Vol.0 Ch.166 Trapped with a One Eyed Freak
<span ss="userText">Quinus was sleeping soundly when he felt someone shaking his arm<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"W-What? What is it?" <span ss="userText">Quinus asked as his eyes snapped open.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">It''s time to eat, Your Highness," Thomas<span ss="aiText"> said.
<span ss="userText">Quinus sat up from his bed roll and stretched.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Man... I can''t wait to sleep in a real bed again. These nkets can only do so much<span ss="aiText">," Quinusined.
<span ss="aiText">"You''ll get to enjoy one soon enough, <span ss="editText">Your Highness<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="editText">But we should eat first<span ss="aiText">," Thomas said.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus stood up and stretched<span ss="editText"> out his back<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Did anything happen while I was sleeping," he asked.
<span ss="userText">"It''s been quiet, Prince Quinus. Thomas didn''t sense<span ss="aiText"> anything strange<span ss="userText">," Geralt<span ss="aiText"> answered.
<span ss="userText">Quinus looked over and saw John still passed out. He was sprawled out with a bit of drool<span ss="aiText"> hanging from his mouth.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">He sure knows how to<span ss="aiText"> sleep," Quinusughed.
<span ss="aiText">"Let him be. <span ss="userText">I don''t need John making any smartass<span ss="aiText"> remarks about the food," <span ss="editText">Geralt <span ss="aiText">said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Yeah... John''s been acting weird ever since we arrived for the trials<span ss="aiText">," <span ss="editText">Thomas added as he grabbed a bowl of oatmeal from Geralt<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">Quinus grimaced, "I hope he isn''t trying to pull one over on me<span ss="aiText">. If he does, he''ll pay the consequences<span ss="userText">."
<span ss="userText">Geralt and Thomas looked at each other with<span ss="aiText"> the same worried look.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">And what price will that be, Your Highness," Thomas asked<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Depends... It''s his choice if he wishes<span ss="aiText"> to find out."
<span ss="aiText">"Y-Yes, Prince Quinus."
<span ss="userText">Quinus noticed the two looked a little scared. He wanted to lighten the mood after<span ss="aiText"> the serious talk they just had.
<span ss="aiText">"Hey... Rx. You both have proven your loyalty to me. But John hasn''t... And I know he<span ss="userText">''s your friend, but I can have him questioning me<span ss="aiText"> in front of our enemies."
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, Prince Quinus," Geralt and Thomas said simultaneously.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus grabbed a bowl of oatmeal.
<span ss="aiText">"This looks good... <span ss="editText">Too bad we couldn''t add milk,<span ss="aiText">" Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">Geralt and Thomasughed<span ss="userText">, "Good luck with that. It would be a pain to carry gallons of milk into abyrinth just for some breakfast."
<span ss="userText">Quinus nodded, "Well? Maybe I can find a way to dehydrate<span ss="aiText"> the milk."
<span ss="aiText">Geralt and Thomas gave Quinus the ''you''re joking'' look.
<span ss="aiText">"Don''t give me that! It''s a great idea! It would be perfect for going on long journeys<span ss="editText">. All you need to do is add hot water to it and you have milk<span ss="aiText">," Quinus said.
<span ss="userText">"You have some of the strangest ideas, Your Highness<span ss="aiText">," Thomas said.
<span ss="aiText">"Maybe, but that doesn''t mean my idea wouldn''t work. <span ss="editText">I mean you don''t question jerky, right? So, why not do that for milk?<span ss="aiText">" Quinus asked.
<span ss="aiText">Thomas just shook his head.
<span ss="aiText">"Alright, let''s eat and then we''ll leave," Geralt said.
<span ss="aiText">They enjoyed their oatmeal and washed it down with water. <span ss="userText">Quinus stood up after cleaning his bowl.
<span ss="userText">"That hit the spot. You two go and wake up John. I need to go take care of some business, and then I''ll be right back," Quinus said.
