[Inside Mythos Bank]:
The inside of Mythos Bank had 6 main floors, each on the on the surface of the
Bank, while the bank itself had glass walls, showing the Sun on the horizon. On the first floor, many families of various species scuffled about, interacting with bank attendant and workers, whom all turned out to be gnomes — small, clever creatures 3/4ths the size of cats that stood on high stools to manage behind the counter work or wore glasses as they went over paperwork and business files and such.
"Gnomes are a dangerous species to cross which makes them perfect peoples in banking," Cimon said, almost excitedly, as he led Corven into a line already long."There's this legend that giant drakes and wyverns guard the vaults below the bank — You know, the very important vaults. No one dares to rob Mythos Banks because no one wants to deal with such a formidable draconic species. Plus, gnomes don't fight fair."
Corven took a moment to take this in. It felt like Corven had stepped inside a chapter of that old story with the boy wizard going to a similar bank, but with wizards and goblins instead of demigods and gnomes. The main difference was that this scenario was more real than such stories.
Corven shook his head, as if to shake himself from such thoughts. As he looked around, he saw various species idling and doing business inside this bank. Elves, humans, dwarves and pixies were all there, some in groups that were evidently their families. Some were by themselves, solitudinous. Corven even saw some beastkin — beastial humanoids that were as short as a human or as tall as a bear, some even reaching even taller heights.
He saw minotaurs and werewolves as well as dragonborn people with wings, flying overhead to and from floors in the spacious lobby of the bank. A few well-dressed people in dark with fangs — clearly vampires — were talking to a bank clerk about a business deal on artificial blood, though whatever that had to do with the clerk was lost on Corven. It was a whole new world of creatures, some of which Corven had only read about in fantasy books.
"Next in line!" a squeak of a voice said, signaling for Corven and Cimon to step forward. They did so without hassle.
The gnome standing before a computer screen behind the desk in front of them stood on top of a stool wearing a red pointy hat just like its brethrens. It had a clever face and semi-permanent sneer on its face seemingly. As it clicked on its mouse, it spoke, its attention not leaving its screen as it type on its little keypad. "How can I help you today?"
"Yes, we're looking to access Vault 7761, please. It should be under the surname 'Umbrovante' in your system database," Cimon spoke, turning to Corven with a smile.
As the gnome searched the database, her gaze not leaving her screen even as she typed, she released a small gasp, before looking at the duo before her.
The gnome fixed them with a studious gaze, before signaling to whom Corven had assumed to be her supervisor or some superior of sorts to come over to her screen. They also had gasped upon seeing the screen and all Corven could catch were a few words such as "grade z vault," and "impossible," causing him to become even more curious as to what that all meant.
The two gnomes eyed Corven and Cimon suspiciously.
"Where did you get this information from?" the supervisor sharply said to Corven and Cimon, causing nearby customers to eye the two of them.
"I-what?" Corven asked, lost for a minute.
To this, the two gnomes only eyed Corven more intensively, but Corven fixed them with a blank look, but, internally, he was so confused and kinda frustrated. He wasn't sure what these people were even talking about. What was this about a grade z vault? He honestly wasn't sure how to respond to anything these gnomes would throw at him to answer, so he just did his best to look innocent… If going blank in the face could be considered innocent.
"It is a bank account belonging to House Umbrovante," Cimon said, glaring sharply, before gesturing to Corven. "This is Corven Umbrovante, the heir of House Umbrovante. As the heir to House Morpheus, I can concur and verify his claim."
"You are aware that Vault 7761 is a Grade Z Vault, and is of our most utmost securest of vaults, young man?" asked the supervisor, eyeing both Corven and Cimon, who just nodded his head. "There is a special added security feature securing it. Not just anyone can unseal it, you are aware?"
"I am aware," Cimon acknowledged. "And it's actually for my friend here. He's from House Umbrovante."
The gnomes eyed Corven with interest. They have never heard of this "House Umbrovante" before today, but they knew it would have to be a special house, maybe even a forgotten one that has found great enough treasure to resurface. Either way, they were interested in what could be within this grade z vault. "Very well, Corven Umbrovante. Let us go to Vault 7761, then," the gnome supervisor squeaked out, leading the way.
[Corven Umbrovante]:
The elevator to the 7,000th floor was a 9 minute decent ride, even with the high speed elevator.
It ran smoothly, though. There was that, at least. Still, it kept Corven antsy, thinking of what this 'special security feature' was that the supervisor had spoken about.
The supervisor gnome's name was Tar-lakus, and he was very eager to take them to Vault 7761. He knew that these youths were lying, they won't make it out the vault area alive — No one robs a gnome!
That said, he was curious as to what could be in Vault 7761. A grade z vault was essentially the most secure vault type money can get you in all of Mythos Bank. Very few people would buy them mostly because they are so expensive. The ones who do buy them, do so typically because they are hiding something world-changingly important.
As such, though being a hundred years old, Tar'lakus has rarely ever seen anyone access such a vault type. It's only happened twice in his lifetimes prior, and, for both of them, it did not happen on his shift. He was curious who this man was, what his house[House Umbrovante, if he remembered correctly] was to be able to afford such a vault type and what was inside.
Of course, that was why he left his station to handle this matter personally himself. Maybe he could watch history unfold before him just this once, in real time.
Then again, if, disappointingly, this duo turns out to be liars and thieves, they'll die before they even the thought to escape reaches them.
No one robs gnomes!
The door opened manually when they reached the 7, 000th floor, and the elevator master called it "7, 000th 700ths floor!"
And they exited the elevator.
