263 Set to Go.
"Hey dude, wake up!" Blaze's voice reverberated through my mind, pulling me from the depths of slumber. I scanned the room, only to realize that morning had already graced the world with its presence.
*Knock, knock*
A gentle rap sounded on the door. Intrigued, I activated my mana vision, recognizing the familiar signature. With a swift motion, I rose from the warmth of my bed, letting my foot greet the cool touch of the floor.
Swift strides carried me to the door, which I opened to reveal Raven, clutching a quill, a paper envelope, and an ink bottle.
"Good morning," I greeted her warmly, leaning casually against the doorframe, while Mrs. Penny glanced up from the stairs below.
"Don't worry, we won't be making any noise," I assured her, closing the door gently.
"So, what brings you here so early in the morning?" I inquired, but Raven seemed preoccupied, her cheeks flushed.
"Hmm? Oh... my bad." I quickly grabbed a robe from the floor, draping it nonchalantly over my bare upper body.
"N-no, it wasn't bad—I mean, I didn't mind... not that I liked—ugh," she stumbled over her words, a mix of embarrassment and confusion coloring her expression. "I came here to give you this."
She handed me a brownish paper note from her pocket.
"Ah, a shopping list," I remarked, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "Do you want me to pick these up?" I asked, and she responded with a nod, her ears flickering slightly.
"Alright," I agreed, placing the note atop the suitcase I had packed the night before. It held nothing but my clothes; the mace I had chosen during the selection matches rested in another sturdy metal box beside it.
"Huh?" She shot me a quizzical look before delving into her pockets, retrieving a leather pouch. "At least ask for some money!" She protested, shoving the sack toward my chest with a playful pout.
"....Okay, but nope. I was already planning to get you something special from Eshmera, so thanks for letting me know what to bring. Saved me a bunch of time, honestly," I said appreciatively, accepting the pouch from her. Stepping closer, I felt her instinctively retreat a little.
Lightly grasping her wrist, I gently slid the pouch back into her pocket with a playful grin.
As I returned the pouch to Raven's pocket, her eyes met mine in a brief yet intense connection. There was something in that fleeting moment—a shared understanding.
"Thank you," she murmured softly, her gaze briefly dropping before lifting again to meet mine, a hint of gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Anytime," I replied with a smile, our interaction brimming with unspoken sentiments. With a subtle nod, Raven turned to leave, her steps hesitant yet purposeful.
Before she could take another step, a thought crossed my mind. "Hey, Raven," I called out gently, prompting her to glance back over her shoulder.
"Would you like to come with us to Eshmera?" I asked, feeling the words tumble out before I could even process them fully. The invitation hung in the air, pregnant with possibilities, as Raven's eyes widened in surprise.
"I mean, if you'd like," I added quickly, the sudden offer feeling impulsive yet strangely right.
Raven hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her expression. For a moment, it seemed as though she might accept, but then a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"I can't." she replied softly.
Well this was just as expected.
"That's fine," I sighed and nodded. "I'll get ready. How about you?" I inquired.
"I'll be visiting Adam and the others. He mentioned having something to discuss," she replied.
Something to discuss, huh? I simply nodded, letting her leave before she paused and waved the envelope, ink bottle, and quill.
"Hmm?" I arched a brow as I prepared to shut the door.
"There was a man who wanted to deliver this to you. I told him I was coming here, so I brought it along," she explained.
"What man?" I queried.
"I don't know him, but he mentioned he came from Viceburg. He insisted that this letter is from your elder brother—didn't know you had one. I have a cousin, though," she rambled on, her energy unusually vibrant.
"Elder brother? Viceburg..." The pieces clicked in my mind. "Give it to me," I extended my hand towards her.
"Here," she handed me the items, and I placed them on the nearby desk.
"Then, I'll see you later," I bid her farewell swiftly. She glanced at me for a moment, her gaze flickering momentarily before a smile adorned her face, and she left the room.
As soon as she departed, I picked up the envelope and shut the door firmly behind her.
I then seized the bottle of ink and opened the envelope that contained a letter. The contents were:
Dear [Ren Chris Hilton],
I trust this message finds you in good spirits. It's been quite some time since our last exchange, and I hope that your academic pursuits at the academy continue to unfold smoothly. Your unwavering commitment and resilience have always been noteworthy.
