Azik and the Mask

The address Darkwill had previously left for Ebner was on Leighton Street, near the Tussock River in Cherwood Borough. It wasn't too far from the bridge police station, so Ebner didn't take the carriage. He headed there on foot.

Along the way, he bought two Desi pies for lunch.

Ten minutes later, after finishing the delicious Loen cuisine that was filled with the rich aroma of meat, Ebner happened to walk to the address.

It was a two-story house facing the street. It was obvious that it had just been renovated. The signboard had the words "Folk Herb Store" written on it.

Ebner pushed the door open and walked in. As he smelled the various herbs, he also saw Darkwill with short black hair and a round face.

He was still wearing the attire of a village witch doctor. His robe was black and embroidered with all kinds of strange symbols.

The chubby Apothecary revealed a look of surprise when he saw Ebner enter. Then, he swept his dark blue eyes across him and smirked.

"You don't look sick. Why are you here?"

With that said, he pretended to come to a realization as he chuckled strangely. He suppressed his voice and said,

"Did you also hear about my mummy powder? It has indeed become very famous in the past two days. Many nobles came to buy such things, putting them in tea or making soup… There was even an earl who wanted to exchange his precious Fourth Epoch antique mask with me!"

"But why are you so young?"

Just as Ebner was about to greet the apothecary, his words were stuck in his throat. The corners of his eyes twitched, and he felt that it was a miracle that the apothecary before him had not been beaten to death.

Seeing that the other party was still promoting the mummy powder, Ebner had no choice but to interrupt. "Darkwill, I'm here to introduce business to you today. I wonder if you have the ability to accept it."

Darkwill then stopped his endless stream of advertising slogans. He glanced at Ebner and asked suspiciously, "What business?" He's clearly just an ordinary friend on the ship, yet he's introducing me to a business? Is there a problem?

"I have a friend. His wife got pregnant through unconventional means, so the fetus might have some problems… Do you have any medicine that can deal with such a situation?" Ebner said vaguely. After all, in her eyes, he didn't know that he was a Sequence 9 Apothecary.

Darkwill sized up Ebner warily before asking with a smile, "Is that friend you mentioned yourself? Or is that unconventional method actually you?"

Do you believe that I'll report you right now? After all, you aren't the only Apothecary in Backlund. Emlyn's parents are excellent candidates!

Ebner cursed in his heart, but on the surface, he smiled and said, "Looks like you don't have the ability. What a pity for that big client…"

"Who said I can't do anything? But you have to get her to come and let me take a look. Otherwise, how would I know which 'unconventional' method caused the pregnancy?" As Darkwill opened a new store and bought and cultivated herbs, he didn't have much savings. He couldn't be reserved when it came to big clients.

Of course, most importantly, he had some connections in Backlund. He hadn't done anything illegal, so he wasn't afraid of the official Beyonders of the various Churches coming to him.

"Then it's settled. I'll bring them over tomorrow." Ebner nodded and looked around. After settling the business, he had the time to examine the shop's goods.

Sleeping Flower, Dragon's Blood Grass, Crimson Sandalwood, mint, lavender… The variety was very comprehensive. In the future, the herbs needed for the ritual could come to him. He would no longer have to go to so many shops…

While Ebner was thinking, he heard Darkwill say in a wary tone, "What are you looking at? Let me make it clear first, I won't pay the intermediary fee!"

Alright, in order not to hear this person, I would rather go to a few more shops to buy materials…

With that thought in mind, Ebner realized that his self-restraint was improving.

…

During the summer vacation, Huo Yi University was filled with lush greenery, flowers, and birds, peaceful and quiet.

After walking along the river for a while, Klein turned into a path that led to the History department. He found an old three-story gray stone building and the common room where Mr. Azik was.

He knocked on the door and entered. He saw Azik, who seemed to be sitting there waiting for him.

This was a gentleman with bronze skin, medium build, black hair, brown eyes, and gentle facial features. His eyes always had an indescribable sense of vicissitude, and beneath his right ear was a tiny mole that couldn't be discovered without careful observation.

"Why are you here today? Did you discover something and wish to tell me?" Seeing Klein walk in, Mr. Azik looked up and asked in a gentle tone.

"Mr. Azik, can I have a chat with you?" Klein looked at the other faculty members in the common room and asked sincerely.

