Eryth effortlessly used his sword to parry Masatly's attack before sweeping the formless figure who had taken Eryth's face but shorter to the ground.
"Nice try. But I would acknowledge that your skills are better since the last time we had such an encounter."
"I had a great motivation," Masatly said.
The dark brown-haired man smiled. "Keep trying, maybe you'll be like me someday."
Masatly smiled and bowed his head slightly.
"I don't know Eryth, I'd say he is exactly like you right now," Arya said while approaching the.
Massatly waved before leaving the two alone. "You do know he shape shifted right? And he's a talented kid, he might be even better than me someday."
Arya leaned forward. "And I hope looks is all he takes from you when someday turns into today."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, I'm sure the whole village had your long moment with the librarian last night... dear Ruhe, it was loud."
The Mage's eyes widened. "Really?"
She nodded disappointedly. "You are something else you know. You do it with that Syrie girl, Danila too, you even tried to get it with me and I'm sure you do with… what's her name again, Heyt?"
"Heyt is just a very good friend, at least for now."
The emerald green-haired lady shook her head. "Do you copulate with everything that moves?" She queried.
"They also have to have a pair of boobs, and if they are as pretty as you are, then why not?"
Arya shook her head. "We are never going to do it."
"I'll remember to tell you that when it happens."
She hissed and continued away.
Eryth shook his head and turned to see Grevla walking through the wall that shielded the village with an arrow strapped around her shoulder. He rubbed his nose before racing after her. He quietly followed her as she found her way through the dense forest and a while later, she stopped. "Are you really just going to keep following me like a predator stalking it's prey?"
"For how long did you know I was following you?"
"Get out of here, I do not wish to have a conversation with you, no matter how small it is. Your presence here spells trouble for everyone in the village." She mumbled, not a hint of joyful expression on her face.
"You know," the dark brown-haired man started. "I actually thought we were done with this, and you voting to have me out was because you actually cared about the people here, but that's not it is it? So why don't you tell me why you don't want me around you? Maybe we could sort it out."
Grevla pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled. "Fine. You are a distraction— and I hate distraction."
"What do you mean I am a distraction?"
She fully turned to face the dark brown-haired man. "Ever since day one, since the day you parried sword with Masatly, strange feelings developed in me, feelings that I do not wish for."
"Oh…" Eryth paused. "You have feelings for me?"
"Annoyingly so," she said. "But I cannot let those feelings come to surface because it will only be a distraction in achieving my goal."
"So the only way you could think of getting rid of those feelings is sending me out?"
"Is there a better way?" She asked. "Now that you know what is what, could you please help me? Help me get rid of this feeling."
The dark brown haired scratched the back of his head. "I see. I'll try my best to keep myself out of your face."
"Thank you. And I am sorry for being a pain in the ass all this while." The look on her face turned indifferent as she turned and continued in the direction she was going before Eryth interrupted her.
"Lemme ask you something."
She stopped and turned her head to look at the Dark Mage. "Did you try to keep Heyt away from me because you had feelings for me and wanted nothing between us or were just being mean?"
"Stay away from my sister." She walked away.
[You know, maybe Arya was right. I don't know if you genuinely love all these girls or you just love having sex with us.]
"Stay away from my mind Danila."
[Speaking of sex, when are we going to do it?]
"When you get out of my mind."
[And miss out on all the fun times? Hell nah.]
The dark brown-haired man shook his head before walking back into the village and toward the library.
"Hey, Daya… you got it?" He said out loud once he stepped into the library.
"Eryth, I will not let you touch the Book." The dark brown haired turned around to see Monk Zumma standing with his hand held behind his back.
The Rune Act user face-palmed. "Daya told you didn't she?"
"And it's good that she did. You'll only kill yourself if you so much as lay a hand on that Book."
Eryth frowned. "You don't know that."
"I do. Because it has been that way for anyone who touched the book and you won't be any different," he continued. "You touch that book and the amount of days you have left to live will reduce by half."
"Well guess what old man, I've made up my mind and you can't stop me."
"Yes, I can't , but if you do then you are no longer my student. I refuse to let another of my students walk off into the abyss," the monk added before walking out of the library.
Eryth sighed and shifted his eyes to find Daya standing on the stairs that led to the second floor. "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to lose you."
"Oh for all things beautiful, stop saying that, I'm not gonna die," he added before walking out of the building.
