Chapter 281. Hunger for a New Life

[ Side Quest: Hunger for a New Life (Level 50+)

Description: Help Zolaya and Oyuun move forward with their new life in Farobru. ]

Finding the names familiar, Michael searched his memories and realized that these two were the young women he met when he was chasing after Elias with Lorath.

He met Zolaya in the Hidden Overlook and saved Oyuun after raiding Brol's prisons, where she was kept as food.

Since he had 'wasted' the day so far doing Quests for Ealda, helping the duo shouldn't be that much of an issue.

The tracker brought him to a shabby but clean house with the front door open. Two women were talking inside... or rather, one was yelling on the verge of hysteria while the other was trying to calm her down.

[No. No, no more, please, no. The smell... the taste, I... I won't eat it! No!](Oyuun)

[Oyuun. It's me, Zolaya! I'm here. We're not in Guulrahn. We're safe.](Zolaya)

'Ugh... it's them that let the door open. I'm not invading their privacy at all. Furthermore, Zolaya must've just returned, seeing that she let the door open. Probably heard Oyuun screaming. *Sigh* Poor woman. She's most likely traumatized by what she went through in Guulrahn. Who can blame her?'

To see the royals and the nobles, which everyone considered above the masses, killed and eaten, then witness your friends and loved ones dragged to the prison where they were either killed and eaten or fattened to be eaten later... no matter how mentally tough one might be, suffering through such horror is bound to leave some mental scars. 

"Zolaya? Oyuun? May I enter?"

[Ah! You're... from Guulrahn.](Zolaya)

[No! *Cries* Get away from me!](Oyuun)

Seeing the terrified and violent reaction the young woman had to the mention of the city, it was obvious she might've thought in her delirious state that he had come to bring her back or something.

"What happened to her? She seems very shaken."

[She was fine when we left. But today, she just snapped... I have an idea to calm her, but I can't leave her alone like this. Can you please help us again?](Zolaya)

"No problem. What can I do?"

[I-I kept a stash of uncommon medicinal herbs in a hideout in the caves northwest of here. The tea I made with them was Oyuun's favorite. Perhaps the smell would help ground her. And it should help settle her stomach. Take this. Fill it with the herbs if they're still there. Please hurry.](Zolaya)

"Understood. I'll return soon."

Grabbing the Quest Item and shoving it into his inventory, he opened the MAP again while he summoned his horse and got on its back.

'Looks like it's another Temporary Dungeon. Let's hurry.'

[ Side Quest issued - Hunger for a New Life

Objective: Enter Zolaya's Hideout

Objective: You found Zolaya and Oyuun attempting to settle down in Faobru, but Oyuun seems to be having a traumatic flashback. Zolaya has sent you to an old hideout of hers with a tea infuser to fill with herbs in hopes the tea will help calm Oyuun down. ]

Passing by some scattered Goatmen here and there, the Necromancer ignored all of them as he made his way to the Hideout.

In the meantime, he curiously took out the tea infuser and checked its details.

[ Empty Tea Infuser

Quest Item

---------

Empty container from Zolaya, to be filled with herbs. Zolaya would often brew herbal teas for Oyuun and hopes that one of these familiar brews would calm her. ]

The Temporary Dungeon where Zolaya sent him was only about five kilometers or so away from the Infected Delve. Still, with the situation being dire, he didn't have the time to visit that one first.

Once inside the Hideout, Michael immediately summoned his minions after noticing bloodstains on the ground. 

He vaguely sensed the presence of other living beings watching him from inside the place.

'Either bandits or demons. For now... here it is!'

[ Crate of Medicinal Herbs ]

Without thinking too much, he threw the entire crate in his Quest inventory, looking around to see if there were more.

Unfortunately, the other crates appeared to have already been opened, and whatever was previously inside was now gone.

[Haha! Didn't I tell you guys someone would come?](?)

[Tsk! How unfortunate. If that wench had come instead, we could've had some fun before killing her.](?)

