Starting from Zero

Chapter 37

Book 3, Chapter 37
The Spring of Life

    "Ahhh!!"

    A visible electriccurrent appeared from the spring hole on the rock as soon as I put my handsinto the water. It flowed towards me along the surface, and there"s no way Ican react fast enough to avoid it.

    Zap! The strong current shocked me flyingaway from the spring.

    All the Phantom Knights and my companions moved theirnecks in union to watch my "flying route" like watching a home-run baseball. Oneof the knights even put his hand onto his forehead to shield his eyes from thelight. No one did anything to help.

    And that was pretty far! I flew in the air for about 10seconds, before a booming sound rose from somewhere faraway, followed by aminiature mushroom cloud.

    I ended up several kilos away. I even broke a numberof trees when crashing down. Thank G.o.d my landing point is full of soft dirt, plusI activated my [Absolute Defense] in time. Or I would be dead for sure.

     "Aw!...

     "Oof..."

     "Owww owowow.."

    I tried to shift my body which now feels like it just gotrammed by a train running at full speed. That spring is sure deadly.

    Night Shade came running to me after a while. I had toask him to crouch down a little for me to crawl onto his back. I think some ofmy bones are not in their right places.

    When I got back to the fountain I seesomeone else at the scene. Wow...an angel!

    That"s how I would describe her onthe first impression. Different from Rose, the woman gives out a strong senseof innocence. It feels like the pure existence of her would make any man wantto redempt his sins. No one, would ever have the idea to do anything "stupid"in front of her. Her beauty will vanish all evil minds! Imagine a pervert isstalking such a girl on the street. I think he will just stare at her until shegets back home safely, while forgetting to do anything.

    "Nice-nice to meet you!" She said.

    Ahh..my heart isbeating in synchronization with those gentle words.

    "Are-are you alright?"Her clean white face turned red somehow. I covered my eyes in order not tochoke myself. I forgot how to breath for a moment!

    "I"m Ok! Are you the NPC for the job quest, please?"

    "Huh? Oh I"m not. I"m a player!"

    "What--"

    I fell from Night Shade. Ugh. I needto get my mind back on its course.

    "I"m not NPC. I"m a player. Were you trying towash this...black...peach, in the spring water?" The [Desecrated Heart] isnow sitting on her palm.

    I was going to tell her that it"s a heart, butsomething told me I should play along. "Well yes! But that peach isterribly dirty, I should take care of it myself!"

    "Ah no problem, I"ll wash it for you." Shesmiled and turned to the spring to wash the "peach". But I wasshocked---

    "No!"

    "Um? What"swrong?" She looked at me again, with water still dripping from her hands.

    "Are...you ok?"

    "Oh.. Aboutthat."

    She tiled her head in a really cute way. My heart skipped a beatagain!

    "I"m not an Evil player so no worries. You look like you"re fromthe dark sides. This fountain will attack anyone like you."

    Then shecrouched down and continued washing.

    I stared at her back. She wears a pure white one-piecelong dress, it looks like a winter wear. There are fluffy floss furs at thecollar, cuffs and the lower hem, which makes her look like a princess from anorthern nation. There is warm cap, also with pure white furs, on her head, withsome colorful decorations on it. A silver staff hangs on her waist. I"m notsure if it"s a magic staff but from the special designs I"m certain it"s anArtifact. Now you mention it...It"s too short to be a wizard staff. And thereare lot of strange holes on it.

    "All done!" She turned and handed the heartto me. "The peach is really weird. It"s rotten, and is too soft andslippery."

    I took the heart (now red). When I touched it, a voicecame out:

    "My grat.i.tude, young man! My heart is now purified, and I canascend into the heaven now. As a reward for your kindness, I shall pa.s.s mydivine arts to you. I created them when I was still a young adventurer like you."

    Then I heard system notices as I got my new job and abunch of new skills. But I don"t have time for that now, because...!

    The girl pointedat me and stuttered: "That that that that"s a--human heart??"

    I can"t really think of a good answer so I just grinnedlike a fool.

    She nods.

    And collapsed!

    Somebody tell me why do girlsfaint so often??

