Thinking about how to get a relic that can repulse the miasma, Phil was in a dilemma since he does not have the money or the connections to obtain or purchase that kind of thing. He was walking home when suddenly he thought that maybe Seth has a relic of that kind or in the least has someone he knows owns that kind of relic.
The sun was almost setting when Phil arrived back at school, he proceeded to head towards Seth's office hoping for him to be still there, and to his relief the light in Seth's office was still on.
Phil knocked in Seth's office and moments later he heard Seth's voice letting him in.
"What can I do for you, Phil?"
Seth asked as soon as Phil entered his office.
"Mr. Seth, this might be shameless of me but do you have any artifacts that you own that are holy in nature?"
"Unfortunately Phil, I do not own such kind of artifact. Those things are incredibly expensive and they are mostly held by people in religious sects."
Seeing the sad look on Phil's face, Seth was a little curious about what use does Phil need of such an artifact.
"May I ask Phil, why do you need such artifact?"
"To be honest Mr. Seth I need it to uhm... ward off bad spirit, yeah bad spirit."
Phil doggedly answered Seth's question.
"Hmmm... If it's a relic to ward off something evil, I think you can use an artifact that has strong vitality, has a great connection to nature or that has a connection to the gods perhaps"
Phil was ecstatic about learning that there are different ways to ward off the miasma and not just a holy relic.
"Then Mr. Seth do you have an artifact that has any of those one nature you talked about."
Beaming his eyes towards Seth, Phil stood excited that Seth may help him in his dilemma.
"Calm down Phil, although I have a lot of artifacts in my collection, I'm sorry but I don't have any of those kinds of artifacts."
Looking at Phil who was looking down dejected Seth added.
"Although I do not have an artifact of that kind, I know a person who does."
"PLEASE TELL ME!"
Phil stood up and held Seth's shoulder.
"Geez calm down Phil, what's the hurry anyway."
"I need it to help someone I know."
"Well, I won't ask. Anyway, you should be familiar with the person I'm speaking of."
Phil scratched his head confused and wondering if he knew someone who has a collection of different relics.
Seth pointed at Phil and said.
"Don't you remember? I believe your grandfather has an extensive collection of such pieces, there was even an article of him owning historical artifacts back in the day."
Seth stood up and pulled out a binder on the shelf behind him.
He opened it and turned on a specific page.
"Look here, this was an issue back then."
Pointing at the article, Phil saw the picture of his grandfather and another gentleman holding a small statue as tall as a one-liter bottle.
"This should be your grandfather here and the other man is Gulliver Morrison, he should be your classmate Eric's grandfather."
Flipping the binder to another page, Seth proceeded to tell Phil about the relationship between his grandfather and Eric's grandfather.
"Mr. Morrison was a world-renowned archeologist in his prime while your grandfather was also a world-renowned adventurer; he was even given the title "Argonaut" back then. Whenever there were archeological digs that seem thrilling or plain dangerous trust me your grandfather is there."
On the next page was another picture this time was a scandal of sorts.
"You see most of Mr. Morrison's finds are given to the museum while others... well, let's just say they are gifted to your grandfather."
Closing the binder Seth looked at Phil and said.
"That is why I believe the relic you are looking for should be in your grandfather's possession."
Smiling, Phil thanked Seth and exited his office. He then ran towards the school exit, but before he could go out of the building he bumped with Sonja.
"OW! Phil? Why are you still here?"
"Sonja? Ouch! I'm sorry I did not see you there. Did you just finish your club practice?"
Looking at Sonja who was still in her archery uniform, Phil guessed that she just finished her club practice. Phil extended his hand and helped Sonja who fell due to their collision.
"Kyudo practice just finish and I need to get my bag in my classroom. Why are you still here?"
"I had something to ask with teacher Seth and our discussion ran late."
"Well since you are still here can you wait for me? Let's go home together."
Phil hesitated a little but still nodded in the end.
Sonja ran towards her classroom and changed while Phil was waiting near the gate. Minutes later, Sonja arrived and the both of them walked home.
"What did you talk about with teacher Seth?"
"I just ask him if he had something that can ward evil."
Scrunching her brows, Sonja was confused about what Phil needed.
"Why do you need such a thing?"
