Colm was holding another vial. A swirling red liquid. “Are you some sort of alchemist?” He asked.
“Every void lord has their perks,” Qversenesia said. “That vial is made up of several void and nether plants with monster blood. You’ll need that as well.”
The spider was in the palm of her hand, squeaking and extending its forelimbs. It was red and it was gold and it ignored Colm even when he called out to it. Colm popped the vial open and drank it. He also checked his skills.
“I think it likes me,” she said.
Eidolon (Passive) Status Description: summons an eidolon companion capable of adapting to the circumstances involved as they rank up and evolve. Property: Fundamental Skill Skill Slots: 3 (Official) Rank: 1 Skill Teleport II: The ability to travel to a different dimension (Void, Nether). Vitality: 1 Skill #2: — Agility: 1 Skill #3: — Arcane: 5
The other screen said:
Skill unlocked: Centurion Brood (Active). Accept skill?
“Centurion Brood?”
“What a peculiar skill,” she said. “It should cater to your fundamental skill quite well, but I personally don’t know its effects. I could get another vial, but it might have conflicting effects with the one you have.”
“No, I’ll go with this.” He scratched his head.
Skill Unlocked: Centurion Brood (Active)
Centurion Brood (Active) Status Description: summons a centurion brood capable of laying {arachne spawns} depending on the relative safety of its nest and food source. Property: Active Skill Arachne Spawn Description: this creature is the smallest and weakest form of arachne, capable of following simple commands from its Centurion Brood. It communicates through its small antennas and relays information. If trained, it can lay traps, organize defenses, and attack if necessary. (Official) Rank: 1 Summon Limit: 1
Colm explained the skill to Qversenesia, who gave a smug look that looked like she knew the skill all along. “You should try and experiment in your room, Colm,” she said. “Get some rest. Your skills will be useful for the events to come.”
He nodded. Putting the skill at the back of his mind, he was dismissed and escorted by a guard to his room. The spider returned to the cane and seemed to solidify, making it look like it was never alive at all.
He wondered if he could increase the rank of his skills somehow by gaining experience. He would have loved to meet back with Noah to get the money, so he message her about his brief hostage and new assignment in the void. He asked for tips.
They turned around a corner.
“I’ll take it from here.” It was the handmaiden, Ametha. The guard gave a quick nod then turned away stiffly. As he left, he looked like a man walking to the death row. “I know where your room is,” she said. “Follow me. And do keep up, I dislike wasting time.”
She was a fast walker. Colm had to keep up, and after several more turns she opened the door and let herself in. She quickly found a pitcher, swirled it, gave a nod, and poured herself to the brim. “There’s wine in every room,” she said. “Every single one. I swear these servants are under a conspiracy to cater to my love for it. Should I reward them, do you think? Or should I punish them for depleting our stores? And close the door behind you, I don’t want any prying ears.”
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He shut the door. She was looking at him now. And she held the sharp gaze, as if she was turning the lock with the wrong key, analyzing him.
He cleared his throat. “I don’t want to presume to suggest above my position, my lady.”
“Don’t test me, player,” she said. “I asked you a question. Surely, that warrants your opinion to satisfy my curiosity.”
“Did they place these wine pitchers under their own volition?”
“You may assume. And without my sole permission.”
Her permission, he thought. “Then I’ll suggest rewarding them for their proactiveness and forward thinking.”
She dismissed that with a gesture. “Boring. Safe. I’m certain you’d be too busy drooling before you realize a servant has poisoned your pitcher.”
Colm stared at the wine. “It’s poisoned?”
“Mild paralysis. Nothing I can’t handle. You and Her Serenity are too much alike. Next thing I know, I’ll be hearing you bleating like a sheep in the courtyard on the morrow.”
His head was reeling from the thought of someone who wanted to take him out. But now, he only knew the minister Solades and the handmaiden.
She walked around him like a curious artist. “You don’t look particularly handsome, which is a shame. Stay still. You’re crippled, we can’t have that. How did she qualify you for this? It baffles me.” She stopped in place and took out a paper from her breast pocket. “We want a total of three cores. Here’s your assignment. Tomorrow, you’ll ride a carriage with two korvels and take the portal to the nether. Normally, you’ll be teleported in random, but the korvels are there to minimize discrepancy, so protect them. They’ll give you the details of the core. Whether or not we fix your leg, I—“ she paused. “I’ll need to talk to her about this. Do you understand?”
“Go to the nether, take the core, go back. And fix the leg first, hopefully.”
“Good. I’ll leave you to your room. Call a servant if you need anything.”
Colm checked the pitcher and tried to smell it. Then he poured a small portion to the goblet and took a sip. The memory of Sodales must’ve failed him again. Perhaps the handmaiden Ametha played a cruel joke on him, which wouldn’t be out of place given their conversation.
On the corner was a single bed. There was a small fireplace and firewood and chair next to it. There was a drawer, a small mirror on the wall, and a wardrobe. It looked more comfortable and isolated from noise than he thought. He liked it already.
He sat down on the bed and lifted up the cane. “Hey,” he said. “Can you hear me?”
The spider timidly looked up, but didn’t move. “Nod once if you understand me.”
I can hear you just fine, overseer.
Colm sighed. Its voice was like a passing wind. “You can talk. Telepathically. Why am I only hearing this now?”
I am observing.
“And you were observing the Void Lord earlier too when you were raising your limbs and waving it?”
She has treats. Arcane. Very tasty. You don’t. I will require sustenance to act.
“What kind of food do you eat?”
Blood. Meat. Corpse.
“Anything you’re allergic to?”
Jokes that land poorly.
“I don’t have a sense of humor.”
That is perfect.
He laid back on the bed for a while. “You said you were observing. Anything amiss?”
The red hair’s claim of mild paralysis poison in the wine.
“Good enough. You’re pretty intelligent.” He stood up, took the wine and doused the fire with it. He opened the windows too, which let the cold wind burst through the room, while his suit chilled to match it. The sunlight blazed through the room.
I will also require incessant praise.
“That’s too high of a maintenance,” Colm looked around outside the window. It was too high. “How far can we talk to each other?”
I don’t know.
“Can you go outside and hide in the hallway unnoticed?”
The spider skittered away from the cane and slipped under the door. I can hide under the torch lamp.
“Tell me anything you see. Who stops at the door and knocks, what they look like and their expressions. Can you do that?” He hoped it would.
Yes. But I will require—
“A reward. I’ll think of something.”
Yaay....it said in a monotone voice.
Colm’s only weapon was the cane, and he wasn’t sure if the Centurion Brood skill would be worth experimenting now. But whoever it was behind that door, they wanted to paralyze him, and they would want to see him for themselves.
He waited for around half an hour when footsteps stopped by the door. It knocked three precise times. Colm waited instead of answering, and just as the spider was about to relay him of the description of the visitor, the door creaked open.