Chapter 8: Lullaby
Asher is trying to think of another way to trick the large butterflies' assembly so they can swim into the river and quickly retrieve the light bead without being caught.
"Ash, what if we use the same way before?" Chronos asked curiously.
Asher quickly shakes his head. "No, Chronos we need more time and that way is not effective." Asher stroked his chin.
"Ash, wait or we can use this item." Chronos shows the item called nectar. "This is a drop item dropped by the monsters we're fighting.
"Nectar?" Asher doesn't know about this at all. "Ugh! What is that?" Asher furrowed his brows at the strange smell of the nectar.
Chronos explained that nectar is a liquid having a distinctive odor and is very attractive to insects.
"Perhaps, we can try to give it a try."
Asher takes the nectar and places it not far from the large group of butterflies. A few minutes later, a strong scent slowly spreads up and causes some of the butterflies to start moving away from the river.
"Ash, come on quickly." Chronos immediately run and enter the water
Asher enters the water and senses his body floating. He quickly follows Chronos who is in front of him and they spot something lit up a few meters below. The light turns out to be coming from a collection of stones illuminated by the moonlight.
Chronos slowly picks up the stone, but something moves quickly toward them and instantly throws them out from the river.
"S***! What the hell is that?" Asher can feel something slamming into his body quickly. "Cure! Cure!" Asher used his skill and added his and Chronos' blood.
"I can't see much Chronos shakes his head. "I can't even use my dash skill."
A few minutes later, a pair of eyes could be seen in the water. The eyes are blue like the river's color, staring at them with a sharp gaze and slowly re-entering the water.
"Oh my! What is that thing?" Asher crawls backward at the sight. "Chronos, you see it right?"
Chronos nods his head quickly. "Yeah, I think there's something down there."
Asher simply doesn't know what the creature under the river is. He doesn't even see the appearance of the creature because everything happens so fast and leaves him at a loss for words.
A few minutes later, Chronos sees the old man of the forest guardian of Venus walking in the middle of the forest a few meters away from their place.
"Ash, I think we should follow the old man." Chronos quickly stands up. "That nectar doesn't think it will last long. We must get out of here soon."
Asher nods and slowly the two of them follow the old man into the forest until he sees the old man standing in front of a wooden plank.
"Hey, what's he doing?" Chronos furrowed his brow.
"We should ask him directly."
Their curiosity makes them dare to step up and ask the old man directly.
"Old man, what are you doing here?" Asher gently pats him on the shoulder. "It's very dangerous out here and there are many monsters."
Chronos walks over to the board and reads the inscription read "Rest in peace, my friend".
"Old man, is this your friend's grave?" Chronos raises his eyebrows
The old man just smiles hears the question and begins to tell them everything. Back before he became the guardian of the venus forest, he worked as a fisherman and had a friend who was always with him. However, one day due to a rainstorm, their ship sank and his friend disappeared in the middle of the ocean. He was fortunately rescued by fairies from the village of Altaria, but he didn't get any news about his friend's whereabouts until now.
"Forgive us, old man," Ash scratches his head. " We don't mean to." Asher and Chronos lowered their heads.
The old man pats both of their shoulders "Calm down, I have used to."
Chronos quickly changes the subject and asks about the strange figures who inhabit the river in the forest of Venus. The old man says there are strange figures who live in the river and they are called "venus river guards" because they must maintain the purity of the light bead the riverbed.
"Old man, but how can we retrieve the light bead without being attacked by the "venus river guards"?
"You must play certain musical instruments to put them to sleep. "
Asher and Chronos don't understand the old man's words. He says the musical instrument turns out to be an old harp belonging to the old man.
"I can give you the harp as long you can help me."
Suddenly a quest notification appeared in front of Asher and Chronos.
"Quest 5: Give to the best friend (required)"
Recommended player level: lv 6-7
Reward: 300 gold coins, 2x torch, 1x harp
Venus's guardian wants to give his best friend a bouquet in Altaria village as a form of respect for his friend.
Recommended Classes: all classes
Asher accepts the quest and the old man leads them out of the forest of venus without any problems.
They go outside through a small tunnel that turns out to be connecting to the old man's house. Asher and Chronos return to Altaria village and search for the flower seller NPC, which turns out to be near the village square next to the item seller.
"Hello welcome to the flower shop "Arian's Floral Shop". A woman with yellow hair, brown eyes, and a tall body greets the two of them. "What can I do for you?"
"We want to buy a bouquet of Altaria village."
"Oh, yes, wait a moment." The woman walks to the back and picks up some flowers and puts them in a glass bottle. "Here you go, it costs 500 gold coins."
Asher quickly takes out his money and runs back to the Venus forest guardian's old man's house.
"Old man, we successfully buy this bouquet." Asher handed the bouquet to the old man. "Here you go."
"Well, thank you very much, young man." The old man takes it happily.
'You have completed the quest: give from the friends.' Gained 1000 Exp. You have obtained 300 gold coins, 2x torch, and 1x harp.
The old man helps Asher and Chronos and plays the harp until all the creatures in the place fall asleep. Asher and Chronos immediately dive again into the riverbed for the second time, searching for the light bead.
***