Chapter 33: Return
[Evaluation complete.]
[Energy is at 70%.]
[Mana points is at 20/610.]
[Overclocking available when energy reaches 100%.]
[Overall status. Stable.]
[Well done Ned.]
ICE prompted one after the other. After eating a lump of meat, and rested. Ned's overall status was now back at normal.
With the help of his system, Ned could easily adapt to different kinds of situations. All his fights were recorded in his system, which is accessible when he liked it.
Ned could search for a file that ICE created and was recorded through Ned's senses. All his eyes could see, sounds he heard, smell that entered his nose, basically, everything that his senses could perceive, ICE records them real-time.
After Ned recovered, they carried Xi inside the second room where he could rest. With their departure nearing, Ned couldn't spare time roaming around doing useless things. So, the first thing he planned was to wait for his Master, go back to their underground hill-house, and enjoy the rest of the day.
With his mind focused on becoming strong, Ned doesn't have an idea about when he will come back again to O'rriadt Island when he starts to learn in the academy.
Earflgard was a world full of mystery. According to the kingdom's pamphlet. At about sixty percent was only explored, not including the dark continent, which is highly dangerous for exploration.
The only way for Ned to leave Cassan Continent and explore farther was to become a hunter with the rank of diamond or higher. Once, a hunter became a Diamond Level Hunter, they are free to explore the rest of the world.
But Ned never heard any stories, or even just rumor of a Hollow becoming Diamond or higher level hunter. Without his system, Ned could be someone's peasant boy looking for some fictitious eye fell from the sky. Or he could gamble. According to his Master, there was once a mysterious cave full of a mechanical statue. He could bravely enter this cave, get hack, maybe his arm or leg, die, then get resurrected. And become strong.
But of course, he knew that his Master was playing with him, cause he was just a kid when his Master told him stories of his great hunting adventures. And Ned knew it was a joke because resurrection wasn't a concept in this world. Once someone dies, they die for good. Not even the greatest sage of healing could save one from the grasps death.
Ned knew that his Master was at least Diamond Level or higher. But for once, Ned never asked his Master about his past. In fact, both of them never shared their past with each other.
For his Master, Ned was too young to share his past. And for Ned, he respected his Master, he never asked nor persuade his master to share his past.
With a basket full of healing herbs and grasses. Master Will arrived, minutes after Ned and Granny's unorthodox way of saving Xi ended.
Granny Lola narrated how Ned saved Xi from dying. Using his unknown knowledge of the human body, Ned healed his friend using only a tier-one spell. In which, not even the best healer of the Royal Kingdom could pull this off.
Granny warned Master Will about Ned's knowledge of things. Once, people knew about his wisdom, Ned will be sought by different organizations. And use his knowledge for some unknown reason. Maybe, Ned could get killed.
With too much healing spell used, Granny called the day off, leaving wounded people dismayed.
Granny concocted a minor healing potion out of the grass Master Will brought. After making the potion. She poured the warm green vial of healing potion on Xi's wound. Which helped him recover faster.
Now that Xi was on good hands, Ned left him with Granny for a moment, until he was recovered. Granny told Ned that by tomorrow, Xi could start to move.
Ned and Master Will left Granny's cabin afternoon. With no time to spare, they arrived there abode, bringing different news and emotions at hand.
"Kid, is it true? You battled a Lord?" Asked Master Will. His brown and olden gray hair looked messy like he had never seen a copper mirror for some time.
With nothing to hide Ned explained how they battled the Goblins, and eventually the Lord that went rogue outside the cave.
"And that is how I ended up in the infirmary," Ned said. "Thanks to the healers, I somewhat recovered."
They were back in their room, and things were still aligned just like before when Ned left. Showing, that his Master never left Granny's cabin. So, they both left and went back at the same time.
"What was the Knight's name again?"
"It's Sir Edwin Tulor Godefroy, Master," Ned answered, putting the Butterfly on the table in front of them together with his pouch that was empty all along.
"Nope, never knew him," Master Will replied. Lifting the Butterfly, unsheathing, and checking. He was satisfied by the look of it.
Master's not lying, Ned juggled his thoughts.
[Affirmative. His eyes remained the same, even his breathing was calm. He was telling the truth.]
ICE seconded Ned's thought.
"But Master, when I saw Sir Edwin, it seems that he knew you," Ned added. Knitting his eyebrows.
"I'll look into it, don't worry about that." Master Will smiled. "So tell me, kid, How about you tell me something I didn't know, let's start with Mana Burn. Or how about Healing your friend that was about to die? Not even Granny could pull what you did."
Master Will's usually old and friendly tone was gone, this time it was his straightforward voice that questioned Ned.
"Yes Master, everything you heard was true. From a Hollow with Mana Burn symptoms, to desperately saving a friend. And battling the Lord." Ned sighed contentedly. "But Master, before that, there's something that has troubled me these past few days."
"Say it, kid, I'll help you with everything I could," This time, Master Will smiled.
"Master, how did you come up with my name?"