Collision
Sharon was about to say something, but then she saw a few black crystals on Mountainsea's braid as the girl nodded. Her stomach immediately dropped— those were isla diamonds, one of the most prized spatial crystals! This item was beyond rare, not something that could be acquired with money. Even if one traded for it with magic crystals, they'd still have to bank on their luck. Materials like these usually only traded for others of the same grade. Sharon herself only had about a dozen of these diamonds, but there were seven on Mountainsea's braid!
The legendary mage continued to scan the girl's other braids, her vision unsurpassable when she was serious. And just as expected— crystal dragon tooth, millennial unicorn horn, phoenix crown feather… These were things of similar rarity to the isla diamonds. What really shocked her was the sheer skill required to shrink items like dragon teeth and unicorn horns to a tenth of their original size to turn them into mere accessories!
She suddenly felt her head spinning. If one were to take all the accessories to Mountainsea's hair and sell them, they would be worth over a hundred million coins. But the problem was, even if one had that much money there wasn't normally any outlet to buy such items. Sharon couldn't bear the thought of carrying that much money on her head.
It wasn't like she was intimidated by just this much; she had her own collection of rare items. But the very fact that all this was just in Mountainsea's braid implied that this was just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe, just maybe, her wealth really could only be described by mountains and seas.
Sharon swallowed whatever words she was about to say, the peculiarity in her expression growing impossible to hide. The feeling of defeat she exuded could suddenly be felt from miles away, her imposing aura withering. She finally stretched out and waved her hand, the golden pot of fruits flying before Mountainsea in no time.
"There! Mountainsea, these are for you. Stay as long as you want to, and look for Blackgold if you need anything. He's that grey dwarf over there. I have urgent matters that I need to see to right now, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Don't wait for me." Before getting any replies, Sharon open a teleportation portal on the spot and disappeared from the place.
"I will pay my fees!" Mountainsea shouted in Sharon's wake. In that moment, everyone looking at that departing back had an illusion that the legendary mage's mood changed for the better.
The grand mages left one after another, but all of them cast inexplicable gazes at Mountainsea. Blackgold alone stayed, his eyes overflowing with adulations for the girl. Said girl was in no hurry to leave; she stayed behind and cleared the pot of fruits Sharon left for her at lightning speed. Within a minute the pot was wiped clean, and she stared with dissatisfaction at the empty pot as she licker her lips. This obviously wasn't enough to satisfy her.
The grey dwarf immediately said, "There are more fruits! As long as you pay the school fees…"
A spider crystal came flying and hit the grey dwarf, making him swallow whatever he was about to say. Mountainsea waved her hand dismissively, "Get 50 pots to my room!" and then turned and looked at Steelrock and the old man before saying, "Another 50 for them too, send them to our campsite on the beach. Do it daily!"
Mountainsea was strikingly similar to Sharon in terms of appetite. If one went by the legendary mage's theory of appetite determining power, this young girl would surely become a legendary being, maybe even surpassing that level. And thus Richard was left forgotten in the corner, his own future still a mystery.
"That won't be a problem at all!" the grey dwarf replied loudly. He was holding onto the spider crystal with both hands, his movements growing rigid again. Thankfully he was still in the right state of mind as he asked, "But, Your Highness, you don't have a residence in the Deepblue yet. Should I get one for you?"
"No need for the trouble. I'll just stay with him for my duration in the Deepblue!" Mountainsea directed her finger at Richard.
Richard was stunned. The grey dwarf could sense something amiss too, but the spider crystal was so bright that he did not raise any objections towards her suggestion. Richard's own opinion? Nobody asked for that.
The girl stood up and said the to old man, "Weird, didn't elder say that we need to bring out our profile and background when dealing with people of status, and that money is only used to bribe second-rate people? Why is mentor not afraid of my background but rather my wealth?"
She could feel the grey dwarf's hesitation from the side and prompted him, "Say what's on your mind!"
The grey dwarf spoke as softly as possible, "Um… Actually, Her Excellency can tolerate people who are stronger than her, but not people who are richer than her. So I'm guessing that she's out to earn more now…"
Mountainsea was flabbergasted, "Do you need any effort in earning money? Just dig the mines in the mountains! Shaman, what do you think about this?"
Urazadzu touched his bare chin and smiled, "Your granny found you a cute mentor."
Mountainsea nodded in full agreement, "Yes! And mentor smells really good as well, I want to take a bite of her! Just wait till the day when I can beat her!"
"It won't be a long wait… Just half a…" the grey dwarf muttered under his breath, but the young girl had heard everything. Richard felt iffy about the whole situation the moment Mountainsea mentioned smell, quickly backing away and leaving this bizarre place.
