Chapter 144. Horadric Vault

The writing, in combination with Lorath leaving to search for the Pale Man, gave Michael a bad feeling.

Nevertheless, seeing Donan's name here and how he came to visit meant they were close enough for him to visit under Lorath's suggestion without being chased away.

Maybe he could get lucky enough to get his hands on some Necromancer books in the process.

[What now?](Neyrelle)

"I'll explore further inside. Stay here for a while and look around. Maybe what we need is here. Though, I doubt it would be this easy."

[Okay. Be careful.](Neyrelle)

Leaving the curious girl behind as she was rummaging through the books, Michael ventured deeper, trying to map out the area.

He didn't get to step across the open doors when Neyrelle yelled from behind.

[Hey! Wait for me!](Neyrelle)

"Huh!? I thought you'd want to search these books first."

[They are entry level. We won't be able to find what we need here. If I missed something, we can return after checking the entire place first.](Neyrelle)

"Okay. Stay behind me for now. There's something strange ahead, but I can't see it due to the lights."

[I can take care of that.](Neyrelle)

Speaking in Horadrim again, she explained to a baffled Michael, as magic circles began glowing on the walls, that it was another spell from the book he had brought. 

Fortunately, she and her mother studied it previously in some abandoned Horadric base they had visited before.

As for the strange thing his minions found, it was a goddamn perpetual mobile sphere over five meters tall, continuously rotating as the rings around it did the same. It was an Armillary Sphere used in ancient times to study both mathematics and astronomy.

Michael was more and more impressed by the Horadrim with every passing second. Two doors sealed with similar magical symbols as the first one Neyrelle opened blocked the way forward. 

"One to the left and one to the right. Can you open the left one? It looks similar to the first one, right? The lock on it?"

[It's the same seal as before. It should be easy enough to break it again, but why would someone use it here?](Neyrelle)

"Only one way to find out, but I'll ask you to stay behind this time around."

[Of course, we can't let anything stop our pursuit of Lilith. I'll open the door, and if we split up, we'll work faster that way.](Neyrelle)

"Only if you stay on this side of the door."

[Fine...](Neyrelle)

"What am I looking for?"

[A book, a scroll, anything that will help us cross the Black Lake. You might not be able to find it without me. I should come, after all.](Neyrelle)

"I'll manage with the Sanctuary's help. Please. Stay behind for now and look through those books."

[...okay.](Neyrelle)

Seeing her pout and leave hurriedly, Michael smiled as she finally acted her age. 

Furthermore, he was worried. With three doors sealed through magic, it wasn't as if they didn't want anyone in, but it seemed more like they wanted to keep something inside from getting out.

'Hopefully, it's just me overthinking.'

Leaving the Foyer where the Armillary Sphere was and stepping into the Study, Michael looked around for anything suspicious.

Sure enough, Hellions, Skeletons, Infernal Sisters, and other monsters greeted him almost instantly.

"Tsk! Demons!"

He wasn't hard-pressed dealing with them, but he was worried that his intuition might prove him right, and this place was taken over by demons just like the Lost Archives.

As before, seeing two giant Pit Lords rushing at him with their ridiculously tall and bulky bodies was scary, but his Golem was able to take care of them and hold them back.

They even contributed a decent item he could use instead of his current gloves. 

[ Loath Vices

Rare Gloves

278 Item Power

-----------------

139 Armor

* +11 Intelligence

* +3.5 Shadow Damage over Time

* +1 Rank of Blight (Necromancer Only) ]

[ Bitter Hold

Rare Gloves

401 Item Power

-----------------

200 Armor (+61 when compared with the currently equipped item)

* +13 Intelligence

* +8 to All Stats

* +1 Rank of Blood Lance (Necromancer Only) ]

He didn't hesitate to equip the new item as it gave more than the previous one and happily continued his exploration.

His journey wasn't necessarily difficult, but he couldn't enjoy the location because he kept getting assaulted by demons continuously. Even the big-bellied Warden joined the fray, as tall as the Pit Lords but much tankier.

Fortunately, the demons didn't seem very interested in reading, as the books on the shelves were intact. The Necromancer tried his best to guide the fights he took as far away from them as possible in order not to damage the knowledge inside.

When he reached the Healing Well, Michael opened the MAP and saw that he barely managed to discover a part of the Vault, shocking him with how deep the Horadrim managed to dig.

Reaching the Desecrated Archives, he found a book covered by a strange wind blowing around it to the point where it was visible. Probably considering his visit to the Vault so far to be too easy, the Sanctuary gave him a very 'pleasant' surprise.

[ Main Quest update - Fledgeling Scholar

Objective: Slay Tchort. ]

And surely enough, the Tchort in question joined the fray.

[ Tchort, Herald of Lilith (Boss) - Level 42 ]

As it was a Succubus Boss, Michael thought he could also talk his way out of this one like he did for the Stronghold in Nostrava. Unfortunately, Tchort had a different plan in mind.

Compared with the Bosses so far, this one was by far the most annoying and tankier. It took him half an hour to kill, and even his minions perished multiple times in the process.

Not only did the Succubus Herald attack from afar with red lightning balls but once in a while, she would send spears made of the same 'material' which skewered his minions in the blink of an eye. If that weren't enough, she would summon balls of fire, which would also explode, dealing over 500 damage each time.

Fortunately, he gained an extra slot for Potion Capacity through his Region Progress that kept him alive, barely clinching the victory. Blood Mist and the exploding Legendary Aspect on his helm played a huge role in the victory.

[ Main Quest update - Fledgeling Scholar

Objective: Inspect the spellbook. ]

With the Boss dead, the strange winds around the spellbook also vanished, allowing him to inspect it up close. 

