Standing right in front of Bhin, I finally noticed he was quite short for an elf—only being about 6ft after considering his hunched posture. He was obviously nowhere near the height you’d think someone who’s supposedly titled the Elven Giant should be. “This is the man that inspired Aelthar?” Wondering as to how, “Well I guess looks really can be deceiving, especially if he’s as good at fighting as he is at making art.”

“Hey, what are you waiting for? Take off that cloak already!” Bhin ordered, carefully examining my face.

Hesitant to reveal myself to Bhin, but honestly too lazy to think of something better, I just decided to wrap the shabby brown cloak around my head like a towel; though the crown underneath did cause the shape to be regrettably misshapen. “I may not know a lot about fashion, Voa, however your chosen look absolutely captures the essence of stool sitting right on top of your head.” Annihilation laughed in amusement, “Haha… Truly a moronic image fitting of you, if I do say so myself!” The others quietly giggled to themselves, holding back their urge to laugh, while Bhin simply stared as if I was the crazy one here.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.” Accepting the embarrassment, i asked “Is there something else I need to do?”

“Yeah, stay still.” He instructed, continuing to examine the front of me. “Now Verana said you were a new member of House Ven’Thyl, is that true?”

“It is.”

”Since when?”

“Uhh… I guess it’s been like 2-3 weeks since I joined.” Roughly estimating.

“That explains why you’re pretty weak then—even needing the rest of your House to interfere just to stop my weak attack earlier.” Bhin said, scratching his grey stubble in curiosity.

“Oh I know I‘m weak, and I’m grateful for my House members stepping in to save me earlier, but I’m not planning to stay like this for much longer.” I told him, fully determined to become stronger.

“Hah, sure of yourself, are we?” Bhin smirked, finally moving to examine the back of me. “Well only time will tell if you can back it up, and we’ll see if you can live up to the legendary name of Ven—” He abruptly stopped himself, exclaiming “Wh-What’s the meaning of this!? How—No, why are the complete foundations of a Trinity Tattoo on your back!?”

“Oh that, well—”

“Do you still think him weak, old friend?” Verana interjected, grinning widely with the others at Bhin’s shock.

“I...I don’t understand. This is clearly that brat’s artistry, but for her to place this tattoo on someone can only mean one thing…” Bhin leaned over to inspect my face again, “But for her to awaken and seal one of the magic cores of someone this young…” Turning to the others, “You all must know the horrible stunting consequences this brings, right? Especially for one seemingly aiming to be a Trinity Archer?”

“Yes, we are well aware of that, Bhin.” Verana replied, being nonchalant and unworried.

“Then has the great Trinity Maker gone mad after all these years of not teaching? Otherwise how could she do this to whom I presume is her new student? Is she not worried about the pointless setback and obstacles she created and placed upon him?”

Verana chuckled in amusement, “My dear old friend, do you really think Odelia of all people is capable of tarnishing the traditions of the hallowed Trinity Archers?”

“No... But then help me make sense of this!” He insisted, pointing to the tattoo on my back.

“It’s simple really.” Verana shrugged and explained, “As there are always many geniuses born in every generation in life, there are also few that are born to be above all else—those gifted with such unfair natural raw talent, that even geniuses are forced to question their own supposed talents!”

“Are you saying this boy is a new elven prodigy!?” All the members simply answered Bhin with a smug and knowing grin. “Oh Goddesses, not yet another monster in your House. I’m sure the Noble Houses are gonna love this!” He said sarcastically. Bhin then turned back to me and asked, “Hey you, so-called new prodigy, got a name?”

“People just call me Eyes.” I answered him.

“Hmph, Eyes, huh.” Bhin scoffed, clearly thinking the name was just an alias. “Well Eyes the prodigy, I finished inspecting your body as my canvas, so let me hear your tattoo request for me.”

“Oh…well...you wouldn’t know this, but this is actually my first time celebrating the Five Heroes Festival, so I don’t really know what kind of tattoos I should be asking for.” Thinking, “The others’ irregular tattoos really didn’t help figuring that out.”

“Your first festival? That’s hard to believe.” Bhin said, skeptical of my words.

“It’s true.” Verana affirmed, “Therefore if you would, Bhin, create something truly worthy for his first Five Heroes Festival!”

“Something worthy of his first festival?” Bhin reiterated, only taking a second to come up with something, “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

“Oh, and if you could, Bhin, sir.” Speaking to him politely, “Could you also please cover up my Trinity Tattoo for me? I’d really prefer to hide it from others for now.”

