Realm of Myths and Legends

Chapter 1267: Tampered, A Kindred Spirit

’An Elder of the Formation Guild most likely oversees the overall distribution of the badges. I doubt they manage every aspect of them, so the possibility of tampering is high. To tamper with a badge managed by the Formation Master Guild and apply curse magic at a high enough level to evade my senses—it must have been done by a master of curse magic. The Formation Master Guild is not an easy place to break in to undetected. There’s a high chance that whoever cursed the badge is a part of the Formation Master Guild. Or, at the very least, someone influential enough to grant others access to secured areas. Then, it has to be someone at the level of Elder or higher.’

"I see. Will the curse activate again once I return to normal space?" Izroth inquired.

"No, a curse that strong would not be able to activate more than once. Still, it is never bad to be on the safe side. It is not uncommon for cursed item to have lingering aftereffects." Hyrell warned.

"I will keep that in mind." Izroth replied calmly.

He then continued, "I never introduced myself. I am called Izroth. I am an Honorary Elder of the Apothecary Guild and a Grade Five Apothecary."

Hyrell’s eyes rose in surprise, "You can just call me Hyrell. I hate formalities. Izroth, is it? Becoming a Grade Five Apothecary at your age is impressive. An Honorary Elder, on the other hand, it is practically unheard of. You must be a once in a century genius. It is a shame that your path was not that of a Formation Master. Otherwise, I would no longer have to stay in a place like this."

"Oh? Is there a reason that you can’t leave this place?" Izroth asked curiously.

"I can leave whenever I want. But, if I do, I fear that a lifetime of work will vanish in an instant." Hyrell said as she looked off into the distant with a wandering gaze.

"A lifetime of work?"

Hyrell released a heavy sigh before she regained her focus and said, "You are not a Formation Master, so it is not something that concerns you. But, perhaps, since it has been so long since I have seen another face, I am rather talkative today."

She then continued, "A long time ago, I reached the pinnacle of what it means to be a Formation Master. Creating a grand-tier pinnacle-ranked magic formation became as easy as breathing to me."

’A grand-tier pinnacle-ranked magic formation? This person—as I thought, she must be the 12th Head of the Formation Master Guild, Hyrell. To be a Grade Ten Formation Master who reached the peak, it is too much of a coincidence to believe that they are two different people. Even more so given how this magic formation influences space and time. Still, it’s been 150 years since her disappearance was recorded. Has she been here the entire time? To create a magic formation that allowed her to survive this long without seemingly aging shows just how skilled she is.’

"One day, as I stood looking at the stars, a question came across my mind. What is the origin of magic formations? Not the superficial origin, but its true origin. All languages in the world originate from the Tongue of Origination. All magic is merely an imitation of the laws of the world. Then, what is it that magic formations are trying to imitate?" Hyrell explained.

’As expected of someone who has reached the peak of their craft. Instead of resting on their achievements, they continue to look forward to what lies beyond.’

Those truly passionate about their craft would never be satisfied with their level of knowledge. In their eyes, there would always be a higher sky to reach for. It seemed that Hyrell was someone who took live and breathed being a Formation Master.

"After years of research and traveling the world for answers, I finally found a clue to my question. An ancient art that had been swept away by the sands of time—Arcane Scripts." Hyrell stated with a serious expression.

Izroth’s brows rose in surprise. Besides himself, Izroth did not think that there was anyone else in the entire Mortal Realm who knew about Arcane Scripts. After all, just as Hyrell said, it was an ancient art long lost to the passage of time.

’Should I thank the person who placed a curse on the badge? If not for that, I would have never met her. This might be an unexpected opportunity. Although I came to the Formation Master Guild feeling hopeful, there was not a single mention of Arcane Scripts in any of the books or orbs. In truth, I figured the chances of there being so were incredibly small. There probably isn’t a single book about Arcane Scripts that exists anywhere in the Mortal Realm. That’s why, any knowledge regarding Arcane Scripts is priceless.’

Hyrell sighed and said, "Alas, even being considered a genius of my era, I only managed to reach what I believe to be the equivalent of a Grade Six Arcane Script Runemaster."

’Grade Six?’

〈System Alert: You have discovered «The Last Arcane Script Runemaster»!〉

〈System Alert: You have received the quest «Acknowledge Me»!〉

〈System Alert: Would you like to accept the quest?〉

Quest Name: Acknowledge Me

Recommended Level: N/A

Recommended Party Size: N/A

Quest Rank: N/A

Quest Objective: You have found «The Last Arcane Script Runemaster, Hyrell». Become her student.

Time Limit: None

0/1 Become «The Last Arcane Script Runemaster, Hyrell»’s student.

Reward:

-Quest Adjustment of «Path of a Legendary Craftsman»

-Max favor with «Hyrell»

-«Production Method: Arcane Ink»

-«???»

Failure:

-None

Special Note: This quest cannot be shared.

Izroth quickly read over the quest information that appeared before him.

’Quest adjustment? Not to mention, max favor with a Grade Ten Formation Master, Grade Six Arcane Script Runemaster and someone who was the former head of the Formation Master Guild. Add to that the production method of Arcane Ink—no matter how I look at it, there is no down side to accepting this quest.’

Under normal circumstances, such a quest seemed too good to be true. But, the fact that there was no failure penalty meant that there was no hidden scheme at play. Furthermore, Hyrell did not seem like a deceitful person.

’Is this what one refers to as stumbling on the road to success? To think I would run into the last remaining Arcane Script Runemaster on a trip to the Formation Master Guild.’

"Is that the reason why you are stuck here? Are you trying to break through your limits and become a Grade Seven Arcane Script Runemaster?" Izroth questioned.

"That is half right and half wrong. I discovered that in order to create higher tier Arcane Scripts, at least two Arcane Script Runemasters are required. Since I was the only Arcane Script Runemaster of my era, naturally, it was impossible for me to progress any faster. I even tried teaching some of the Elders of the Formation Master Guild at the time; however, none of them were compatible. It made me understand why magic formations were created in the first place. Arcane Scripts are many times more powerful and resourceful. But, one cannot reach the pinnacle alone." Hyrell replied with a long sigh.

She then explained, That it why I set up a test on the fifth floor of the Formation Master Guild. As long as someone managed to pass that test, they would be brought to this isolated layer of space. And, they should also be someone with the qualities of becoming an Arcane Script Runemaster. But, you clearly have a strong scent of pills coming from the cauldron on your arm. You are also not wearing the robes of a Formation Master. That is why I still cannot fully comprehend how you were able to reach this place, even with the curse’s activation."

"I can answer that question." Izroth said as he removed the Runic Quill from his inventory and held it forward.

"That is...!" Hyrell exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock. She quickly moved her face before the Runic Quill and examined it carefully.

"How is this possible..?! It’s a real Runic Quill...!" Hyrell gasped in shock.

As for as she knew, the production method for the Runic Quill had been lost. Even she had an incredibly difficult time figuring out how to create one after painstaking years of research. For one to appear before her eyes now and in the hands of someone who was not even a Formation Master—how could Hyrell not be taken aback?

"How did you manage to get your hands on this? Where did you find it? Where there any other clues around that place? Do you know what an Arcane Script Runemaster is?" Hyrell launched a flurry of questions at Izroth.

Hyrell’s excitement was understandable. She was someone who had waited 150 years for someone with the potential of becoming a Arcane Script Runemaster. To have potentially found someone capable of doing so, the look of excitement on her face could not be hidden.