by Jackson Bale
I---lift---an---eyebrow,”---Like?”
Silva---turns---away,---her---eyes---looking---to---me,---focusing,”---Like---the---fact---that---you---have---the---skill---[A---Hero’s---Moment].”
Shit,---I---think---I---told---Brock---about---the---skill.---Sarena---must---have---heard---from---him---that---I---had---it.
“I---am---still---not---sure---what---that---skill---even---does.”
Silva---nods---before---opening---her---arms,---allowing---Sarena---to---stand---up,---“Sarena,---be---a---dear---and---fetch---me---the---Hero---Compendium---and---an---affinity---orb.”
“Yes---Grand---elder,”---Sarena---quickly---exclaims---before---speedwalking---out---of---the---room,---not---even---deigning---to---look---at---the---frowning---Silva.
Silva---sighs---and---shakes---her---head---before---grabbing---a---gourd---and---drinking---its---contents.
“She---will---probably---take---her---sweet---time,---but---on---to---the---matter---of---that---skill.---[A---Hero’s---Moment]---is---one---of---the---most---diverse---skills---I---have---ever---seen,---and---that---is---saying---quite---a---bit.---[A---Hero’s---Moment]---activates---only---when---the---[Hero]---in---question---is---attempting---to---save---someone.---The---skill---will---react---to---the---situation,---increasing---the---[Hero]s---stats---based---on---what---they---are---attempting---to---accomplish.---An---example---would---be---to---gain---greatly---increased---physical---stats,---as---well---as---other---various---temporary---positive---boons,”---she---explains,---placing---the---gourd---down---and---licking---her---lips.
I---stare---at---the---gourd---in---front---of---me,---debating---if---I---should---try---the---drink.---Unfortunately,---I---dislike---sweets---early---in---the---morning.---They---make---me---feel---much---too---jittery.
“But---the---skill---has---a---cost,---one---which---is---paid---after---the---skill---ends.---Usually---it---comes---in---the---form---of---extreme---exhaustion,---either---mental---or---physical,---sometimes---both.---But,---if---a---challenge---is---extremely---difficult,---you---may---obtain---a---permanent---physical---disability.---For---example,---Hercules---lost---the---ability---to---use---his---right---arm---after---a---deadly---encounter---against---a---[Demon---General].---He---triumphed,---but---it---came---at---a---cost.”
So---that's---what---happened.---When---I---first---activated---the---skill,---my---Charisma---was---increased---drastically,---but---it---made---me---extremely---mentally---exhausted---afterward.---While---during---the---fight---against---the---Direrat,---I---was---physically---stronger,---but---it---meant---I---couldn't---even---move---my---body---after.
“I---see.---But---why---do---I---have---this---skill---while---the---other---[Heroes]---do---not?”
She---leans---forward,---her---smile---radiant,---“Because,---they---merely---have---the---class,---but---you---live---the---class.---You---are---the---type---of---person---who---would---risk---life---and---limb---to---save---others,---even---at---the---cost---of---your---own---life---and---safety.---You---are---a---person---who---cannot---stand---torture---or---injustice.---You---are---a---person---who---looks---to---help---others.---You,---Franky,---are---a---man---destined---to---change---this---world.”
She---closes---her---eyes---for---a---moment,---“and---that---is---enough---for---me---to---offer---you---sanctuary---at---this---city,”---her---eyes---open,---glowing---a---powerful---spring---green.
I---open---my---mouth---several---times,---wanting---to---refute---what---she---said,---but---each---time---I---remember---Thoric.---How---he---would---give---me---his---annoyingly---cocky---smile---before---telling---me---that---I---have---the---qualities---of---a---true---hero.---He---would---tell---me---that---at---least---once---a---week.---And---so---far,---thinking---about---the---past---weeks---here---on---this---world,---I---can't---say---he---has---ever---been---wrong.
I---shake---my---head---and---rub---my---eyes.---Various---thoughts---are---racing---through---my---head.
