"We want to be as strong as gods." Noir told me. She had just told me this whole feud between her god and mine was a facade.
"Is that possible? For mortals to become… beyond human."
Noir sipped her coffee before answering. "There are humans who have tried. Alchemists who believe their magic rivaled their own patrons. In the end, they found out they were deceived by demons, and were converted into them. Do you remember the demon who attacked you?"
"That old lady who wasn't an old lady?"
Noir nodded. "She's one of the alchemists cursed to be a demon."
That village was ravaged by four demons. Three of which had completely annihilated the town. If their power was that strong, maybe they were gods. They had ripped the roof of a church like it was tin foil!
"Which brings me to my dilemma, Rue." Noir leaned back, shoving a refinished mug away from her. "If you, a weak summoner, was able to defeat three demons on your own, taking you on alone would be pointless. You could have killed me if I hadn't prepared for the attack." She winced as she poked her healed wound. "And I'm still not recharged or healed enough to take you on right now."
"So what I'm hearing is, you won't attack me for a little bit. I could just leave and hide and you'd never find me."
Noir scoffed. "I know where you live. And I know you wont leave your house behind. We both know houses like that are a gift from heaven, literally."
She did know where I lived. She could wait outside my house until she healed if she wanted. Then she could destroy my entire cabin with me inside!
"But I have a better purpose for you. An offer?"
What's up with you and offers?
"I have a certain… task that my sect has sent me on. It is an impossible task, but if i can do it, i'll be promoted within my sect."
"You want me to help you on your little quest?"
"If you can help me, I'll make sure no one from my sect attacks you." She watched my interest pique. "You see, this mission is to prove that imma talented alchemist. If -no- when i finish the quest, i will be considered a master alchemist. That means I can pass laws. Laws that can even protect an enemy alchemist like yourself."
The reward sounded nice. If all I had to do was help her to keep her friends off my ass…
"What's the quest?"
"Do you accept my offer?"
I hesitated. "Not yet. I want to make sure this quest is doable before I agree to anything."
"Well, it's quite simple. I just need to seal a homunculi and bring it back to my leaders."
"A homunculi? Like the evil god?"
Nori shook her head. "THe name Homunculus is the name of the dark god."
A notification appeared.
"Homunculi= Followers of the dark god, Homunculus."
I nodded. "I see. Is that why you attacked the old lady?"
"No. But she was connected to the homunculi I'm after. It's still in the village. The only problem is…" Alla cleared our table. "The problem is that this specific homunculi is ranked above rare."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning it's a Mythic level creature."
Another notification. This one described the ranking system:
"Common: the lowest level creature. Usually just enraged animals are at this level.
Uncommon: Elementals or other low level spirits exist on this level. They are slightly stronger than common beasts, but weaker than rare ones.
Rare: Most demons, angels and elementals are on this level. With strength that rivals level eight wizards, they are considered strong allies or fierce opponents.
Mythic: God level spirits. Avatars of concepts or even manifestations of gods themselves. Stronger than level ten mages."
The common paragraph was written in white, the uncommon in silver, the rare in gold and the mythic paragraph was written in bronze.
I gasped. "You want me to help you kill a god? You better be a level ten mage, or we're as dead as your goons." I motioned to the nonexistent ashes behind me.
"I know. I know." Noir sighed, aggravated. "I myself am only a level four mage. It would take another me and one of you to even rival a mythic level."
She sipped her coffee. Her hands were shaking. It was strange to watch the girl who just tried to kill me for my staff an hour ago tremble in fear. I felt bad for her. Her bosses really had set her up to fail.
"But I do have a plan. A solid one as long as it is followed to the tee."
"What is it?"
"If you can obtain a rare level sealing spell, we should be able to capture the homunculi without having to be at its level. I know a few common spells that should weaken it enough to seal it. But only if you know a rare level sealing spell."
I did acquire that sealing petal. If I learned how to equip it with the Twig, I would be able to seal this homunculi.
"Fine." I said after a moment of silence. "I'll help you. But I'm going to want more than a truce between your little sect."
Noir fanned her fingers. "Name your price."
"I'm going to want training as a summoner. If you can afford me the resources to do so, I'll accept your offer."
This was a huge bargain. For all she knew, I could be getting stronger to attack her sect. Not that I would, but Noir didn't look like the kind to trust someone.
To my surprise, she accepted. She must be really desperate to agree to that.
"But I'll only give you the resources if you get this spell in the next two weeks."
"What's in two weeks?"
"I should be level five by then. I've been training everyday. When I was first given this quest, I was at your level."
"How long have you been training?"
"One month as of yesterday."
If one month of training was all it took to climb two levels, I'd be level ten in no time!
But Noir crushed my hopes. "I must warn you it wasn't training that got me to this level. I had to take several detours to get here, and even that barely did anything."
Was she taking magic steroids?
A message appeared on my system. "A history of Pacts."
I did not open the message at that moment.
"Do we have a deal, wyrm forged?" Noir rose from her seat. I followed suit.
A message asking if I wanted to join Noir's quest party appeared in front of me.
I already had a rare level spell. I only need to equip it, which shouldn't take long. In rpg games, it took like a minute to insert gems into a weapon. This should be a piece of cake! I could rest for the next two weeks. Or spend my money on new things for my house.
I accepted the quest verbally. "I accept."
Noir nodded in approval as the message cleared. She bowed to me, then thanked Pyrra. The cook only offered her a smile and a wave; she was busy cooking the food for the family Noir had threatened. With that, my foe-turned-temporary-ally left.
I sat back down, chowing down my meal. My spells were at full charge when I realized something.
Alla approached me, saying that I needed to cover Noir's meal too. I seethed as I handed over two silver.