<span ss="userText">"Understood, Your Highness. We used the corner over there," Thomas pointed out the spot where they have been relieving themselves<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Gotcha<span ss="aiText">... Thanks," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">When Quinus made it behind the rock, he un<span ss="editText">did<span ss="aiText"> his pants and started<span ss="editText"> peeing in a hole in the ground<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Damn... I hate peeing on the ground," Quinus muttered<span ss="userText"> as he tried not to get any ssh back<span ss="aiText"> on his boots. <span ss="aiText">When he was finished, he was fixing his pants, but he noticed something move in the distance.
<span ss="aiText">"The hell was that?" Quinus squinted and <span ss="userText">looked into the shadows. Quinus thought he saw a boy in the shadows but he couldn''t sense anyone or anything.
<span ss="userText">''Must be my imagination<span ss="aiText">.''
<span ss="aiText">Quinus walked back towards Geralt and Thomas who were kicking John''s feet.
<span ss="aiText">"Come on John! Get up!" Thomas said as he kicked his friend''s foot again.
<span ss="aiText">John didn''t stir.
<span ss="userText">Quinus grabbed his water skin and poured some on John''s face<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Aaaaahhh! The hell man!" John cursed as he bolted up from the ground and wiped the water off his face.
<span ss="aiText">"Wake up. We''re going <span ss="userText">to leave in 15 minutes<span ss="aiText">. Make sure you are ready," Quinus said as he walked past John.
<span ss="aiText">"Why the hell did you pour water on my face?"
<span ss="aiText">"We had no other way of waking you. <span ss="userText">Plus I thought Water Mages could sense<span ss="aiText"> when they are being attacked by water," <span ss="editText">Quinus <span ss="aiText">joked.
<span ss="aiText">John <span ss="userText">red<span ss="aiText"> at Quinus and didn''t say anything.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus just shrugged his shoulders and looked at the two.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Alright, you two. Let''s clean up and get ready.<span ss="aiText">"
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, Prince Quinus," They both said.
<span ss="userText">With that John quickly ate his food while the others gathered their things.
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">Quinus finished packing his stuff and slung his pack<span ss="aiText"> over his shoulder.
<span ss="aiText">"Ready to go, Thomas," he asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, Prince Quinus," Thomas said.
<span ss="aiText">"Hey... Why are you guys looking at me like that? <span ss="editText">If you woke me up earlier then you wouldn''t have to wait for me,<span ss="aiText">" John said as he adjusted his pack.
<span ss="userText">"But we didn''t want to disturb you... I know how much you like to sleep, John," Geralt<span ss="aiText"> said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Shut up<span ss="aiText">," he retorted.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus ignored them and looked <span ss="userText">around the fifth floor onest time to admire the glowing pirs of ether.
<span ss="userText">''I still find it hard to believe that I''m living in a world of fantasy and magic... Well, let''s get out of here. I just hope John isn''t dumb enough to try something on the ascent<span ss="aiText">.''
<span ss="userText">With that Quinus started walking to the staircase<span ss="aiText"> that would lead them to the <span ss="editText">four<span ss="aiText">th floor.
<span ss="userText">"Whoa!? Wait for us!" Thomas<span ss="aiText"> called out<span ss="userText"> as he quickly<span ss="aiText"> walked up next to Quinus.
<span ss="aiText">Geralt was following close behind while John brought up the rear.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I hope the chalk you used earlier wasn''t<span ss="aiText"> washed away by the <span ss="editText"byrinth<span ss="aiText">," Geralt said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">We''ll see... But I have a feeling that<span ss="aiText"> it''s still there," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">As Quinus stepped out onto the fourth floor, he looked <span ss="userText">around the maze hoping to see all the chalk marks<span ss="aiText"> still there.
<span ss="userText">"Oh? They are still there. Nice! Getting out of here<span ss="aiText"> will be a lot easier," <span ss="editText">Thomas<span ss="aiText"> said<span ss="userText"> as he poked his head around<span ss="aiText"> Quinus.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">That was the n. Hopefully, we can speed run the next four floors and exit thebyrinth in a day<span ss="aiText">," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"If that happens then we''ll <span ss="userText">need to pick up the pace<span ss="aiText">, Prince Quinus," Geralt said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">We shouldn''t let our guard down. Those portal traps might have moved on us. It would<span ss="aiText"> be stupid to underestimate thebyrinth," <span ss="userText">Quinus<span ss="aiText"> said.
