Arc | Chapter. 10: Revealing The Truth (Patreon)

Chapter. 10: Revealing The Truth

Ceylon’s eyes went wide as she repeated what I just said.

“The Heroine of Ice…?”

I nodded, not frowning or smiling. “That is correct.”

“So you really are a… hero.” Her shoulders sagged.

Seeing her, I couldn’t help but awkwardly shift. “I’m sorry for not telling you and outright lying when you asked…”

“No, it’s not…” Ceylon hesitated. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

She turned to look at the ground, slightly shaking, and after a second she finally spoke up.

“You are a hero so… why are you helping me? I mean, you could be doing so many other things, and I’m sure you have duties as a hero⁠—”

“I don’t have duties.” I shook my head, interrupting her. “I just heard from the Guildmaster. Heroes were originally summoned to protect the System, but that's something that has long been fulfilled even before I came here."

"That is…" Ceylon spoke in a low voice. "I didn't know that… but still."

I met her gaze, she seemed nervous. The sight made me chuckle.

“I’m helping you because I want to. Because you’re the first real person I met in this world.” I smiled as I looked to the ceiling. "That is why I’ll help you with your goal of meeting the Hermit and getting their help.”

Ceylon slowly nodded. “That is still a bit hard to accept…”

I smiled. “Then don’t accept it, I’ll continue helping you regardless.”

“Right…” She turned to look at the ground once more. “Thank you.”

I nodded, and just a few moments later she walked to the chair next to me and silently sat down. And after a moment, she took a breath.

“All that ice came from one of your skills, right?” She asked with quiet disbelief. “A single skill killed thousands of C Tier monsters, something that would’ve even killed someone in the A Tier should they have fought them alone. In a second… they all died…”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “When I first arrived here, a spider ambushed me, and upon killing it, hundreds of spiders escaped the cave. The fact that they are here is my fault. That's why I acted the way I did. I already told the Guildmaster this too."

And Ceylon tensed before she snapped towards me. “So the spider that attacked me⁠—”

“It had also escaped.” I spoke with a slightly bitter smile. “I didn’t expect them to cause all of this at the time, so I just let them be.”

“Right,” Ceylon acknowledged, looking at our surroundings, her mind clearly in turmoil. “That is… I don’t know…” She hesitated. “I’ll just keep asking questions. Where did you come from?”

I sighed. “Training. A limited land of ice with little to no respite, run entirely by the System with the sole purpose of making me stronger. That is how I got so strong, and that is why I enjoyed the simple things, because those things weren’t there.”

Ceylon had a very weird expression as she digested what I just said. And her voice came down to a whisper.

“So you really are a hero…”

I shook my head. “I’m not a hero Ceylon, even if the System calls me the Heroine of Frost, I am still very much Arc. Besides, if I have no real duties can I even call myself a hero?"

Ceylon hesitated.

“But you are⁠ so strong, and you are a hero, there is no way I can⁠ just ignore that—”

“It’s fine.” I interrupted once more. “You’ve been treating me just fine in spite of knowing I am abnormally strong, just because I’m a hero doesn’t really change that fact.”

“Right, I… right.” She lowered her head. “I never expected this even in my dreams… But, I guess it makes sense.”

I let her take it in, silently waiting for her to digest everything I had just said.

“Arc,” Ceylon finally called as she hesitantly met my gaze.

“Yeah?”

She paused for a moment but ultimately spoke up. “What are your goals?”

I smiled. “To find a home and explore the world.”

“I see.” She slowly nodded. “Thank you for being honest with me Arc.”

“You’re welcome.”

There was a brief silence before she continued.

“Before your training… Did you have a family?”

Her question made me pause for a moment as I had a brief memory of the past. But ultimately, back there, I didn’t have anyone to return to. And so, I shook my head.

“I did, but it doesn’t matter now.”

“Sorry…” Ceylon shrunk back. “I don’t think I have any more questions…”

I thought for a moment. "Do you want to know my Tier?"

Ceylon thought before ultimately shaking her head. "It's a lot to digest right now, give me some time before telling me that."

She carried and apologetic tone but I simply nodded.

"I'll tell you when you're ready to hear it."

"Thank you." Ceylon took a breath. "One last thing, do you know how long you spent becoming a hero?”