The competition against Steven was due soon, and he didn't have the time to take an extra shower with his packed schedule. He didn't want Mountainsea to be added on top of all this. Moreover, he was already a man, and naturally knew that Mountainsea staying over would upset Sharon. He got shivers just thinking about the mage's bright, blinding eyes. However, with her departure, the girl suddenly became the most influential power in the Deepblue. She could probably do anything she wanted now, and the grey dwarf had betrayed Sharon right before his eyes to join her side.
Richard found it hard to deal with this genuine 'friend' of his.
'I guess I'll hide…' he thought, but before he could take even two steps forward Mountainsea had emerged before him. She was all smiles, and her eyes lingered on his lips. All unrelated personnel looked away at that moment, acting like they could not see anything. However, they kept their ears alert.
"Ugh!" Richard let out a suffocating noise, but then a slap sounded followed by a roar of fury, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
What he got in reply was a satisfied ring in the girl's voice, "Why are you angry? It's just a kiss. You don't lose anything from it. Richard, can you give me a gift again tonight- Hey! Why are you running? You think you can run away with my gift?"
On that very night, Mountainsea moved into Richard's place.
Days Together
Richard knew all of the Deepblue's laws. One could throw a trespasser out by brute force, and they would not have to compensate for any injuries incurred or damage sustained. The law effectively allowed one to deal with intruders as they liked, but he got shivers at the mere thought of Mountainsea's abilities and immediately crossed out that idea. Another way was to lodge a complaint to Blackgold, whereafter the enforcers would teach the intruders the law. But would that really work out? Telling that grey dwarf about this girl? He removed this thought from his mind as well.
That was how Richard realised that the supposed laws of the Deepblue were pretty much useless before someone with strength and status like Mountainsea. It was thus that the two began living together. The girl moved in alone, only bringing a handful of clothes along. Steelrock, that old man, and her other guards did not follow. Nobody would know what went on once the door closed.
Of course, if anything violent were to happen, Richard would not be the cause.
That night, a bonfire illuminated the campsite of the barbarians, and fresh whale was being roasted atop it. The grease from the whale dripped into the dancing flames, making them sizzle. Warriors and young girls alike danced in a circle around the bonfire, to the tune of horns, drums, and flutes in the backdrop. The music was intense, its strong rhythm pulling the audience into dancing to it. These people simply had far too much to celebrate about, for instance their most beloved princess receiving a 'gift.'
Steelrock and the elder were sat in the corner, enjoying drinks and meat. It took entire barrels of alcohol for Steelrock to let out a satisfied sigh, "That Richard lad is pretty fine, but he's still too young. With Mistress so close to him, will there be any issues?"
The old man laughed in reply, "Steelrock, did you forget Mistress's unique innate ability? What she's really fond of is the smell of Richard's bloodline. It's quite rare for someone to have the blood of both devils and elves."
"Devils and elves? Well, that's rare, but nothing special, right?" Steelrock scratched his head in confusion.
The old man shook his head, "No, it's not that straightforward. It is almost impossible for two pure bloodlines to crossbreed. And by right, the strength of a hybrid's blood grows weaker by the generations, and they won't have be easy to spot after a while. That boy is strange; I felt an unknown strength lurking within him, but couldn't determine its nature. Someone covered it up; maybe Sharon, maybe someone else, but that bloodline ability of his is only the start. His soul is pure and forthright, and he has many essential abilities that could guarantee his ascent."
"That makes sense. Honestly, after travelling to so many places in Norland I've rarely seen anyone who can't be knocked down with money. Sharon is one, and this young boy is another," Steelrock praised.
Were the legendary mage present, she would have first grown elated before beating this cunning and deceitful giant up for playing a fool in front of her.
The old man raised his head to the starry night of Floe Bay, the five moons in the sky unable to steal its limelight, "We don't have to worry. The Beast God will lead Mistress to the people she should get close to," Urazadzu lifted his cup and drank everything in one shot.
……
The days with Mountainsea were a bizarre but unforgettable experience. There were only three things in her daily routine. She was either eating, sleeping, or clinging to Richard. She never set aside time for practice, instead wasting her days away like someone who really fitted the definition of 'gold-plated.'
Richard was somewhat worried about Mountainsea; since she'd already spent millions of coins to become Sharon's pupil, he thought she might as well make full use of it. Learning something was better than learning nothing at all, and she should have served her money well. But these coins were worthless in the girl's eyes. She told Richard that she didn't need to train specifically as long as she had enough food and sleep to grow.