    I held her body for a while without receiving any orders from mybrain. Then I tried to recover, and put her on a nearby stone platform whichlooks clean enough. I took her staff away for fear that it may cause troublewhen she lies down.

    To keep both of us safe, I don"t dare to look at heranymore, so I shifted my focus onto that staff.

    It"s about a feet long, with aseries of holes on it. Now I looked at it closely...it"s a flute, not a staff. Weird.This place is not really safe, why would a girl come here with a flute butwithout any weapons?

    "Mmmf..." I heard groaning behind me. Yes, shecame to.

    "You ok?"

    "AHHH!"

    She bounced up and rushed to the fountain to wash her hands. She kept doing itfor 10 minutes.

    "Uh, I"m ok now!" She took a deep breath.

    "Sorry! I lied to you so you wouldn"t get scared--"

    She interrupted me. "It"s fine. I took it as apeach first right?" She lowered her head and looked at the ground.

    Thenshe touched around her waist and asked, nervously :"Did you see my silverflute?"

    "It"s here. I took it away so you can lie down."I handed it back.  "Why are you carrying a flute? Don"t tell me yourside cla.s.s is a musician?"

    She smiled: "That"s not it, but close enough. Mymain cla.s.s is Spell Flute."

    "Spell Flute? What kind of cla.s.s is that? Andhow do you attack? Like, play something loud and terrible to knock peopleout?" I joked.

    "Well...you can see for yourself." She placedher flute onto her lips. "[Variation of the Fallen Ones, Chapter One--DecadentSpirit]."

    A gentle music filled my ears. It"s like...I"m going to getindulged in this dreamy music and forget about everything.

    The music haltedwhen I was just enjoying the most of it. It feels like floating into the air ina warm afternoon and then fell head-first onto the cold ground!

    She kept her smile: "Check your skills."

    "Hm? Checkwhat?" I failed to comprehend the reality for a while. She repeated herwords before I managed to understand.

    "Wait, my skills are grayed out."

    "Trying using one."

     I did as told. Andno, I can"t!

    "What happened?"

    "Look at the clock!"

     It"s...12 atnoon. I"m not sure how long it lasted but that song must be longer than I felt.

    "The first chapter of the Variation is 32 minutes.Usually I just need to play the first 3 minutes, but I did it full this timebecause you seemed to enjoy it."

    "You mean, Ilistened to your music for 32 minutes?"

    "Almost. I"m not really professional so I may makeit faster or slower sometimes. But that was at least half an hour."

    I was too shocked to say anything for a moment. Then Imanaged to ask: "So your attack is to seal people"s skills?"

    "Not onlyskills. Spells too."

    "There are other chapters? You said that wasonly the first chapter right?"

    "You want to hear more?" She smiled again."[Variation of the Fallen Ones, Chapter Two--Melody of the Dead]."

    Amelodious music reached my ears again. Different from the last one, but stillcatching. Though it"s pretty short. At least from what I can tell.

    "It"s over?" I asked, hoping for more.

    "You don"t want to hear any more of it. Look atyourself."

    I tried to look down at my body, but noticed I can"tmove my neck. I thought it got all stiff because I kept myself in the sameposition for too long. Then I found I can"t move my hands either!

    "What"sthe deal?"

    "That chapter is 43 minutes. It only takes 3 minutesto show its effect but you listened to the entire music again! This chapter isto strip enemies of their mobility."

    "Will it go away? How long do I need to stay likethis?" I tried very hard to look at her just by moving my eyeb.a.l.l.s.

    She put her flute up again. "[Anthem of the Sun]!"

    I can move again after hearing an invigorating tune.

    "Anthem of the Sun, 6minutes. It lifts any negative effects."

    "Can you tell me about the other music you canplay?"

    "Sure. Thethird chapter of the Fallen Variation, 29 minutes, will burn enemies" HP slowly.Paean of Life, lifts your HP for 7 minutes. And the Lune Chant, restores yourMP for 6 minutes. That"s all I can use. I can learn more if I level up in thefuture."

    "Can you play them for me?"

    "You haveany MP potions?"

    "What for?"   

    "Playingthese music cost MP, silly. My blue bar is already empty!"

    "Just for three songs?"

    "They drainmy MP based on how long I play, and you"ve been listening to me for more thanan hour now!"
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