“What am I supposed to do about raising my Status?” A commoner ahead of me complained. “Forget that, I’m fine with being a bloody Coat-tail. I’m 30 years old and I have mouths to feed! And I have a bad back!”
I idly listened to the conversations and the wind brushing my hair out. The night was settling in quite nicely and my mood felt much better after making Jorim disappear. The other commoner she was with grunted in agreement.
“Aye, I’m with you on the bad back. Not a chance this bag of bones could even dream of defeating a Spider,” he said. “I heard my nephew took an arrow to the knee while on guard. Damn Man Harvesters ended his adventurer days too early.”
“Oh no! How terrible!”
“It’s alright for us, I think he’s headed home soon,” the man seemed to relax. I feathered a trail of sand and dust along the brick walls as I traveled silently along. “I’ll have him join me for work at the Sarn and Orskyr plant…”
“Now speaking of bloody Coat-tails!”
I noticed that Sarn and Orskyr plant’s foreboding presence, looming away from the Church. Its shape was large and dark, as opposed to the beautiful and ornate architecture Yengir preached under. I think I would prefer the oppressive nature of that plant, but I almost walked by the location of the Owl shop during my eavesdropping. I veered off from following the crowd. Luckily I caught the only thing that stood out on the store’s unassuming building: Its green rooftop, emblazoned with the crest of the mysterious bird that was faded into several chipped gold pieces. Cautiously, I opened the door. This bookstore was quaint and empty, making me worry that no one reads at all. Not a soul seemed to reside here, it seemed. Well, no one could see me change into the clothes that the church gave me. Despite using Mage Link to see the swirls of mana, nothing seemed out of the ordinary in the room. Below me, I noticed the faint Light Runes dancing within a human shape. Ah, I grinned. If I had the Skill on, I could use it like the Heat Seeking Demons of my realm and detect life around me. Why didn't I have a Passive Skill for something like that, Wisdom? So that is the Leader awaiting me, I guessed. I checked for any images of the Owl and my wandering eyes stopped on a painting hung on the wall. There also could be some information within this shop, specifically on… Him.
The painting depicted the Hero. My heart sank deeper into my pit as I gazed at his stern and serene face. I did not catch a good glimpse of him back when I fought him, but it was unmistakable. Everbright hung at his side, while he stoically glared off in the distance. Perhaps, Elise would have a portrait like this some day. I shook my head. Where did that thought come from? I studied the painting, noticing that the silver brooch holding his cloak had an insignia engraved on its jewel, matching the Owl on my scroll. So the Hero liked that bird, didn’t he? I didn’t know the reason why, but as I searched for more clues I noticed the ornate plaque.
— IYUN OF SHARRA, THE FIRST HERO. LEVEL 41
LAST ACOLYTE OF THE STRONGEST HUMAN IN THE WORLD, GOLDRATIX.
Level 41!? I spat. That’s, ah, I tried to count my fingers but realized I couldn’t, even with both of my hands. He’s a damn monster! No wonder I got beaten so easily, I despaired. Tch! I scanned the books nearby that evil, gloating portrait for information on him. Let’s see, I tapped on each book leaving splotches of clean spots as my fingers left lines of dust in my search. None of these titles related to the Hero known as Iyun at all. I felt a smaller book, stuffed between two thicker books. It was a pamphlet, unique enough to hopefully give me a clue so I pulled it out. The Hero and His Party? I knew he had those pesky friends, but they must be weak compared to him! I hastily opened the pamphlet and my eyes widened with every entry.
— The Hero Iyun had many great allies as he traveled across the lands as an S+ Ranked Adventurer. His feats in the Light included the unification of the Zeadian and Brusihan Kingdoms. He and his party played a crucial role in the Crusades. His legacy is carried on even today, as many more Heroes awaken and look up to him as the exemplary warrior to strive for in their pursuit of the Light’s Convergence. Below is the Hero and his Party, yes, the very ones who traveled within the Demon Realm and quelled its Darkness.
