Acutra

Consuming the majority of the goblin cores we finally began to continue our journey through the dungeon. Sahra somehow managed to repair the tourn backpack with the hay and clothes that she gathered from the scarecrows.

After filling the backpack with the remaining monster core, that we have saved for the journey to distract us from the hunger. We also kept the monster core from the 'bluffing red hobgoblin' which to our surprise has a flowing white color and is visually bigger than the rest. It is close to the size of the purple monster core that I found in the rat-infested temple, but still a little bit smaller, making me wonder just what monster´s core I consumed.

So, well-rested and very hungry and thirsty Sahra took the lead and we moved east, or where at least the artificial sun rose.

***

(A day or two back)

Inside a laboratory in the prestigious Ferum Institute, one handsome middle-aged man and a young scholar are constantly going through papers and frantically comparing the results.

"S-Simon d-do you have the same results?"

"E-Eh, if my eyes aren´t deceiving me then yes..."

The head researcher in Ferum Institute, Mavis, slumped down his chair.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose he calmed his mind. *Sigh* "... You know Simon, when I was young and still traveling the world I have seen many things, from towering behemoths that could flatten mountains to tiny spirits which loves to play around, but never in my life have I personally seen on of her descendant being an acutra."

Simon who was still holding a pile of papers listened attentively. Hearing his uncle say acutra his body began to shiver. "Y- You mean, this monster is really an acutra... like the one that brought the calamity a thousand years back and sunk an entire continent!?"

Leaning back the researcher nodded his head, "But don´t worry too much, not every acutra are evil or as strong as the blemished one. One of them even managed to establish a good relationship with elves, you may have heard of his title, the wandering tree of Enos. Another one is even being worshiped as a messenger of god Lumes and has healed countless people so far."

"What!? That is the first time I heard of that! I thought all of them already died out."

"Pah, they are extremely rare but still appear from time to time. People still hold a deep grudge against them, especially the Seekers. So only a few people know the truth and they are mainly higher-ups, royals, or important people. They try to keep it under the wraps so to avoid mass panic, rioting, or for the Seekers to hunt them down. Their existence is agreed to be kept a secret by almost every big kingdom on this continent. The knowledge and about them varies greatly around the world, but their reputation is the same amongst the common people, namely hated and scared upon hearing about them."

Hearing such a big secret he unconsciously gulped, but as a researcher and he had to ask, "So how many of the acutras are among us?"

"We know of at least 11 of them that are alive, to which most of them are being held or chased, but there could be many more that are still unknown or died before we could discover them. We are really lucky to find one so early. If we treat and nurture the acutra right we might gain a national guardian for our kingdom like the Rokya queendom did. But this is highly unlikely."

"Stop stop stop stop stop stop stop... You mean the national guardian of Rokya, the tier 8 monster Sisil the dreaming butterfly is actually an acutra!"

Mavis stood up and patted his shoulder trying to comfort him, "I know how you feel, I was the same after I found out that Miki Sisi is an acutra... BUT nevertheless, I am still a fan of her and you should too! Just because she is an acutra doesn´t make her any less cute!" Mavis's eyes shined brightly as he clutched his hand and looked into the air.

Simon's lifeless eyes looked at his uncle. He made a complicated face. His ingenious handsome uncle that invented countless revolutionary equipment and concoctions, is a die-hard Sisil or also known as Miki Sisi fan. The same uncle that is almost always calm and collective that rejected many nobles and even princesses that wanted to court him, is obsessed with another country´s national guardian/idol. He even took a month's break just to travel there and meet her. So when he isn´t inventing or researching something he will be fawning over her.

Shaking his head Mavis came out of his thoughts, "Ehem, enough with that, we are getting out of track. We have to report to the king as soon as possible. Go to your father and inform him of this news. I will come with you on the expedition so I have to prepare something you go first." Pushing his nephew out of the room he slammed the door shut as rustling and crashing could be heard.

Jules Maces or Jud, as Simon likes to call him, sees Simon walking past him with wide strides. He wanted to stop him and ask him what they just found, but was quickly stopped. "Sorry Jud, have to go. Bye!"