“Haha, sure thing, little prodigy!” Bhin chuckled, dipping his fingers in fresh paint, “Now let’s see what I can make for you!” And although he still began to swiftly paint my body entirely in ink, compared to the others, Bhin slowed down a considerable amount, choosing to instead take a much more methodical approach to the art he was creating.

After an hour of standing completely still, Bhin finished off by touching up the details on my eyes and face, saying “And...that should do it.” As an unexpected surge of immense magic coursed right into me, filling my entire body with an overflowing tidal wave of energy, and causing a new message to appear out of nowhere.

You have been affected by the Status Buff: [Runic-Body Enchantment].

“A Runic-Body Enchantment?” Immediately reading the description in intrigue.

Runic-Body Enchantment: Carved directly onto the flesh of your body, powerful, dormant, and unknown runes have been set to activate upon meeting certain conditions; or until the original Rune Carver activates them.

+8,000 Mana and Stamina

+8% Magical and Physical Damage Reduction

Duration: 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 57 Seconds

Activation Conditions: ???

Rune Carver: Bhin Maerneplith

“What the hell is!?” I exclaimed, “It’s obviously an amazing buff for the bonus Stats alone, but why does the wording have to make me feel like I’m a walking bomb just waiting to go off!”

Backing off to admire his work, Bhin asked the others “Is this worthy enough for you all?”

“Absolutely!” Amariina excitedly blurted out, running over to get a closer look, “I mean although I think my new tattoos this year are perfect, this actually makes me kind of envious it’s not on myself!”

“I don’t even think Odelia could find a flaw in this.” Shurtyrr remarked, approaching as well, “A true masterpiece…”

“I couldn’t agree more!” Aelthar avidly concurred, coming over to admire Bhin’s work too, “Your artistry never ceases to amaze, sir!”

“I don’t wanna say anything because I don’t wanna be rude, but is this really what they consider a masterpiece?” I questioned myself, judging only from what was visible to me.

Simply based off of and inspired by nature, intertwining flowering vines were stylishly woven all along my: hands, feet, limbs, ribs, collarbone, and neck—all coloured in dark vibrant shades. Furthermore, a giant detailed bloodmoon was painted directly on my chest, with a flourishing golden tree on the right side of my abs, and a withering purple tree on the left side of my abs. Bhin had also focused a considerable amount of time designing something on my back. Though what I honestly found most intriguing were the several elven phrases wrapping around my arms and legs, as well as the odd depictions of fairy-winged figures perfectly blending into the vines and flowers—their wings notably only ever being blue, green, or violet.

My tattoos were honestly exquisite in their own right, but compared to the others and their complex and extravagant tattoos, mine didn’t seem all that special. However, Verana delightedly chuckled to herself as she approached us, “Seems as if you’ve already slightly figured the true significance of this so-called prodigy, Bhin, else you wouldn’t have put this much effort to gain our favour, or have willingly chosen to infuse that much magic into your runes for him.”

Bhin scoffed, “How could I not? You and your House are clearly standing by him, so is it so unthinkable I wouldn’t want to gain favour from someone you are all obviously expecting such great things from?”

“Oh you have no idea the greatness he will bring, old friend.” Verana smiled knowingly, tossing Bhin one of the three large coin pouches on her waist. And as others impatiently began escorting me to leave the house with them, I could hear her tell him “If I were to give you any advice in your old age, Bhin, it would be to not die until you can see what this young man truly becomes, otherwise you might regret not witnessing such a...hopeful sight…”

Bhin raised his eyebrows in confusion, but quickly shook his head out of it and said, ”Oh just shut up and leave already, you old hag! And I’m not planning to die anytime soon! You know I still want to get my revenge on him!” pushing Verana out along with the rest of us, “Now get out of here, and stop coming back!” Slamming the door behind us.

Though Verana simply smiled and asked us, “Shall we begin our shopping parade then?” and immediately the others cheered in excitement, eagerly leading the way towards the Roots.

Sauntering along one the many overcrowded streets of the Roots, Verana and I could only watch as the others bulldozed their ways directly to every single merchant vendor in sight, and practically bought every item they purchased without a second thought or question. Verana shook her head in absolute disappointment, and went out of her way to sincerely apologize to everyone for their reckless behaviours. Although surprisingly, not a single person held any malice, and instead complimented and admired our House’s beautiful and striking tattoos, pleading to know where they could get them themselves.

While we continued to roam the streets, Verana finally decided to explain the festival, telling me “As this is your first Five Heroes Festival, you should know it is an annual festival held on the very last day of the previous Primordial Year, and which its eve marks the start of the next Primordial Year.”

“Ohhh, it’s like New Year’s!” I then figured I should ask for a reminder, “And what’s the current Primordial Year again?”

