Free Web NovelChapter 6: More Than Lines of Code [1]
Zen walked down the cobblestone street of Thornhaven City with a leather satchel slung over his shoulder.
Inside it were powdered void salt, crystallized essence residues, three vials of distilled shadow, and some other ingredients he needed for the ritual.
They were a little expensive, but it was not something a Marquess’ son should sweat on.
And to his surprise, he also got an unexpected discount, without even asking for it.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged lady who kept stealing glances at him, blushing slightly as she packed his order.
He had felt a flicker of sardonic amusement at that.
But he had to admit.
’Pretty face really does wonders.’
Mikael Morwell’s appearance was probably the only redeemable quality about him.
Even if he compared with other playable protagonists, Mikael’s looks are the most striking.
Even Jeanne, his older sister, was breathtaking enough to go head-to-head with any of the game’s main heroines.
’These Morwell sibilings had won some crazy genetic lottery.’
He shook his head as his thoughts flickered back to the morning’s conversation with Jeanne.
From the scraps of the memories and their conversation, he could definitely say she cared about him a lot.
But something had happened between them in the past that tangled their relationship.
And there seemed to be also some history with Princess Elara, one of the playable characters of Eclipsed Realms.
It took him a lot of effort to convince Jeanne when she asked him where he was yesterday.
He said he had simply been off practicing his magic and had lost track of time.
He didn’t know whether she had believed him.
It didn’t matter now.
But the real question that gnawed at his mind was where Mikael had gone yesterday.
What had he done that led to him waking up in Mikael’s body?
He had tried to search for those memories, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find them, as if someone had erased that part of his mind.
So many questions with no answers.
He quickened his pace, searching for the carriage he would need.
He looked around the city of Thornhaven. Architecture here was quite unique, with a mix of modern and Victorian era.
He’d navigated these streets countless times before through the monitor, guiding his character through several quests.
It was the city closest to Astralspire Academy after all.
This city was a hub for students, merchants, and occasionally adventurers.
And seeing it all in person, the sights he’d once viewed on a screen, almost stirred a spark of excitement in him.
Almost that is.
If only he weren’t Mikael.
’It’s hard to accept the scenery when you’re wearing a dead man’s face.’
Soon enough, he reached the central square.
Wide flagstones anchored the space around a stone fountain with a carved serpent whose open mouth spilled water that sparkled in the morning light.
Normally, the square would be bustling with merchants and people.
However, today.
A palpable tension hung in the air.
Zen’s gaze landed on the figures moving around the corner.
They were wearing guards’ uniforms -- but not the usual guards.
Their uniforms were darker, trimmed with silver thread, and across their chest was a crimson slash bearing intricate sigils.
They were the ’Order of Viel’ he remembered from the game-- an organization under the church of the Goddess Sableth that handles supernatural incidents or phenomena that are too difficult, dangerous, or complex for ordinary guards to handle.
They moved in pairs, methodically pausing to question the shopkeepers as they swept across the rooftops and shadowed alleys.
’Something happened here.’
He slowed his pace to avoid arousing any suspicion from them.
He averted his gaze and walked towards the fountain where two weather-beaten carriage drivers stood beside the pair of plain black coaches, their horses tethered nearby.
As he went close, he heard the snippet of their hushed conversation.
"....the order is pretty active these days."
The first driver, with a wiry frame and a thick beard, said, his voice tinged with unease.
"I heard they found another body near the old bell tower." said the second driver with a balding hairline.
"Another one? That’s the eighth this week, isn’t it?"
"Ninth, if you count the drunk, they also pulled one from the canal yesterday. And this was also the same as the others. The whole body was rotted, like it had been dead for weeks, with no visible injuries, but that person had only been missing for a day."
A visible shudder ran through both of them.
The driver with the thick beard touched the small charm on his neck and closed his eyes.
"O Lady Sableth, Keeper of the Starless Veil, shield us from this evil. May the Order hunt down whatever the thing behind is and soon."
"Belief in the Goddess, everything will be set right."
"I hope so."
Zen’s mind churned.
’What’s this? Rotten corpses? No visible injuries?’
’Could it be a side quest? I don’t remember anything like that.’ fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
’A Side Quest unique to Mikael’s route? Or is it related to the main storyline’s ’Act I’?’
Normally, ’Act I’ revolves around academic life, classes, rivalries, and exams.
At the very least, that’s how it went for the other protagonists’ routes.
But since it’s Mikael’s route, he was talking about.
He couldn’t be sure.
Should he ask for more details?
No.
He quickly shook those thoughts away.
Even if this was a chance to earn Exp and get stronger, his stats were far too low to actually do anything about it.
Besides, he didn’t want to get tangled up in this mess any time soon.
He stepped up to the two men, adjusting the strap of his satchel.
"I need to hire a carriage."
The driver with a balding hairline looked over, taking in Zen’s fine-cut clothes and noble features.
His posture shifted slightly, a flicker of deference crossing his face.
"Where to, young sir?"
"Mournwood Thicket. The northern edge will do."
Both men stiffened after hearing the name as the balding man exchanged glances with his companion.
"Ah... apologies, sir, but that’s not a trip we can make. Especially not today."
"And you really shouldn’t go there at all, young sir." The driver with a thick beard said, agreeing with his companion.
Zen kept his face neutral.
"I am aware of the superstitions, if that’s what you’re worried about."
"Superstitions?"
The balding man let out a humorless laugh.
"Beggin’ your pardon sir, but this ain’t just old wives’ tales. Mournwood’s forest had been wrong for as long as anyone could remember. They say the Veil between our world and the spirit world runs the thinnest in that forest. On a regular day, it was dangerous to go there, but tonight is a full twin moon. They say cursed spirits and worse things come wandering through. I would rather not have some foul spirit taking control over my body, thank you kindly."
The driver with the thick beard nodded.
"We both have families; no amount of coin is worth that."
Zen allowed a small pause.
"I’m not asking you to go inside the thicket, just at the edge will do. Drop me there, and you can leave immediately."
He reached into his black coat and withdrew the leather pouch with the clinking sound of coins.
"Sir, it’s not just the forest. The whole area is dangerous."
"Fifty silver coins."
"...."
"One gold coin."
"....."
"Five gold coins."
The bearded driver’s eyes shot up, but he still shook his head.
"You don’t understand, young lord. Tonight is esp---"
"Ten gold coins."
"..."
"...."
Both of them had their mouths hanging open, hearing the amount.
"You won’t get an opportunity like this again. Imagine what you could do with this money--Pay off your debts, buy that horse you’ve been eyeing. I’d wager this is more than you both earn in two or three months. So what’s it going to be?"
The balding driver was just about to agree when the other driver with the thick beard spoke first.
"...The edge only. We will not set foot in the treeline."
"Agreed."
"Tomas, you’re a fool." The balding driver swore under his breath, dragging a hand down his face.
Thomas shook his head, turning towards Zen.
"I have debt to pay. Climb in, sir. The Goddess will watch over us."
Zen nodded, keeping his expression perfectly neutral.
Internally, though, he was grinning ear to ear.
He pocketed the leather pouch and climbed into the carriage.
’It feels good to be rich.’
*****
