Chapter 9: Slip Up

Nathan took a look around, a second ago he was waiting for Anais to come back with some water, now he was in a vast empty space. A great white nothingness, stretch far as the eye could see.

"Hmm, that's strange, I don't remember taking the Red Pill."

"Ah, finally you’re here, what took, you so long, I've been try to contact you for two weeks now."

"Who, ah, it's You."

Nathan was surprised to see someone standing there, since no one was there moments before. He was more surprised to recognize who it was.

"You’re that Judo girl."

"Judo, you’re talking about that light toss?"

"You call flipping someone over your shoulder and literally turning them into a living comet a light toss, apologize to martial artist everywhere."

"I'm sorry for that, but I don't have much time, go........third........left........sixth........door.........before.......wardrobe.......bottom."

As she spoke, she begun to fade in and out of sight.

"What, wait, I can't hear you, Hey, Hey!?"

_

_

" ………..than, ……..ster Nathan, Master Nathan, are you alright?"

"Mhm, ugh, A-Anais, where am I?"

"You’re here, in the study, you were asleep."

"Asleep, that was a dream?"

"What was?"

"That......... wait, what was it again?"

Nathan could had sworn he was dreaming, but could not recall one thing about it. He had a feeling he was forgetting something important.

"I have the water you requested."

"Oh.... yeah, thanks"

"Nathan drank down the bowl filled with water, he felt like he hadn't had a drink in years.

"Ahhhh, much better, I really needed that."

"Shall we continue the search."

"Ugh, yeah, search, let's go."

Nathan started to leave, he was going to dwell on a dream he could not remember.

"Master, only three more rooms to go and we can meet up with the Fairy."

"Oh, right, she should be on the third floor by now, I'd like to see her reactions to my new clothes."

"It's was a good thing I was around; you would have never found them without my help."

Anais stuck out her chest emphasizing her greatness.

"No, I was searching this area anyway, I would have found it eventually."

"Yes, but it's because of my outstanding fashion sense, that you found that outfit."

"(Outstanding fashion sense?)"

"It would have taken you forever to navigate that huge wardrobe."

"Maybe not forever, but I would eventually found something to where in that................wardrobe?"

Nathan stop walking, he thought he remembered something.

"Master Nathan, are you alright?"

"Wardrobe, something about a wardrobe."

The word wardrobe kept flashing in his mind, he didn't know for certain what it meant, but he could easily find out. He turned in made a beeline for the room. Upon reaching, he began to examine all the clothing within the room. Just like he had checked earlier there was an assortment of enchanted and normal outfits.

"Master Nathan, we've already cleared this room."

"I know, but I get the funny feeling we overlooked something."

"Something like what?”

"Just look for something outta place, something that catches your eye."

"Okay?"

Anais begin to search as well, they search the entirety of the room, every rack, every hanger, even in the pockets of various garbs, still nothing.

"Master Nathan, are you sure there's something here?"

"No, I'm not sure, it just a feeling, that's all, wait, I know, "Origin".

"What does the hero sword have to do with our predicament?"

"Absolutely nothing, but the method it was found could be it."

"Method, I found that blade and it was completely by luck."

“Exactly.”

“Huh?”

"If we're going to find whatever's in here, will have to find, completely by luck."

“……………………..”

“You aren’t saying anything.

"…................Art thou dull-witted?"

"Talk normal!"

"Are you stupid?"

"What happened to not insulting me anymore!?"

Nathan looked at his status screen.

"See, right here, a luck stat, you have one too, right?"

"Well yes, but I don't know how to use it."

"You can't just utilize it, it’s a stat, luck just happens, so for now just walk around the room and do as you feel, if we’re lucky enough, you’ll find it. By the way how high is your luck, if you found Origin it's gotta be over one hundred."

"Two-hundred twenty"

"…................... Yup, you got this."

Anais wanted to speak out against this silly plan, but after seeing Nathan expression, she gave in.

All she had to do was walk around and hope something would happen, but there were so many problems with this plan. First as Nathan said himself, luck is something that can't be utilize, so the fact that she completely aware of what she trying to make happen, is in itself the exact opposite of luck. Second, when she found Origin it was because she was looking for a way to get to the library, her task at the time was completely different, right now Nathan wants her to find whatever their looking for by coincidence. She continued to ponder these things, completely ignoring her surroundings.

