Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Simon fiddled with the object the size of his palm and covered in arrays, before shifting his gaze away. The next thing that attracted his eyes, was the emblem of phoenix.

No matter how he observed it, the shape of the phoenix in this emblem appeared to be the same as the one he had seen on Irene's forehead when she suddenly acted weird. Although he had no conclusive evidence, he guessed that the thing was somehow related to her bloodline or her race.

Simon tried to grab the emblem only to feel a bone-chilling cold that even made his soul shudder transmit from it. Just this sensation was enough to tell him that the item was anything but ordinary.

His guess was not wrong; however, when he used [Analysis] on it, the result he got even made him bewildered. Why would he not, the item was ranked [S] tier by the [Analysis], a grade that not even his highest tier item the Crimson Blazing Flame Sword couldn't compare to.

What did it mean to own an [S] tier item? Didn't it mean that he held one of the highest-ranking items in this world whose worth even he couldn't begin to guess, currently in his hand? Even those noble and highborn Demon Archduke, would go crazy over the item, there was no way Simon wouldn't. 

Calming his wildly beating heart at this shocking of a gift, Simon read the description of the item.

Item- Ice Phoenix's Sigh, Grade- [S]... A dew born from the melancholic sigh of the Divine Phoenix. It contains some of the essence of the  supreme netherfrost ice that is said to have the power to even freeze the entire world. When one puts their mana into it, a unique fog capable of tempering with the laws of this world is generated.

The extreme divine and ice properties of the dew makes it an excellent item to erase one's presence and make it seem that the person had completely disappeared. 

Simon opened and closed his mouth many times unable to even speak a word. Ignoring everything else, just the part about it being able to erase his presence, was something that was unthinkable for Simon. Even his [Hide Presence] skill could only mask his presence with his surrounding a little so an item can completely erase one's presence was so absurd that he had a hard time believing it. 

Nevertheless, it was an item from Irene and even his [Analysis[ testified the authenticity of it. Simon was overjoyed, with this item, he had one more life-saving artefact in his arsenal

With ecstatic and excited feeling, he rested his gaze onto the last item, the scarlet orb. Out of the three, only this item induced a wierd reaction from the [Analysis].

Item- Philosopher's Stone, Grade- unknown... A mystical item highly valued by all beings. It is made of an unknown substance and holds the ability to store any kind of magic no matter how powerful it is. Once the magic stored within it is used, it takes a long period of time for it to be usable once again. Note- the magic can be used without the caster's mana. Cooldown period:- 1 Year.

<br/>Simon's eyes were widened to their limit when he read the description written about the stone. At first glance, the usage of the item appeared to be the same as the skill crystal; however, unlike the latter, the philosopher's stone does not need the caster's mana to use the magic nor does it have any limit of the magic it can store.

Just these two aspects made it far superior to any skill crustal of any grade.

When he held the stone in his hand, he felt a vast amount of power emanate from it, indicating that the magic stored within it was not ordinary. Without having a need to think over it, Simon knew that Irene had stored some magic in it already.

Even the slightest trace leaking out of the stone was already so frightening; he wondered what kind of terrifying magic was stored in it.

With the last item now in his hand, the illusory space around him collapsed and he was back in his room at the inn.

"Haa… haa…"Simon took hurried breaths of air before calming his wildly beating heart. Currently in his hands were three items, the first was the Ice Phoenix Sigh, the second was the Philosopher's stone and the last one was the mysterious item covered in multilayered and complex runes.

Just when he kept the items on his inventory, an uproar sounded out from outside his room, people who were jolted awake by the sudden burst of bone-chilling cold, came to investigate where it originated from.

Knock…knock… His door was knocked and Simon had no choice but to open it.

"Sir Simon are you alright? We felt the invocation of an incredible magic from here" the members of the convoy asked him in concern when they felt the energy was leaking out from his room. It seemed that he had underestimated the energy that leaked out from the bead, even after secluding himself in a room, the energy still managed to travel outside.

Dispersing the issue as nothing but the invocation of his magic, he was able to somehow deceive these people; nonetheless, they still kept sceptical looks as they eyes the frost covered room of his.

                                                                  -----

A day passed with the convoy members resting their tired bodies. The morning of the next day, Cynthia who was dressed in an elegant black dress and accompanied by her guard commander and some of the silver guards, took her wagon to visit a place.

While on their way, the striking appearance of the Bane Moose attracted a lot of eyes but when these onlookers saw the direction where the wagon was headed, they gave up all thoughts of investigating the origins of these people.

Not long after, the carriage stopped in front of a large gate beyond which laid the grand castle of the Duke Montford. Guards wearing sets of armours were stationed around and patrolled the area. When they saw a group of people surrounding a wagon approaching near, they stopped them before inquiring about their identities.

The gate was opened and the carriage swiftly entered in. The personal residence of a duke was truly huge, even the area around his castle was well maintained with many small gardens and big buildings here and there.

After what took a couple dozen minutes, the wagon finally stopped in front of the entrance of a grand castle emanating a sturdy and powerful ambience.

Cynthia along with Alvara who was donned in her battle garb, climbed the stairs to meet a maid and a butler who were already waiting for them.

"Welcome Your Highness, I'm the head maid assigned by lord Montford to take care of any of your needs. Please come in" the maid made a gesture with her hand.

Cynthia nodded her head before asking "Where is His Grace Duke Montford?".

The head maid elegantly bowed and replied "His Lordship is currently busy with a guest from the Adventurer's Association, he will come down to meet with you soon".

'A guest from the Adventurer's Association?' the words of the head maid made her frown nonetheless, she allowed them to lead her to a hall. Apart from the guard commander Alvara, all the other silver guards were asked to stand stationary outside the castle.

The interior of the castle was no less impressive than its exterior with each room decorated lavishly. After waiting for a while in the hall, the door to the room was opened and a man who looked to be in his forties with ageing grey hair, walked in.

He was wearing a tailored suit that matched the colour of his hair and his stoic face and sharp eyes, gave him an aura of a person of authority. Who could the person be other than the duke of this castle?

Following behind him was a handsome man in his twenties wearing lurid red robes. He carried himself with a smile and held a long cane imbued with a big core stone on top. The man was a mage through and through.

Cynthia and Alvara greeted the duke before seating back down on their seats. Duke Montford gestured with his hands and he and the man following behind him sat opposite them.

"Let me introduce him to you. He is Lucas Blackwood, son of the prominent Marquis family and also the youngest man to become the guild manager of the Adventurer's Association of our Castledor city. Additionally, he will also be participating in the upcoming 'Battle of the Finest' competition held in the capital" 

Duke Montford introduced, the way he gave such high praises for the man, seemed to say that he held the other person in high regards.

Lucas smiled, appearing amiable and friendly to speak to.

"And Lucas this is…" Duke Montford motioned with his hands and was about to introduce the other party when Lucas stopped him.

"Your Grace does not need to expend his effort, who doesn't know Her Highness the youngest princess of the Kingdom of Ellesmere. It is said that her intelligence and her beauty were the greatest and the most precious gems of this kingdom. It seems that the rumours were true indeed"

Lucas smiled, his handsome face could instantly smitten any noblewomen. However, Cynthia simply nodded. With her intelligence, how could she not see the intoxication in his eyes and his attempts of leaving an impression on her?

She was aware of her beauty which was coveted by many of the noblemen and famous adventurers who repeatedly sent her gifts trying to court her. Nonetheless, all of it was a failed endeavour on their part, as nobody managed to sway her.