I wanted to take a moment to emphasize the significance of maintaining a steadfast focus on your ambitions. Always remember, success is the fruit of diligent effort and unwavering determination. View every obstacle as a chance to evolve and broaden your knowledge.
Your tenure at the academy is pivotal in sculpting the path toward your future. Embrace the opportunities that come your way. Cherish the friendships you forge, draw wisdom from your experiences, and never hesitate to explore uncharted territories.
I take immense pride in witnessing the person you've grown to be and the progress you're achieving. Continue to strive for excellence, and never lose sight of your dreams. I'm always here to offer my support and guidance whenever you require it.
Wishing you perpetual triumphs and abundant happiness.
Warm regards,
[Amlrviers Marco Hilton]
... I sighed as I uncorked the ink bottle, only to find it lacking any label or indication of its origin. An unpleasant aroma wafted from the bottle, akin to a foul stench.
Setting the letter on the desk next to the ink bottle, I dipped the quill into the ink, preparing to trace the tip along the paper...
But as I attempted to write, the quill broke, and ink spilled uncontrollably, saturating the pages, obscuring the carefully penned words. The paper absorbed the ink in a rapid and thorough manner, causing most of the text to fade away.
And then, a new message emerged on the once-ink-soaked paper, revealing:
The special ink, called "Luminarite Essence," comes from a rare underground creature called the Luminarite. This ink is made from the glowy parts of the Luminarite. Alchemists found that this ink can remove normal inks from paper but keeps its own writing safe. They use a complicated process to make it work like this. Only a few skilled alchemists know how to make and use this special ink.
The letters were far away from each other but I could make sense out of it.
Hey there,
Managed to get control over two outta ten gangs—progress, right? Things are shaping up, but it took some adjustments to the plans. You know how it goes.
Set up a Demacia Guild branch here—needed that extra boost. It's helping to keep things steady, considering the chaos in the city. But no worries, we'll sort it out.
Hestia Empire folks are gettin' antsy 'bout the rise in crime. Gonna need to tackle that soon.
Couldn't snag any land yet; policies decided to play hard to get. If you're curious, you can dive into those policies yourself.
Oh, by the way, congrats on making it to Mage's Gambit! Big achievement. I'll swing by sometime to catch up.
Take care,
[Alver]
"Elder Brother, huh," I winced momentarily at the term but swiftly pushed that discomfort aside, focusing on the contents of the letter.
Alver seems to be faring quite well, considering the opportune time to contemplate initiating a guild in a place like that.
His persistent drive to expand the guild has been on my mind lately. It's evident that power and wealth are part of it, but...
"There's something more to it," I murmured, feeling a yawn escape me as I let the letter gradually burn in my hand.
Seating myself, I retrieved a standard ink bottle and two quills from the drawer, ready to compose a letter.
"Should I write to home?" I glanced out the window; the sun had risen, indicating it was barely eight in the morning.
I pictured Mom bustling in the kitchen, conjuring up something delightful for breakfast, while Dad was likely preparing for his day's work.
A faint smile graced my lips as I set the Lumarite ink aside and began writing with the regular ink.
[Dear Mom & Dad,]
I am delighted to inform you—
***
[Thirty Minutes Later]
Stepping out of the shower, I vigorously towel-dried my hair and stood before the mirror clad in just my underwear.
As I gazed at my reflection, an odd sense of familiarity washed over me. With each advancement in the Phoenix level, I felt more connected to myself. It was as if the previous Ren's body no longer belonged to me and I got a new one for myself, or perhaps there was something deeper to it. Whatever the reason, it felt right.
My hair, nearly reaching past my shoulders, drew a comment from Blaze within my mind. "Just chop that shit off," he remarked, seemingly done with his first shower in what felt like ages.
"I will when it's necessary," I retorted, securing my hair into a tight bun. Changing into a white shirt paired with grey pants—a combo that suited me—I glanced at the unopened third suitcase under the bed, the one I'd brought upon moving into this room.
Retrieving it and organizing my belongings, I soon found myself outside my dorm room.
"We're all set to go."
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