I cut off his cws, hoping to sell them for a huge profit, and, after gathering my swords, I went inside the room, where Gorragod kept his honey. There was a barrel with small amount of honey in its bottom. Barrel was pced near the open window and strong winds would carry the scent of the honey far away. I gathered remaining honey into empty vials, and got one full vial with it and second filled by two thirds.

  I walked around the castle, until I found a room with chiseled hole in a form of a sword in it. I used Primordial magic spell on King Gorragod sword, and then pced it inside the hole. Wall moved to the side, and I entered king's secret treasury.

  There were several dozens of vials and dozen crystals inside it. One of the crystals looked familiar. It looked just like leveling crystal. I casted Exorcism spell on it, and then pced my hand on it. Familiar words and numbers appeared before me.

  High elf, LV 22 - 23

  Name - Avone;

  Job: Ranger;

  Status:

  Health: 133 - 154;

  Mana: 510 - 520;

  Strength: 12;

  Defense: 8 (+2=10);

  Spell power: 18;

  Luck: 1 (+1=2);

  Speed: 7 (+3=10);

  Morale: Neutral

  Skills:

  Archery (Advanced);

  Night vision (Advanced);

  Mana rapid recovery (Novice);

  Magic resistance (Advanced);

  Wisdom (Basic);

  Earth magic (Advanced);

  Arcane butchery (Basic);

  Water magic (Advanced);

  Air magic (Advanced);

  Intelligence (Advanced);

  Fire magic (Novice);

  Life magic (Basic);

  Swordsmanship (Advanced);

  Increased speed (Basic);

  Throwing (Basic);

  Hunting (Basic);

  Weapons master (Advanced);

  Primordial magic (Basic);

  Dual wielding (Advanced);

  Demon style martial arts (Basic);

  Double skill slots;

  Light magic (Advanced)

  Possible skill acquirement:

  - Life magic (Advanced);

  - Light magic (Master);

  Please choose one skill!

  It was leveling crystal. They were rare and it was forbidden for people to owe them. Only king, churches, and some of the guilds, like Adventurer guild or Mage guild, were allowed to possess them. Anyone found with leveling crystal would suffer punishment by execution. In cases if someone would find leveling crystal in the dungeon or anywhere else, they were supposed to deliver the leveling crystal to the ruler of that nd or Adventurer guild. There was a reward of ten orichalcum coins for anyone who would find leveling crystal.

  When I first arrived in this world, leveling crystal was stolen from the church. I heard that ter thief was discovered. He sold leveling crystal to some duke for sixty orichalcum coins. Thief was killed just like the duke, and duke's family was sold as sves. Duke's nds where confiscated by the king and became king's property. That was a warning to anyone who would break the w.

  I looked threw my stats. I reached level twenty three, counting levels that I had as an elf and six levels that I will get after using divine blood, I will be almost level sixty. Level of an A rank adventurer. But for now I could increase my Light magic skill to master level. As an additional skill, Light magic was the only one that I could increase to master level before the rest of my skill reach advance level. It also meant that I will finally be able to learn high ranking spells. I chose to level up my Light magic skill and continued looking threw artifacts.

  There was another artifact that was familiar to me. A dungeon core. Red orb with light sparks inside it. The temptation was too great, and I did not hesitate. I cut the dungeon core, and light spark flew inside me. Dungeon cores pieces disappeared, and I again used leveling crystal. I leveled once more and increased my Mana rapid recovery skill. Leveling crystal turned out very useful, and I pced it inside may Female purse. Nothing else looked familiar and I left the room.

  I took out King Gorragod sword and wall closed behind me.

  I searched castle four floor, but did not find anything except empty rooms. There was also small chapel with simple stone altar and statue of unfamiliar god in it. Near the statue was a window, and probably at some part of the day sun illuminated the statue of the god.

  There was a nice view from upper floors, but it was most interesting thing in there. It was time to get back to my companions, and I had to finish my solo exploration.

  This time castle doors easily opened. They creaked, and my companions jumped and pointed weapons on me.

  - It's me! - I shouted from behind the door: - Do not use spells.

  - Thank the gods, - said Luara, and I went outside.

  - We got worried and tried to follow you, but doors did not open, - said Milligan.

  - Probably some spell, - I shrugged.

  - What did you found?

  - There was a draugr. He almost killed me, but, thanks to Nelly's and Trevor's spells, I was able to kill it.

  - Draugr? I heard that they are as strong as floor guardians.

  - This one was not that strong. And Trevor's Light magic spells were more than helpful against undead.

  - I see. Makes sense that there was a draugr guarding kings treasure. Did you found the secret treasury?

  - No. I had enough, after fighting the draugr. He almost ripped my hand off, - I showed Milligan my damaged short: - I had to use my elixir to heal. I came back after the fight, since my protection spells wore off. And I was also hoping that killing draugr will allow me to leave, or you to enter.

