Mage Of The Abyss

The sky is getting dimmer by the minute, and Siola is sitting on the staircase outside of the Adventurers Guild building while staring at her trembling hands.

"Itchy…"

There is a slight smoking smell coming from it.

'If I remember it right, both miss Replica and King Ludwig mentioned that I can only go so far in the surface with just my Immortality alone.'

'Seems to be a hidden effect or something. Decay, maybe. It's been quite some time since I left the castle so I really am holding up alright to last this long.'

Clenching it tight and pressing her cheeks to the shaft of her staff. Her eyes pointed at the ground, weighing them.

"Right when I just having fun."

From afar, Horgan saw the expression she makes. He lay down a bag beside her, "April, here are the goblins' parts you asked for."

"Thanks, Horgan."

"Mm."

There was a bit of silence between them, but now awkwardness. Siola seems to be staring into the void and it was only her impulse that made her responded. Horgan mustered the courage to breathe and then asked her what has been troubling her.

"You okay?"

"Mm."

"No, I'm just here for a simple visit, but since I've joined your party, I'll come back here in a few days after storing all these things at home."

"Oh, I see."

Horgan still remembers, but it seems that Siola has already forgotten that the original story was that her "friend" is the one asking for those ingredients. Causing a misunderstanding, but a useless one at this point.

Grabbing the bag that is twice her size, she laid it on her back, "Then, see you soon, Horgan. Bid my farewell to the rest, and here, a bit of parting gift."

She gave him all of the Health Potion that she has left, doubting that she will be using any of them with the level of Immortality that she has.

"Wait, I can't possibly…"

"Just take them, alright? I have to go now. The night is setting."

"Mm…" before she goes, "and April…"

She turned around, "Yeah?"

A warm smile was formed.

Siola left the town in the direction where she came from and enter the forest. Laying the bag full of the goblins' part, "Phew."

She transferred it to her Inventory and continue her walks.

*Grooogogogoghk*

"Hm?"

That familiar sound came from the creature she had left earlier in the day. Though, what popped up is nothing resembling that same creature. 15ft tall in a shape of a bloods.u.c.k.i.n.g parasite with 12 small sticks for the looks of its legs. It's constantly dripping blood from all over its body, however, it's not wounded.

"Sombak?"

*Grooooooooogh-goghoghk*

! {Summoned Creature}

"What in the world… you didn't eat human, are you? I mean, it's fine, but… whatever, come here, boy!"

The giant Sombak lowered its body and let Siola pet him in the head.

"There, there, good boy, good boy. I'm glad you listened to me and managed to survive out here. Come on, let's go home. I mean, to that place from before."

Without being told to do so, Sombak lifted her to his back.

"Oooh! Thanks, boy."

*Grooooogh*

Siola and her companion then returned with a calming smile on her face. Upon arriving close to the hut, several giant snake monsters emerged from the ground but they were quickly killed off by the sharp legs of Sombak's.

*Crash *Crash *Crash

{+500 Exp}

{+500 Exp}

"Oh?"

*Grooooogogogh*

Siola's expression lessened even further as she smiles while c.a.r.e.s.sing her companion. There is something weighing her down. Heavy enough to the point she wasn't thinking much about the Experience Points that she got.

And it was that: Even though Sombak is her summoned creature while also being contracted without a deal, they can't share Experience points if they are too far from one another.

"Oh ya? Now that's a creature I haven't seen before."

Siola's eyes widened by the echoing voice going through eardrums, shaking like an earthquake. Her eyes hold the sight of the woman she'd like to avoid meeting.

"Heheheh, that look. Bet you didn't expect me to be here, don't you? Actually though, this shed is mine."

Sitting in front of the "Red House" while resting her arms on her knees above the large stone, she's smiling with her terrorizing eyes lighting up in the dark. Replica, the so-called Former Mage of the Abyss.

Sweat started to form, "What do you want with me?"

Chuckling, "Heard you've been asking around for things to do, some errands to run, in exchange for some useless old books."

"Oh? And how do you know they're useless?"

"Cause I already read them all, duh."

Her eyes widened once more.

"Heheh, unlike those lazy old folks. Only three people in the whole Prison Realm who actually cares about getting stronger. The first is his Majesty who has even created some of those books which actually have some useful stuff in them…"

"… There's also that Priest-wannabe – just like you – bothers to do chores for her "Lord", hah! And there is yours truly."

"So, some of them are not useless then."

Widening her grin, "I've already taken out the good ones... burning them to the ground."

"Oh? Is that why you got your title?"

*Bwooosh*

Within an instant, leaves were split, and Replica appeared on top of Zombak who is unable to move for an unknown reason, and she's standing in front of Siola.

Sweat running down her face as she looks up to the woman whose movement is unparalleled. That was not the same move that she saw Avarice was doing when confronting that Devil. This time, it is akin to volatile teleportation instead.

