdom has four main masters that govern the land, Sword, Magic, Divinity, and this old elf, Magic.
The Magic Master's appearance shakes Mina's fortitude.
"Welcome, Mina Yvelle. This is my old friend, Sir Reasfors, the Magic Master of our kingdom." An elf of similar appearance yet crude facade to the Magic Master says. He is Kaisol Venreis, an acquaintance of Mina.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Mina says.
Kaisol turns to Reasfors "My friend, this is Mina Yvelle. The human I mentioned."
Reasfors nods. "I heard you recognise ancient rune language. That's impressive."
"My honour for such praise." Mina lowers her head.
"We can get to know each other at a later date. Let's get to the point, we want you to decipher ancient writings at the ancient ruins near Foresnagh, the epicentre of the deathworms rampage and the resting abode of the queen," says Reasfors.
"We can't get near. Anyone exposed to the mysterious ancient remnants falls into a day or two coma. Odd, the ancient ruins had existed long before the kingdom's establishment and only recently acted up..." Kaisol adds.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
They present Mina with a scroll of writings on parchment.
"These are the words carved on those remnants, recognise them?" Kaisol asks.
Mina glances through the parchment and squeezes her eyes.
A zap of lighting lifts from the words and disrupts Mina's mind.
"Ugh?!" She groans.
"Mina?! What's wrong?" Kaisol goes to Mina.
"All...shall not pass lest the apostle. That's all I could read. The rest are enchanted with some mind corruption magic...huff...huff..."
"Alright, alright. Rest now." Kaisol pulls his seat for Mina.
...
"That could mean many things..." Reasfors mumbles.
Amid the deciphering discussion, the roars of the queen reverberate in the sky, crackling fears and anxiety throughout Foresnagh.
"What?!" Reasfors exclaim. "T-The ancient ruin...No!"
Reasfors disappears from the room. It doesn't take long for Reasfors to appear at the ancient ruin but is only met with the corpse of the queen deathworm.
...
"Gr..." His fist clenched, Reasfors attempts to send out magic waves in search of any life form nearby but to no avail. Something is intercepting his magic as if protecting the perpetrator.
"DAMN IT!!" Reasfors shouts at the top of his lungs. "WHO IS IT!!"
At the pinnacle of magic, it does not take him too much effort to kill the Queen deathworm from afar, yet the mysterious ancient runes piqued his interest, hoping to break through his seamless bottleneck in magic.
He doesn't care about the consequences, about the lives lost, only his mastery.
Unknown to the condescending elf, if the Magic Master attempts to study any further, divine intervention will strike a few days later, erupting his body in flames and throwing the elf kingdom into chaos.
Be that as it may, the elf will travel down a dark path as his mind shatters leading to the loss of many lives in an attempt to compensate for this experience in the far future.
========================
----------
+50000 fate
+7000 karma
----------
"What?" I mumble as I extract the blood of deathworms.
What did I do to garner so much karma and fate? I was simply hunting deathworms to take advantage of the price before leaving Foresnagh.
...
The only thing I can think of is the event a few days later. The death of the Magic Master. Several days before that event, deathworms were gold mines thus my decision to approach Foresnagh.
Is his death related to the queen deathworm? I'm not sure...no, I doubt. Reasfors is a powerful elf.
"Tch...then what..."
Destiny is unpredictable, one small action may snowball into an unintended effect.
Rather than think about it, I should focus on the task at hand.
I finish my hunt and return to Foresnagh. Selling the materials and collecting the bounty amounts to one gold coin, fifty-six silver coins, and eighty-one bronze coins.
"You have a pending loan for some risptaps. Do you want to repay it?"
"Yes, thank you."
I hand the store attendant two silver coins.
"Oh yes, can I purchase some mana potions?" I ask the store attendant.
"Sure. One vial is three silver coins."
I purchase ten mana potions and store them.
Phew...that's done.
Night has consumed the city, lighting up festivals of fairies and magic that soothe one soul.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" A familiar voice of blonde hair and blue eyes. It's the vendor.
...
"Oh, it's you. What do you want?" I reply.
The elf shows me a bag of ingredients. "I'm out on an errand."
"This late at night?"
"Yeah."
...
"Tell me what do you want? Why did you approach me?"
The elf backs off and puts his hand above, the bag dangling from his palm. "Nothing malicious. Remember what I mentioned in the morning? I want to treat you to something. You look like a nice guy."
Nice guy huh...
"Nothing is free in this world."
The elf sighs and leans against the wall beside me. "It's purely a coincidence I met you here but what do I want? Your friendship."
...My experiences can help me estimate someone's sincerity. He sounds genuine yet on the small chance he isn't, I can't trust him.
"As owners of an old culinary legacy, my family have a special ability to discern one's mind. Yours is in shambles but you've found hope. You are desperately trying to dig a way towards the light in the void." The elf looks at me and smiles. "I just...want to help you. If my cooking can save one life, that's all I wish for."
...
"If I return next time, I will stop by," I say and walk away.
"You are leaving so soon? You just got here today! What about rest?"
"I won't die without a day of rest."
Besides, it's common not to sleep a day during the war.
"I'm Rai. Come visit when you have the chance! Take a break every once in a while."
I ignore him.
...
Rai's iris turns yellow and his cheerful expression dives into a still frown.
"So that's the apostle chosen by 'her'...I don't get what she sees in him." Rai mumbles.
...