Finally, just before noon the next day, word came that the apothecaries had collected the ingredients. Sasha hurried to retrieve it based on Edmund's command.
Sasha moved swiftly and silently through the dimly lit corridors of the palace in anticipation. The successful retrieval of the silver oak tree bark from the sacred garden had filled her with a sense of triumph, but now she faced a new challenge. She needed to retrieve the bark from the apothecaries' work quarters without their knowledge.
However, she would have to approach things in a different way today.
She approached the workhouse with caution and went in through the front door. The air was thick with the mingling scents of various herbs and potions, creating a heady aroma. Sasha moved towards the particular room where she knew the ingredients were kept.
"Morning, Sasha!" one of the junior apothecaries called out cheerfully as she entered.
"Good morning," Sasha replied with a smile, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just here to check on the latest batch of tonics."
The apothecary nodded, returning to his work.
Sasha made her way to the back of the room, where the ingredients were typically sorted. Her heart sank as she noticed that some of the ingredients had already been taken away, and the bark of the silver oak tree was among them.
A senior apothecary walked by, and Sasha seized the opportunity to engage him in conversation.
"I can't find what I'm looking for amongst the new batch of ingredients... Did some not arrive yet?"
The apothecary looked up from his work while shaking his head lightly, "The emperor requested some ingredients be brought to him."
"Do you know what was taken?" Sasha inquired with a troubled expression.
"A few rare herbs and the bark of a tree were included. An apothecary is currently on his way to the throne room with them," he answered.
Panic gripped Sasha. She had to stop the apothecary before he reached the Emperor. "Thank you," she said quickly, turning on her heel and rushing towards the throne room.
Her footsteps echoed through the halls as she ran with a racing heart. The pathway leading to the throne room seemed endless, every second stretching into an eternity.
She finally reached the last turning but it was too late. The apothecary was already stepping through the massive doors.
All hope seemed lost. Sasha leaned against the wall, her mind racing with thoughts of how to explain her failure to Edmund. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself, when she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned around, her eyes widening in surprise. "Your Highness!" she exclaimed.
In Edmund's grasp was the shimmering bark of the silver oak tree. He held it up with a triumphant grin. "Looking for this?"
Sasha's immediately sighed in relief. "How did you get it?"
"I was on my way to find you when I bumped into the apothecary," Edmund explained. "I noticed the bark among the items he was carrying and made up a story about needing it for a tonic related to my locked essence. He bought it, and here we are."
Sasha couldn't help but laugh. "I thought all was lost."
Edmund smiled warmly. "Now, let's get back to my room."
They hurried back to Edmund's chamber and chatted along the way. As they entered the room, the familiar system notification appeared in Edmund's line of sight.
[ Goal Completed ]
Edmund felt a rush of excitement as he saw the notification. "Finally completed the first goal."
The system continued to display new information.
[ Skill Unlocked: Dark Veil ]
Edmund stared at the notification, his mind racing. 'Dark Veil? What does that mean?'
In the next instant, a system panel projected the information before him.
[ Dark Veil is a skill that allows you to envelop yourself in a shroud of darkness, rendering you nearly invisible in dark spaces and allowing you to move silently ]
'This is incredible,' Edmund said internally. 'It looks like I've gained a supernatural ability without unlocking my essence yet.'
As he marveled at the new skill, another notification appeared in Edmund's line of sight.
[ 1/3 Goals Completed ]
[ New Goal: Obtain A Vial Of Elf Heart Blood ]
Edmund's excitement was tempered by the realization that his essence was still locked and there were more goals to complete.
"Elf heart blood?" he muttered. "Where am I supposed to find that?"
The task of obtaining Elf Heart Blood seemed daunting since he wasn't very versed in this world.
"Sasha, I need your help again," Edmund said while looking at her intently.
"Of course, your highness. What do you need?" she replied, sensing the urgency in his voice.
"Do you know where I can get Elf Heart Blood?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Sasha's eyes widened in surprise. "Elf Heart Blood? Why on earth would you need that?"
Edmund considered how much to reveal. "It's for a... personal project. Something that could help me unlock my essence."
Sasha's concern was evident on her face, but she was his serving girl after all. "Well, obtaining Elf Heart Blood is no small task. The elves are a pretty powerful species. But there is a way."
"Go on," Edmund urged, leaning in.
"We can employ a hunter vampire to get it for us. They specialize in these kinds of dangerous missions outside the Kingdom. We just need to find one who's good at the job and pay him well," Sasha explained.
Edmund nodded with a look of understanding. "Alright, let's do that. I'll leave it in your capable hands."
He walked over to a drawer and retrieved a heavy gold pouch, the coins inside jingling softly. Handing it to Sasha, he said, "This should cover the cost. Make sure to find the best hunter you can."
Sasha received the pouch while curtsying. "I will. I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you, Sasha," Edmund said, a grateful smile on his face.
'While she's handling that, I'll be testing out the new skill I acquired.'
As Sasha left to find a hunter vampire, Edmund turned his attention to the new skill. The idea of blending into the shadows and moving unnoticed was thrilling.
However, he knew it wasn't something he could properly make use of during the daytime.
Nevertheless, Edmund decided to activate it.
« Dark Veil Has Been Activated »
The room around him seemed to dim, the light fading as shadows wrapped around his body. He felt a strange, comforting embrace, like a cloak of night settling over him.
It turned out that Dark Veil could also cause the surroundings to darken. This meant that using it during the day was possible... Only that people would be able to tell that the light in the surroundings was being manipulated and since he wouldn't be completely obscured, they'd most likely still be able to see him.
...
Later that afternoon, Sasha returned, a look of satisfaction on her face. "I found a hunter vampire willing to take the job," she said. "He's one of the best, and he agreed to do it for the price we offered."
"That's great news," Edmund replied. "How long will it take?"
"He said it could take a few days to about two weeks," Sasha explained. "But he's confident he can get it."
"That's reassuring. Thank you, Sasha," Edmund voiced.
"Just doing my job, your highness."
...
Over the next few days, Edmund dedicated himself to mastering Dark Veil. He practiced in various settings, from the quiet corridors of the palace to the bustling gardens mostly at night times.
Each time, he felt more attuned to the shadows, his movements becoming more fluid and silent.
One evening, as the sun set and cast long shadows across the palace grounds, Edmund decided to test his skill in a more challenging environment. He made his way to the training grounds where his stepbrother, Lucian, was often found honing his combat skills.
Lucian was sparring with a few vampire guards. Edmund watched from the shadows, his presence unnoticed.
Moving silently, he approached the training area, observing Lucian's techniques.
Lucien would sometimes turn into a gust of dark mist and phase through the guards only to materialize behind them and strike.
His stepbrother was a formidable fighter.
Edmund really wished his essence was unlocked so he could also do cool stuff like this. He kept watching and taking notes of some of these techniques.
As he watched, one of the vampire guards suddenly stopped and looked around, a puzzled expression on his face. "Did anyone else feel that?" he asked.
Lucian paused, his eyes scanning the area. "Feel what?"
"I don't know," the guard replied, shaking his head. "It's probably nothing."
Edmund held his breath, remaining perfectly still. After a moment, Lucian shrugged and resumed his training.
Edmund soon slipped away and released the Dark Veil once he was out of sight.
Returning to his chambers, he found Sasha cleaning the place up.
"Don't wander about the palace grounds at this time, it's not safe," Sasha sighed in relief immediately after seeing him.
"No one would dare attack the crown prince, now will they?" Edmund voiced without a hint of worry.
"Yeah only if they know you're the crown prince and not someone else," Sasha said while tucking away some sheets.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Edmund's eyes squinted in suspicion.