When Adrian or more specifically Sirius dealt with the thugs, a system notification appeared before Adrian's eyes.
[You have initiated the secret quest "Hidden Darkness".]
*QUEST NOTIFICATION*
Hidden Darkness
Difficulty: B
Description: A group of acolytes are hiding in the depths of the woods. They resort to human sacrifices for their god. Find them and put a stop to their ploy to get a vessel for their god.
Duration: 10 days
Reward: Unknown
Failure: More kidnappings and Whiterock Village safety will diminish.
Adrian was not shocked by the quest because Grandma Theresa leaving the infirmary was not expected by Adrian. She also told him about the state of the boy. Adrian must have already activated the quest when Saena healed the little boy.
The quest was pushed on Adrian like any story driven quest. If he fails, Whiterock Village would probably lose its energy and it would eventually get ruined. Adrian waited for Grandma Theresa to return so that he could initiate the quest. After about thirty minutes or so, Grandma Theresa returned with some of the parents and other patients.
Adrian healed the fifteen people who came to him for help or more like due to Grandma Theresa being a blabbermouth. Even though the numbers already exceeded the remaining number for Saena's evolution, he still helped them as he was not heartless. He waited for the others to return home and asked Grandma Theresa for some privacy as Saena needed to evolve.
Adrian was lent a room and immediately said yes to the system notification to evolve Saena. Saena was enveloped in a white light and it felt like the air in the room became purified. Thankfully, she did not need an optimal area for evolution like Kanlaon did.
A few moments later, the light dimmed down. The smell in the room became so fresh like morning dew. Saena was no longer the plump ball of bird that she was previously. She was now a bird that was five feet in height. She now has a wing span of three meters and she looked majestic.
She was still white in color but there are three feathers on her head that adorns her like a crown. She looked like a giant crowned pigeon with a white color scheme. Adrian admired Saena as she was now a majestic bird. He was still disappointed that he could not ride on her. Even though he could fly by himself, riding on a majestic creature has a different feeling to it. For Adrian at least.
Adrian looked at the system notifications along with the details of the evolved skills.
[Saena has successfully evolve into a Caladrius.]
[Saena's skill Breath of the Magpie has transformed into Healing Breeze.]
[Saena' skill Martyr has transformed into Salvation.]
[Saena has obtained the title "Small Village Saint.]
Skill: Healing Breeze
Tier: Legacy
Type: Healing
Effect: Every time the Calabrius enters battle, it will purify the surrounding air with the flap of its wings. Heal 1% of the maximum health of all friendly units every three second. This is considered as a basic attack.
Area of Effect: 10 meter radius from the user.
Cooldown: None
Cast Time: None
Mana Cost: None
Skill: Salvation
Tier: Legacy
Type: Active Cleanse
Effect: The Calabrius targets a sick or status debuffed entity and cleanses them of all ailments by absorbing them. The Calabrius will then be unable to do any action for five seconds.
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Cast Time: 5 seconds
Mana Cost: 500 Mana Points
Title: Small Village Saint
Tier: Rare
Effect: Increases the effectiveness of Healing Type Skills by 10%.
Description: A title given to those acknowledge by a village as a miraculous healer. Can be upgraded.
Adrian was very glad that Saena could now heal all of them as long as they are close to each other. She did not need to swap targets like she was doing previously. Now that Adrian has successfully evolved Saena, he was now ready to take on the secret quest given to him.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Grandma Theresa. We should head out now that we have no more business here as my soulbound has evolved." Adrian said with a smile.
"It is us who should thank you. Due to your help, the people in my infirmary are no longer disease free. Feel free to visit again when you have the time. May the Goddess Gaea bless you with immense vigor." Grandma Theresa said as she bid goodbye to Adrian.
Adrian bid farewell to the kids who are still not picked up by their parents. He told Kanlaon that they should go and the dragon became sad as he no longer have time to play. Adrian with his soulbounds accompanying him went inside the forest.
Adrian debated whether to go inside the forest or wait as it was almost night. He then decided to go inside as monsters at the outer edge are only in the fifties. Even if they are empowered at night, Adrian and his soulbounds should be able to get rid of them.
When they entered the forest, Sirius was now able to show himself. Since Sirius attacked the thugs, his polymorph was dispelled. Sirius then decided to hide in Adrian's shadow thanks to his new skill that he acquired.
Skill: Shadow Domain
Tier: Legacy
Type: Domain
Effect: Able to control shadows as long as the user could see them.
Cooldown: None
Cast Time: Depends on the action
Mana Cost: Depends on the action
This skill was great for areas like forests or cities during daytime but is useless at nighttime. As long as there are lights, there would be shadows. Adrian remembered that line from an old cartoon that he used to watch. Due to the presence of his powerful soulbounds, animal like creatures are scared to even approach them. It was only creatures that could not distinguish strength that pounced at Adrian's group.
Adrian and his soulbounds are now deep into the forest and monsters that are sixty and above are now showing themselves. He thought that they were close to the hideout but apparently they could not find it. There was not even a scent of the thugs' employer from their clothes so Sirius could not track it.
Adrian practically gave up as they have been circling the forest for an hour. He decided to rest on a cliff and rest his back on it but he passed through. Adrian fell to the ground and his soulbounds panicked a little but the former told them to stay calm. Adrian ordered them to come to him as he passed by something like an illusion.
Adrian could not believe that even his evil eye was unable to see through the illusion. He then saw the cliff but this time there was a cave. It was not a normal cave as it looked like the cliff was carved. The entrance was a mouth opening to a carving that looked like numerous faces.
Adrian was both creeped out and curios because the carving of the faces looked life like. Thankfully, there were no guards stationed outside the cave. Adrian wanted to waltz in but he could suddenly encounter an acolyte and be surrounded.
Adrian carefully used Soul Form Transformation on himself, Kanlaon and Saena. Adrian just ordered Sirius to be the vanguard and jump from shadow to shadow as the torches are lighting the cave. Adrian then followed after Sirius.
"I really need to visit the summoner tower later and get the skill book Shared Senses. If I use that I could see what Sirius sees as long as I could sense him using the soul link." Adrian thought.
Adrian was afraid to go inside summoner towers or mage towers because there might be some NPCs with higher persona than him. Still, Adrian really wanted to get skill books for him and Kanlaon to increase their battle prowess. A few minutes later, Adrian could feel that Sirius became mad for some reason. Still, Sirius did not act up and controlled his emotions.
Adrian wanted to ask but they manage to catch up to Sirius. Adrian arrived in what seems like an altar but it was not holy. Adrian could smell something foul in the air. He then saw three hooded individuals and five thug looking men dragging along a weak old man.
Adrian wanted to jump to save the old man but his body was frozen. Adrian was again subjected to a cut-scene and was forced to watch the horror the acolytes will commit. The thugs gave the old man to one of the hooded individuals and was given a small bag that produced a clink. The thugs then left after saying, "Pleasure doing business with you".
The thugs then left as if they did nothing wrong and they would probably look for another victim. The old man was then shaking as his head was held by the acolyte. The old man then saw what was under the hood and fainted due to fear. The old man even peed but the acolytes seemed not to mind.
The old man was then placed in the middle of the altar while the acolytes were chanting words. A few seconds later, muscle like tendrils sprouted from the ground and enveloped the old man. The old man woke up as he felt immense pain. His shout reverberated inside the temple but was later muffled as his body was being absorbed by the muscle tendrils.
A few moments later, the old man was no longer there. The face of the old man was then seen on the muscle tendril that absorbed him. Adrian who saw that felt his skin tingle.
"That's extreme even for me!"
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