Chapter 70: Of Monkeys and Men

The sudden racket at the door yanked Darius and Marcus from their relaxed conversation. Glasses clinked softly as they set them down, their heads turning toward the noise. A mixture of shrieks and moans bled through the wood, distorting the room's prior calm.

Darius frowned, 'There must be protective arrays in here, I can't see through the door.'

Marcus chuckled dryly, the sound mingling with the crackling fire. "Never a dull moment," he quipped, pushing back his chair with a scrape against the wood floor. With an assured stride, he approached the door, his hand poised on the knob.

Marcus swung the door open, the sudden silence hanging heavily as they peered into the empty hallway. No assailant, no immediate danger—just the echo of their own cautious breaths.

His gaze dropped slowly, only to fix upon a diminutive, scorched monkey looking back up at him, its fur singed, a pathetic squeak escaping its throat.

"He with you?" Marcus smirked, an eyebrow raised in Darius's direction.

Rising abruptly, Darius acknowledged the creature with an apologetic nod. "Yes, he's mine." From his pouch, he produced two items: the red barrel and a vial filled with silvery liquid.

The sight of the barrel seemed to revive the monkey slightly. It limped toward Darius, each step marked by a soft moan of pain.

"I'm really sorry; next time I summon you, it'll just be food," Darius murmured. He hovered his hand above the monkey, waiting as it sniffed cautiously, then settled down. With a gentle touch, he began to drizzle the silvery potion over his palm, letting it cascade down onto the monkey's scorched fur.

Observing the animal's initial fear, Darius spoke softly, "You're okay. This will help." His voice was gentle, his aura soothing.

As the potion took effect, easing the monkey's pain, it began to relax, its eyes closing with a soft coo. Darius placed the barrel close by and carefully opened the lid. With a gentle gesture, he summoned the monkey back into the artifact, where it disappeared in a beam of light, returning to its sanctuary.

Watching the entire process intently, Marcus's interest was piqued. "That's a fascinating artifact you have there. I'd take good care of those little fellows; that item should be quite powerful."

Darius, closing the lid of the barrel, raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "Why do you say that? So far, it hasn't shown much use."

Marcus chuckled and settled back into his chair. "From what I understand, artifacts capable of summoning living beings are exceedingly rare and always immensely powerful. Be careful not to reveal it too freely, unless you're certain you can protect it."

As Darius held the Barrel of Monkeys, a skeptical look crossed his face, his thoughts echoing a resigned, 'Of course, I'd get stuck with a dud.' He tucked it away with a sigh. "I think I'll retire for the evening. Thank you for the chat."

"Probably wise, it's getting late," Marcus agreed, then perked up with a proposal. "By the way, are you interested in joining me tomorrow? I'm heading out to check on one of my survey sites; my team thinks they might have found a mithril vein."

Darius responded with a slight bow, his expression shifting to gratitude as he reassumed the guise of Xue Feng. "I'd like that. But could you do me a favor and ask your son to join us? He seems to have developed a bit of jealousy towards me." His tone sharpened with the last request.

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course, I'll make sure he's there."

With a smile and a nod, Darius exited the room, making his way straight to his quarters, greeting the staff he encountered as he passed. Upon entering his room, he walked out onto the balcony, taking in the night air.

Leaning on the balcony rail, Darius gazed up at the stars, his thoughts wandering. 'This might not be so bad. Maybe teaching his son could prove to be interesting.' He smirked slightly, 'At the very least, I can use him for some experiments.'

Below, the city hummed with life. The hum of magitech lighting the streets, fueling a vibrant nightlife that persisted despite the late hour. The quiet of the sky above offered a peaceful backdrop to the busy energy of the city.

Darius's focus shifted sharply at a noise just below his balcony. Peering down, he spotted a surprisingly fierce battle of life and death unfolding right beneath him.

Standing valiantly on its tiny hind legs, a skeeter, which resembled a bipedal mouse, brandished a sowing needle. Clad in a patchwork of colorful scraps of cloth, it bore the wise and determined look of a seasoned defender. Its large ears, frayed like the edges of an old map, twitched at every faint sound, and its eyes, bright and alert, scanned for the slightest movement. The tattered scarf wrapped around its neck fluttered with every brave stab of its needle, as it stood its ground.

Behind this makeshift warrior, two smaller skeeters cowered. They were less adorned, their coats simpler and their eyes wide with fear, clearly reliant on their protector. Their tiny bodies trembled, pressed against the wall of the manor.

Looming over them, the attacker—a large house cat with a coat of gleaming purple fur—crouched low. Its green eyes glinted with predatory focus, muscles tensed and ready to pounce. It toyed with the notion of an easy victory, its tail flicking in anticipation as it faced off against the surprisingly gallant skeeter.

