Krustallos (III)

"Yes," he replied. Extremely interested in the quest. The amount of gold invested into a Library was ridiculously high, but the thought of being given a higher level quest was tantalizing. He knew the more difficult the quest, the better the rewards. He wondered this time what he would gain.

As the new guardian of the Draconis Library, you have been endowed with a powerful move, Trinity Fall.

Trinity Fall

A three-hit lightning-fast combo that attacks the acupressure points on the body, inflicting painful critical damage. It also endows the blade with Dragon Fire. Dragon Fire adds an additional attack boost to the attack and has a chance of the opponent catching on fire. This ability cannot be used in Origin form. Consumes 1000 mp.

Zero was extremely happy with his new skill. He could finally use a skill that was worthwhile in his human form. However, he wondered when he would gain a good skill, especially because he spent most of the time in his human form rather than his Origin.

Would you like to exit the menu?

"Yes." Zero replied. The magical screens before him all turned off as the flower petals opened back up. His Krustallos did not return to his chest and instead had become a part of the lotus flower. Even if he wanted to, he dared not take it out for the thought of the building levitation magic possibly turning off and crashing down into the ground.

The book of Historia appeared before him as a page ripped out of the book. Words appeared on the paper neatly in cursive. Zero began reading it as the words unfolded.

Draconis Library is, at this moment, under the guardianship of Zero. Since the true guardian, the Drezo Regalia, of the building has returned, all rights about the building are handed back over to the Drezo Regalia, Zero. The ancient convent between the ruler of the City of Diadem and Drezo Regalia has been fulfilled.

Signed

Drake and Diadem

In testimony and witness under the God of Infinity

A beautiful seal design of a red and blue infinity symbol was scrawled underneath the two signatures. Its golden letters floated down into his hands. He did not remember shifting back into his human form.

Zero smiled a wide grin that he could not contain. So this was the second proof that now this building was legally his. He quickly stashed the paper into his Zenith pouch that he had gained through a side quest with Agnis.

With a running start, he lept off the crystal lotus and splashed into the warm waters. Swimming through the pond, he made his way towards land. Zeraph reached his hands for Zero to hold onto as Garrett gave him a formal bow.

"Chief Librarian. I knew you could find the noise that has plagued us." Garrett pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Zero. He was excited at the new prospect that was laid out before them.

"Chief Librarian?" asked Zeraph. Both Zeraph and Scion turned towards Garrett, looking at him funny. "Since when?"

"Since his acceptance as the rightful owner of this Library, I humbly welcome you to our home, especially as the guardian of the Record Keeper of Historia. There is none other but you to watch over and direct the future of the Library," Garrett replied. Zero took the handkerchief and thanked him.

"Ownership? Wasn't this building the King's?" Zeraph was completely stumped about what had transpired.

Zero couldn't help contain his grin. "Nope. Not anymore." He pulled out the contract he was just reading a moment ago and handed it to Zeraph. Zeraph carefully read the papers held in his hands.

"You didn't write this, right?" Zeraph asked skeptically.

"If I did, would Garrett suddenly call me Lord?" Zero pouted as his wet shoes squished from his annoyed tap.

"Is that the sacred sigil?" Scion gasped as he peered around Zeraph's side.

"Sacred sigil?" Zeraph asked.

"Yes. The sacred sigil of Infinity is written on the walls of the church. I only have seen it a couple of times, but everyone knows that the sacred sigil only appears at a sacred ritual either as a witness or when a sacred contract is made. Nobody can forge the sacred sigil without getting cursed or worse, death."

"That is news to me." Zero replied in a cheerful tone. This now even proved to Zeraph that he did not forge the contract. "Anyways, I got a quest to do," he snatched the paper out of Zeraph's hands and rolled it up. Then, stashing it away in merry tune, Zero suddenly stopped.

"Wait. Zeraph. What were you guys even doing in the crystal flower in the first place? How did you even end up in it?"