Upon hearing his student's words, the brown-eyed gentleman organized his books and said,

"No problem. Let's take a walk by the Hoi River like last time."

"Alright." Klein held his cane and followed him out of the three-story gray stone building.

Along the way, both of them remained silent and neither of them spoke.

When the flowing river came into view, and when there were no more teachers and students around, Azik stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said to Klein,

"Well, it's quiet enough here to talk."

Klein pondered for a moment, organized his words, and said, "Mr. Azik, I recently heard of a Sealed Artifact. It has the characteristic of being alive. Perhaps its description can help you recall something."

"Sealed Artifact?" Azik was a little dazed when he heard that term. After a moment, he returned to his senses and asked, "What kind of Sealed Artifact is it?"

Klein saw that she seemed to really recall something, and he felt excited. He hurriedly followed the prayer content he received from Tower yesterday and continued, "That's a mask. It can allow the wearer to change into a preset appearance. It can enhance strength, balance, and other abilities. Its negative effects are…"

After repeating Tower's prayer, Klein saw that Azik seemed to have fallen into a strange state. His eyes were deep and unfocused at times, as though he was constantly wandering between dreams and reality.

"Mr. Azik, w-what's wrong?" Klein asked carefully as he gripped his cane and activated his Spirit Vision.

Long before he came to Hoy University to look for Mr. Azik, he had used the pendulum for quick divination. The results of the divination showed that there was almost no danger.

However, through the Clown who used his life to teach him, he already knew that divination wasn't omnipotent. He needed to constantly be on guard against his misinterpretation or the problem with the organization of the divination statement. In addition, Azik was a mysterious Beyonder. No one knew how he was in the past, nor did they know how he would react if he was provoked. Caution, wariness, and worry became Klein's normal emotions.

Azik didn't immediately answer. He reached out and pinched his glabella. After a long while, he said in a dreamy tone,

"I once had a mask like that. It could make me anyone."

"But it seems to have been lost…"

"Or maybe I lost it myself…"

Take the initiative to lose it? Why? Could it also have a very strong negative effect? Perhaps Mr. Azik lost his memory because of that mask… I originally wanted to consult him about communication skills with Sealed Artifacts…

Many thoughts flashed through Klein's mind. Before he could ask anything, he saw that Mr. Azik had already recovered. He smiled at him and said, "Klein, thank you for bringing me this news. It reminds me of something."

"I'm also very happy to be able to help you… Yes, I'll continue collecting similar information in the future," Klein replied with a smile.

Azik nodded slightly to express his gratitude before asking,

"Other than telling me about the Sealed Artifact, did you come here today for something else?"

Klein nodded when he heard that. Then, without hiding anything, he frankly asked about the relevant knowledge regarding "sacrifice," as well as how to communicate with Sealed Artifacts.

Azik gave him a deep look and replied, "I'm not sure about the knowledge regarding 'sacrifice', or perhaps I haven't thought of it. However, from my current memory, I can infer that it's very dangerous because you don't know what attitude the recipient of the sacrifice has towards you…"

No, I know, because I'm the recipient of the sacrifice. Klein mocked himself inwardly as he heard Mr. Azik continue,

"As for the method to communicate with Sealed Artifacts… Yes, take the mask you mentioned as an example. As long as you use its fearful aura or place it beside a dangerous item that can destroy it, it will be easy to communicate with it."

"In addition, every Sealed Artifact is very easy to obey the superior existences of its pathway. It's just like the Puppet Sealed Artifact that you mentioned the last time. Even after so many years, it's still searching for its original owner's aura."

Klein nodded thoughtfully when he heard that. He recalled his title as The Fool, as well as the close connection between the gray fog and the Seer pathway. He could roughly guess why Tower was certain that he could communicate with the Clown Mask.

In that case, if that Sealed Artifact is in the gray fog, it should be more 'honest', right? Klein thought to himself.

After the discussion, Azik, who had recalled some of the past, took the initiative to bid farewell. Klein knew that Azik's mind was in chaos, so he didn't try to persuade him to stay. He watched Azik return to the gray stone building.

After that, Klein, who was walking out of the university campus, suddenly felt his stomach growl. He took out his pocket watch and realized that it was already three in the afternoon. Only then did he hurriedly get on the public carriage and return to his home at 2 Daffodil Street to prepare the food. At the same time, he muttered,

"Mr. Azik actually didn't treat me to lunch…"