Chapter 207 – The Snow and The Sorrow

Chapter 207

 The Snow and The Sorrow

Date : Day 7 of Frostfall 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren woke shortly after dawn.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the wooden ceiling above him. His mind was still hazy with sleep, but his body already felt something different. No dull ache left behind by the backlash of Berserker. His body finally seemed to be telling him that it had rested enough.

Hyoren slowly turned his head toward the calendar hanging on the wall. His eyes focused on the date—day 7 of Frostfall. He stared at it for a few moments before chuckling inwardly.

Two days passed out… and another two days just resting…

Four days. That was how long it had taken for the backlash from Berserker to completely disappear.

Four days just because I used it for two hours…

He sighed inwardly.

The price of that Unique Skill remained absurd. Still, at least he had recovered.

Hyoren flexed his fingers experimentally. His fingers moved. He tried to move his left arm—nothing.

Hyoren blinked. He looked down.

His left arm had apparently become a pillow. Ina was sleeping peacefully with her head resting on it. Her brown cat ears twitched whenever Hyoren moved, the soft fur occasionally brushing against his chest. The sensation tickled slightly.

Hyoren suppressed a chuckle.

Her messy brown hair had grown considerably longer. It had spilled across the pillow and mattress, with several strands cascading around her face and neck. Her cat tail was curled loosely near the bottom of the bed, its tip barely moving with each slow breath she took.

Hyoren stared at her sleeping face.

She looks cute when she has short hair…

His gaze lingered.

But somehow… the longer her hair grows, the more mature she looks…

He smiled faintly. Then he looked toward his right.

Elise was sleeping peacefully there. The silver-haired elf had wrapped both arms around his right arm as though it were another pillow. Her cheek rested against it, her breathing slow and even. Her pointed ears twitched once. Then again.

Her long silver hair flowed across the bed like a sheet of silk. It had already grown past her hips. It won't be long before it reaches her legs.

Elise had told him before that she normally cut her hair once it reached her hips, keeping it around waist length. But now she wanted to grow it as long as possible.

Hyoren looked toward the ceiling again.

They really took my words seriously…

Once, he had praised Elise's silky long hair. Apparently, both of his lovers had interpreted that praise rather seriously.

He chuckled quietly.

Though… I guess I really do love their long hair…

His gaze eventually drifted toward the large window. 

The silver light of Luna was beginning to shine through it, casting pale illumination across the room. Then something white drifted past the glass.

Hyoren's eyes narrowed.

Another white flake followed. Then another. 

Snow…

He stared at the window.

The flakes were falling steadily now, illuminated by the silver sunlight. Against the morning sky, they looked almost ethereal.

The first snowfall is finally here…

A small smile formed on his face.

He gently nudged Ina.

“Ina…”

No response. 

He nudged the other woman.

“Elise…”

Still nothing.

Hyoren sighed softly before giving both of them another gentle nudge.

“Ina… Elise… wake up. The first snow is here.”

Ina's ears immediately twitched. One ear folded slightly. Then the other perked up.

“Munyaaa…”

She slowly lifted her head from Hyoren's arm.

Her eyes remained half-closed. She blinked several times, apparently struggling to wake up.

Then she stretched like a cat.

Her arms slowly reached above her head while her back arched. Her shoulders rolled backward. Her fingers spread wide, claws barely extending from her fingertips as she stretched every finger. Her spine curved as she pushed her body into the stretch, and her cat tail slowly uncurled behind her.

She remained like that for several seconds.

“Fuuuaaah…”

She released a long, sleepy breath.

Her shoulders dropped. Her entire body seemed to melt back into relaxation. She rubbed both eyes with her fists before finally opening them.

Her amber eyes met Hyoren's dark ones.

“Morning, Hyoren…”

Hyoren smiled.

“Morning, Ina.”

Elise stirred beside him.

“Mmm…”

She slowly opened her eyes. Her expression was still clouded with sleep. Her hand wandered upward until her fingers found Hyoren's cheek. She leaned closer. Then gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

“Morning, Hyoren.”

She slowly pushed herself upright.

Her silver hair slid down her shoulders and spilled across her chest. Then she raised both arms above her head. Her fingers interlocked. She pushed her palms upward while simultaneously straightening her back. Her shoulders lifted. Her elbows extended.

She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

“Fuuuh…”

The breath carried genuine relief.

“That feels good…”

She rotated one arm slowly, then the other, testing the joints.

