Quest Completed

"

Days and nights I'ma walking alone

Like the wind, nowhere I belong

Days and nights I'ma walking

Days and nights I walk alone

Like the wind that is blowing

There is nowhere I belong

Under sky is where I call home

And till I die since I was born

i don't know how i am

I'm going night and day

Day night, day night

Day night, oh All x2 "

William removed his hand from the strings of the guitar and looked at the others. All of their eyes were shining. This time, not only the girls but also the trio that came with him were looking at him with confused eyes.

They thought he was just going to play something simple, fun, like an ordinary bard. But this song nearly brought them to tears. While listening, they dreamed of a lonely wanderer on the roads. It dragged them for days like a grain of sand in a wind. Loneliness had penetrated their hearts. They imagined their faces in the wanderer.

"William, do you have any more poems?" Venil asked. The tears in the corners of her eyes were like a mountaineer holding on to a branch to avoid falling.

William replied with a smile. "There is, but I can't guarantee you'll like it."

"It doesn't matter, if it's like this, it doesn't matter at all." ' said the four girls at once.

William had a hard time not laughing.

“Then, should the next one be a song and not a poem? What do you think? It's about love." Said.

She nodded, meaning that all, including the men, would be okay.

Again William felt the strings of the guitar a little and began to play.

"

You left me alone in dark

And made a pain just like a shark

There's no need for talking

Don't get tired for explaining

Nothing will be the same again

And our love never will begin

Stop telling me about your regrets

You'd never touch my soul again

And never search my hearth again

cause i don't wanna hear your usual lies "

As William pressed harder on the guitar, a high note and William's low scream woke everyone from their dreams.

"

wowww, it's too late

i'm afraid ex love, i started to hate

"

Those who heard him talk about an old love can no longer hold back their tears. All of them had heard at least one or two love stories. This song, which was contaminated by break up and sadness, aroused hidden feelings in them. Tears were streaming from the corners of their eyes before they could even notice.

This world has never heard depressing words without the theme of fun.

"

I deeply felt as i die

understood lately everything was lie

Faught with my soul and heart

Try to push you away so hard

Nothing will be the same again

And our love never will begin

Stop telling me about your regrets

You'd never touch my soul again

And never search my hearth again

cause i don't wanna hear your usual lies

wowww, it's too late

i'm afraid ex love, i started to hate

"

William finally put down his guitar. He put it back in its box. Meanwhile, none of them had yet awakened from the flood of heavily charged emotions.

'I guess these words are a little too much for this world,' he thought and left with the guitar case on his back.

The deeply emotional girls and the other three hadn't even noticed that William had left. When they come to their senses after a while. They all made a promise to themselves in their minds. They wanted to live this world to the full without any regrets. They would do whatever they could.

No one was depressed. Although the emotions took them out of this world for a few moments, these two seemingly simple songs were already starting to change their perspective.

Some got these words wrong, some got it right. But it was clear that they would play an important role in the decisions they would make in the future.

…

William noticed the sun starting to slowly slide down the hill and walked towards the villa where the mage lived.

When he got to his door after a while, he straightened his outfit, took out the materials from his dimensional bag.

He knocked carefully on the door.

On the third click, the door opened, but he realized that it was huge enough to block the way of the person who opened the door.

Even the two-and-a-half-meter door seemed small to the man across from it. He couldn't see above his chest.

Smiling, he said, "Sir, I've come to hand over your mission!" said.

The man invited him in a very hoarse voice.

"Ah? So you finished. Come, put it in here."

William entered carrying the barrel of blood. Finally, he could see the man's face. If he wanted to describe this man in exactly one word, the word 'giant' would be most appropriate.

It was about three meters tall. With his bald head and a dot-like tattoo in the middle of his forehead, it was hard not to recognize.

Despite his gigantic and fierce appearance, the mage was very friendly.

He even told him about his concerns about his mission.

"I actually didn't expect someone to take the job. I was very worried when I saw that you took my quest and I wanted to cancel it, but you had already left." Said.

"Sir, since you gave the task, you must need it, right? So why would you cancel it?"

"The attendant told me that you are among those newbies this year."

"Ah! Don't worry about that, sir!" He smiled. "Even though I just joined…." He circulated qi power throughout his body. "Actually, I am different from them. I'm iron level!" said.

The colossal mage was taken aback by William's strength. As a newcomer, he didn't expect iron to be at its peak. This put him at ease.

"Well, how were the roads? Were there any dangerous situations?" asked.

"Actually there was, yes, but not because of worms, but because of a pack of wolves. On the way, I had to endure the pursuit of the wolf pack," said William, shaking his head.

"Ah! It is nice that you are fine."

As William felt his anxiety ease, he unknowingly felt a little closer.

"Are you going to post quests again, sir?" said.

"You don't need to call me sir, although I am older than you in age, you are equal to me in strength. You can call me Baldur. And yes, I definitely need more worm blood."

William had wondered about his interest in worm blood.

"If you don't mind me asking, what do you need all this worm blood for, Baldur?" said.

Baldur had no qualms in saying that his research was already funded by academia. After all, William was also a student of the academy, and maybe he could help him more with his worm blood supply.

"For this." He said and took off his long blue robe.

He showed the massive, hand-chiseled muscles underneath.