Richard's first reaction upon hearing that was to stare at his schedule for a long time, before he eventually focused on an experiment to put an end to the conversation. Talking to Mountainsea was normally a pleasure, but sometimes it really pushed his buttons.
Mountainsea pushed away the plates in front of her, following Richard to the lab before curling up in a large chair for her afternoon nap. These days, the only thing that satisfied her in Deepblue was eating; that included Richard's meals and Sharon's fruits.
For the first three days she'd moved in, Richard had never been full. His meals had grown to ten kilos by virtue of Sharon, but even if the alchemists wanted to double his meals several of the rare ingredients in them had short shelf lives. They usually had to order these foods a month or two early, and the cooking took a lot of effort as well. They used up all their reserves, but they couldn't bring out any more.
At one point, they thought about bringing out other food items for Mountainsea, but she looked at the plates and gagged in a disgusting manner, just like a picky child. Before she could say anything Steelrock had done the work for her, yelling at Blackgold as the dwarf thoroughly wiped his sweat and promised that both of them would have similar treatment in regards to meals in the future. In Blackgold's eyes, Steelrock's brown skin had started to glow emerald like that of his mistress.
On the third day, Sharon who was earning money on another plane sent a message back with a menu. Thus, from the fourth day, Mountainsea had her own personalised lunch and dinner. The girl resembled a house cat ever since then, looking forward to meal times everyday. Richard could never figure out how she could finish a 50kg meal within 3 minutes, just like he could not figure how Sharon was perpetually eating fruits. Their stomachs seemed to be spatial voids. Regardless, he could finally have a meal that filled his own stomach.
Mountainsea's preferences were rather bizarre, and the meal that Sharon curated for her smelled strong and grotesque. The girl did offer some to Richard, but he lost all appetite the moment he took a whiff of the food. The girl herself found it strangely tasty, using both her hands to sweep through the box like a tornado. She would leave deep tooth marks in the cutlery, especially ones from her canines, even if it was all made of stainless steel. They changed it into carbon steel the next day, but with even that failing they switched to high-carbon steel used to make shields. They then tried lafite steel on the fourth, the same material used in rune knights' breastplates. The destruction only stopped on the fifth day, when they changed to obsidian. Only a handful of even rune knights qualified to have weapons made out of this material.
Collision
Sharon was about to say something, but then she saw a few black crystals on Mountainsea's braid as the girl nodded. Her stomach immediately dropped— those were isla diamonds, one of the most prized spatial crystals! This item was beyond rare, not something that could be acquired with money. Even if one traded for it with magic crystals, they'd still have to bank on their luck. Materials like these usually only traded for others of the same grade. Sharon herself only had about a dozen of these diamonds, but there were seven on Mountainsea's braid!
The legendary mage continued to scan the girl's other braids, her vision unsurpassable when she was serious. And just as expected— crystal dragon tooth, millennial unicorn horn, phoenix crown feather… These were things of similar rarity to the isla diamonds. What really shocked her was the sheer skill required to shrink items like dragon teeth and unicorn horns to a tenth of their original size to turn them into mere accessories!
She suddenly felt her head spinning. If one were to take all the accessories to Mountainsea's hair and sell them, they would be worth over a hundred million coins. But the problem was, even if one had that much money there wasn't normally any outlet to buy such items. Sharon couldn't bear the thought of carrying that much money on her head.
It wasn't like she was intimidated by just this much; she had her own collection of rare items. But the very fact that all this was just in Mountainsea's braid implied that this was just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe, just maybe, her wealth really could only be described by mountains and seas.
Sharon swallowed whatever words she was about to say, the peculiarity in her expression growing impossible to hide. The feeling of defeat she exuded could suddenly be felt from miles away, her imposing aura withering. She finally stretched out and waved her hand, the golden pot of fruits flying before Mountainsea in no time.
"There! Mountainsea, these are for you. Stay as long as you want to, and look for Blackgold if you need anything. He's that grey dwarf over there. I have urgent matters that I need to see to right now, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Don't wait for me." Before getting any replies, Sharon open a teleportation portal on the spot and disappeared from the place.
"I will pay my fees!" Mountainsea shouted in Sharon's wake. In that moment, everyone looking at that departing back had an illusion that the legendary mage's mood changed for the better.
The grand mages left one after another, but all of them cast inexplicable gazes at Mountainsea. Blackgold alone stayed, his eyes overflowing with adulations for the girl. Said girl was in no hurry to leave; she stayed behind and cleared the pot of fruits Sharon left for her at lightning speed. Within a minute the pot was wiped clean, and she stared with dissatisfaction at the empty pot as she licker her lips. This obviously wasn't enough to satisfy her.
