YM778.TV Chapter 135: Curse And Potion
Amy acquiesced.
However, Enzo remained unconcerned.
He had always been skeptical of prophecies.
From the moment he arrived in this world—bewildered by its primal state, then embracing the role of priest of the Crimson Star Tribe, subsequently embarking on the path of the supernatural… Until today, Enzo had traversed many experiences that imparted a singular lesson—destiny is never predetermined. With sufficient strength, one can alter even the most tragic of fates.
This is a belief firmly established in Enzo\'s heart.
Yet, to spare Amy any worry, he refrained from sharing too much.
The two of them remained quietly in the yard, eventually settling into chairs and drifting off to sleep.
At that moment, the entire jungle fell into a serene stillness.
However, if one were to gaze down from above, they would observe the jungle shimmering with faint, somber patterns. The lines forming these unique designs undulated as if breathing, each rise and fall drawing in the energy of the earth and sky, converging at the Crimson Star Tribe\'s encampment.
This accumulated energy was then transported through those patterns to designated locations.
A wondrous reaction was taking place, one that even Enzo could not fully comprehend. While setting up the Ring of the World Ritual, he merely sensed its potential for significant development within the tribe.
Thus, he proceeded accordingly.
Moreover, the changes brought about by the Ring of the World Ritual were exceedingly subtle, so faint as to be nearly imperceptible.
Yet, they persisted.
Time wields an immense power, and no one can predict what transformations these minuscule shifts might engender after an expanse of time, whether for better or worse, we can only await the outcome.
Of course, the purpose of the Ring of the World Ritual extends beyond this.
Within it lies an energy of the utmost purity, devoid of any attribute, remarkably gentle. This energy gradually infused itself into Enzo\'s body, dispelling his fatigue, healing his wounds, and granting him a slight enhancement in strength.
Such a power was well known to Enzo.
Before long, the night faded, giving way to a new day.
Amy awoke in Enzo\'s embrace, gently kissing him before reluctantly departing toward the council hall; after yesterday\'s decision to upgrade the land, today was destined to be a busy one.
Unbeknownst to her, Enzo had actually awoken much earlier.
In order to let her sleep a little longer, he intentionally pretended to still be asleep.
As he watched Amy\'s figure fade into the distance, the words she had confided to him the previous night echoed in Enzo\'s mind, casting a shadow over his heart. He murmured to himself, "Amy, no one would dare to take you away."
With that, Enzo rose to his feet.
He returned to his own bedroom, preparing to check on Freya\'s condition.
Suddenly, Enzo\'s expression darkened dramatically.
Freya remained unconscious, and her body was ensnared by blood-red thorns. When Enzo attempted to remove them, he realized that the thorns were not physically present; approaching them inflicted a searing pain upon his mind, as if sharp objects were stabbing and twisting within his brain.
Such agony was unbearable.
Let alone for Freya, who was entwined in the blood-red thorns. Her pallid face contorted in distress, seemingly enduring some form of inhuman torment, yet she could not awaken.
"Chloe! You wretched fiend!"
Enzo roared in fury, turning on his heel and storming out of the bedroom towards the quarters he had arranged for Fraspens.
...
Inside the red-brick room, Fraspens had already awakened.
He surveyed his surroundings, realizing he was in an unfamiliar environment; the walls were constructed from some peculiar material. However, the door was left ajar, which brought him a sense of relief.
I am not imprisoned.
Fraspens thought to himself, while also sensing something unusual about his body.
His once-crippled legs and fractured arms appeared to have healed, and his physical condition had improved significantly—at least he was no longer in a state poised for death.
Someone has saved me!
Fraspens understood in an instant, and a name came to mind—Enzo!
Just then, Enzo entered the room.
Fraspens was about to speak, but Enzo cut him off, exclaiming, "Freya is in trouble!"
Upon hearing this, Fraspens\'s questions remained unvoiced as he followed Enzo, his body somewhat stiff from a prolonged lack of movement, though fortunately, he adapted quickly.
Just a few steps were enough to restore normalcy to his gait.
Before long, Enzo led Fraspens to his abode.
Fraspens glanced at Freya, who lay upon the bed, and his eyes were drawn to the blood-red thorns. His expression turned grave as he uttered, "What you see here is the essence of a curse. However, the nature of this curse eludes me. Only the one who cast it may possess such understanding. Furthermore, Freya seems unable to endure much longer."