'That skeeter's putting up a brave face, but it's a losing battle.' In a futile stand, the one skeeter jabbed forward with its tiny sewing needle, its movements desperate against the looming predator.

Darius's lips curled into a slow grin, and with a casual shrug of "Why not?" he vaulted off the balcony.

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He touched down just as the cat coiled to strike, planting himself firmly between the terrified skeeters and their assailant. His abrupt entrance startled the cat, which hissed sharply before bolting into the shadows of the night.

Darius chuckled softly as he turned and knelt, his gaze meeting the wide, terrified eyes of the skeeters. The larger one, previously wielding a needle, let it clatter to the ground, panting heavily as it backed up to shield the smaller ones.

Raising his eyebrows, Darius remarked, "Well, aren't you quite the noble creature." He tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips, "Why not? They seem intelligent enough."

Darius extended his hand slowly, causing the skeeters to shrink back, their tiny eyes squeezed shut in exhaustion. He pointed a finger at the brow of the brave skeeter, murmuring, "Consider this a passing gift for your bravery. Cultivate well." A tiny spark leapt from his finger, sinking into the brow of the skeeter.

Satisfied, Darius leapt gracefully back onto his balcony. With hands clasped behind his back, he murmured to himself, "I should check on Haku. Make sure Neko isn't stirring up trouble." He strolled towards the far wall. Entering the pattern with his ring, Darius accessed the Vault.

Back below his room, the trio of skeeters began hastening their way back to their burrows. Darting through the city streets, one of them—the brave needle-wielder—had a noticeable blue glow in its eyes. Its rapid thoughts whirled with the words, 'Dewdrop Breathing Technique.'

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Darius entered the Vault with a practiced ease, his mind already cataloging the tasks ahead. First on his list was checking on Haku.

Quietly, he observed the ember-fox within his cocoon of flames, ensuring there were no anomalies in his cultivation that might suggest deviation. Satisfied with Haku's steady progress, Darius proceeded to feed the swamp-roach, scattering additional bones for it to feed upon.

Next, he turned his attention to Neko, finding him deep within the forest of the farm. He displayed extreme signs of boredom—a pitiful contrast to its usual mischievous energy.

As a token of apology for his prolonged absence, Darius lavished Neko with a generous amount of high-grade crystals, promising that it wouldn't be long before he brought the creature out for more stimulating activities.

Having attended to their needs, Darius spent some time in the fourth room of the Vault, immersed in light reading to calm his mind and consolidate the day's experiences. This brief period of study provided him not only with relaxation but also with insights that might prove useful in the days to come.

Content with the night’s work, the next morning, Darius left the Vault. After splashing his face in a wash basin, he stretched, mulling over his companions. 'I hope Haku won't be much longer; his help would be invaluable right now. Hopefully, Neko can remain patient.'

Darius's thoughts were abruptly cut off by a thud near the bed. Whipping around, he spotted one of the three monkeys on the floor.

"Wake up!"

At his shout, the monkeys began to stir groggily, wine bottles clinking and chunks of food tumbling off the bed as the remaining one crawled out. Darius rolled his eyes, touching his pouch to pull out the red barrel. "You guys shouldn't drink if you can't handle it."

With a wave of his hand, both monkeys were sucked back into the barrel, their brief bout of freedom ending as quickly as it had started.

'I should summon them inside the farm later, let them roam and give them some rewards.'

Before stepping out, Darius tapped his brooch, assuming the guise of Xue Feng. 'This disguise is wearing thin. Once I've gained more power, it'll be a relief to drop these pretenses.'

As he left his room, Darius followed the enticing aroma of bread and cooked meats emanating from the kitchen, his smile fading as memories of the Valdene Estate kitchens surfaced. 'I'm sorry Tilly. I'm just not strong enough yet.'

His expression clouded, Darius entered the dining hall, spotting Marcus at the head of the table with Percy beside him. His greeting carried a somber tone. "Morning. How are we feeling today, Percy?" His voice laced with a mocking edge.

Percy, a shade paler than usual, mustered a feeble smile. "Feels like my brains were bashed in by a lemon wrapped gold brick, but otherwise, just swell."

Marcus, chuckling over his drink, placed his cup down and gestured for Darius to join them. "Would you like something to eat before we head out?"

"No need," Darius responded curtly.

Marcus, observing Darius’s subdued demeanor, probed gently, "Did you have trouble sleeping? You seem a bit off this morning."

Hesitating briefly, "To be honest, I'm just a bit restless. Have your men reported anything yet?"

Marcus nodded. "Yes, they've uncovered two promising leads they're currently investigating."

Leaning forward, Darius perched on the edge of his chair, his attention sharpening.

"One of my scouts discovered that a family to the east is in financial distress; they're planning to auction off some possessions. Among them, there's said to be a thousand-year-old rainbow tuber. He's on his way to verify this right now."

