Blood Moon

Behind the counter was a doorway that led to a storage room. Making it through the doorway, other doorways could be seen, there were two other doors in the storage room. 

"The door on the left leads upstairs, that's where I sleep and eat. The door on the far right leads to the basement." 

Teo crouched down to whisper in Brune's ear, "That's where I keep all the cool stuff,". 

In the storage room, it had shelves filled with wooden crates containing different ingredients. There were also shelves with glass jars containing plants or bio-matter floating in some sort of liquid. 

( Creak! ) 

"Down there is where I spend most of my time," says Teo as he opens the basement door. 

While walking down the dirt stairs, the basement was surprisingly well-lit as it had glowing crystals embedded in the walls. 

"Now this is what I imagine an alchemist's workplace to look like," Brune thought to himself as he observed the room. There were supplies, tools, and ingredients laid out on different tables with documents scattered around everywhere.

"Welcome to my lab," said Teo in a grandiose fashion. 

Including the lab, there were four other rooms in the basement, two of which were used as storage for ingredients, as one stored organic materials while the other stored inorganic materials. Another room is used for storage but the room is smaller as it only stores monster crystals and tools. The last room was Teo's office. 

Inside Teo's office, there were shelves filled with books and a desk with different sheets of paper stacked on top of each other. 

Reaching above his head, Brune grabs a sheet of paper from Teo's desk. 

"How to make Safe Gel," 

The sheet of paper listed the items needed to make Safe Gel, it also explained the step-by-step process to make Safe Gel, and how to use it.

"Since 'Safe Gel' can do all of these great things, how much do you charge for it?" asked Brune. 

From what Brune was able to read, Safe Gel, when applied, can stop bleeding, disinfect wounds, and lastly speed up the healing process of a wound. 

"Depends on the quality... Wait, you can read already?" said Teo as he was dumbfounded. 

"Uhh... only a little bit," Brune replied. 

"Seems like I'm going to have to bump up your pay," said Teo with a grin. 

His greed takes over his rationality and makes him blurt out more details about himself, "I can also write and do math,". 

"Seems like I'm gonna have a genius work for me," says Teo. 

Far away from Brune, a meeting was being held; all of the continent's most prominent figures were gathered in one room. Sitting around a circular table, mini conversations were being held. Chatters and murmurs filled the room before an old man in a golden robe stood up. 

( Ahem! ) 

The old man clears his throat before speaking, "If you read the contents of the letters we sent, today's meeting will be about the Blood Moon; we won't leave this room until we come up with a plan to deal with the events that unfold with the Blood Moon." 

*Gasp!*

"If I may," 

A soft and older female voice cuts through the silence that enveloped the room upon hearing the old man's words. 

She pulls off the hood on her head to reveal herself. 

( Pshh! )

Underneath the hood was a bald old human lady. The wrinkles on her face revealed the years she had lived. She stood up before introducing herself: "To those who don't know who I am, I'm the Saintess of the Golden Turtle. These past few months, I've been getting visions. The visions show the terror that will unfold." 

"How do we know if you're telling the truth?" A voice shouted out. 

Everyone turned over to look at who dared to interrupt the saintess. 

The fat and snobby human leader of the Blue Spearfish Merchants was the one who blurted out a question. 

One of the many elves in the room smirked. 

Seeing the opportunity to get at his competitor, the fat and snobby elf leader of the Copper Hands Merchants yelled, "Who do you think you are to interrupt the Saintess?" 

Upon hearing the elf's words, the human's look of embarrassment quickly turned to anger. His face turned red, and his veins could be seen popping out of his head. 

Opening his mouth, the leader of the Blue Spearfish Merchants was about to say what was on his mind before being interrupted. 

"Enough! We will not be listening to an argument between you two. Please go on, Saintess." 

A pin drop could be heard as the room fell silent before the Saintess continued. 

"Thank you, headmaster,". 

The person who de-escalated the situation was Tyrell Bates, a human who was the headmaster of the Arnic Academy. The Arnic Academy was the best academy that produced the best and most divers. 

"It would be easier to show everyone here rather than for me to explain,". 

The Saintess sat down and held both arms up and out. 

"Everyone, sit down and interlock hands, you will get a glimpse of what happens when the gates open for the other side," the saintess instructed. 

After waiting for a few minutes, everyone was now ready. Sitting around the table, all the prominent figures, ranging from royalty, highly successful businessmen, and lastly, strong aura users. 

Seeing everyone's hands interlocking, the saintess gives everyone a warning, "Remember this is what is about to unfold. We are not leaving this room until we come up with ways to counteract the events we're about to see.". 

