Emmett sat cross-legged in his room, eyes closed, his mind fully immersed in the intricate workings of the Moon Scripture. He had spent two full days in a deep state of cultivation, guiding his Qi through the delicate pathways of his body, slowly but surely opening his meridians. The process was intense, demanding every ounce of his focus, but to his pleasant surprise, it wasn't boring.
The developers of Saga had cleverly designed the cultivation process to feel engaging—almost like playing a vintage game of Tetris. As Emmett visualized the Qi flowing through his body, it was like fitting pieces into place, connecting the meridians in perfect alignment. If he slacked off or didn't focus hard enough, the flow would stop, leaving him with the same annoying feeling you get when a crucial Tetris piece doesn't fit. This small gamification kept his mind entertained, even as his body sat motionless for hours on end.
After hours of aligning the energy pathways, he felt a buzz in his mind—a notification.
Ding! You have a message.
Emmett cracked open one eye, momentarily annoyed by the distraction. Who could possibly be interrupting him during his crucial cultivation time?
It was from Mirabelle.
"Come out of cultivation, we have leads. You've been in there long enough."
With a sigh, Emmett let go of his concentration, allowing the Qi to settle back into his dantian. He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, his body a little stiff from sitting in the same position for so long. Time had passed quickly—two days of cultivating had felt like nothing.
Standing up, Emmett grabbed his gear and headed downstairs to meet Mirabelle and the others. The moment he descended, he was met with Mirabelle's usual no-nonsense expression, her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently.
"You're late," she said, her eyes narrowing at him.
"Sorry, cultivating isn't exactly something you can just pause," Emmett replied with a grin, though he could tell his excuse didn't do much to soften her mood. He noticed Larissa standing next to Mirabelle, and something about her was... different.
His eyes flickered over her, trying not to be obvious. She looked sexier, more confident. Even the way she stood had changed—her posture was more deliberate, her body language almost inviting. Was that even possible? Had she leveled up her charm while he was busy with cultivation? He quickly stole a few more sneaky glances before catching himself.
Focus, man, he thought. Now's not the time.
Mirabelle cleared her throat, snapping his attention back. "Let's go. We've got some leads to follow," she said, already walking toward the door.
Larissa smiled sweetly at him, giving him a small wave as they left the inn. Emmett fell into step behind them, his mind still running in circles about Larissa's sudden transformation. But before he could think too much about it, they had reached their destination: a restaurant near the Hill Manor.
The streets of Mist City were bustling as usual, the foggy air giving everything a mysterious and almost surreal atmosphere. The restaurant they were heading to was known for its quiet, discreet ambiance—perfect for secret meetings like this one. They pushed open the wooden doors and climbed the stairs to the second floor, where a few members of the Thorn Mercenaries were waiting for them.
The room was dimly lit, with just a few candles flickering in the corner. A group of scouts sat around a table, hunched over a map of the Hill Manor. The moment Emmett, Mirabelle, and Larissa entered, one of the scouts looked up and immediately began to brief them.
"We've found something," the scout said, pointing at the map. "There's a waterway coming from the north. It flows into the Hill Manor and continues through to the city. It's the manor's main source of water."
Emmett leaned over the table, inspecting the map. The waterway ran right through the heart of the manor, sneaking through its walls and out into the city. It was narrow and winding, but if they were careful, it could serve as a secret route into the estate.
"The guards don't seem to pay much attention to it," the scout continued. "They're focused on the main gates and the front courtyard. If a few of us sneak into the manor through this waterway, we should be able to bypass most of the patrols."
Mirabelle studied the map carefully, her brow furrowed in thought. "It's risky, but it's our best shot at getting inside undetected. We'll need a distraction to keep the guards busy while we make our move."
Emmett nodded, already imagining the layout of the manor in his mind. It would be tough, but not impossible. "What kind of distraction are we talking about?" he asked.
Mirabelle smirked slightly. "Oh, we'll come up with something... loud. But for now, we lay low. I want everyone keeping an eye on this waterway. We need to make sure the guards don't change their patrols."
The room was filled with murmurs of agreement. The plan was solid, but it wasn't the only way in. Mirabelle knew that the developers of Saga always left multiple paths to victory in quests like this. If they could find another weak point in the manor's defenses, it would give them more options when the time came to strike.
Mirabelle tapped the map with her finger. "There's bound to be more ways in. I want all of you to keep looking. Check every nook and cranny. We'll need every advantage we can get, especially with other players arriving soon."
"Other players?" Larissa asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Mirabelle's expression darkened. "Yeah. It's only a matter of time before word gets out about this quest. And once it does, we won't be the only ones hunting for the spoils. If we don't move soon, we're going to have competition."
Emmett frowned, glancing at the map again. He hadn't considered the possibility of other player guilds showing up, but it made sense. The longer they waited, the more likely it was that others would catch wind of the quest and try to claim the rewards for themselves. And with the time acceleration in Saga—plenty of time for others to sniff out their plan.
Mirabelle sighed, muttering to herself as she looked over the scouts. "We don't have much time. Keep searching, and be careful. We can't afford any slip-ups."
Emmett exchanged a glance with Larissa, who seemed to sense the rising tension. She gave him a reassuring smile, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.
The group dispersed after the meeting, the scouts heading back into the city to continue gathering information. As Emmett, Mirabelle, and Larissa made their way out of the restaurant.
"Soon enough," Emmett muttered under his breath. "Other players will arrive. We need to be ready."