"W-What?" Ed quirked his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"My Ethereal Strike skill," Elliot said. "It drains my HP if I lack the MP. You could use your ability to stop it."
"But then the skill wouldn't work," Ed said.
This made Elliot pout in disappointment. "I didn't thought of that. I got too excited and missed that part."
"Your skill needs MP for it to activate. Since it's Ethereal, it will take the user's HP instead if the MP isn't enough, that's the condition. And if it fails to do so, then the skill wouldn't work," Ed explained. "I can cancel the Ethereum in your skill, but it basically cancels the effect of your skill too."
"Ethereum is not a side effect or an aftermath. It is a condition," Lance said.
"How did you come in contact with such skill anyway?" Ed asked. "The Ethereum spectrum isn't on the basic classes. Wait, are you perhaps, specialized?"
Elliot could only nod. To be honest, he wasn't sure what his class was. In fact, he's not really sure about everything about him.
Was he really an Adventurer? Why does he have a system that's different from the others?
The group left the cave and went back to the guild. Their plan was to take another Comet quest or at least a Meteor.
Midnight narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, his long wavy hair following him. "You suspiciously leveled up quick."
Lance went to Glitch to claim their reward while the others lounged at the bar. They were talking to Midnight while drinking their juice. Lance did not allow any one of them to drink any alcoholic drink.
"T-That's because…" Elliot trailed off, trying to think of an excuse. Any excuse.
"It's wrong info again," Ed lied. "There were twice the estimated beasts in the cave. And two bosses too. One was even a dragon."
"What?!" Midnight gasped. "They're seriously pissing me off!"
His aura of anger shook the bar, breaking a couple of glasses.
"Midnight," Sun called and held his brother's hand. "Calm down. You might act up again. They have eyes everywhere, so you better be careful."
Midnight calmed down and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Sun."
Sun smiled with flat lips and went back to the other side of the counter. He now assists Midnight with the bar since their guild was growing in members.
"What is happening exactly?" Elliot asked.
Midnight looked around and leaned in. He gestured everyone else to come closer. "Guild master doesn't want me to tell anyone this but we are being culled."
"Culled?" Connor asked but was shushed by Midnight.
"Shh, but yes. The Royal Family has acted against guilds that are starting to– Hey, guild master!"
The group dispersed and pretended to do something else. Elliot pretended to read on his Console, Hope and Ed pretended to talk, and Connor couldn't do anything so he pretended to faint, falling to the floor.
"What were you talking about?" Frederick asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing," Midnight answered in a high-pitched tone. "I mean, were just talking about their latest quest. Right, guys?"
Frederick narrowed his eyes even more. "That's it. I'm out of eyelids. Anyway, okay. Whatever. I'll be on another mission with Luck."
And with that, the guild master left with his best friend.
Connor opened one of his eyes, "Is he gone?"
"Yes," Elliot said. Connor raised his staff for Elliot to take, pulling him up from the ground.
"He seems to be in a good mood," Ed said. "That's rare."
"Why is he so grumpy anyway?" Hope asked.
Elliot looked at the doorway Frederick and Luck had exited on.
"Maybe he has his own problems," Elliot whispered.
–
Elliot was scrolling through the recipes when he saw a delicious meal he could use. He still had the Great Boar meat leftover from the Strike a few weeks prior.
"Connor did say he was sick of my recipes," Elliot chuckled.
<< Sweet and Sour Pork Chop >>
"I guess we'll eat sweet and spicy," Elliot said and went outside to go to the market.
"Where are you going?" Midnight asked. "It's almost nightfall."
"I just have to buy some stuff for Connor. I'll be right back soon," Elliot said and left.
Just like Midnight said, the sun was setting. The market vendors started to light their magical lamps with flaming stones.
Elliot ran to find the recipes as quick as he could. He ran around the market and bought everything he needed.
"Nice," he said to himself and was about to go home when he saw two familiar figures entering a building.
A Royal Officer followed them which made Elliot even more curious.
Why would an Officer be with them? Elliot thought.
He was deciding against it, but his feet had already walked towards the building. It was a beerhouse and a guard was outside, muscled, tall, and has a sharp gaze.