Rolling his eyes at the minor characters suddenly jumping around, Michael ordered his Golem to charge in from outside and use his taunt skill.

Then, he expedited the process with a Reap + Decrepify +Corpse Tendrils + multiple Corpse Explosions.

Getting back on his horse and rushing back to the small farming village, he checked the Quest updates.

[ Side Quest update - Hunger for a New Life

Objective: Return to Zolaya and Oyuun

Objective: You have retrieved the herbs Zolaya mentioned from her Hideout. You should return to her in Farobru so she can make the tea for Oyuun. Let's hope it helps. ]

Rushing hurriedly through the gates - much to the displeasure of the guards to who he apologized while riding away - he stopped in front of the women's house and quickly entered.

Taking out the crate and the tea infuser, he placed them both on the floor at Zolaya's feet.

"I found the herbs you wanted."

[Uhm... I didn't expect you to bring back the entire crate.](Zolaya)

"Some bandits took over the Hideout and were lying in ambush waiting for you. I figured it would be best not to tempt fate and bring it over instead. It was the only crate with medicinal plants left."

[I appreciate it. I'll...](Zolaya)

[No! *Whimpers*](Oyuun)

[I know, my dear. Just give me a minute to brew this tea.](Zolaya)

Five minutes later, the tiny house was filled with the aromatic smell of freshly brewed tea. 

Even for him, it was the first time he sensed such an interesting aroma.

Oyuun also appeared to agree with his appraisal, as she had quieted down considerably.

[There. Oyuun? How do you feel?](Zolaya)

[What? Where? Oh... better, I think. *Gasp* Yes. Oh, Zolaya, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me... *Sigh* there was a smell and - and then... that place...](Oyuun)

[There's no need to apologize, silly. I never expected you to be fine after everything you went through. Now drink your tea. Rest.](Zolaya)

Walking a couple of steps away, Zolaya moved closer to Michael and thanked him again.

[*Sigh* She seems to be calming down... for now. Once she's stabilized, I can go and collect more of those herbs. Thank you. Truly!](Zolaya)

"That's fine; I'm glad I could help. If you don't mind, can you tell me the ingredients you used to brew the tea?"

[Haha!](Zolaya)

With her approval, Michael stored the crate back into his inventory, as it only held the same type of herbs used for the tea.

He only accepted it after she said there was a whole batch ready to be harvested on the farmland near the village, and there wouldn't be any danger involved in collecting more of it.

[ Side Quest complete - Hunger for a New Life

Reward 1: 17,248 experience points

Reward 2: 2,160 gold coins

Reward 3: Herb Cache. ]

Checking his inventory and realizing that he didn't actually gain a new cache, but the system considered his gift from the duo the actual Quest reward, the Necromancer rolled his eyes inwardly at the stingy Sanctuary and prepared to leave after saying his goodbyes and promised to visit at a later date.

[Wait! I have a favor to ask... my journals over there, will you take them with you? Please. Take them far away from here.](Oyuun)

Looking at the open book on a nearby shelf, Michael had an idea of how her traumatic flash was triggered and decided to accept the request.

Even if it wasn't an actual Quest, it was something easy for him to do.

Leaving the village after properly apologizing to the two guards outside the gate and explaining that it was an emergency, the Necromancer headed back north toward the Infected Delve.

On his way there, he opened the journal to take a peek but quickly stopped after reading a small passage.

[ Oyuun's Journals - A battered and stained collection of pages

Each day, the hunger grows like a fire inside me, demanding to be sated. I tried to hold out, but all they offered us was human flesh. In these moments, I hold onto the hope that at least Zolaya made it out. But I fear soon, the hunger will win out, and I will have no choice but to give in. ]

Michael felt that sealing the journals in the Horadric Vault until the two women might ask for them back was the right call.

Even after that small passage, he felt that he was rudely trespassing somewhere he shouldn't and that it was better for others not to read such grim and terrible things.