After two days of sleeping and recovering from her Aethell exhaustion, the stiffness finally seemed to be leaving her body.

She flexed her fingers. Then stretched her arms forward before letting them fall naturally to her sides.

“We rested well…”

Hyoren sat up as well.

His body still felt slightly stiff, but compared to the agony of Berserker's backlash, it was practically nothing.

“Good morning, Elise. Ina.”

Ina suddenly froze. Her cat ears perked. Her gaze snapped toward the window.

“Snow!”

She threw the blanket aside and immediately climbed out of bed. Her bare feet touched the wooden floor with soft steps. She trotted toward the window without even thinking about anything else. Her cat tail swished energetically behind her.

“Snow!”

She repeated it as if she had just discovered the concept for the first time. She pressed herself against the window. Outside, the snowfall had already grown thicker.

White flakes descended continuously from the sky. The rooftops were beginning to disappear beneath a layer of white, while the streets below were slowly being covered as well.

Ina's amber eyes sparkled.

“Finally, there is snow!”

She turned around excitedly.

“I want to play with it as soon as possible!”

Elise couldn't help but chuckle.

“Ina.”

She pointed toward her.

“At least wear some clothes first…”

Ina blinked.

She looked down. Her expression froze. Only then did she realize that she wasn't wearing anything. Her face immediately turned red.

“Ah…”

She stuck her tongue out sheepishly.

“Sorry… I was too excited.”

She quickly crossed the room and picked up her negligee, which had been left on the floor. She slipped it on loosely, barely bothering to straighten it before hurrying back toward the window. Her attention immediately returned to the snow.

Hyoren smiled at the sight.

“Snow, huh…”

He looked outside.

“The snow festival later…”

His smile grew slightly.

“I was excited for that too.”

Elise nodded while running her fingers through her long silver hair, slowly separating the strands that had become tangled during sleep.

“True… Snow festival…”

She smiled softly.

“I can't wait either.”

Hyoren looked back toward the window.

Ina had practically planted her face against the glass. Her amber eyes followed the falling snowflakes with childlike excitement. Her cat ears twitched constantly. Her tail swished left and right in a steady rhythm.

Hyoren couldn't help smiling.

Then he looked outside again. The snowfall was becoming heavier. White was beginning to cover the rooftops. The ground was slowly disappearing beneath a growing blanket of snow.

The silver light of Luna reflected off the countless white flakes, turning the entire morning into something almost dreamlike. This was peaceful. Quiet. Cold. Beautiful.

Hyoren leaned back slightly. The real winter atmosphere had finally arrived in Akela.

***

Afterward, the three of them dressed and fixed their appearances before heading downstairs for breakfast.

The house already smelled warm.

Lena and Vina, as always, had done their best to prepare something that could warm them from the inside. A pot of hot porridge sat on the table, its surface still steaming. The warmth was especially welcome after the cold morning outside.

They ate together quietly, enjoying the simple meal. There was no rush. No emergency. Just breakfast in their own home.

After they finished eating, Hyoren stood on the porch of their home, Wyvern Street Mansion. He had a plan for the day.

Ina had already left earlier.

After several days away from the guild, her work had apparently piled up considerably. As Vice Guild Master, she couldn't afford to remain away any longer, especially with Guild Master Fiona gone to deal with the Voided Covenant.

Arianna, meanwhile, was staying at Akela Castle. Her father had apparently been worried about her after everything that happened in Riverville Town, so she had been told to stay at the castle and rest for a few days.

Jackey had decided to remain at home. His excuse was simple. The cold made him shiver.

Hyoren had no argument against that.

He looked toward Elise beside him. She was the only one accompanying him today.

The silver-haired elf was dressed appropriately for the winter weather. She wore a blazer over a thick blouse, paired with a warm pleated long skirt. As usual, most of her outfit was in various shades of green. A yellow shawl wrapped around her neck, protecting it from the cold air.

Unlike usual, she had left her long silver hair down. Most of it flowed freely over her back, shimmering faintly whenever the morning light caught the strands. Only a small section had been braided, framing one side of her beautiful face and keeping some of the hair away from her eyes.

Hyoren, meanwhile, kept things simple. He wore a thick black leather jacket. It wasn't particularly elaborate, but it was warm enough to handle the winter cold.

He looked at Elise beside him.

“Let's go, Elise?”

The silver-haired elf nodded slightly.

