Abyssal Awakening

"Occupation?"

"Hunter."

"Where are you from and why did you come to Blackrock City?" The priest asked while flipping through the pages.

"I came from Zadash. We got lost for two weeks or so and was told that Blackrock Castle was nearby. Me and my friend came here hoping to get some directions and earn some funds." Alice shrugged.

"Zadash? That\'s quite far away. Even if you travel for 2 weeks you must be moving rather quickly to get here. Now I must ask, why did you come into contact with the half yesterday? We received reports that you helped them and even came into physical contact." The priest asked while narrowing his eyes at her, his gaze focusing on her right eye and split hair.

"Didn\'t realise that was the practice in this city. Just felt like I should\'ve helped before I realised he was a half." Alice admitted.

"I see. Then is there any reason why you stopped by the entrance to the slums last night? You approached near the scene of the crime before leaving."

\'Seems like this is the final question.\' Alice thought to herself as she noticed that the priest was on the last page of the document.

"I smelled something weird. Followed the scent and found myself at the entrance. Didn\'t want to find out more so I left."

"I see. Though it says here that you recognised that smell and know about the effects. Care to explain?" The priest frowned as the guards slowly surrounded her.

"I came into contact with it in the past so I know the distinctive smell." Alice replied while glancing at the guards that surrounded her before focusing on the lord who was watching over everything.

Depending on what happens, she might have to force her way out using the blood she gained from the five star Hunter.

"Is that so… Please follow the guards for further questioning. If you cooperate, nothing bad will happen." The priest gestured, causing Alice to frown at his threat.

But with the Lord watching, she couldn\'t do anything even if she disliked his threat.

Sighing out softly, Alice raised her hands in surrender without trying anything strange.

Before Ria could protest that she wanted to come along, the guards blocked her way.

"Shouldn\'t be anything too bad. I\'ll be right back." Alice reassured with a smile.

She had the amulet that Allura had given her. If things turn dire, there was still the option of using it though Alice wanted to avoid that if possible since its basically an extra life for her.

Following the guards, she noticed that the Lord was informed and glanced down at her before leaving the area.

She was taken to what seemed to be an office with two sofas, bookshelves, a window overlooking the city and a desk and chair.

Sitting down on the sofa, she was given a cup of tea with some snacks to enjoy while she waited.

\'Seems like the City Lord wants a word with me.\' Alice mused to herself as she drank the cup of tea and furrowed her brows.

Finishing it in one gulp, she grinned and pulled out her bottle that she had kept in her inner pocket. It hadn\'t been long so the mead was still rather cold for her to enjoy.

Pouring the mead into the tea cup, Alice enjoyed the smell before taking sips. Naturally, she left the bottle by her feet so it didn\'t get too warm inside her jacket.

Hearing the door open, Alice glanced over and saw the City Lord enter while keeping the guards outside.

Noticing that Alice had replaced the tea with her mead and even had the bottle next to her, the City Lord raised an eyebrow before sitting down opposite her.

"Now, my subordinates have told me that you know something about the incident that occurred. We\'re still in the process of figuring out exactly what happened but if you can give us some insight on the matter, you will be rewarded." The City Lord stated while resting his elbows on his knees.

"I mean… I know a little bit but I\'m in the dark on what happened." Alice shrugged.

"Yesterday, we received reports that half beasts were acting up in the slums. Not in a violent way but rather many of them became sick and started to mutate faster. We assumed it was Abyss Blood abused yet the scenarios didn\'t match up.

"Then later at night, some of them started to rot from the inside out and those near the corpses started to do the same. Until we can figure out what happened, whether this be sabotage or just an unfortunate incident, the city is being kept in martial law. The faster we get to the bottom of this the better." The City Lord explained as Alice furrowed her brows.

This was a little different from what she initially expected, almost as though it was an evolved version of what she had suffered.

"Hmm… I\'m guessing you already restrained those who entered the slums?" Alice asked since this wasn\'t something that can occur naturally.

It required a specific set of actions to cause this reaction within the body and it\'s a horrible way to die while also taking out those around you.