“That would be 3099 SC.” She informed me, “Or Since Creation if you would prefer to call it.”

“Oh right, silly me. I’m always forgetting the year.” Actually thinking, “Does she mean actual creation? Because if so, this world is relatively new compared to the long history of Earth. But maybe with the presence of Magic and System here on Novus, it naturally helped this world already advance to the medieval fantasy age it is now?” I pondered for a moment on how the previous Players impacted this world in the past, as well as wondered how us new Players would impact it in the future.

When Verana noticed I was finished thinking, she carried on explaining, “Once originally called the Moon Blessing Festival, it was unanimously renamed after the mysterious disappearances of the Five Great Heroes that led the charges to save the different Lands of Novus. And marking this year as the thousandth anniversary of their disappearance, it not only represents a sacred ceremony for the cleansing of the moon, but also a celebration held to commemorate the first beloved saviours of this world!” She then gestured to the crowds and vendors around us and said, “It is a festival that all the people of Novus should be sharing together; yet as you can see all around us, our people and the Kingdoms alike have only truly settled with sharing our meaningless materialistic goods.”

“Is that your way of asking me to be king, Verana?” Understanding the underlying intention of her words.

“Not at all." Showing me a fake smile, "I simply wish to tell you how the world currently is.” She then handed me one of the large coin pouches and changed the subject, saying “100 Platinum should be enough to buy anything you want from the vendors here—to adorn yourself in the many festival garments. But if you find yourselves needing more, do not hesitate to ask.” Enthusiastically accepting the generous allowance, I decided to catch up with the others and join them in shopping.

Following their example, I only looked for revealing or minimal pieces of clothes, fully allowing my tattoos to be flaunted plainly. Keeping my torso bare like Aelthar and Shurtyrr, I eventually found long silk scarves that perfectly contrasted my tattoos with vibrant colours, and immediately bought two. I wrapped one around my head and hair, gladly replacing the cloak I had on, and then tied the other around my waist—keeping myself at least a little bit decent. I later obtained ornate armbands, bracelets, and sandal greaves to match.

As we proceeded throughout the entire area of the Roots, and traveled back up to the Soil and the Tops, the others began adorning ostentatious trinkets and flamboyant accessories to decorate themselves further, frivolously buying everything in their interest. I however refrained from following their example this time around, and instead only kept my eyes open for items much more valuable than they seemed—specifically searching for accessories to equip in my empty Accessories Slots, and pleasantly finding a handful of them hidden around the corners of the city.

Ring of Water Walking Ring of Vital Magic Resistance

Uncommon

+20 Agility

Effect: While wearing this ring, you can stand on and move across any liquid surface as if it were solid ground.

Requirement: Lv.20

Rare

+100 Vitality

+5% Elemental Magic Resistance

+2.5% Magical Damage Reduction

Requirement: Lv.50

Belt of Absorption (Broken Replica) Earrings of Restful Tranquility

Rare

+50 Vitality

Use: Absorbs all the Magic from a single attack and converts it directly into Mana for the wearer. (Destroyed on Use)

Requirement: Lv.35

Epic

-100 Sense

Effect: Greatly reduces the sounds heard while sleeping or in a trance, and doubles the quality of rest one gains from sleeping.

Bonus Effect: Naturally protects the wearer from most intense frequencies of sounds.

Requirement: Lv.30

Amulet of Free Breathing Sash of the Thousandth Blessed Moon (Replica)

Unique

I breathe so I may live.

+250 Endurance

+100 Vitality

Use: Allows the wearer to freely breathe in all liquids and gasses for 1 hour, temporarily neutralizing any harmful effects for the entirety of the duration.

Cooldown: 24 hours

Requirement: Lv.65

Unique

An ornate memento for one present on the day of a millennium moon.

+100 to All Stats

Effect: When bathed in the glow of an illuminating moon, the sash becomes imbued with the unique properties of moonlight, temporarily empowering the wearer and all their attacks. +50% Bonus Damage (God of Limbo’s Bloodmoon).

Requirement: Lv.1

I tried searching for a bow and a sword next, recalling I carried new ones in my vision. But after a while of not finding what I was searching for, as well as being disappointed there was nothing special being sold at the various archery and sword vendors, I just gave up—spending the rest of my coin on buying out every single vendor of their arrows. “Huh. If I don’t get my new bow and sword here at the festival, then where do I get them?” I wondered to myself, walking alongside Verana and the others; with them attracting everyone’s attention with their comically ginormous sacks of stuff they all bought, and as Verana—dressed stunningly in crystal gems—loudly scolded them for their purchases.