  - You made right decision, - nodded Milligan: - Let's go inside.

  We went inside the castle and searched the rooms. I offered to search basement first, since treasuries were usually located underground. Milligan agreed and after finding stairs that led us down, we searched the basement. We found only empty storage rooms. One of the rooms had a well inside it, but there was nothing more of interest. I was a little disappointed, since there were not even cells for prisoners. After it we searched the rooms that I already went through.

  I showed them draugr's body, and Milligan looked at me with admiration.

  - Did not expect that you will be able to kill a draugr all by yourself.

  - Like I said, I was able to kill him thanks to my friends spells. In a way I did not fought him alone.

  - Anyone could defeat draugr, with support from a mage, - interfered Graig.

  - He is right, - I agreed: - He only used his cws to attack, and my sword gave me further reach.

  Graig looked unsatisfied, but there was nothing he could say to that. Milligan nodded, and we continued our exploration. We came across the wall with sword shaped hole, and I obediently casted Primordial magic spell on the sword and opened the treasury.

  - Finally, we found it, - smiled Milligan.

  - Perhaps it will be better if only Milligan goes inside, - I offered: - You could use your Appraisal skill to make sure that none of those artifacts and potions are dangerous.

  - You wish to expose the hero to such risk! - stepped forward Graig.

  - She is right, - put up his hand Milligan: - Besides there is no risk. And I am only one with Appraisal skill. You can come in with me if you are worried.

  - I will wait outside, - backed of Graig: - I could get in your way.

  I had to hide my smile from Graig. He turned out to be a bigger coward than I expected, but Milligan did not noticed that.

  - Yes, that will be best choice.

  We waited outside, until Milligan appraised all the items. Ni seemed more impatient than rest of us, but she also patiently waited, until Milligan finished his examination.

  - It is safe. Avone, Ni you should come in. Others should wait outside, there is not enough space for everyone. I also found all the potions that we expected to find here. I believe this is the potion that you were looking for? - Milligan pointed at a crystal vial, with figure of golden snake around it.

  - Yes, - Ni nodded, and put the vial inside her magic bag. She looked around: - What are the rest of these artifacts?

  - Please wait a moment, and I will tell you what I found out about them. But first.He took one of the vials and pced it inside his pocket.

  - This one is mine, - he expined: - And these are the ones that were promised to Avone: - He pointed at six biggest vials, with red liquid inside them.

  I nodded and also pced them inside my Female purse.

  - Now about the rest. My appraisal skill is not very high, so I cannot tell you everything about their properties. But as far as I can tell these are skill orbs, - he pointed at the crystals: - I was told that Mage academy and other academies use them, when they teach skills. Dozen vials contain Gods mead elixir. I think that we can safely divide them amongst ourselves. But there are also three vials that can reverse aging, some resistance potions and also some potions that can temporarily increase stats, and few more that I could not appraise.

  - Dividing them among us will not be easy, - thoughtfully said Ni.

  - Perhaps I can offer a solution, - said Graig from behind the door: - I have one hundred orichalcum coins with me. People from Milligan's party can get paid ter. But perhaps the rest of you will agree to accept them and divide amongst yourselves, as your part of the reward.

  That was interesting proposal. I doubted that Graig came up with it, probably his father provided him with money and decided to use an opportunity to get his hands on some powerful artifacts. Not that I minded. I would have sold the orbs and potions myself. There was age reversing potion among them. It could be worth more, but I had no idea how effective it was.

  Between my party and Ni, there were five of us. Which meant twenty orichalcum coins for everyone. That was a lot of money.

  - As long as every member of our party receives a God mead elixir, I do not mind. Graig can keep the leftover elixirs then.

  Graig gritted his teeth, but nodded.

  - I agree as well, - nodded Ni: - I was pnning to sell my part of the treasure anyway.

  - The it is agreed, - concluded Milligan. He passed down everyone, including Al and Alfred, vial with Gods mead and nodded to Graig.

  - You get three Gods mead elixirs and can take everything else. Should I tell you what can the rest of the potions do?

  - Thank you baron, but I will use appraiser from royal court. Your offer is much appreciated, but unnecessary.

  - As you wish, - shrugged Milligan.

  Graig threw me the walled and grimaced: - Your reward adventurer.

  I caught the wallet and nodded. I divided the money between my party members and Ni and satisfied pced my part of coins in my magic purse. This quest turned out to be more profitable than I expected.

  - I think that it is safe to spend a night in here and then return to Northern Gremlin kingdom.

  Everyone agreed, and we prepared some food and beds, while Graig and Mortana collected orbs and potions.