"Careful now," the grin she has, "Remember what his majesty said to you?"

"You're gonna kill me, huh? Kinda useless though."

"Heheh, because you're an Immortal?"

"That too."

"Oh?"

Leaning her face close to Siola's eyes, Replica looks straight into the Appraisal Magic that she bestowed into her eyes. That sign, Siola was ready to draw her magic, but unfortunately, she was halted when that notification appeared.

! {Target Unlocated}

Replica's grin widened as her fangs grew, "You might not know this, but I'm actually… much stronger than even the Alpha herself, Luosa."

Siola cannot even blink at the sight of that woman slowly leaking her cold black aura.

"Y-Yeah? Then why were you so meek when she pulled out that bluff?"

"Lord Ludtleth, superiors. Alpha, colleague. Malice and you… my Juniors. See what I'm getting at? Right now, you are not even comparable to Malice herself. So, where does that put you exactly? Are you even worth the same?"

"…" her throat instantly dried, "What do you want?"

"Finally giving in. This is why I want to avoid talking with smart people. Considering how weak they usually are… it's a waste of time."

Jumping off Sombak's head, the creature suddenly can move again, but it instantly tries to attack Replica as soon as she landed.

"Wait, Sombak, NO!"

The sharp point of its leg was stopped just an inch away from Replica's eyes.

"Would you look at that reflex? Hah, I'm genuinely curious, just what kind of monster exactly is this pet of yours, Luosa? Where did you get such a thing?"

"…"

Siola knows that Replica is truly waiting for an answer, and thus she answered, "From a book."

"One of yours Traveler's perk?"

"So you know that I'm a Traveler."

"Of course, silly. Traveler and Wonderer each have their own traits, but you're standing just in between them. Making you an anomaly. Come, being in the outdoors is a real problem for your skin."

"…"

So far, things she has been told are very different from the other. Ludtleth said that she is a Wonderer while Ludwig said that she is in fact, a Traveler.

And now this.

Hopping off from Sombak's head, she followed Replica into the shed. Inside, the latter took the book that with each page, is holding the same effect of a scroll that can teleport one to another realm – the same one that Siola had used previously.

"As expected of an amateur, you actually tore it instead of using it right away."

"I had to use two of them anyway."

"Bwahaha, then you're actually much closer to being an idiot instead of a genius then."

"Wha—"

"It's easy to make a scroll or add another page into it, but the materials needed are not easy to come by, even with our standard."

"…" glancing down, "S-Sorry… I guess."

"Don't be sorry, the next time you use it must be your last. You need to embed the content inside directly to your mind and make your own spell out of it so you can at least return yourself without coming back here."

"…" mumbling, "Okay… but how can I do that?"

"I just told you, but well… I'll give you another direction. Use the knowledge as a base and then just go from there."

"… You're really not a good teacher, miss Replica."

A smile was formed, "I never was."

"?"

The floor stretches out its wood and formed a wooden chair for Replica to sit on, "But I can make you grow... stronger."

A bit of sweat runs her face again. Noticing a scheme in play, "And why do you want to help me? Considering you wanted me to leave the Purgatory faction, which you have succeeded in doing."

"Oh please, as if you care about such things. But no, in the most accurate sense, I'm not helping you. I'm helping myself. Within the next few months, a big shake-up will happen to our realm. I need everyone who is connected to the Abyss to be well-prepared for it."

"Why? Aren't you no longer have the connection yourself, assuming you have that title stuck on you? What does it even mean anyway? Does the Abyss is some kind of unlisted god or something?"

"Heh, you better watch your mouth from now on. I can tolerate it this time only because his Majesty took a slight interest in you. I'll tell you about the rest soon enough, but it looks like you're running out of time."

"Hm?"

Siola glances at her itching hand, and it began smoking, but somehow… she wasn't shocked or terrified by the burning sensation of it.

"Those who have gained Immortality will evolve to their truest self once in contact with the pure Mana of Ekolia. But do you know... what kind of evolution it is? Or what is it exactly are you going to transform into?"

"…" sighing, "You're not gonna tell me about it, aren't you? If so, please hurry up and tell me what do you want with me. Also, please teleport me back."

"Heheh, I like you now more than the time we met."

"I thought you hate gays. Are you one yourself?"

Chuckling once more, "Let's cut the idle chat…" tightening her grip to the side, and rotates it firmly as the black miasma flew into her arm, a black portal appeared. "Instead of wasting time doing chores, how about you do proper training sometime? If you're interested, for the next few days, I'll be here."

"…"

Siola didn't respond and only walked into the portal, ignoring her. Though, when the black portal disappeared, Replica rested her cheek on the l.a.p of her palm and grinned widely to her ears.