<span ss="userText">"Then lead the way, my prince," John said with a smart-ass<span ss="aiText"> tone.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus nced back and said, "<span ss="userText">But of course... I was born<span ss="aiText"> to lead."
<span ss="aiText">John rolled his eyes and the group continued onward.
<span ss="aiText">Geralt and Thomas didn''t want John and Quinus arguing the whole time, but they didn''t know how to prevent it.
<span ss="aiText">They traveled through the maze and avoided the <span ss="editText">traps<span ss="aiText"> on the fourth floor, keeping an eye out for any chalk markings<span ss="userText">. It wasn''t long before they came up to the three-way fork.
<span ss="userText">John knew this was hisst shot to knock Quinus into the portal trap that still had a monster in it.
<span ss="userText">''Okay, I saved up all my mana so I can use my Water Wave spell<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">I just need to move around him to his right side and cast it<span ss="aiText">,'' John thought.
<span ss="aiText">As they started crossing the three<span ss="editText">-<span ss="aiText">way fork, John slowly positioned himself on Quinus''s right side. <span ss="aiText">The prince was leading the way so he didn''t notice Johning up on him.
<span ss="aiText">"S<span ss="userText">hit! Prince Quinus! What''s that<span ss="aiText"> noise?!" John called out.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus stopped and <span ss="userText">looked at Johnathan before turning his head in the direction he was pointing in.
<span ss="aiText">''He''s distracted! Now!'' <span ss="aiText">John <span ss="userText">quickly channeled his mana into his hand and<span ss="aiText"> prepared to cast his spell.
<span ss="userText">"John? What are you—" Geralt was interrupted<span ss="aiText"> when John cast his water magic.
<span ss="userText">"Water Wave!"
<span ss="aiText">The wave of water formed from John''s palm, and he thrust it into the unsuspecting Quinus.<span ss="userText"> Thomas and Geralt<span ss="aiText"> were surprised when they saw a wall of watering at them. T<span ss="userText">hey got caught in the crossfire of Johnathan''s spell and were swept away with Quinus<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> They were trying to swim out of the wave while being pushed towards the hallway with the portal trap. It sucked<span ss="aiText"> them up before they could even try to resist.
<span ss="userText">"Hah, hah, hah... I-I did it... Now Marcus will have to let me join the academy," John panted as he stared at the portal trap. He felt a little guilty sending his friends into the trap with Quinus, but he tried to justify it.
<span ss="userText">"And those two idiots deserve to join Quinus. Nothing but<span ss="aiText"> fucking sheep following their prince," J<span ss="userText">ohn wasughing at the sight of the three of them disappearing into the portal.
<span ss="userText">"Hahahahaha! That was easy... Now I need to get out of this ce ande up with a convincing<span ss="aiText"> story," John<span ss="editText">athan<span ss="aiText"> said as he continuedughing<span ss="userText"> while walking down the middle hallway as he continued through the fourth-floor hedge maze<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">He didn''t notice the person hiding in the shadows who was running towards the trap and hopped in the portal<span ss="aiText">. The figure disappeared just like Quinus and the other two.
<span ss="aiText">''Stupid bastard.<span ss="userText"> All those threats meant nothing. Good luck fighting a monster with no weapons.''
<span ss="aiText">John was grinning ear to ear. All he needed to do was get to the surface and pass the trial.
<span ss="aiText">***
<span ss="userText">Everything was swirling around Quinus as he was warping through<span ss="aiText"> a vortex.
<span ss="aiText">"What the fuck is happening!?" Quinus screamed as the pressure and force were almost crushing him.
<span ss="aiText">Then his vision turned dark<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> and then he felt solid ground. He was dizzy from the ride<span ss="userText">, and he was soaked from the water<span ss="aiText">. He<span ss="aiText">slowly got to his feet <span ss="userText">when he heard two more groans<span ss="aiText"> behind him.
<span ss="aiText">"W-What happened," Thomas said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I-<span ss="aiText">I can''t believe John knocked us into the portal trap<span ss="editText">... Uh... I think I''m going to be sick<span ss="aiText">," Geralt growled<span ss="userText"> as<span ss="aiText"> he held his stomach.
