A Moment of Calm
Ansol let out a powerful shout as she opened Pandora’s box.
Whoosh!
A brilliant light burst forth from the box, flooding the dining hall. The intense brightness momentarily turned everything white, but I could still make out what was happening.
Ten beams of light shot out from the box, and I noticed that two of them left faint trails as they exited the restaurant.
My vision returned quickly, and when I looked down, I saw eight clusters of light arranged in a circle around the box on the table. It was a clear success, and the radiant beams continued to shine, showcasing their extraordinary nature.
A moment later, the room erupted with cheers from the clan members.
“We did it! It’s a success! A real success!”
“Oh my, look at these flowers! They’re so beautiful! What on earth are they?”
“Guz Appraisal! Hey, hey! Guz Appraisal!”
“Here, I’ve already got it ready!”
The clan members moved swiftly and efficiently. Eight mages stepped forward, each holding an appraisal scroll, ready to cast Guz Appraisal.
While waiting for the appraisals wasn’t a bad idea, I had a better tool at my disposal—my third eye. So, I focused on the results.
The first thing I noticed was seven neatly arranged flowers. Then there was a gray crystal, a round orb, another orb that was similar but different in color and size, and… was that a square die? Next, a sparkling stone, a blood-red dagger, and… what was that last one? It looked like a set of some kind.
I decided to examine them one by one, starting with the seven flowers at the 12 o’clock position and moving clockwise. As I did, a flood of messages appeared before me.
『Beatrice Stella.』
(Description: When a star blessed with a special grace falls to the earth, its blessing permeates the ground. After a hundred years of maturation, seven flowers bloom, imbued with the star’s blessing. Beatrice Stella is the essence found in the pistils of these flowers.
Consuming the essence slightly enhances the user’s potential stats. However, it only affects open potentials and has no effect on closed ones. If even a tiny bit of potential remains, it will have a definite effect, but it’s not recommended for users beyond their fourth year. Also, the effect cannot be stacked.)
『Crystals Of Light And Darkness.』
(Description: A chaotic crystal where light and darkness coexist. It’s connected to a very powerful spirit and has only appeared in the world once before. It’s advised not to use it unless you have exceptional talent.)
『Anima Oratio』
(Description: There was once a man and a woman. The man yearned for strength and dedicated his life to becoming stronger. The woman waited for him, praying for his success. Decades later, when the man returned, the woman had long since passed away.
Anima Oratio originates from the soul’s prayer of a woman who loved a man. When the user receives the prayer, one of their unique, special, or potential abilities is randomly selected, and an additional slot is opened.)
『Talus Propheta.』
(Description: An orb containing a restoration spell once reserved for the pope of the ancient Hall Plain’s Angelus Order. Though based on prophecy, the pope’s predictions were so powerful they became reality. It can restore lost power to a designated inanimate object. The range of the prophecy is vast, even capable of restoring divine power.)
『Memoria Stone.』
『Cordelia.』
『Vagus’s Stigma.』
『Secret Desire, Set.』
I paused after reading through half of the eight items.
I felt dizzy. The messages filling the air, combined with the increasing chatter of the clan members who had already started appraising the items, overwhelmed me.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
The main reason I stopped was the realization that we had hit the jackpot. I had read the information, but it hadn’t fully sunk in. I needed a moment to process it all.
First, Beatrice Stella was an essence that increased the user’s potential stats. While the extent of the increase was unknown and it had limitations, it was still a valuable find. With seven of them, we could significantly enhance seven promising members.
As for the Crystals of Light and Darkness… I wasn’t sure. It seemed like a kind of elemental crystal, possibly a means to become a spirit mage. But unlike fire, water, wind, earth, or electricity, I had never seen a chaos crystal before. Its rarity suggested it was incredibly powerful.
Then there was Anima Oratio.
This was truly a jackpot. It was the best find so far and the one I coveted the most. No need for further explanation. It allowed for an additional slot for one of the user’s unique, special, or potential abilities.
I already had one more ability slot than other users. If I used Anima Oratio, I could expand from six to seven slots. Knowing the importance of abilities in user information, I desperately wanted it.
Lastly, Talus Propheta.
It could restore lost power to an inanimate object. At first glance, it seemed like a vague find, but it wasn’t. The mention of restoring divine power immediately brought to mind a particular item. Perhaps, with this, I could recover a lost divine artifact.
After organizing my thoughts, I finally grasped the magnitude of the success before me.
Yes, it was a jackpot. No, it was a mega jackpot, surpassing all previous successes. I immediately sought out Ansol.
Ansol stood with her eyes tightly shut, trembling as if she had achieved something monumental. Her face was lit with a strange ecstasy, as if she were experiencing a moment of pure bliss.
I shook my head in disbelief. Even with my third eye, it was hard to believe.
Was this Ansol’s luck at work? Or was it just sheer fortune? Or perhaps they were the same thing?
I watched Ansol with a newfound appreciation, then turned my attention to the remaining four items. The first four were already incredible, and I was eager to see what surprises the others held.
Just then, I heard someone call out.
“Hey, check out this gem. It’s called Cordelia, and its effects are unbelievable!”
