45: The Hall of the Luminous, Part Ten

The Hall of the Luminous, Part Ten

By the time she was done, Ahlakan had made two Minor Healing Potions. 

The greedy side of Neve was mildly disappointed that the woman hadn't produced anything new, but, Neve wondered if, maybe, she just needed to ask about it. 

"So, uhm, this is awesome, but, do you know how to make any other kinds of potions?" 

"Is this one not to your liking?" Ahlakan asked. 

"N-No, that's not it, it's just... I already have one of these." 

"What?" Ahlakan asked, pulling back. "But, these were made with herbs from here, in the city." 

"Yeah, but we have some similar herbs on the surface... So, yeah." 

"Oh, well..." Ahlakan began to pace around the room, holding the potion she'd made. Her eyes lingered on it. She did not look quite as proud anymore. "It's difficult to make something different. It would require different herbs." 

"Were the ones Minerva brought the only ones that could be found in Rorvan?" 

"... No," Ahlakan replied. "Just the safest. Do you remember how mother and I found you by the edge of the lake?" 

"Yeah." 

"Well, it was for a reason. There are other herbs found within that lake. We had actually been on our way to gather some." 

"They're in the lake?" Neve asked, raising a brow. 

"Yes. However, as I'm sure you realized when you fell in, the water in that lake isn't... typical. It is a dense pool, where swimming too far down can mean you lose the ability to come back up. I imagine there are probably valuable herbs found by the deeper side of it, but... I've heard stories about how others went in and drowned over the years." 

[Huh. It does sound kinda scary. But...] 

"I suppose if you wish, I could try to get some for you," Ahlakan said, slightly meekly. 

"Really?" 

"You... You are Rorvan's final hope, essentially. I would like to help in any way that I can." She shrugged. The woman then sat down at a nearby stool, crossing her legs. "So, what will it be? Would you like me to give it a shot?" 

As she asked that question, before Neve could answer, a menu appeared in front of her. 

When she read its contents, Neve's eyes widened. 

{Quest Obtained!} 

{Help Ahlakan gather 5 Rare Rorvan Herbs}

{Reward: 5 Potions of Medium Agility} 

{Accept?}

{Yes} {No}

Neve was genuinely shocked. 

[A... quest?] She asked herself. 

It was the first one she'd seen since the Unity Trials had begun. No one on the forums had ever mentioned the existence of quests, so, as far as she knew, that meant this was a mechanic unique to the Final Challenge. 

If that was the case, then, Neve wondered if maybe she should have gone out of her way to talk to more people. What other quests were potentially waiting to be discovered? What kind of rewards would they offer? 

For now, however, she tried to focus on the matter at hand. 

"Sure," Neve replied. "And, I think I have an idea." 

---

"You want me to swim to the bottom of this lake and look for herbs? Is that all?" Erin asked, standing in front of Ahlakan and Neve. The young alchemist shifted slightly uncomfortably as Erin heard the request. 

"Yeah. Can you?" Neve asked. 

"Do I have a choice?" 

"Of course."

[Not really,] Neve answered in her thoughts, however. [This is a quest. I really want this.] 

"If you do, though, she can make something for you that'll make you faster." The healer pointed at the young girl beside her. 

"Ah... Well..." Erin looked behind her, at the lake. "I suppose I could." 

"Thank you," Neve replied. Ahlakan bowed, thanking her as well. 

The lamia then slid up to the dark body of water. It couldn't exactly be called "inviting", with its pitch-black surface and cold temperature. 

After a glance back, though, Erin took a deep breath and entered the water. 

"Will, uhm... Will she be alright?" Ahlakan asked. 

"Definitely. Trust me, this isn't the most dangerous thing I've asked her to do." 

"That does not sound like something to be proud of, but, sure..." 

The two of them waited, then, for a while. 

[Uh... I probably should have asked how long she could hold her breath. Eh, I'll give her like two minutes.] 

"Um, Neve..." 

"Yeah?" 

"I..." Ahlakan looked away, slightly embarrassed. "Could you... Could you tell me a little more about the place you're from?" 

"Uh, sure. What do you want to know?" 

"Anything, really," she replied. "I'm curious. Is your home something like what I painted?" 

"A lot like it, actually." 

Ahlakan visibly grew more interested upon hearing that. Neve tried to think of how exactly she could describe her home. A picture she could paint for the girl through words that let her know what humanity itself was fighting for. 

"Uh, you don't have trees here, right?" 

"Trees? No. What is that?" She asked. 

"Okay, so, you know those herbs you had before? Imagine a big pole made of wood, covered in them." 

