As the vault door swung open, a musty rush of ancient air poured out. It smelled like an old library, but with a sharper, more inorganic chill. The interior was pitch black.
"Please wait a moment."
The staff member guiding us lifted a lamp from his belt. It wasn't fueled by fire but by magic. Makes sense—if a flame accidentally ignited inside, it would be a disaster. He twisted the button, and with a click, the small light blazed surprisingly bright. The glow spread, revealing the vault's contents.
"We do offer delivery services as standard... but there's not much in here anyway. Take a look."
True enough. Despite the vault's massive size, there were only two items inside: a metal cube and...
🗡 Arachne of the Sovereign 🗡A staff!
...a staff housed in an ebony case. Through the glass, I could see it clearly. Too long for a wand, too short for a full staff—'cane' seemed the perfect fit.
'Oh! A magic staff!'
Any proper mage needs a top-notch magic staff. Maybe I should've crafted a staff before a sword.
'Do you remember what that staff is?'
-No.
Damn it, how much of his memory did he lose? Pellelian hadn't fully grasped how much was gone until after Delphram's dungeon. Same here—the staff and that cube next to it rang no bells.
I focused my eyes on the staff. Beyond the crystal, its true nature emerged.
────────────── [Arachne of the Sovereign] ──────────────
An ominous name. Arachne—spider, right? The glossy black rod gleamed like ebony, topped with a silver filigree handle shaped like a spider. I hated spiders, but this looked impressive. No doubt it was extraordinary, or why hide it in a vault like this?
-If that's what I meant to give Kaspians...
Even without memories, some things were clear.
-It's not just exceptional.
I could've guessed that. The case's lock was sealed with a blood-red talisman. Ominous, ominous.
"It doesn't look light. Shall we transport it to your destination?"
"No need."
I couldn't let anyone else touch it. Obern picked up the staff and case like a baguette, along with the mystery cube.
"Huh."
The banker suddenly looked puzzled.
"That item wasn't on the list."
"This cube?"
"Yes..."
What? An unlisted item mixed in—suspicious as hell.
"Does that mean I can't take it?"
"No, everything in this vault belongs to the keyholder. That's our bank's rule."
"Then no issue."
Obern pocketed the cube in his jacket. I'd check it back at the hotel.
"We're done here."
"Very well. I'll reseal the door. You have over a century left on the lease—feel free to visit anytime."
The banker shut the vault. As we passed other vaults on the way out, with some leisure now, I scanned the names etched on them.
Many names. Then one I recognized—I called to Pellelian.
'Old man!'
-Hm, Kaspians's vault too...
Wonder what's inside. Maybe Gunter's or someone else I know?
Possible, but no other familiar names. We returned to the hotel with the staff.
Great—finally got the unique staff!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Emerald School, 7 days before term starts.
New students were already moving into dorms. First-years were required to live on campus. Emerald School wasn't overly strict, but it had core principles.
'All academy students are equal, save royalty.'
No regard for status or age among the same year. Simple, yet brutally hard to enforce. Still, it existed and had to be upheld. That's what Amaen had heard.
But he couldn't help being tense. Dorms were double rooms—who'd he end up with? A snobby noble might be awkward.
Rehearsing his intro—'Hi, I'm Amaen Riddle, nice to meet you...'—he opened the door.
"Hm..."
Empty. Kinda deflating. After a moment, he claimed the left bed, unpacked slowly, and organized the wardrobe.
"This room's amazing."
He and Royle had gone from wandering a single cart to rich in months. They even had a proper house now, but the dorm beat it. Goose-down mattresses so plush, premium wardrobes, rugs so soft he'd rub his face in them.
Done unpacking, he perched on the bed. Who'd be his roommate? Hopefully kind—he could make friends here, right? Amaen had none his age after a life on the road. Acceptance brought excitement and nerves. His heart still raced a bit.
'I'll learn tons of magic.'
He'd started with one book, but true mastery came from his master—a monster, a snake, a true mage lord. Those lessons aced the entrance exam. 'Genius,' they'd called him endlessly. He wanted to brag about his teacher far and wide, but Dad forbade it...
'Where's Master now?'
Master said they'd meet again soon. Amaen waited eagerly. Swinging his legs, he hopped up.
"Guess I'll take a stroll."
Better explore before full dark. He donned his student robe and stepped out.
First-year dorms were beautifully appointed. Buildings and gardens exuded aged elegance, spotless. True class came from tradition, maybe. Beds of unnamed spring flowers, birds chirping at the fountain. Sunset shattered prettily on their wings.
