12 Remedies

CH.12

Micheal looked at Johnathan with a confused gaze. 'If you're laughing, just laugh, why say out loud that you're laughing? Not to mention, what are you laughing at?'

Micheal ignored him, and went to Naomi and asked, "I don't really know how much the reward is worth… was this ok?"

"Indeed", Noami replied, "You can still get a bit more…" With this, Micheals eyes glowed with excitement. He had read up on his next few steps, and Step 2 ,Trickmaster, increases dexterity, especially in the fingers, as well as allowing for a few miscellaneous 'trick-like' spells. This gave him an idea. The step 2 Julia died instantly to a gun, and yet she was from one of the most defence oriented pathways! It was in the name, she was a Step 2 Survivor! Yet, she didn't survive a gunshot? To Michael, that clearly meant that until one gets to a higher level, any lower-level pathway powers are inferior compared to the power of the gun! However, regular guns can only shoot once before having to reload, which takes a long time. Therefore, the solution was clearly to carry many guns to avoid having to reload mid battle! And using his Trickmaster abilities, he would be able to shoot them faster!

"Say, Noami, if I were to say, want 40 guns, would that be ok?"

Noami was dumbfounded.

..........

Micheal left the store with a smile on his face! He had gotten the ingrediants for his next step, an amazing, mystical gun, and 12 regular guns, all for free! 'I made a lot of internal promises in the past… but most were based on my power being unique! Knowing that I can keep increasing this… it'll be something worth risking myself for! If a single reward for merely holding Nova back was worth this much, then working for the kingdom is worth the risk!'

Noami started, "The last thing we owe you is the Remedy." "Remedy?" Micheal didn't remember that from what he read. "What's a remedy?"

Noami was a bit shocked. She knows he went to the library and read up, and he doesn't know what a Remedy is? "Well, remember how a ritual is needed to advance in step? Those have dangers, and they have to be counteracted. Any method to counteract these dangers is called a Remedy. The Trickmaster ingredients are rather cheap, most of the time and effort is spent finding these Remedies."

"Remedies are one of the tools used by organizations to recruit members. After all, advancing in step is too alluring, and yet too dangerous to be attempted without a Remedy. This is why you won't find any Remedies for steps above 2 out in the open. You could advance in a few months using the publicly known Trickmaster Remedy, or you could do it today!"

"Today!?" Micheal was shocked! "Does that mean… you have your own Remedy?"

"More specifically", Noami replied, "The kingdom has access to most Remedies available to powers under our kingdom. When the dangers are the same, naturally there would be many different ways to counter them. As such, there are multiple Remedies per step. This way isn't publicly available because of the cost associated with it."

Micheal was enlightened but this also left him confused, however, 'Although I didn't get to finish the book on pathways, I don't remember reading about this, why?' "So the--" Micheal started to talk, but got interrupted by Noami. "We're here!"

"Here?" Micheal looked up, they had walked all the way back to the palace entrance!

"Let's meet in my room, Micheal." Micheal kept quiet as they walked through the palace. Only when they were back did Micheal remember that Noami was true royalty!

As they reached the entrance to her room, Noami spoke, "Maximillion, stay outside guarding the door for a bit."

"But Princess.." Maximillion looked at Micheal. "I'm tasked to guard you!"

"Stay outside." Noami repeated.

"Bu-"

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Noami growled.

Maximillion sighed, "No, princess." With that, he obediently stayed in place as Noami and Micheal entered the room, and the door closed behind them.

Noami sat down on a special chair that could turn once sat on, and faced Micheal. She suddenly had a devious expression. "So, Micheal…you've accepted a lot of gifts from the kingdom. You know what that means, right? You're obligated to continue fighting Nova."

Micheal gulped. 'What's up with this change in tone?' Naturally, though, he wasn't stupid. "Yes, I'll be glad to continue fighting Nova."

"Hehe!" Noami laughed, "I actually don't know what my father is doing. There's already an operation against Nova as we speak. Organizations countless times more capable than whatever this ragtag team of people are going to be are participating.

As she spoke, an aura of majesty radiated from her. Micheal was subconsciously inclined to follow whatever she said. 'WAIT!' Suddenly, Micheal cleared his head with a violent thought. 'That was similar to what I experienced from Nova, only much weaker.' Micheal stayed silent, but kept listening warily.

"And yet, this group of random people hasn't even set out. That being said, accept this." Noami took out a small orb, and passed it to Micheal. "Feel the flow of your energy as soon as you touched it? Send energy through it along with the thoughts to send a message, and the other orb will receive and store the message. I have the other orb. Keep this strictly confidential. I think you know what would happen if you don't. This is a deal… which is mutually beneficial. That is all."

.......

'That change in personality… was so sudden!' Micheal felt uncomfortable following that event. 'And yet… I only have good feelings towards her.'

However, time waits for nobody. Eventually, Maximillion looked for Micheal. "The time has come for you to advance in step.

Micheal was led into a dark room by Maximillion. "Everything has already been prepared. You see the giant circle? Step into that, that is the Remedy which will keep you sane. In the middle is a drink in a cup, drink it, and you shall advance."

Micheal took a step forward. Upon stepping into the circle, his mind was suddenly disturbed. It was extremely forceful, he now felt that he hated tricks! All things should be done fair and square! 'What the hell?' Micheal thought, but still grabbed the chalice and gulped it down!

Maximillion smiled at the sight of this.

PAIN

From his core, energy forced its way into the rest of his body. It was extremely aggressive, as it warped his muscles, tendons, and bones, causing horrible pain.

'Ahhhh' Micheal internally screamed, he tried to scream out loud, but simply couldn't! Then, his mind was invaded by an external force! Closing his eyes in pain, clown faces flashed in his vision, and he felt the need to… integrate. Become a clown. Clown everyone including yourself in every way possible, and yet, this feeling instantly disappeared with the circle he was standing on flashing brightly.

Lastly, he felt a sort of... Energy spreading through his body. This energy, however, did not change his body, but stayed inside, as if waiting to be used. He felt the natural feeling to suddenly use it, as he snapped his fingers, making a flash of light! 'These are… a Trickmasters tricks!'

With that… Micheal now felt fine. He looked over at Maximillion. "Was that it?" Maximillion nodded, and continued, "That's it. Our Remedies are great, aren't they? That's all, just make sure to come to the meeting in time, you're free to leave."

Micheal was dumbfounded. The recent events were too surreal for him, as he walked out of the room.