Chapter 44: Learning Continues
"I heard about your exploits yesterday." Elder Frey was the one who guided Prism to the secret treasury located deep inside the 3rd Cradle, a place filled with dangerous, grown unique-grade beasts.
Seeing so many creatures of the same rank as Felix, ones who could use far more destructive abilities than her, was a rare experience for the two younger creatures who came with him.
Felix, naturally being intimidated by these beasts, was hugging her master tightly. On the other hand, the third cradle had become another playground for the young phoenix.
He was running around the forest area, and he was loving the section made of volcanic remains maintained by the volcanic beasts: slug-like creatures made completely of magma.
"I haven’t done anything special, great elder. I was just helping other children." Prism was happy to see all these creatures here.
He wanted to stay here for a while and play with them, but he needed to go and choose his reward. He did not come here to play with the creatures today. They had something else they needed to take from here.
"Children? Child, from what I have gathered, you were much younger than many you fought. Jamen, the young mage, is twenty as well."
The hooded elder smiled at him curiously. The boy was becoming more and more fun to him each day.
"Well, that aside." They reached a wall area and the elder placed his hand on the wall while looking back at the boy, the deep gray eyes beyond the maroon hood glowing mysteriously.
"I should tell you something you’ll come to know eventually."
-Ooooooooooooong!
A light covered the entire wall in front of them.
-Zaaaa...
In the very next moment, the light dulled and darker black lines resembling a complex magic circuit became visible.
-Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!
Winds blew as the lines recognised the energy signature of the elder and reacted to his command, unlocking according to the instructions presented.
"The elders have decided to only reveal the final verdict of their will at the end of each month. We will only reveal your results at the end of the month, and only then can you be relieved of their position for your leave."
The circuits, while getting solved, turned into a three-dimensional magic structure that materialised into the form of a <Great red swan>, a spiritual beast of (SSR-rank) that vanished the very next moment, leaving an opening just big enough for the two people to enter.
"Well, seeing as how you’re not surprised by either the news or that creature, I’ll just assume you’ve seen more of the world than we understand."
The tone of the elder almost seemed evil when speaking those words, but he did not give Prism any time to dwell into those words.
"Shall we?" He pulled on an energy string, one that had never been there previously, and Nyx, the little bird who was wandering through the cradle, was dragged all the way to them.
"Chirp?!"
He didn’t seem to like being pulled here like pulling a fish from a pond, but they needed to go in now.
Besides, even if Prism wanted to say anything, he could not do so because of the status of the person before him.
’He is an elder, after all.’
Prism may have been Professor Sam in his past life but there were still countless things he did not know about.
’I couldn’t learn from them in the past.’
In his past life, they had no interest in him and there was nothing about him that caught their eye.
He was a weak boy who got kicked out of the house, survived the attack of the demonic beasts, and made it out of Oren.
Bound by the family and their oath, they could only remain in this city and protect the family and the cradles.
Things ended terribly for them in the past, but perhaps, before something like that happens to them again, he will get to learn a thing or two from them.
"I welcome you to the Red Hold, the Sungrade treasury."
He had arrived inside the treasury now, so, while his learning journey would continue once again, he needed to keep teaching the others as well.
-Swarsh.
The elder lit a candle and the fire burnt crimson. "You can look through the treasury until the candle dies out."
He gave them a time limit as Sam had expected, however, his next words took him by surprise.
"By then, if each of you have not chosen something, you will have to leave empty handed."
"Huh?"
Lit behind the crimson, the boy could see the old, wrinkled, smiling face of the elder. The gray eyes, however, were lifeless and utterly cold.
"You heard me, boy. Go now. Don’t waste your time." The eerie smile sent a chill down his smile.
"Meow!"
When they reached Felix, she jumped out of Prism’s arms. She was so scared that she started hissing at the cold elder.
"Chirp~! Chirp~!" But once again, the little bird was childishly excited, already running around the treasury with no roof: a literal tower that stretched so high they could only see the glass displays lit by the illumination pearls.
Everywhere they looked, they could see books and jewels, treasure chests full of gold and gems, ancient items and weapons used by their great ancestors.
The third Cradle was located in a mountain area. If the demonic forest was to the east of the Oren and the Sixth cradle to the west, then the third cradle was located north to the city.
There were precious things all around them.
The lower floors didn’t have any particular protection for the items and there were areas with things simply piled up, almost carelessly.
But as one went higher, the items became more and more valuable. There were fewer things on each floor but they were special.
Everything in this treasury reflected the subgrade history.
And as it is the norm of the nature, only the victors are the ones who could ever further the ’glorious’ history.
"Haaaa... we will be back then." Prism couldn’t find it in him to ask the elder anything further.
If they were getting three items instead of one, then it was good for them anyways.
The elders probably knew the two creatures with him were smart enough to understand everything they talked about and make their own choices.
Perhaps this was a test to see what the three of them would choose as well.
He did not know the true answer, but he knew one thing.
"Looking through this whole place in such a short time is impossible," It was an obvious conclusion.
So, what do they have to do now?
"Go, Felix. Looks like you’re on your own here."
Well, the easiest answer to that question, and the answer that Prism had chosen for himself as well, was to leave everything up to fate.
The thing they were supposed to get from here... might just find them before their time ends.
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