"We are still in the process of doing so. Now, what can you tell me about this strange mutation?" The City Lord asked, not wanting to waste too much time here.

"My original understanding is that it requires a specific environment to occur. However, if it\'s happening like you said, it\'s probably an improved variant of it. It\'s not… a mutation per say. More of a half alive beast that requires a host." Alice explained while taking a sip of her mead.

"Oh? A beast that requires a host?" The City Lord raised in eyebrows in surprise.

"Mnm. Well… That was the version I know at least. I don\'t know what this new one is like."

"I see… Alright. As you are a Hunter by trade, I believe your services can be bought with coin, yes? I wish to employ you to assist in dealing with this strange outbreak." The City Lord leaned back.

"Seriously? You do realise that I\'m just a two star Hunter right? I don\'t think I can help much. Plus, my knowledge is outdated." Alice furrowed her brows.

"Even outdated, it\'s better than charging in blind. Right now you\'re our only lead on what this thing is and what it can do." The City Lord nodded before pulling out a contract of sorts.

"What kind of reward would you like for your services?" He asked as Alice leaned back and crossed her legs.

\'Seems like this thing is more serious than I thought…\' Alice mused to herself as she was surprised that he was asking her what she wanted in exchange for her help.

\'When I was stuck in the prison, this beast was only in the initial stages of development since they were wanting to see if it was possible to feed it my blood and have it inherit my properties of being resistant to the Abyss. That way they could mass produce an antidote of sorts for the mutation.

In the end, all they accomplished was creating a zombified version of the parasite.\' She tapped her chin while trying to recall as much information as she could.

Once zombified, these parasites would feed on the host while also increasing the potency of Abyss Blood. But there was a big trade off. In exchange for potency, the manifestation of the side effects was also sped up. A trade of life for power.

The result of this would be rotting from the inside out and dying due to the influx of side effects.

\'However… this was limited to just the initial person who took the parasite within their body. The fact that this one can infect the people around it and kill them as well… Hmm.\'

"I can only promise that I\'ll try my best. But if it becomes too harmful for me, I\'ll have step away. You know that right? I would rather place my life above those I don\'t know about, even if I sympathise with their plight." Alice warned as she didn\'t want the City Lord to think she was someone who would just sacrifice herself for people she didn\'t know about.

She had enough of this \'self-sacrifice\' while she was stuck in the prison. She didn\'t owe the world anything anymore.

"I know. If you are unsure, you can read the Law of Agreement for yourself." The City Lord nodded as he handed Alice the sheet of paper.

Nodding her head, Alice read through the page and understood that the terms of this agreement was rather loose as all it required from her was to assist in this investigation. It didn\'t require anything else from her while in return, the City Lord will grant a reward to her that\'s befitting her assistance.

Failure to comply would incur a penalty, that being returning the reward bestowed by the Lord as well as a small penalty in gold.

"Would it be okay if I consult my friend first?" Alice asked as she felt safer if Ria was here.

"Alright. I believe she\'s the lady with the eastern clothing yes?"

Nodding her head, Alice watched as the City Lord left the room and notified the guards before coming back in.

Now that there was nothing else to talk about, Alice decided to refill her teacup of mead while thinking about what she wanted.

"Say, have you ever heard of a flask that can store a lot of liquid?" Alice asked with a small smile.

"Hm? Yes I have. Are you… Wanting that as your reward?" The City Lord asked hesitantly seeing Alice pour some mead into her tea cup.

"I\'m just asking if you have heard it ya know? I\'m not saying I\'m \'wanting\' it as my reward." Alice shrugged.

". . . Yes I have heard of it. Though it\'s merely an expensive Hunting commodity for long Hunts in rough conditions. Are you sure you want to trade that as your reward?"

"Oh? So its pretty common then, just expensive. In that case then do you think you have a blacksmith that can fix this glove?" Alice changed her mind as she took off her glove and placed it on the table. However, she made sure to store the threads away before doing so.

Examining the gloves, the City Lord furrowed his brows for a moment before opening his mouth.

"Is this perhaps the work of Lord Lothian?"