I---don't---want---to---be---a---hero...---but---that---is---probably---what---a---freaking---hero---would---say.
I---lean---back---into---my---chair,---annoyed.
“Since---you---saved---me,---doesn't---that---mean---you---angered---the---church?---Won't---they---come---get---me?”---I---ask,---trying---to---change---the---subject.---Thinking---about---this---now---will---change---little,---best---to---focus---on---the---matter---at---hand.
Silva---chuckles---before---grabbing---her---staff---and---placing---it---on---the---table.
“I---am---very---sure---they---will---be---quite---angry---at---me---for---taking---you,---but---there---is---little---they---can---do---about---it,---especially---in---this---city,”---Silva---leans---back,---resting---on---the---chair,---leaving---the---staff---on---the---table.”I---believe---Sarena---mentioned---to---me---that---you---have---the---[Analyze]---skill.---Please---go---ahead---and---use---it---on---me,---and---you---will---understand.”
I---already---figured---she---is---strong,---but---to---not---fear---the---church…---Hmmm
“[Analyze]’
Silva---Grandforest,---The---Emerald---Mistress.
Level---281---[Grand---Biomancer]
Level---186---[Archdruid]
Level---112---[Grand---Gardener]
Silva---Grandforest---is---the---current---leader---of---the---Elven---people,---as---well---as---one---of---the---most---dangerous---and---powerful---individuals---on---the---planet.---Silva---gained---the---title---of---[Emerald---Mistress]---when---she---caused---a---forest---to---consume---an---entire---invading---army---overnight.
I---can't---help---but---whistle---at---what---I---am---reading.---Compared---to---Calidi,---it---seems---like---Silva---is---at---a---completely---different---level.---And---considering---she---lives---in---what---I---can---only---guess---is---a---massive---forest,---her---capability---is---even---higher.
I---tap---my---lips---in---thought,---“You---are---a---named---being,---they---would---risk---too---much---trying---to---reclaim---me,---correct?”
Silva---nods.
“That---still---doesn't---explain---how---you---were---able---to---kidnap---me---overnight---and---take---me---to---your---city,---which---I---would---think---is---immensely---far---from---where---I---was---staying.”
Silva---chuckles---and---pushes---the---staff---to---me,---“I---do---not---have---the---power---to---do---such---things---myself,---but---I---do---have---the---mana---to---use---this---elven---treasure.”
Looking---at---the---staff---that---she---had---pushed---towards---me,---I---find---it---to---be---engraved---incredibly---well.---Every---square---centimetre---of---the---wood---has---been---engraved---with---different---patterns,---while---the---top---opens---up---into---a---hand---grasping---a---crystal---ball.
I---check---my---finger,---finding---that---I---am---still---wearing---the---Identify---ring.
I---reach---forward,---placing---my---hand---on---the---staff.
“[Identify]”
Mana---leaves---my---body---and---enters---the---ring,---causing---a---blue---screen---to---appear.
[DIVINE]
Staff---of---Bending---Worlds.
This---staff---was---created---by---a---[Demigod]---utilizing---the---dead---remains---of---the---[Grand---Archdemon]---Crowley.---This---staff---has---absorbed---Crowley's---innate---ability---to---move---between---locations---instantaneously.
Ability:---[Light---Step]-------The---holder---of---this---staff---is---able---to---transport---themselves---short---distances---instantaneously.---Mana---cost---varies---based---on---Frequency,---Range,---and---Aura---strength.
[“Warp”]:---Create---a---portal---to---a---location---anywhere---on---the---planet---for---a---short---amount---of---time.---(Cooldown:---179---days)
I---reread---the---item’s---description---several---times,---blinking---quickly.---[Teleport]---is---supposedly---an---immensely---high---level---skill---with---an---insane---mana---cost.---At---least---that---is---how---Matilda---had---explain
ed---it---to---me.---Pre-created---runes---between---neighbouring---cities---were---the---far---more---preferred---method---for---moving---instantaneously.
