The freezing wind from the northern regions of the second world was burning part of Ryan's face. His speed of flight was so intense that that feeling could get even worse, channeling his own energy, he made the black flames grow more intense around his body. "I'm going to catch a cold if things keep going like this..." he said, before sneezing.
<We are coming, Crystaldrif is on the other side of the mountain>
As Ryan stepped into the pine forest near the rise that led to the village, a strange feeling came over him. "We are being watched" he said, turning around. There were four superior rabbits in front of him, the creatures however ugly, were friendly.
"That's strange, there shouldn't be any more monsters here..." He said, as he approached the superior rabbits. The three rabbit-rat looking creatures just ran away, "That's a problem... For sure..."
<Let's finish the quest and get out of here>
As Ryan turned and placed his foot at the entrance to the village of Crystaldrift, a notification popped up for him.
*Ping Ping Ping*
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[Return to Crystaldrif][Completed]
After finding the pendant, the only remnant of the princess' love, return with it to the village of Crystaldrift to complete the story of this item. Upon completion of this journey, Fate will send high-level rewards.
- Temporary skill unlocked: Crystaldrift Compass
- A new tab has been added to the system. Click on the Crystaldrift Compass to find the nearest active portal that leads to the region of the ice mountains.
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Rewards: +7700 Demonic Points
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"I have never received so many demonic points at once" Ryan thought as he walked to the entrance of the village, there was a giant crystal wall that surrounded the entrance of the village, when Ryan walked through that wall he was surprised at the sight he had. The streets of the town were now completely free of cracks, the houses were larger, having stone structures that were up to four stories high. There were points for stables near the end of the streets, and several statues and beautiful buildings. There were a few arches as you crossed the main street, all with magical circles of illumination.
The city was much larger than on his first visit, with a smile on his face he said "I knew Crystaldrift had survived". Those words eased some of the weight Nyx was feeling, but it was still a little hard for her to see that town. Everything had changed, even more than before, the small village where she had spent several years of her life had now become a large city.
Some of the buildings had details of crystals that were mined in the area, this made the city bright and elegant. There were few wooden structures, but even these were stained in various bright colors such as blue, white, and light green. The buildings were made of brick and white concrete, giving a lush highlight to the wide streets of polished black stone.
The old village of Crystaldrift was considerably smaller, Ryan was only going through the beginning part of the town and still he felt like he was far away. "We haven't even started to go up yet" he said, looking ahead. There was a long flat path, which indicated that they were only in the new part of town, after a few minutes of walking he reached the incline that would be the beginning of the old village.
The wind was flowing through the houses, opening doors and closing windows. Those wind currents were making a sound of screaming and wailing through the empty houses, <Wind screaming...>
"Is that what you guys call that? That's scary" Ryan said, laughing. The feeling of being the only one walking through the world was a little strange, but in a way it was a little relaxing. Even if only for a few minutes, he was the only human in that area, this was a relief to Ryan's soul. The noise of cars, children, buses, or any other inconvenient sound of the city was gone.
As much as the sound of the wind flowing through the houses was equally inconvenient, in the brief moments when the wind stopped, it was only possible to hear Ryan's footsteps and the birds singing. "It's amazing how pure even the air in this city is. Breathing here is no different than one would find in a forest" he said, as he stopped for a deep sigh.
"Well, we have things to take care of" He said, and then, Ryan activated his wings again. Flying through the streets, he was on the lookout for any irregularities. But there was nothing different about that place, when he approached the main square of the upper part of the city, a notification appeared on his system.
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[The Lost Blacksmith][NEW]
Get to the forge of Crystaldrift to finish your quest.
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Quickly, Ryan dropped back down to the ground and ran towards the same building he had taken his weapons from at the green portal. The building was now much larger, there was a large wooden plaque with an anvil and a hammer engraved on it.
