Arthur remained still, but his mind raced.
Keeping his identity hidden was crucial. Not just for convenience—but for survival.
He knew the military would send people into the academy.
It wasn't a question of 'if'—it was a certainty. The academy was the single most important place in the kingdom for nurturing young talents.
There was no way they'd overlook it.
They might even ask him to join the academy once the prison sentence was over, since he did fit the age group If they knew he was here…And Arthur wasn't ready for that.
Not yet.
There was another reason, too. He wanted to build a separate identity.
A second life. Just until the rge. Because once the worlds fused, it wouldn't matter anymore.
After that—he wouldn't be weak in the real world.
After that—they wouldn't be able to suppress him.
Lucas took a step forward.
His footsteps caused ripples in the water beneath them. Small waves spread outward, distorting Arthur's reflection in the shifting liquid.
Then—he reached into his inventory. A faint glow pulsed from his palm as an item materialized.
Arthur's sharp eyes locked onto it imdiately. It was a mask. But not just any mask.
It was split perfectly down the middle. One side bore a crying face, the expression frozen in an eternal look of sorrow.
The other side had a smirk, curved in a way that seed both amused and knowing. The craftsmanship was flawless.
Every detail, every groove of the mask felt alive—as if it carried its own history, its own presence.
Lucas held it out. "This is an Epic-Grade Mask."
Lucas continued.
"Once worn, you can transform your entire body structure to fit your imagination."
Arthur's gaze flickered with interest.
"Of course, it has to be human," Lucas clarified.
"You can only change your height, build, hair colour, facial structure—things that naturally occur within human limits."
Arthur's mind imdiately went to work. A complete transformation?
That was more than he expected.
His current mask, Thousand Faces, could shift his features, but it was limited to storing five specific faces.
But this mask?
It gave him full control. He could create an entirely new identity.
Customizable. Adaptive.
A mask that didn't just hide who he was—but let him be whoever he needed to be.
Lucas watched him closely.
"Think of it as customizing your body."
Arthur's gaze flickered between the mask and Lucas. His fingers twitched slightly, but he didn't reach for it yet.
"Why?"
Lucas's smile didn't waver.
"Why what?"
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you giving this to ? I assu you aren't making watch it without reason."
His tone remained calm, but he was analysing Lucas's every reaction.
This man—one of the elite Ashencrofts, a figure of power in Caldera, an examiner at the academy—was handing him an Epic-Grade Mask.
That didn't happen without a reason.
Arthur was many things.
'But he wasn't that Naïve.'
"And you wouldn't possibly give it to for free," he added, voice edged with suspicion. "We just t."
Lucas nodded, shaking his head slightly.
"That's true. I wouldn't."
Arthur said nothing, waiting.
"I want to give you this mask," he said slowly, "but I want one thing in return."
Arthur wasn't surprised.
"What is it?"
Lucas's gaze remained steady.
"A favour."
Arthur frowned slightly.
Lucas lifted a hand before Arthur could interrupt.
"Not now. Not anyti soon. But when the ti cos, I will let you know. And don't worry, I won't make it impossible for you. If you aren't able to do it, then you can keep the mask."
Arthur studied him carefully. There were no visible tells in Lucas's expression, no sign of deception—but that didn't an he wasn't scheming.
Arthur wasn't an idiot.
This was an investnt.
Lucas had identified sothing in him—sothing worth gambling on. He wasn't sure whether it was the shattered talent crystal that had made Lucas bet on him, or if it was a hunch.
But one thing was clear—Lucas saw value in him.
Arthur didn't respond imdiately.
Instead, he watched Lucas as a translucent screen appeared before him.
[Ding! You have Triggered the S-Level quest: Lucas Ashencroft's request. Quest duration: None. Reward: Loki's Mask (pre-rewarded) Failure: None on the condition of trying.]
Arthur's eyes twitched.
S-Level.
It was one of the highest-ranked quests possible, only appearing when a task was incredibly difficult or had major implications in the world.
But the details were scarce. No objectives, no tifra—just Lucas's word. More importantly—the reward was pre-rewarded.
That ant he would receive the mask before completing the task. That alone told Arthur sothing crucial—Lucas wasn't in a rush.
If this was sothing ti-sensitive, Lucas would've withheld the reward until the request was fulfilled.
But he didn't.
Which ant this favour was long-term.
Sothing to be cashed in at the right mont.
Arthur's mind ran through so simulations and possible requests.
But ultimately—there was no downside.
No failure penalty, no imdiate danger. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
He could accept now, and try do the quest later on.
If he was unable to do it then it's fine, he would have already gotten the value in the mask.
There was no reason to refuse.
Arthur nodded.
"I accept."
[Ding! You have Accepted the S-Level quest: Lucas Ashencroft's request. Quest duration: None. Reward: Loki's Mask (pre-rewarded) Failure: None on the condition of trying.]
Lucas's smirk widened slightly. "Good."
He lifted the mask, holding it out towards Arthur.
Arthur hesitated for just a second.
Then, he reached forward, grasping it.
The mont his fingers closed around it—a strange sensation rushed through him.
The material was smooth but cold.
Not the ordinary chill of tal or wood—but sothing else. It pulsed faintly beneath his fingertips.
Arthur's eyes flickered.
Lucas's voice broke the mont.
"You can use it imdiately. Just wear it and imagine your previous face. It will shift accordingly."
Arthur nodded slowly.
He lifted the mask and pressed it against his face.
The sensation was instant.
It lted onto his skin. Not like cloth or leather.
Not like sothing being placed over his features.
Like it was fusing into him.
For a brief second—he saw nothing.
Darkness consud his vision.
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