Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Inside the dungeon: Pilgrim of the Lost souls
Kalkin's POV:
It's been an hour since Paul's team went ahead inside the tunnel on Path 3. As mentioned earlier, this dungeon has 3 separate paths that converge at one big area. Sir Paul and his team went ahead to clear the tunnel for us, and so did Sir Gus' team and Madam Madeline's so that we can start mining there, right now we all 27 miners are mining the entry point of this dungeon but there is nothing to mine much here, so we are just kinda half-working, half-relaxing mood, some of the new guys are getting lectures on proper etiquettes in dungeons by senior miners and some are examining whatever little mana stones we have extracted right now, while some of us are just telling stories about their 1 horrid adventure in the dungeon or some are just polishing their own equipment. One thing that I absolutely love about mining is how all miners take proper care of their equipment, it's like they worship it or something. Mr. Carlton, Naveen, and Jimmy are sitting near me.
"Hey, Mr. Carlton, why isn't there anyone like God of Mining or Blacksmiths, If one existed maybe we miners also would be like celebrated heroes or something! " asked Jimmy.
"They do exist, and I am a worshipper of God of Mining, that is why I love this job! I mean Gods like the God of Miners, Blacksmiths, carpenters, etc exist but the condition to get their blessing is that you need to absolutely love that profession, I mean you need to be absolutely focused on your profession!" replied Mr. Carlton
"Then why don't you go inside dungeons and fight monsters, you also have God's blessing?" asked a curious Jimmy.
"Well, how will I fight monsters, and am I not inside a dungeon already? Well, firstly, the God of Miners cannot give you strength or powers like other gods, cause the condition to get their attention forbids you to do anything else, I still remember, when I got married and stopped going to the dungeon for a while, my God he became very sad and almost took back his blessing and powers, and I had to like do mining for extra hours for a whole year to please him back. Blessings of God are given to push you more towards the aspect they symbolize. So, if you receive a blessing from Gods like the god of Mining, the blessing pushes you to do mining efficiently. And that is how you can attract more followers for them by alleviating the aspect they are known for! "
"What is your special Power or blessing, Mr. Carlton?" I asked now curious about the explanation.
"Ah, well, any equipment that I hold, can revert back to its prime state, it's not all that powerful, I mean, I also need to have a certain level of mastery to be able to return back a weapon to its primary state and the other condition is I need to know how it looked when it was in its prime!"
"What a boring power?" said Jimmy, now bored of the conversation!
"You are lucky that my God is always busy himself in his passion for mining, otherwise all these mining weapons here would have you as their only target !, from the little conversations I had with my God, he doesn't care much about the world or other Gods, his only focus is to beat someone in mining!"
"Eh, to beat someone in mining? and how does one do that, I mean how does "GOD OF MINING" lose to someone in the first place in the very aspect he symbolizes, and what is God of Mining even mining?" Naveen spoke for the first time in the whole conversation.
"Well, I don't know the answer to the first question, cause my god he becomes really agitated and angry but says that he cannot remember the face of that person, however hard he tries but the feeling it is there and he wants to beat him but he doesn't know who! , As for the 2nd question, the God of Mining is also a very talented sculptor, he mines and does sculpturing at the same time, but I don't know what exactly he mines or where he is mining !" replied Mr. Carlton as if he has no more answers.
"Oh! wait, my god is pleased and he just sent me some blessings, he says that now I can contact him whenever I want to, he is pleased as I showed you non-believers( Gods call all those who do not believe in them as Non-believers) the true passion and respect for the God!" said a surprised Mr. Carton.
"And since I am pleased he says, I give you all the answer to what I am mining right now," said an excited Mr. Carlton
"What are you saying God, I don't understand, I can't hear you!, What are you saying .........Ah!!!! my head, it's hurting!!," shouted Mr. Carlton.
"Kalkin rush, bring Sir Jack here fast", Naveen said as he rushed towards Mr. Carlton!, "Jimmy bring Mr. Carlton some water," I told him as I ran to Sir Jack while Mr. Carlton just writhed in pain.
.....
I reached Sir Jack as fast as I could, "Sir Jack" I said as I took a deep breath, "you need to come with me immediately, Mr. Carlton, his head suddenly started aching, help him otherwise I don't know what will happen," I said scared for Mr. Carlton
Sir jack immediately left his work and stood up asking me what happened.
"What happened, how did it happen?"
"Well, I mean he was excited his God gave him a new blessing and told him something related to what his God is mining! , he just suddenly started shouting, that he is not able to understand anything and suddenly his whole body was in pain, the nerves in his head started popping out as he writhed in pain"
"Shit!, how could his God do that, we need to hurry"
Sir Jack started running and suddenly increased his speed, while I was having a hard time just matching him normally. So that is the difference between Commoners and Champions, shit, now is not the time to think about all this!
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Sir Jack's POV:
I hurried to Carlton, his whole body was crunching in pain, tears were rolling out from his eyes, and he was sweating profusely. Don't worry my friend, I will help you, drink this potion now! as I opened his mouth and emptied the small potion glass bottle in his mouth. As the potion went in, his body slowly settled down, his breathing became steady and his muscles relaxed, he also became unconscious and went into a deep sleep!
Kalkin now reached back all huffing and puffing!
"What happened to Mr. Carlton, how did it happen so suddenly?"
"Well, he is out of danger now, Kalkin and Naveen, you both carry Mr. Carlton on the stretcher back inside the temporary shelter you called me from Kalkin, you both go ahead and I'll join you. Jimmy, and everyone, relax he is out of danger for now, you all do not have to worry, I will handle Mr. Gus and his team, no change of plans for you all, and Simon since Carlton won't be able to join us today for the mining operation, you lead the remaining 7 for today, tomorrow he will be completely fine, ask your team not to worry ok!
