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"W... what do you mean?" I stammered asking him.
Why the hell would he want help from me? I thought.
"I am tasked originally to find humans with extraordinary potential to defeat the oppressor. This kingdom is on the verge of collapse and I am saving all that I see fit to the description." he paused and added, "You're more than enough!"
"I think what he's trying to say is you are strong and you can kill the enemy, master. " Sprigg confirmed.
"I know that, Sprigg. I am not dumb." I annoyingly replied. This pixie is really taking me for a fool. Sometimes I wonder if she thinks of me as a master. I turned to the man who's still kneeling before me and asked, "To what end? Aren't you an enemy to the lord?"
He was taken aback. I don't know if it's because I leaked a little aura or he didn't have something to answer as of the moment. He stood up and reached something in his satchel. This time, I stepped back and pointed out the item he's fetching. He is getting a small black box with symmetrical lines on its edge. Wait. That looks like an artefact! Although, it is small and lifeless. It looks just like the artefact! How? I mean, normal humans are not able to enter the Fae's domain. How did he---?
….
I thought I sensed something ominous emanating from Sprigg, but I dismissed it.
"I knew it!" He smiled.
Huh?! I scratched my head and asked, "what... is that?"
"Surely you jest, Archmage." he smiled scornfully while adding, "It's an obsidian relic from the past. It is a fragment of power from the great beings. The cornerstone of magic."
"Oh." I heaved.
So, he doesn't know that the originals call it the artefact huh.
"The great beings are?" I added.
"They are the originator of magic and creator of many races," he answered.
"Alright. You haven't answered my question yet." I asked him with a little disruption of mana to my surroundings and he knelt again.
"My fight with the lord is a mission I can't reveal. Also, It has come to our attention that you are looking for your siblings. We can help you, Archmage! Please lend us your strength too."
Sprigg who's hiding, slowly appeared with her arms crossed.
"We have heard you and why do you think we need your help, mortal!" Sprigg spoke oozing with a dark red atmosphere and with an annoyance from her tone.
When he sees Sprigg out of the blue, he shudders like a young boy that has seen a dangerous wraith for the first time with unexplainable shivering of the body. Eyes wide and mouth agape. He tripped supporting his body using one hand on the ground.
"Ah... Apologies. I-if... If I offended a spirit due to my lack of knowledge. P-please forgive me." he bowed pushing his face to the muddy soil.
"Sprigg! I told you to never come out!" I yelled and she went out to hide again while answering me through our telepathic link, "It is good for intimidation, master" then chuckled.
"Not only are you an Archmage, but you are accompanied with a high-tier sprite too."
"What do you know about them?" I asked.
"I, I only know how to recognize a being that has a lot of magical pools as my special trait. I am born with it, Archmage." he stopped and not backing down, he added, "I-i can bring you to our Royal Archmage to discuss with what you want to know and we can offer you a squad to track your siblings. Please... please go with me."
Is it just Sprigg or because she's connected to me?
He really is persistent in dragging me to his master. Huh. I can feel Sprigg really annoyed at him. I can't really blame him for being such a person if it's a task given to a royal archmage. Wherever you are, royalty should be given your utmost priority. I touched my temple and looked at the surrounding, trying to track the pungent smell that bothers me since earlier.
"I can try. However, I am bound to go to the academy as a request from the Lord," I replied as I waved my hand to let him stand up.
"Understood. Please meet me at the back of the academy's wizardry building after you're done with the admission. We can travel from the academy to our Kingdom for a day and I will assemble necessary preparations for your absence for that time." he answered with a bright tone on his voice as he removed the dirt on his face and added, "You will not regret this, Archmage. Thank you for showing me your benevolence and to your sprite as well.
He bowed once again and summoned his long and majestic staff as he uttered an enchantment and he disappeared leaving a fading glowing blue orb. He really sounds delightful as he expressed his gratitude towards me. I don't know how much of a help I can do for this oppressor but I think I need to hear it from the Royal Archmage first.
At last! Leaving me alone here to roam the dungeon. I really can't ignore that pungent smell that penetrated my nose. I scurried along the edges of the dungeon but have seen nothing. No matter, I will just leave it at that. For one last time, I glanced at the dungeon of monsters and reminisced what my mother told me. I raised my hand and gathered all the non-elemental mana from this place and created a barrier. This mana is very rare that the originals can only use it. Thanks to the primordial magic residing in me, I can also do the same. Leaving no corners uncovered, I completely encircled the cave with this magic.
"Do you really think that it's better this way, master?" she asked.
"If you leave this open, this may cause another uproar. It will not be too long for them to figure out that I came here. Better be safe." I answered her.
The moment I closed the cave entirely, the smell that bothered me earlier faded away changing to a fresh fragrance of cordola and cattleya. These are the only flowers that bloomed in the night where the light of the star shining brightly above us. Before I got back to our house, I picked some blossoms of cordola and planned to give it to the playmate that Morning Dew likes. I guess that's why he named her cordola, huh. When I arrived, guardsmen were roaming the place while stealthily dashing to Cordola's place and left the bunch of flowers.
The next morning, Cordola thanked me, saying she remembered her childhood and left happily. I am really glad that the sadness of her eyes was washed out after I gave it to her. I also hope to see Morning Dew alive and happy too but I think that's impossible. I don't even know if he was transported to the same domain as I am or left in the cave and died. I dismissed the thought and planned to hunt a beast on the other side of the wilderness and see if I can store a meat jerky. I went to the entrance of the village but knights were waiting for me there.
"Kid! You are being summoned." said the man with a long orange beard.
Huh?!
"If you put it that way, the kid will get scared." teased from the armoured man with long lustrous blonde hair and added, "...aren't you, kid?" then he chuckled.
"Oh! Right. The Lord wants to have you moved to the academy on the earliest date which will be today." Sir Rad replied harmoniously happy.
Huh?! What's going on?
"That's true and you should emerge as the strongest mage from this town, The Town of Wilderfort." Sir Lyol appeared at my back grabbing my shoulder and pushed it hard. "I guess you are ready. You are as strong as a knight already."
Huh?!
I am really confused as to why would it have to be today, but I nodded and followed their footsteps to the huge stone manor of the lord where I will be getting an audience with the lord again. Perhaps there are no reasons. I should stop overthinking. This might be a good thing as I also need to go to the Kingdom of Ardun to meet with that wizard. Wait. I haven't asked for his name nor he doesn't know mine.
"Uh. How did I become so forgetful?" I thought.
"I guess you are only happy to see your siblings and forgot to ask his name, master." she giggled crazily.
"Oh, really? How did you know what I was thinking? Huh?"
"Because you are always using the link. You forgot to turn it off since your fight with him."
"You didn't even tell me?!" I retorted
"I am enjoying listening to your thoughts. Why would I dare?" she answered as if I could see her pouting her tiny lips.
I ignored her and continued walking behind the three gents who escorted me to the lord. Why would I have to be escorted with three armoured knights, as if I am a criminal being apprehended? Are they that excited about me going to the academy?
"We're here," said Sir Rad as he crossed his arm against his chest.
Huh?!
"Please go directly to the main room to wait for the lord." Sir Lyol said it while opening the huge flower-carved wooden door.
Why a change of attitude?
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