"Name, age, guild," the guard said to Elliot.
"Elliot, 18, A–" he stopped himself. "Err, you mean my Adventuring name?"
"You said '18', you're not allowed inside," the guard said. "Move."
Elliot scoffed, "Why wouldn't you admit people at 18 years old? That's enough. I think?"
"No," the guard said. "Move!"
Elliot had no choice but to obey. He walked away and looked at the beerhouse once more.
I will get inside.
With a beard that he got from Wood that he taped with animal fat, and a robe he got from Francoise, Elliot returned to the beerhouse.
"Name, age, guild," the guard said.
"Err, Flute, 69, Tattered Gates?" Elliot said with a low, deep, and raspy voice. After all, he needed to get into character. And seeing as Tattered Gate were thugs, they should be frequent here."
"I-Is that you Master Flute?" the guard asked wide-eyed.
Elliot looked around but realized he was the one the guard was talking to. "Err, yes. Let me in now."
"Yes, master," the guard said and moved aside.
Elliot walked in, he was swinging his arms beneath the cloak while walking, imitating how thugs usually walked.
The beerhouse smelled like heavy beer and cigarettes. It was dim-litted and there was a little stage and a pole in the middle. Elliot knew what that was for. The drunken Adventurers' voice were wafting in the air, competing with the unpleasant smell.
Elliot wasn't comfortable inside. Not one bit.
He went to a corner and removed his mustache. He lifted the hood over his head to hide his face. There were a lot of people doing the same thing, so he figured he could also do it.
He spotted Frederick and Luck on the far side of the room. He slithered towards them and tried to listen to their conversation.
Elliot knew he was being nosy but as Lance said, the Royal Officers were bad news. And as much as possible, he should avoid them.
"Are you even serious?" Frederick asked. "This is complete bullcrap!"
"You know the terms of the agreement could be changed, didn't you?" the Officer asked. "You signed the contract, you must abide to it."
"But you keep changing the contents to your advantage," Frederick said. "This is unfair."
"Nothing in this world is fair, Mr. Brightburn," the Officer said. "But J guess you wouldn't know that too well. Especially since you really weren't from here."
"Don't even go there," Frederick seethed.
"Anyway, this is what the Chief Royal Officer wants. Even I have no power to change it."
A glass was broken, Luck gritted his teeth. "You can't have the guild."
"I'm sorry but your guild frequently disrupts the night with one of your member's monthly outbursts," the Officer said. "If you cannot solve that problem next month, the Royal Family will be forced to take the guild."
Elliot gasped and took a step back, only to knock a table out.
"I'm sorry," Elliot said and ran. He was about to exit when he saw the guard walking towards him.
He looked around to find a place to hide when someone pulled him away. The figure looked like a tall man with lean muscles. He pulled Elliot into a dark corner.
"If you want to live, don't say anything," the man in the dark said.
"What? Why?" Elliot asked.
"You impersonated Tattered Gates's Guild Master. The real Flute just entered. If the guard sees you, you'll get hurt," the man said. "Try this."
The man handed Elliot a piece of candy. Elliot knit his brow in confusion, "What's this?"
"Morphing candy," the man replied. "Take it so you can leave this place. Don't ever come back."
"Why should I trust you?" Elliot asked. "This could be–"
The man switched their positions, pushing Elliot up against the wall. He raised his beside Elliot's head, leaning closer and whispered, "The guard is coming. Take it now."
Elliot had no choice but to eat the candy. He felt his bones and skin stretching. He got taller and his body got wider.
"Hey you two," the guard called. "What are you doing in there?"
The man turned and smiled at the guard, "Are you interested in joining?"
He winked at the guard that made the guard fluster. "W-What?!"
The man revealed Elliot who had now a different look. An arm snaked around Elliot's waist, pulling him closer to the man.
"Y-You were–"
The man leaned towards the guard. "Why, Mr. Guard? Are you interested in joining?''
The guard growled and walked away. This made the man laugh.
"Now, go."
Without second thoughts, Elliot left the beerhouse.
He glanced once last time at the establishment and ran back to the guild house. He was conflicted about what he just knew.
Their guild was in trouble.
And the Royal Family is blaming Midnight for it.