"Blumock! I have been waiting for you." Ashtan waived at Maria. She was waiting by the entrance of the alchemy tower. "I collected lots of ingredients for you while you were away." The NPCs knew that players must go away for at least 4 hours every day. To players, those were the times they need to logout, so their brains won't fry from playing for a prolonged time.
"Thank you, Ashtan. Let's go inside." They proceeded to the third floor so Maria could make potions for the people in Sienen.
Maria made as many mana recovery potions as she could make with all the available material she possessed. She spent three hours making them while Ashtan resumed gathering ingredients in the field.
[Ting.]
[Your alchemy skill leveled up.]
"Ah! What great news! I can now refine Mana Coagulation Pills." She smiled from ear to ear even though she felt a little exhausted from continuously making potions.
Aside from refining pills, she's now able to make mid-tier potions and she's happy about it. She messaged Ashtan that the potions were ready using the game system's party chat. "Ashtan, let's go to the western gate to check the area for mid-grade ingredients." She only needs to show it to Ashtan once so she could gather them later on by herself.
Before Maria left the tower, she secured the learning scrolls for mid-tier potions.
They met by the western gate and looked for herbs and materials listed on Maria's alchemy window. When Ashtan heard about what the mana coagulation pill could do, she was ecstatic and enthusiastic to receive the list Blumock prepared for her.
"Ah!" Ashatan shouted while gathering the new ingredients listed.
"What? What's the matter?" Blumock ran towards her while equipping her dagger. (Oh, wait she's stronger than me.) "What's wrong?"
"I got a new skill." She looked puzzled.
"A new skill? That's good news!"
"But I am afraid. There's a blue square in front of me."
(A blue square? Is she talking about a dialog box? Why is she seeing this?) "Don't be frightened. Is there something on the blue box?"
"Yes. There are wordings. I will read it out to you: 'Do you want to change your job to Gatherer? Yes. No." Ashtan's eyes widened. "It went away."
"I think you answered it with a YES. Hehe. Congratulations!" she said happily. "What is your new skill, by the way?"
"Foraging."
"Ah, it made sense. You don't need to worry. It is a good job, I think. There are lots of people who will be asking for you to gather things for them. For me, it is better than being a porter." Blumock was still bothered with the dialog box Ashtan saw earlier. She would ask Peter about it. Perhaps there's a bug or glitch in this game. "Show me your new skill."
Ashtan started to gather herbs that are required for the new recipe. Blumock noticed that she became better at picking herbs. There was no damage to the roots and leaves. This skill was perfect for her! "Good job, Ashtan! I will leave it to you."
Maria decided to visit the gatekeeper's association so she could ask Eagle Eye about artifacts, especially artifacts that could drain mana. She thought that the best organization to ask was Eagle Eye's group because all of them were high-level mercenaries and they have the best network for information. (Who would have thought I will be using my bronze key?)
When she approached the guards standing in front of the gatekeeper's association building, they slightly nodded to her. They were different guards from before. How could they acknowledge her without knowing her identity? She didn't even show them her key. (Psychic powers? Heh!)
"You can go in," the guard said to her.
She mumbled her thanks. When she entered the building, some people in the lobby nodded to her which she reciprocated politely. (Huh? Weren't they snobbish before? This is so creepy.) She retraced her steps from the last time she went there to reach Eagle Eye's office.
"Are you here to see Eagle Eye?" the guard stationed in front of Eagle Eye's room asked.
"Yes."
The guard knocked twice on the door and they heard someone said 'come in' from inside. The guard opened the door for Maria. "Go ahead."
Eagle Eye was reading a document and for some time he didn't lift his head. Maria just waited. She actually did not know the protocol, so she just stood there quietly, waiting for him to raise his head towards her or acknowledge her.
Twenty minutes more or less had passed, Eagle Eye without looking spoke. "Is this a waiting game?" He asked. "I thought you needed something from me. Why aren't you speaking?"
"Oh, sorry. I thought you do not want to be disturbed."
"I wouldn't let you in if I can't be disturbed. Go on, speak." he urged her.
(He looked engrossed in his reading though...) Maria cleared her throat. "I am pretty sure you are aware of what was happening in Sienen."
"Yes. What about it?" He looked at Maria's face.
"I think there was an artifact in the hole that's sucking everyone's mana. I would like to ask if you can provide me information about artifacts and how can I conquer it."
"An artifact? Are you sure?" He was skeptical about it.
Maria forcefully swallowed her saliva. (You are more like a hawk than an eagle right now.)
"What made you think it was an artifact that's causing the curse? I heard that you surveyed the area. But did you actually go inside the pit?"