<span ss="userText">Quinus was having trouble seeing anything in the<span ss="aiText"> dark room, but he <span ss="userText">had a magical torch in his backpack that he didn''t need to use until now.<span ss="aiText"> He quickly found it and pulled it out. <span ss="aiText">The to<span ss="editText">r<span ss="aiText">ch was a small ss container the size of his thumb with a crystal in the center. When he twisted the crystal, the touch emitted a bright blue glow.
<span ss="userText">"Ah!... Who<span ss="aiText">a... That''s bright," Thomas said as he shielded his eyes from the light.
<span ss="userText">"Shh! I don''t think we are alone," Quinus said as he felt a presence inside the cave.
<span ss="aiText">He held the torch up to help the light travel further in the cave.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Do you sense anything, Thomas?" Geralt<span ss="aiText"> asked.
<span ss="userText">Thomas shook his head<span ss="aiText">, "Nope... The only thing I can sense is you and Quinus."
<span ss="userText">Quinus was focused<span ss="aiText"> on the <span ss="userText">rocks<span ss="aiText"> and walls of the cave.
<span ss="aiText">"It seems like we''re in a natural cave, not an area of the hedge maze... We might be on the first floor," Quinus observed.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Do you think there''s a monster in here?<span ss="aiText">" Thomas asked.
<span ss="userText">"I don''t know... But I think there has to be one in here,"<span ss="aiText"> Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Are you sure?" Geralt<span ss="aiText"> asked.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus looked back at him, "<span ss="userText">Yeah... Because John wanted us to go down that right side of the fork on our descent<span ss="aiText">... Which means <span ss="userText">he knew something about this<span ss="aiText"> trap... <span ss="userText">This has my cousin''s<span ss="aiText"> n written all over it.<span ss="userText">.. Keep your eyes peeled<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="userText">Thomas''s face turned pale when he saw a glowing eye in the shadows<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"P-Prince Quinus," Thomas was trying not to panic, "I-I see an eye watching us."
<span ss="userText">Quinus saw the panic on his face and quickly turned his head to see what<span ss="aiText"> he saw.
<span ss="aiText">"Oh... Shit," Quinus muttered in a low voice.
<span ss="aiText">Geralt looked over and was startled.
<span ss="aiText">"W-What the hell is that?" Geralt was also scared.
<span ss="userText">"A Cyclops," Quinus said with<span ss="aiText"> a serious expression.
<span ss="aiText">The <span ss="editText">C<span ss="aiText">yclops was a giant of a monster that stood well over eight feet tall<span ss="userText"> and could shoot aser out of<span ss="aiText"> its single eye. <span ss="aiText">Quinus knew the Cyclops would be tough<span ss="userText"> as he got a better look at it once it was illuminated by the torch. This monster was staring at them with this broken horn on top of its head and<span ss="aiText"> had scars all over its body.
<span ss="aiText">''This doesn''t look good... This isn''t an infant or a baby Cyclops, but a fully grown one. <span ss="editText">I need to protect the others.<span ss="aiText">'' Quinus thought.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Guys, make a run for-"
<span ss="userText">"RRAAAAWWWRRRRR!!!!<span ss="aiText">!!!"
<span ss="aiText">Quinus''s orders were cut off by the roar of the Cyclops. It wasn''t long before the one-eyed freak started charging towards them.
<span ss="aiText">"Run <span ss="editText">like hell!<span ss="aiText">" Quinus yelled.
<span ss="aiText">"What about you," Thomas asked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I''ll distract it<span ss="aiText">. Don''t worry about me," Quinus said.
<span ss="userText">Geralt and Thomas didn''t need to be told twice as<span ss="aiText"> they were already sprinting away from the charging monster.
<span ss="aiText">"Shit," Quinus said as he <span ss="userText">quickly channeled his mana into the magical torch and <span ss="aiText">threw <span ss="editText">it<span ss="aiText"> at the monster<span ss="userText">.
<span ss="aiText">The Cyclops didn''t have time to dodge the thrown object as the bright torch hit its face and exploded on contact. The explosion of light caused the monster to roar in pain<span ss="userText">. It took two steps back before everything went back to pitch ck<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">Quinus was able to run to a stgmite before the light<span ss="aiText"> went out and hid behind the rock formation. He was hoping the Cyclops would charge right by him.