The grey dwarf immediately said, "There are more fruits! As long as you pay the school fees…"
A spider crystal came flying and hit the grey dwarf, making him swallow whatever he was about to say. Mountainsea waved her hand dismissively, "Get 50 pots to my room!" and then turned and looked at Steelrock and the old man before saying, "Another 50 for them too, send them to our campsite on the beach. Do it daily!"
Mountainsea was strikingly similar to Sharon in terms of appetite. If one went by the legendary mage's theory of appetite determining power, this young girl would surely become a legendary being, maybe even surpassing that level. And thus Richard was left forgotten in the corner, his own future still a mystery.
"That won't be a problem at all!" the grey dwarf replied loudly. He was holding onto the spider crystal with both hands, his movements growing rigid again. Thankfully he was still in the right state of mind as he asked, "But, Your Highness, you don't have a residence in the Deepblue yet. Should I get one for you?"
"No need for the trouble. I'll just stay with him for my duration in the Deepblue!" Mountainsea directed her finger at Richard.
Richard was stunned. The grey dwarf could sense something amiss too, but the spider crystal was so bright that he did not raise any objections towards her suggestion. Richard's own opinion? Nobody asked for that.
The girl stood up and said the to old man, "Weird, didn't elder say that we need to bring out our profile and background when dealing with people of status, and that money is only used to bribe second-rate people? Why is mentor not afraid of my background but rather my wealth?"
She could feel the grey dwarf's hesitation from the side and prompted him, "Say what's on your mind!"
The grey dwarf spoke as softly as possible, "Um… Actually, Her Excellency can tolerate people who are stronger than her, but not people who are richer than her. So I'm guessing that she's out to earn more now…"
Mountainsea was flabbergasted, "Do you need any effort in earning money? Just dig the mines in the mountains! Shaman, what do you think about this?"
Urazadzu touched his bare chin and smiled, "Your granny found you a cute mentor."
Mountainsea nodded in full agreement, "Yes! And mentor smells really good as well, I want to take a bite of her! Just wait till the day when I can beat her!"
"It won't be a long wait… Just half a…" the grey dwarf muttered under his breath, but the young girl had heard everything. Richard felt iffy about the whole situation the moment Mountainsea mentioned smell, quickly backing away and leaving this bizarre place.
The competition against Steven was due soon, and he didn't have the time to take an extra shower with his packed schedule. He didn't want Mountainsea to be added on top of all this. Moreover, he was already a man, and naturally knew that Mountainsea staying over would upset Sharon. He got shivers just thinking about the mage's bright, blinding eyes. However, with her departure, the girl suddenly became the most influential power in the Deepblue. She could probably do anything she wanted now, and the grey dwarf had betrayed Sharon right before his eyes to join her side.
Richard found it hard to deal with this genuine 'friend' of his.
'I guess I'll hide…' he thought, but before he could take even two steps forward Mountainsea had emerged before him. She was all smiles, and her eyes lingered on his lips. All unrelated personnel looked away at that moment, acting like they could not see anything. However, they kept their ears alert.
"Ugh!" Richard let out a suffocating noise, but then a slap sounded followed by a roar of fury, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
What he got in reply was a satisfied ring in the girl's voice, "Why are you angry? It's just a kiss. You don't lose anything from it. Richard, can you give me a gift again tonight- Hey! Why are you running? You think you can run away with my gift?"
On that very night, Mountainsea moved into Richard's place.
Days Together
Richard knew all of the Deepblue's laws. One could throw a trespasser out by brute force, and they would not have to compensate for any injuries incurred or damage sustained. The law effectively allowed one to deal with intruders as they liked, but he got shivers at the mere thought of Mountainsea's abilities and immediately crossed out that idea. Another way was to lodge a complaint to Blackgold, whereafter the enforcers would teach the intruders the law. But would that really work out? Telling that grey dwarf about this girl? He removed this thought from his mind as well.
That was how Richard realised that the supposed laws of the Deepblue were pretty much useless before someone with strength and status like Mountainsea. It was thus that the two began living together. The girl moved in alone, only bringing a handful of clothes along. Steelrock, that old man, and her other guards did not follow. Nobody would know what went on once the door closed.
Of course, if anything violent were to happen, Richard would not be the cause.
That night, a bonfire illuminated the campsite of the barbarians, and fresh whale was being roasted atop it. The grease from the whale dripped into the dancing flames, making them sizzle. Warriors and young girls alike danced in a circle around the bonfire, to the tune of horns, drums, and flutes in the backdrop. The music was intense, its strong rhythm pulling the audience into dancing to it. These people simply had far too much to celebrate about, for instance their most beloved princess receiving a 'gift.'
