Socrates woke up after some while, his gaze traveling around him slowly before sitting up and crossing his legs in a lotus position, droplets of water still clinging faintly to his clothing and hair.
He looked around him, his gaze traveling into the stream and then a subtle smile formed on his face, the corners of his lips lifting slightly as he observed the steady and unnatural flow of the water.
"Seems like it's a success." He reached to get up when he found something hovering just above the ground, floating gently in the air like a suspended droplet caught in time.
It was white but not translucen, thick and shaped in a little ball form, its surface smooth and slightly shimmering under the faint reflection of daylight.
Socrates was amazed by the little thing as he stretched out one of his fingers and poked it gently with his fingertip. The ball was a condensed liquid of water which wrapped around his finger and then turned into a straight line, elongating like a thread pulled from a drop.
The line didn't just stay still but moved as it twirled around Socrates' arm, climbing upward slowly before going straight to his face....
Before Socrates could even think or move, the liquid rushed into his nose, penetrating inside his body system with startling speed.
"What the heck was that?" He asked himself as his eyes seemed to bring out water, blinking repeatedly as the strange sensation traveled through his senses.
'That's a dew... It's a condensed water current, the product of your forced change of the stream... It's very rare to consume dew... Aren't you a lucky one?' Socrates was answered by the voice from the bracelets, the tone carrying mild amusement.
"What effect does it carry out?"
'It expands the meridian and strengthens the mana pathways. Oops... I forgot your mana pathway has been destroyed by your foolishness..'
"Senior... Can't you help me find a solution to my destroyed meridians?" Socrates asked, his brows tightening slightly as he spoke.
'Brazen... You truly are a brazen boy... I'll find a solution for you and in exchange you'll give me two of your arms.' Lady Achillia demanded, her tone firm and uncompromising.
"No oo... I can't give you my two arms. If I give you that, then there's no future for me again." Socrates protested, shaking his head quickly as disbelief flashed across his face.
'So on what ground should I help you? Who the hell are you? I can sniff out your life in an instant and look for another candidate that will wear this bracelet. What do you think you are huh, the Son Of Trueblood.. You want I, the Goddess of Death, to help you find a solution to your meridians... Just what level of confidence.. You already owe me for saving your life and you're demanding from me.. If not that you're the only person that has established a connection with me for decades now, I wouldn't have allowed my last strand of consciousness to latch unto a broken vessel like you... You want to make a deal with a Gladiator King and you don't want to sacrifice.. You must feel everyone in this world is like the man that died for you.. Mr. Jaggers.'
The name caused a spark in Socrates' heart as his eyes flashed with a glint of madness, memories striking like lightning across his thoughts.
"That's enough.." He screamed, holding his head in anger as he stood up abruptly, his fingers digging into his temples as if to silence the echo of the voice.
"This is a dog eat dog world... Just because someone showed me kindness before doesn't mean everyone will be the same.. I've been too kind.. Mastrile, Merkules... I've been too kind and you both almost cost me my life... If it wasn't because of the help of King Achillia.. The story would've been different.. Maybe I wouldn't have survived the Sky Pavilion assault."
"Say no more... For this debt you owe, you shall pay." A glint of madness tore through his gaze as he stepped forward, walking in the direction of the Earth Pavilion, his footsteps firm against the damp ground.
The Gladiator King watched him from inside one of the golden bracelets, irritated by his mere presence. "Fool.. " She muttered before turning her gaze away to rest, her presence fading into silence once again.
.
.
Every single disciple kept singing and crying about Socrates...
The Son of Trueblood had done an interesting feat..
He had filled the drum that had never been filled before....
Not just for a day but for eternity.. That's no matter how many times they fetch, the Sky Earth Drum will still fill up back.
This made the water abundant and everyone energetic while singing praises of the Son of Trueblood, voices echoing loudly through corridors and open courtyards.
Everyone except these three who sat at the far end of the cafeteria, their expressions dark and restrained despite the surrounding celebration.
