Chapter 11: Withering Shadows

Charles glanced up at those three ominous-looking red moons and then went towards El Street.

After a few minutes of walking, he reached 45 El Street and was surprised upon seeing a new, unfamiliar guest in the reception room.

'A woman?' He narrowed his eyes as he walked and then looked at the woman, who sat on the ornate sofa.

Upon hearing his footsteps sound, the woman also turned her head around and peeked at the visitor in curiosity.

She had monolid hazel eyes, barely visible eyebrows, a duchess nose, fair skin, wiry blonde hair, and an upper lip with sharp philtrum. She looked around 25 years old and wore a V-neck white shirt and tight black skirt.

"Charles, how is the day?" A slightly wrinkled lady with deep-blue hair stuck her head out from the kitchen and asked with a smile,

"It's good, mom." Charles waved his hand and then gave a clueless look at the blonde-haired woman.

"She is my colleague, Saron White. Due to her family circumstances, she will be staying with us from now on." Eve said with a smile and then went inside the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Charles greeted Saron with a smile and used [Inspect] skill on her.

[Inspect skill has been cast...]

[Wisdom Check...]

[Inspect Failed!]

...

Charles wasn't surprised by the outcome. He had expected this and silently went to the second floor through the spiral staircase. After that, he moved towards his bedroom and locked it from inside.

'She is also a Mystic. Hmm, Eve seems to be planning to keep her son in the dark. But it's a bad choice.' Charles shook his head while picking up a white towel and went to the shower. After 20 minutes, he exited the shower and changed his cloth into a Nightgown.

"Charles, come to the dining hall. It's dinner time." A loud sound came from downstairs, causing Charles to sigh heavily.

He walked out of his bedroom and then went downstairs. In the dining hall, he saw Eve and Saron sat in their seats and appeared to be waiting for him.

He sat on the opposite chair and placed the napkin on his lap.

On the dining table, various dishes like meatloaves and mashed potatoes, fried chickens, roasted chicken, crab cakes, and three cups of potato soups were placed in order.

Once Charles sat on his seat, Eve Nightwind stood up and started serving the food one by one.

After serving, she went back to her seat and then clapped her hand together to pray.

Charles and Saron also followed her action and then recited a short chant.

They then picked the fork and spoon and started eating.

Charles precisely cut the roasted chicken into four small pieces and put one in his mouth. After that, he looked at Eve and said with a smile.

"Congratulations on your Rank Up, mom."

Eve's eyes widened as she heard her son's comment and asked in surprise.

"How did you find out?"

"I guessed." Charles lied without even flinching and then turned his gaze towards Saron. He then looked into Saron's hazel eyes and asked.

"She is a mystic, isn't she?"

Both Eve and Saron stopped their hand movements and looked at each other in confusion. A second later, Eve curled her lips up and muttered with a smile.

"I forget about your inheritance gift. You used [Inspect] skill on us, didn't you?"

Charles nodded his head and probed further.

"Why is she here? I want the real answer." His tone and his face were dead serious.

"Should I feel happy? Or feel sad that you have changed." Eve placed the fork on her plate and muttered in a bitter tone. She then closed her deep blue eyes for a second and then spoke,

"She is here to protect you, my son. Although I have the power to see through one's fate, I'm nothing but a powerless mother." Eve opened her eyes and then added while glancing at Saron,

"She is the Priestess of the Wisdom Church, and I employed her to protect us for the next three months."

'Priestess...It is the corresponding Job of 'Clerk.' She must be a Rank 2 Mystic from the Wisdom Church.' Charles nodded his head in enlightenment.

Meanwhile, Saron White turned her gaze towards the opened window and frowned. Charles and Eve also noticed her odd behavior and followed after her gaze.

Charles activated [Dark Vision] and peeked into the dark yard. A blurry humanoid shadow appeared in his sight!

The humanoid shadow seemed to be writing something on the compound wall and soon turned around as it noticed Charles's gaze. A second later, the black shadow began to distort and then disappeared from his eyes!

'What was that?!' Charles was stunned by the shadow intruder's action and then turned his gaze towards Saron White.

"A while ago, I sensed a presence nearby," Saron muttered with a frown and stood up from her seat. Charles and Eve also followed her action, and the trio went out of their house.

After a minute, they arrived in front of the opposite compound wall and became puzzled.

On the compound wall, there were only two words written on it.

Charles moved the fire torch closer towards the wall and soon widened his eyes. He saw two words that looked familiar yet unfamiliar. He hurriedly searched Charles's memories and quickly found out the answer.

It was written in Laka Language! It was an old language that had dated back to the First Arcane Age.

'Laka is one of the classical languages surviving till today. Laka inscriptions from 2000 FAE have been found, and the language is believed to be more than 9,000 years old! This 'Laka language' is currently the official language of 2 Kingdoms: Herath and Moon Kingdom. Moreover, the Laka language is also recognized as a minority language in the Northern Ember Kingdom and parts of Arc Kingdom.' He shuffled through the information and began to read.

"Holem's Crown? What does that mean?" Charles asked out loud.

Upon hearing his question, Eve and Saron looked at each other and shook their heads.

After that, Eve touched one word and closed her eyes. She then made some strange hand gestures and spoke,

"Reveal."

A second later, webs of dark strings appeared in her mind, and soon her vision zoomed into a single string. The single string then twisted into a void-like glass and revealed a reddish crown in her mind.

The next instant, she opened her eyes and said in confusion.

"I saw a Red Crown. And, that's it." Eve's reply gave no clue to Charles at all.

