As we walked down the marble stairs of the temple, we each kept quiet; each of us having plenty to think about.
“I think I earned some rather nifty rewards from meeting the gods. Now that I think of it, I should have earned some rewards for escaping the third layer as well!” I thought to myself.
Mission: [Escape the Third Layer!]
Rank: A
You fell into the third layer of the abyss. You are a bug amongst giants! Escape from this deadly environment with your life intact!
Rewards: 200,000 EXP, Upgrade to title [Survivor].
[Mission Complete]
Mission: [Meet the Goddess of Fortune]
Rank: B
The fickle Goddess of Fortune has asked for you to visit her temple to meet her in person. An honor seldom granted; you would be wise to do as she asks. You don’t wish to offend her after all, do you?
Rewards: 50,000 EXP, Favor of the Goddess of Fortune, [Unknown Reward]
Accept Rewards?
Hmm… Maybe I don’t need these rewards. Maybe I can just throw it all away and fight the world’s coming calamities the way I am.
I nodded sagely.
“AS IF I’D DO THAT!” I screamed internally!
Of course I am going to accept, you old rust bucket! Why would I say no to freebies?!
200,000 EXP awarded!
Title [Survivor] has been upgraded to [Abyssal Cockroach]!
50,000 EXP awarded!
You have earned favor with the Goddess of Fortune!
Skill Unlocked: [Fate’s Jester]!
Skill Unlocked: [Hurun’s Mercy]!
Skill Unlocked: [Asexual Reproduction]!
That’s everything I earned from the two missions. So, the unknown reward was her blessing…
“Might as well take a look at what the title and the blessings do. You’re up, partner!”
[Abyssal Cockroach]
Many creatures born from the Abyss are difficult to kill, and yet you manage to baffle even the most determined of aggressors! Truly, you are the cockroach of the Abyss!
Once per battle, if your health drops to 0, you will survive with 1 HP. When this skill is triggered, you will not receive any damage for a period of 3 seconds.
[Fate’s Jester]
The capricious Goddess has granted you her blessing. From this moment onwards, you are fated to meet unlikely events wherever you go.
[Hurun’s Mercy]
The God of Mercy truly cares for your wellbeing. With his blessing, Hurun will shield your mind and soul from all attacks coming from beings inferior to him; Remember that you are never alone in the face of danger, for Hurun watches over you, never to fail in protecting you ever again.
[Asexual Reproduction]
The Goddess of Fertility is pleased with you for having founded a new race of sapient beings. When you reach adulthood, the blessing of the goddess will create an egg before you, carrying the next member of your people. It is with this blessing that you and your people will be capable of populating the world.
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Creates fertilized egg of same species as user of the blessing. May only be activated upon reaching adulthood. Upon activation, skill will go on cooldown. All members of your race will have access to this blessing until your population reaches 1000 members, upon which the Blessing will fade.
Wow. That was a massive haul!
“Renet’s blessing is definitely going to get me a lot of lucky situations, right?! I can’t wait to see it in action! And old man Hurun is definitely watching out for me, judging by his blessing. It’s probably the most useful of the three to me.”
Thoughts of the Frost Eagle’s attack hurting my soul and Alanus attacking my mind hit me, and I shivered a little. The old god really did me a solid…
“Aanat’s blessing is one I won’t have to think about for twenty years, if what Azoth said about dragons applies to me as well. I guess I can just keep it at the back of my mind.”
Also, what’s a cockroach? Maybe appraisal can help with that.
***
As we reached the end of the stairs, the child besides me began to quietly mutter things like “How dare you?!” and “Damn you, system! Who are you calling a cockroach?!”
Amused, my train of thought was interrupted. There is much to do and talk about, so for now we should look for a room in an inn to sit down and talk about what to do to prepare for the challenges ahead.
“Hmm…” I looked around, hoping to find accommodations close by.
Instead, something else caught my eye.
