There was an oblique hole that could fit a regular size person on the ground, just about 45 steps away from the well in the inner Sienen. The atmosphere was thick and heavy as the report said. Maria could sense a force gathering towards the opening. (Is it mana concentration?) She examined the gap. It was deep and dark. She couldn't see what's inside the hole. She channelled her insight into the depths of the fissure and concentrated. The murkiness inside the hole slowly changed as if the fog was blown away. She saw translucent bluish glow particles flowing like a soft mist in a certain direction. (Is this mana?)
(Could it be that this hole is sucking all the mana from this community?) She wanted to know further what was causing this suction. She was now feeling her mana was being faintly siphoned out from her. She immediately took an MP potion. Her mana gauge was full again. (Looks like it is different since I am a player.) She wanted to get inside the pit, but she didn't know how deep the hole was. Jumping was out of the question since she might break her ankles. Her agility was not high enough.
After her initial observation, she went back to the alchemy tower to inform the master alchemist about it. Master Albion also provided Maria with information about the samples Maria handed him earlier. He concluded that the blue soot was a sediment of mana being forced out from a person. It was the impurities of the mana being burned on the skin.
"I am certain that mana was being sucked in that hole. Do you have any idea how it is possible to force out mana from the body, master Albion? Is there a solution like a lotion to block the mana from escaping from the skin?"
"We need to find out the origin of the suction first. I think this is not as simple as blocking it from escaping the skin. Regarding the blue spots of the people inflicted with the curse, I think that mana coagulation pills might help them stop the mana from leaking out. But the pit needs to be taken care of first."
"I understand. Thank you, master. I will do my best. Umm, can you also teach me how to make a mana coagulation pill? This will be my first time to synthesize a pill, master. As an alchemist apprentice, I want to help the residents of Sienen cure their curse."
Albion looked at his apprentice with satisfaction. "Your master will be glad to help you. I am happy and proud to have an upright apprentice. You need to study the basics of pill refinement; however, you need to reach second-tier alchemy skill to be able to refine this type of pill. Go to the second floor and get your learning scrolls. You also need to become adept at gathering mid-grade ingredients. Come here when you're ready."
[You earned +5 Affinity points.]
"I will learn it. Your apprentice couldn't do it without your guidance. Thank you, master." She bowed to the elder before returning to Sienen. First, she needed to report to Marion to end her quest.
[You earned +1 Affinity point.]
***
"You mean there's a crack on the ground that was sucking mana?" asked Marion after hearing Maria's report.
[Quest Completed.]
[You leveled up.]
[You earned +10 Affinity points]
"About my other reward, If I can get a spatial bag from you, I will appreciate it."
"That-- I do not have a spatial bag at the moment," she said wryly. "I have something better to give you. But I wonder if you can help the residents of Sienen..."
[You found a Quest Chain. Do you want to accept it? Y/N]
"I accept." Maria didn't hesitate when she heard that she will give her something better than a spatial bag. (I welcome a quest chain any time of the day!)
[New Quests: Find a cure and stop the mana curse.]
"People in Sienen has been suffering from this mana curse. If you can help stop the curse and cure the people. If you succeed, I will give you my own treasure. It is something that cannot be bought so it is precious to me."
"What is it?" Maria was curious.
"I cannot tell you right now. If someone hears about it, they will become greedy and might resort to hideous measures. Rest assured, little one, I will bestow it to you once this calamity has ended."
"I understand." She was suspicious but just let it slide.
"Tell me more of what you've discovered, Blumock," encouraged Marion.
"Umm, yes. My master studied the blue soot I scraped from the victims. He said it was a residue of the mana impurities that burned on the skin. The pure mana was being extracted by force from the victim's body, leaving the impurities behind."
"Hmmm... Is that why the younger generation is not affected by the mana curse?"
Maria blinked her eyes. She was confused. "What do you mean? When I went there, I definitely sensed my mana was being drained. Although it was feeble, I still felt it being sucked away! That was why I took a potion right away." (Sure, my mana also drained since I am not young, duh?)
"I think the reason you were affected was that you were too near to the crack. Whatever was down there was having a hard time extracting your mana because it has not been purified yet."
(My mana is not pure? Why this is the first time I heard it! Is this some kind of derogatory remark?) Maria thought defiantly.
When Marion saw her creased her brows she immediately apologized. "It is known that the young ones will undergo mana tempering when they become strong enough or when they reach a certain age. I take it that you have not experienced it yet, right?"
Maria pouted. "Umm, I don't even know what mana tempering is." (I didn't even know that purity of mana is a 'thing' in this game. This is common knowledge, mana is MP used for skills, vitality is HP for health. Probably she is just referring to promotion or job change. Anyway, this is the first time I ever paid attention to what NPCs are saying in quests. Usually, I just press fast forward on conversations in other games.)
Marion nodded. "Oh, you will know once you experienced it. Mana will be condensed in your body and when it's full and ready, your body will force you to release them in one go, exhausting all of it. Then only purified mana will seep in your core and flow into your meridian. It is going to be a push-pull sensation."
(Pfft...! Don't tell me I need to cultivate afterward? I feel like I am in the Chinese Wuxia World. Peter, why did you do this? Are you insane?) "Lady Marion, I am not a martial artist to know about core and meridian. Are you sure about this?"
"Maybe not. I am a traveling merchant, so I know some things that you people do not know."
(I really want to laugh right now. Peter, Peter, why did you make Marion like this? She's trying to sound mysterious. Pfft!)
"Blumock, do you think that you can find a way to cure me?" That was Ashtan's father. He felt a glimmer of hope upon hearing Blumock's report. "I pity my child since I got this curse, I depended on her. She does not deserve to experience hardship because of me. I should be the one to provide for this family, but I am incapacitated." He was very sorry for his daughter.
"My master and I may have a way to suppress it. Please give us some time. We will definitely help you and everyone in Sienen!"
[You earned +5 Affinity points]
[You earned +5 Affinity points]
"I know it would be dangerous if you enter the pit alone, however only you can do it. The people of Sienen will pray for your success," Marion said.
"Don't worry. I will do my best." She said her goodbyes and went back to the alchemy tower to learn the basics of pill refinement. She stayed there until she was able to master it and scribbled the ingredients for the mana coagulation pill on a paper and even made some sketches as a reference for Ashtan. (I definitely need her to gather these herbs.)
When she logged off the game, it was already 2 a.m.