"Sure, Boss!, I'll handle it, ya, it's good Mr. Carlton needs to rest for today, I'll lead the group of miners with Sir Gus today!" said Simon as he took his leave and gathered the remaining 7 people to inform them of the events and plan of action!
"Hey! God of Mischief, how could Carlton's god do that to him, didn't he know that doing such an act is actually against the rule of the world," I asked him, I was extremely angry on Carlton's God.
"Hey, Jack, your friend's God is none other than God of Mining, this guy remembers nothing except Mining and cares for nothing except mining but still he is guilty of what he did, he says he genuinely didn't remember about that condition, he says he is debt to you who saved his kin and will forever be in your debt"
"Hey Jack, it's good that God of Mining is in debt to us, trust me on this one, he is a little ignorant of the outside world as he is always busy with his mining or craft as he calls it but I know him he is someone we can use in the future"
"Well, if you say so, I suppose it's a good idea that a God is in debt to me, I can let him go, but tell him that if he ever wants to do stunts like that again, tell him the procedure, ok, you know that I cannot speak anything about it here," I said to God of Mischief as he nodded and asked me to go check up on my friend.
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Kalkin's POV :
"What just happened Naveen, do you have any idea?" I said as we slowly kept Mr. Carlton on the bed sofa inside the tent
"Na, no nothing, I mean I was as stunned as you are," he said as if he was hiding something.
"Well, you asked me to call Sir Jack immediately as if you knew that he will immediately know what to do," I asked a little suspicious of Naveen.
"No, it's.. it's just that I mean, Carlton Told me he is a Champion so I thought maybe another Champion knows what to do" he said in a thoughtful manner.
"Ya, you are right, I mean if I think about it, Mr. Carlton is lucky you thought that immediately otherwise we don't know what might happen! , Hey! bro can I share with you something, I mean we have been friends since our academy days and you were always the sane one out of both of us."
"ya, buddy, you don't have to think twice, tell me what is it that is eating you?" he said to me honestly.
"You know, I mean I have seen this a lot of times, these Champions and Emblem Holders they are strong, very strong compared to us Commoners, I know that but today, when Mr. Carlton's life was in danger, I ran the fastest I could reach Sir Jack but upon returning he was so fast that by the time I came, it was all over, I felt so powerless as if it didn't matter what I did. I mean I am happy that Mr. Carlton was saved and I have no ill feelings or anything for anybody and especially not for Sir Jack but I felt that there is such a vast difference between Commoners and Champions, I mean you know how strong I am physically compared to all the commoners, I mean I was all continent winner in the athletics event for common people in the academy, the fastest they had, even Ranvijay was not a match for me, but now with that emblem, he can run the same track four times by the time I complete it once. I mean such disparity why! why with me?" I said to him as I realized that I shouldn't have said that at the moment and felt really guilty & sad.
"Hey, bro, don't be sad, I mean you are still the fastest commoner and that is why I sent you out of all of us but you know we are not in their league we can't just compare us to them, you just focus on what you can do, leave the rest to the fate, surely you will also be one of those Champions one day, it's because of you only that Sir Jack could reach here on time, don't fret over such stuff bro!
"Ya, man I am usually not like that but when I see how petty I am without powers that I can't even help one person, I feel so so dejected all of a sudden"
"Hey, it's ok, everyone has those moments, you might not be responsible for saving Mr. Carlton today directly but you are the only reason why Sir Jack could reach here in time!"
"If you say so," I said while trying to smile weakly.
"Hey if anything, you are only slow up here where the brain is, oh I am sorry, I forgot for you it's in your knees right ?"
"what do you want to say, you..."
"Hey, Jack, I am coming in, you in there?" I heard a familiar calm but powerful and authoritative voice.
" Who are you?" It was none other than Sir Paul.
"Oh! Hello Sir, I am Kalkin and this is Naveen, we are both under Sir Jack, we just brought Mr. Carlton here for rest on Sir Jack's orders, he asked us to go ahead, we were just leaving" I said as I bowed before him in respect.
"Oh, don't be so formal, so you are Kalkin right, hmm, Jack talks about you sometimes, he told me you are a miner but want to become a Champion and fight on the frontlines. Hmm, I appreciate your courage and if you want I can give you this emblem but you must pledge your loyalty to the God of Virtue," he said as he held out the emblem from his index, which was one with his full body armor."
"I appreciate the offer, Sir, but I don't want to remain just an emblem holder, I want to become a Champion only"
"Hmm, I do appreciate your courage and fortitude but you should know one thing, power is power, it doesn't matter how you obtain it but how you use it for the good of mankind, that is what my God of Virtue always teaches"
"Yes, Sir, thank you for those kind words but I still want to hold on to the opportunity to become the Champion and not just remain an emblem holder" I replied while keeping my head down not being able to face him in the eye.
"Ahh, it's all right, everyone has to forge their own path, for some, it's this emblem I have, while some strive for the arduous journey, I always appreciate such people despite what may happen in the future one should not abandon his beliefs and faith, I get the reason behind your motivation, however, I still insist you keep this emblem, it's not to make you an emblem holder but just a simple blessing for the arduous path you walk to become a Champion."
"Thank you, Sir, I will gladly accept it", I told him as I held my hands forward to accept that emblem, but to my horror, as soon as I touched the emblem, it turned black completely,"
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