13 First Friend
"Please be gentle... It is my first time."
"What the fuck?! Young Elle, listen to me. It is really me. I'm Morbius. Here is my Adventurer's Guild and VSU License."
Inside Morbius's house, a young man that looked like he was in his teens, is desperately proving his identity to a young girl.
"So, you won't be taking my first time?" Elle on the brink of tears is very scared at the moment.
"Stop crying. I won't harm you. Even I was shocked when this happened." Morbius just realized that this is one of the effects of Alma's Cell Rejuvenation.
No wonder Alma and her shrine maidens seem to be ageless. This technique could rejuvenate a person's appearance as well.
"You're really Morbius? If so then, what kind of food did Morbius gave me yesterday." Elle wanted to test this guy. She thought that it is time for the interrogation.
Morbius felt that the question is too shallow for interrogation, but it is understandable since they don't know much about each other. He replied, "I gave you a Violet Yam Cake Roll, I plated it and put it in a box in thanks for the pass you gave me."
Elle nodded and asked another question, "How did we meet?"
"I was lost a few days ago at xx street. You pretended to be a little girl and coaxed me to join the guild and service union in exchange for housing rights."
"Oi! I didn't coax you. Hmph.", Elle pouted. She started to believe Morbius after a barrage of questions.
During the interrogation, Elle noticed something weird inside his house.
"Morbius, why's your house very dusty? Also, the furnishing is in a mess."
Morbius was not puzzled anymore. He could see Elle playing with the dust with her index finger and thumb. "Oh! The dust coagulating is my dead body. While the mess in the furnishing is caused by an extreme surge of energy.
Elle nodded, " Oh dead body... Eh? Dead what?" Almost calming down, another bucket of cold water prevented her from being calm.
She looked at her hands and realized that instead of dust, this powdery substance in her fingertips were ashes. "EEEEEEK!!! A-a-are you a ghost? Ghost!"
"Calm down now and let me explain. Last night, after shopping from Merchant Hall, I decided to practice a technique that I got. It is called Alma's Cell Rejuvenation. It accelerates the life cycle of cells. It changes the quality of cells and the only limitation is energy quality and quantity.
I used Pure Energy as a source and a whole raw Energy Stone. The amount of energy of an Energy Stone is too much especially for the lowly Energy Absorption realm like me.
I could not sever the external power source (stone, not the source inside his body), so I was forced to undergo Cell Rejuvenation repeatedly until the Energy Stone was exhausted." At this point, Morbius explained nonstop. Elle is the only one he knew and is acquainted with, so he needs her help. He needed to sort his identity and his house because he suddenly turned into a young man and he might need to change his name again if needed.
"So you're not a ghost?" Elle asked while wiping her teary eyes.
Morbius sighed and thought that it is not the point. "I'm not a ghost and I am not dead. Well, I experienced death and life repeatedly last night so maybe it counts?"
Elle nodded and sighed in relief. She hoped that it was the last wave of surprises, at least for the day. Her lifespan might decrease due to the fictitious series of events.
"By the way, Morbius is that really how you look when you were younger?" Elle asked. Such a handsome guy was an old geezer if he said that it is an illusion, Elle won't be so surprised.
Morbius nodded, "Yep, aside from the exaggeratingly smooth skin, this is exactly how I looked when I was 17. When I became a castle guard, this is how I looked like when my first armor and sword was issued by King Ignatius Belham I..." Morbius reminisced the old times. It is not that long story since most of the time, he was guarding the gate, and nothing much interesting happened.
Stars appeared in Elle's eyes since Morbius told her his knowledge about many Legends. Some Legends he knew were those written in history and some were those who failed to flourish and vanished to oblivion.
Since the Kingdom of Belham is a peaceful place, Legends respect it to a certain extent. This kingdom mostly provides food for the majority of this Mezoph continent. It is not as if they feed the continent, but the Belham Kingdom is a free-trade country. They openly trade food 100% of the time, keeping all economies running.
"You know so many Legends, are you perhaps a hidden veteran or a Legend? You even know Legends not recorded in history. It's like you've seen Pleasure Master before." With interest, Elle kept on asking Morbius about Legends of the old.
Morbius became comfortable with talking. For thousands of years, he failed to connect with people. It is not until today that he became enthusiastic when communicating with someone.
"I am just a castle guard and have no notable talent. After the Great Defeat of the Verdein Empire, the Belham Kingdom became a vacation place for Legends. It is the nearest territory to the battlefield and when the war paused, Legends rest inside the cities of Belham.
I was not a castle guard yet when they first used the kingdom as a cease-fire area, but I remember, the prestige of the Kingdom rose due to that.
Rumors at that time said that an unnamed Sword Saint and a Legend-class Priestess died in that war. That is also the reason why Legends questioned the worth of the wars compared to their lives.
When I became a castle guard of the Royal Belhams, Priestess Alma, visited the castle and grant her blessings. After that, with her powers, she took down the Shrine Empress of that time and separated the power of the Verdein Shrine from the Verdein Imperial Family. She became the strongest figurehead of the shrine and became a Shrine Empress.
She only protects the people but never instigated wars nor provoked other factions. Because of her behavior, the tyrant Verdein Empire stopped being an ass. Verdein Empire drafted my parents when I was young, those shitty royal family deserved their losses.
After the loss of Verdein, another tyrant emerged with the leadership of Pleasure Master. Well, the ending is that it became peaceful after the warring empires lost their legends. Legends kept themselves away from mundane things and royalties almost lost their power."
