Turning around to leave the First Pagoda, Iris wanted to rest her mind for a bit, otherwise, she felt like fainting. There were so many things in that pagoda that shook her up. Everything, including Tuskan's wordy efforts to explain each floor, to treasures worth Tier B, or C powers, everything left her speechless.
Also, she got to know there were specific underground sectors prohibited from entry unless you have Vermillion's Blessing.
t was unsurprising that she felt this way. Ceila never explained to her the worth of the First Pagoda. Only general information and the other ones were explained to her.
So many treasures... The Second and Third are nothing compared to this place... Who is buying stuff in this place? Their benefits or even the topic of finding them is so wild. War, dungeons, and ancient ruins. She wondered, but before disappearing far from the First Pagoda, Tuskan shouted something behind her.
“Careful of this gift.”
Though, his message was more or less ignored by Iris. She had no intention of doing anything but calm herself down before walking to solve this mission that Ceila gave her.
Since yesterday, she felt a strange sensation in her chest. It stemmed from a lot of things. Some of which, were even feelings that Iris was yet to explore. It was perhaps a wonder of adventure, or she had a deep-rooted problem with anxiety because of her family, or past. Those were two vastly different things, yet Iris was aware of the former, and not the latter.
Taking a stroll around the Cathedral to calm down, she returned to where she came from. Offices beside the cathedral held many things for the priests or any mage. Even those unaffiliated with the church could buy out their services, doing alchemy, forging, or whatever they needed to.
Iris found a regular mage room filled with experimental mage equipment that one would need. As a priestess of the Vermillion Church—albeit a beginner one—it was free to her use.
The room was for the mages to work with initiating their experience, experiments, and so on. It wasn't of high quality, but neither it was poor. It was more than better for Iris, who was used to her own experiments in her home and her clumsy homemade Alchemy Table.
Tossing Murai and the two boxes onto a wide rectangular Alchemy Table in the middle of the room, Iris used the chair aside to lean deep into it, making herself comfortable.
“I am exhausted...” she complained, sounding like an adolescent, for once.
She was always under the watchful eyes of others, but she figured Murai wasn't somebody she should be worried about, so why bother with being polite?
Forcing his neck, and beak up the bucket, Murai was curious about a couple of things. Watching the sight around him, as well as two gifts behind the bucket, he was wondering what Ceila or Vermillion wanted from him, or what they will give him. Those boxes were a handful in size, but they could reveal many secrets.
After all, he could see the runes on top of these boxes. Those were high-grade Mana Seals, filled with enough power to stop any futile attempt to seize what was inside. That should include the defenses with power above level 70 or perhaps even higher. Murai wasn't sure of the proper power levels of this world yet, so he could only assume things from the runes and mana alone.
In fact, he hoped for a better example of some power-leveling stuff that ran in this world, but where would he look for that?
So far, he wasn't as comfortable and familiar with anything about this world. Lisa should be the main helper who should provide him with such information, but she was asleep. She should've done a better job before that, but it was too late to cry over spilled milk.
There was also this Will of the Battleworld that provided him with huge benefits, alongside the power-leveling bullshit that Gods put into this place.
Right. The World was the answer he was thinking of when considering everything. Gods were the cause or excuse for how it all worked together, while the World gave them the edge.
A power system that stems from the World, followed by Godly control. It was a recipe for an unbalanced mess, according to Murai's own guess. But a guess was a guess. It was an interesting idea that he had seen a couple of times indeed, but this was the first time Gods were making such a mess.
Goings against such a system seemed like a thing to his tastes though. Murai knew it should be fairly intriguing since his power level wasn't nearly adjusted to this world at all. His prowess was different than some numerical systems, even though they were provided by those boosts.
Murai was broken thanks to his soul and Cursed Living, or so he figured. Not in a bad way.
Iris was glancing at the tall ceiling, breathing calmly in her leaning position beside the Level 40, and Grade C Alchemy Table. After a while, she noticed Murai struggle to keep watching.
“You are free to put your restraints away in this place.” She said, noticing he was still looking and feeling like a regular duck. “It's not like anyone is interested in any strange mana undulations in this place. A lot of mages do worst things than take the demonic beasts to this place. It's built well, hiding mana and dangerous elements within.” Iris stated, shoving her hands around as she spoke, giving some notice to the many runes around the walls.
Murai knew what she meant even if she didn't say a thing. He noticed them right away. The walls had no windows, but a few candles were enough to light everything in bright light. Not like there was a lot to see, since the walls were more or less barren brick walls, filled with all kinds of rune symbols.
It was a passable Rune Array put forth by quite a good mage. It was a construct of runes that will prevent any mishaps in any experiments, so the building wouldn't get destroyed. They will be enough to last decades, which meant a lot of effort was put into this place.
Murai couldn't help but give it a meaningful nod, deciding to go with Iris's suggestion. He willed his mana forward, which was like a small streaming river, that was momentarily flooded with debris.
Muria felt more comfortable than ever, the moment he stopped restraining his unkept Beast Core. He was yet to figure out the right way to calm the raging mana inside his body. His mana was definitely on the chaotic side of things, making it hard to control and stop flowing.