Living somewhere this lovely—pure joy for Amaen.
Too distracted, he bumped someone.
"Ow."
"Oof."
A bigger boy, maybe two years older—dark fuzz above his lip. Amaen apologized first.
"S-sorry!"
The boy sized him up quick, then bowed politely.
"Sorry!"
"Nah, I wasn't looking."
No attitude—polite even. Nice guy. Amaen relaxed.
"Why the formal speech? They said first-years drop it..."
"Even so... may I ask your house?"
House? Ah. Amaen touched his cream curls. The hair, his looks—he often got mistaken for nobility.
"I'm not noble..."
"Huh?"
No need for details—Riddle was just him and Dad. But the boy's face crumpled instantly. He shoved Amaen hard.
Almost fell.
"What the hell!"
Amaen glared; the boy sneered.
"Filthy rat..."
"Vex, what's up?"
Others gathered at the commotion. Vex pointed accusingly.
"This punk's faking noble. Almost fell for it."
"What?"
Faking? Never.
"I never pretended."
"Liar!"
From polite to this? World was tough.
"And Emerald School says we're all equal, bar royalty."
"Equals for rootless scum like you."
Vex's crew glared—nobles, probably. Big, cracking knuckles—trouble brewing. Amaen thought of Dad.
'Don't fight, son.'
But Master: 'Bully comes? Smack 'em down!'
Amaen slipped his left hand back. As Vex grabbed his collar—
"Cowardly."
A bright voice blocked Vex—a girl.
"Three on one? Bullying."
Amaen thought, 'Not quite bullying yet.'
"Who're you—"
"Vex!"
A boy whispered; Vex paled.
"Didn't recognize Martine's daughter. Sorry."
He bowed deep. She frowned.
"Equals here, no backgrounds. Forgot?"
"Sorry..."
They scrambled off. High-status girl, huh. Amaen figured.
"I'm Lania Martaine. Don't freak—they're tough only in packs."
Amaen corrected politely.
"Wasn't scared."
"Huh?"
Magic prepped, he flicked—thwack! Invisible wind smacked Vex's butt. He rolled, glared, then fled confused.
"Hahaha!"
Lania giggled wildly. Unexpected—Amaen grinned too.
"You're fun. Friends? Name?"
"Amaen Riddle."
"Cool. Actually, I'm Lania Grayrim. Became Lania Martaine, though."
"...Got it."
Didn't follow, but he nodded. Boy and girl bonded—unaware a single snake already linked them.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Fine, giving up on the cube—beats me. Straight to the main course: the staff.
────────────── [Arachne of the Sovereign] ──────────────
Straight translation: Sovereign's Spider. Spider staff—original owner a king? 'Sovereign' vibes with my 'royalty' trait. Princes become sovereigns, right?
'Rip the seal off.'
"Yes."
Obern eyed it too. Suited a young, arrogant genius prof—fashion-forward.
Carefully peeling the seal—whoosh—it burned red and vanished. Case popped open with a thunk.
-Ooh! Massive mana pouring out. No ordinary item.
-Fit for an archmage. Who made it? Not fairy style—gnome work? Even Pellelian was impressed.
'Better than yours?'
-Similar caliber. Quite the treasure.
"Shall I?"
'Go for it.'
Obern hesitated, then grasped—crack!
"Gaaargh!"
Whoa—face red, whites of eyes gone, black orbs only. Fangs sharper? Berserk. I slapped his cheek with Transparent Hand.
Smack! Whap!
"Urgh, graaah!"
No dice. Switched to tail-whipping his wrist—thud. Staff dropped; he snapped out.
"Hah, huff."
'What happened?'
"Dazed... rage boiled up. Wanted to burn the world."
Ah, got it.
-So that's it...
'Total evil gimmick.'
A 'cursed sword'-type artifact. Grants power, attacks mind. Classic tale: wield it, snap out, massacre loved ones.
Arachne of the Sovereign—powerful, but cursed. Pellelian hated it for Kaspians—curse too tough to lift.
'Perfect for me, right?'
-...Yeah.
Pellelian grumbled agreement. Cursed blades suited me—Unbreakable Will immunized mental attacks.
I slithered from his wrist, touched the staff boldly—zzzt! Mana surged through my tail, up to my head...
⚡ TRAIT ACTIVATED ⚡Unbreakable Will grants immunity to mental attacks.
Same old refrain. Getting stale. As I probed my new staff's powers—
⚡ SKILL UNLOCKED ⚡Connection Crown lv1 can now be used.
Oho. New path opened.
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Read 260 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
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