“Let's go.”

She adjusted the yellow shawl around her neck.

“We should go to Borin first to repair your armor. Then we can go to Gilded Scale to appraise the artifact left by Mikail Smirnov.”

Hyoren nodded.

“That sounds like a good plan.”

He stepped off the porch. Elise followed. As they walked, she casually slipped her arm around his. Hyoren glanced down at her arm hooked around his before smiling.

Neither of them said anything about it. They simply walked side by side.

Their footsteps pressed into the fresh snow. A clear indentation remained behind Hyoren's boot. Elise's footsteps followed beside him with crunching sounds.

The snow had accumulated considerably overnight. Their front yard looked different from the usual. The ground itself had almost disappeared beneath a thick blanket of white.

Hyoren looked around.

“The snow has already accumulated this thick from just one night?”

Elise's emerald eyes wandered across the snow-covered yard.

“Yes, Hyoren. Winter in Akela Territory is always cold and heavy with snow.”

She breathed out. A faint cloud of white vapor escaped her lips before quickly disappearing into the cold air.

She smiled.

“That's why even the river will freeze.”

Hyoren nodded.

That was exactly why they had hurried back from Riverville Town. Once the river froze, returning to Akela would become considerably more difficult. They couldn't afford to become stranded there until spring thawed the ice.

“I see…”

Hyoren looked down at his own jacket.

“We need to stock up on winter clothes, then.”

Elise's emerald eyes immediately brightened.

“Then let's visit a clothing store!”

Her tone became noticeably more enthusiastic.

“I wanted a couple of new thick clothes… fufu.”

Hyoren chuckled.

“Let's do it then, Elise.”

Elise nodded happily.

“Yes.”

They continued down the snowy path. Soon, they reached the iron gate surrounding Wyvern Street Mansion.

Hyoren pushed it open. The hinges gave a faint metallic creak. Elise stepped through beside him, her skirt brushing lightly against the snow-covered ground. Behind them, their footprints marked the path they had taken from the porch.

***

Hyoren and Elise walked along Wyvern Street.

Even in the middle of winter, with snow covering the city, this sub-district of the Adventurer's District was still wide awake.

The street itself had been regularly swept of snow. The main road was mostly clear, with only a thin layer of packed snow remaining beneath their boots. The side paths were different. Snow had accumulated there overnight, forming thick white banks along the edges of the street.

Their footsteps made a soft crunch against the remaining snow as they walked. The cold air nipped at Hyoren's exposed face, while Elise occasionally pulled her yellow shawl a little closer around her neck.

Yet Wyvern Street itself seemed almost unaffected by the winter.

The Succubus’s Lust beside their mansion was already busy with customers. Several escorts from the other establishments were outside as well, bundled in thick coats to protect themselves from the cold. Despite the weather, they still tried to approach passing adventurers and pedestrians, calling out to potential customers.

Further down the street, taverns and bars were already loud despite it still being morning. Music blared through its open doorway. The smell of alcohol and cooked meat occasionally escaped into the street whenever someone entered or left. A few drunkards were already staggering outside, their voices carrying through the cold air.

Hyoren barely glanced at them. Elise didn't either.

After living in Wyvern Street Manor, located at the end of this perpetually busy entertainment district, they had become accustomed to the noise and activity. It was simply part of their neighborhood now.

They continued toward the main street.

Once they turned onto it, the surroundings became even busier. Street vendors had already set up their stalls despite the snow, displaying food, adventuring supplies, winter goods, and various other wares beneath small coverings. Steam rose from several food stalls, carrying warm scents into the cold morning.

Adventurers moved through the street in groups. Some were buying supplies before heading outside the city. Others were making their way toward the Adventurer's Guild. Some simply wandered through the busy streets, enjoying their morning.

Hyoren looked around.

“Even during winter, this district is still so busy…”

Elise giggled softly beside him.

“Fufu. Of course, Hyoren. Even during winter, people need to eat.”

Hyoren smiled.

“Right…”

They continued walking. Before long, a familiar storefront appeared ahead—Grit & Gear Arms. The blacksmith shop owned by the dwarf Borin.

Hyoren pushed the door open. A small bell chimed overhead.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of heat washed over them. It was almost startling after the cold outside. The warmth of the forge filled the shop, carrying the familiar smell of heated metal, coal, and oil.

At the workshop deeper inside, Borin was busy smithing.

