Loot (2)

Enzo's eyes fluttered open as the warm sunlight gently bathed his surroundings. He blinked a few times, the memories of the battle and its aftermath slowly returning to him. His body felt heavy, yet strangely recovered as if the weariness from his previous ordeals had been washed away in a deep and restful sleep.

He pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing slightly at the soreness that still lingered in his muscles. His attention was drawn to the protective barrier that surrounded him, its shimmering presence telling him that his teacher was watching over him.

"Ah, you're awake," a melodious voice greeted him, and Enzo turned to find Seraphina seated nearby, her gaze fixed on him with a warm smile.

Enzo managed a tired but grateful smile in return. "Yeah, feels like I've been out for ages."

Seraphina chuckled softly. "It's understandable. You faced a formidable opponent and exerted yourself greatly. Your body needed the rest."

Enzo nodded, his gaze shifting to the treasures that lay beside him. "What are those?" He asked curiously as he had never seen those three artifacts.

Seraphina's smile widened as Enzo's curiosity piqued. She gestured toward the treasures with a graceful sweep of her hand.

"These, my young disciple, are the rewards of your courage and tenacity," she replied, her tone filled with a hint of excitement. "They are not just any items; they are powerful artifacts that will aid you on your journey."

Enzo's eyes sparkled with interest as he leaned in to examine the treasures more closely. His fingers reached out to touch the Sword of the Celestial Serpent, the intricate engravings seeming to come alive beneath his touch.

"Those... are mine?" Enzo asked, a little taken aback. It had been so long since he had last gotten an artifact from a monster that he didn't know how to react.

"This sword," Seraphina began, "is the Sword of the Celestial Serpent. It is an ancient blade forged from the scales of a powerful celestial serpent, a creature known for its connection to both earth and sky. As its wielder, you will gain an increase in Dexterity by 45, and you will have a chance to deliver a paralyzing strike to your foes." Even though Enzo could just look at the description of the sword, and will surely do so, Seraphina still wanted to be the one telling him these things.

And Enzo could definitely hear how excited she was. 'I guess even she can be normal sometimes.' He smiled before turning his attention back to the sword.

Enzo's eyebrows raised in amazement. "That's incredible. It's beautiful."

Seraphina nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it is a remarkable weapon."

Enzo then turned his attention to the Amulet of the Verdant Grove, picking it up delicately. The intricate design of intertwining vines and leaves seemed to pulse with life, and the gem at its center emitted a soothing green glow.

"The Amulet of the Verdant Grove," Seraphina explained, "is an amulet infused with the essence of an ancient forest. It will provide you with enhanced protection against magical attacks, and it will allow you to tap into the vitality of the natural world for healing and restoration."

Enzo's eyes widened once again. "So, it's like a connection to nature itself?"

Seraphina nodded with a pleased smile. "Precisely. It will complement your abilities and make you more resilient."

"That's nice to hear."

Enzo then examined the crystalline vial containing the Elixir of the Ethereal Veil, its iridescent liquid swirling like a miniature galaxy.

"And this?" Enzo asked, intrigued.

Seraphina's expression grew serious. "The Elixir of the Ethereal Veil is a rare and potent elixir. When consumed, it will temporarily enhance your physical and magical attributes, granting you heightened strength, agility, and magical prowess for a limited duration. Use it wisely, for its effects are powerful but temporary."

Among all the loot he got, he felt like the Elixir was the strongest. Sure it didn't have a direct impact on his physical prowess like his new sword, but it didn't have to. The fact that he could get stronger in an instant in dire situations would surely come in handy, especially if he were to go out of the campus.

After all, there would surely be a lot of strong monsters and other humans out there.

"Seraphina, I'll give you this," Enzo said after a while, handing the Elixir of the Ethereal Veil to his teacher.

"Huh? What do you mean? You killed the monster, so you should take it, of course."

Enzo shook his head as he looked at her teacher dead in the eyes, his expression serious. "I would have died if it wasn't for your hellish training, so it's the least I can do to repay you. And I doubt that the sword or the amulet would be of any use to you, so I'll give you the Elixir instead."

Seraphina looked at Enzo for two entire minutes. The latter could feel the surrounding air getting heavy and slowly pressing down on him.

"Enzo... while I appreciate the thought, it would not be right for me to take such things from you."

"Why?"

"Because at the end of the day, us Monarch are using you to our own needs. We aren't training you because we want to, but out of necessity," Seraphina said seriously, her tone heavy. "Otherwise, do you think I would have taught you the fighting style of the Monarch of War? So I won't take it, even if you don't want to."

Enzo looked at his teacher before looking down. He knew what Seraphina said was true. He knew that very well. After all, why would such strong beings put their pride down to help a new survivor get stronger, even if he had strong powers? As she said, it was out of necessity, not because they wanted to.

In the end, Seraphina's refusal to accept the elixir was a stark reminder of this reality. She was not his mentor out of a sense of duty, but out of necessity. It was a sobering thought, one that made Enzo reflect on the complexities of his situation.