Eryth walked out through the wall protecting the village and wandered off in a random direction. He had no idea where he was going to but he knew he would be able to find his way back to the village. He reached the top of a rock and let out a deep breath while taking in the beautiful scenery in front of him.
"I know you are in there, Rapulnu," he started. "I need your help."
The dark brown-haired man felt a strong wind blew at him from behind. He veered around to see the goddess of the undead staring at him with a grin on her face. "I've waited for the day you'll need my help, but the next you do, I don't come unless with a proper summon."
Eryth tucked back a stray hair. "I didn't call you out so we could chat, and I'm sure you are already aware of what I want."
"Indeed, the Tome of Discordia."
She walked towards the edge of the cliff and curbed. "I do not know exactly where it is, but I know someone who might."
"Okay, and that is?"
She stood up and faced Eryth. "Nothing comes for free, you know," said the red-haired.
"So I'll tell you if you offer up your left arm to me."
"Seriously? But you've been helping me all these while without asking for anything."
She smiled. "Well, now I need something... In fact, while the arm is mine, I'd do you a favour and store a massive amount of energy in it, enough to put a god to their knees, and you can do whatever you want with it. But like every other undead energy using act, it will affect you dangerously with constant use."
"Fine, whatever, just tell me."
"The Eternal library," she revealed.
The dark brown-haired man furrowed. "That's it?"
She nods yes. "Travel to the Eternal library and the keeper might tell you a thing or two about its whereabouts."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
The dark brown haired man rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Okay then, how do I get to the library?"
"By getting to the High Realm."
Eryth's eyes widened. "You're crazy, you want me to travel to the realm of the gods?"
"I'm only helping you with what you asked for. I can call up someone from the high realm that owes me a favour so he'll help you get to the high realm."
The dark mage remained quiet, pondering whether or not to accept it.
Rapulnu looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Why are you looking for the Tome of Discordia?"
"What? I thought gods and goddesses can tell what we want just by a glance?"
"Answer me, why?"
"Err… I want to stop Hex, and I believe the only way to do it is to have him come to me. And with the Book, there's no doubt he would."
The goddess of the undead and ghost smiled. "What is your decision then."
"Eryth?" The dark brown-haired man veered around to see Grevla staring at him with her sword in her hand.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I could ask you the same thing," she replied. "Were you just conversing with the goddess of the dead?"
Eryth remained quiet before speaking. "I was, but it's not…"
"I'm coming with you," she said before sheathing her sword.
"What?"
"Though I can't see or hear her part, I heard everything you said and I want to go with you."
Eryth turned to Rapulnu who shrugged and morphed to look like the grey-haired lady standing in front of Eryth.
"I'm not sure if I should do it, it's the high realm and going there will only draw the attention of the gods."
"Oh trust me, you already are drawing the attention of the gods, even the chaos gods as well."
"What did she say?" Grevla asked.
"If you really want to do this, then we should leave right now, I do not want anyone else to know about this till we are back."
Grevla nodded in agreement. The dark brown-haired man then turned to Rapulnu who now looks like Eryth. "I accept your offer."
She smiled. "Well then, brace yourself… Nopsis, it's time to pay your debt."
There was a moment of silence before Eryth and Grevla groaned as the rock they were on shook in its position. They both felt as though the sky had fallen to the ground as an enormous amount of energy landed on the rock where they were. The two managed to look up but could only catch sight of the bright light that exuded from his body.
"Really, Nopsis there's no need for such a flashy entrance, especially since you are an Adiaphori god and owe a debt to a being like myself."
Nopsis snickered. "I am not just an Adiaphori god, I am Nopsis, the god of tomorrow… plus I need to show off a little in front of them," he whispered the last part of his words.
Grevla was in awe as she stared at the said god of tomorrow, though she couldn't see his appearance. "So, what can I do you for?"
The goddess of the undead transformed back to her most cherished form and flapped her wings. "I want you to pay back your debt by taking these two to the eternal library."
Nopsis inched closer to Rapulnu such that they were only a second away from each other. "And after this, we are done?"
The red-haired being raised her right hand and placed it on his face. "Who knows, you might come crawling my way again."
The god of tomorrow held her hand and dropped it from his face. "After this, we are done." He turned to face the duo. "Feel free to scream."
He snapped his fingers and the three disappeared instantly. Rapulnu smiled before throwing herself down the mountain.
....
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