His hammer struck the heated metal. Sparks scattered from the point of impact. The ringing of steel filled the shop.

Then he noticed the customers.

Borin lowered his hammer.

He turned toward the furnace and adjusted it down before taking the glowing piece of metal he had been working on and plunging it into the quenching liquid with a hissing sound. Only after that did he remove his gloves and approach the counter.

“Hoo. If it's not Hyoren and Elise.”

He placed his gloves aside.

“What could I do for you?”

Hyoren smiled.

“Hello, Borin.”

He reached into his storage bag. Then he pulled out his armor. His Mithril-alloy Chainmail looked nothing like it had when he had first bought it.

Several sections were damaged. Part of the pauldron was completely gone. Multiple sections of the chainmail had broken apart, leaving gaps between the interlocking metal pieces. There were dents and distortions across the armor where the impact had struck.

Hyoren placed it on the counter.

“I need you to repair this for me.”

Borin stared at the armor. His eyebrows slowly climbed.

“What the hell happened to you?”

He picked it up and turned it over, examining the damage from several angles.

“This armor is beyond saving…”

Elise leaned against the counter.

“A lot of things happened, Borin…”

She rested her elbow on the counter.

“Heard the news about Riverville Town?”

Borin placed the damaged armor back on the counter.

“Hmm. Not so much.”

He scratched his beard.

“I only heard something bad happened there. I was busy smithing, so I never really kept up with the gossip. Hahaha.”

Hyoren touched the damaged armor.

“We fought an absurd monstrosity there, Borin…”

That got Borin's attention.

Hyoren and Elise began explaining what had happened.

They told him about their quest to investigate the kidnappings in Riverville Town. About arriving to find the entire town enveloped in strange white fog. About discovering that the fog was actually part of the Ritual of the Undead, trapping the town's population.

They told him about the horde of Living Dead that poured from the Still Forest. Then they told him about the Flesh Golem. The massive monstrosity. The Voided Covenant. The five members. And finally, the fight that had left Hyoren's armor in its current state.

By the time they finished, Borin's eyes were wide.

“By Gravok's beard…”

He slowly combed his fingers through his beard.

“Something like that happened in Riverville Town?”

He looked back down at the ruined armor.

“Damn. No wonder your armor became like this.”

His fingers touched one of the broken sections.

“Being punched by a ten-meter giant made of flesh… How the hell are you still alive?”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

“Maybe I'm just lucky…”

Borin burst into laughter.

“Haha! What a lucky bastard!”

Elise smiled.

“So… it couldn't be repaired?”

Borin shook his head.

“No.”

He tapped the damaged chainmail.

“Too much of it is destroyed. Even if I replace the broken parts, it wouldn't be worth the time and materials.”

He scratched his beard.

“I suggest you buy a new piece instead.”

He then looked at Hyoren.

“Though I don't have anything better than this kind of armor right now.”

He pointed toward the damaged mithril-alloy chainmail.

“Want the same armor?”

Hyoren nodded.

“No problem, Borin. I don't think I'm going to meet some monstrosity like that again, so armor similar to this one is good enough.”

Borin immediately raised a finger.

“Don't jinx yourself, Hyoren. Hahaha.”

Hyoren could only smile wryly.

“Please don't…”

After laughing again, Borin disappeared into the storage room.

A few moments later, he returned carrying another piece of armor. It was almost identical to Hyoren's old one. He placed it on the counter.

“Same as before. Five million Kres.”

He tapped the armor.

“It's basically the same armor. Mithril-alloy Chainmail.”

Elise nodded. She took out her guild card.

“Okay, Borin. We'll take it.”

Borin accepted the card and processed the payment. A moment later, he handed it back.

“Okay. Payment confirmed.”

He looked between the two of them.

“Anything else?”

Hyoren shook his head.

“No, Borin.”

He picked up the new armor and placed it inside his storage bag.

“Thanks as always.”

Borin nodded.

“My pleasure.”

Hyoren and Elise then turned toward the door.

The bell chimed again as they stepped outside. Immediately, the warmth of the forge disappeared behind them. Cold winter air brushed across their faces.

Elise instinctively pulled her yellow shawl a little closer around her neck. Hyoren breathed out. A small cloud of white vapor escaped his mouth.

The bustling streets of Akela waited ahead. And their next destination was already decided.

***

Leaving Grit & Gear Arms behind, Hyoren and Elise continued along the main street of the Adventurer's District.