"Baldur? Aren't you a Mage? Why are you trying to cultivate your body?"

"Actually, I always wanted to be a warrior, but my talent was almost non-existent. I became a magician by accident. A wandering mage gave me an ability test, and I barely managed to meet the minimum standards. I was definitely luckier than any of my other friends who worked with me, and I successfully advanced to become a rank one mage." Said. It was as if he remembered the old days.

"Then, of course, the most feared thing happened. My talent is gone. My warrior skill was already on the ground, and I wouldn't be considered successful as a mage."

"Don't say that, Baldur, aren't you a level one mage right now?" said William, wanting to raise his spirits a little.

"Yes I am and I am also a warrior. I'm at the top of both. With a little breakthrough, I can become a bronze warrior or a second-rank mage." He said with a slight smile.

William became more curious and asked.

"Then what? What changed you?"

Baldur pointed at the barrel on the table with fingers as thick as William's wrist.

"Thanks to it, the worms helped me." Said.

"How so?" William was taken aback. He couldn't imagine how a little worm blood would help him. It would only increase body condition and strength in beginners, but it did not benefit the ability. Moreover, the power it provided was very little compared to a normal person.

"I'm a mage, naturally I knew a little about potions. One day, while making potions, I remembered old children's tales. In these tales, it was written that people turned into birds, dragons, or tigers and fought. I'm sure every child born in Argos knows that."

"Yeah, I know too. How can I forget Agnes the Phoenix?" said.

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about too. I was coming to the end of my life. The first idea that came to my mind, too, was to extract the bloodline of creatures with strong vitality by distilling their blood. And as you can see, I had some success." He said smiling.

"I haven't been able to complete this potion yet, but I'm sure I will one day. Don't look at me like that, I'm like this because the potion isn't quite right. My growth in size is a side effect of excess vitality. The blood concentration required for the body to absorb it must be very high. By my calculations, the highest rate I've ever been able to do is five percent." Seeing William's confused look, he felt the need to explain.

William actually respected his perseverance. He had carved out a new path to get stronger or escape from death, and he had succeeded.

"Well, how reliable is this potion?" asked.

"It's very reliable. I did various tests and realized that I get the most benefit from higher-level creatures." Said. Behind the table was a barrel of beer. He poured two glasses and handed one to William.

William remembered the beer as the best he had ever tasted.

Baldur continued. "I have a theory that I think will break the ground in the world of magic, but I can't verify it."

"What?" ' William asked, still enjoying the beer.

"If my thoughts are correct, over fifty percent concentration can provide what is called bloodline power. But let alone 50 percent, I don't think I can reach ten percent even if I have another hundred thousand years to live."

"The bloodline power? What is that?" William began to get even more confused.

"Do not you know? Just like Agnes turning into a phoenix. In my theory, this story is true. My intuition tells me there may be a grain of truth behind every story. Besides, I've read every book I have access to in the mage tower. I've hardly heard anything about such potions or powers in any book."

Then he took a sip of his beer and asked William.

"Have you ever read 'Etha's Travel Journal'?"

"Yes, it is my favorite book."

"You remember the mini-story in the book then?" said.

"That one that he got stranded on the island?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes, it is. William, I want to tell you that there is no island on our continent!"

"What?" William was brainwashed. His eyes opened wide and he could only stare at Baldur. Even the beer he brought to his mouth had stopped midway.

"Yes, this may be a difficult situation to accept, but I believe it is the right of every citizen living on the continent to know this. I can't inform everyone because if I do, I will definitely be killed first."

"But…But Etha said he was on a real island. It even had a city and creatures inside it?"

"Yes, actually Etha has another book. This book is stored in the wizard tower. It makes everything clear in the second book." He took another sip of his beer and continued.

"William, I am not telling you all this because you are my father's son, my friend, or relative. I know that eventually you too will be trapped in this stalemate. I'm telling you this so that you can create an idea, an understanding. Even if you don't hear this from me in the future if you can reach the silver level and above, you will find out."

"I understand what you mean. You can be sure, these are not words that are too heavy for me to handle. You can tell me, I'm definitely interested in this." William answered after some thought. It was definitely a more serious matter than what the teacher was talking about. Maybe they were words that could affect his future.

If what he had to say collided with his dreams, and Baldur's intent was to help him walk on his path, even if it lit as light like a firefly. He felt more or less about Baldur the same way he felt about his father.

Baldur looked like the lovely old uncles he had met in his previous world. You could get along, be friends, but sometimes what they say hurts. So he felt the same towards Baldur. He felt that he should listen to his words, even if they hurt. After all, he didn't want to stay here for the rest of his life, hunting the creatures.

Baldur put on a serious expression. As if his next words would determine whether he would be William's friend or enemy. So he spoke slowly and clearly.

"This includes the secrets of the academy and the mage tower? Do you want to learn?"

Faced with this serious question, William pulled out the chair he was leaning on and sat upside down on it. He put his arms on the backrest. He responded with all his attention and seriousness.

"Yes, I want. What's in Etha's second book?" asked.

"Then open your ears and listen well."

Baldur finished his beer in one go. Then he stood up and poured another glass.

Sitting down in his chair, he put his hand on his chin and began to speak calmly.

"Etha was a strong man…"

…