Questions Outside, Answer Inside

[Arius POV]

"Alright, let's get started! What do I need to do, Dakria?"

'First, take everything out of your brother's bag.'

To Big Brother Jaque's side, there was a large leather bag. Black like coal now, I slowly take it off Brother's shoulder to not cause him any more pain. Once it was off, I started dumping everything out of it. As expected of Big Brother Jaque, there was tons of food, some bandages and a few other things.

"Ok, I'll just use this."

Taking the bandages in hand, I get ready to start wrapping them around Big brother.

'Stop! Arius, we don't need to use those.'

"Why? Isn't that why you told me to take stuff out of his bag?"

'He doesn't need it. He's a salamander demi-onic, they can heal from most burn wounds without any scaring. What we need to do now is to speed up that process and wake him up.'

"Didn't you say that, 'When he's healed depends on me?' I can't believe you lied to me!"

Like a child throwing a tantrum, there wasn't much anger in me, more just being a little peeved and frustrated.

'Aaaaaaaa...Well, you see... Is that what I said? I don't remember anymore...'

"Aren't you supposed to be a super old, super machine?"

Suspicion was visible on my face, did she think I was a child... a dumb child? If so, I'll...ummm... be very angry.

'I'm NOT old! And also, I don't have enough power to act like a super machine.'

"Yeah, alright. You sound just like Big brother Jaque when he hasn't had his disgusting coffee."

Giving up on trying to argue with Dakria, I put down the bandages back into the group of items on the ground.

"So what do we need to do?"

'Analyzing the fruits available, I believe we can create a minor healing potion that should awaken your brother. We just need to get a basic alchemist's kit.'

"??? We don't have one!"

'You don't, but I do. There should be some somewhere in Duargeinhelm. But to get it, you're going to need to find some mithril so get to it.'

With that, I feel Dakria's voice and presence disappear. Leaving me just speechless in silence. Not knowing how to react, I simply look through the pile of stuff and pull out a big pickaxe as well as a now burnt piece of paper from my pocket.

Looking at the paper that Big brother Jaque had given me, the first half was either burnt or ripped off now. The second half, the one that had mithril on it, was still there but was pretty black and dusty.

Patting as much of the black soot and dust off the paper, I bring it close to my face to try and read it.

'M...Mythril...G...Green? Wait no, Gold? Alright, ummm, gold.'

With the colour gold in mind, I bring the big pickaxe onto my shoulder and head down one of the caves that were near me.

...

[Doherty's POV]

Having sent the little crybaby and the little kid off to the mines while sitting on a crate full of Fonotavic dust felt pretty good. It was a great idea, now he can finally scrap off that rust.

'I wish I could as well. Anything to get away from this pile of papers. Seriously, this going to be the 15th time I've denied the personal request for me to forge this lousy neighbouring noble a little sword for their 5-year-old.'

Marking a giant cross on the piece of paper with ink, I lie back in my chair to sip from tea as I look out the window. Suddenly, I feel a small wave pass through me.

'Hmm?'

A wave of mana had just come from the direction of the S.T.A. Very peculiar.

'Wait! Don't tell me... its just like the report. Sh*t!'

Getting up from my chair, I scramble across my desk and pull out a pack of papers, all stamped with a special imprint. Flipping through the pages, I finally rest on one page and start hastily reading.

'Sudden aggression of monsters from S.T.A.'s... waves of mana pulsed out... Unknown cause..SH*T'

I feel another wave of mana pass by. I quickly move to the corner of the room, growing in size with each step, before grabbing the chained box and bringing it with me as I make my way out.

Not caring about the confused looks of my disciples and workers, I quickly walk out of the building not before yelling at one of my disciples.

"EMMA! Tell the other two to meet at Earnest's place."

Walking out and running toward the S.T.A., I could already see many of the townsfolk taking shelter.

'Looks like Stella ain't doing too bad.'

Soon enough, I encounter one of the town's guards.

"Sir, the S.T.A has-"

"I KNOW!"

Soon enough, I step foot within Earnest's depot and see a few familiar faces. Stella and Earnest were there along with the captain of the guards, Alfred. But just from the corner of my eye, I stop my eyes on someone who stuck out like a sore thumb. Wearing an oversized dark orange robe, messy maroon hair covering his face with a single horn twisting its way out.

"Krast, you dirty demon, shouldn't you be drunk making potions many hills away!"

"HAhaha, meathead Doherty, I just happened to be travelling South for delivery so I decided to rest here and visit an old 'friend'."

"Whatever! So what's going on?"

Hearing the call, Stella steps forward while holding a lot of papers in her arms. She was clearly flustered by the situation as she fumbled with the papers.

"Ok, sooo... according to the report of the Adventurer Guild, the fog wall suddenly thinned and all the monsters that are from the Inferior and Superior Zones started moving towards the entrance of the S.T.A., wanting to escape and started attacking the security barrier of the Guild. Thankfully, no monsters from the Absolute Zone have been noted yet."

"How many have been noted in total?"

"Sir Earnest, there have been estimated around 700 Iron rank, 300 Copper and 50 Steel..."

"That's not too bad then, the meat head and I could probably deal with it by myself."

"Mr. Krast, I wasn't finished. These abnormal activities starts a few months ago in S.T.A.s across the country. During these incidents, a number of the monsters seem to have undergone mutations that make them much stronger than their rank. The number of mana pulses that happen after the outbreak determines the number of mutated monsters. This one had two so we should expect around 5% of the monsters should be mutated."

"Alright, Doherty will lead the guards into the S.T.A. along with Krast to mow down the initial bunch. I'll just rest my bones in case one from the Absolute zone comes out."

"We'll do as you said Sir Earnest, Captain Alfred, can you organize the guards and give them the equipment from the Adventurer Guild barracks."

"Yes, my lady!"

With the meeting essential over as the group begins to disperse, I put down the box that I've been holding.

"Doherty, you're actually pulling out that old armour of yours."

"Of course, you still got that old staff on yours."

"At all times, it always reminds me of the good old days."

Krast opens his large robe and with a grabbing motion in the air, a large wooden staff encrusted with a single black stone appears in his hand.

Giving him a small smile, grasp the chains on the box and with a dim light from my hands, they shatter. Opening the box, a few pieces of armour and weapons are revealed.

"Woah, you're really using the oldies."

"Yeah, hope they still fit."

Putting on some forearm guards, shin guards, a breastplate and two gauntlets, I sit down ready for action.

Soon enough, three of my disciples come rolling in. Emma, Verm and Berm. A human and two green Troll brothers.

"Master, what's going on? We brought our stuff just in case."

"Good, get ready. We're going into battle."

'Jaque, don't die on me now.'

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Trolls: Another one of the many pure races that exist. Grey-skinned with a wide muscular body smaller than human. Mostly known for being very straightforward and physical. Usually being berserkers, shieldbearers, etc. While rare, there have been instances of extremely powerful shamans produced by this race. With variants living in all sorts of climates and environments, they stick to very basic naming systems and variants separating themselves based on the characteristics of their environment.