The busy street was still alive despite the winter. Their boots occasionally crunched against patches of snow that had been missed by the street sweepers. Warm air escaped from taverns and shops whenever their doors opened, briefly carrying the smell of roasted meat, freshly baked bread, and burning coal into the cold morning air.

They eventually left the Adventurer's District behind.

They had entered the Merchants' District. The atmosphere gradually changed. The rougher stalls and noisy taverns gave way to larger storefronts, carefully maintained streets, and buildings designed with merchants and craftsmen in mind.

And after walking for a while, they arrived at their destination. A familiar sign hung above the entrance. A golden balanced scale. One side held coins. The other held magic stones. The Gilded Scale. The magic-tool shop owned by the twin dwarf runic inscriptionists.

Hyoren pushed open the door. The bell above it chimed. A wave of warm air immediately greeted them.

Inside, the shop was quiet and pristine.

Thick carpets covered the floor, muffling their footsteps. Glass display cases lined parts of the room, their surfaces gleaming beneath the gentle illumination of magic lamps. Shelves occupied nearly every wall. Storage bags. Enchanted lamps. Ward Stones. Camping equipment. Various runic devices whose purposes Hyoren didn't immediately recognize.

Everything was arranged neatly, with small handwritten price tags placed beside each item. It was almost the opposite of the chaotic atmosphere of many adventurer shops.

Behind the counter, two dwarves were deeply engrossed in an argument. Both were staring at a small metal plate covered in glowing runic inscriptions.

The first dwarf had a meticulously braided silver beard that reached all the way to his chest. Balin. He held the unfinished device in one hand while pointing toward several runes carved into its surface with his other stubby but dexterous finger.

Across from him stood his twin brother, Gror, whose short fiery-red beard contrasted sharply with Balin's silver one.

Gror had his arms crossed stubbornly over his chest.

“No. That runic inscription wastes too much Aethell.”

Balin clicked his tongue.

“It doesn't if you add other runes here. See?”

He turned the device slightly and tapped another section of the inscription.

“If you connect these two, the flow will be redirected instead of wasted.”

Gror leaned closer.

“That's going to make the circuit more complicated.”

Their argument continued in the same good-natured manner. Until—the bell above the door interrupted them. Both dwarves raised their heads at exactly the same moment. Their eyes landed on the newcomers. Their expressions immediately brightened.

Balin greeted them first.

“Well, if it isn't Hyoren and Elise.”

Gror placed the unfinished tool on the counter and walked toward them.

“What can we do this time?”

Hyoren approached the counter and rested his elbow against the velvet-covered surface.

“Hello, Balin. Gror. We need… something appraised this time.”

Balin leaned forward.

“Hoo… What is it?”

He glanced toward his twin.

“We heard you guys caused quite a bit of chaos in Riverville Town…”

Gror grinned.

“Someone was paraded around there.”

He pointed at Hyoren.

“Did you find something while playing hero?”

Hyoren immediately scratched the back of his cheek.

“I'm not a hero. You two, please.”

He sighed.

“We just saved the town from the clutches of the Voided Covenant.”

Balin laughed. Then he pointed his stubby but remarkably dexterous finger at Hyoren.

“And saving people is what heroes do! Hahaha!”

Elise smiled beside him and gently patted Hyoren's arm.

“Give him a break, you two. He was already embarrassed enough by the crowd cheering for him.”

She giggled.

“Fufufu. It took him two days to stop complaining about it.”

The twin dwarves laughed even harder.

Hyoren's expression slowly flattened.

“That is enough.”

He decided it was better to move the conversation along before Elise gave them more ammunition.

“Anyway. We came here to see if you guys could appraise something we found deep inside a forest. It's an artifact.”

The laughter stopped. Almost instantly. Balin's expression changed. Gror's grin disappeared as well.

Both dwarves leaned forward.

“Hoo… An artifact…”

Gror slowly combed his beard.

“Please do tell.”

Hyoren smiled faintly. He had successfully redirected the conversation. Elise chuckled quietly beside him.

Hyoren ignored her and leaned slightly farther over the counter.

“First of all, there is a secret buried in a forest near Riverville Town called the Still Forest.”

He began explaining.

He told them about the legend surrounding the forest. A place where no living being could remain for long without eventually dying from an unknown cause. He told them about the eccentric noble who had built a tower in the middle of the forest centuries ago. And how, after the noble's death, the forest had supposedly transformed into the eerie place it was today.

