Starting from Zero

Book 3, Chapter 37

The Spring of Life

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"Ahhh!!"

A visible electric current appeared from the spring hole on the rock as soon as I put my hands into the water. It flowed towards me along the surface, and there's no way I can react fast enough to avoid it.

Zap! The strong current shocked me flying away from the spring.

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

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

I ended up several kilos away. I even broke a number of trees when crashing down. Thank god my landing point is full of soft dirt, plus I 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 got rammed by a train running at full speed. That spring is sure deadly.

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

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

That's how I would describe her on the first impression. Different from Rose, the woman gives out a strong sense of innocence. It feels like the pure existence of her would make any man want to 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 is stalking such a girl on the street. I think he will just stare at her until she gets back home safely, while forgetting to do anything.

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

Ahh..my heart is beating in synchronization with those gentle words.

"Are-are you alright?" Her clean white face turned red somehow. I covered my eyes in order not to choke 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 need to get my mind back on its course.

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

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

"Ah no problem, I'll wash it for you." She smiled and turned to the spring to wash the "peach". But I was shocked---

"No!"

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

"Are...you ok?"

"Oh.. About that."

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

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

Then she crouched down and continued washing.

I stared at her back. She wears a pure white one-piece long dress, it looks like a winter wear. There are fluffy floss furs at the collar, cuffs and the lower hem, which makes her look like a princess from a northern nation. There is warm cap, also with pure white furs, on her head, with some colorful decorations on it. A silver staff hangs on her waist. I'm not sure if it's a magic staff but from the special designs I'm certain it's an Artifact. Now you mention it...It's too short to be a wizard staff. And there are lot of strange holes on it.

"All done!" She turned and handed the heart to me. "The peach is really weird. It's rotten, and is too soft and slippery."

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

"My gratitude, young man! My heart is now purified, and I can ascend into the heaven now. As a reward for your kindness, I shall pass my divine 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 a bunch of new skills. But I don't have time for that now, because...!

The girl pointed at me and stuttered: "That that that that's a--human heart??"

I can't really think of a good answer so I just grinned like a fool.

She nods.

And collapsed!

Somebody tell me why do girls faint so often??

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

To keep both of us safe, I don't dare to look at her anymore, so I shifted my focus onto that staff.

It's about a feet long, with a series 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 but without any weapons?

"Mmmf..." I heard groaning behind me. Yes, she came to.

"You ok?"

"AHHH!"

She bounced up and rushed to the fountain to wash her hands. She kept doing it for 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 a peach first right?" She lowered her head and looked at the ground.

Then she touched around her waist and asked, nervously :"Did you see my silver flute?"

"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 your side class is a musician?"

She smiled: "That's not it, but close enough. My main class is Spell Flute."

"Spell Flute? What kind of class is that? And how do you attack? Like, play something loud and terrible to knock people out?" I joked.

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

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

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

She kept her smile: "Check your skills."

"Hm? Check what?" I failed to comprehend the reality for a while. She repeated her words before I managed to understand.

"Wait, my skills are grayed out."

"Trying using one."

I did as told. And no, I can't!

"What happened?"

"Look at the clock!"

It's...12 at noon. 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 time because you seemed to enjoy it."

"You mean, I listened to your music for 32 minutes?"

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

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

"Not only skills. Spells too."

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

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

A melodious music reached my ears again. Different from the last one, but still catching. 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 at yourself."

I tried to look down at my body, but noticed I can't move my neck. I thought it got all stiff because I kept myself in the same position for too long. Then I found I can't move my hands either!

"What's the deal?"

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

"Will it go away? How long do I need to stay like this?" I tried very hard to look at her just by moving my eyeballs.

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

I can move again after hearing an invigorating tune.

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

"Can you tell me about the other music you can play?"

"Sure. The third 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 your MP for 6 minutes. That's all I can use. I can learn more if I level up in the future."

"Can you play them for me?"

"You have any MP potions?"

"What for?"

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

"Just for three songs?"

"They drain my MP based on how long I play, and you've been listening to me for more than an hour now!"