After selling the first crate of low-level mana crystals, Alaric buried the second one in a secluded spot, ensuring it would remain hidden until he needed it. Now, his focus shifted to the large crate filled with mysterious items. He knew that understanding its contents was crucial to his plans.
Alaric dragged the heavy crate into an isolated room where he often trained. Locking the door behind him, he carefully pried it open. Inside, he found an assortment of magical ingredients, each more intriguing than the last. Taking out his notebook, he began to document their appearances, intending to match them with the information available in the family library.
"First, a really big Mana crystal," Alaric murmured, holding up the large, glowing gem. "These are only found inside high-level monsters with magic."
Next was a vial containing a blue translucent liquid. "Tears of Earth," he noted, shaking his head. "This can make any potion achieve maximum effectiveness. Not easy to obtain, given the high-rank monsters guarding it
He picked up a piece of grayish-silver metal. "Steel. This channels magic naturally and is found in caves with high Mana density."
His eyes widened at the next item: a bolt of exquisite fabric. "Silk from the threads of the Igram spider. One of the finest materials for clothing."
He shuddered as he lifted a vial of thick black liquid. "Poison of the Nemer serpent. Deadly enough to kill a hundred men with a single drop."
Finally, he held a small red crystal. "Flare shard, created from the blood of a Salamander. Contains extremely potent flame magic."
Alaric's mind raced. The value and rarity of these items were beyond measure. Even a whisper of their existence could bring untold danger upon him. He decided to hide them away, even from Geralt, knowing that each item was a fortune waiting to be exploited, but also a potential death sentence.
After some thinking, he determined his next destination: the Veil Dukedom, renowned for its mages and magical knowledge. He needed to learn more about these items and perhaps find a way to utilize them without drawing unwanted attention.
A few days later, Alaric departed in a rented carriage, keeping his destination a secret from everyone, including Geralt. He knew that the journey would be perilous, but the potential rewards were worth the risk.
A few days later, Alaric departed in a rented carriage, keeping his destination a secret from everyone, including Geralt.
He knew that the journey would be perilous, but the potential rewards were worth the risk.
As the carriage bumped along the road, Alaric reflected on his situation. "I've got to stay one step ahead," he thought. "If I can learn how to use these items effectively, I might turn the tide in my favor. But I can't let anyone know what I have."
He arrived at the border of the Veil Dukedom by nightfall, the dense forests and rolling hills casting long shadows in the moonlight.
The carriage came to a halt, and Alaric stepped out, taking a deep breath of the crisp night air."This is it," he said to himself. "The start of a new chapter. I just hope I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Back home, the Vargas family was once again the subject of rampant rumors. Alaric had been gone for three weeks, and his sudden departure without even bothering to wear a cloak meant that everyone knew he was off somewhere.
Count Vargas was seething with frustration. He stared at the letter left by his son, which contained nothing more than a brief note stating that he was leaving. "Where the hell did he go?" the Count muttered under his breath, crumpling the paper in his fist. "This boy is going to drive me mad."
His siblings, Damian and Eliza, were equally desperate to know Alaric's whereabouts, though not out of concern. Damian paced his room, his thoughts a mix of irritation and curiosity. "That little weasel, what is he up to now? If he's plotting something, I need to know."
Eliza, meanwhile, found herself in a similar state. She sat at her vanity, brushing her hair with quick, agitated strokes. "Alaric's gone off somewhere, and the whole estate is talking about it. If he thinks he can overshadow me, he's mistaken."
Their mother, Isabella, was largely indifferent to Alaric's disappearance as long as her "good" children were safe. However, she was frustrated by the rumors disrupting her social activities. "This is becoming intolerable," she sighed, setting down her teacup with a sharp clink. "Every tea party, it's the same. 'Where is Alaric?' 'What is he doing?' If only the boy could think of someone other than himself for once."
In the midst of the family's turmoil, Geralt maintained his usual stoic demeanor. As head steward, he had always kept Alaric's secrets, but even he was beginning to feel the strain of the young master's prolonged absence. "The household is on edge," he observed quietly to himself. "I hope Alaric knows what he's doing."
The servants whispered among themselves, speculating on where Alaric might have gone and what he might be doing. "Maybe he's gone to seek out some rare treasure," one servant suggested. "Or perhaps he's training in secret to finally show up his siblings," another chimed in.
Count Vargas couldn't shake his worry, despite his anger. He called a meeting with his trusted advisors, hoping to get some answers. "I need to know where my son is," he demanded. "Find him, or at least find out what he's up to. I won't have this family being the subject of gossip any longer."
The advisors nodded, knowing better than to question the Count's orders. They spread out, discreetly gathering information from every corner of the estate and beyond. It wasn't long before word reached them that Alaric had been seen heading towards the Veil Dukedom.
"Veil Dukedom?" the Count said, frowning. "What business could he possibly have there?"
Damian overheard this and couldn't resist a smug grin. "Probably trying to find some way to make himself seem important," he muttered under his breath.
Eliza rolled her eyes. "As if that would work. He's just going to make a fool of himself again."
As the days dragged on, the tension in the Vargas household only grew. The Count found himself pacing more often, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Isabella, despite her outward indifference, couldn't help but feel the strain of the constant questions and gossip at her social gatherings.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a letter arrived. It was from Alaric, addressed to his father. The Count tore it open with a mixture of relief and anger, his eyes scanning the page quickly.
"I'm safe," the letter read. "I've gone to learn more about some items I've come across. I'll return when I have what I need. - Alaric."
"That boy," the Count growled, crumpling the letter in his hand. "He better have a good reason for this."
Isabella glanced up from her book, her expression unimpressed. "At least he's not dead."
Damian and Eliza exchanged looks of disbelief. "He's always been a mystery," Damian said, shaking his head. "But this... this is something else."
Eliza snorted. "Whatever he's up to, it can't be good. I just hope he doesn't drag the family name through the mud any more than he already has."
Despite their frustrations and the mounting gossip, life at the Vargas estate continued. The household carried on with its daily routines, though the shadow of Alaric's absence loomed over everything. The Count doubled down on his responsibilities, trying to maintain control and order within the estate.
Geralt, ever the loyal steward, quietly kept tabs on any new information about Alaric. Though he knew the young master was capable in his own way, he couldn't help but worry about the dangers Alaric might be facing.
"Come back soon, young master," he thought, looking out over the estate grounds. "This family needs you, whether they realize it or not."
Alaric's disappearance had sparked a storm of speculation, but in the midst of it all, he remained focused on his mission. As the days turned into weeks, his family would just have to wait and wonder about the enigmatic path he had chosen.