— IYUN OF SHARRA, LEVEL 41
Title: THE FIRST HERO
Known Classes: Hero
Known Signature Skill: Divine Slasher
Fun Facts: Iyun was trained by the Strongest Human in the World, who has declared that the two of them slew Dragons together for training! Unlike Goldratix, Iyun is mysterious and prefers to stay away from reporters.
— ARCHIE OF VOIVOX, LEVEL 41
Title: DEAD SHOT
Known Classes: Ranger
Known Signature Skill: Deadly Shadow Shot
Fun Facts: Archie once destroyed a level 80 World Bear with a single shot from his mighty bow over 1000 meters away, thus earning the Title “DEAD SHOT.” His Signature Skill is considered by their party as the Ace Skill.
— LOGAN OF THE HOLY EMPIRE, LEVEL 40
Known Classes: Paladin, Shield Crusher, Paragon of Light
Known Signature Skill: Goddess’s Hammer
Fun Facts: We could not acquire any information from him, as he has “politely” declined any questions on the matter.
— RUTH OF BANE, LEVEL 39
Title: HUMAN DISASTER
Known Classes: Assassin, Shadow Rogue
Fun Facts: Ruth has declined any invitations for an interview.
— HABROL OF THE YVAL HALL, LEVEL 37
Known Classes: Bard, Holy Fighter
Known Signature Skill: Drinking! Oh, yeah!
Fun Facts: I’m always drunk and I’m always fun! Even when I’m not drunk, I’m drunk! I once was a woman’s slave for…
— SAINTESS ANNA OF THE HOLY EMPIRE, LEVEL 35
Known Classes: Saintess
Known Signature Skill: Ultimate Final Laser Cannon
Fun Fact: Anna has declined any invitations for an interview. She did let us know that her favorite color is Pink.
Forget what I said about them being weak, they were all monsters! I wondered what kind of horror an Attack Skill named “Ultimate Final Laser Cannon” could possibly inflict. I do not believe I saw such a Skill when I fought the party first. I simply tucked the horrible pamphlet back between the two books, figuring that was the reason why it was hidden there in the first place. Still, as a Demon Queen, I went up against them toe to toe and came out on top until the final end. There are heights this little form of mine can still reach!
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A shimmer caught my eye as I shifted my attention back to the Owl search. Seek the Owl’s Star, huh? I checked the reflecting light’s source. An owl insignia was etched onto one of the books on the shelf directly across from Iyun’s portrait. I got you, I grinned as I stalked over to it. Ha! I whipped the book out. As I did, shreds of torn pages fluttered out and cluttered the ground. Eh? Was that my fault? I hoped the stranger downstairs did not notice! I knelt down to scoop the torn pages and noticed the Owl Book’s title.
“Almanac of the Ule Constillacioun,” I felt my tongue twist as I tried to pronounce the word. “Wisdom?”
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. Query Results: The Ule Constillacioun is a cluster of Stars located in the Deepus Branch, where the Demon Realm hangs.
I see, I placed my hands on the windowsill nearby to collect myself. I felt a hint of sadness and peered through a sky window at the sunset. Home was somewhere far out there in the Stars and Realms. Wisdom, I thought to her. I miss you. The years we studied the Stars together were too short. Silence encased me, but soon the pile of shreds was ordered neatly next to the Almanac. Of course, Wisdom wouldn’t respond to me. I shook out of my sorrow and refocused my attention on the book. It seemed to be gutted and torn completely, probably due to that strange Human Law. Why avoid studying something like those twinkling specks of light, especially something so vast and wondrous? I scrolled through my memories of mapping the Stars from my Castle’s Observatory, yet that’s all the progress we could get before the Humans invaded. Now, the Stars were aligned differently.
I went to tuck the book back in its place, but noticed something behind its place. A smile curved my lips. A golden button with a Star symbol engraved on it stared back at me. It seems like I have solved the puzzle, I pressed the book into it and heard a click. A moment passed, but the ground trembled a bit as the bookshelf began to slide its way behind the wall and reveal a staircase. How intriguing, that someone like this possesses a hidden passageway as a secret. I cracked my knuckles. It was time to meet the Leader of this children’s group.