(Wow! His intelligence network is really reliable. He already knew I went there just to survey the area. He's testing me. Calm down, Maria.)
"Yes? Did the cat got your tongue?"
(Darn! Why is Eagle Eye making it hard for me? I can't say I googled it on the web.) She thought to speak carefully so she won't offend the elder. "You are right, I didn't go in. I just peeked inside the hole. But I saw streams of mana flowing in only one direction. Although I couldn't see it clearly since my insight's not high enough, my guess was an artifact may be present since there was no sign of life inside."
[You earned +2 Affinity points]
"Going there by yourself is commendable. It was a plausible deduction. However, you can't be sure. If a monster is in hibernation, one could not feel a sign of life, especially since you mentioned the level of your insight is low. Or if it is an undead..."
"You are right, I lack information. I was only told that people with unpure mana may not be affected by the curse. That may be right since I was not inflicted by the curse even if I got too close to the pit. However, my mana was slowly draining from me when I got there."
"Untempered mana..." He slowly rubbed his chin while in deep thought.
Eagle Eye closed his eyes for a moment. "You need to confirm if it is indeed an artifact. There are many types of artifacts, so how can I even begin to explain it to you?" He opened his eyes. Are you able to go there again and find out?"
[Ting.]
[You found a linked quest. Do you want to accept it? Y/N]
(I am going there anyway. Might as well accept another quest for more benefits.)
[Quest Accepted.]
[Quest Info: Eagle Eye wants you to retrieve the source of the mana curse. The level of danger is unknown, but if you succeed, you will be rewarded with a silver key.]
Maria snorted. (Another key? What is it for this time?) She was not thrilled with the rewards.
"I understand you need some provisions to accomplish this task. Please go to the warehouse and show this token to the custodian. He will help you get the things you needed."
[You acquired Eagle Eye's token.]
She showed the custodian the token when she went to the warehouse and listed things she needed. Not a moment longer, the custodian handed all the items to her in a sack. While walking away to go outside the building, she was approached by a tall, fit, and nimble person. By its stature, he could guess it was a man. He's dressed in a dark fitted leather outfit and his head was shrouded by a hood. She couldn't see his face. (A skill? This-- a thief perhaps?)
"Excuse me, lady. My name is Broa, I am a member of this guild. May I talk to you for a bit?"
Maria was shaken. "I didn't do anything wrong. This sack was given to me by the custodian."
"It's not that. Please, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
"W-What do you need from me?"
"It's best if I show you instead." He folded his sleeves and showed his left arm with blue spots.
Blumock was familiar with it. "You! You're cursed!" She was startled.
"Everyone in the guild heard that you have been investigating this case. I also knew about your alchemy skills. You're the alchemist who's behind the mana recovery potions circulating in Sienen, right? Thank you for helping my people." He slightly bowed his head.
"Are you from Sienen?"
He nodded. "My family is still in Sienen. Although I no longer live with them since I became a mercenary, I cannot forsake their condition. I also wanted to help."
Blumock was shocked when Broa suddenly bent his knee in front of her and he punched his chest with his fist. "Please help us remove the curse! I will pledge my loyalty to you if you cure my family and the rest of the people in Sienen," he pleaded.
Maria never had seen this kind of plea before whether in real life or in the game. She urged him to stand up. "I have already accepted this quest, so I will do my best. Don't worry, as an alchemist apprentice, I know a way to cure blue spots. However, I need to eliminate the source of the mana curse first. The thing is...I am unfamiliar with artifacts."
"Artifacts? Why suddenly--?"
"Because an artifact may have been the cause of the curse in Sienen," she answered cutting his sentence midway.
He paused for a moment. "Sorry, I have not seen an artifact before. But I have a theory, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead."
"Perhaps it is a magical item called night core."
"Night core? Tell me more about it," she beseeched him to explain.
The assassin explained what a night core is and its origin.
"A demon core? What do you suggest I do if it is a night core?"
"Bring me along with you. I will protect you."
"No, I cannot! That is impossible. Before you reach the hole, you will definitely collapse." She should be glad about the assistance of a high-level NPC but not this time. She knew how dangerous it was for them. "I could already tell that you do not have your original strength. Your skills are also blocked, so how could you protect me? I must do it alone."
His shoulder slumped. "I see. Then I can only help by giving you this." He handed her a learning scroll.
[You acquired a learning scroll.]
[New Skill: Blessings of Amity. Do you want to learn it? Y/N]
"Yes."
[You learned a passive skill: Blessings of Amity]
[Skill Info: A defense skill that activates automatically when your HP reached 1%. CD: 24 hours]
"Thank you. This will definitely save my life."