Can I Trust You?

The chest was full of phylacteries. Each was merely palm-sized, forged entirely from mithral, reinforced with powerful defensive magic, and brimming with necrotic aura. From the outside, it was impossible to tell them apart; only by unraveling the spells and prying open a box could one confirm what was truly inside. This chest of phylacteries had cost Anbaixiu a staggering fortune in gold coins. It was fair to say that in the entire castle, nothing was more precious than this very chest. Anbaixiu picked one at random and sent it to Rose of Decay through the Necrotic Codex, following it with a message: [Lady Rose, I'm counting on you. I'm placing my life in your hands. This is a secret between us—please don't tell anyone.] [Rose of Decay: Rest assured.] Satisfied, Anbaixiu closed the Necrotic Codex, then went and hauled Harvey out from the cell where he was reading. Harvey's life had been utterly pleasant these past few days. He had free rein over a vast collection of magical notes and ancient tomes, lacked for neither food nor drink, and had nothing he was required to do. Even the skeletons guarding him had begun to look handsome and refined. Anbaixiu's sudden summons caught Harvey by surprise. He had assumed another ritual was about to be held. Instead, Anbaixiu set an exquisite little box before him and asked, "Harvey, can I trust you?" Harvey stared blankly, at a total loss for how to answer. Wasn't he... a prisoner? Still, answering in the negative would surely lead to an unpleasant end. Harvey could only brace himself and reply, "My lord, what are your orders?" "Trouble is coming my way," Anbaixiu said. "So I need someone trustworthy to do something for me. Harvey, can I trust you?" Anbaixiu asked once more, his tone even more solemn this time. Harvey dared not give a careless answer. He said in all earnestness, "My lord, though I am your captive, you've taken great care of me during this time, and I truly have gained much. If you have an order, I will do my utmost to carry it out." These words came from the heart. Harvey had never seen a master as generous as Anbaixiu. Places like private libraries were typically secured behind hundreds of locks, and borrowing books would be charged by the second. How could anyone ever be allowed to browse freely? For that alone, addressing Anbaixiu as 'teacher' would hardly be an exaggeration. Harvey was also well aware that having enjoyed such immense generosity, he would have to pay it back sooner or later. Conducting the divination ritual last time had merely been the start—after all, his room and board cost two gold coins a day, with everything else billed separately. "Good. I knew I could count on you." Anbaixiu handed over the small, silver-white box and told him, "Take my phylactery and leave this place. Get out of the City of Alchemy, and go as far away as you can." Harvey's eyes went wide. He had assumed he was being called upon to preside over another magical ritual, never imagining he would be entrusted with a phylactery. This was a lich's phylactery! How could it possibly be handed over to a... a captive? "My lord, you're not joking, are you?" "Who's joking with you? Take my phylactery, leave, and find any random spot to bury it. Tell no one, under any circumstances. The fewer people who know, the safer I'll be," Anbaixiu said with utter seriousness. Harvey felt an immense weight settle onto his shoulders. This trust had arrived so abruptly and was so preposterous that he was not even sure whether he should accept. He stared hard at Anbaixiu's face, trying to catch any subtle hint, but no expression could ever be read on that skull. After a long pause, Harvey asked a question in a grave tone: "My lord, your library contains many books related to the School of Divination, all credited to an author named the 'Lord of Elden.' Many are unique copies I have never seen anywhere else. Do you know this author?" Anbaixiu coughed slightly in embarrassment. "Well... That's actually my pen name. Some of those books were never published, so they aren't unique copies—just my personal research notes." In the centuries following his transmigration, Anbaixiu had given himself countless aliases and used many pen names when submitting writings for publication. Back when he had boldly stepped through the gates of the School of Divination, brimming with high spirits, he had adopted the chuunibyou pseudonym 'Lord of Elden.' Only later did he abandon the power of divination, after which he never used that name again, leaving the remaining manuscripts unpublished. Harvey broke into an enlightened smile. "I understand, my lord. I will take good care of your phylactery. By the Goddess of Magic, I will defend it with my life." The sudden change took Anbaixiu aback. What was wrong with this fellow? Why had he turned so intensely solemn all of a sudden? Swearing an oath to a deity was no trivial matter—even those who were not paladins dared not treat such vows lightly. "Why did you suddenly ask about my pen name?" Anbaixiu asked curiously. Harvey wore a peculiar look. "You might not believe it, my lord, but I only became a mage apprentice after stumbling upon your *A Beginner's Guide to the School of Divination*. Strictly speaking, you are my teacher." "Wait, you mean you became a mage entirely through self-study—and in the School of Divination, no less?" Anbaixiu was astonished. The School of Divination was already the hardest to enter; even with personal, hands-on guidance from an instructor, producing a qualified student was far from guaranteed. For this kid to step through the door purely on his own... wasn't that talent simply terrifying? Harvey smiled and said, "Only now do I understand why, when the battle broke out, my intuition told me to charge right alongside Paladin Alan. For me, being taken prisoner truly was my greatest fortune." In truth, Harvey had already suspected as much. When Anbaixiu designed the divination ritual before, the magical architecture he used bore a striking resemblance to the style of the 'Lord of Elden.' As the saying went, an expert could spot the craft where laymen saw only spectacle; Harvey had already guessed that Anbaixiu had some connection to the author. He had assumed they were peers who had shared magical insights, or perhaps master and apprentice... He had never imagined they were the exact same person. Harvey bent low and bowed deeply to Anbaixiu in earnest gratitude. "Thank you, Teacher. You not only helped me become an apprentice, but you also turned me into a true divination mage. I will protect your phylactery with my life." "Ah, well... you don't really have to go that far..." Anbaixiu felt a twinge of reluctance to waste talent. The kid was even more gifted than he had imagined; keeping him alive would make him far more valuable down the line. It would be quite a loss if he died for nothing. Harvey, however, failed to catch the subtext in Anbaixiu's words. He declared resolutely, "Teacher, I will leave at once. Once your affairs are settled, you can find me in Salokma." Salokma—also known as the Golden Desert Kingdom, the Realm of Time, the Land of Dreams—was a nation where humans, dwarves, and various desert races coexisted. Much like the City of Alchemy, it was a realm where the undead could walk openly. "You rascal, you were planning to make a run for it all along, weren't you?" Anbaixiu remarked. "A captive who never dreams of escaping isn't doing his job," Harvey said with a chuckle. "Farewell, Teacher." Anbaixiu nodded. With Harvey's current capabilities, so long as he remained cautious, reaching Salokma would pose no great difficulty. "Right, on your way out, tell Raul to come see me," Anbaixiu instructed. Harvey agreed at once and hurried away with the phylactery. Before long, Raul approached Anbaixiu trembling with fear, bowing respectfully. "Master, what are your orders?" Anbaixiu produced yet another exquisite little box and looked at him. "Raul, can I trust you?"