Even though he felt he had this sort of familiar mana in some past lives, he couldn't help but think of it as something unique. It wasn't because the mana was hard to shape or use when one was unfamiliar with mana. He had plenty of those familiarities, and this was caused by his body itself. An Anatidae, in fact.
He was unable to control his core regardless of his hefty experiences and knowledge. Was it something to do with being Anatidae? Murai obviously thought so, since it was the only good answer that would make sense.
After all, mana was an encompassing piece of universe-scale power, spanning countless distances across the universe. River of Manaflow was a topic of mysteries, spanning both, time, matter, and courses of unnatural powers that made the universe what it always will be.
It didn't matter if one was a human, a beast, or anything else. The mana was remaining stagnant, unchanging in its structure and rules. The only times when it could change were beings that could use it, sense it, or wield it in around, or within their bodies. Then, the mana can become a tool to be used, experimented with, or played with like a toy.
Though there were some extreme sides, Murai knew about them. The Laws, or so he imagined now. Order of Chaos held the Laws intact. Chaos Laws were the most intense. It came from the demons and chaotic elements that were ever present in the universe as the mana itself. Order was more gentle, thus weaker than Chaos but not by much.
If the universe had no balance, it would get stagnant, leading to meaningless destruction, and an imbalanced course of living. The universe had to have a counterbalance, otherwise, things would become heated, mundane, and filled with nothing but diminishing rules.
Amidst the feeling of the mana in his body, Murai took a deep breath, Shaping small strands of energy to grab the quill, book, and ink to the table.
“You want to talk?” Iris asked, noticing what was happening right away.
Murai went right at it and wrote.
I am thankful.
“Realy? Why does it feel strange to see you write it? This, coming from you? I don't know you enough, yet I have this feeling... it might be unfit?” Iris thought out loud, leaving Murai to cringe inside.
For fuck's sake... here I go, being nice for once, and this is what I got? Maybe being an asshole is a better idea after all. Murai thought and started to write something else rather than being himself.
It was mostly gibberish, which meant nothing, but to make Iris feels better about herself. He was trying to motivate her, upon discovering her tiredness and her circumstances that he more or less understood.
“What do you want? This?” Iris asked, straightening her posture, and pointed to the boxes with her finger.
Murai nodded impatiently.
“I feel like resting for a moment... Do you mind it? ” Iris lazily stretched and went closer to the bucket. “You should also rest up, otherwise your wounds would ache in the Afterlife. You should think about it, but you don't have to hear my words. I am talking to myself, after all. Talking to a duck... even? Strange.” she sighed.
She watched Murai from the corner of her lazy eyes. She was curiously watching what Ceila meant by an Anatidae, or why things happened in the way they did.
This was a Blessed before her, but one, that was quite wild and unique beyond her wildest imagination.
“I can be inclined to be more than your helper, you know? If my brother will end up in the knighthood of Vermillion Church, all of my worries will disappear. What do you think? Are you worth of services of this beginner priestess?” Iris asked calmly, sounding a bit sour as if her words weren't something she thought were honest.
“I didn't mean a regular companionship. Are you aware of how Blessed do their work? They have one of the highest standards in this world. Some call them Heroes in human powers, while the cases of the beast, or demonic Blessed are... A bit strange, but not unheard of. Have you heard of Temporar Power Chain before?” Iris asked a bunch of questioned unrelated to one another, which gave Murai a headache.
This time, he wrote a simple answer.
My Life Companion so far was a letdown, so I don't 'expect anything.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
I don't know a lot about this world, so I would appreciate anything that you can offer. Temporar whatever... never heard of it.
“I am glad to read that,” Iris said and changed her posture to lean on her hands on the table so she can look at Murai a bit closely. “Life Companion is a different process of power. From what the master explained to me throughout the years, alongside my own findings, it is the guiding soul of someone already familiar with the Battleworld. Such souls then serve as direct help to a new Blessed, providing the unique services that Battleworld can do for each unique Blessed. Apart from this singular special companion, they could also have all kinds of folks under their influence. Perhaps you already know it, but I will say it for the sake of it.” Iris said, giving him a much-needed knowledge boost.
“Slavery is most common. Then forming a regular blood bond, friendship, or forming groups with folks of similar interests. Temporar Power Chain is something that can give an unrelated person to Blessed some unique opportunities, and a better connection to the Will of the Battleworld. It isn't like Blessed Companions, but similar, time-limited, and weaker. Mercenaries, and people of the coin in general work fine too. It's quite a vast subject, but it all revolves around a simple premise. Do you know which?” Iris said, gesturing to Murai to write his guess.
He wrote.
Uniqueness
“Interesting answer. I wrote it myself when I was 11.” She chuckled, continuing. “It's because a Blessed is extremely important when it comes to the connection to the Battleworld. They can use that to a huge advantage and not just for themselves. The Battleworld can give rare chances to the companions alongside the Blessed. They can form a lot of things. From Tasks, missions, and quests, you name them, and they probably exist in some form. Then, they could be something more than helpers walking side by side. They could become a huge help, getting blessings, and benefits similar to the Blessed. Meaning, they would get stronger faster than an average person.” Iris explained, leading to Murai's gaping beak.