<span ss="aiText">"RAAAAAAAAWWWWWRRRRRR!!!!"
<span ss="userText">The cave started glowing red as the Cyclops''s eye lit up and<span ss="aiText"> was shining bright red.
<span ss="userText">"Fuck!" Quinus yelled as he quickly rolled out from behind the stgmite.
<span ss="userText">*<span ss="editText">SSSSSSSCCCCCC<span ss="aiText">!*
<span ss="aiText">A secondter aser sted out of the Cyclops''s eye and blew up the stgmite.
<span ss="userText">''What the fuck can I use to hurt this thing!?... Crap, this is all I got!'' Quinus thought as he was rummaging through his pack until he pulled out a rectangr box.
<span ss="userText">"Found it! Take this you piece of crap!"
<span ss="userText">Quinus opened the box and channeled a lot of his mana into it, causing the yellow stone to ignite<span ss="aiText"> and burn with a bright blue me.<span ss="userText"> He then threw it underneath the Cyclops and watched the mes shoot up<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">"RAAWWRR! RA<span ss="aiText">ARRRR!!!"<span ss="userText"> screeched the<span ss="aiText"> monster as the fire burned his <span ss="editText">leg<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus didn''t waste any time and ran towards <span ss="userText">some more stgmites that were 20 feet away, but just as he was about to get behind them arge boulder came flying in and smashed into<span ss="aiText"> the stgmite.
<span ss="userText">*BOOM!*
<span ss="aiText">''The fuck?!''
<span ss="userText">Quinus was stunned by the dust and debris<span ss="aiText"> that was blown back at him.
<span ss="aiText">"RAAWWWR!"
<span ss="userText">The cyclops was looking straight at him with third-degree burns all over his legs as it started charging<span ss="aiText"> at Quinus.
<span ss="aiText">''Shit!''
<span ss="aiText">Quinus could only stare in horror as the monster <span ss="editText">came<span ss="aiText"> closer.
<span ss="aiText">*THUD!*
<span ss="aiText">The Cyclops''s foot got stuck in a hole.<span ss="userText"> It screamed in pain as the third-degree burns dug into the rock floor.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus didn''t need to think twice. He scrambled away as fast as possible.
<span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">Move! Move! MOVE!'' Quinus thought to himself as he was having trouble seeing where he needed to go and was kicking loose stones.
<span ss="aiText">"RAARRRRRR!!!!"
<span ss="aiText">The cyclops tried pulling his leg free but the third-degree burns on its leg were keeping it from getting leverage.
<span ss="userText">''I fucking can''t see shit! I need to avoid the Cyclops''s line of sight. Before-''
<span ss="userText">The cyclops'' eye was glowing bright red as it was about to<span ss="aiText"> st itsser again.<span ss="userText"> Quinus wasn''t anywhere close to cover and the one-eye freak had him dead to<span ss="aiText"> rights. <span ss="aiText">Quinus shut his eyes as he waited for theser to tear him apart.
<span ss="userText">''I hope I get a third chance at life!''
<span ss="userText">Just as the Cyclops was about to use itsser eye an arrow came whistling through the air and striking the eye<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">*SPLAT*
<span ss="aiText">"RAWR?! RAWRR!!!"
<span ss="aiText">The cyclops started iling its arms as blood was gushing from its eye.
<span ss="userText">"MY LORD!... CATCH THIS!" Yelled a familiar voice.
<span ss="userText">Quinus''s eyes snapped open, "PERCY!?<span ss="aiText">!<span ss="userText">"
<span ss="aiText">He looked over to see Percy''s silhouette, and <span ss="userText">he threw a sword in its scabbard<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="aiText">Quinus <span ss="userText">saw iting in quickly and reached his hand out to catch<span ss="aiText"> the sword. Qunius didn''t waste any time unsheathing the de <span ss="editText">before he <span ss="aiText">rushed the blinded Cyclops.
<span ss="aiText">"RAAAARRRR! RARRRRRR!!!!" The Cyclops roared in pain.
<span ss="userText">''I need to use that Maja technique that can make my de cut through<span ss="aiText"> almost anything,'' Quinus thought as he started channeling his mana into his sword<span ss="userText"> which caused the de to light up.