Balin frowned.

“We've never heard such a rumor here…”

Gror nodded.

“Yeah. It might be a localized legend. Only the people from that town would know about it.”

He leaned forward.

“So… did you guys uncover what actually happened in that forest?”

Hyoren nodded.

“Yes. The eccentric noble was actually… the Dark Saint.”

The twins gasped. But, neither interrupted.

Hyoren continued.

He told them about Mikail Smirnov. The Dark Saint of an old era. The reason he had hidden himself in the Still Forest. And the artifact left behind by Noctynara herself.

He explained how the artifact had continuously released Dark Aethell into the surrounding environment for centuries, creating the unnatural conditions that eventually became the Still Forest.

When he finally finished, Hyoren reached into his storage bag.

He carefully pulled out the artifact. A pitch-black orb rested in his palm. It looked almost like a tiny piece of the void itself. And carved into its center was the symbol of Noctynara. An open book. Above it, three moons orbited a single opened eye.

Hyoren placed it carefully on the counter.

“This is what we found. An artifact of Noctynara.”

Balin's eyes widened.

“By Gravok's beard…”

His attention was completely fixed on the orb. 

“Gror. Quickly. Take the best appraisal tools we have.”

Gror didn't argue this time.

“Right.”

He hurried toward the backroom. A moment later, he returned carrying several tools. A magnifying device covered in tiny carved runes. A strange measuring instrument. And several other pieces of equipment that Hyoren didn't recognize.

The twins carefully placed their tools around the artifact.

Hyoren and Elise exchanged a glance. Neither interrupted.

They simply stepped back and allowed the two dwarves to begin their work.

***

After several minutes, the twin dwarves finally finished their appraisal.

Balin slowly lowered the monocle-like magic tool from his eye. The tiny runes engraved around its frame dimmed one by one as the device finished processing the information. He stared at the pitch-black orb for another few seconds.

Then he looked toward Hyoren.

“This was truly an artifact…”

There was genuine awe in his voice.

Gror, meanwhile, lowered the magnifying glass he had been using. He carefully placed it beside the other appraisal tools before pointing toward the necklace around Elise's neck—Sylvana's Lavalier. The emerald pendant caught the soft light of the magic lamps.

“It’s similar in tier to that necklace…”

He narrowed his eyes at the orb.

“Or even higher.”

Elise instinctively touched the artifact hanging against her chest. Her fingers brushed over the familiar pendant. The pendant that gave her the trump card to defeat the Flesh Golem.

“I see… So, what's the name and effect?”

Hyoren also leaned forward slightly. After everything they had uncovered about the artifact, he was just as curious.

Gror exchanged a brief glance with Balin before answering.

“This orb was called Noctynara's Lament.”

Hyoren's eyebrows furrowed.

“Lament…”

He looked down at the orb. The pitch-black object was slightly oval, almost resembling an eye. And its name carried something sorrowful.

“It's a word for mourning, isn't it?”

He tilted his head.

“The orb is shaped like an eye, and its name’s meaning is something sorrowful… what's the meaning of this?”

Elise's emerald eyes lingered on the artifact.

“It does sound as though the Goddess of Darkness was crying through this artifact.”

Balin gave a small smile. He tapped one finger against the counter.

“Artifact names aren't necessarily correlated with the state of the pantheon, Hyoren, Elise. Sometimes the name is simply arbitrary.”

Gror nodded.

“My brother is right. The choice of name depends on the maker.”

Hyoren stared at the orb again.

He remembered the letter on the basement of the tower. The will of Mikail Smirnov—the Dark Saint who had lived during the Heretics Era. An era when the Voided Covenant and other heretics had twisted Noctynara's teachings, committed countless atrocities, and stained the goddess's name in the eyes of ordinary people.

His fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the counter.

“But…I actually think the name is fitting.”

He slowly looked back at the dwarves.

“This artifact came from the Heretics Era.”

His expression became somber.

“If Noctynara knew what was happening to her true worshippers… and what those heretics were doing in her name… Then she definitely had reason to mourn.”

Elise nodded. Her long silver hair shifted over her shoulder.

“Right… It is… fitting.”

The twins became quiet for a moment.

Balin's expression softened.

“I see.”

He stroked his silver beard thoughtfully.

“When you put it that way… It really is a fitting name.”

Hyoren then leaned forward again.