"I can't believe he completed such a task all alone."
"How on earth did he trigger the defensive mechanism of the golden token." Merkules sighed, leaning forward slightly with tension in his shoulders.
"Now.. Only his name is being chanted everywhere. He's the number 1 Gladiator in both the Sky Pavilion and Earth Pavilion."
"Look.. Look at him..."
"Woo.. Look at that person..." Another person pointed to his friend as he pointed at the young man who took his seat at another end and placed his order, his movements calm and unhurried despite the growing attention around him.
"Although he's wearing a cloak, I still recognize his temperament."
"I sense no aura so it must definitely be him."
The disciples of the Earth Pavilion hushed among themselves as they watched Socrates' order being given to him, their voices dropping into murmurs as curiosity spread like wildfire across the crowded hall.
It didn't even take two minutes more before the Sky Pavilion disciples rushed into the cafeteria, their hurried footsteps echoing loudly against the stone floor.
"We heard that Socrates is here... Yes.. We heard that the Son of Trueblood is here.."
Then everyone's eyes drifted to the cloaked figure who was busy eating without paying them any attention, his head lowered slightly as he focused on his meal.
"Brother Socrates.. Here you are... I heard about your heavenly feat.. You're a rare gem.... Let's party and celebrate Brother Socrates' win... The bill is on the house." The disciple cried out, raising his voice excitedly as he slapped his palm on the table.
There was a large bubble of excitement as everyone kept ordering, the noise level rising rapidly as plates clattered and laughter filled the wide cafeteria space.
They ordered for Socrates who also ate and drank but with constraint as tonight.. He must carry out the mission back in the most flawless manner possible. There's absolutely no room for error.
The disciple that had brought the extreme excitement to the atmosphere suddenly stood up while clearly drunk as he recounted tales of the treasure he had and adventures he had gone to, waving his hands wildly as he spoke.
"I Great Captain Osopp... I'm the most wealthiest disciple in our pavilion and also the most strongest... No Second most strongest... Our strongest here is none other than the Son of Trueblood.. SOCRATES.."
"SOCRATES.."
"SOCRATES..."
"SOCRATES.."
The chant reverberated through the whole cafeteria, bouncing off the tall walls and wooden beams overhead, and Socrates just concentrated on his food without saying anything, his expression calm and unreadable beneath the shadow of his cloak.
It was as if his mindset wasn't here at all as his side eyes trailed after the trio that was seated at the other extreme of the cafeteria..
He chuckled slightly as he got up and exited the cafeteria in silence while the others kept celebrating, their cheers still echoing behind him as he disappeared into the dimly lit corridor.
Socrates went directly to the blacksmith where his Double Battle axe was being reforged, the steady ringing of metal against metal echoing faintly even before he stepped inside the forge.
The heat from the furnace pressed against his skin as sparks flickered through the air, glowing briefly before dying against the dark stone floor.
"You came at the right moment, boy... Your axe has been reforged completely.. However there's some slight tweak which has increased your payment but because of the impossible feat you carried out... You won't be charged this time around." The Blacksmith announced to Socrates, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist as the orange glow of molten metal reflected in his eyes.
Socrates nodded his head as he thanked the Blacksmith profusely before accepting the two axes, his grip firm as his fingers wrapped around the newly shaped handles.
It was a two long axe now with a bent handle that shaped like S and a sharp blade that looked like it could cut through mountain, the edges gleaming faintly under the forge light.
The weight felt familiar yet improved, balanced perfectly as if crafted to match the rhythm of his movements.
"Mr. Jaggers..." He called as he recalled the origin of the two axes..
Then the image of the dead man scattered in his mind as it was replaced by the image of three individuals, their faces surfacing clearly in his thoughts like figures carved into stone.
"Three of you... Your debt shall be repaid tonight.."
The words left his mouth quietly, yet the tone carried a cold certainty that lingered in the heated air of the forge, the flames behind him crackling softly as if acknowledging the vow.