Luckily, from the fight with the Boss, he gained a Legendary item box, which he planned to open a bit later. Any Legendary addition to his equipment was well received. 

"Let's see... Surely enough, it's another Quest Item. Death Harnessed: Theories of Rathma. Damn... this sounds like something I should read."

Unfortunately for him, the language was pure scribbles, and no matter how much he begged the Sanctuary, he wouldn't get a translation hack. 

"Annoying! Anyway... why the hell was a demon guarding this book? Let's bring it to Neyrelle and see what she thinks."

Curious, he sent his minions through the teleporting portal and was surprised to see the rotating sphere through their senses. Stepping through it as well, he returned to the Foyer.

Listening carefully, he heard the annoyed sighing of the girl.

"I'm back."

[I hope you had more luck than me... There are amazing things in here, but nothing about the Black Lake...](Neyrelle)

"Mhm. I found this book under very... peculiar circumstances."

Handing over the book to Neyrelle, Michael waited as she skimmed through it.

[Interesting. This ledger was written by the Horadrim. This is chronicling spells and theories created by Rathma, the first Necromancer.](Neyrelle)

"That's not what we're looking for, though..."

[No, but it can still work. There must be a spell in this book we can use to bring back my mother. She knows the ritual to cross the Black Lake.](Neyrelle)

"This... Neyrelle... are you sure this is a good idea? I'm a Necromancer myself. Irrelevant of how powerful Rathma might've been, he can't bring someone dead back to life."

[I'm not that foolish... But it's all we have. My mother can help us if we can bring her soul back.](Neyrelle)

Michael quietly remembered all the movies, anime, and novels he had read where bringing someone back to life ended poorly. However, he couldn't bring himself to say no.

Furthermore, she wasn't wrong in saying that her mother was the only lead they had on crossing the Black Lake.

[Meet me down there. I can take a portal to that location. I've saved the magical coordinates but can't take you with me.](Neyrelle)

"Slow down, Neyrelle! I know you're in a rush, but jumping back in there headfirst is not a good idea. How about you return to Kyovashad with me for the night, and we go in the morning? I have something you might be interested in looking at. It comes from a time even before the Horadrim."

[This...](Neyrelle)

"Please. One extra day won't make a difference. You can get some rest and have the time to check this spellbook also. Who knows, we might be able to find interesting things from it."

[Okay...](Neyrelle)

"Another thing. The passage to the book was infested with demons. The entire study. And the book itself was guarded by a powerful demon. A Herald of Lilith."

[I thought I heard something, but I thought it was just your minions making a mess while searching. But demons? How is it possible? It couldn't have been the Horadrim. They're secretive, yes, but would never follow such a path.](Neyrelle)

"I agree. Still, this doesn't sit well with me. Furthermore, finding a book about Rathma here, guarded by that demon. It can't be a coincidence since we plan to visit his Necropolis."

[You mean that we found Rathma's book here, and Lilith went after him?](Neyrelle)

"Yes. Furthermore, I learned that Inarius also visited him. He's the source of that prophecy the church keeps blabbing about."

[The one with the spear of light piercing through hatred's heart? That was Rathma?](Neyrelle)

"Mhm. That's why I want to wait until tomorrow and think things through. I'll have my friends give their thoughts on this matter as well. More heads offer better insight."

[*Sigh* My mother told me once that there are no coincidences when immortals are involved. It would be best for us to prepare some more.](Neyrelle)

The duo left the Horadric Vault and returned to Yelesna, from where they took the Waypoint to Kyovashad.

[ Main Quest complete - Fledgeling Scholar

Reward 1: 28,413 experience points

Reward 2: 2,660 gold coins

Reward 3: Horadric Initiate's Amulet (Magic Amulet). ]

The item wasn't as good as what he was currently wearing, but its description cleared some doubts for him.

[A bronze relief depicting the visage of the Archangel Tyrael hung on a fine chord. Various additional ornaments have been added to the amulet, including one depicting a trio of forbidden ancient gods.]

While he might not know who the three gods were, the fact that they appeared on the statue outside the Vault and on this pendant, which obviously held some significance to the Horadrim order, was food for thought.

Also, Michael initially thought that the Main Quest being called 'Fledgeling Scholar' referred to Neyrelle, but after reading that page from the journal... now thought otherwise.

'I hope that Lorath finds what he's looking for and things don't overly complicate further.'

[Aren't we going to the Inn?](Neyrelle)

"Nope. Since it's still early, I'll bring you to meet my friends first. Furthermore, I can guarantee that the food we'll serve you will be even better than what Ms. Raskya has."

[Are you sure? I don't want to impose on your friends. I can just stay at the Inn and read the book until you return.](Neyrelle)

"Nope. I told you. I want to treat you to some proper food. Also, the book I told you about is with Aylin, one of my friends."

After barely managing to convince her, Michael more or less dragged Neyrelle to the Pink Palace. 

It suffices to say that she was shocked upon seeing the residence's color. The reason for the Necromancer's insistence was the attempt to get the girl out of the swamp of negative emotions she was in.

With her mother dying because of Lilith, all she could think of was revenge and, now, resurrection. It was best if she could meet the sisters and walk out of the large shadow Lilith had cast over her.

Helen greeted the duo at the gate, and to Michael's surprise, she didn't even bat an eyelid upon seeing him with Neyrelle. She just grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her to the patio where the others were seated after chasing him to the kitchen.

'I say... shouldn't I at least be there to make the introductions? I know I said I'd meet with the girl today, but why did she assume it was Neyrelle... *Sigh* It's fine, I guess... at least I get to cook and impress them. What should I make that can sweep them off their feet?'

Ignored and indignant, Michael stepped into the kitchen, where the servant girls warmly greeted him. This significantly improved his mood, as he directed them on what ingredients to get and how to prepare them.