47:13

And now, everyone is getting ready for the next mission that seems as it will start soon. The ruler was absent for a while, but He came in time for the preparation. While everyone is taking their equipment, He makes sure that each person needed is present, including LUK3, who is late because he stood more with N04H. The Leader doesn't really mind that, as it isn't the first time LUK3 is late at something after all.

[CHE5TER]-Go and take everything you need, LUCAS.

[LUK3]-Alright, alright... But can h--

[CHE5TER]- --No.

[LUK3]-You didn't even let me finish!

[CHE5TER]-I already know the question. Now go and stop wasting time.

[LUK3]-*mumbles*

[CHE5TER]-...What did you say?

[LUK3]-N-Nothing, Boss! I'm going right now!

Then, LUK3 leaves in a hurry without looking back, yet CHE5TER remains staring at some papers, while N04H is simply waiting to see what he could do.

[N04H]-If I can't come as well, then what should I do?

[CHE5TER]-You can train by yourself for example. You don't need LUK3, nor anybody around the base to do that. Or you can profit of your free time and go see some friends if you wish. I'm not here to give you advices about how to spend your time while we are gone.

[N04H]-Yeah, but--

[N4THAN]- --Master, we are ready to go!

[CHE5TER]-On my way!

So, the Great Leader leaves N04H behind, alone, as He goes to lead everyone from the team in the mission. N04H doesn't really know what to do for now, as it is a bit late to visit someone as He said. He walks alone the now empty hallway, wondering what could he possibly do in the meantime. He could train on his own as he saw C0NNER do most of the times. He could walk around the city maybe to see if he could find any problems similar to the one that he has solved yesterday. There are so many choices, but he doesn't know which is the best to pick.

As he walks though, he notices Miss MY4 leaving a room, wanting to go somewhere, so he goes towards her as he was a bit confused.

[N04H]-...Miss MY4?

[MY4]-Oh, hey, N04H!

[N04H]-What are you doing here? Don't you need to go with the group in the mission as well?

[MY4]-Oh, no, no! My role doesn't need to be involved in the mission. I go for nothing with them.

[N04H]-What are you talking about?

[MY4]-It's just that they don't need Healers so much during the missions. I mean, yes, there are some that go every mission just in case, but the role comes in a lower number. Usually in missions are used only one or two Healers just for emergencies, while the rest stay at the base. If it is a bigger problem, we are simply called and be present there right away. So... I stay at the base most of the times since there are already other Healers that work for the missions every time.

[N04H]-So they left you alone at the base just like they did with me, huh?

[MY4]-Well, it isn't necessary for me to stay here. I can go wherever I want as long as I stay in the city. If something truly happens, I have a gadget which I use, as well as all the others from the mission do, and which they can use to warn me that I have to come back.

[N04H]-Oh, I see... So you will go out in the city?

[MY4]-Something like that. Do you have anything planned since you will be staying at the base as well?

[N04H]-Not really... The Great Leader suggested that I could train by myself or go visit some friends, but at this time of day, I don't really know who could I even visit...

[MY4]-I see... Then maybe you want to come with me? I mean, I won't do something interesting or anything, but since you don't know what to do, maybe we could go in the city together.

[N04H]-Oh? Sure! But why?

[MY4]-I was thinking of going to buy some more medicine supplies as I saw that we will run out of them soon. Nothing special! After that, I will let you go wherever you want if I remain without time and need to leave. If not, we could go back to the base together.

[N04H]-Out of time? Out of time for what?

[MY4]-Oh, just that I will go a bit later to the shelter to treat some people saved by Leader M1SH4M this night.

[N04H]-Oh, right! LUK3 said you work for the shelter!

[MY4]-It's not that I work for them... I just like going and helping others in need. That's all. They do not pay me or anything, I'm just doing it as a... hobby... I guess.

[N04H]-They don't pay you? At all?

[MY4]-No. I'm getting paid enough from the base, there is no need to get paid from the shelter as well. Why? Why do you ask?

[N04H]-Nothing, just curiosity...

[MY4]-Okay... Then, should we get going?

[N04H]-...Oh, yeah! Right! Yes, we should!

[MY4]-Alright then! Just wait a moment until I make a list with what we have to buy. I will be quick, I promise!

The Underground City

47:59

They walk around the city where the merchants are having their business. They seem to be doing it for a while actually, as MY4 is almost done with her list, remaining only a thing on it left.

