Sixth day, Sunday, 22th August:
In the morning, Lucian pondered over Selena's words and the events of the previous day. He came to understand the necessity of Robert Bart's demise. As long as he lived, the threat loomed over them all.
To safeguard everyone, he knew he needed a deeper understanding of this world and its powers.
"Guide me in mastering these abilities. Share your knowledge with me," he murmured.
"If you seek my teachings, you must perform a task for me," responded Selena's ethereal voice.
"What task?"
"You've learned that Lucian was my final devotee. You must discreetly spread my faith throughout the world, starting with Lucy," she instructed.
"Why is that necessary?" he inquired.
"What is a Goddess without her devotees." came her reply.
"I need you to explain how you know everything. Also explain my powers. The process of advancing."
"When the time comes, you will learn how I know everything. You possess accelerated healing, which you've already demonstrated. You can toggle it on or off at will. Just close your eyes, attune yourself with the specks, and give your command. Currently, while you're conserving your aura within your core, it's still recovering from the strain of prematurely absorbing orbs. Should you acquire even a single additional orb or overextend yourself, the consequences would be dire. To safely facilitate the healing process, you'll need to gather 4 aura cores from major deities: Sun, Knowledge, Nature/Healing, Sea. The optimal Pact range should be between 2 and 4. Anything below or above that threshold may lead to complications. Additionally, gather 3 aura cores of people in Pact with lesser deities. Once you've accomplished this, I'll provide you with the next steps."
"Thank you. This is the most you've ever talked Haha."
So that's the plan. Gathering cores can only be achieved through a person's passing. I'll explore the black market and get what I need. Of course, this demands a large amount of money.
...
"Brother, when is Victoria moving in with us?" Lucian inquired, his words slightly muffled by a mouthful of food.
Henry laughed heartily. "In about a week. She's also bringing her two attendants. No more cooking or cleaning for us, and I'm certainly not complaining!"
Lucian joined in the laughter. "I'm looking forward to it!"
"Do you know what today is, Lucian?" Henry's tone shifted to a more serious one.
"Sunday? Why?" Lucian's brow furrowed in confusion.
Henry let out a sigh, covering his face with his hand in a facepalm gesture. "Prayer, Lucian. It's a day of prayer. You forgot again."
Lucian chuckled like a child who'd momentarily overlooked something important. "Ah, yes. Shall we go after we finish dinner?"
"Indeed. And Victoria will be joining us," Henry added.
...
After the purifying prayer, which seemed to invigorate everyone, they decided to head to a restaurant, largely at Victoria's urging due to her pregnancy cravings.
"I'm absolutely craving chicken," Victoria declared, her thoughts already fixated on the dish.
"Of course, love. And what about you, Lucian?" Henry inquired.
"I'm good, we just had a meal at home. But I'll take a cup of coffee," Lucian replied.
The waiter took their orders and promptly returned with a whole cooked chicken, accompanied by a generous serving of salad, rice, and Lucian's requested cup of coffee.
Victoria stared at the chicken as if she intended to devour it all by herself.
"This is amazing!" she exclaimed after her first bite, and then continued to eat with gusto.
Henry joined in, though he ate more modestly, while Lucian contented himself with his coffee, lost in his thoughts.
I'll need to buy some more cigarettes, he reflected.
"Oh, I'm stuffed," Victoria admitted, patting her stomach in a rather unladylike manner.
"Haha, you practically polished off the whole thing yourself. Our little one seems to have a taste for chicken," Henry chuckled.
Lucian, ever the quiet observer, didn't say much. He held an introverted demeanor, as if he were watching a film and reacting to it, all while he continued to sip his coffee.
The bill was settled, and Henry escorted Victoria back home. He extended an invitation to Lucian, but he declined, preferring not to be a third wheel. Instead, he hailed a carriage and headed back to his own abode, looking forward to delving into the pages of 'Mysticism Apprentice'.
...
"What language is this, Selena?" he asked, clearly puzzled by the unfamiliar script.
"It's written in Truston, a language from the kingdom of Truss," she explained.
"Hmm, it's quite distinct from the Sulorian language I'm familiar with. Is there any way you can assist me in deciphering it?" he inquired.
"No need for that particular book. Once you've completed my tasks, I'll consider offering you a more advanced text," she stated.
"Hmm, very well," he responded, accepting her terms.
"What advanced text? Ancient Mysticism, haha. Advanced Mysticism, or perhaps even God's Mysticism," he quipped.
The hidden chamber remained in silence so he returned to his room and retrieved his remaining funds - 4 valling notes and 5 valka notes.
