Ama escorted Rex to the upper quarters of their establishment, a place that held two adjoining rooms.
Knock! Knock!
Ama knocked twice and opened the door without waiting for a reply. She gestured towards Rex, a sign for him to hold on. He stood by the door as he observed the architectural style of the building. On a scan, it was based on the medieval style of earth, but it was different, in that the architectural style did not look crude. Each part of the building encompassed a form of art and artistic attention, one that might not even be found in the royal construction of medieval earth.
The amount of attention given to every minute detail was impressive, but he was numb to being amazed by it. COSMIC ASCENDANCE COULD ADVANCE BODY EVOLUTION, nothing could beat that.
"Come in, Prime," Ama called from inside the room.
In the room, Rex saw a spry older lady with silvery hair and facial features that still stood firm, not minding the shadow of agedness that loomed over them.
"You are quite the young one," the older lady smiled as she spoke, exposing a still very healthy dentition. Rex's eyes took in all of the room as he studied the older lady. She was clothed in a white gown, its style giving an impression of effortless comfort.
"This is Nala, Prime. The star and owner of this establishment" Ama announced.
"No need for that, dear. Just let us be," Nala spoke dismissively. Ama acknowledged with a slight bow.
"Please, I will love Frolbird Soup for dinner," Nala spoke briskly before shooting Ama from the room.
"Mama, we already prepared lamb stew for dinner." Ama protested begrudgingly.
"Just buy some, Ama. For WarGod's sake, it's Kraj Jari; you did not have to cook!" Nala barked. An action that caused Ama to shut the door loudly as she made her way downstairs.
"Sorry for that, dear," Nala apologized, her tone making Rex feel safe and relaxed.
"My! My! What is that branding on your neck?"
"This?" Rex pulled off his mantle in one fell swoop.
"Can you come closer, dear?" Rex drew closer for her to observe his Overlord branding. It was still only restricted to his torso, shoulder, neck, and thighs. His dark briefs, the only cloth item the game system had bestowed him with, covered his privates.
He generously let Nala study the brandings to her heart's content, an activity that took an uncomfortable amount of time.
"You are not from Balderia..."
Rex felt his heartbeat quicken in response to this whisper, as a jolt traveled all through his body.
'That's just too much realism,' Rex screamed inside. He had no idea how to respond, but he did not have to. Nala continued, "The markings you carry, you were born with them. They bear the unique signature of your very being."
"Most would not know, but the ancient records carry the knowledge of such markings."
She continued, "I had been fortunate enough to have explored the world outside of Alderom. I have come across several knowledge and tales. Several such tales talk about the visitor, an ancient being that taught us the path of the WarGods. Several of these tales described him as bearing such markings. He was said to not have been born of this world, but a descended being. You are not from this world; your brandings are just like that of the torchbearer. I know I am not wrong."
Nala concluded her rambling with certainty, her gown clinging to her figure, sweat-drenched. Her hands couldn't stop trembling as she tried to smooth the creases that ran across her dress.
"I have seen your markings before in my dreams. I do recall now. They have been there from the very day I awakened my Arma." Nala's shoulders dropped as she ended the last sentence; the words had taken a lot of effort from her.
A certain silence hung between the two occupants of the room, Nala and Rex. He was at a loss for what to say. This was a game. His quest was to touch the meteorite, not conduct some form of planetary espionage.
Nala silently studied him in the silence. Several moments later, her determined gaze betrayed the fact that she had come to a form of decision. She broke the silence as she bent and dragged out a metallic box from under her bed.
There was no distinct feature that pointed to how the box was meant to be opened until Nala recited a chant. The blue color of her eyes deepened in response to her chant.
Click!
The box popped open, displaying its content: a neatly folded black mantle with almost similar markings as the Overlord Branding. "You should put this on, Kin of the Torch Bearer," Nala said as she pushed the box towards Rex.
As Rex put on the mantle, his brain was assaulted with a feeling he had never experienced before. It felt like his body was being caressed by fluffy clouds. The inner part of the mantle was made from wool, and its exterior had a leather-like shine. There was a standing mirror in Nala's study which he used to observe himself.
He looked like a young, brutal commander in the dark mantle. It gave him a feeling of might as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He noted down the moment as the very first time he fell in love with a cloak.
As he stood impressed by his image, the mantle began to morph, slowly adapting and changing its shape. This continued until it completely adapted to Rex's body.
"Ahhh!!" Nala gasped at the development. Her breath quickened as she walked up to Rex and touched the mantle, admiring the changes that had resulted from Rex putting it on. "It is really destined for you," she said in between labored breath.
The blues of Nala's eyes deepened as light crackles of blue began to manifest all across her body. She was evolving into a prime, a hurdle she had not been able to surmount for a very long time.
The dark mantle she had given Rex was the embodiment of all of her Arma spells, skills, and her lifetime mastery of tailoring. It was the peak of her craft, a memoir she had cherished for the past few years since she made it.
From the moment she set her eyes on Rex, she could feel an instinctual awareness that the Mantle was his. It felt like she was living a moment that she had waited for, for a very long time.
"We are done, Kin of the Torch Bearer. The mantle is yours."
"Observing your markings is payment enough," Nala added as she went into a meditative pose.
Rex silently excused himself. The interaction with Nala had been very intense. The moment he shut the door, the Feminine Announcer's voice sounded.
"Overlord Outer Garment obtained."
The dark mantle disintegrated from his body.
"Overlord Outer Garment added to Inventory."
"What?!"
Rex grudgingly put on the brown cape as he made his way downstairs. He could not muster the mental strength to begin to try and make sense of the game system's erratic actions towards him since he initiated his quest.
He met Ama carrying a wooden flask as he descended the stairs. "Hope she didn't give you any trouble, Prime," she asked eagerly. "No, she didn't," Rex replied in a hurry and bid her farewell.
His Timer was pulsing in his view.
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