<h4>Chapter 562 - Hidden sses, An Open Secret</h4>


    The death crystaly beside the voidstone, Eldrian had naturally left it there since it was too close to the voidstone. Upon focusing on it, he felt the same strange connection.


    ''That confirms it, and it must be an element of chaos.''


    ''But what should we do with this?''


    ''Not sure, but I don''t want to touch it until we have all five. I''m afraid being rash might lead to unexpected consequences.''


    ''Agreed, we''ll continue to focus on research.''


    Eldrian nodded, it was also time for them to finally break through the beginner levels. To go from a rookie to someone of actual note inbat.


    It was time to try and reach Tier 5.


    However, for that Eldrian wanted to prepare properly. Which was why he had asked Pros for ess to all books, and why he had started buying as many mana crystals as he could afford through the guild.


    For now he wanted to avoid the temples, Eldrian was unsure if the distortion field would work there. And it was always possible that one of the AI might not be in line with GAIA''s ns.


    Their first stop was naturally the magic association library, where Eldrian asked for help to find books about legacies. He even met with Sofiera and asked about hidden sses.


    "It isn''t something so easy to gain so as for there to be books about them, especially not in a border city''s library." She had replied, naturally, hidden sses were known. An open secret of sorts among the nobility and those of sufficient strength.


    "Of course, but it can''t be a secret, and someone must have known and have documented them." Eldrian countered back.


    "That is indeed correct. Why are you looking for this?"


    Considering everything, Eldrian felt that there was no need to hide the few things he still hadn''t shared. "I actually have a hidden ss, and if I can believe what the gods have shared with me. I am a candidate to be a legend."


    Sofiera did not argue with his point, she certainly didn''t think Eldrian was trying to boast. Considering everything, especially his eleven titles. It seemed to just make sense.


    "Are you willing to share what type of hidden ss?"


    "Protector."


    "Really?" Sofiera asked, almost in disbelief.


    "Yes, why?"


    "If I recall correctly, there is a myth about a hidden ss called ''hero''. If I am recalling correctly... This actually makes so much sense." Sofiera started to mumbled to herself until Eldrian pulled her back into their conversation.


    "Sorry, I just finally managed to understand where your aurase from. Or maybe that isn''t quite how they work but ording to this myth, a hero also has two auras. One of wrath, wrath towards everyone wishing to harm the innocent. And the aura of tranquility, of ice; allowing them to always keep their sanity and never harm the innocent themselves."


    "Well, wouldn''t it be nice if it was that simple?" Eldrian chuckled as he recalled all the fuck ups with his auras. Curious, Eldrian wondered why GAIA said he would be the first to try stabilizing mana if heroes were so popr to make it through the ages and into legends.


    "True, and in the myths, the heroes always died soon after bing known."


    Hearing this Eldrian got chills as that must be the reason. He could already imagine what happened and it also answered his questions. But he still had to ask, wary that this might be how his life woulde to an end too.


    "As the story goes, the heroes either be consumed in their anger at the demons that they fight till theirst breath. Unable to stop."


    "Is it the blood rage of a berserker? Of the aura of wrath?"


    "Yes and no. It is simr in that it consumed them in the stories, but their anger is always directed at evil."


    "What about the others?"


    "They be like gods."


    "Excuse me?"


    "That is what the stories always say, another interpretation is that they be sages. Withdrawn from the world, never to be seen again."


    ''That makes more sense.'' Eldrian nodded, indeed that was the two worries with his auras.


    "As for why I brought this up, it is said that there is a lesser version of the hero hidden ss. Instead of having this drive to protect everyone, the owners of this ss only wish to protect those close to them."


    ''Makes sense,'' Eldrian nodded, that was indeed what his motivation had been as well what the hidden ss description had said. He was willing to try and help strangers, but there was most certainly a limit to how far he would go in that.


    "But... The stories about the protector ss are far less known. I''ve only heard of the spection of this ss of yours."


    Eldrian nodded, "Then, this next piece is likely going to surprise you. One of the gods gave me a quest to gain a new hidden ss."


    "Oh!? That is unheard of." Sofiera turned to Eldrian in shock, slowly her gaze turned to one of curiosity. This elf just kept bringing up shocking revtion after shocking revtion.


    "That isn''t the most shocking part. The quest is called Kosmos, and I have no idea what type of hidden ss it will give me. All that I know is that I need to find the elements of divinity, space, time, order, and chaos."


    "Do you have any other leads?" Sofiera asked, naturally she had spections on what each might be, but she couldn''t be certain.


    "I think I do. Whenst I went back to the forest of Avgi, I managed to get a small piece of voidstone. Solvi had used a bit of it in forging my spear, and I feel this strange connection with the rest that is still in my inventory."


    "And you suspect it to be the element of space?"


    "Indeed, I also found a death crystal a while back when we were searching the base of the undead." Eldrian looked at Sofiera''s frown and quickly admitted that he should have spoken up earlier.


    "I am feeling the same connection with this crystal, so I am thinking that it might be an element of chaos."


    Sofiera nodded, she agreed.


    "But I have no idea what the others might be."


    "I''ll admit, I have no clue what an element of time might be. However, an element of divinity could be a Lightstone, while an element of order is likely a Magic Crystal."


    Eldrian''s eyes flew wide as he immediately agreed with thetter. It might even finally exin why he seemed to be the only person who could connect with a Magic Crystal.


    Eldrian had shared how he had aplished his feats in magic on the yer forums-- ages ago. He doubted that no one had tried to copy his path despite his warnings. The fact that nothing seemed toe of it must mean that it was somehow linked to not just his race as a High Elf.


    On top of that, he now recalled that Magic Crystals were capable of stabilizing space, or rather mana, itself. Though, to his knowledge, this had veryrge limits. The biggest of course just how rare the crystals were.


    ''How did I forget about them... Then again, there is no way that they can be on Earth. If there were any then... Right, of course, it might be some top secret of certain countries.''


    AN: A big thank you to everyone who continues to read and support the story on WN.