Dismounting in front of the Temporary Dungeon, he made his way inside since it was already past 5 p.m., and he was worried that he might be unable to clear more Dungeons if this kept up.

"Let's see... Miner's Retreat, gather three Silver Quartz pieces... Ugh... Crap! It's an actual mine, huh?"

Seeing the MAP show the type of long and intertwining tunnels the Grinning Labyrinth might've paid actual money to have, the Necromancer could only helplessly advance one tunnel at a time until he reached his goal.

The monsters inside were Plage Maggots and Demonic Wasps, making one believe it would be a walk in the park. 

However, upon seeing his Golem die in less than thirty seconds to the ranged attacks of the creatures, Michael's soul was almost scared out of his body.

Advancing cautiously while decimating the monsters through his Quarterback's endless sacrifices, he reached the Crawling Caves, where he found his first Silver Quartz.

[ Silver Quartz

Quest Item

----------

A rare ore coveted by Oxen Tribe blacksmiths for its malleability and resilience. ]

Almost an hour after entering the Infected Delve, he finally made it back out with the Quest Items required.

[ Side Quest update - Crucible of Worth

Objective: Return the materials to Gerti in Ked Bardu

Objective: You have the materials Gerti requested. Time to get back to Ked Bardu. ]

Since the city was about an hour away on horseback, Michael returned to Farobru and teleported to Ked Bardu.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous, but he had to get this sorted out before he could Dungeon dive without anything on his mind for the next 36 hours or what was left of his Mother's Blessing.

Walking to Gerti's forge, he found the woman already hammering the Great Axe. Seeing the heated metal, it appears that she was already prepared for his return.

[I heard the ancestors' whispers. Welcome back, Wanderer.](Gerti)

"My apologies for the delay. I have what you need to repair the great axe."

Taking out the horn and the three Silver Quartz ores, he handed them over and then backed away respectfully.

[A sturdy horn and a fair amount of Silver Quartz. The ancestors led you well. Take a seat, this shouldn't take too long.](Gerti)

In the next hour, Michael curiously watched the forging process as Gerti first melted the demon horn and Silver Quarts, adding the materials to the Great Axe's cast. 

After some hammering, some quenching, some reheating, and then more hammering and quenching, the Necromancer understood just how physically taxing this job was.

[Though the axe will take a new form, it will be stronger than ever.](Gerti)

Hearing the sound of liquid being vaporized by the intense heat of the metal, Michael was drawn out of his thoughts.

[But... it deserves to collect more than dust. To take demon blood again. It should be in the hands of the worthy. One to wield it with purpose.](Gerti)

"..."

[If you meet the Triune again, remind them of our strength. Oxen does not yield.](Gerti)

[ Side Quest complete - Crucible of Worth

Reward 1: 60,368 experience points

Reward 2: 3,240 gold coins

Reward 3: Raekor's Valor. ]

Being handed the weapon, Michael sighed mentally, knowing he wouldn't be able to wield it since he wouldn't get any stats from it due to his different Class, but he still accepted it with an 'honored' look on his face.

[ Raekor's Valor

Rare Two-Handed Axe

587 Item Power

-----------------

1,012 Damage per Second 

* [900 - 1,350] Damage per Hit

* 0.90 Attacks per Second

* +33.0% Damage to Healthy Enemies

------------------

* +2 Spirit on Kill

* +218 Maximum Life

Description: Famed Oxen Tribe ancestral weapon wielded by Warmaster Raekor. It is stained with the blood of demons from Mt Arreat. ]

Adding an 'of course' mentality after seeing the stats, an idea formed after seeing the weapon's familiar shape.

Looking like a hammer, axe, and saw, he had the perfect candidate in mind for such a wonderful weapon.

The problem was getting permission to give it to Ealda. 

Receiving the Oxen Tribe's forgemaster's gratitude was one thing, but gifting the gift he received from them to a disgraced tribe was another. 

Next, he would be treading on thin ice.