Chapter 5: Weave a Grand Deception |
The three who had slipped and the banshee stared at one another in awkward silence.
Stella turned her head to look at the two reinforcements who had collapsed on the spot, her expression saying as if: what's wrong, is this a comfy place to nap?
Ayy!!!!!!
The banshee let out a piercing scream, tried to rise again, but accidentally stepped on her own translucent skirt and fell once more.
"Can any of you do magic? Physical damage doesn't seem to affect it," Allen said as he dragged Stella's arm and painfully crawled toward the stairwell.
"I can, I can!" Stella tried to raise her hand, but Allen roughly pulled her arm down again.
"Then what are you waiting for? Blast it with magic!"
"But you're holding my hand, I can't cast." Stella lay against Allen's leg, looking up at him with an aggrieved face.
Allen was momentarily speechless, so he let go.
In a panic, Allen forced himself to his feet to buy time for Stella to cast a spell.
Luckily, the fallen banshee was now furious and seemed to direct all her hatred at Allen.
So she lunged without hesitation at Allen, who had moved away from Stella.
Allen held his short sword up and stared at the banshee. He was gambling.
The banshee arrived in an instant and swiped a gaunt, spectral claw at him. Allen raised his sword to block.
Clang— the short sword struck the ghostly claw and produced a crisp sound. Allen's eyes brightened.
This was exactly what he was betting on: a ghost with no true physical form might reveal some tangibility while attacking.
He immediately released his sword, dropped into a squat, then surged forward and grabbed the banshee's manifested body.
"Now, fire at me!"
Stella, having just finished reciting her incantation, raised both hands as bluish-purple arcane light flared at her fingertips.
A dazzling flash, and a circle like an otherworldly portal appeared.
Then several pouches of cool spring water plopped down in front of Stella, piling up into a small mound.
Farley rubbed his forehead, and Allen was once again at a loss for words.
This is...
Create Water?!
Are you serious!?!
Seeing this, Stella's face flushed crimson and she hung her head in embarrassment. "Um, I was only a mage apprentice for a short time..."
With the banshee in his arms starting to struggle free, Allen grit his teeth and gave up on dignity. He grabbed the banshee's skirt and, rolling with it, knelt down.
"Wait, I want to talk to you!"
The banshee had intended to tear the insolent, clueless, and impertinent man's face apart.
But when she lowered her head, she saw beneath her billowing skirts the face looking up at her.
His hair was a little messy, his complexion somewhat pale, but his features were handsome and distinct, and his eyes—when they looked at her in the dim light—appeared particularly melancholy.
The banshee lowered her terrifying claw. Her ferocious visage gradually softened as she stared at Allen, dazed. "You... say..."
"Who are you? Who did this to you? I'll avenge you!" he declared.
[Persuasion Check: 24, Success]
[A pathetic little girl, ravaged into a horrifying wraith by terrible necromantic magic, but your resolute and handsome face reminded her of a boy she once admired, so she decided to hear you out.]
"I... am... Mi... Milana, I don't know who... turned me into... this..." she stammered.
Sensing an opening, Allen switched tactics immediately. "Did you have any wishes when you were alive? Don't kill us; I'll fulfill your last wish!"
The banshee stared blankly at Allen.
"I... I had no... wishes..."
Hearing that she had none, Allen inwardly panicked. Fortunately, after a pause she added, "But... my mistress... Miss Tiroia... she had a wish... I want to fulfill... her wish."
Allen exhaled and softened his gaze, resolute. "Tell me. I will help you, and I will help your Miss Tiroia fulfill her wish!"
Milana the banshee lowered her head and looked at the boy who was practically holding her in his arms and who carried an aristocratic air. He was gazing at her with such tender eyes that her ethereal features seemed to blush.
She was only a maid, and she had never seen such a handsome young noble who would look at her like that.
"Miss... my mistress likes... a boy from the Hunter family... I wish for them to... be happy."
Milana murmured, her pale face as if damp with tears.
Though Allen had no idea who Milana was talking about, he agreed to everything without hesitation.
"I swear— I promise you, I will make your mistress and that... Hunter, be happy!"
"Really? Thank you... thank you..." Milana believed the man before her completely; her obsession dissolved in an instant and her form grew faint.
"Can you tell me... your name?"
"My name is Allen, Allen Prestor."
When Allen answered, Milana smiled with satisfaction and gradually dispersed.
"Thank you... thank you, Allen Prestor."
Once Milana had completely turned into a wisp of smoke, Allen exhaled and slumped down. Stella sat nearby, eyes sparkling with admiration as she stared at him.
Oh my god, so amazing!
Farley wore a face of respect, truly impressed—such a hideous, vengeful spirit subdued, worthy of a Prestor young master.
The group stared at Allen, who suddenly asked, "Have you heard the name Tiroia?"
Stella's twin tails wagged like a rattle. Farley looked surprised. "I don't know her. Are you really going to fulfill this evil spirit's so-called wish?"
Allen didn't answer. At that moment the system notification sounded:
[Quest Objective: Rescue one lost lamb, 1/1]
[Newbie Mission: Paladin Trial (Completed)]
[Reward: Constitution attribute points x5 awarded]
[Reward: 1 random low-circle spell is being drawn...]
[...]
[Draw successful. Congratulations, you have obtained the spell: Communicate with the Dead]
Spell Details:
School: Necromancy
Circle: 3rd Circle
Effect: Grants a corpse of a humanoid semblance of life for a short time, allowing the caster to hold a brief conversation with it. The caster may ask up to five questions. This spell is ineffective on undead creatures.
Note: "The dead keep no secrets before you."
[New Main Quest Unlocked]
[Main Quest Title: Warlock Trial
Although you saved a lost soul, you clearly lack virtue and are full of lies, even refusing to give her a real name in her final moments. You are unfit to become a Paladin.
But perhaps you could become a scheming, deceptive Warlock.
Quest Objective: Weave a grand deception, 0/1
Quest Reward: Three random mid-circle spells, 10 universal attribute points, unlock class change system]
[Constitution 6] → [Constitution 11]! (Ordinary illnesses can no longer defeat you!)
Allen, whose legs had gone weak from fear moments ago, suddenly felt his backbone steel itself.
He nonchalantly steadied himself against the wall and looked around, pointing to the only open door down the corridor.
"Was that door opened by you?"
Stella's twin tails continued to sway left and right.
Farley shook his head too, but then his face lit up like he'd remembered something and he slapped his thigh.
"I remember now, this is the room the messenger who suddenly went mad and ran into the rainy night stayed in three weeks ago!"
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