<span ss="aiText">The Cyclops''s one eye was shut tight as blood was pouring out.
<span ss="aiText">''Gotcha!''
<span ss="userText">Quinus ran right up to the blinded cyclops and shed its exposed throat.
<span ss="aiText">"HAAAAAHHH!"
<span ss="aiText">*SLASH!*
<span ss="aiText">*SQUIRT!*
<span ss="aiText">The blood poured out like a fountain. The monster was trying to breath<span ss="editText">e<span ss="aiText"> as its lungs were filling with its own blood. <span ss="aiText">Quinus stabbed his sword into the chest of the Cyclops before he jumped off the monster and watched it copse onto the ground.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Hah... hah... That was too close<span ss="aiText">..."
<span ss="aiText">"You okay, my <span ss="editText">L<span ss="aiText">ord?" Percy asked as he <span ss="editText">ran <span ss="aiText">up to Quinus.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus wiped the sweat off his forehead, "Yeah... I''m fine... But... Where did youe from?... I thought these trials were for <span ss="editText">ten years olds only?<span ss="aiText">"
<span ss="userText">Percy smirked and scratched the back of his head.
<span ss="userText">"Well? Lady Nelumbo thought you might get in trouble. So we came a day early, and I snuck in. I was watching you from the shadows from the beginning... But the water mage kid almost shot me with a water bullet... What I would give to loosen an arrow into<span ss="aiText"> that bastard."
<span ss="aiText">Quinus let out a chuckle and smiled, "I see... Well<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> I''m d you''re here. <span ss="userText">I just hope I don''t get disqualified because I use a weapon<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I can always grab your sword so no one knows you<span ss="aiText"> used it," Percy suggested.
<span ss="aiText">"That''s true... <span ss="userText">Haah... Johnathan has probably already made it to the surface... I wish there was a way for him to fail the trial..."
<span ss="userText">Percy smirked at Quinus.
<span ss="userText">"Hmm? What did you do?<span ss="aiText">... Percy?"
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Oh? Nothing too bad... But I don''t think he''ll pass the test without this," Percy said as he pulled out arge green ether crystal that<span ss="aiText"> was the size of <span ss="editText">a golf ball<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"W-Where did you find that?!" Quinus was surprised to see such arge ether crystal.
<span ss="aiText">"I <span ss="userText">swiped it from that jerk when you two were sleeping on the fifth floor.<span ss="aiText"> It was pretty easy. He never noticed a thing," Percy chuckled.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You were able to sneak past Thomas and Geralt?<span ss="aiText">... Wow, you''ve improved, Percy," Quinus was genuinely impressed.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I almost messed up at the beginning when that Thomas guy sensed me. But I<span ss="aiText"> managed to hide my presence. <span ss="userText">Mother has been drilling<span ss="aiText"> those techniques into me ever since I was <span ss="editText">five<span ss="aiText">," Percy grinned.
<span ss="userText">''Huh? His mother? I didn''t know she knew<span ss="aiText"> how to teach stealth and sneaking.<span ss="userText">.. Maybe I should ask her-<span ss="aiText">''
<span ss="aiText">"My lord," Percy handed him the ether crystal, "Here."
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Hmm? You hang on to it<span ss="aiText">, Percy.<span ss="userText">.. You took it, so it''s<span ss="aiText"> yours," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">Percy <span ss="userText">looked at the ether crystal that was brighter in his handpared to when John had <span ss="aiText">it in his possession, "Uh... Okay... Sure. <span ss="userText">So, what''s the n?"
<span ss="aiText">Quinus <span ss="userText">sheathed his sword and handed it back to Percy.
<span ss="userText">"You hold on to this and follow us from<span ss="aiText"> a safe distance," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Will do, my Lord<span ss="aiText">," Percy said as he <span ss="userText">took the<span ss="aiText"> sword and strapped it on his back<span ss="userText"> before running off to the shadows<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">Quinus waited for a moment to make sure Percy was out of sight before he ran around a stgmite and undid his trousers.
<span ss="userText">"Damn... Mana Rush! F-fuck!" Quinus grunted as he took care of some personal business.