He stood there for a second bewildered, but then just shrugged his shoulder and shook his head with a smile and thought out loud "Those two are really alike when it comes to research."

Simon rushed to the principal's office and opened the door with great force.

*Boom*

"Father, I mean principal, I bring important news!"

Ignis Ferum, who was quietly working through the pile of paper got startled and slipped his pen. Laying down the pen he looked up and stared at him with a stern gaze.

Simon shrugged back a little and calmed down and waited for the principal to speak. "So, what important news do you have to just storm into my office and disturb me?"

Taking a deep breath Simon looked into the principal's eyes. "We managed to extract the venom and scanned the venom. The data has shown that it is solstice venom that killed the monster. To make sure we have triple-checked the results."

Ignis who was attentively hearing his son leaned forward and intertwined his hands trying not to show any emotion. Simon stopped for a moment to let the information sink in. After a while, the principal let out a tired sigh before nodding. "Hmmm, Is that all?"

To his surprise, Simon dropped another bomb, "No, we also managed to project the status of the monster that killed the Nagirus." Scratching his head he continued, "Well, it turned out that it is an acutra..."

Upon hearing his son say acutra, he was stupefied the principal's eyes widened. He as well as Mavis and some teachers from the royal Institute Ferum knew of acutras, but it was still too soon for Simon to know about them, as he was still a scholar.

Taking a deep breath he calmed himself and his golden eyes glimmered as he stared fiercely at Simon. "So Mavis already told you about acutras..." Simon just nodded. "And I presume you know the importance of knowing the importance of this secret." Simon nodded again.

Rubbing his temples Ignis closed his eyes before waving his son out. "That is indeed important news... I will inform the king about it and will send you there as soon as possible. And I presume Mavis also wants to on the dive." Seeing Simon nod again he just shook his head. You can go to your room and prepare to go to the royal palace now. Come to the gate room in an hour."

Simon bowed slightly and turned around. Walking out of the room he heard his father say, "Good job, son."

Freezing up for a moment he turned around to see his father continuing writing before the door closed.

Smiling a little he went back to his room.

After packing his things he rested for a moment. While laying on his bed he remembered that he got a letter from the king he walked towards his nightstand and opened the letter.

"To Simon Ferum,

This letter is not from the king but from me, the second princess, Katarina Vextia~ Yup, you read it right, I have submitted this letter under my father´s name.

Hehehe, I know you are happy to get another letter from me~ Just wanted to let you know that I will take you with me to another dive as punishment for not replying to the last letter that I send you. Anyway, I will see you soon~

From yours truly, Kathy~"

...

Putting the letter down he dropped his blood on the sigil before the letter vanished into flames. Falling backward he lay on his bed while thinking about her.

*Sigh* "I still don´t know why she is so infatuated with me..."

***

Meanwhile, in the royal palace, a beautiful young woman is reading a book while her long white hair waved in the evening breeze, she suddenly sneezed cutely. "Hatchi~"

"Princess, should I close the windows? Are you feeling unwell?" a woman in a maid outfit asked in a worried tone.

Waving her hand she replied with a slight chuckle, "Don´t worry about me. It´s just Simon thinking about me."

The maid tilted her head a little and placed a finger on her cheek. "You mean Simon Ferum, your childhood friend? How do you know?"

"Yes, that Simon and I just know~ Now prepare a bath for me please."

With a low bow, she replied before exiting the room, "as you wish princess. It will be prepared shortly."

Now alone in the room, she slumped on her desk and closed her eyes. "Ah, Simon it has been so long since I last saw you. I hope you will come soon. I even had to persuade my father to let me on a dungeon dive just to see you... and you didn´t even reply to my letters.... he hehe he, I guess I have to teach you again to not ignore me~"

While the sun was setting distant laughter could be heard in the royal palace. Everyone who would see the scene of the gentle and calm princess behavior would truly question their eyes, except for her close relatives who are already used to her antics.