The Soulmancer’s Ascension

The innkeeper lady blushed when she saw Zephyr and Sherine coming down the stairs. Their ruckus last night hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“Esteemed guests, may I make a request?”

Zephyr nodded as a frown took over his face. He didn’t recall doing anything to unlock a hidden side quest for the inn lady.

The lady reached into a pocket inside her desk and pulled out a green orb. The glow contained within the orb dimmed every so often. “Please use this device before d-doing the night activities.”

Sherine averted her eyes, cheeks reddening. She was loud but only to Zephyr. The sheer creaking of their bed must have given away their lewd activities. They only had one round on the bed last night!

“What is this?”

“It’s the void of serenity. It uses the wind element to suppress sounds when you input mana inside it.”

“So useful.”

He could imagine multiple uses outside of bed like silencing footsteps and hiding in ambush. A perfect tool for an assassin. The kind innkeeper lady didn’t ask a dime for the impressive equipment. She was terrified of him after he effortlessly scared away the Jona Brothers.

Zephyr took the embarrassed Sherine to Achmea first.

Drake walked out of the store and his face lit up upon seeing them. “Zephyr and Sherine, so glad to see you shining under the gentle sun. Achmea’s potion made your fiancée even more beautiful.”

“It worked alright,” Zephyr said with a smile. “Heading out for your captain duties?”

“Someone’s gotta keep an eye out on the broods. It’s free XP for me.” Drake sighed. “It’s gonna take forever to level up…”

“What’s your level?”

“I can get the Griffin rank in the Hunter’s Society.”

“Damn. Between level 30 and 40.”

“You did your homework.” Drake applauded with a couple of claps. “It’s time for me to leave. Visit Achmea if your fiancée experiences any problems or just come to accompany Achmea. It’ll take her mind off work.”

Drake tried to help out the young couple with everything since he found their potential interesting. Also, the fact that Zephyr managed to make his blank-faced sister smile was a win in his eyes.

Zephyr nodded to Drake's request, which reminded him of the lonely receptionist in the Hunters Society. He’d pay her a visit after this if he felt like it.

He entered the store. The alchemist was cleaning empty vials with a cloth. Sherine’s red glow prompted Achmea to smile.

“You don’t need the potion anymore.”

Sherine scratched her cheek with a finger and nodded, confirming Achmea’s doubt.

 “What can I do for you then?”

Zephyr looked around the shop. “Do you sell potions that help in battles?”

Achmea’s eyes widened slightly. “Are you going to the Great Forest?”

“Hmm. I’ll take out some fools.”

“Don’t cross the boundary set by firekeeper stones. The magic beasts and brood monsters beyond it are over Level 25.”

According to the guidebook, the Great Forest of Selanai was divided in four parts—white zone, the relatively safe area; yellow zone, the place currently occupied by the Prince of Sloth’s army and weaker magic beasts; red zone, the residence of high-level monsters who can’t enter the yellow zone; and black zone, the heaven of magic beasts and the home of the Forest Deity Arlette.

Arlette was pretty popular around the town even though didn’t bestow her power upon anyone. She was unlike other gods.

“We’ll be careful.”

Achmea sighed, knowing she was thinking too much. Sherine was a dragon. The dragons of the old stood at the pinnacle of strength. Only gods could contest against them. She didn't need to worry about a descendant of such an exalted race.

‘They’ll be fine in the yellow zone.’

Achmea went inside the store and fetched the potions. She set over a dozen vials on the reception table and separated them in four categories.

“This green one is ‘Anti blight serum.’ Drink it if you are bitten by any fool. They spread a unique type of curse that will turn you into a brainless member of the brood.”

“Just like zombies, huh.”

Achmea tilted her head in confusion. “Zombies?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Achmea tossed the green vials into a leather bag and proceeded to give a brief explanation of every potion on the table. Regen potions that healed wounds, spirit potions that increased mana recovery, and venom cure potions for toxins and poisons.

She was either trying to sell her potions or she overprepared for him. He found the latter more believable considering her patience in explaining everything.

‘She doesn’t want us to die.’

Sherine also reached the same conclusion as Zephyr.

Achmea passed the leather bag towards Zephyr. She pulled the opera gloves on her right hand, revealing a thick gold bracelet around her wrist. A mirror was embedded in the center of said bracelet.

 “The color of this mirror will change depending on the forest zone you are in. If it turns red, please retreat.” Achmea unequipped the bracelet with ease and put it in Zephyr’s hand. “Don’t lose it.”

It was a precious memento of her late husband; something she didn’t want to lose at any cost.

Achmea shook off any doubts Zephyr had about her. Both brother and sister were kind from the bottom of their hearts. Though her brother had a weird hostility against the townsfolk. His hatred was directed at wrong people since his sister was at fault for spoiling them rotten.

“You, what are you doing to Achmea?”

A gruff voice shattered the heartwarming scene.

Guildmaster Xander arrived at the worst possible timing to see Achmea holding Zephyr’s hand.

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