“So, what are its effects? Because when it sat on the pedestal in the basement of the tower, it continuously produced Dark Aethell and released it into the air for more than five centuries.”

Gror's expression became more professional. He raised one of his fingers.

“The effect is simple. But it's fitting for an artifact made by a goddess. One. It can be attuned to produce Aethell according to the user's choice. Pure Aethell. Dark Aethell. Light Aethell. Or other elemental Aethell.”

Gror gestured toward the orb.

“I believe it continuously produced Dark Aethell because its previous owner was the Dark Saint.”

He then combed his beard. His eyes never leaving the pitch-black orb.

“This artifact basically acts as a secondary Aethell core for a mage.”

He paused deliberately.

“To put it simply… It increases the user's Aethell regeneration by more than fifty percent.”

Elise's eyes widened. She stared at the artifact.

“For any mage… That is… powerful.”

Balin nodded. A grin slowly appeared beneath his silver beard.

“And the second effect is even more interesting. Once per month, it can completely replenish the user's Aethell if they will it. Basically, give them another full reserve of Aethell.”

Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.

“So… effectively doubling their available Aethell during that moment.”

Gror nodded.

“Exactly.”

Balin raised another finger. He pointed toward the orb.

“But after the ability is used, the artifact becomes inert for one month. The first effect will also be paused during that period. So it's more like a last-resort trump card than something you use casually.”

Hyoren tapped his chin. Then he nodded slowly.

“That is a powerful ability… So the drawback is understandable.”

His gaze shifted toward Elise. Dark eyes met emerald ones. They didn't need to exchange words. Elise understood immediately what Hyoren wanted to convey.

She nodded.

“Yes. This is definitely an artifact suited for Arianna.”

Hyoren smiled. 

“Exactly.”

He turned back toward the two dwarves.

“Thank you for the appraisal.”

He picked up the orb carefully.

“But this orb… How should we use this? There's no way we need to keep clutching it in our hands, right?”

The artifact had no chain, clasp, or anything that would allow it to be worn like a necklace or bracelet.

Balin nodded.

“That is a valid concern. I think the previous user might have placed it on their weapon. Perhaps a slot on top of a wand or something similar.”

Hyoren furrowed his brow.

“But Arianna already has a staff.”

He looked between the twins.

“Any other suggestions?”

Balin tapped the counter with one thick finger.

“Depends on your preference. We could make a bracelet. Or a necklace. And this orb will be the gemstone.”

Hyoren tapped his chin. After a moment, he turned toward Elise.

“What do you think, Elise?”

The silver-haired elf fell silent. She studied the orb for several seconds, seemingly weighing the options carefully. Then she raised her head.

“I think a necklace is the safer choice.”

She gestured lightly to her neck.

“She could easily wear it. She also doesn't have a necklace right now. And it would be easier for her to manipulate compared to a bracelet.”

Hyoren nodded.

“I see… Then please create a necklace using this as the pendant.”

Balin carefully accepted the orb from Hyoren.

“Understood… By the way, this one is for the young lady of Akela, right?”

Hyoren smiled.

“Yeah. I plan to give this to her. She's our party mage.”

Balin placed the orb back on the velvet counter.

“Then we'll base the design around her image.”

Elise smiled.

“As thoughtful as usual, Balin.”

Gror laughed.

“Hahaha! We'll give our all for a return customer!”

Balin joined him.

“And doing good work for the favorite child of the Baron will never be a waste!”

The twins laughed.

Hyoren could only shake his head with a wry smile.

After processing their payment, Hyoren and Elise prepared to leave. Before they left, Balin gave a slight bow.

“Thank you for entrusting such a precious artifact to us.”

Gror bowed as well.

“Please come back in three days when it's finished!”

Hyoren and Elise nodded.

“We will.”

They stepped toward the door. The bell chimed once more as they left the shop. The cold winter air immediately brushed against their faces. Hyoren pulled his jacket slightly tighter and Elise tightened the shawl over her neck.

Behind them, the artifact left behind by Mikail Smirnov, the Dark Saint, was finally appraised.

They now knew its name. They knew its power. And in only three days, Noctynara's Lament would be hanging around their party mage's neck.

Arianna's already devastating magic would be able to recover faster. And once every month, she would possess a trump card capable of completely replenishing her Aethell.

Freedom Party had survived a nightmare at Riverville Town. They also had uncovered a forgotten piece of history. And now, they had returned with something else—power. The party was becoming stronger.