Zeraph cleared his throat, "A quest. It seems staying with you a little longer might be a good idea in helping me finish it."

"How?" Zero was a bit lost.

"Let's put it this way. The quest I was doing brought you the crystal flower, and you somehow, at the end of all this, ended up with the Royal Library. So, with that being said, this building," Zeraph motioned around him, "might have some kind of connection between you and the quest. Kapish?"

"Yea...." Zero was not sure how to take this all in. "I see. Well, hopefully, you'll find what you are looking for."

"I hope so too." Zeraph nodded in agreement. "I think I did." He quietly muttered.

"Oh, by the way, do you have any merchants, blacksmiths, or traders that you know who are willing to relocate and possibly go on a journey?"

"I might have some why?"

"I just received a quest that asked to bring willing people to move into this establishment."

"I need to make a couple of calls, but no promises."

"Great, thanks."

"I do need to speak with Garrett for the moment. Scion."

"Yes, sir?" Scion peeked from the back of Zeraph.

Both Garrett and Zeraph had begun to converse with one another about Scion's apprenticeship. Unfortunately, zero was too busy thinking and did not catch all of their conversations.

Zero was giddy with excitement. He already had a couple of people in mind and was ready to go out and complete his task. Then, taking a couple of steps, Garrett called toward him.

"Chief Librarian!" said Garrett.

Zero turned towards him.

"Is there anything you want us to do?"

"Well, except for helping with the reconstruction of the building, just do what you normally do. Oh, and drop the Chief; it's a bit odd."

"If you say so, sir," Garrett bowed, and his broken monocle fell from his face. Zero thought he saw Garrett's lips curl into a snicker.

Zero sighed. He wasn't sure if Garrett was playing with him or because he was an NPC with a set of phrases that he had to say.

With each step, Zero power walked out of the Attic, down the stairs, and made his way outside. The door to the Draconis Library was no longer closed tightly; instead, it was wide open. The Lunar Rabbits were all stationed outside, wondering what was going on, but they bowed toward him in acknowledgment when Zero stepped out. The warm summer air brought in a cool breeze that tickled his cheeks.

Breathing in the fresh air, he let out a breath of happiness. This building was his, and he did not have to go to war to take it over. The only problem is that he must protect the building from being stolen by others when the protection is over. He did not have any outstanding armor, weapons, or a guild to protect what was his. If a war broke out this minute, he would lose. He knew this perfectly.

But at the same time, he knew that even if he lost the building, it would not easily be taken over. Without a Krustallos and being a Drezo Regalia, the Draconis Library would just be another library. With such thought, he felt a bit more at ease.

Laid out before him was the City of Diadem in its glorious form. Near the city's east side, he could see the wall construction still in effect. Birds flocked around the Draconis Library as they flew next to the building.

Zero noticed the large crowd of players below the Library; they swarmed and pointed toward the floating building. The Draconis Library was hovering over the Town square and slowly heading towards the outer wall. His stop was here. Running into a sprint, he jumped off the floating land and towards the nearest building. He shifted into his Origin form in midair as he transformed, claws grabbed hold of the walls of the buildings.

With his momentum, he pushed himself off the walls and jumped onto another, scaling down to the ground. With a loud thud, he landed perfectly on all four. Dust and dirt flew outwards as people covered themselves from the gust of wind.

His tail whipped back and forth around him, keeping people at bay. Smoke rose from his throat and out his mouth and nose. A small rumbling growl erupted unconsciously from him. To him, it was a purr, but for the large crowd, they took it as a threatening growl.

You have to learn Intimidation.

Intimidation

Has a 15% chance of stunning monsters, people, and different species for three seconds. After that, their will to fight you will decrease, and their attack, magic, and defense power will be cut down by 10%.

A new skill, he thought. He was pleased to learn something useful.

"A monster!" A woman shrieked, and she fell backward into the crowds.

Players pulled out their weapons and were ready to attack in seconds.