“Five years and seven months.” I crossed my arms. “The System told me at the end of things.”

Hearing me, Ceylon awkwardly shifted. “Was that included in your… age?”

“It was.”

There was a brief pause followed by a nod. “I see, thank you for being honest Arc.”

“You already thanked me.” I gave her a small smile. "Are you not worried that I'm a hero, haven't they done terrible things?"

"Well I haven't seen you do something terrible aside from that one adventurer that went flying." I scratched my cheek and she continued. "So not really."

"I see." I nodded. "That's good."

And then there was just awkward silence. Neither of us knew what to say, that was until I thought of something.

"I became an adventurer." I showed her the tags.

Ceylon lightly smiled. "That's nice. It should help with entering cities."

"Yeah."

And then there was silence once more. If I was honest, I didn’t know how to tread this situation, I wasn’t particularly outgoing before training, and training had just left me isolated from the world. I was just happy Ceylon hadn’t told me to fuck off or something, which granted; would’ve been out of character for her.

Though, it was fair to say I had the social skills of a potato, and so, I just waited.

After a few minutes, Ceylon finally decided to say something.

“You know, maybe I should be mad about being deceived, but I owe so much to you that I am not even upset,” she admitted. “It’s just a lot to take in, that is all. How do you feel about being a hero, Arc?”

“I don’t know, it’s just a title I guess,” I said with a shrug. “I didn’t feel particularly heroic killing all of those spiders. If anything, being a hero seems more trouble than what it’s worth.”

Ceylon chuckled. “It does sound like it.”

“So I don’t really plan on telling anyone else really, and well, since I am technically a C Tier adventurer, I’ll try to not show off my strength from now on either. If it weren’t for the Guildmaster I’d be swamped with endless questions by the town guards.” I sighed.

“Ah, yeah that does sound for the best, so after helping me with my situation will you be an adventurer?” Ceylon’s voice carried nothing but curiosity.

“That’s the plan, I think.” I pondered for a moment. “Though rather than worrying about that, I feel like we should leave Ranedale as soon as we can.”

“Yeah, you’re probably an urban legend at this point,” she mused with amusement. “I share the same sentiment. Since I’m tagging along with you, I’m probably not safe from being questioned or bothered either.”

I shifted. “Right, yeah…”

“But, it’s not like I mind.” She smiled. “So hm…” Ceylon pondered for a moment before continuing. “Don’t sulk about it.”

And she laughed as I let out a sigh.

“I wasn’t sulking, I just felt guilty.”

Before Ceylon could reply the door opened, and the Guildmaster walked in only to pause meeting our gazes.

“You girls are still here?”

“I thought we had to stay?” I asked with some confusion.

He shook his head. “No, everything has been handled, though there is a chance the town guards will still try to interrogate you, so be careful.”

I nodded. “Alright, well, we are leaving Ranedale today if nothing else is needed.”

The Guildmaster blinked with surprise. “That is fast. You said you didn’t want notoriety, so I ensured that most people wouldn’t know it was you who, saved this town. Though, from me to you…” He bowed. “Thank you for saving Ranedale.”

“Right, you’re welcome.”

There was an awkward silence until he lifted his head, at which point I just gave him a small nod, before I then turned to Ceylon.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah, right…”

And with that, we left the adventurer’s guild. The outside was still a bit of a mess, so we immediately just headed to our room in the inn, where Ceylon paid for a second night before finally we found ourselves alone once more.

“So, when do you want to go?” I asked, sitting in the bed.

She pondered for a moment. “I just want to buy a few things and well, get going. But…” Ceylon paused. “When do you want to leave?”

I thought for a moment, before replying. “So long as it’s today, or tomorrow morning, I don’t really care.”

She nodded walking to the door. “Alright, then I’ll just go buy stuff and let’s leave as soon as I get back, okay?”

“Alright.”

She stopped by the door and turned to look at me with a small smile.

“Thank you, Arc. I know you don’t want to be a hero, but you certainly are my savior.”

I blinked, but before I could say anything she left.

* * * * *

Dergan sat in his office with closed eyes. He had been a Guildmaster for so long, and yet he still found it hard to imagine the display of power he had witnessed. Then again, Arc was in the fabled S Tier, the fact that the appraisal stone broke was proof of it.

