A useful relic

Emilie's frustration bubbled over, and she couldn't contain it any longer. "WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN? CAN'T IT SPEAK IN PLAIN LANGUAGE?"

She vented her exasperation, her patience worn thin with the cryptic relics they had encountered.

Adrian, though taken aback by her sudden outburst, couldn't help but understand her sentiments. Translating the complex riddles into simpler terms had become a wearisome task for him as well.

Adrian couldn't resist his usual playful jab at Emilie, remarking, "Calm down; it's not that tough. You just have a small brain and skill issue." His teasing banter had become a familiar source of amusement for him.

Emilie's initial frustration had waned, but her gaze turned cold and penetrating as she regarded Adrian.

"Ask if it can generate some straightforward riddles for us to replenish my cores," she instructed, her tone reflecting her exasperation.

"We've been here for what feels like an eternity. I've lost track of the days."

Adrian was well aware that Emilie wasn't in the mood for jests, her monotonous tone giving him a slight chill. He promptly wrote the question, asking if the pen could generate simple riddles to help replenish Emilie's cores.

The pen complied and affirmed that it was indeed possible, explaining that their interactions with a relic in the dream realm were affecting both the dream realm and her core regeneration.

With the response in hand, Adrian requested the pen to create some straightforward riddles for Emilie to solve without any restrictions or precautions.

The pen reluctantly obliged, providing a series of riddles, though it seemed to do so begrudgingly.

As Emilie immersed herself in solving the riddles, Adrian's curiosity continued to gnaw at him. The pen, seemingly a repository of vast knowledge, had more to offer.

He jotted down another question, "Create a list of all the significant relics within this mansion," ensuring they didn't overlook any valuable items.

The pen commenced writing, but Adrian couldn't help but sense that a substantial amount of his aura was being channeled into this task. Soon enough, a list of significant relics was produced, a sight that pleasantly surprised him.

1. Relic Name: The Oculus of Clarity

Core level: 4-cores 

Ability: Grants the user unparalleled insight into the past.

Flaw: Causes painful visions and disorientation, making it challenging to distinguish between reality and illusion.

2. Relic Name: The Scepter of Illusion

Core level: 3-cores

Ability: Allows the wielder to create lifelike illusions, fooling the senses of others.

Flaw: The illusions may occasionally become uncontrollable and turn against the user, causing chaos and confusion.

3. Relic Name: The Amulet of Timekeeping

Core level: 3-cores

Ability: Can manipulate time to slow down or speed up events in a localized area.

Flaw: Overuse of the amulet can distort the user's sense of time, making them stay in a continuous loop.

4. Relic Name: The Chalice of Vitality

Core level: 2-cores

Ability: Grants the drinker temporary vitality and healing.

Flaw: Excessive use may lead to an addiction, and when the chalice's power wanes, the user experiences severe weakness and illness.

5. Relic Name: The Crown of Command

Core Level: 4-cores

Ability: Grants the wearer absolute control over others' actions for five seconds.

Flaw: Overuse can lead to extreme isolation, as those under the crown's control may become resentful, even hostile.

Adrian perused the list of relics and their respective powers, though he found them somewhat underwhelming. Still, there were a handful of them that held his interest and seemed worth keeping.

Turning to Emilie, he extended an invitation: "Hey Emilie, help me choose the relics."

Adrian saw Emilie, her hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot from the relentless riddle-solving, and he couldn't bear to witness her exhaustion. He quickly looked away, concerned for her well-being.

'She really hates this place now.'

Adrian pondered the curious nature of these relics and their presence in the mansion. Typically, relics were known to move around and didn't remain in one place for extended periods.

Various specialized societies and agencies kept them under their control, utilizing different methods to exert pressure and maintain order over these enigmatic objects of power.

The stationary relics in the mansion raised intriguing questions about the history and purpose of this unique place.

In the world of relics, it was typically the influence of powerful 9-core relics or ancient ancestors that kept them bound to a single location. But the Zesty Zephyr mansion appeared to defy these norms, and Adrian was determined to uncover the secret.

He wrote a query for the pen, seeking an answer to this enigma. The pen, true to its nature, responded with a riddle.

"Hidden within, these treasures stay,

For the mansion's charm keeps them at bay.

The previous owner's secrets grand,

A shield that binds them to this land.

Intriguing powers within reside,

Yet beyond these walls, they cannot hide."

The pen, in its peculiar way of simplifying its answers, provided Adrian with valuable information. The previous owner, who was affluent and wielded considerable means, hinted at the potential challenges they would face in their pursuit of controlling the Zesty Zephyr mansion.

Adrian sighed at the realization that his dream of claiming the mansion for himself might prove to be more complicated than he initially thought.

The pen also disclosed that the mansion itself was a relic, albeit a 1-core-level relic known as The Zesty Zephyr. It possessed the unique ability to alter its interior upon request, a useful and intriguing power in Adrian's eyes.

Adrian couldn't help but vocalize his contemplation about the mansion's ownership and the prospect of claiming all the relics for himself.

His words seemed to trigger a response from the pen, which started writing an answer, perhaps unveiling more secrets and nuances of the Zesty Zephyr mansion. Adrian leaned in to see what it had to say.

"To claim this mansion, seek the trace,

A mark she left in this mystic place.

The relic, fooled by her design,

Will bow to you, if the stars align.

Remove her seal, etch your own domain,

With strength unmatched, this mansion to gain."

'So it can be done? Now this is surprising.'

Adrian recognized the significance of establishing a foothold in the dream realm by taking control of the Zesty Zephyr mansion.

In the ever-shifting and unpredictable landscape of the dream realm, having a stable and reliable place of one's own was a rare and valuable asset. He was well aware of the dream realm's capricious nature, and having a sanctuary within it was a blessing that he intended to seize.

His resolve to make the mansion his own only grew stronger.