Steelrock and the elder were sat in the corner, enjoying drinks and meat. It took entire barrels of alcohol for Steelrock to let out a satisfied sigh, "That Richard lad is pretty fine, but he's still too young. With Mistress so close to him, will there be any issues?"
The old man laughed in reply, "Steelrock, did you forget Mistress's unique innate ability? What she's really fond of is the smell of Richard's bloodline. It's quite rare for someone to have the blood of both devils and elves."
"Devils and elves? Well, that's rare, but nothing special, right?" Steelrock scratched his head in confusion.
The old man shook his head, "No, it's not that straightforward. It is almost impossible for two pure bloodlines to crossbreed. And by right, the strength of a hybrid's blood grows weaker by the generations, and they won't have be easy to spot after a while. That boy is strange; I felt an unknown strength lurking within him, but couldn't determine its nature. Someone covered it up; maybe Sharon, maybe someone else, but that bloodline ability of his is only the start. His soul is pure and forthright, and he has many essential abilities that could guarantee his ascent."
"That makes sense. Honestly, after travelling to so many places in Norland I've rarely seen anyone who can't be knocked down with money. Sharon is one, and this young boy is another," Steelrock praised.
Were the legendary mage present, she would have first grown elated before beating this cunning and deceitful giant up for playing a fool in front of her.
The old man raised his head to the starry night of Floe Bay, the five moons in the sky unable to steal its limelight, "We don't have to worry. The Beast God will lead Mistress to the people she should get close to," Urazadzu lifted his cup and drank everything in one shot.
……
The days with Mountainsea were a bizarre but unforgettable experience. There were only three things in her daily routine. She was either eating, sleeping, or clinging to Richard. She never set aside time for practice, instead wasting her days away like someone who really fitted the definition of 'gold-plated.'
Richard was somewhat worried about Mountainsea; since she'd already spent millions of coins to become Sharon's pupil, he thought she might as well make full use of it. Learning something was better than learning nothing at all, and she should have served her money well. But these coins were worthless in the girl's eyes. She told Richard that she didn't need to train specifically as long as she had enough food and sleep to grow.
Richard's first reaction upon hearing that was to stare at his schedule for a long time, before he eventually focused on an experiment to put an end to the conversation. Talking to Mountainsea was normally a pleasure, but sometimes it really pushed his buttons.
Mountainsea pushed away the plates in front of her, following Richard to the lab before curling up in a large chair for her afternoon nap. These days, the only thing that satisfied her in Deepblue was eating; that included Richard's meals and Sharon's fruits.
For the first three days she'd moved in, Richard had never been full. His meals had grown to ten kilos by virtue of Sharon, but even if the alchemists wanted to double his meals several of the rare ingredients in them had short shelf lives. They usually had to order these foods a month or two early, and the cooking took a lot of effort as well. They used up all their reserves, but they couldn't bring out any more.
At one point, they thought about bringing out other food items for Mountainsea, but she looked at the plates and gagged in a disgusting manner, just like a picky child. Before she could say anything Steelrock had done the work for her, yelling at Blackgold as the dwarf thoroughly wiped his sweat and promised that both of them would have similar treatment in regards to meals in the future. In Blackgold's eyes, Steelrock's brown skin had started to glow emerald like that of his mistress.
On the third day, Sharon who was earning money on another plane sent a message back with a menu. Thus, from the fourth day, Mountainsea had her own personalised lunch and dinner. The girl resembled a house cat ever since then, looking forward to meal times everyday. Richard could never figure out how she could finish a 50kg meal within 3 minutes, just like he could not figure how Sharon was perpetually eating fruits. Their stomachs seemed to be spatial voids. Regardless, he could finally have a meal that filled his own stomach.
Mountainsea's preferences were rather bizarre, and the meal that Sharon curated for her smelled strong and grotesque. The girl did offer some to Richard, but he lost all appetite the moment he took a whiff of the food. The girl herself found it strangely tasty, using both her hands to sweep through the box like a tornado. She would leave deep tooth marks in the cutlery, especially ones from her canines, even if it was all made of stainless steel. They changed it into carbon steel the next day, but with even that failing they switched to high-carbon steel used to make shields. They then tried lafite steel on the fourth, the same material used in rune knights' breastplates. The destruction only stopped on the fifth day, when they changed to obsidian. Only a handful of even rune knights qualified to have weapons made out of this material.