Darius's eyes lit up, a surge of enthusiasm breaking through his composure. "A thousand-year-old rainbow tuber would be ideal! What about the other lead?!"

Marcus chuckled, turning to Percy with amusement. "It's odd seeing an elder's face sparkle with such youthful excitement. Try to keep up the act, Feng; it's part of the disguise after all."

Darius, a faint blush tinting his cheeks, abruptly regained his composure. "My apologies for the interruption. Please, go on."

Marcus and his son exchanged a glance, their laughter erupting, until suddenly, a spoon thudded against Percy's head. "Hey! He laughed too!"

"Did you just ask me to throw a spoon at your father? You unfilial child!" Darius exclaimed, standing abruptly, his finger pointing accusingly.

Marcus gestured for Darius to sit back down, "calm down, I'm not done," his chuckle smoothing over the moment. "And the second lead is a Vial of Water, purportedly drawn from a World Pool."

Percy, his curiosity piqued, leaned in. "What’s a World Pool?"

Darius, with a dry tone and a roll of his eyes, answered, "I’m surprised you don’t know, given your status. You should have been well-informed about such matters."

Percy's cheeks flushed as he glanced towards his father. "I learned many things from my tutors, that just wasn't one of them," he muttered defensively.

Marcus's face tinted with a hint of embarrassment for his son's weak excuse. Clearing his throat, he interjected, "World Pools are forgotten remnants of ancient elven magic, predating the Age of Wonders. It's understandable that your tutors might have overlooked that."

"Hmm," Darius squinted at the uneasy duo, skeptical. "I doubt that second lead will amount to anything. Sounds like a wild rumor to me. Any mage would skin their own apprentice for a chance at something like that. The ability to replicate the World Pools would be a monumental benefit to humanity."

Percy, still mired in confusion but too embarrassed to inquire further, cast a brief, pleading glance at his father.

Catching his son's look, Marcus quickly added, "If humans could access the World Pools, it would mean a lifespan comparable to that of the elves, without relying on knight or mage systems to prolong their lives."

Percy's eyes widened, his jaw dropping as he momentarily forgot his embarrassment. "Father! You have to find this for me! If I could get ahold of this, mother wouldn't get so upset every time she sees me."

Darius's expression darkened momentarily before he understood; 'Percy's mother must have achieved a higher ascension. To watch your own child age and perish while you endure could torment any parent.' Eager to steer away from the unfolding family drama and noting Marcus's discomfort with his son's plea, Darius awkwardly shifted the topic. "Well, since you've finished eating, shall we start our journey to the survey site?"

"Yes, let's get going," Marcus said, clearing his throat as he stood. "Food is just an indulgence after all. I need to speak with your mother before we leave, Percy. Take Darius to the stables so he can choose a mount."

"Yes, father," Percy replied, his tone reflecting his disappointment at the abrupt shift in conversation.

"And Darius," Marcus added, his voice taking on a stern edge, "the winter-elk is mine."

Darius's eyes widened in surprise. "You have a winter-elk?!"

Laughing heartily, Marcus strode towards the exit of the dining hall, his voice echoing behind him, "I've always had a penchant for mana-beasts, particularly the rideable breeds. You’ll find several options in the stables; just steer clear of the winter-elk."

Brimming with anticipation, Darius turned sharply to Percy. "Lead the way!" he urged.

Percy rolled his eyes but began walking towards the exit in the hall, leading towards the stables. His subdued manner did nothing to quell Darius's growing excitement, 'Every true man needs a formidable mount. It appears that truth holds in any world.'

As they left the rear of the manor, the stables came into view, sprawling across the back property like a grand, elongated lodge. Darius, caught in a moment of awe, inquired, "How many beasts does your family own?"

Percy smirked, a roll of his eyes accompanying his tease, "Just wait till we get inside. Didn’t your family have stables? You seem like you’ve never seen one before."

Feeling a sting from Percy’s words, Darius retorted sharply, "Of course I have. I'm merely eager to choose a mount. Remember, Percy, every powerful man should have an equally powerful steed."

Percy squinted slightly, his tone half-mocking as he ventured, "You don’t have many friends, do you?"

A swift smack to the back of his head sent Percy stumbling a few steps ahead, muttering under his breath.

As they reached the large doors of the stables, Percy gestured to the stable boy to swing them open.

Darius's enthusiasm burst forth uncontrollably as the stable doors opened wide. His eyes widened, taking in the remarkable sight that stretched before him. "So many..." he breathed out, his voice tinged with awe.

Two enormous rows of mana-beasts lined the walls of the interior, each stall housing a creature more magnificent than the last. He quickly tallied the numbers—thirty beasts, at least—each exuding a unique aura of power.

With a spring in his step and a light in his eyes that hadn't been there moments before, Darius almost danced into the stables, a tune from his homeland softly escaping his lips as he hummed.