317 Research
It had been a day since I sent Amelia to that bar, and she returned with some information yesterday.
However, none of the information she provided was directly related to my case.
She simply mentioned that she had hired an information broker among a few other things.
According to her, it would take around a day for her trusted information broker to investigate my case.
I had no idea how Amelia had managed to contact an information broker, but if she trusted them, maybe I could too... though I couldn't help but doubt that this broker was as skilled as Shadow Rose.
Shadow Rose was a character in the novel and had been an invaluable helper for Nero and his group in the later parts of the story when the war arc started.
Regrettably, I had no clue where to find Shadow Rose at this point in the story, or else solving these mysteries could've been so much easier.
In any case, Amelia also informed me about the possibility of Arcane Magic being used on me.
Arcane Magic was mentioned a few times in the story. However, I had skipped most of the info dumps back when I was reading the novel. That's why, now, I had no choice but to delve into research.
After spending hours in the manor's library and surfing the internet, I managed to gather some information on Arcane Magic.
Apparently, the magic that people commonly used in today's world had been developed specifically for combat purposes over the long span of seven centuries.
Before that, in the elven world, magic was used for various purposes other than just battle.
This ancient form of magic, that was nearly dead in today's world, was known as Arcane Magic.
Oh, and let me share an interesting but completely unrelated fact — during my research, I discovered that dwarves had their own unique magic in their home world.
It was known as Smithing Magic.
Smithing Magic was used for creating enchanted weapons and machinery. It was also used for extracting Blessings or Gifts from the deceased Gifted ones to create relics.
Unlike the Arcane Magic of the elves, Smithing Magic was not dead in the modern world.
In fact, its users have multiplied in this war-torn world.
But now the burning question was, who in the world capable of casting Arcane Magic used it to target Lucas?
However, even more perplexing was the why. Why in the name of holy god would someone manipulate Lucas' mind and lock away his memories like that?
Hell if I know all that.
Anyway, after I completed my brief research on Arcane Magic, I also started exploring something I had previously made a mental note to investigate.
The Cosmic Womb – a name I came across in Kai's Book Of Prophecy.
I didn't have high expectations when I searched for it online, but I did find results.
In simpler terms, what I read in the articles online was that the Cosmic Womb is often used metaphorically or poetically to describe the origin of the universe.
Essentially, it's the place from which everything in existence emerged, shaping the world as we see it today.
In some traditions, the Cosmic Womb is also believed to be synonymous with the Akashic Records.
Now, the Akashic Records are said to be a cosmic database containing records of every thought, emotion, event, and experience in the history of the universe.
The elves theorized that accessing the Cosmic Womb would grant a mortal the power to become a God.
Through the power of these records, one could rewrite everything in existence and create it anew, molding the universe and everything in it according to their own desires, like a true God.
Though, I found it hard to agree with the majority of the content written in those online articles.
I mean, I'm a staunch believer in science, and scientifically, the universe came into existence through the Big Bang. It was not given birth by some… Cosmic Womb.
Perhaps, similar to its definition, Kai's Book Of Prophecy used the term Cosmic Womb only in metaphorical terms.
If I remember correctly then the Book Of Prophecy only said that the three Heroes are chosen by the Cosmic Womb.
As for what exactly it symbolizes as a metaphor, well, once again, hell if I know all that!
Maybe it was used as a title or nickname for someone. Or maybe it just meant something else entirely.
I let out a weary sigh and reclined in my chair. Propping my legs up on the study desk in front of me, I whispered to myself:
"Well, if the prophecy about the Three Heroes holds true, and I am indeed one of them, then I'll find all my answers soon enough."
Just as I said that my smart bracelet beeped, signaling that I had received a notification.
Bringing my hand up to my face, I saw that it was a text from Amelia. She was calling me to that bar.
Apparently, her information broker had found a lead.
I looked at the bed at the far end of the room and saw that Sera was soundly sleeping there.
Deciding not to disturb her sweet slumber, I let out another sigh and spun around before jumping up from my chair onto my feet.
"Okay, let's go."
†
Meanwhile, Adel was sitting in a quaint café, surrounded by four young men and one young lady.
The person directly in front of Adel was a bald young man, whose bulging muscles threatened to burst through the seams of his shirt.
It was none other than Apolus Blackwood, the same guy who had gotten into a brawl with Amelia Black just the night before last.
Ironically, Apolus was currently talking to Adel about that very fight… if that one-sided demolition could even be called a fight.
"Adel, I'm telling you! That girl was just something else!" Apolus exclaimed, a mix of shame and regret evident on his face.
Adel rolled his eyes and a look of disgust crossed his lips. "You lost to a girl! A girl! A hulking guy like you lost to a delicate archeress in hand-to-hand combat! Apolus, I don't think you can come up with anything to excuse your defeat."
Apolus clenched his teeth before turning to face his friends who had been with him at the bar that night.
"And these guys!" Apolus pointed at them. "They didn't even try to back me up! They should at least share the punishment with me!"
The young lady in the group was the first to respond. "Are you out of your mind?! If even you didn't win, then how could we have hoped to stand a chance against that... that demoness!?"
One of the guys beside her was quick to agree. "Exactly, besides You specifically told us to stay out of it!"
Apolus sighed in defeat and dropped his head in shame.
After a long and uncomfortable silence, he turned back to Adel and said, "Alright, I'll accept whatever punishment you deem fit. But mark my words, one day, I'll settle the score with that girl... Amelia Black."
Adel smirked. "Very well. Don't worry, I won't—"
But suddenly, in the midst of speaking, something clicked in Adel's mind, causing him to abruptly stop.
He stared intently at Apolus before asking, "What was the name of the archeress again?"
Apolus looked puzzled but replied, "Oh, her name is Amelia Black. I did a bit of background check on her, and found out that she's a cadet at the Global Academy."
Adel chuckled softly in amusement. "Is that so? Interesting."
Noticing the intrigued expression on Adel's face, Apolus hesitated for a moment before inquiring, "What is it, Adel? Do you know that girl?"
Adel didn't respond immediately, letting the answer linger before finally saying, "No, but she's an old acquaintance of my brother. However, it's odd for her to visit a place like that bar, Last Call. Last I heard, it's a haunt for nobles, and she certainly isn't one."
One of the guys chimed in, "But that bar is not exclusively for nobles, is it?"
Adel nodded. "True, it's not, but most commoners tend to avoid going to places frequented by the nobility."
Apolus questioned, "What exactly are you getting at, Adel?"
Adel paused again, considering his words before answering, "I'm saying that we pay a visit to Last Call and find out why she was there."