“Wow, Huh Jun-young really hit the jackpot.”
Amidst the lingering excitement around the table, I suddenly frowned. There had been eight items, but now there were only seven. One had vanished without a trace.
The Memoria Stone was still there. Cordelia was in Baek Seung-hoon’s hands, and Vagus’s Stigma was with Park Dong-seok. And…
“Where did the Secret Desire Set go?”
As soon as I said that, I heard the sound of someone hurriedly running away. I instinctively turned toward the noise.
”…Vivian?”
It was Vivian.
She was clutching something tightly to her chest, running without looking back. She stumbled once but quickly got up and slipped out the entrance. I watched in a daze for about five seconds.
Then, snapping back to reality, I looked at Huh Jun-young. But he just shrugged and yawned nonchalantly.
I let out a sigh of relief, though I was still puzzled.
I was about to give chase when suddenly…
“Oppa!”
Yoo-jung jumped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.
“What?”
“Oppa, oppa! Can we have a party today? Please?”
”…A party?”
“Yeah! Look, everyone’s in such a good mood. We’ve all eaten, so just a simple one… Please? Please? Please?”
She mimed taking a drink, clasping her hands together with a hopeful look. It was clear she wanted to celebrate with some drinks.
“What kind of party… Hmm.”
At first, I wanted to say it was too early for a party, but looking around, I saw the eager faces of the clan members. It wasn’t that late, and it was actually a perfect time for a celebration.
Unable to resist their silent pleas, I reluctantly nodded.
“Alright. But keep it reasonable. No all-night drinking like last time.”
“Yay! Oppa, you’re the best!”
Yujeong threw her hands up in the air and let out a scream, which was immediately followed by a wave of enthusiastic cheers. I winced and covered my ears. I tried to say I’d be right back after catching a thief, but my words were drowned out by the uproar.
“Ha ha! Everyone, charge to the kitchen!”
Yujeong was already racing towards the kitchen, so I opted for a quieter exit.
The garden, bathed in the evening light, was dim and shadowy. Vivian’s trail led across the garden to the annex. It seemed she had dashed down the corridor and slipped out through the main entrance.
If that’s the case, she’s probably headed to the dormitory.
I thought to myself, just wait until I catch her, and imagined giving her a good scolding as I stepped into the dark garden. But then, I paused.
Why did Vivian take the results without saying a word?
And that’s when it hit me.
“…Huh.”
A sudden, inexplicable unease washed over me. Just as I was about to enter the garden, I stopped in my tracks, instinctively. I stood there, staring at the annex, trying to make sense of the discomfort.
“…….”
Why?
Why was I suddenly feeling anxious? Why was there this strange energy emanating from the annex?
The feeling I had was more of a hunch, a stroke of luck, you might say. In terms of luck, Ansul might be the best, but I’m no slouch either. A score of 90 points is nothing to scoff at.
And that luck was sending me a relentless warning.
Don’t go into the annex. If you do, something negative will surely happen to you.
Yes. It felt like… I might cease to be myself. Like I might lose who I am. I swallowed hard, feeling a cold sweat trickle down my back.
Though my thoughts were long, my decision was swift. I chose to trust my instincts. After much deliberation, I decided to turn back. Vivian wasn’t going anywhere, and I could retrieve what she took through other means.
Feeling a bit lighter, I turned away from the annex, which was exuding an eerie aura.
But.
Just as I was about to head back, I stopped again.
From the main building, faint thumping noises could still be heard. Listening to them, I suddenly remembered the plan for tonight.
The plan was to use Eve’s lineage to boost my stamina and eventually achieve Hwajeong’s second awakening.
‘Do it later. In a quiet place where no one will disturb you.’
Hwajeong’s words came to mind, and I looked around. The garden, now cloaked in twilight, was silent and still. No one was around, and only a gentle breeze occasionally swept by.
I fell into deep thought. If I returned to the dining hall now, the party would take up a lot of time. It seemed better to execute the plan now. I was already outside, and the garden was empty. It was the perfect setting for what Hwajeong had requested.
With that in mind, I reached out to Hwajeong.
‘Hwajeong.’
‘Hwajeong. Hwajeong? I’m about to do it…. Is that okay?’
‘Madam?’
I kept trying to get a response.
But whether she was asleep or still sulking, there was no reply. I thought I heard a faint sound, but….
Assuming she was asleep, I shrugged and sat down on the ground.
The cold earth pressed against me. I looked up at the sky, now completely dark. Staring at it for a moment, I slowly closed my eyes.
Tonight, I would boost my stamina and achieve Hwajeong’s second awakening.
Suddenly, my heart began to race.
The domain proclamation I gained from the first awakening. What kind of power would the second awakening bring?
I lowered my gaze slowly, trying to calm my pounding heart, and took a deep breath.
Then, exhaling all at once, I spoke as if to expel the words from my mouth.
“I invoke the lineage of Eve.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Where did the two beams of light that left through the window go?
What would have happened if Suhyeon had ignored his instincts and entered the annex?
What are the remaining four results for?
How will the results be used in the future?
What process will Hwajeong’s second awakening involve?
Which part are you most curious about? Haha. :D