But---this---staff---breaks---that---logic---several---folds.
“How?---I---have---never---even---heard---of---[Divine]---Quality.---Is---it---better---than---[Legendary]?”
Silva---leans---forward---and---grabs---the---staff,---placing---it---on---the---ground---next---to---her.
“Indeed,---[Divine]---is---currently---the---highest---rank---an---item---can---have,---as---well---as---the---rarest.---Only---seven---[Divine]---items---exist,---and---all---have---been---created---by---the---[Demi-god]---Mimir,---the---only---god---to---choose---mortality---over---divinity.”
Wait!---A---god---can---stop---being---a---god?---That---is---a---possibility?
“And---does---this---Mimir---still---live---or---is---he---dead?”
Silva---shrugs---her---shoulders,---“Nobody---seems---to---know---for---sure,---we---only---know---that---he---created---these---items.”
I---frown,---”What---are---the---other---[Divine]---items?---Who---owns---them?---Could---they---use---theirs---against---you?”
Silva---grabs---a---fruit---from---the---pile,---looking---at---it---before---taking---a---bite.---She---licks---her---lips.
“All---of---the---Divine---items---have---a---powerful---effect---that,---when---activated,---requires---a---great---deal---of---time---before---they---can---be---used---again.---No---country---could---use---these---effects---without---risking---an---invasion.”
I---nod,---understanding---her---reasoning.---It's---the---equivalent---of---having---one---nuke.---If---you---use---it,---then---you---yourself---could---be---nuked---by---someone---who---still---has---one.
I---scratch---my---head,---“So…---what.---You---[Teleported]---to---the---city,---grabbed---me---and---just---left.---Just---like---that?---They---didn't---try---to---stop---you?”
Her---smile---slowly---disappears,---”Surprisingly,---that---is---exactly---what---happened.---For---whatever---reason,---it---seems---those---[Archpriests]---never---gave---you---any---protectors.---I---would---have---thought---that---Odin’s---Shadowravens---would---have---attempted---to---stop---me,---but---it---seems---that---something---may---have---happened.---My---only---fear---is---that---they---may---have---allowed---you---to---be---taken,---but---that---scenario---only---creates---more---questions---for---me.”
Silva---shakes---her---head,---taking---another---bite---of---her---fruit,---this---time---with---a---bit---more---force.
I---on---the---other---hand---look---towards---the---entrance---to---the---room,---finding---Sarena---carrying---an---orb---and---a---book.
Silva---follows---my---gaze,---her---smile---returning---upon---noticing---Sarena’s---arrival.
“Perfect,”---she---exclaims,---turning---back---to---me,---“We---can---talk---and---think---about---whether---it---was---a---good---idea---to---take---you---away---later,---for---now,---let's---take---a---look---at---your---soul,---shall---we?
I---watch---as---Silva---takes---the---orb---from---Sarena---and---places---it---on---the---table---in---front---of---me.---The---orb---is---translucent---and---shiny,---in---a---way---similar---to---glass---but---in---a---perfect---sphere.
“Put---your---hand---on---it---and---send---your---mana---through---it.”
Affinities.---Bernard---had---told---me---that---my---highest---affinity---was---[Light]---and---that---I---shouldn't---focus---on---my---other---six,---stating---that---they---were---too---low.---I---wonder…
I---place---my---hand---on---the---ball---and---send---my---mana---into---it.---In---response---a---bluescreen---pops---up---in---front---of---my---face.
He---lied…
Chapter---Fourty---Seven:---Wine
Scanning---soul---and---mana---signature…
Seven---significant---Affinities---found…
Displaying---now...