Iris talked quite well for her age and knew a lot more than he thought. After all, Ceila gave her quite a few important rundowns about this world and its interests since she had to know them.
Iris had an interest in them herself, long before she met Ceila. So, it was no wonder she talked with enthusiasm, giving Murai the knowledge that he needed.
Any normal scholar or stronger adventurer would give the same rundown as her.
As for Lisa and her methods of being a Life Companion? That was as unique, as herself.
What in the actual fuck. Murai scowled inside. Did Lisa ever consider such a simple rundown? Did she ever plan to tell something like that, or did she even say something like those lines? I don't remember... Wait, the Will of the Battleworld did tell me something about it when I formed a connection with her. But I was so fed up with the situation back then, that I ended up ignoring it. Fuck... It's my fault also. No need to be upset then. He sighed, letting his beak down in frustration.
“Hey, don't be let down by this.” Iris patted Murai's on his head, ignoring the fact he was a demonic beast, and started undulating some residual aura of something... sinister? She ignored it since there was no point in being afraid. “You see... It isn't bad to have helpers. After all, Blessed are kind of unique existence in this world. They do a lot of things and could create miracles, and also disasters. It is... what makes this world a Battleworld as you probably know already.”
Murai wrote.
I know what kind of world this is, but it doesn't make me happy it is like that. Do you want to be this kind of helper?
A priest helping a demonic beast? I doubt it is a possibility that is worth the danger.
What would people think, or your brother? You should care for yourself and your future.
Being a helper to a Blessed should sometimes be a disaster, rather than a miracle. I bet. It sounds like that, from your words and how I think of it from my own perspective.
Reading it, Iris almost laughed. “My brother would agree with exactly what you wrote. He is young and inexperienced, but like me, he has a bright future. Maybe he would even agree to be your knight if he was older. Who knows? Screw some sense. Blessed are already living legends so why have common sense about right and bad? It doesn't matter when it comes to them.”
What a freaking family... I wonder why their uncle ended up as a braindead follower of this Centralis shithole? Murai wondered but didn't write it to make Iris upset.
“But no... I accept not following you myself. You speak sense, sir Murai. It is already finite. My life depends on things and a set future. My life is dedicated to my Master since she already accepted me years ago behind my uncle's back. I want a good life, safe from the worries of some disasters. Nothing but this church could provide a sense of peace for me and my brother. It is like that. Right? Am I wrong, si... er.. Murai?”
Murai wrote, feeling Iris was making a good decision.
Right, or wrong is often subjective. The same is with good or bad. Righteousness or evil. Chaos or Order. It all depends on many variable perspectives one could see or feel.
What one wants to achieve, feel, save, or hold precious to one's heart? Having the freedom of choice is a gift that not many have.
No god can force us on a path that we don't want to make ours. Freedom is like that too and your Will is one thing that holds true beyond the heart and intent.
Forcing yourself or others is a thing only a few could do, so which future will be yours is yours alone. No one will decide on a life for oneself unless it serves some benefits. What is upon you is a path. It is yours. I can't give you wordy advice, or give you hints for answers.
You should already know it yourself since you answered it yourself. You sure wish to serve Vermillion honestly. It is a good beginning to feel it, so I hope it will remain. It is the same with you Master, but that is outside of my influence. She is also important to you, and I can tell it.
She gave you a chance and you took it. It is no time to be greedy about some possible Blessed chance. Not when you have shackles in your Will that already make you prone to your future. Vermillion's, that is.
Don't waste this luck that Ceila's hopes in you.
Iris read it all twice. She thought of it as excellent writing that solidified her intent. “Right... Thank you for these words. I will engrave it into my heart so I will never forget it. I am grateful, so let's see what this is next, otherwise, I will start to cry and forget to do a thing.” Iris said, forcing the book away and grabbing the envelopes on top of the box meant for herself.
Folding it open in a second, Iris was surprised to see a full-blown Scroll hiding in a rather small envelope. In fact, it wasn't a whole Scroll, but a piece of certain Mana Script, which should be part of something bigger.
The name of this treasure was on a small token-like object, folded over the scroll by a leather strip.
Seven Profound Pills - Chapter 1
Iris furrowed her brows, trying her hardest to come up with a memory that should include something about hearing this name. She couldn't for the life of hers recall it.
Murai scrabbled a few quick words, unaware of the name since Iris kept it close to herself.
Show me.
Though, Iris didn't catch his writing, since her eyes were upon the Script of quite some value.
In fact, the side, on the other side of the handful token also included a small hint of the rules from the First Pagoda. It stated to be careful of this scrip's physicality, authenticity, Class, and Grade, and one had to be wielding this old piece of paper with care. It was old, so it went without saying.
“Grade SS? Path is unclassified but its Class isn't? I never heard of this. Class - The Sharadar God? That... Isn't it similar to the goddess that fell in the Shattering War!” Iris exclaimed, putting her palm across her mouth.
Murai quacked in annoyance from hearing her words but was unable to get anything out of the situation, other than hearing her words.