Chapter 1076: Dorian's Request
Outside Room 2016 at the Hat Trick Inn on Cherwood Borough's 22 Hope
Street.
Fors directly walked through the wall without drawing anyone's
attention. Then, she knocked on the door in a rhythm that was previously
agreed upon.
Not long after, Dorian Gray Abraham, who was dressed in black, with his
broad shoulders and thick arms, unlocked the door and turned the
doorknob.
The gentleman quickly sized up the area and made way for Fors to enter
the room.
"I really didn't expect you to become a Scribe so soon..." After closing
the door, Dorian carefully examined the door's lock before turning
around and sighing.
Based on the standards of this era, he was considered a middle-aged man,
but he was still a Sequence 7 Astrologer. He had no hope of advancing
Yet, his student, Fors Wall, took about a year to go from Sequence 9 to
Sequence 6.
This comparison between the two made Dorian feel poignant and sad.
The Abraham family's bloodline should've been noble and enviable, but
now, it was a heavy curse that made him depressed.
"It's because you taught me well." Although Fors didn't like going out
and enjoyed staying at home, she would still be invited by the nobles
from time to time. She was a best-selling author who participated in
high society's literary salons, so she wasn't clueless as to how to
speak. Furthermore, she had indeed obtained quite a bit of help from her
teacher---from providing knowledge and money to formulas and
ingredients.
Dorian looked at her and shook his head with a smile.
"It's not like you're my only student. As far as I remember, this
advancement speed can only be matched by one person."
He paused and continued, "Next up, your target is Sequence 5 Traveler.
And I have even higher expectations for you. I hope that you can obtain
godhood and become a Sequence 4 Secrets Sorcerer.
"Of course, I also have a request. When you truly become a demigod, try
to pray to a hidden existence and listen to 'His' answer to figure out
what 'He' is talking about.
"This is indeed a bit dangerous, but a Sequence 4 demigod would have
sufficient power to withstand it. Without any other elements at play,
there shouldn't be any problems."
"Teacher, is this answer important to you?" Although Fors knew what was
going on, she still acted curious and puzzled.
Dorian fell silent for a few seconds before sighing
"It's very important. My parents, my brothers, my sisters, my children,
too many people have sacrificed their lives in pursuit of this answer,
but to no avail...
"Don't worry. We paid such a huge price because there's an ancient curse
on our family's bloodline, and you aren't related to us by blood.
"I don't expect to find a way to break the curse through that answer
during my generation. However, I hope to know where it originates from
and understand the cause of my death..."
Upon saying this, Dorian took a deep breath and didn't continue.
For some reason, Fors could feel the weight of time that had accumulated
over a thousand years, generation after generation, bearing down on her
shoulders.
She really couldn't imagine how painful it would be for a person's
ancestors, parents, brothers, sisters, and children to directly or
indirectly die from the same curse.
Thinking of how well her teacher had been taking care of her, Fors, who
had only received this type of care from her elders, opened her eyes,
lowered her head, and nodded.
"I'll try my best."
Dorian held back his feelings and nodded slightly.
"The most praiseworthy trait of yours is your kindness."
Fors felt a little embarrassed as she turned to talk about a phrase the
teacher had mentioned.
"Family?"
She remembered that her teacher had never told her about the Abraham
family. He had claimed that he, Lawrence, and Aulisa were members of a
secret organization.
In order to differentiate between matters which her teacher had told her
and what she had learned at the Tarot Club, Fors had done a serious list
of what she should know before she left home, to prevent herself from
accidentally revealing information she shouldn't have.
Dorian answered simply, "In order to solve the curse, everyone in my
family joined that organization."
He immediately changed the subject.
"Why did you move out in a hurry this time?"
"I was targeted by official Beyonders." Fors first said a half-truth
before complaining a little about the mailman.
Dorian didn't say anything else as he stepped away from Fors and set up
a ritual. He summoned the music-loving void creature, Malmouth, and he
made it spit out three items.
One was a transparent, nearly illusory crystal, and the second item was
a piece of ancient goatskin parchment. The third was a small hunter's
backpack.
"This is a Beyonder characteristic left behind by a Traveler. With it,
you don't need to gather any additional main ingredients. This is the
Traveler potion formula. This backpack contains the corresponding
supplementary ingredients. If you don't have a good way to preserve
them, try your best to finish digesting the Scribe potion within half a
year. Otherwise, their spirituality will be completely lost..." Dorian
handed everything over to Fors.
"Thank you, Teacher," Fors said sincerely.
Then, she unfurled the goatskin and quickly skimmed through the potion
formula before placing her focus on the ritual.
"Set up special coordinates in four completely different spots deep in
the spirit world which are all set up extremely far away from each
other."
"The goal of this ritual is?" Fors thought for a few seconds and asked
her teacher.
