Chapter 83: A complex problem

{Last upload of the mass release. I still have 2 chapters stockpiled, but I want a break. I hope you have all enjoyed the story so far and thanks for reading!!

I spent sometime asking around in Zenith where the poor and displaced go. A guard was nice enough to point me in the direction of Oliver's farm, one of the homeless I talked to once I got there told me she saw Sam head out to the viewing pasture. I eventually found the blind man, and now I'm sitting next to him. "I've been looking for you around Zenith, my name is Zern. Its nice to meet you." He nods his head solemnly and just sighs as he looks out into the vast devastated lands. I know this place was beautiful at one point, many player posted screenshots on the forums. I decide to just wait and let him finish what he's thinking about.

After a couple minutes of silence he finally speaks. "Can you tell me what it looks like out there. When I lost my sight I lost my mind for a time. The pitch darkness is heavy on my psyche." I guess his blindness was caused by something. I look out into the area that is lit by campfires and torches from guards. The light from the moon is making it easy to see everything. "It must be completely wrecked if you have stayed quiet for this long." I was going to lie and say it looked fine, but he figured it out himself. I sigh myself, this Sam is a very depressing man.

I might as well tell him what I came for. I doubt he has a quest he can give me though. "I've come to you about my tier up quest." He looks in my direction like I'm stupid, he must not know about me then. "I have a tier up quest that has told me to come to you. Is there perhaps another blind Sam?" I highly doubt there is another blind Sam here in Zenith, but he is acting like I have nothing to do with him. I watch his face move from confusion to horror.

He jumps down on the ground and bows to me, I don't like the feeling of being bowed to. "Please forgive my insolence son of Michael! If I knew it was you I would have acted differently!" So he knows something, other wise he wouldn't have know its me. I grab him by the shoulder and stand him up, he has a face of both fear and admiration. "I was captured by some thugs of the church of the dark ones saying I'd meet you! I got away safe and sound before I could learn anything else." Now that is surprising information. I wouldn't doubt that the church of the dark ones are using dark rituals to reveal parts of my future.

I sit him back down in his spot and release a sigh now that my identity has been revealed to someone I don't fully trust. I'm glad he cant see my face now. "Please don't act like that. I may be half angel, but I'm still half human too. Can I count on you not to reveal my true name to anyone, even your superiors at the church of light." I want to make sure he doesn't tell anyone about me, I don't want the church breathing down my neck. If Sam were to tell them my name then they would undoubtedly increase their search, and that isn't good for me. He looks at me with conviction.

I can see that he isn't as depressed as he was before. "Of course you can count on me. I would never betray the trust of The Almighty Fathers grandson. Please what is it you require of me, I wont be able to help much since I'm blind. I can at least help you with information." As soon as he says that my quest gets a new objective added, I open the quest to see the new information. What I see surprises me, perhaps this is my trial to tier up.

[Quest: Earn Your Wings]

[Description: You are proving that your the progeny of Michael, so now its time to earn what every true angel has. If you earn your wings they will be an invaluable piece of you, they can help attack, defend, and you can use them to fly at extreme speeds. They can be hidden so your identity isn't revealed.]

[Objective 1: Head to your capital city and speak to an old blind priest named Sam.][Completed]

[Objective 2: Remove the pitch black darkness affecting Sam's vision.]

[Quality: Tier Up]

historical

[Rewards: Your Angel Wings, Divine mana aura quest]

[???: This is an incredible task, and your first step to true power. You are already an unreachable existence to your fellow players, but there are many enemies who grow fearful of your power. These enemies are stronger than you and you cant hope to beat them, with this quest you will be starting your real journey to power. I hope you don't waste your chance here, I won't give you another one like this if you fail.]

I don't know how to remove his blindness though, the only way you can dive into someone else's mind is if you visit a mage that specializes in dreams. I have to do it, since curing his blindness is apart of my quest now that means it plays a role in me tiering up. He must have done something that caused it, a curse or spell. If I know it I might not need a dreams specialist. "Can you tell me how you came to lose your sight. You must have done something to cause it." He looks down in shame and clenches his fists, he must have committed a forbidden act and this is his punishment.

He begins to tell me his story as his voice shakes. "I was once a priest in the Holy City, and I was an arrogantly powerful one. When I read the book of the 7 thunders, I was doing it for a person dear to my heart who was stricken with an incurable disease. My eyes had an ability to automatically transcribe and know any ancient language, it was my greatest pride. I used my gift to read the book of the 7 thunders, and I found the answer I needed. I learned a one time healing technique, but soon after I read the book I lost my vision. I was able to save my love at the time, but I was exiled from the city and stripped of my titled. So I returned here, and I have been staying with my brother for about a year now." So he read the book of the 7 thunders, I don't know much about the book. All I really know is that it was written by a man who could hear The Almighty Father. Apparently it has knowledge about anything you wish to know, it really isn't a book. More like a compacted library into a single book, the enchants used on the book are unknown to the church.

I find that his willingness to risk his life for his love is something amazing, even if he did it because he though himself invulnerable. "I don't know much about the book of the 7 thunders, but I have a suspicion you were cursed. The book is ancient and has exchanged hands many times, to think someone wouldn't tamper with it is foolish. I think I know my trial now, I'll help remove the curse from your eyes Sam. Do you know any mages that specialize in dreams?" He looks at me with a shocked expression, and I chuckle a little. A curse that took away his greatest strength, sometimes curses affect people differently. For Sam it took his vision away, if it happened to someone like my mom it would take all her memories of her kids while reminding her that it took those memories away.

This is just a theory of course, but it fits for now. "I know of one man, but he is in the palace. He is the head mage for the new king, but I doubt the king will lend us any help with all the reconstruction going on." So I have to talk to Jackson anyway, it would be nice to see him after this much time has passed. I wonder what he is up to right now. He is probably talking to Tokil and Thoznal, but they will probably be gone by the time I get there. Receiving permission to speak to the king isn't an easy thing.

I look over at the palace on the other side of the wall far away. "Looks like we lucked out Sam, I know the current king from my first difficult mission. If he hears I want to speak with him I'm sure he'll help. We'll see what we can do about this curse alright." I have no option other than succeeding, if I don't I might not get my wings. I still have the lore tablet, but I'm going to see how this plays out. "I'll go see if Jackson will lend me his help, I'll meet you back at Oliver's farm later tonight or in the early morning." He nods his head and begins his walk back to the farm. I look at the ruined landscape one more time. This is the fate of every city if the monsters win, even though this was a human battle the ruin is on the same level. Once I'm strong enough to stop them I will. I make my way back to the gates and enter the city, time to see if I can get an audience with the king.