Affinity---List---Unlocked-----5---common---Found,---2---Advanced
Light
42%
Earth
23%
Fire
31%
Air
85%
Water
17%
Space----
21%
Lightning----
42.5%
Silva---gazes---at---the---crystal---ball---as---it---glows---with---various---colors.---She---smirks,---“Impressive,---you---have---two---advanced---affinities…---Mmm---it---looks---like---space---and…---Oh,---Lightning,---impressive---indeed.”
I---ignore---her---words,---focusing---instead---on---the---fact---that---my---Air---affinity---is---more---than---twice---as---high---as---my---Light---affinity.
“They---told---me---my---Light---affinity---was---my---highest,”---I---say,---finding---a---rather---unpleasant---taste---in---my---mouth.
Silva---continues---to---gaze---at---the---ball.
“That---seems---like---something---the---church---would---do.---They---have---many---ways---to---deal---with---those---using---light---magic,---but---tend---to---have---a---much---harder---time---handling---those---using---Air---magic.---Granted,---Air---magic---tends---to---be---one---of---the---weakest---elements---at---lower---levels,---requiring---a---significant---amount---of---time---invested---to---become---useful.”
I---massage---my---temples---as---I---try---to---relax.---“All---this---time---I---have---been---focusing---on---learning---Light---magic.---Heck,---I---even---have---the---[Light---Mage]---class,---when---instead---I---should---really---have---been---learning---Air,---or---even---Lightning---magic.”
Silva---takes---the---ball---from---the---table,---handing---it---back---to---Salena---who---is---still---standing---there,---staring---in---amazement---at---the---many---swirling---colors---she---had---just---seen.
“Well,---Lightning---is---an---advanced---form---of---Air,---requiring---strong---affinity---in---Air---and---at---least---a---minor---affinity---in---light---to---be---able---to---use---it,”---Silva---puts---her---hand---on---her---chin,---thinking,---“I---believe---the---[Electromancer]---class---is---actually---a---combination---of---[Aeromancer]---and---an---upgraded---light---based---class.---So---your---[Light---Mage]---class---is---fine,---you---just---need---to---get---another---mage---class---and---level---it---up---with---an---air---specialty.”
“I---can't---get---another---class.”---I---reply---quickly,---“It---would---slow---down---the---leveling---of---all---my---classes,”---I---add,---remembering---that---I---have---four---classes---already.
“Hmm,---I---see.---Sarena,---the---book---please.”
Sarena---hands---Silva---the---book,---a---seemingly---old,---dusty---thing.---She---opens---it,---flicking---through---the---pages---until---stopping---at---a---specific---one.
“You---are---a---level---34---[Hero],---right?”
I---nod.---No---point---in---hiding---my---class---level,---especially---considering---she---probably---checked---it---already---anyway.
“Well---then,---it---looks---like---you---will---obtain---the---ability---to---get---another---class---after---becoming---a---level---fifty---[Hero].---So---it---seems---we---will---need---to---have---you---go---dungeon---diving,”---she---exclaims,---closing---the---book---in---her---hands---before---handing---it---to---me,---“in---your---spare---time,---focus---on---reading---that---book.---It---will---explain---many---things---about---your---class.---In---the---meantime,---I---will---find---a---suitable---dungeon---for---you---to---conquer---so---you---can---level---your---[Hero]---class---quickly.”
Conquering---dungeons---levels---the---[Hero]---class?---I---did---not---know---that.---I---was---under---the---impression---you---had---to---do---heroic---things.
I---look---at---the---book,---touching---it,---feeling---the---very---old---leather.
Silva---stands---up,---picking---up---her---staff.
“Alright,---I---think---we---have---talked---enough.---I---need---to---do---some---searching.---Sarena---here---will---show---
you---around---the---city---so---you---can---get---acquainted.---Everyone---has---already---been---notified---of---your---presence,---so---feel---free---to---move---wherever---you---please,”---she---exclaims---before---seemingly---disappearing---in---front---of---me---without---warning.
I---look---to---Sarena---who---looks---back---at---me---for---a---moment.---Then---she---shrugs---her---shoulders.