"After consuming the Traveler potion, you will wander the spirit world
chaotically. When you grasp some degree of initial level over your
powers, you will realize that you have lost your way. At that moment,
you can use the four special coordinates to return to the real world.
Otherwise, you will be trapped in the depths of the spirit world for a
long time. Not only is it dangerous inside, but it will also assimilate
you, making you lose your mind and become a living creature that is
attached to the spirit world." Although Dorian had no hope of becoming a
Traveler, he had seen students advancing to Sequence 5 before.
"Then there should be another alternative..." Fors muttered in thought.
"Yes." Dorian nodded and said, "Previously, there was something in the
organization that could allow people to instantly return to the real
world from the spirit world. Unfortunately, it was lost."
Without waiting for Fors to ask, Dorian said, "If I'm saying-if you
really become a demigod and fulfill my wish, I'll hand over an important
item that I'm in charge of to you. This is an expectation your teacher
has for
you."
One of the powerful Sealed Artifacts of the Abraham family? Fors had a
vague guess, but she didn't dare promise anything. She said the same
thing, "I'll try my best."
Following that, she asked curiously, "Teacher, you mentioned that
Sequence 4 is a Secrets Sorcerer. What about Sequence 3, 2, and Sequence
1?"
Dorian immediately laughed.
"You're only a Sequence 6.
"Yes, Sequence 3's name is 'Wanderer.' Sequence 2 is 'Planeswalker,' and
the Sequence 1 potion name is 'Key of Stars.'
"Heh heh, it's a good thing that you mentioned this. I actually forgot
to organize a list of things to take note of in the spirit world. These
are things that must be remembered after becoming a Traveler.
"In that case, I'll stay for another night. You can visit me tomorrow
for the documents."
As Fors ruminated over the names of the High-Sequence potions of the
Apprentice pathway, she agreed.
"Alright, Teacher."
After settling these matters, Dorian paced back and forth and thought
for a moment before instructing, "The Beyonder characteristics of the
same pathway have a certain attraction towards each other. It's not
obvious when one's at a low Sequence, but the higher the Sequence, the
stronger it becomes.
"Sometimes, this kind of attraction isn't something you can directly
feel, while also making you unknowingly approach a High-Sequence
Beyonder of the same pathway. When you become a Traveler, you have to
pay attention to this matter."
At this point, Dorian paused and said, "Not many demigods of the
Apprentice pathway are still alive. Among them, you need to be extra
careful of a man named Botis. He is the Saint of Secrets from the Aurora
Order and, just like Lewis, he's a traitor of our organization. I will
give you his portrait tomorrow."
Botis... Fors repeated the name her teacher had mentioned in her mind.
At the same time, she had a new understanding about the Aurora Order
Oracle, Lewis Wien, over the previous chance encounter.
Perhaps it wasn't a chance encounter, but the attraction force between
Beyonder characteristics. Teacher had a sufficiently powerful Sealed
Artifact from the Apprentice pathway on him!
Fors quickly suppressed this thought and began asking for advice on how
to act as a Scribe.
In the Berg household in the City of Silver.
There's actually a path that can bypass the front of the Giant King's
Court and enter the interior from the Waning Forest and Barren Tunnel...
Derrick Berg recalled the information he had been shared by Mr. World
above the gray fog.
This was very important to the City of Silver, as the early-stage
explorations after the Afternoon Town camp had set off implied that the
closer they were to the Giant King's Court, the stronger the monsters
that originated from the darkness were.
"I have to tell the Chief!" Derrick abruptly stood up and rushed out of
his house, heading straight for the spire. As he wished, he saw the
Chief of the six-member council, Colin Iliad.
He followed Mr. Hanged Man's instructions and said that he had recalled
some murals he had seen in the Afternoon Town's "shadow." On it was a
secret passage that led into the Giant King's Court.
Colin Iliad listened quietly without interrupting Derrick's narration.
Finally, he nodded gently and said, "Good, you did well.
"What do you want to exchange for this contribution?"
"A mature mind dragon's complete brain." Derrick was prepared.
Colin didn't ask why as he thought for a moment and said, "If that
secret passage is real, then the value will definitely exceed the
complete brain of an adult mind dragon. Hmm... You can pick something
else. Are you interested in the potion formula for a relatively higher
Sequence of the Planter pathway?"
This is a question for Mr. Fool... While Derrick was enlightened, he
said in surprise, "Do we have a relatively higher Sequence potion
formula for the Planter pathway?"
He had no recollection of it.
"Of course. You should remember that the Giant King's queen is the
Goddess of Harvest, but the surrounding areas lack the corresponding
Beyonder ingredients. There's no rush. You can think about it again."
Colin Iliad calmly changed the subject. "Are you skilled with your
Priest of Light powers?"
"Yes," Derrick replied succinctly.
Colin was silent for a moment as he looked at the adolescent child
before him and said, "What kind of Saint-level Sealed Artifact do you
want to choose?"