"To be honest with you, I need it to travel through the miasma in the plains of sleep."
"Are you crazy? You told me you were scared shitless the last time you tried to touch the miasma now you are actively searching for a way to travel it?"
Sonja smacked Phil's head since she was concerned about Phil's wellbeing.
"Ow! I read it in the book. Stop smacking me it hurts."
"What book?"
"The book of dreams."
"Phil, are you hiding something from me?"
Nervous, Phil's eyes were looking everywhere, and can't focus on Sonja's eyes.
"N..No?"
Sonja smacked Phil's head again.
"You're lying. I know that look of yours."
Phil sighed and decided to tell Sonja.
"I discovered some hidden pages from the book that was full of unknown symbols. I had Samantha translate it for me and it was a way to travel the miasma in the abyss. At first, I wanted to practice it so that I can have an edge over Eric but now I need it to help Eric save his mother. Please don't tell Eric for now. I don't want him to hope for something that may be impossible to achieve."
Sonja sighed and promised Phil not to tell Eric.
After the conversation, the both of them proceeded to talk about different things until Sonja arrived at her house.
Phil decided not to go home but to directly go to his grandfather's house which was not too far from where he lives.
He opened the garage and got his bike and rode it to his grandfather's house which was 15 minutes away at the edge of the city where Phil was currently living.
The sun has completely set and nighttime had arrived when Phil arrived at his grandfather's house. Phil was a little scared since no one lives near his grandfather's house because his house was far away from the main hub of the city and near the lush forest. Phil has brought a strong flashlight knowing that his grandfather's house does not have any running power. Phil looked around at the gate and saw that the garden was overrun with weeds since there was no one to take care of it.
Shining his flashlight forward, Phil saw a three-story Victorian house. Vines were creeping on its walls while bushes and forest litter were covering its surroundings. The house was supposed to be cleaned this month but because of his parent's emergency at work that was canceled.
The floorboards of the front deck creaked when Phil stepped on them sending shivers on Phil's spine. He hurriedly looked for the door key in his pocket and opened the front door.
Inside the house were covered with dust. Phil shone his flashlight in the room and saw the furniture covered in white sheets, parts of the house's wallpaper were tearing and the house even started to groan welcoming Phil's presence.
Phil headed towards the basement carefully since he remembered his grandfather had a small diesel generator, he hoped that the generator had some fuel left and most importantly that it works.
The basement was full of dust and cobwebs as well, thankfully there was no smell of animal droppings or decaying dead bodies anywhere since his parents has secured the house so that no animals can enter it easily.
Phil easily found the small diesel generator and proceeded to turn it on. Phil prayed and turned on the button, and to his relief, it turned green. He proceeded to put his hands on the flywheel's handle and cracked it so that it spins. After a few attempts, the generator powered itself as well as the basement's light bulb.
Heading towards the first floor, Phil proceeded to look for the artifacts his grandfather has collected. He checked the first floor but there was nothing there, he walked upstairs towards the second floor and looked there as well reminiscing about the time passed long ago. He opened the room where he usually sleeps when he visits his grandfather and looked inside, the bed were covered with white sheets and the floors were blanketed with dust, Phil could not help and felt a little sad. He proceeded to check the second floor after that the third floor and some small attic crawlspace but he found nothing.
Phil sat down on his grandfather's table in his office located on the second floor feeling dejected since he could not find his grandfather's collection. He even tried and peeked inside the chimney but it was blocked on the outside.
Searching for his memories when he was little, Phil was sure that his grandfather had a room full of his collection of trinkets since he saw it when he was young but he could not remember where it was located.
Walking around the office thinking and mulling over his memories, Phil tripped and fell towards the table. He hit his head with a bang and he slumped on the table.
Touching his bruised forehead Phil noticed that the table did not move even an inch even though he fell and should have pushed it even a little. He observed the table and noticed it was bolted on the floor, Phil thinks it was odd and stuck his head under it. He shone his flashlight and saw a black button hidden on one of the corners of the underside of the table, it should have a cover of some sort but because of the impact of Phil's accident, it fell.
Phil decided to push the button and moments later the heavy shelf which was located at the back corner of the room opened revealing a door ornate with carvings of a raven.