"Is that a Ranked Artifact?" Saron looked at Eve and asked.

"Possible. We should send the report to the higher-ups of Wisdom Church and ask them about the 'Holem's Crown.'" Eve suggested.

"Don't." Charles looked up at those three ominous red moons and shook his head.

"The other party wants us to do the same thing. If we search for clues about the 'Holem's Crown,' it will be like we are dancing on the other party's palm."

"Indeed, you are right." Eve looked into her son's eyes in surprise and nodded.

"It might not be something serious. Although the 'Intruder' appears suspicious, he seems to be providing us some clue. I heard from Lady Eve that someone leaked information about you guys to your family. So, what if this 'Intruder' is trying to help you guys?" Saron interjected.

'Possible.' Charles narrowed his eyes and then fell into deep thoughts.

'But why didn't he come to meet us directly? Is he afraid of the other party? Or, the one who drew these words is the 'real Informer' himself? If so, what is his aim?' Charles heaved a heavy sigh and spoke,

"I still don't agree with your suggestion. We should lay low for a while and then see what happens next."

'Meanwhile, I will also find a way to increase my strength.' He muttered inwardly.

The trio discussed the mysterious intruder's intention for a while and then went inside.

They continued their dinner and then went to their rooms. Once Charles entered his bedroom, he locked it from the inside and laid on the soft bed.

After staring at the white ceiling for a few minutes, he closed his eyes and then fell into a deep sleep. A whispering sound of the cold wind echoed inside the bedroom, causing his closed eyes to twitch. Charles got confused as he noticed a strange condition. He could think clearly but couldn't speak or move his muscle.

He tried to walk up many times, but he felt some invisible power shackled his body!

"I'm the Crown!" He heard a devil-like whisper from his right side!

It was a male's voice!

'Magic?' He tried to ask questions but ended up failing miserably.

"Find me." This time, the whisper came from his left side and soon went silent.

Charles laid on the bed for another five minutes motionlessly and then regained control over his body. He sat up with a tensed face and glanced at the surroundings warily.

'What the hell was that?! Is it even possible for an artifact to control humans like a puppet?!' Charles was beyond shocked and began to think deeply.

'That Holem's Crown seems to be looking for me. But why it has to be me? Is it even possible for an artifact to gain intelligence?... I need more information.' Charles took a deep breath and then calmed his mind.

'I will go to the Fourth Section tomorrow and search for more information about artifacts.' He nodded his head and then laid on the bed again.

…

The next day,

Charles woke up earlier than usual and walked out of 45 El Street after having breakfast. Unlike yesterday, there was another person who accompanied him, causing him to grunt in dissatisfaction.

Yesterday, his current mother, Eve, told Saron to act as Charles's bodyguard and protect him.

Although Charles attempt to oppose her decision, his attempt went futile as usual.

He walked across many shops and houses and soon reached Olive Street. Unlike yesterday, the library was filled with many peoples, giving a unique atmosphere to the library. Charles didn't even glance at those peoples and went to the fourth floor through a spiral staircase.

Meanwhile, Saron stayed in the reception hall and waited for Charles's return like a loyal bodyguard.

After walking through the spiral staircase, Charles arrived at the gloomy section and searched for books about artifacts.

He first chose a book called 'Ranked Artifacts' and started reading.

Ranked Artifacts were divided into four types.

The first type was Rank 1 artifacts or 'Common Artifacts.' These 'Common Artifacts' were usually found in common markets, and some of them were used regularly. Those Magic candles would come under this section.

The second type was Rank 2 Artifacts or 'Uncommon Artifacts.' These 'Uncommon Artifacts' were hard to find, and only wealthy people would have the money to buy these items.

'Hmm, the communication ring would come under this section.' He nodded in enlightenment.

The third type was Rank 3 artifacts or 'Rare Artifacts.' As the name suggests, these artifacts were very hard to find among ordinary citizens.

The fourth type was Rank 4 artifacts or 'Extraordinary Artifacts.' Extraordinary Artifacts were powerful artifacts and would be found only in the Kingdom's treasury or some Nobles' treasure.

Charles read the book patiently for two hours and closed it.

'Hmm, there is no mentioning of any intelligent artifact in this book.' He shook his head and started reading other artifact books.

After staying there for the next few hours, Charles went downstairs and returned to his home with Saron.

…

Two weeks passed in a blink of an eye.

During those two weeks, Charles read hundreds of books about artifacts and finally discovered a clue about intelligent artifacts.

Although he didn't get much information about those living artifacts, he learned a little.

Those living artifacts were called 'Series Artifacts.' Only the Thirteen Lawful Churches and other Four Chaotic Churches possessed those items. Those items were kept in much secretive. That's all he learned about those 'Series Artifacts.'

He also learned about the Churches' secretive organizations and then thought of joining one of them.

Today, he didn't go to the Library; instead, he locked himself inside his bedroom and started writing something on white paper using a golden quill pen.

The Golden Quill pen was the only gift Charles got from his grandparents.

He sat on a wooden chair and looked at the white paper in contemplation.

'In this bunch of organizations, only Withering Shadows and Silver Servants have branch offices in Riverdale City. Withering Shadows belongs to Life Church while Silver Servants belongs to Amber Church. Silver Servants Organization is not a good option because I already 'offended' the Goddess of Wealth. It leaves me with one option, and that is Life Church's Withering Shadows. It seems I need to talk heart to heart with that sly Bishop. Although I don't like that guy, I have no other choice now.' Charles stood up from his seat and sighed heavily.

He then changed his clothes into formal ones and walked out of his house.