Chapter 311: Hydra’s Blade
The skillbook was clearly written by Arachne. He could feel her presence all over it. He didn’t know how he could tell, perhaps it was his intuition or the feeling the book gave was something that he had felt was missing.
Seryn turned her head just as Adam reached to pick up the book, her eyes widening in shock.
"I did not expect to see a divine text to have been placed here!" She whispered in disbelief, however her voice was loud enough to reach Adam’s ears. He turned back to face the elven girl with a questioning look on his face.
"A divine text is a book penned by gods. They are rare and only those who are blessed by the gods can read their scriptures! I can only wonder what marvelous wisdom is contained within that tome."
At some point, her voice had slipped into one of wonder and whimsy. That made it clear to Adam that she really couldn’t read what was written on the book. He could feel a vein throbbing on his forehead as he became tempted to throw the book away on principle.
Arachne’s Guide on How not to be a Disgraceful Disciple.
Consumable Item
One Time Use Skillbook
Effect: Combines the Skills Assassination, Pain Tolerance and Assassins Instinct to form ???
Description: A book written a long time ago after a young goddess received an oracle about her future disciple. She was told that he would give her joy, laughter, heartache, sorrow and frustration.....lots and lots of frustration. The Young Goddess scoffed at the idea, but she knew the Oracles words were almost never wrong. She chose to believe and penned this book for one individual whom she hadn’t even met yet.
The description was both shocking and heartwarming to him...at least thats what he felt until he read the favor text that popped up at the bottom while reading the description that popped up.
’If you can’t use this book by the time you find this book, you are a fuck up, degenerate loser whose existence was a mistake’
Adam closed the book with a twitch in his eye. For the sake of his own mental health, he decided to focus on the other piece of gear that was there. Surprisingly it was a foot long blade, whether it could be called a sword or a dagger was debatable but Adam could tell by slight purple tinge of the blade, that the metal somehow contained poison.
Hydra’s Fang (Bound)
Grade: Epic
Type: Dagger
Level Requirement: 20
Class Restriction: Assassin, Rogue
Weight: Light
Durability: 260/260
+40 ATK
+10 Agi
-10 Def
Skill: Serpent Frenzy, Poison Surge
Description:Forged from the fang of a Hydra, The Blade was once used by an intruder sent to assassinate the Royal Family of the Elven Nation. The would-be killer fell for the beauty of the young princess and swore his fealty to her, becoming her blade and slaying all who opposed her.
Adam couldn’t shake the feeling that Arachne had some ties to this blade as well. Once again, it was his intuition that was telling him. That proved to be true as he gripped the handle of the blade. He felt the Arachne dagger on his waist tremble, as if it was trying to resonate with the weapon in his hand.
Adam narrowed his eyes as he watched the two weapons react to one another. There was a subtle pull between them, a kind of invisible thread that made the Arachne dagger stir in its sheath. The Hydra’s Fang felt like a missing piece, not just to his arsenal but to something greater. It was as if both blades had been waiting for this moment.
He let the sensation linger before carefully sheathing the new weapon beside its counterpart. The resonance dulled, but a quiet hum still vibrated at the edge of his awareness.
Finally, his gaze fell to the last object.
The green vial sat untouched, faintly pulsing with light. Everyone else had picked up theirs, and Adam could see a few of them beginning to drink. The glow didn’t feel threatening. It felt warm. Inviting.
He uncorked it and brought it to his lips, hesitating just long enough to take in the scent.
Soup.
His eyes widened.
It smelled exactly like the kind his mother used to make. Rich and savory with notes of garlic, onion, and herbs. It wasn’t just familiar. It was personal. No one else could have known this. Not even Arachne.
He took a slow sip and felt the warmth spread down his throat and through his chest. The taste was identical. Chicken, lentils, the exact spice blend she always used. His mind drifted without meaning to.
He saw her again, in that tiny kitchen, apron dusted with flour, laughing as she tried to keep him from stealing bites before dinner. He remembered the way her hair curled at the ends and how she hummed softly whenever she stirred the pot. The way she kissed the top of his head and called him her brave little knight.
She had died quietly one night, wrapped in blankets that could not keep the cold from seeping into her bones. He was only seven. Too young to understand it at the time, but old enough to know that something beautiful had been taken from him.
Adam stood there for a long moment, eyes closed, letting the memory wash over him like a forgotten lullaby.
When he finally opened them, the vial was empty.
Seryn saw the slight change in his eyes and she smiled, giving him an explanation before he could even ask the question.
"The taste of the potion that the Heartwood Tree has provided you changes tastes based on your memories and experiences. So if you have a loved one.." Seryn glanced at Leo with a faint smile which did not go unnoticed by the girls. Even still she didn’t seem flustered in the slightest as she continued.
"It will taste like a home cooked meal made with all their love. Granted that you had it before of course."
Hearing that, Penny was absolutely livid!
"Wait a goddamn second, if it’s supposed to taste like a homemade meal, then why did mine taste like dirt!"
Adam nearly burst out laughing at Penny’s indirect confession. He knew why she might have tasted that and there was no way he was going to ignore the chance to tease her about it.
His lips curved up into a knowing smirk as he asked with a fake sense of shock "Oh~? I thought that was your favourite food Miss Dirt Sommelier~!"
Penny’s cheeks flared with embarrassment, baring her fangs at Adam in an embarrassed rage.
"You wanna go tough guy? Cause I will put you down!"
Adam cocked his head and snarled back "With what? Aggressive hugs and flashy lights? I’m soooo scared~!"
The frustrated scream of Penny almost caused Lily to drop her potion. She glanced at Penny who was being held back by Adam’s outreached hand and couldn’t help but smile. It was good to see family like this.