I should pay a visit to my dear Elizabeth first. Then, I'll head over to Whitebeard's Bar to settle my debt and instruct him to spread the word that I'll be holding the event sooner. Afterward, I'll complete the task Selena assigned to me.
Seems like it's shaping up to be another busy day. Lately, they've been quite frequent.
...
Lucian visited Elizabeth, and true to his word, they were in the living room, where he patiently guided her through playing the piano.
"You've made remarkable progress in just a week!" Lucian praised.
Elizabeth, perched on a small piano stool, blushed and admitted, "I've been dedicating myself to practice daily. I hope to become as skilled as you one day. Hihi."
"Just keep honing your left hand's coordination. It's a matter of practice, and soon it'll become second nature," Lucian assured.
She smiled, then nervously mustered the courage to ask, "Would you... like to have dinner with me? Let's go out!"
Lucian paused for a moment, not recognizing her invitation as a date. He replied, "No thanks, I ate not long ago and I'm still quite full."
Elizabeth tried to maintain her composure, though she couldn't help feeling a twinge of embarrassment when he declined. Opting to steer the conversation in a different direction, she returned to playing the piano in silence.
After she finished playing, she kindly offered, "I've noticed that you seem a bit distant lately. I don't want to pry, but if you ever need someone to talk to, know that you can always talk to me."
Lucian nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I'm just contemplating some things about my life. As you know, Victoria will be moving in with us since she's pregnant, so I'm not sure if I should consider finding a new place."
Elizabeth stood up from the stool, her eyes wide with surprise. "Pregnant!?"
"Why didn't anyone inform me?" she exclaimed.
Lucian chuckled, "I assumed either Victoria or Henry would have mentioned it to you."
"No, they haven't. I've been quite preoccupied lately," Elizabeth explained.
They continued chatting about Lucian becoming an uncle and how he didn't necessarily have to find a new place since family is important. Staying with family can be a source of strength and support. Afterwards, he hugged her tightly, as if trying to hold onto the moment forever. It was clear he had missed her. Finally, he reluctantly pulled away and made his way to the bar.
Family. It was something I never truly had on Earth...
...
At Whitebeard's Bar:
"Young man, you're back. Did everything go well?" said Whitebeard, signaling for Lucian to sit down.
"Yes, Whitebeard, everything went smoothly. Thank you for arranging those bodyguards for me. I came to settle my debt and inquire about something," he replied, taking his seat with a businesslike demeanor.
Whitebeard accepted the money from Lucian, then patiently awaited his question.
"I'm interested in purchasing cores. Could you direct me to a reliable source?" Lucian inquired.
"Hmm, there are a few places in town. Would you like to know about the largest market?" Whitebeard offered.
"Yes, please," Lucian confirmed.
"As we've done business together, I'll provide this information at no cost," Whitebeard chuckled.
"To locate the biggest market, head beneath the bridge on Mertan Street. I'd show you on a map if I had one, but alas, I don't. You'll need to ask for directions when you reach the street or find it on your own. I suggest wearing a long black robe and a mask to conceal your identity. One can never be too cautious about potential followers. Also, remember to use the keyword 'Mantis Acceptus'."
Lucian absorbed the advice attentively, then added, "Thank you. Could you also inform the others that I'll be hosting the event tomorrow? Will they be able to attend?"
Whitebeard inquired, "Yes. Can I know more about it?"
Lucian proceeded to recount the events surrounding his acquisition of the bodyguard services and the peculiar core adorned with green vines. Whitebeard's interest piqued, and he asked, "Oh young man, where did you find that? Can I see it?"
Ignoring the first question, Lucian acquiesced and retrieved the core, presenting it to Whitebeard. "I've never come across one like this. Would you mind if I appraise it?" Whitebeard queried.
Surprised, Lucian asked, "You're an appraiser?"
Whitebeard chuckled, replying, "Of course. How else would I conduct this kind of business, haha."
Lucian nodded, and Whitebeard took roughly ten minutes to complete the appraisal.
"It proved more challenging to appraise than other cores. I must say, I'm impressed. This core, for reasons unknown to me, has a tracking ability. Beyond that, I sensed the presence of an artifact within. I've never encountered a core with an absorbed artifact before," Whitebeard explained.
Then he added, "I wish I could buy it. It's a shame you've already sold it to the lucky winner."
...
After the visit to Whitebeard's, Lucian made his way to Lucy Hall's place. He arrived at the front door, knocked, and Lucy opened it with a concerned expression.
"Did something happen?"
"No, I just have something to discuss with you," he replied, entering the house.
"Coffee, tea, or—"
He interrupted her, "Please, sit."
Lucy still sensed an unusual seriousness in him, so she took a seat and said, "You can begin."