  Next morning we were greeted by eighteen year old looking Milligan. He smiled and showed off his new body. Milligan was wearing armor and had a sword on his belt that he bought in Tyco. He was saving his artifacts, for the time when he grew up, and now could freely use them.

  - The potion worked, - he turned towards Mortana: - So, what do you think? How do I look?

  - You look beautiful my lord, - she smiled.

  - Yes. I look close to my age. I did not talked about it before, and I know it is unexpected, but I wanted to ask you, - he blushed: - Will you marry me? - he almost screamed and blushed even more.

  Mortana smiled and curtsied. - It will be my honor, my lord.

  Milligan happily smiled and took Mortana's hand.

  He was dumber than I thought. I noticed that Ni shrugged, and turned away. Probably she also decided that it was none of our business.

  * * *

  Our journey through the mountains turned out to be harder than our way to Bcksmith cave. I was able to hunt one deer and a sheep, but it was not enough. Constant hunger made us weaker, and mages had hard time to concentrate. We also grew more tired with every day and had hard time to fight off monsters. When we run into drake pack, they almost killed us, and we ended up with several wounded. We used up our stamina potions, but their worked only for a shirt while. Even stamina potions could not compensate the food.

  We run out of food, but we were not far away from Northern Gremlin kingdom, and two days ter we reached the border of the gremlin kingdom.

  Like everyone else, I was too tired to hunt and barely could walk. Even after leaving Iron Mountains we needed two more days to reach closest vilge. As adventurers with additional life force, we could survive longer without food, but our strength was not infinite. Al passed out, and Alfred had to carry her. He was too weak, and Milligan ordered Graig to help him. Soon after Al, Nelly and Mortana also lost their strength, and Trevor with Milligan had to carry them.

  We were half dead, when we reached the vilge, where we left our horses. But we survived and hardest part of our journey was behind us.

  We spent two days in the vilge resting and regaining our strength. Vilgers already decided that we did not survive and were pnning to sell our horses. Few days ter and we would be forced to walk back on our two feet.

  Food and rest quickly restored our strength, and we were pnning to leave soon. I gathered my party members to discuss our future pns.

  - I want you to return to Tyco and continue with your dungeon hunts, so you can increase your levels and get stronger. In the meantime, I will go to Grimburg. The potions that I got in Iron Mountain king's castle, I promised to Tanot. I will need to deliver them to him.

  - And also you want to get more of your coffee, - sighed Luara.

  - It is just coincidence, that they are located in the same pce, - I protested.

  - Sure, we believe you, - said Nelly, and they all ughed.

  - But are you serious? Should we all not go together? - asked Luara.

  - No. Besides I can take care of myself.

  - Are you pnning to travel with Milligan? - asked Trevor.

  - No, I will leave today. Expin to Milligan that I had some things to attend to. He already said himself, that we should separate. There is no need for him to go to Tyco, and we never agreed to accompany him back to Ashgrin. But you should take Ni with you. I promised high-priestess Sahana to look after her. She will be safe, as long as she goes with you, and you all are going to Tyco anyway.

  - Fine, - sighed Luara: - When will you return?

  - Journey to Grimsburg and then back should take me less than a year. I will send you a message if it takes longer. I might stay longer to learn some new spells, - also I had no idea how much time Tanot will need to make me leveling potions: - In the meantime, I need you to concentrate on increasing your levels, but do not take unnecessary risks. Also do not forget to sell at least half of magic stones to Adventurer guild. You can decide yourself, if you want to continue to work with master Gremlock or not. Our debt to him was paid back, but, if you wish, you can continue to sell him part of the magic stones and monster material that you get in the dungeon. But, I want you to increase your levels, because after I return we will be leaving Tyco, for a long while.

  - What are you pnning to do? - asked Nelly. Luara already knew about my pns, but to Nelly and Trevor it was a surprise.

  - I have decided the next goal for our party. That is why it is important for you to increase your levels and get stronger. Our goal will be conquering of four ancient dungeons of Rakshasar.

  - But why? - asked surprised Nelly.

  - For several reasons. One of them is because leveling in dungeons that are near Tyco is inefficient. There are some other reasons, that Luara will expin to you ter. For now, get stronger, but do not take unnecessary risks. Also, I will be leaving Luara in charge, so listen to her orders. Got it.

  - Yes, - seriously nodded Nelly.

  - We will miss you, - sighed Trevor: - But I will follow your orders.

  - As will I, - nodded Luara.We said our goodbyes, and I left the vilge. I already bought some supplies from the vilgers. They used our desperation and made a small fortune selling us supplies, but we all could afford it.

  I had long road in front of me. I needed two month to reach Rakshasar town Corgiar and then another month to get to Grimsburg. I twice exchanged my horse, so I could travel faster and reach my destination sooner. On my way I encountered some monsters, but they were weak ones and posed no threat to me.

  And so three month ter I finally arrived in Grimsburg.