At that moment, the air next to Camelot trembled.
~Rustle~
He recognized the sound instantly.
A silver grimoire appeared right in front of him, its pages turning on their own.
Aphelisa and her familiar didn’t notice anything.
As before, only Camelot could see the book.
Familiar symbols flashed on one of the pages.
[Additional task: “Green Kiss on the Chessboard”]
[ Status: Almost done.
]
Camelot narrowed his eyes in surprise.
There are new lines below.
[The identity of the woman with the green lipstick has been revealed.
]
[The story of the last chess game has been revealed.
]
[The face hiding behind the queen’s piece has been found.
]
[A connection has been established between Aphelisa and Aurelius Canham.]
Camelot slowly flipped through the page.
The last line made him stop.
[The last condition remains to be fulfilled.
]
[ Create a picture reflecting the true story of Aphelisa and Aurelius Canham.
]
[The painting should convey not only the events of the past, but also the connection between two people who have become friends.
]
[After completion, the painting will be recognized as proof of the disclosure of the story.
]
Camelot frowned.
«The painting…»
Aphelisa looked at him.
«Is something wrong?»
He quickly closed the grimoire.
«No.
I just thought of something.»
«What?»
Camelot looked at her, then at the little demon.
And for the first time in the entire conversation, there was real excitement in his eyes.
«I want to draw you.»
Aphelisa froze.
«…Me?»
«You, your familiar, and Aurelius.»
The little demon slowly spread its wings.
«Wow!»
Aphelisa was silent for a few seconds.
Then her green lips stretched into a smile.
«Then, Camelot Canham…»
she pointed her finger at him.
«Try not to ruin my hair.»
«I’ll do my best.»
«And my face…» she ran her fingers through her hair.
«Okay…»
«And the figure…» she held her fingers further to her chest, ostentatiously.
Camelot froze.
«I was actually going to draw a story, not…»
«I’m just checking your reaction.»
A satisfied smile appeared on Aphelisa face.
«You’re blushing again.»
«I’m not blushing.»
«Of course.»
The little demon on her shoulder covered his mouth with his paw.
«Blushed.»
«Traitor!»
«I’m a familiar.
I owe it to the mistress to tell the truth.»
Camelot sighed heavily.
«Can we start now?»
«We can.»
Aphelisa pointed at the old table with her hand.
«There should be paints.»
Camelot went to the table and found several old jars, brushes and a rolled-up canvas.
He touched one of the brushes.
Immediately, a familiar window flashed in front of my eyes.
[Art material has been discovered.
]
[ Condition: Usable.
]
[ Magical properties: None.
]
Camelot picked up the brush, but stopped.
He looked at Aphelisa.
«I need to know exactly what happened.»
«Yes.»
«Then you’ll have to see it.»
Aphelisa went to the window.
Her green hair swayed gently in the wind.
«I don”t want you to paint us the way others remember us.»
«And how should I paint you?»
She smiled.
«The way we were.»
Camelot nodded.
«Then tell me everything.»
Aphelisa closed her eyes for a moment, and began to speak:
«It was raining that day…»
Camelot put the brush on the table.
«Aurelius found us near the old road…»
Aphelisa continued.
«I was soaked to the skin.
Hungry.
Angry at the whole world.»
«You’re still like that.»
«You shouldn’t have been around at all then.»
«But I was, unfortunately.»
Camelot smiled.
Aphelisa continued:
«Aurelius stopped next to us.
He looked at me, then at my familiar…»
She adjusted her familiar on her shoulder.
«And instead of asking why we were on the street, he just said: Are you hungry?»
Camelot froze.
«That’s it…»
«He didn’t ask where you were from?»
«No.»
«Didn’t demand an explanation?»
«No.»
«Just fed?»
«Just fed.»
Aphelisa smiled.
«And then he suggested we stay.»
«Why?»
She looked at Camelot.
«Because he once told me himself: If a person first has to prove that they are worthy of help, then it’s not help anymore.»
Camelot slowly lowered his gaze.
These words sunk into his soul.
Aphelisa continued:
«After that, we stayed at the manor.
I gradually became his assistant.
Then a friend.
And this little rascal…»
«I can hear everything!»
«…Became his favorite kitchen destroyer.»
«It was only four times.»
«Five.»
«Four and a half.»
Camelot grinned and began to draw.
First, the lines of the old road appeared, on which raindrops dripped.
A little girl with green hair sitting under a canopy.
Next to it is a small creature wrapped in an old cloth.
And then a man with a gray beard and a smile from ear to ear, Aurelius, appeared in the picture.
Not a great artist.
Not the head of the family.
Just a young man with a kind smile, extending his hand to them.
Camelot’s brush suddenly stopped.
[An emotional connection has been discovered.
]
[ The magical story of the painting is beginning to take shape.
]
Camelot looked at the image in surprise, but did not stop.
He continued to draw.
