"Red bro," Skullius said as the two reached the end of the line of trees. "I don't know what's going to happen at the Royale. For all I know, we may not be able to see this place again. Maybe I'll be the one in trouble and you'll still be here. If that happens, keep this place safe and anyone who comes wanting to be protected."
"I'm probably too untrusting for it and so is Silrat, but you... Protect our partners if something goes wrong and the people in this territory under the Bryne Family wing."
Red Rage once again felt a pulse through his connection with Skullius.
His master was unsettled.
Perhaps like the entirety of Pelian, he too felt a thrum in his body that warned of the possible calamity.
Red Rage was worried too.
He would have preferred to have a Control Seal and be a witness or contender in the Royale, but they were way past that point.
It was unlikely that a creature like Red Rage, without a soul, but a Source, could even be inducted into the system of the Premium Age Royale anyway.
Well, the Apostle understood his role still. He was a follower of Skullius, yes, but...
"Don't worry, Master. I'm an Apostle. I carry your will and I will execute it. I've grown stronger and less... zealous, since the beginning of our travels. Leave it all to your golden prodigy," the Apostle said while beginning to strike a cool pose.
Skullius stopped him with an almost desperate level of physical tact.
"Good," he then said. "I'm sure you'll have Theurien to help you. But don't count me out just because I'm proposing what to do in the worst case scenario. You may just see me back here three days from now."
"Of course, Master. It would be a cruel joke if you returned alive after that valiant speech about leaving it all to me, but I'll appreciate it still," the Apostle proclaimed... before Skullius attempted to give him an intimate choke slam.
"You've finished the Enlightening Ill right?" the Hybrid Luman asked, deciding to change the subject.
Red Rage nodded.
"Yes. Even though it was limited, all of the beasts whom I gifted it to managed to evolve spectacularly!" Red Rage declared proudly.
"Well, that's good. That's the only batch I'll ever be able to make. Ever. So make sure those bastards stay alive."
The Enlightening Ill was a Potion that was made by using the Hundred Foils Edifying Cauldron, the item Skullius had taken from Hobbu Gogo. The ingredients to make this Potion could only be found within the world of the Hau Kaka goblins which was destroyed after the Cluster Generals died. Thus, the remnants which Skullius had collected on his own and from Hobbu Gogo's place were the very last there was.
The Enlightening Ill had to boil for 47 hours before being cooled and then distributed to candidates of the seventh tier or higher to guarantee success. Success in this case was the acquisition of unique forms of power, mainly through unique, unheard of Classes.
The Potion didn't work on goblins alone, but it was hard to use it on animals with a massively different biological structures to the green humanoids. Skullius had made a batch consisting of 15 potions of the Enlightening Ill, which Red Rage carefully distributed.
The results were supposed to show after 15-25 days, and Red Rage had managed to get 13 of his beasts to manifest unique powers during the almost month long time span since the making of the Enlightening Ill batch. The Apostle was pleased and confident with current success.
If Skullius had the time, he would have showed him the—
"Ah, they're coming out," Skullius suddenly said.
Alaris and Theurien spawned from the door to the main mansion, Terese following behind them while trying to listen in on the sediments of their conversation.
This was perfect timing.
While Skullius didn't know how exactly Alaris got here, he was willing to bet he could hitch the means of travel which he used.
He wasn't willing to use [Boundless Evil] with people that weren't within his inner circle after all.
As the trio got close to the duo, Skullius heard a bit of their conversation.
"...ld know you're the only close, friendly contact I have in the Guilds Association. I don't take that for granted, Alaris. But, I think we'll need more drastic means to find them. I'll tell you whether they are ready or not in a few days," Theurien said with a firm expression.
"Very well. I'll be looking forward to hearing it. I didn't think you'd be receptive to my help so readily though, after..." Alaris said, hesitantly.
Theurien harrumphed and looked the moustached man dead in the eye.
"For someone who likes to help so much, you sure can linger on meaningless histories. I wanted to avoid asking, but... you're still not working to reach the Incandescent Stage, aren't you?"
Alaris' gave a shallow smile.
"I'm satisfied with offering assistance that is within the bounds of my current strength. I don't see the need to strive for more than that," he answered simply.
As Skullius heard this, a jolt went through his mind.
He didn't think Alaris had such restricted resolve.
After he went on about him not being whole and all that? He seemed to have something holding him back too.
Theurien didn't continue with the subject. It wouldn't be fair for him to press on with this when Alaris, just a few minutes ago had stopped pressing him about his own way of dealing with his anxiety and grief.
Instead, he turned to Skullius. Seeing the two long sword sheaths at his waist, he asked:
"You're leaving?"
"I've got to prepare," the Hybrid Luman answered.
"I see," the fiery haired man said. "If I had any more treasures of my own to spare, I'd give them to you, but well..."
"I know. But I don't need those. I'd be grateful for just your guarantee that you'll be alright alone."
"Hahaha. Everyone's nursing me like a child here. It's been a whole month, I'm fine. And I've catered for this place for over half a century," said Theurien. "Besides, I expect you back very soon. We have quite a lot of projects to work on right?"
Skullius smiled.
"Right."
This was weird.
Why was there such a tingly feeling within his soul when he received some sort of approval from Theurien?
'Blah! Come off it!' Skullius urged himself.
He then turned to Alaris.
"Shall we go? If you're headed to Genhuis that is."
"Sure."
The two said their goodbyes, leaving Theurien and Red Rage waving at them from the dome of the Chieftain Screen.
"So um, how did you get here in the first place?" Skullius asked when they were some distance away. "It wasn't by jog or sprint I hope."
Alaris laughed.
"No, but that would have been faster than by carriage, no?" he said before summoning something from his spatial storage.
It was like a large blob of colourless jelly that wobbled as it touched the ground. One could see its thick, pink tubular insides that looked like intestines, giving the impression that it was a living thing, which was actually incorrect.
Before Skullius could ask, Alaris spoke.
"It's actually very comfortable, and less disturbing when you let it eat you for the second time."
"..."
Skullius was still shaken.
With the guidance field, he found that the... object, was actually a Mythical grade artefact with a twin body that could be placed anywhere around the world for limitless range transportation!
In short, if you let one eat you, you'd pop inside the other, nomatter where it was.
Skullius smiled sheepishly.
"To casually use a Mythical grade item like this..." he began when Alaris interrupted him.
"Oh please, I'm the one who gave you the license for that sword of yours. You think I can't abuse my authority and fame?"
Skullius had no retort to this.
Fair enough.
With Alaris taking the lead into being devoured by the blob, Skullius followed.
The two were dissolved harmlessly within the interior of the artefact, their bodies dispersing like a drop of ink in the sea before the large blob bounced up and vanished without a trace.
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