‘Hebnopet Academy of Adventuring’
Slowly, my eyes lit up. Of course. Since this curious child is likely to be deeply connected with the affairs of the continent, it would be best to become familiar with its people and culture. It would also be an opportunity to learn more about magic and combat, as well as form bonds with many who may help in the future to come.
“I can also correct any issues with the curriculum and prepare the education a dragon needs during private lessons, while letting them handle the more regular things for me.”
Anything we need that requires special help from other dragons can be accessed with a trip to the Draconic Isles. This is probably a good plan of action. But this small academy is unworthy of a dragon as its student, and the famed Kengir Academy only accepts those who earn referrals. My name would probably be enough to gain access to the school, but I doubt the child will be happy with that. What to do…
***
Azoth stopped to think for a moment, and then she turned to me.
“Follow me, my child. We’re going to do something fun.” She said with a smile.
We entered a large building right next to the temple’s entrance, and an empty hall awaited us. At the end of it, a receptionist sat while reading a few papers in her hand. A bell rang as we sung open the door, and she looked up to take a look at us.
“Welcome to the Hebnopet Adventurers Academy! How may I help you?” she said with a smile.
Azoth smiled and responded.
“Greetings. I would like to get a recommendation letter from the Academy’s headmaster for my child to apply for the Kengir Academy.”
The smile on the receptionist’s face froze.
“Pardon me, but did you just request that I give you a let-”
“You heard me correctly the first time. Please call the headmaster here so I can speak to him directly.” Azoth interrupted her.
The receptionist’s eyebrow twitched.
“…I am sorry, but you cannot simply walk into the academy and demand a meeting with the headmaster and a letter of recommendation from him to a rival academy. The audacity! Our academy is more than good enough for any child to attend.” She said, her eyes trembling with fury; any trace of her smile was long gone.
“I am aware of what I can and cannot do, little girl, and you will not be the one to tell me otherwise. Besides, if you really think you have what it takes to be worthy of a student like my child, then prove it.” Azoth smiled.
“I humbly ask for your patience, Lady Azoth. There is no need to argue more with my receptionist. Most people only know you by your title, not by your name or your appearance, so do excuse her for not recognizing you. However, what she said is also correct; we take pride in our academy, and we cannot simply give your child such treatment without proof that it is deserved.” An old, grizzled bear of a man entered the hall, presumably the headmaster.
“How did you recognize me? I do not recall telling you who I am.” Azoth said, an eyebrow raised.
“The God of Mercy showed me a vision that suggested it; I knew then that this is a matter that I should handle personally.” The headmaster said solemnly.
“I suppose Hurun would indeed do something like that. Well then, what would you suggest we do?”
The headmaster grinned.
“That’s rather simple. We can appraise your child through the admissions exam. If they obtain a perfect score, then I’ll be happy to write that letter of recommendation for you and send you on your way. However, if they obtain anything less than that, then your child will enroll in our academy instead. What do you say?”
“That is acceptable.” Azoth answered immediately without batting an eye.
Do I not have any say in this conversation?! Dammit Azoth, old man!
“Forgive me for interrupting, headmaster, but no one has ever obtained a perfect score on our entrance exam in the Academy’s history! Not even the most famed and prodigious of our alumni did so! A test this unfair is not necessary to protect our Academy’s honor.” The receptionist objected, but the headmaster smiled bitterly.
“That’s because all the talents capable of something like that enrolled in the Kengir Academy. This test should be perfectly fair, especially for what they are asking for. Lady Azoth has not objected to it either, so this should be the best compromise we can agree to.”
“But I haven’t actually said that I am willing to attend either academy…” I grumbled, then Azoth turned to me.
“Do you remember what we heard earlier? If you are to be prepared for the trials ahead of you, then there is much for you to learn, and an academy is the perfect place for it. I cannot allow you to refuse this time, since your safety and your future are currently my responsibility.” Azoth responded.
I grumbled, and the headmaster then spoke again.
“Please follow me. I will lead you to the place where the first part of the exam is held.”
The headmaster walked towards ahead, and Azoth took my hand then followed after him.