The painting featured flowers, warm food, a fire in the fireplace, Aurelius laughing, and a little imp who tried to steal a truffle.
And Aphelisa, really smiling for the first time in a long time.
Aphelisa stared at the canvas in silence.
Her smile gradually disappeared.
«Did he really look like that?»
Camelot looked at her.
«You told me yourself.»
«No…»
She shook her head.
«That’s not what I’m asking.»
Aphelisa came closer.
In the painting, Aurelius was laughing, holding a box of truffles in his hand.
«He…
was like that.»
She laughed softly.
But there were tears in her eyes.
Camelot noticed this.
«Aphelisa…»
«Go on.»
He didn’t say anything, just picked up the brush again.
With the last stroke, he added a small chessboard to the painting.
And I put one truffle next to it.
The dessert that Aurelius loved the most.
The brush stopped.
The room became quiet.
And then the canvas flashed with a soft golden light.
[The painting is complete.
]
[ The name is determined by the system.
]
[ «The home they found in each other» ]
Camelot’s eyes widened.
New lines appeared next.
[The additional task “Green Kiss on the Chessboard” has been completed.
]
[The story is revealed.
]
[ The reward is being formed…
]
Camelot froze.
But instead of a reward, another message appeared.
[Attention.
]
[ The disclosure of the story has changed the status of one of the related objects.
]
[ Object: Aphelisa.
]
[ The true information is unlocked.
]
Camelot slowly looked up.
Aphelisa was also looking at the painting.
But now her face was completely serious.
«So you finally found out who I really am?
That’s commendable.»
[Hidden information has been unlocked.
]
[ Aphelisa ]
[True Status: Guardian Spirit of Canham Manor ]
[ Age: unknown ]
[Origin: unknown ]
[ Connection with the Canham family: a signed contract ]
[ Connection with Aurelius Canham: true friendship]
[ Special property: “Guardian of the House”]
Camelot read the last line, and before asking, Aphelisa herself said:
«I have a contract with the Canham family.»
Camelot nodded.
«And what does it mean?»
She looked straight into his eyes.
«As long as the Canham family exists, I protect this house.»
Camelot thought.
«And if the family disappears?»
This time Aphelisa did not answer immediately.
After a few seconds, she said softly:
«Then my contract will disappear, too.»
Camelot felt something uncomfortably tighten inside.
«So if the Canhams lose the manor…»
«I will disappear with him.»
Camelot clenched his fist.
Aphelisa noticed this.
«Don’t make that face.»
«What?»
«As if you’re going to save the whole world.»
Camelot looked at the golden lines of the grimoire once more.
[The hidden art function has been activated.]
[ You have created a picture that contains the true story.
]
[ A new ability has been discovered.
]
[ Living Memory ]
But before he could read the description of the ability, a new page appeared in front of his eyes.
[The reward for completing the additional task has been received.
]
[ Experience: 120 ]
Camelot blinked.
Over the past few days, he had already gotten used to the strange messages from the grimoire, but the following made him freeze in surprise.
[A sufficient amount of experience has been accumulated.
]
[The level has been raised.
]
[ Current level: 2 ]
[The main stats have been increased.
]
His updated status appeared before my eyes.
[ Status ]
[Name: Camelot Canham ]
[ Age: 17 years old ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Title: Heir of the Canham family]
[ Level: 2 ]
[ Strength: 5 ]
[ Agility: 6 ]
[ Body Type: 4 ]
[ Intelligence: 9 ]
[ Perception: 10 ]
[ Mana: 8 ]
[ Skills: ]
[ Artist — Level 1 ]
[ Fencing — Level 1]
[ Deduction — Level 2 ]
[ Living Memory — Level 1 ]
[ Blessings: 2 ]
Camelot reread the specifications several times.
«They’ve grown a little…»
He clenched his fist.The body really felt different.
Not so much that he suddenly became superhuman, but his movements became a little easier, his breathing calmer, and his thoughts seemed to gain additional clarity.
He felt the changes in perception especially strongly.
The world around me seemed to become a little clearer.
He saw small scratches on the wooden furniture.
I noticed specks of dust floating in the beam of light.
I could even hear the soft crackling of the old fireplace in the next room.
Camelot chuckled.
«It looks like the second level still gives something.»
Aphelisa looked at him curiously.
«Are you talking to yourself right now?»
Camelot quickly closed the grimoire.
«No, I’m not.»
«Exactly?»
« Yes.»
«Then why are you smiling?»
«Because…» he thought about it.
«Because I’ve become a little stronger.»
Aphelisa shrugged her shoulders.
«Good.»
Camelot was expecting at least some kind of reaction.
But she just pulled a small glass out of the air.
«Congratulations!»
«Where did that come from?»
«I’m a brownie.»
She winked.
«And a brownie should be able to find everything that is hidden in his own house.»
The little demon immediately appeared next to the glass.
«Where’s the food?»
«It’s not Friday yet.»
«That’s not fair.»
Camelot laughed.