Madness of the Ancients part 2

It didn't last long, just a couple of breaths, but it was more than enough to exhaust his mental power. After all, he was still a weak martial cultivator, very far from those monsters that had undertaken the soul cultivation path.

Once everything was concluded, the foreign knowledge gradually took shape, and Atlas couldn't help but whisper: " Chaotiss... Madness of the Ancients... Holder of the knowledge from ancient times..."

Clearly, there was something wrong with the Spirit because its way of communication was distorted and undoubtedly unordinary.

"So... you are Chaotiss..."

Atlas tried to communicate with the Spirit. Alas, no concrete response came other than a feeble sound, which was not so different from a distant whisper.

"Hmm... The Spirit is still alive, yet it's too weak, just like Nihilir said, or my cultivation realm is way too low to properly handle its full power."

Atlas tried various methods in the following hour.

He infused more inner energy into the artifact, tried to understand those feeble whispers, and even asked for Nihilir's help, yet there was nothing he could do to resolve that problem.

"No matter what... this treasure is part of me now, so I can only wait for the right time."

It hadn't all gone as he had hoped, but at least he was safe and with another mysterious tool at his disposal.

|||

It was still early in the day, so he had time to gather the necessary materials and tools for that infernal journey. He was ready to leave the room, but as soon as he stepped outside, Elisabeth appeared right from the hallway with a strange expression all over her face.

"Atlas... there are people outside who want to talk to you. They seem to carry... special gifts with them... maybe it's better if you go and check out."

"Do they want to talk to me? Who are they? And how did they know that I'm resting here?" Atlas asked with a perplexed and even slightly worried tone.

"Hmm, I don't know... but they are not citizens of this city." She responded, seeing somewhat confused too: "... furthermore, they are surely damn rich. You should see their refined dresses and those preposterous jewels all over their bodies. I don't know what they want, but surely you should not let them wait any longer."

'Who can be?!'

Such a peculiar event clearly caught his interest. So, the young man rapidly left the room and reached the gate in a few seconds.

The door was already open, so the long line of people with enormous and small objects next to them was perfectly visible from his place.

'What's going on?'

Atlas was so shocked now that his eyes couldn't help but open widely for the outrageous crowd in front of the house.

He wanted to step back and was clearly not even slightly interested in meddling with that bunch of people. Alas, before he could even make that step, the crown spotted his figure and politely greeted him in unison.

"Brave young man..."

Of course, those people kept their tones as low as possible, but when their voices overlapped, the sound echoed even in the neighborhood.

'Bloody hell... They are really looking for me!!'

It was too late to escape, so Atlas sighed and inevitably approached the first person in line with a helpless expression on his face.

Atlas didn't have time to open his mouth, so the first in line bowed just a bit his back and started talking with a sonorous and deep voice: "Brave young man... your tragic story had brought sadness over my old heart. I can't change the past, but for sure, I won't be so shameless to deny that your suffering has brought a huge amount of benefits to my life. Your actions have blessed me, my old friends, the merchants, and the traveling souls that were walking toward this city. They had protected us from the evil tumor that had infested the forest for countless years. Thanks to you, our journey, which has been turbulent and dangerous in the past, has become much safer. Thank you. I, Barufa, the merchant from the West, bring you an object from my personal collection as a gift... please..."

Barufa's long speech had left Atlas speechless. At first confused, his expression turned black and a little contorted.

Clearly, he wasn't happy but driven almost crazy by that unfortunate event that kept hunting his poor life. He wanted to swear like an old man possessed by the heady and powerful fumes of a wine, yet he couldn't help but twitch his lips a few times when he saw the two attendants at Barufa's side remove the thick veil that was hiding the massive object behind them.

The poor man wanted to shout and smash that gift with his ax, but Atlas suppressed the anger and somehow lifted his lips: "Beautiful ... Mmm... Barufa, right?... I do not understand one thing. Why did you bring me a marble statue as a gift? That is..."

The young man knew it was rude of him to ask that question, especially in front of all those people, but he could not take it anymore.

The alternative was to go crazy and start a slaughter.

But who could have imagined that Barufa remained composed and replied gracefully in front of that awkward situation: "Young man... I heard you prefer pieces of art, so I decided to free myself of one of my finest pieces... I hope you like it..."

The merchant's words horrified Atlas, but he maintained his emotions at bay and tried to find the culprit behind this brutal joke: "REALLY?! ... and who... who told you that? Please tell me who was so kind to put this interesting story around..."

"Well..." Barufa stared at the young man, a bit confused. He even turned back and, as he had expected, found the same bewildered expression in some of the fellows who had come with him along the road.

He didn't talk but merely looked at them as if searching for something. In the end, Barufa turned around again and started to speak: "Mmm... Honestly, I had thought of giving you a weapon or a piece of armor that could help you in the martial path, but all that gossip saved me from doing a bad deed..."

"Rumors?? Who is spreading such a thing??"

All that was missing were flames coming out of his ears to show the anger that was bubbling inside the young man.

"... Initially, they were just rumors, but then witnesses assured the veracity of them. Apparently... many people have seen you choose an ancient candlestick instead of weapons and armor, so..."