* TING * DUMM * TING * DUUUM * TING * DUUM * TING *
'That sound...' Walking into that building, the heat welcomed him at the same instant. As soon as he passed through the door, a bell rang, accompanied by more iron clanging, the store was now much larger, having weapons and various handmade accessories. Behind a wooden counter was a leather door that served only to hide the inner room, that room was heated, with small embers coming out of the gaps in the piece of leather. The sound of pounding metal remained for a few minutes, until it stopped.
* Footsteps
The sound of the leather curtain caught Ryan's attention, and as he turned he found an old blacksmith. His body was still muscular, with broad arms and strong hands marked with calluses. A small circular eyeglass was in front of his nose, part of his long white beard was burning, with a slap, he wiped it off as he looked intently at the young man who had entered his store.
"How did you get here?" The blacksmith said, confused. "I just came to deliver you a gift" Ryan replied, removing the pendant from his bag. The blacksmith's eyes widened, his gaze was gray and tired, but he could still observe very well through his glasses. "That, don't tell me..." He said, holding out his hands.
*Ting* The pendant fell into the palm of that old blacksmith's hands, in the same instant, tears began to flow from his eyes.
"I... I've been here so long... I don't think I can even remember what her face looked like anymore..." The blacksmith's voice was weak, he was tired. "I... How long have I been here?" That old blacksmith's face then closed, he then brought the pendant close to his chest and with a smile, his body began to disappear "Thank you young man, thank you..."
The blacksmith's body disappeared as if he were a monster, nothing was left, not even his gloves or his glasses. Not even the pendant that Ryan had delivered, everything disappeared in the form of mana particles that in seconds, went from blue to nothing.
"I've never even heard rumors about someone meeting a human in an active portal," Ryan said. A silence remained in that forge, there was only the sound of coal burning in the other room and the breathing of the young man.
<Are you okay? >
"A little bit, I just don't know what to think about… Well, today. Both the ice ruler and this blacksmith seemed to be suffering in the portals..."
Walking across the counter, Ryan found an extremely well-equipped forge. There were gigantic iron anvils and magic presses, the main furnace was powered by coal, but next to it was a mana stove. On one of the walls were arranged several orbs and elemental crystals, some talismans and magic scrolls.
Ryan's steps stopped, he stood motionless looking at the wall. "Twenty, thirty, fifty... a hundred... two hundred?!" his eyes widened, taking a step back. There were several scratches, it was a count of days, which then changed to years and decades. Near the bench was a journal with the memories of that blacksmith, nowhere was his name mentioned.
"After several days of being sick, I had a dream about the princess... It has been so many years since she left. When I awoke, everyone had left Crystaldrift. Riding on a Lizard I traveled to Ashura for ten nights, but there was no one here." Ryan was reading aloud the first page of that book. The journal followed for a few days, until it was completely forgotten.
"I don't think any human has reached this long, I have wondered how elves survive this long alone. I can't let myself die, this emptiness is confusing. Spring has reached the city once again, I will need to look for more fish, the wheat is running out."
The pages of that diary had long differences between each date. 'How did you manage all that time alone?' Ryan asked Nyx.
The succubus then materialized and hugged her master's head. She was flying a little above him, giving his head a kiss. She pointed to the coal that was burning intensely.
<He found a reason, something stronger than time. I just kept myself in a long sleep, waiting for another chance>
Nodding his head, Ryan left the two pistols, the spear and the two katanas in that forge. "I apologize for stealing your work, sir. Your items were of great help" He said, as he bowed his head.
Nyx materialized beside Ryan, "Why are you leaving all this here?" she said. "He spent two hundred years refining his skill, I think the most fitting way to honor his history would be to use his latest works.
* * *
The four agents were still playing cards. "They are taking too long" one of them said. "That's normal, they are newbies in a red portal. Maybe they died" another replied.
* VWUUUUUSH *
"Are you okay Rick?" One of the agents asked. That man was wide-eyed, jaw dropping as he looked towards the portal.
Ryan Whitemane was coming out of the portal wearing a black cloak, behind him were twenty crystal golems. "Sorry for the wait" He said with a triumphant smile.
//SleepyNotes//
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