As they made their way through the corridors, Tar'lakus couldn't help glancing at Corven, as if seizing him up. He did not seemed all that great at first glance, but Tar'lakus knew never to underestimate anyone. Years in the business of banking, he learned this lesson through hardships, tough times, and countless mistakes. His experience was one that was born from the most bumpy of rollercoaster rides, so he knew not to underestimate a potential business partner.
Still, the boy looked just that — like a boy. His cultivation wasn't high, if even there at all. And his aura, though definitely a loner, wasn't necessarily even formidable. He looked barely even of noble lineage. He was just… well, him. Seemingly and inexplicably an average joe in the most mundane of definitives.
As they arrived before a grand vault door twice the size of a museum's, Tar
Lakus had given up on the idea that these kids weren't here to cause mischief and trouble. It was further cemented when the Corven boy looked to his friend, almost as if in question, before turning to Tar'lakus inquisitively, as if not knowing what to do.
'Who doesn't know how to access their own vault door!?' thought to himself.
Sighing, Tar'lakus prepared for the gory scene to come mentally, though he explained anyway. "There's three steps: Retinol scan, finger print scan and dna sample."
Corven nodded, stepping forward to a stand that had two red lasered lights in the middle of two eye-shaped holes. He placed his eyes on level and they scanned.
With a CHINK sound, the next platform appeared beside the first, startling Tar'lakus, who thought he'd see blood dotting these narrow cavernous walls. Instead, he saw the second platform rise from the ground, "I wonder…".
Corven put his thumb in the fingerprint scanner. It BEEPed. Then a third platform appeared on it and there was a needle. Tar'lakus had his hopes up again. 'Maybe, just maybe…,' he thought, as Corven begin the third process.
Pricking his thumb finger, Corven waited, watch as the blood enter the narrow tube of the needle. Soon, a robotic voice sounded. "Welcome back, Master Umbrovante," and the double doors opened into a vast cavern.
"I'll stay out here,: Cimon said, respectfully, before gesturing to Tar'lakus. "We both will."
His meaning was clear. He didn't trust Tar'lakus, so he'd be staying out there to watch him, ensuring he would take anything that wasn't his. Tar'lakus wasn't bothered by this, though. He would have time to see what the boy would bring out whenever he exited the vault. He showed his sharped, shark-like teeth in a disturbing smile and then bowed. "Yes."
Corven only nodded his affirmative, and went inside. He could help but gasp at what he saw.
Corven gasped upon entering the vault.
It was huge, with many pedestrians showcasing various expensive items such as armor, weaponry and strange trinkets with descriptions beside their showcases, some in a language Corven could not understand.
In the center of the chamber, there was a huge pile of coins – bronze, silver, gold and diamond coins! Corven counted at least half a million of the diamond coins, with a higher reserve of coins in platinum, gold, silver, bronze and copper — Each more in number than the last in that order. All of these coins were Mythos world currency, Corven somehow knew, but he also knew he was still rich all the same. This wasn't just a small fortune — It was huge! And he didn't need to know Mythos economics to know that.
He was about to touch one of these coins when a display case caught his eye — It was a small seed the size of a pebble, but it was glowing a mysterious blue color in hue.
Curious and unsure what this thing was, Corven made his way over to the descriptionless display case, and removed the casing, before simply touching the seed.
Instantly, information embedded itself in his mind. It was a 'Progenitor Seed.' It would allow its host to create a whole new species from a pre-mapped blueprint, typically something influenced by whatever bloodline is absorbed by it during its growth, but this one was special.
Tentatively, Corven picked it up. He sniffed it, before putting it in his mouth and swallowing it. Instead of it going into his stomach, it made a beeline for his head centering itself into his brain, before Corven felt it merge with his nervous system. It was a weird feeling, but at least it did not hurt.
Eventually, something else caught his eye: A basketball sized sphere, crystal clear, with a swirling mass of inky purple, dark blue, shadowy black and pale white energy swirling around inside around on another like a whirlpool of energy.
Picking a sword with a bronze-silver blade and a matching hilt, Corven made his way over to the strange sphere, carefully removing the casing protecting it before he tentatively touched the strange sphere. Nothing happened.
Sighing, slightly in relief, Corven was about to put down his sword and try again to touch the object when suddenly his environment changed…
He was no longer in the Vault. Instead, Corven was standing before a realm of black darkness in every direction. He'd get lost if he didn't have perfect nocturnal vision — Still, he couldn't know which direction to walk in as in all directions there was only darkness. Below his feet, he felt a low expanse of water, but, considering he could feel the bottom, he figured it wasn't too deep and he wasn't worried about drowning in this water.
Suddenly, a voice sounded, seeming to come in every direction yet none at the same time. "You have been chosen to take the Trial of Key! Prepare yourself! Should you be victorious, you shall be awarded."
Corven was perplexed, but, before he could ask who this guy was, or what he meant, the voice continued. "You shall face three stages of this trial; each stage will be much more difficult than the last! Get ready; the first stage begins… NOW!"
Immediately, rushing wind blew towards Corven as he looked around himself — What he saw made his heart drop. He was surrounded. Surrounding him were 25 chaos hounds, their menacing appearances a detergent towards their prey and their growling primal; they were eyeing Corven like he was to be their prey.
'This? Again?' Corven cursed himself for touching that stupid object. 'FUUUCCKKK!'
And the worst part? There was no Achlys or Cimon aiding him. And his shadow summoning ability wasn't working, so he couldn't summon Eclipse. He was all on his own.
Readying his gladius, Corven prepared himself just as the first hound charged at him.