*Bump*"Ouch, that hurt."

Anais looked up at the drawer she crashed into.

"Anais, did you find something?"

"A headache, listen Master Nathan, I don't think this is going to work, there are too many things wrong with this plan, can we please find another solution?"

"Why, you did a great job, you found it."

“A drawer, there are plenty these all throughout the study.”

“Yeah, but this particular drawer was the one you ran into.”

“What?”

“It like this, when you originally found Origin, I bet that you were just walking around, when something startled you, then not knowing what was happening you ran around and crashed head first into something, like you usually do, knocking the chest from where it was sitting and into that corner where we found it, and when you Examined it you found that it was curse, leaving you to believe that it was something important, correct?”

Anais, looked at Nathan, she was dumbfounded.

“…………..How, could you know that?”

“So I’m right huh, I figured I’d make a plan so doomed to failed, that you would over think things and crash into something and whatever you crash into would be what we’re looking for.”

Nathan begin methodically searching the drawer, taking it apart drawer by drawer.

“Master there is no way you will find somethi--“

“Found it.”

“What!?”

In Nathans hand was a small bag, the rattled with gems as he shook it.

“No way, you actually found something?”

“Yup all thinks to your clumsiness.”

“Clumsi-, you think I’m a klutz?

“You’re not?”

“Of course I’m not, I don’t crash into things on purpose to incite my luck, it completely by accident.”

“That’s the very definition of a klutz.”

Nathan reached into the bag and pulled out what look like a diamond. As he stared at the gem, he notices some weird swirling darkness on the inside.

“Examine”

Spatial Rend Gem Class: Joker

A gem containing a man-made black hole with an incalculable amount of space. Use to store away unused items. Some items cannot be stored within the gem.

“It’s an Inventory.”

“An Inventory, ah, Spatial Rend Gems and so many?”

“Are they valuable?

“Valuable, their priceless, only a very wealthy individual could afford such a thing and she has a whole bag.”

Nathan look closely at the gem; the vortex was a little scary being so close. He was a little worried, he didn’t won’t to be holding a black hole. Anais took notice of his discomfort.

“Master Nathan, you won’t be suck in by the vortex contained within.”

“Oh good, really don’t want to be lost in a light consuming void.”

Nathan took an armor down from the shelf and wave the gem around, then he tried touching the gem to the armor, followed by various sayings, nothing was working.

“Master what are you doing?”

“What does it look like, I’m trying to store the armor, but why isn’t it working.

“It’s not active yet, try touching it to the center of your insignia.

“My insignia?”

Nathan did as he was instructed, the gem sank into his chest, leaving behind a second insignia of a diamond.

“Now, take a look at your status.”

“Okay.”

Name: Nathan Lowell Lvl: 1 HP: 2000/2000 MP: 300/300

Race: Human/Lycanian

Skill: Tweak Legend: Nature’s Blessing M.Abilities: Phytokinesis, Heal, Therapy, Tranquil, Plant Growth P.Abilities: Photosynthesis, Threat Detection, Clearmind, Enhanced Reflexes, Hyper senses

Skills: Persuasion 5%, Bribery 0%, Thievery 0%, Charisma 10%, Finesse 0%

Stats Party

STH 60 Inventory

DEF 100

INT 50

AGI 85

Luck 75

Titles: Hero?

“Oh, okay, I see it.”

“There should be a new storage window, correct, now place your hand over the armor and think “Store”.

Nathan placed his hand over the armor as Anais instructed.

*Ding*

Breastplate has been stored!

“Cool, how do I take it back out?”

“Just think the opposite, “Withdraw”.

*Ding*

Breastplate was withdrawn!

“This is amazing Abigail, you sure know a lot about this, did Amelia teach you.”

Abigail stuck out her chest, and stood proudly.

Nope, I once ate a book that had a lot of information on such things.”

“Oh, I guess that’s good too, just don’t ever mentioned that in front of Iris……….ever.”

Nathan returned the armor in his Inventory and begin to systematically store several more as well. Nathan thought about this before, he wanted to travel this world, but like everywhere you are you will need money, and that where this comes in. Nathan wasn’t greedy, he wouldn’t take everything, but he will take enough to sell and make a profit.

*Ding*

Thievery Increased! +3

“Wait, seriously?”