Enzo comprehended this last point as well.
He sensed Freya\'s consciousness gradually waning. At the current rate of deterioration, she had no more than five days left.
Yet, in times of urgency, patience was paramount.
Enzo inquired of Fraspens, "Is there any remedy?"
Fraspens shook his head, replying, "There is no definitive solution. It is either that Freya\'s consciousness undergoes a transformation, freeing her from this curse, or that Chloe lifts the curse. Aside from these two options, there is one final recourse. The Curse Purification Potion, specifically crafted to dispel curses."
"But its efficacy remains uncertain."
"After the curse descended upon the Barren Mountain Tribe, they endeavored to create the Curse Purification Potion, yet it proved ineffective, ultimately leading to the tribe\'s demise."
"The fall of the Barren Mountain Tribe meant that the recipe for such a potion was lost to time."
Fraspens recounted the history of the Barren Mountain Tribe.
Enzo paid little heed to the details, focusing instead on the notion of the Curse Purification Potion.
He could seek assistance regarding the potion from others.
After signaling to Fraspens that he could take his leave, Enzo retrieved the stone tablet of the Barren Mountain, flipping to the page detailing potion knowledge, and called out, "Mr. Mina, I require your assistance!"
In the next moment, Enzo\'s consciousness once again entered the quaint cottage of Mina Potion.
Mina\'s voice bore a hint of dissatisfaction, losing its previously monotonous tone, as he inquired, "Is there something you require assistance with? My time is limited, and the power I possess is waning. Before my remaining strength is exhausted, I must ensure you capture all the knowledge held here. Otherwise, it will fade into oblivion."
Enzo replied straightforwardly, "I wish to learn how to concoct a Curse Purification Potion."
Mina was taken aback, her expression shifting dramatically as she questioned, "What need do you have for such a potion? Is a curse once again upon us? This cannot be…"
Mina fell into a pensive silence.
Anxious, Enzo interrupted, stating, "It is not a curse that has returned, but rather, a friend of mine has been cursed."
Mina regained her composure and sighed in relief, saying, "Ah, I see."
Yet, his demeanor quickly turned grave as she cautioned, "The Curse Purification Potion is not easily crafted. It belongs to the realm of Level 7 potions and far exceeds your current capabilities. However, such a potion exists within this cottage. If you desire it, I can provide it, but there will be a cost."
Enzo inquired, "What do you require?"
Mina shook his head, replying, "It is not a matter of what I need, but rather what you are willing to do."
He sighed softly, saying, "With your intellect, you must have already discerned that I possess a soul. Yet, over the eons, much of it has been diminished. Had I not wished to pass on the knowledge of these potions, I might have long followed Lord Priest into the void."
"Thus, you must first commit to memory all the knowledge contained within this row of shelves before I shall grant you the potion."
"This condition is non-negotiable!"
Upon hearing this, Enzo found himself in a quandary.
To him, memorizing knowledge was not overly challenging. He had already committed a considerable amount of Potion knowledge to memory over time.
However, a single row of bookshelves held far too many records.
He estimated that it would take at least a month for him to fully absorb the material, but Freya could endure no more than five days, a condition that Enzo found difficult to accept.
Mina, perceiving Enzo\'s dilemma, had no intention of altering the terms.
He spoke earnestly, "Young man, you are still in the bloom of youth and lack sufficient experience. Thus, when faced with certain matters, especially choices, you may find yourself bewildered. When you reach my age, you will come to realize that in this world, power and knowledge are the only eternal pursuits of an individual! As for everything else, it can be readily forsaken."
"Very well, you may leave now. "
"When you fulfill the conditions, I shall provide you with the Potion."
As he spoke, Enzo felt his consciousness being repelled by the Potion hut.
He hastily called out, "Wait!"
Mina, somewhat impatient, asked, "What else is there?"
Enzo tentatively replied, "I am the master of Bookstaver and the keeper of the stone tablet of the barren mountain. You should heed my command."
Upon hearing this, Mina chuckled and replied, "Bookstaver is Bookstaver, and I am I. Although the soul seed relies on the stone tablet of the barren mountain for activation, that does not imply that mastery of the tablet grants dominion over all souls within the soul seed. The relationship between the two is one of equality."
This revelation made Enzo realize that this approach would not work.
He was left with no choice but to resort to his final strategy.
Enzo began, "Mr. Mina, what if I could extend the duration of your soul\'s existence?"