[N04H]-So what do we have now?

[MY4]-Let me see... We have only... Oh, Energy Killers!

[N04H]-I... don't think anybody sells that.

[MY4]-Well, technically, you are right. Nobody sells the "Energy Killer" itself.

[N04H]-Then how do we get that?

[MY4]-Actually, it isn't something complicated, really. We only need to buy what it contains. An Energy Killer contains Histvorh, which is simple to get from anybody around here, but also an ore called "Bethjavih". The ore is located somewhere far from the area of both the Underground City and the City of Above, so it is a bit harder to find it at a simple merchant. But luckily, I know someone who sells these. Let's take the Histvorh first and then we will pay him a visit.

So, they separated themselves to go to different merchants, buying Histvorh as much as they think they will need. As to what this "Histvorh" is, it seems to be something similar to our water. The difference between it and this liquid is that Histvorh is a liquid which lights up during the night, whether it has a source of light near it or not, and it is also not actually a liquid, but an ore. It is in the state of a liquid if it got to brightness, but if it doesn't have such a source for a long time, it gets to its solid state back.

As to the reason why it can light up, it is said in a legend that this ore has something to do with their Goddess of Moon, Vera, which gave the C borns the bright colours that represent themselves in this race. Like how the ruler has the C colour "Voothrav", all the other C beings in the base have their own too. N04H has the green colour, LUK3 has a golden one with half of his head full of highlights with this colour too, KYR4 has one called "Vewfhroorav" which we see as purple, colour that is a combination between another one called "Haavenrav" which is seen as blue for us and the simple colour that we know well which is red, then we have C0NNER with the blue colour having a small highlight too and MY4 here having pink, of course with all the others that weren't mentioned having one as well.

This ore is pretty common in these lands though, just like our water, so it doesn't actually take long before they go and buy the other ore she told him about. They meet again and walk towards the man she told him earlier, greeting him.

[MY4]-Hello, Mr. TH4DD3US!

[TH4DD3US]-MY4! I haven't seen you in ages! What a pleasant surprise... Dear, you even got so much taller since the last time you came!

[MY4]-Oh, please! I came here some months ago for a visit! I didn't grow that much!

[TH4DD3US]-I'm just joking around!

[MY4]-Heheh, I know that already!

[TH4DD3US]-Ah... I remember when my clan was coming to the XANTH3 Residence and I was finding you, little KYR4 and little LUK3 playing around the building together when you were kids. How time flies... How is that little rascal doing anyway? Still avoiding his responsibilities till this very day?

[MY4]-*giggles* He is doing well. As with his responsibilities... I think it's the same story as ever. Nothing has really changed, actually. It's the same us from the past. Just the way we look and call ourselves seems as it has changed.

[TH4DD3US]-I see... And who is this young boy next to you?

[MY4]-Oh, right! This is N04H! He is a new member in the Southeast Base. He came a few months ago, so we are just showing him around for now.

[TH4DD3US]-Oh? Master M4TTH3W finally let someone join Mr. RY4N's base? I thought He didn't want anybody to come there anymore.

[MY4]-LUK3 was actually the one who brought him. He begged Him only after N04H found about us. He wasn't happy, of course, but He couldn't do anything about it anymore. In the end, He let it be, so we found ourselves with a new member after six years.

[TH4DD3US]-Oh, I see... Well, in that case, hello there, Soldier N04H!

[MY4]-N04H, this is TH4DD3US, one of the most trusted people of the EZR4H Clan. They are the ones who are going outside the Great Walls of the above and provide the city with the ores that we need. Most of the supplies we have in the city is with the help from people like him.

N04H waves at the man. He seems young from his appearance, but the way he speaks sounds as he has way more years than he looks like. But it is something normal here after all, otherwise the man will be ill. He gives almost the same vibe as MY4 whenever N04H saw her, joyful and opened to anybody. But he doesn't understand something from all of this. Why does MY4 lie to him?

[MY4]-Anyway, we came here to purchase some of your Bethjavih Ore. Do you have anything left? Or did the other bases purchase it already?

[TH4DD3US]-Oh, but of course I have! Do not worry about that! Come in and take a look! We had a mission some days ago, so I have plenty of them. And if you wish to buy something else, just tell me!

[MY4]-Thank you, Mr. TH4DD3US!

[TH4DD3US]-Any time!