Nathan wasn’t expecting that, but none of this stuff is his, so even if Amelia never said he could take it, technically speaking, he is stealing. Well he wasn’t going to stop, this place was like one of those secret treasure rooms that you miss in games, and by the time you figure out how to get to it, the stuff you find is obsolete.

Plus, he thought this will be the only chance he’ll get to raise his thievery skill, he seriously doubted that Iris would allow him to steal anything. Nathan decided to take ten of each armor, he would sell half and keep the rest just in case. He was just about done when Aanis came over to him.

“Master, if you plan on taking these, don’t forget that.”

“That…………oh that, how could I possibly forget that?”

Nathan walked over to the gaudy armor, and reluctantly place it in his inventory.

*Ding*

Thievery Increased! +10

“………………………..”

Nathan was just about done and decided to head back down to the second basement. He headed back the rooms full of weapons and begin to methodically place them in his inventory, all the while his thievery was steadily increasing, much to Nathans delight.

“Master Nathan, do you think it’s right to take so much, when Lady Amelia return, she might not like that so much is missing.”

“I won’t take everything, I don’t know the cost of living in this world, so I’ll take what I need and what I don’t need I’ll return.”

“You, plan to sell them, isn’t that stealing?”

“Well, I do plan to sell it, but once I can make a profit I plan to reimburse Amelia for everything, so it not stealing, but borrowing.”

Persuasion increased +5

“Well, as long as you plan to return what you take.”

“Yup, besides I doubt she we’ll ever notice.

“……………Wait, what do you mean?”

“About what?”

“Why would she not notice her things are missing?”

Nathan swore under his breathe, how could he be so stupid as to say that. Watching his ability rise, made him stupid.

“Master Nathan, why would you say that?”

“I-I meant that there was so much stuff, she wouldn’t notice if a coulpe of things went missing.

“…………..Master Nathan, what are you not telling me?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Master, if you really wanted her not to notice what you took anything, you wouldn’t leave the rooms looking so obviously ransacked. More than that, the golden armor, there’s no way she what not have notice it was missing and you don’t seem like a person who would leave such obvious clues.

“…………………..*sigh* you know, you’re really smart, all because of one slip up.”

“So, there is something, please tell me.”

“………………………………. Well you see--“

_

_

“Lies, Lady Amelia wouldn’t do that, she would not just abandon this place.”

“Look, I’m sorry for not telling you, but that what was in this message.”

“And where is this message, the fairy claims she was left with instructions, but have you ever seen proof, she could have lied and you just take what she says at face value.”

“Why, would she lie?”

“Why does anybody lie?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question.”

Anais had a point, Iris dedication to him seem to be without reason, she said it was because he’s the hero, but would someone really willing dedicate their entire life to taking care of someone, when they had no real obligation to do so.

“……..I trust her.”

“What?”

“For god knows how long she took care of me, she didn’t look for a way out, she didn’t complain, with absolutely no real way of knowing if I would wake up, even though she has no real reason to, she took care of me, you may not trust her, but I at least owe her the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure you understand how well she did, seeing how you were WATCHING.

Nathan words much have reach Anais to some extent. She was indeed watching and Iris was taken good care of him while he slept. She took a step back, as if she was going to run.

“………………..Anais, come with us.”

“What?”

“Even if Amelia not coming back, that doesn’t mean we can’t go look for her, right.

“No, I-I can’t, I have to wait until she comes back.”

“Anais, shes seriously not coming back, I know-- “

“NO, YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING, LADY AMELIA WOULD NEVER ABANDON ME, SHE WOULDN’T LIE TO ME, SHE NOTHING LIKE THE REST OF YOU GIANTS, ALL YOU DO IS LIE AND DESTROY, NOT CARING FOR THE SMALLER LIVES YOU TAKE, NO, I WON’T BELIEVE IT, SHE’LL COME BACK, SHE PROMISED…………..SHE’LL COME BACK.”

“Anais, wait.”

Anais scurried down the hallway and outta sight. With his senses, Nathan sure he could track her, but it didn’t seem like it would help. She needed some space and he wouldn’t deny her that.

“Smooth move dumbass, the second person you meet and you screw up.”

Nathan took one last look around the room before heading off to meet up with Iris.

Thievery increased +4