"Wood?" Ahlakan asked, pulling back. "Like, wood from tables? Ah, yes, I believe that is how our things were made, my mother told me! You have trees in your home?" 

"Mhm," Neve replied, keeping her eyes on the lake just in case Erin came up needing help. "Not a whole lot, but a few here and there. You'll see a bunch of them once..." 

[Oh. Right.] 

At that moment, she reminded herself that Ahlakan, despite all of these desires and interests she'd expressed, was, in fact, not real.  1

Or, at least, this wasn't her "original version", if one wanted to get technical. 

She was wasting her time talking to Ahlakan like this... And yet, she kept doing it. 

Without knowing why she wanted to. 

"You'll see a bunch of them once you get out of there." 

"I hope so," Ahlakan replied. "I've always dreamed about what the surface might look like. What were the others fighting so hard to reclaim? What did my father give his life for? You know?" 

"..." Neve inhaled slowly. The air that filled her lungs made her feel cold. 

Compared to these people's motivations and desires, hers felt so much more... selfish. Granted, Thomas and his group absolutely deserved to die. That much was something Neve certainly believed. However, it was odd to hear about circumstances so much worse than her own. 

"Maybe you'll find out," Neve replied quietly. "If I don't end up getting my head cut off."

"Is it normal among your kind to say such dark things so casually?" 

"I guess." 

"Are you not scared that your words may manifest such a fate?" 

Neve looked up, shrugging. 

"Not really... If anything, I kind of expect it. I guess that helps." 

"Heh, my father once told me bravery was one of the most essential traits for a warrior. Your particular brand of bravery leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but maybe it's good that you have some at all." 

"You think this counts as bravery?" Neve asked, confused. 

"Sure," Ahlakan replied. "To be brave is to be willing to fight. To be willing to lay your life down for a cause, no? Even if you believe you will fail, you are still being brave by attempting to help us. Even though you do not have to." 

[Well... That's not exactly true. I can only leave if I clear the dungeon, so, uh, yeah.] 

"Hm... I guess." 

"... I hope you will be successful. For all our sakes." 

Neve looked over at her and found that the girl's attitude had gotten a little less cold. 

"I hope so too," Neve replied. A moment of silence passed. "So, Erin's kinda taking a while, huh?"

Almost as though it had been on cue, Erin appeared at the center of the lake, gasping for air, and holding herbs in her hands. 

"Oh, she's done." 

Neve then summoned her by her side. 

The lamia appeared on the sand, laid out. 

"OH, OH GOODNESS!" Erin fell to the sand with her arms out, as though trying to hug it. "That lake is awful. It is dense and... awful! Ugh, I felt like hands were trying to pull me down as I tried to swim up. Terrible." 

"Well, I did say many have died trying to gather herbs from this lake. That would be why, yes," Ahlakan stated.

"Here," Erin said, holding out the herbs for Neve. "Is this enough?" 

"One, two, three... Uh, sorry, but no." 

"WHAT?" Erin looked back at Neve in disbelief, with an expression that consisted of brows raised at the corners, a frown that fit disgust more than surprise, and her mouth wide open. 

She had to look away from her summon's face, as she nearly laughed when she saw it. 

[I am such a piece of shit... But, come on. That face was funny.] 

"B-But, you made it out!" Neve said. 

"Barely!" 

"Still! Could... Could you get me two more? Please?" Neve asked. 

Erin's upper body trembled for a couple of seconds before she finally let out a sigh, feeling defeated. 

"Fine." 

And, reluctantly, she hopped back into the lake.

"Your friend is quite loyal," Ahlakan replied. "Or, is she your...?" 

"My what?" Neve asked, turning toward her. 

"You know, your..." 

"What, my girlfriend?" Neve asked. 

"Is that a similar word to 'lover'? Because, that is what I mean," Ahlakan replied, blushing. Her kind's blush consisted of her cheeks becoming a pale shade of white-blue. "Or, is that not a concept among your kind?"

"It is, but, uh, no. We're... It's complicated." 

"Oh, I see... I am still jealous, though," Ahlakan said with a defeated sigh of her own. "I imagine you must have many lovers waiting for you above the ground."

"Uh, wrong again," Neve replied. "Why makes you think that?" 

"Hm? Well, since your species' circumstances are different from mine, I imagine yours has no reason to hold back on that front." 

That only made Neve even more confused.

"What do you-"

"Forget I said anything," Ahlakan suddenly interrupted her. "It is fine." 

"... Okay."

Again, Erin broke out from the water up ahead, holding another bundle of herbs. 

"I DID IT! Please, get me out of this liquid he- ack," she coughed as Neve resummoned her, once again. 

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