The air grew colder and my feet felt the tough wood brushed against them before warmth greeted me beyond an illuminated door. No traps, I scanned the place with my Mage Link Skill. During my days in the Labyrinth, I was conditioned to check for those! Could a small creature like a human child set up traps despite this elaborate hideaway? I breathed in then out and twisted the handle. Be cool and collected, Charlotte, I thought to myself. No, wait. I was Hannah now.
“Ah, visitor,” came a boy’s voice. I saw a bundle of Nature runes through Mage Link hop up on the table with a soft thump. “We have been awaiting someone like you for so long.”
As I stepped into the light, I turned off Mage Link and saw a masked boy sitting at a gaudy desk, similar to Father’s. A cat rested upon it, eyeing me as he stroked its fur. I nearly gasped in surprise when I noticed his Status.
— Twig Mhoire, Level 15
— Classes
Human Noble [Rare], level 10
Human Informant [Epic], level 5
— Danger Class: B Ranked Adventurer
Buffs: Prying, Spy, Merchant’s Blessing, Charming, Informant, Infiltrator, Harmless, Queen’s Protection
Son of Branch Mhoire, a House that has served the Sharra Kingdom’s shadow operations since it received the Kingdom as a gift from the Goddess of Light. He is adept at gaining information through networking and sleuthing. Should an opportunity arise, he is quite keen on pursuing it in order to satisfy his own curiosity.
Oh, Geer’Sha! Oh, Wisdom! What in the Human Realm is this kid doing here? I kept my face the same, hoping he was not able to see my true identity. He wasn’t the problem; the cat was staring at me! Such an unnerving creature! I shifted nervously as I heard a rumble come from it. The jet black thing’s tail bent, but only at the top, as it pointed to me. The cat’s Status gave me a true reason to fear it.
Warning! Entity is higher Level than the User!
— Queen, level 50
— Class: True Cat Descendant
— Danger Class: S Ranked Beast of the One
What a powerful beast! I stared at it. As if it read my thoughts, which it probably did, it hopped away from Twig’s reach and sauntered towards me. I’m so dead! I froze up, not knowing what to do about the black fur ball approaching with unknowable intentions. As its yellow eyes locked gazes with my own eyes, it made an odd sound and flopped over on my foot. More fierce rumbling came from the beast, yet I did not sense any hostility from it. Wisdom? Help me!
“How…? Why does she like you already? No matter,” Twig's jaw dropped at the sight of the cat relaxing on my foot. I felt a strange urge to stroke its fur, but I was too nervous to even make an attempt. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? Name’s Iyun, and I am the most powerful Hero!”
He stood up and struck a pose similar to the real Iyun in the portrait, but I regarded him silently. He did not seem to recognize me under Hannah’s form which was a good sign. Therefore, in this little game of wits, I shall play like I do not know who he is.
“You wish to be like him?” I asked him, not hiding the bitterness in my tone. Twig looked at me and frowned. “How long have you been waiting down here for me?”
“T-That’s not important!” he sighed, but sank back into his cushioned chair. “We don’t have much time left, anyways. I offer all those who pass my difficult test an alliance. Normally, not everyone can join the Circle, but we can share as much information as we can in this town. However, I’m willing to strike a deal with you. I share what I know about what you request and will do the dirty digging, but in request—” He leaned in closer to me as Queen meowed beneath me. “You give me information on things I want to know. Fair one to one trades, no take backsies, got it? You in?”
Backsies…? I stood in thought at his offer while Queen’s tail tickled my calf as it twitched back and forth. Can she not control that? I looked down, but the cat had her eyes closed as she licked her paws. It was like I didn’t exist! I supposed it was partly true, since I was a lower level compared to her. Twig’s mask made me want to put on my Ninja mask, but I left that at home along with my other weapons and clothes! Information coming my way could lead to a Demon Stone, since he seemed to have connections to sources that might know of such treasures.