( Shiiii! )

Lights shone out of the Saintess' eyes as her head snapped back, forcing her to stare at the ceiling. 

Just like dominoes falling, one by one, everyone sitting at the table became just like the saintess. 

*Gasp!*

Shocked and confused, those who weren't sitting at the table but were in the room were surprised at what they were seeing. 

It was as though time stopped as everyone watched with anticipation, as what was going to happen next. 

*Cough!*

( Ahhh! ) 

Everyone came to normalcy except for the Saintess, who started coughing up blood right as her eyes stopped emitting light.

Those who sat at the table expressed many negative emotions, like anger and fear.

"What must we do to stop that!" shouted the leader of Blue Spearfish Merchants. 

The question asked caused the room to be engulfed in chaos as those who sat at the table were spooked, while those standing around the table were curious and ran towards the table as soon as everyone came to. 

Shouting and tears filled the room as people described what they saw. 

"There were monsters everywhere!" 

"So many dead bodies!"

"I was about to be eaten by a giant wolf," 

Slowly, everyone came to understand what was shown to those sitting at the table. 

"What y'all saw is not something we can stop from happening; we can only prevent further damage," said the Saintess. 

"So I'm going to die?" shouted the leader of the Blue Spearfish Merchant. 

"The vision isn't absolute, as I don't know why or how events happen. You may or may not die, but the only thing I'm sure of is that if we don't improve and encourage dungeon diving, then we won't be strong enough to outlast the blood moon," replied the Saintess. 

*Cough!* *Cough!*

Blood covered her sleeve as the Saintess coughed up more blood. 

"Saintess!" shouted the older man in the golden robe sitting next to the Saintess. 

"Quickly, junior sisters, please take her to rest!" shouted the man in the robe. 

Three other individuals in golden robes came quickly to assist the Saintess. 

"I'm sorry as I have to go, my final message is that we must produce stronger individuals, as we will need a hero to rise in this time of need." The Saintess gave her final remark before leaving. 

( Thumph! ) 

( Clat! Clat! ) 

The Saintess and her junior sisters walked down the halls. 

"Is the potion in the other room?" 

"Yes, Saintess," answered one of the ladies in the golden robe. 

"Good, everyone is good to go except Yuria," said the Saintess. 

Continuing to walk until reaching their destination, the two stopped in front of a door before walking in. 

( Thumph! ) 

Yuria closes the door behind her. 

"Oh, I'm getting too old for this, could you fetch me the potion, dear sister," said the Saintess as she sat down on one of the chairs in the room. 

Rushing into the other room, Yuria returned with a glass tube. Inside the glass tube was some clear liquid. 

Sparkling with a red glow, particles can be seen emitting a red glow at different times. 

( Plop! ) 

Yuria peels off the seal on the glass tube before handing it to the Saintess. 

Drinking the potion, the Saintess could notice the curious expression on Yuria's face. 

*Gulp!*

Drinking more of the potion, the internal organs of the Saintess, which were bleeding, were now slowly healing. 

Finishing the potion, the Saintess tells Yuria, "Please discard this, and get me a change of clothes,". 

"Yes, Saintess," replied Yuria. 

"Yuira, is there anything you want to say? I can see it on your face," says the Saintess. 

Stopping in her tracks, Yuria responds, "Why did you lie to the others? Your visions are absolute,". 

"Haha, you give me too much credit, I really don't know when it is gonna happen,". 

"But why did you lie about them not dying?". 

"Yuria, you want to know why I only want you to assist me in this moment?"

Taking a second before replying, Yuria couldn't fight off the curiosity, "I would very much like to know,". 

"Showing people visions of their death wouldn't be harmful for me if those around are destined to die around the same time. I only needed a potion because of two people, those two are you and King Soloman," said the Saintess. 

The color on Yuria's face faded as she realized what the Saintess' words entailed. 

"That would mean, you and everyone in that roo-". 

"Yes, we are all gonna die around the same time." the sadness could be heard in the Saintess' tone. 

"Please go back and join the meeting, and once the meeting concludes, ask for King Soloman to enter this room alone. And is the ring in the other room?" the Saintess asked. 

"Yes, I can go get it," answered Yuria.

"No, it is alright, please just go back. I can get it.". 

Nodding her head, Yuria steps out of the room. 

*Sigh!*

"Oh dear Golden Turtle, why must you challenge me so much? Why must I bear the burden of knowing? I know why I must do what I do, but sometimes I think about-" 

"-giving up, that is all you will think about once we start," says Ren, mocking Brune.