Treasure Seeker

Mina smelled the ocean. She heard the crashing waves, and the guttural cries of seabirds circling overhead. Her bare feet danced across the sand as she was compelled forward, her face covered in a thick blindfold. She moved for a few minutes, before suddenly finding herself walking across bare stone. Finally, she was made to kneel, her blindfold being pulled off a few moments later. The light blinded her. It was strange, the sky was bright, but there was no sun. It took a minute before her eyes finally adjusted.

“Another failure?” The Forsaken King asked. “Or am I lucky this time?”

Mina saw him. She had heard the rumors. A man with ashy gray skin, who had hundreds of skills. The gray haired man sat on a throne of stone, his chest bare and covered in weaving scars. He looked down at her with sinister red eyes, a permanent smirk on his face.

“Little adventurer,” The Forsaken King began. “It is rude not to name yourself.”

“It’s Mina,” she said meekly. She noticed there were several orcs watching her. They looked hungry. “Where am I?”

“The ruins of what was once a beautiful thing,” the Forsaken King sighed. “Before betrayal and darkness eroded the stones at the foundation.”

“What do you want?” She asked.

The Forsaken King lifted the coin-like pendant draped around his neck, pulling it off and tossing it to her like spare change for a beggar.

“This is?” Mina asked, picking it up and examining it.

“The Heart of the Dungeon,” He said.

Mina didn’t know too much about the dungeon. She was only an adventurer because she was following Will and Alan. She did, however, have some knowledge of the gods and skills. She wouldn’t be much of a part-time priestess if she didn’t. Mina knew the Heart of the Dungeon was a god in itself, a mechanism designed to carry out the will of the true gods.

“Well, I’m partially lying,” The Forsaken King admitted. “That isn’t really it. More like… how do I put it? If the Heart of the Dungeon is a library, then that what you're holding is a book. An extensive book, but a book.” The Forsaken King shifted his weight in his chair. “A book that can have pages added and removed to it, to a certain limit, but perhaps I tell you too much.”

Mina looked at him, unsure of what to say or ask.

“Your skill,” he sighed. “It’s Coin Finding, is it not?”

Mina still didn’t answer.

“Is it!?” He yelled, causing Mina to jump. “Forgive me, I got too excited.” he relaxed.

Mina nodded vigorously.

“Good,” he smirked. “Telos, the god of coin and commerce is your benefactor, although your skill is a low level one, Telos found it fit to have you represent him in this grand game. I am certain he wouldn’t mind if I promoted you.”

The Forsaken King raised one hand forward. Suddenly, Mina felt a deep warmth erupted from her chest. She was suddenly underwater, vibrant light blue flowing water surging around her. She gasped for breath, and found that she could breathe, Something was suddenly yanked from her chest. She grunted, feeling as if someone had pulled something important from her. The small red orb flew away from her, disappearing under the flowing waves. For a few moments, Mina felt empty. Naked even. And then it came. A golden orb hovered slowly towards it. Compared to the tiny, pathetic orb from earlier, this one shone with great brilliance. The orb pressed itself into her chest, and she felt its energy engulf her, immersing her in warmth all the way down to her extremities

Mina awoke, falling over, cold sweat soaking her face and body.

“There we go,” the Forsaken King laughed.

“What did you do?” Mina coughed. Her body shook uncontrollably.

“I told you, I was promoting you,” he explained. “Coin Finding was what you call an F rank ability. So I replace it with Treasure Seeker, an A rank ability.”

“A rank?” Mina gasped in shock.

She could feel the skill. It flowed through her powerfully. A golden thread appeared in her vision, it swirled downwards, right towards the little amulet she was still holding.

“It’s working? Good,” he said. “You’re the first success compared to the other rabble those beastmen brought me.”

“You want me to find more of these,” Mina said.

“Smart girl,” he chuckled. “Don’t worry, some of the rabble will help you. You’re safe as long as I deem you useful.”

“Forsaken King,” Kagan entered, Leo following closely behind him, looking somber and defeated.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” The Forsaken King growled.

Mina turned to the traitors, a shocked look on her face.

“We took control of the city, just like you wanted,” Kagan clicked his tongue. “I want my skills.”

“What of the Crestfall girl?” The Forsaken King asked.

“Her maid took her away before I could get a hold of her,” Kagan explained. “You told me her skill wasn’t working. She killed a dragon.”

“That most likely wasn’t her,” The Forsaken King rumbled. “It was whoever Gwendolyne deemed worthy. No matter, she will come anyway.”

“You traitor!” Mina defied.

“Huh?” Kagan scoffed, winding his arm back to backhand her.

Mina cringed as the blow came, before finding she wasn’t hit.

“She is a very important person to me right now,” The Forsaken King warned. He had blocked Kagan’s half-hearted reproach, closing the distance from his throne in half a second. “Besides, your reward depends on her success, so treat her well.”

“Hmph,” Kagan pulled his arm from the Forsaken King’s hand. “Whatever, as long as I get the skills I need to kill Ronin.”

“What of the other S rankers?” The Forsaken King asked.

“Markus joined our side, he’s still afraid of you. The priestess disappeared, and the new Magic god user is just a little brat, so I’m not too worried,” Kagan explained.

“And this Ronin?” The Forsaken King asked. “He intrigues me the most.”

“He’s been missing for more than a month,” Kagan spat. “Doubt he can beat you, if that’s what you were worried about.”

The Forsaken King gave a thoughtful look, but inquired no longer on the subject.

“Return to the city. Kill the other S rankers if you encounter them, but capture the one in Crestfall’s body. Cut her arms and legs off if you need to, but keep her alive.” The Forsaken King directed.

“Aye,” Kagan waved, before he turned and left.

Leo stood there, looking at his feet.

“Hey!” Kagan roared. “You coming or what, useless?”

Leo took one look at Mina, before turning and following Kagan.

“Now,” The Forsaken King spoke, causing Mina to jump. “Where we’re we?”