“Deal,” I told him. Queen stood up, as if she understood my agreement, and leapt onto the desk with a meow. A smile formed on Twig’s face and he shuffled back to take a scroll out. Written treaty, eh? I like that, so I slowly approached the desk. The cat remained unbothered by my presence as I waited for him to write the contract. He pushed it to me, but all I saw was just a signature. “I’m Hannah, of—”
“Ah, I know who you are. I’ll spare you from sharing that bad news. It must still be quite sorrowful. Hopefully, we’ll be able to brighten up your days with excitement! Sign this,” he smiled. I didn't know what to say, but something warm started to grow in me. This consideration was a Human thing, wasn't it? I did not dislike the comfort it brought me, even if the backstory was made up for me by that Prelate guy. “This will, uh, bind our agreement! Together! Call me Ule, just like the Branch in the sky above us. Curious to know how I learned of that? The shadows of the night have all the answers, though you might not like them.”
He tried to sound mysterious, I’ll give him that but I remained gloomy and simply signed the paper.
“As a sign of trust, I’ll share with you something you might like to know,” I pushed the treaty back to him. “I start work with a certain Lady Charlotte tomorrow.”
At the sound of her, or rather my own, name, Twig perked up.
“Really?” He nearly shouted, but calmed back down. “That’s quite a macabre development. That girl is the meanest one in town. Though she has been acting strangely. My right hand man, Erickson, foolishly gave into the Tiltoast girl’s dare and nearly lost his life throwing a tomato at her very carriage. Normally, Lady Charlotte would have definitely had him… Nevermind. This is great news to my other members! Now we can track her better thanks to you. A-Assuming you survive, Charlotte and her Father, that is.”
“Survive?”
“I’ll give you a piece of information, now, partner,” he patted Queen’s head. “The Lady’s Father bought a shiny gem for her. The blue trinket cost him well over a hundred thousand Illums. You heard me right. Over a hundred thousand gold ones. Straight from the Seven Nights Auction itself.”
“Seven Nights?” I could not help but be curious. That could lead me straight to a pile of materials for my Alchemy Skill, and even better, powerful treasures for my Crafting Skill. “When is that, Ule?”
“Ah, I would tell you more, but our condition states clearly here, ah,” Twig pointed at the mostly blank Treaty. “You know what I mean. It’s time to go, my parents have been busy licking the Prince’s boots but they swore to me they’ll be back here soon. They built this bookstore, only to leave me all alone in it. It makes me feel so… Nevermind! Go now, but promise me we’ll play together some time soon, right? I’ll introduce you to our friends that meet up after Church!”
“If Lady Charlotte permits it,” I said in a nervous tone. “The way you talk about her makes me worried.”
“Good,” Twig said, adjusting his mask.
I awkwardly turned and exited the hideaway, feeling an odd sensation bubble up inside of me. Human parents usually leave their kids alone for long amounts of time, don’t they? I did not know why he felt sad or why that caused the melancholy to brew within my chest. Father left me alone in a Tower, so I could relate a little. That Twig even works alongside the Prince, but I saw no sign of his parents around. Since they were a House of Spies, I assumed they were skulking around in the underworld of this Realm. Perhaps, they were also somehow involved with the assassination attempts on me. If that’s the case I could find them and pay them a visit.
I snuck into an alleyway and transformed back into a crow, letting out an evil caw. No warnings telling me anyone was searching for me, so I took my time studying the important buildings of this town. There was the Church, that Sarns and Orskyr plant, and that dysfunctional Guild Hall. Ah, so many places to explore and destroy…
— Skill: Distress Call has been activated. A Hostile Entity is setting an ambush inside Your Majesty’s Room. Engage?
Oh? More fun awaiting me inside my own domain? I grinned. Wait for me, my precious Fuzzy Butts!
I just hoped it wasn't any of the Hero's friends!