His eyes scanned the treasury again.
Then suddenly, Amos stopped.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“Why are there only dangerous and cursed looking artifact here?”
“Because the useful artifacts would have been stored separately.”
A beat. Amos slowly turned.
“There are non-cursed artifacts?”
“Yes.”
“WHY DID YOU NOT SAY THAT EARLIER?”
“Young Master appeared interested in the cursed section.”
“Because it looked cool.”
“It still contains dangerous objects.”
“That usually where people finds the good stuff. Usually.”
Elena sighed softly before turning toward another section of the treasury.
“I see the non-cursed artifacts that way.”
Amos immediately followed. Unlike the cursed section filled with ominous pressure and whispering objects that absolutely violated the laws, this area felt calmer and much cleaner. Shelves stretched across the walls filled with artifacts neatly organized behind enchanted glass and having a short information's written about the artifact.
Rings.
Bracelets.
Necklaces.
Boots.
Robes.
Brooches.
Earrings.
Even belts and hairpins radiating mana.
Amos stared in silence. Then his noble dignity vanished instantly replaced by greed.
“Oh this is dangerous.”
“Young Master.”
“I finally understand why rich people become unbearable.”
He immediately rushed toward the nearest shelf. A silver ring embedded with blue crystal.
“What does this do?”
“Mana circulation enhancement.”
“Mine.”
He put it on.
Then another ring.
“And this?”
“Physical reinforcement.”
“Mine.”
Another.
“Element affinity increases.”
“Mine.”
Another.
“Fire resistance.”
“Excellent. I dislike burning.”
Within seconds Amos had begun decorating himself like a noble magpie. Ring after ring slid onto his fingers until nearly every finger carried enchanted jewelry.
“Elena behold the look of future hero.”
“Young Master looks more like a suspicious merchant selling defective products.”
“I won't sell you, you know.”
“You wouldn't dare.”
He moved to another shelf.
A black bracelet engraved with gold lines.
“This one increase reaction speed.”
“Mine.”
A white bracelet.
“That one improves concentration.”
“Mine.”
Silver anklets.
“Movement assistance.”
“Mine.”
“Those are usually worn under boots.”
“Doesn't matter.”
Then came the pendants.
One improved magic control.
One stabilized mana.
One protected against mental interference.
Amos wore all three immediately.
By now he jingled slightly whenever he moved.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I love being rich”
“Scum.”
“I definitely am going to be stronger after mastering using these artifacts”
“That is not how strength works.”
Amos ignored her completely.
He found a crimson brooch shaped like a wolf.
“This one?”
“Defensive barrier.”
Amos pinned it proudly onto his chest.
Then immediately spotted earrings.
His eyes widened.
Amos already grabbed them. Small black earrings shaped like stars.
“What do these do?”
“Enhanced perception.”
“Practical and stylish. Incredible.”
It doesn't even need a pierced ear.
Rings worn on all finger at both hands. Bracelets rested along his wrists. Several enchanted pendants hung around his neck. A brooch gleamed proudly on his chest. Even enchanted anklets were hidden beneath his clothing.
The sheer amount of mana surrounding him made the air distort faintly. Elena stared silently. Amos spread his arms proudly.
“Feast your eyes upon perfection.”
“Young Master resembles an artifact smuggler.”
“I resemble overwhelming talent.”
“You look ridiculous.”
“Jealousy is so unbecoming of you.”
Amos slowly turned toward the source of a faint crimson glow deeper within the treasury. Then he stopped completely.
“Oh.”
Even Elena’s expression shifted slightly. At the very center of a secluded chamber stood a single pedestal protected behind layers of crystal barriers and engraved magic circles. Unlike the surrounding treasures, nothing else had been placed nearby. As if the treasury itself respected its existence. Inside the barrier floated a crystalline heart-shaped artifact no larger than a fist. Veins of golden light pulsed slowly across its surface like a living heartbeat and beneath it, a small silver vial rested upon black velvet. The liquid inside shimmered with deep scarlet light.
Even Amos, whose magical knowledge currently consisted mostly of “that looks expensive,” could immediately tell one thing. That thing was absurd. His instincts screamed harder than when he saw the cursed ring earlier.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“What is that?”
“A relic.”
“That explains absolutely nothing.”
Elena’s eyes remained fixed on the artifact information.
“It's named Heart of Mana.”
The name alone sounded expensive.
“And the potion?”
“A high-grade Dragon Blood Elixir.”
Amos immediately inhaled sharply.
“Dragon.”
“Yes.”
“As in actual dragons, the strongest race in the world?”
“Yes.”
Amos stared at the pedestal with growing disbelief.
“Why does my family own this and how did they obtain it?”
“The Kyros family has existed for several centuries.”
“That does not answer my question.”
“No.”
The crimson heart pulsed once. A heavy pressure spread across the room. Amos felt his own mana react instinctively. His eyes slowly widened.
“I need it.”
“No.”
“But look at it.”
“It is sealed away for a reason.”
“It literally called to me.”
“It has not spoken.”
“It speaks spiritually.”
“Young Master says that about every dangerous object.”
Amos stepped closer to the barrier. The closer he got, the stronger the pressure became. The treasure around them almost seemed dim compared to the heart-shaped relic. Even the dozens of artifacts currently hanging off Amos reacted faintly. One ring glowed. The pendants trembled. The defensive brooch emitted light as if warning him.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I am taking it.”
“No.”
“I wasn't asking.”
Amos crouched before the barrier, studying the intricate layers of protection. Several magic circles rotated slowly within the crystal walls. Ancient runes. High-grade defensive enchantments. Mana locks. The sort of thing that absolutely should not be touched. Amos nodded seriously.
“This means it is valuable.”
“That is generally how heavily protected relics work.”
He placed a hand against the glass.
The barrier hummed.
Then.
CRACK.
Both Amos and Elena froze. A thin fracture spread across the crystal surface.
“What.” Amos blinked.
Then another crack appeared and another.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“Why is it breaking.”
Elena stared silently at the spreading fractures.
“That should not be possible.”
“Then, it must be fate. My fate to take away this artifact.”
The heart-shaped relic pulsed again.
This time the entire barrier shattered explosively.
CRASH.
Fragments of enchanted crystal scattered across the treasury floor.
Silence followed.
Amos stared blankly at the now unprotected relic. The relic floated quietly before him as if nothing had happened. The Dragon Blood Elixir shimmered beneath it.
Even Elena couldn't say anything.
“It has chosen me.”
“Yes?”
“I must be the artifact chosen user.”
Amos slowly looked at his hand. Then at the destroyed barrier. Then back at Elena.
“Does this mean I am chosen?”
“Possibly.”
A slow grin spread across Amos’s face.
“I knew it, no normal person should be able to do this.”