The people backed away, unsettled, until a little girl stepped forward. At first unsure, but then her eyes brightened. She ran up towards him in confident steps with arms raised up high towards him in glee. Her contagious laughter rung throughout the muffled voices of the crowd and broke the heavy air.

"Doggy!" The girl exclaimed, and she glomped onto him like glue. More nearby children ran towards him with just as much excitement. They climbed all over him like he was some kind of playground. A couple dangled off his tail, some were already climbing on his back, and the little girl was putting her face completely into his chest, snuggling in his extra soft feathery fur.

Zero stood absolutely still for a moment and sat down. Zero had things he had to do, but he could not seem to pry the children away from him without causing too much a scene. He couldn't push them away roughly for the chance of angering the surrounding mobs and lowering his hard, built-up intimacy between the children.

The crowd muttered amongst each other, whispering out loudly.

"I think I saw that creature in the battle with the giant." A man talked to his wife.

"Yea. I think it was him that slew the creature. I didn't expect him to be so big. He's quite scary."

"Are you saying it's that fox creature? He does look something similar."

"Zero!" A female's voice called out towards him. He looked up and noticed Agnis pushing her way through the tight-knit crowds. "Excuse me! Excuse me!" She roughly squeezed through. "People, come on! Let me through. He's my friend!"

With a final push, Agnis slipped through the thick crowds. She looked tired and winded. "Zero. You won't believe this. The Royal Library is floating, and there is a huge hole where it once stood." She panted, trying to catch her breath.

"I know." Zero replied.

"The monster speaks." One of the townsmen spoke out loudly in surprise.

Zero was starting to get tired of this obnoxious crowd that formed tightly around him like a caged animal, barely making him able to move.

"You do?"

"Yea. Look." Zero pointed up towards him where the Library was. "By the way, it's not the Royal Library anymore. It's called the Draconis Library."

"Wait. Draconis Library? How? When? Wait....why are you even surrounded by so many people? Did you do something wrong?" Agnis stood up, straightening herself. She pushed back her hair so she could see better.

"Well, about that. It's a long story. Can you get these kids off of me, if you don't mind?" Zero was getting peeved because a couple of them were starting to pull out his feathery fur.

"Hey, kids. Leave the poor creature alone. Your parents are probably looking for you. You don't want to get in trouble for being missing. Who knows, they might give you a spanking for disappearing." Agnis smirked. The children stopped what they were doing and stared at Agnis, horrified at what she had said.

"Noooooooo!" The kids screamed and scattered like roaches. "Mommy! Daddy!" They yelled as they ran toward their parents.

"Easy." Agnis's lips curled into a smirk. She clapped her hands as if she was dusting herself off.

"How?" Zero asked, amazed.

"I just know how to deal with kids." She patted him on his shoulders. The crowd stood speechless at what was transpiring the whole time. They did not know if they should intervene and ask questions or just quietly watch. Everything was happening so quickly that they did not know when to speak.

"Move out of the way! Let the Royal guards through!" shouted a Royal guard. The crowd split exactly like when Moses split the sea in half.

Their purple and silver light armor glistened underneath the sunlight. Rows upon rows of the royal guards surrounded Zero and Agnis in minutes. Their pikes held up high as the leader of the royal guard on a brown horse appeared before them. He cleared his throat and, in a loud voice, said, "We are here on behalf of the King. Are you the beast that slew the giant?"

The leader of the royal guard asked Agnis and Zero. Zero stepped forward. "That would be me."

"I'm his partner," replied Agnis. She stepped forward right behind him.

"So you are this beast. The King is waiting for you." The leader of the royal guard reigned in the horse, and the horse turned to leave the crowded area. "Follow me."

Zero and Agnis trotted behind him as the crowd parted ways, letting them through. They followed behind him out of curiosity, especially for the city's King to come looking for them was a bit unexpected.

Did some major quest appear before them, or was it completely different? Thought Zero. He was curious about what they had to say.