"Ehm, Morbius, if I am not wrong, the Alma from Alma's Cell Rejuvenation and Alma the Shrine Empress. Can I see the technique?" Elle found something interesting. She might've heard the Legend of Pleasure Master, but Legend of the Shrine Empress is new to her. The way Morbius tells the story is as if he witnessed these people with his own eyes when they visited Belham.
"Oh sure. But, I doubt you can read it. You, youngsters, keep calling it noodle text. Such an insult to fine literary pieces." Morbius lend her the book and took a broom. The house is full of his thousands-year-old ashes. If he sold his ashes to an antique store, it'd fetch a high price. Sadly, it is not possible in a real sense.
Elle took the book and read it, but became dumbfounded. Alma's Cell Rejuvenation is written in "noodle text". She had no way of comprehending a lost system of writing. 'How could he read it. The ancient text has reformed for a thousand years already.
"Morbius could you describe Priestess Alma to me?" Elle asked. She is eager to find out about Morbius.
Morbius pondered and tried to remember. "Hmmm... When she visited the castle, she had several female knights. Her face was covered with a veil during that time, but her hair is smooth and silky black, her face is like porcelain and her body exudes elegance. She was the first person I considered a woman.
Oh, but during her stay in the castle, I also met a girl with the same features. Although she's not wearing her priestess garb and veil, I am 69% sure that she's the priestess. She's so beautiful like a fairy. " Morbius recounted.
'I was picking up energy stones that time though and she told me to keep the stones for myself and that the stones have no monetary value. I think she said that to protect the kingdom from greedy eyes.'
"Who is older, Alma or Pleasure Master?" Elle asked another question trying to get to the bottom of her curiosity.
"Alma is way older than Pleasure Master. Even though she never aged, she was in her mid 500's when that pervert was born. Kek, that Pleasure Master kept of causing trouble to our dorms when he was a snotty brat." Morbius smirked. If one asked him about his opinion on that stinky kid, he'd say naturally perverted and troublesome.
Elle was shocked. The way Morbius recounted his memory of Pleasure Master is so genuine as if he saw the emergence of the great Legend.
"I did not expect him to become a Legend though and he even died before me. Haiz, what's funny is that the kid's goal is to open branches of brothels all over the world and indulge in women forever. Sadly the guy died a virgin."
Elle was not shocked anymore. The things Morbius said about Pleasure Master were not recorded in history. It was even depicted that Pleasure Master is the epitome of Sex and the Demigod of Reproduction. Unknowingly, he is a virgin and died as is. There is only one thing she could do to verify.
Elle took out a magic plate from her bag. It is a small wooden disk with many symbols on it. If a Magician or Magic Scholar sees this, they would instantly know that it is an Age Identification Spell.
This is an uncommon item in Misha City. She only had one of them. Fortunately, it is a reusable type of Magic Plate.
"Morbius can I request you something? I still doubt you a bit. It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of this City. It would just be fast, but could you please hold this Magic Plate in your left and also..." Elle took a small parchment with strange engravings and gave it to Morbius.
Morbius can't blame Elle for being skeptical. He also found his own stories shady albeit being true. He took the Magic Plate he can't recognize and the paper.
Elle put her palm on the plate and activated it. Only she knew how to activate it so she did.
The plate glowed for a bit and blank ink began to appear on the paper.
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Bone Age: 4006 years old
Flesh Age: 4006 years old
Soul Age: 4006 years old
Skin Age: 4006 years old
Visual Age: 17 years old
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Morbius was shocked when his age appeared on the parchment. He was also curious about the values.
Elle looked in shock. She's talking with an ancient person, a living relic, and also a treasure trove of knowledge.
"So you mean to probe my age." Morbius sighed. He is a bit disappointed though, not because he was betrayed, but it is wasteful to use a precious magic plate. Elle could've just asked him.
Elle looking a bit guilty kowtowed, "I am so sorry Morb- I mean old elder or ancestor. I did not mean to probe your age to offend you. I am just curious because of your tales."
"It's alright, also don't call me ancestor. I am a bachelor so please. Stop kowtowing and talk to me like normal. It's just a waste to use this artifact on me. I could've told you my age."
"Oh, that Magic Plate is infinitely reusable. It is made for me to prove that I am at marrying age. Tee-hee."
"Also, Elle, I treat you as a friend, so I am not afraid to disclose my age. If you betrayed me, then it means my judgment is wrong. Since you did it to verify my story it is understandable as long as no malice is intended."
"Friend?!" Elle is elated. Being a noblewoman is hard. Having real friends are tough especially when people around you covet power. Every social interaction is a business. Every connection is caused by a power struggle.
To keep away from power struggle, she accepted a task here in Misha. It is banishment for her, but it is alright. As long as she is free, then losing her right as a noble is worth it.
When she went here to Misha, it is hard for her to have friends. For her people in the VSU Information Department, she is a figurehead. Respect is a must between leaders and subordinates.
Outside, she finds it hard to befriend commoners. She could act like a commoner, but being ingenuine makes it harder to gain friends. Showing her noble countenance will be problematic so she settled her life here alone.
When Morbius, gave her a roll of cake, even though as thanks, she knew that it is a genuine gesture. She also enjoys Morbius's company, because he does not overcomplicate things. He is also an easy-going type of person.
Elle teared up a bit. It took her to adulthood until she found a friend, but it is alright. "Sure. Then, you are my first friend."
'I guess, my meals will be happy from now on.'
