Chapter 553: Important Customer

News spread fast, at an absurd pace; from what he heard, it was because Iris had also told a similar story to his, just lacking a lot of the information he had spoken of, like the expedition. And with two vessels, one being his daughter, the King knew this couldn’t be something made up.

The Academy completely shifted; everything that revolved around other stuff outside fighting was completely taken out of the program and replaced by either another already existing class or a new one. Students were also allowed to enter stories whenever they wished, and were able to take someone to help them ascend.

It got to the point where even Harbingers were helping Seekers.

And this wasn’t just for the Academy; prices for story helping had dropped off a cliff, since it was better for the world for people to get stronger and stronger. The Blue Rose also took the initiative to provide and cover most of the cost needed to create relics, with the help of a lot of the Celestial families, the Hale family being the biggest donor.

Silas was not joking with this war, not in the slightest; he hadn’t expected him to put in this much effort, and so fast... He had also organized a meeting here between all the leaders of the world; all the Kings were to come and speak of the matter, alongside a follower.

...

And for the Blue Rose, Silas had informed him that he was to come with him. In his eyes, it was the best decision; after all, he was the first to tell him about it, before Iris, and even more, he knew the most, well, about what the Wonderland was, everything inside. Since, if we were talking about what effect it had on the world, Iris beat him there; that is, if she could fully remember everything, which she couldn’t.

He had three days until then, three days to get everything he needed, as after the meeting, he was to start his ascension himself; he couldn’t just waste time like that. With the world being this fragile, he needed to be as fast as possible. These three days were already a waste of time. But he needed to make sure he was here when the meeting happened, so he couldn’t just enter any book.

The first thing he wished to do was regain something he had lost after the Rewind, the term the world had given to the phenomenon that they weren’t even aware had happened. The King had questioned him about it, what it was, and how it happened, but he decided not to answer, as he still had no idea how to explain his existence and didn’t want to bring up the Angel.

Raven, that was the first time he needed to get back. And really, the only thing he could get back at this time. Thinking about it, he was happy the Rewind happened, since in no way did he have the money to pay the man who had originally made Raven,

Marching through the streets of the Merchant Ward, he couldn’t help but feel the difference from what it normally was; the mood was horrid, people looked desperate, and it was a lot emptier than usual.

People had already started their ascensions, for the world, but also for their own survival. In this war, the strong were going to have a much higher chance of surviving.

The Blacksmith was also just... flooded with people, waiting in line to get an order in, and it wasn’t just it that was overwhelmed, but every shop related to relics; not even only those that made it, any shop that had a relic was having its biggest day.

And there was a simple reason: everyone was born with an Affinity, but not all allowed people to fight, to help them in situations of war, where their lives depended on fighting, and so, relics were the only thing they could protect themselves with. A strong blade and armor can do a lot, and since most of it was paid for by the Celestials, it was a bargain for everyone.

He relied on relics; after all, a bit less now, but as a Reader, without Voidpiercer, he was nothing. Now, at least, he had his manifestations, and Gravewalker, while not necessarily helping him win a fight, was a massive help when it came to surviving it, even more if he got his other ability again.

But even now, he lacked any offensive ability to help him; he didn’t really have any skill to do damage. His main damage dealer was his blade, and then his bow, which, while a relic, was used to fire arrows made with Abyssal Matter, so he considered it a combination of both.

Not everyone had an affinity and abilities like Lilith, who can just blast his way out of any fight with the energy that comes from his attacks.

For a lot of people, a relic can be the difference between life and death.

Aether sighed; if he was to wait in line, he was never going to get his order in. Plus, he didn’t have the time to order, then wait for the others’ orders to be done, for his to start, and then in the end wait for his to be done.

It was going to take an eternity.

...

And he had told the King that, to which Silas replied by giving him a letter to show to the Smith, which said to take priority in his order above every other civilian.

He hadn’t asked him for that; he had just stated his problem, and yet Silas had done something he had not expected... he wondered what he saw in him? He was a Vessel, true, but he didn’t consider himself that important, for his demands to take priority above the majority of the whole of the Blue Rose.

But to even show the letter, he could either try to reach the end and show the guard at the door the king’s message, but to do that he would need to get to the front, and he doubted these desperate and paranoid civilizations were going to care, just accusing him of faking it.

So rather, he had a better idea.

Walking over to a wall, he used Erosion, passing through it, and directly into the room where Atlas and the old Smith were making relics. Seeing him enter through the wall, the boy almost fell to the ground, suprised, while the Smith smirked as he moved his glasses on his forehead.

The Smith laughed as he walked over to Aether. "Out of all the people I expected to do something like this, you were number one, and it seems I was right. So what brought you here?" He said, taking his gloves off.

Aether opened his mouth, but the man just cut him off. "For a relic, am I right? Of course you’re here for a relic; I’m just messing with you." He sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "But you should know, Aether, even if you are a friend of ours, you still have to place an order like everyone else."

Aether tilted his head, smiling, as he pulled out the letter from Silas and handed it to the Smith, who was confused at first, but then, seeing the insignia on it, his eyes widened as he rushed to open it, suprised to see that it had come from the castle.

Reading it, he couldn’t help but chuckle as he put it in his pocket. "What a sly fox you are, eh?" He turned around. "Come with me; let me take your order." But as he walked to his desk, he turned around only to see that Aether didn’t come with him.

The boy chuckled. "Actually, I wanted to ask... can Atlas take my order?" He turned to the boy, whose cheeks had gotten slightly red, but he nodded, determined to do his best.

"I don’t see why not; if it’s your wish, I can’t say no." The smith said, as he put his gloves on, ready to resume his order from earlier. "Better not mess it up, Atlas; not only is he a good friend of ours, but he also has the King himself behind him, so you also have to make the blade good enough for his majesty."

Aether rolled his eyes, walking to Atlas. "Quit scaring him; it doesn’t matter what the King thinks, and I’m sure he’s going to do an amazing job." He said, summoning the antler, as he put in onto the table. "I want you to use this... It’s quite an amazing material, special, if I must say so myself.

And also, name it Raven, and for the abilities." He chuckled. "Leave them up to fate; I have a vivid idea of what they are going to be."

Aether said, as he transferred the relic to Atlas, who smiled.

"I won’t let you down."