But as the man leaves them in peace, N04H looks a bit at MY4.

[N04H]-Umm... Miss MY4?

[MY4]-Hm? What is it, N04H?

[N04H]-Why did you... lie to him?

She looks confused at him at first, but then she finally realises his confusion and gets closer to him to whisper this time.

[MY4]-...Outside the base, there is no Master CHE5TER, alright? Everyone around the Council thinks that the Great Leader which is now in charge of the Underground City is M4TTH3W LENKOV, the previous ruler. We cannot tell anybody about the change. Keep that in mind and try to get used with it, okay? We made a promise to the ruler, as well as the contract we all signed.

[N04H]-Okay... but why?

[MY4]-It was His command when He took the title. Only the members of the Southeast Base are aware of it. Try not to forget and not tell anybody about Master CHE5TER, alright?

[N04H]-Oooh, alright!

[MY4]-Okay, now let's buy what we came from, shall we?

So, they walk inside while the man remains to look for other customers that may come. They search for the ore for a bit, but they find it in the end. Yet then, N04H looks a bit shocked when looking at the price.

[N04H]-140.000 NOVHA FOR ONE GRAM!??

[MY4]-Actually, we pay with Verha this time, so it will be around 17.500 Verha per gram. Members of the Council and their subordinates accept this type of currency as they are the only ones aware of it. It's more simple for us to pay in Verha.

[N04H]-BUT IT'S STILL EXPENSIVE AS HELL, MY4!

MY4 laughs a bit at his reaction. For her, it's something normal to cost this much, but for little N04H, it seems as if this guy wants to steal everyone's money.

[MY4]-Calm down there, N04H! Ores in general are expensive depending on their rarity, and this one is indeed rare. Not only that, but it is also the most used ore we know to exist, having multiple usages, like the alcohol industry for example. If it was cheap, we would've run out of this ore pretty quickly.

[N04H]-...But you told me we need it for medicine.

[MY4]-Yes, we need it in medicine. But as I said, it is used in more industries. In medicine, we use it in these things called "Energy Killers". When a person is injured, the Energy Killer is injected in their body, causing this medicine to gain the person's energy back and forcing it to focus on the open wound, whether it is a C born or the other races. It is what makes the body heal itself after all. Of course, in a C born's case, this action will lead to the whole energy gained being lost not long after, as the body is using it all at once, a reason behind the name after all. Drinking it isn't much of a difference, but it has a slower effect comparative to the shot. If a shot could make the effect in a few minutes or even seconds, drinking it will make it in a few hours, even days depending on how badly the wound is. But if the person isn't injured... it works more like a drug. It makes the being hallucinate and dizzy, something similar to what you saw at LUK3 when we went out.

[N04H]-But that is the effect of the mixture needed to get an "Energy Killer".

[MY4]-Yes! That's right!

[N04H]-Hold on, hold on... Something doesn't make sense to me...

[MY4]-What is it?

[N04H]-I remember that in school, at one subject, we were taught that Histvorh is the one giving the energy back to the person, without any need of any other ore. Why do we need THIS to make it functional?

[MY4]-I'll be honest with you, I was just as confused as you are when I learnt about this after I took my role. You are 50% right in what you are saying, but the thing is that this ore is making the whole action more effectively. A shot of Histvorh without any combination won't do anything to the body, it will only regain a bit of the lost energy, but only a small part of it, the same being even if you drink it. This ore is making the effect from the Histvorh more powerful, causing everything I've explained. That's the whole thing about this ore. No matter its use, it makes everything with a more powerful effect. For drinks, it makes them heavier, for medicine, it makes them stronger so the body heals faster. Even in electricity it can be used! You put the source of the electricity with this ore and it has a more powerful effect.

[N04H]-Oh, I see... I think I get it now.

[MY4]-Good to know that. 'Cause we will need to buy the whole ore.

[N04H]-WHAT!? THIS THING HAS AROUND 300 GRAMS!!

[MY4]-I don't... see any problem with it?

[N04H]-YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY 5.250.000 VERHA! THAT'S 42.000.000 NOVHA!!

[MY4]-I am aware of that information, no need to scream. As I said, it's a rare ore after all, it's normal for it to be this expensive. We need to make sure we simply won't run out of it in the next few years.

[N04H]-Suddenly a 62.000 Novha drink doesn't sound expensive at all...