Then he summoned three gleaming crystals, which hovered in front of him, each emitting its own distinct aura. Two of the crystals glowed with a freezing blue light, their surface crackling with icy energy that seemed to suck the warmth from the air around them.
The cold emanating from them was so intense that the room's temperature dropped noticeably, causing a thin layer of frost to form on the bed and nearby furniture.
The third crystal was different. It gave off a deep, shadowy glow, almost as if it were absorbing the light around the room. The shadows in the room stretched toward the crystal as if drawn by an invisible force. Looking at the crystal that was emitting an oppressive dark aura, Nox couldn't help but think the crystal gave off a similar aura to his master Eve.
Nox studied the glowing crystals for a while. He had come on this trip hunting for one elemental crystal to level up one of his pets; however, by a stroke of luck, he earned three elemental crystals at once.
Mind you, a single elemental crystal cost a fortune, and the fact that he now possessed three only meant he was extremely wealthy. Nox could pretty much live comfortably for the rest of his life if he sold this crystal and used the money wisely.
However, money wasn't the ultimate goal for Nox. The goal was strength; with strength in Eos, wealth would naturally follow.
Nox brushed the surface of the crystal, feeling the cold on his fingers as he pondered with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Thirteen and Fluffington had said these elemental crystals were found inside the frozen cave… makes me wonder why the elemental beast kept them there and what it wanted to do with them?"
There were still a lot of unanswered questions in his mind related to the elemental beast... there were so many mysteries, and there was still the situation with the shopkeepers. All this led Nox to believe that there was more to the elemental beast to unearth.
Did the beast kill other elemental beasts and take the crystals? But for what purpose? From the requirements he had seen back then, there was nothing of such. Could it be that there was another hidden way to use the crystals that Arthur wasn't aware of?
The more he thought about it, the more confusing everything seemed.
"Well, since I got what I wanted, there's no need to think about it." Nox sighed, dismissing the thought and focusing on the main objective at hand. His gaze settled on the crystals as he assumed a calculative expression.
There were two ice elemental crystals and one shadow elemental crystal. Of course, Nox didn't want his beast army to be filled with creatures with the same elemental affinity, so he was subconsciously making plans to trade the second ice elemental crystal for another element. That way, he could diversify his options and strengthen his army with a range of elemental abilities.
Nox's mind raced as he pondered how he'd trade the crystal off and ultimately decided to speak to Eve about it since she seemed much more knowledgeable about the crystals. She was the one who had even discovered the elemental crystals… surely, she would also know how to trade it off.
'I must admit, Master is very resourceful,' Nox thought. 'It's almost as if she has knowledge of everything.'
Nox then brought out the book his father had left behind for future beast tamers and briefly read through the chapter that contained details on turning normal magical beasts into elemental beasts.
Later, he left his room and came outside to the large hall just in time to see Wendy playing with the beasts. Even the fat Fluffington was on his feet, running in circles.
Though Wendy couldn't understand them, it was very clear that they were having a good time, and Nox didn't want to disrupt them, so he sneakily left to go look for Eve.
On his way to meet Eve, Nox stumbled across the couple Ann and Bradford, who seemed engrossed, looking at sculptures with fascination in their eyes. Their fingers grazed the polished marble, tracing the intricate details etched into the stone. They had never imagined being in a place so opulent, so filled with luxury that even the artwork seemed beyond reach for people like them.
"This place… it's really beautiful," Ann whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. She glanced at Bradford, her husband, who nodded, equally overwhelmed by the grandeur.
"I've never heard of non-Awakened staying somewhere as luxurious as this before," Bradford added, his voice low with a mix of awe and gratitude. "To think our good deed that day would actually be this rewarding."
Ann leaned into Bradford, her eyes misting over as she gazed at the chandelier above, its crystals sparkling in the soft light. "Say, darling, should we adopt some kids from the orphanage to stay with us? After all, this house is too big for us."
"Yes, yes." Bradford nodded vigorously with conviction and determination. His voice, though calm, carried an undeniable weight. "We must continue to help others, no matter the cost."
Nox, having paused to observe them, couldn't help but feel warmth growing in his chest. He had heard from Wendy how these people had nurtured her back to health without asking for anything. Without them, Wendy could've really died that day. They were good people, and they deserved only the best.
Nox cleared his throat softly to get their attention, not wanting to startle them. "Ann, Bradford," Nox greeted them with a gentle smile, "enjoying the mansion?"
"Nox! We—uh—didn't expect to see you," Ann stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, as if they had been caught trespassing.
"No need to be shy," Nox said, waving a hand dismissively. "This is your home now too, at least for as long as you want it to be."
"I know." Bradford scratched his head, a sly smile on his wrinkled face. "It's just a bit… what's the word again?" He asked toward the end with a lost expression.
"Overwhelming." Ann frowned and lightly pinched her husband. "You're not that old, Bradford, stop forgetting things."
"Ouch, my bad…" He winced.
Nox watched the two bicker back and forth for some time. 'Such a healthy relationship,' he thought, and his mind briefly drifted to a certain bony old man.
A glint of sudden realization flashed in his eyes. "This reminds me, Grandpa never told us anything about Grandma… where could she be?"