S Tier individuals were far and few across the world.

And the fact that one was here in Ranedale, at such a time was nothing but a miracle. Even if she had caused the disaster herself, the fact that she had disposed of the Imera Spider was a blessing.

He would forever be grateful for this.

The town had been saved from calamity. So many casualties avoided. And he had the chance to make acquaintances as well.

Though, he still had to finish his report for the guards, something that he wasn’t exactly looking forward to, but he didn’t mind going a long way so that Arc didn’t face trouble.

Dergan stood up from his desk, only to notice that the spear embedded in the wall was still intact. In all of its crystalline glory, but…

Wasn’t it made out of ice?

Shouldn’t it have melted? He approached it and immediately grabbed it⁠— it was cold, but solid. It showed no signs of melting, or even being wet for that mater, and upon removing it from the concrete, Dergan realized.

“This is…” He felt it on his hand. “A magnificent spear…”

Its weight, its center of gravity, even its length; they were all perfect. But it was still made out of ice. Out of curiosity, he swung it against the wall only to have the wall itself break apart. And that’s when he had another realization.

Maybe… just maybe… this spear is…

He stared at the weapon, his heart rushing from cautious excitement.

A magic artifact…

Made by an S Tier no less…

At that moment, he knew he needed to see the [Appraiser] of Ranedale.

* * * * *

It was night and Ceylon was yet to return, I had made myself comfortable with small fist-sized block of ice as well as a knife to carve it. It was my way of passing the time, but now, I couldn’t afford to wait anymore.

With a sigh, I stood up from the bed, the now duck shaped ice block melted into my hand as I headed for the door. In the back of my mind, I felt worried and a bit anxious, but first I decided I’d look for Ceylon before thinking of anything else. I expected her shopping to take one or two hours, but it had been double that or more.

I took a step forward and opened the door of the room, only to pause feeling a familiar presence enter my perception range, and not a second later, Ceylon rounded the corner of the hallway.

She was sweating a bit, and was dressed in the same clothes as before. She didn’t seem to be carrying anything either.

“What took you so long?”

She hadn’t fully recovered her breath as she breathed out an apology. “Sorry…” She took another breath. “It took me a long time to find…” And took another one. “What I needed…”

I could tell she wanted to continue but I shook my head. “Recover your breath first.”

“Right…” She nodded, still breathing for a few moments.

It took a few seconds of awkward silence before she looked up with an apologetic look and began to speak.

“Sorry, it took me a long time to find this.” She raised her hand towards me, as I noticed a black ring. “It’s an storage ring, it doesn’t have much space, but that’s the main reason. I can store food and other things in a pocket dimension and bring it up when I please. Though meat will still rot and stuff…”

“I also had to avoid the guards…” she added as I looked at the unassuming ring.

And a moment later a system notification appeared.

[ Storage Ring. Tier. E ]

“That makes sense, since it’s only E Tier.”

And Ceylon paused, looking at me strangely. “How do you know it’s E Tier?”

I felt some confusion. “The System just told me.”

“But, wouldn’t that mean…” Ceylon’s eyes widened in shock. “That you have the Appraisal skill?”

I shook my head. “When you look at monsters don’t you get their Tier? It’s not a skill, I’ve been able to do it since the beginning.”

“What? No!” Ceylon shook her head with surprise. “Monster Tiers are confirmed by people with Appraisal and subsequently catalogued. That’s how we know what Tier something is!” She met my gaze. “Yet the System just tells you?”

I scratched my neck. “I guess?”

“Right…” Ceylon sighed. “Why am I even surprised…” She took a breath before meeting my gaze. “Sorry for making you wait so long, Arc. But now we should have everything to set off.”

“That’s good.” I lightly smiled, holding out my hand. “Then are you ready to leave, Ceylon?”

“Yeah.” She nodded somewhat enthusiastically as she got a hold of it. Though there was mostly confusion on her face as she continued. “But aren’t we inside of the inn still, don’t we have to be outside?”

I smiled. “It doesn’t matter where we are. I’m using the skill now⁠— [God Step].”

And just like that, we left Ranedale without anyone noticing.