Chapter 30: [Tales]
"It is my choice. I have made it. I know that it will perhaps destroy me in every way possible... but I have made it. So please... let me go through this. Let me die with my peace."
- By ?????
...
"I understand a lot of things you had said, but what does it all have to do with you travelling all the way to these Mountains? Surely a gentleman such as you would already be familiar with what kind of stories this place holds," he said.
By ’he’, I meant an old man. A mountaineer crossing the dangerous steeps and puzzling mountain paths because of his own twisted fate, whom I met on my way deeper into this so-called ’death mountains’ or ’the mountain that’s alive.’
Pausing for a brief moment, he adjusted his white straw hat once again, and once again he recollected the long white hair that had somehow got untied from the back of his head to right in front of his eyes, blocking his vision.
The mountains are mysterious indeed.
I met him half a day ago, smelling the fish he had caught and cooked just barely a few minutes ago. Despite being hungry, he gave half of his game to me and excitedly began chatting about his own life because it had been a while since he had seen another living being, let alone someone from his own race.
When asked him why he was here...
"It’s... not exactly a pleasant story. I am trying to find my son who ran away from home after a local fight. Since the opposition was noble, my son decided that running to the north would be safer than any other place, as it was out of the influence of anyone. Though, if you were to ask my opinion, I think he just wanted to go into these mountains to explore them," he added with a slight, exasperated tone.
"Why would anyone do that? These mountains are the epitome of do not enter, aren’t they?" I asked taking a bite out of the bread that I had shared with him in return for the fish. Man, he was surprised to find that I knew spatial magic, quite jealous even.
"Something about a legend that has been going on for a few months in the town I lived in. About a wishing well that would fulfill anything you desire if you can pass its trials," that aged man sighed again, to which I nodded.
Teenage hormones can either flow deep into the gutter, or take you to dangerous mountains, huh? I pondered.
Still, lores like those can become quite a bit of a pull to those who have lost all hope in the real world. Given most people are desperate in their lives, for themselves or for those close to them, a choice like this isn’t too extraordinary.
Though looking at it from another perspective, given that it’s an epitome of a fantasy world, there could be some truth to the whole thing. Worst-case scenario, it’s just a trap set by some dark magician to get some slaves and sacrifices. But even then...
Might be worth investigating.
"That’s enough about me, young man. What are you doing here, out in the middle of nowhere?" That old man asked again in a slightly concerned manner. It had been the 7th time he had asked, to which I wondered if I should dodge it once again.
Nothing too problematic. Just that I did not really believe that this old man was as simple as he looked. He survived days in a place that could eat you alive in minutes? Hah! Suspicious reeks of him.
But then again... lying wasn’t really amounting to anything, either.
Well. Fuck it!
"It’s about what is happening in the northern city," I said before beginning to explain the details of the kidnapping and how there was no trace. Since the chance of involvement of a higher power was apparent, I was looking out for clues here which might lead somewhere. Or perhaps be a dull answer to the whole thing.
Obviously enough, that old man wasn’t shocked even for a single moment as he kept listening to the whole thing one by one, till the end, making no remark on it. No questions asked, no ’what the f-’s’, no ’that’s bullshit!’ and more importantly, not a single trace of surprise on his face.
When the story reached its climax, I partially waited for the man to turn into a giant Eldritch being and devour me within seconds. But then again, nothing like that happened. Which was... much more worrying for me, somehow.
I saw him sigh for a brief moment, stroke his bushy white beard, and then look at me with a distant gaze.
"That’s quite a deep mess you have gotten into. Honestly, I might have thought that you were pulling my leg if you hadn’t mentioned that temple."
Should I just accept him being a normal human? I mean, he could be an NPC with quests related to the mountains. I pondered for a brief moment. It wasn’t improbable if I were to forget for a moment that this Zarraf was not a real world and just a game designed by someone.
That way, his presence would be more than easily explained in gaming terms.
Until I figure out his identity, let’s just accept him being an NPC. If another development occurs, we will deal with it accordingly. I thought before asking the same thing I would have done if I were just a normal player.
"You know something about it?"
That old man moved to a nearby rock, placed his big bag beside it before sitting on it. He then took the water bottle out of it, drank a few gulps, and then, closing the cap, he put the bottle beside him. He scratched his bum with his left hand before picking his nose and blowing it in the air. After that, following another sigh, he turned to me, stared deep into my eyes.
"It’s more of an old legend," he said, waiting for my response as to whether I wanted to hear about it or not.
[You have stumbled upon a new Quest!]
[Mythical Quest: The Primordial’s Call!]
[Accept/Reject!]