Nine Tailed System 41 The Riddles

Sara: Hey Tamamo, what is that thing around Marco?

Tamamo: Oh, that is-

Marco: Don't f.u.c.king dare! You shouldn't even know about it if it wasn't for Alice! Now, instead of revealing things that should be secret to the entire world, talk about something else… Jesus…

Sara and Tamamo looked at Marco, and Tamamo started to giggle.

Tamamo: Sorry, you heard him.

Sara: Yeah…

Tamamo: Don't worry, I could at least tell you that he is really strong with that, and he isn't even getting near to his limit.

Sara: Really?

Marco: Shhhh… I see more monsters…

Tamamo and Sara froze and took a serious expression, Sara couldn't see anything due to the darkness forward, but Tamamo and Marco could thanks to their special eyes, and the monsters forward noticed them too.

There were 4 monsters, all of them had dark skin and golden clothes and decorations, they were the Nefert.i.ti Lamias, which, under Marco's informations, should be the last enemies before encountering the Sphinx.

Iit seems that they were waiting for them to get near and they would attack them, but Marco had a idea…

Marco: Girls… At my 0, run forward, behind me…

Tamamo and Sara were a bit curious about his words, but they understood the idea he had when Marco crouched down, putting his feet behind while laying his arms forward, ready to charge.

It seems that he didn't want to really deal with this for more time, so he wanted to finish this quickly.

Marco: 3… 2… 1…

Then Marco pushed his feet and gave the signal.

Marco: 0.

Sara and Tamamo started running behind Marco, who was running as fast as he could towards the Nefert.i.ti Lamias, who were guarding a door.

Every step he made was really light, but it increased his speed even more thanks to Sylph's help, when he was some meters near the Nefert.i.ti Lamias, who were shocked about Marco's gestures, they took a defensive stance and tried to take on the charging Marco.

But they couldn't even stop him for a moment, he pushed all of them at the door with force, and braced himself for the impact.

He took down the door and made fly away the Nefert.i.ti Lamias, everything with a charge, then he stopped himself by anchoring his feet in the ground, Sara and Tamamo were behind him the entire time, and were surprised from the stupid idea Marco had.

But, it ain't stupid if it works! And it worked, the Nefert.i.ti Lamias were knocked out from Marco's charge, they glowed before turning back in normal snakes, and the door was taken down.

Marco took deep breaths but didn't dared to deactivate the Nine Tailed Gates, he just stopped using Sylph and took deep breaths, while Sara and Tamamo reached him.

Sara: Hey Marco, are you alright? You used yourself like like a ram to take down both the monsters and the door, and you still have the poison.

Tamamo: Hahahaha! That was a good idea Marco.

Marco: I'm alright, just 40 more minutes to cure the poison. Now let's go forward, I think we are at destination.

Sara and Tamamo raised an eyebrow before looking around, they were in an egyptian-like room, with drawings in walls, pillars and even in the ceiling.

Sara: Sphinx is supposed to be in the deepest part of the Pyramid… But where is she?

Marco looked around, but didn't found anyone, then suddenly his eyes widened and looked forward, finding a shadow that wasn't there before.

?: You finally reached here, oh weak humans.

Then the shadow revealed herself to be a centaur-type monster, the upper body of a woman with egyptian style, and the lower body of a giant lion, with a lion's head included.

At it's back it had a pair of big wings while instead of a tail it had 6 blue cobras, looking menacingly at the group.

Sara: Are you Sphinx?

?: Indeed. I am the master of the Pyramid. I am the judge that watches over the deaths of those who would attempt the Dragon Seal Trial.

Sara: So you're the final judge of the trial?

Sphinx: Correct. If I deem you unworthy, I shall swallow you whole… Do you still wish to continue?

Marco: *Sigh* I came for the yellow orb, but whatever… I'll accept.

Tamamo: W-Wait a second, you came here for THAT yellow orb?!

Tamamo frowned when she heard about what Marco was really here for.

Marco: Yeah, how do I visit h.e.l.lgondo without that? I doubt I could fly there with Sylph's powers, and I doubt that a s.h.i.+p could get there with the monsters that are around. So I am trying to take the best one, I'll get the Garuda Girl.

Sphinx: Oh? So you know about her?

Marco: Yeah. I said to someone that I would visit every single place in this world, and I will take responsibility of those words.

Sara: So, what is the final trial? Do we have to fight you?

Marco/Tamamo: Hahahahaha!

Marco and Tamamo started to laugh at Sara's words, making her eye twitch.

Marco: That would be a bulls.h.i.+t, even if I enter the 3rd Gate I would have some difficulties with fighting her, do you really think that a normal human could beat her? If it was that hard then no one would have done the Dragon Seal Trial.

Sphinx: I don't know what he meant with the first sentence, but he's right, if the final task was impossible, it would be a pointless trial.

Sara: What am I supposed to do then?

Sphinx: The final trial is a test of your wisdom. You must answer my riddles.

Marco: Well, Sara, are you alright with doing this alone?

Sara: Of course! Probably… I studied a lot growing up after all…

Marco didn't had any problem since he knew what would be the riddles, and would let Sara doing this bulls.h.i.+t, unless she could really not do it.

Sphinx: Now, I ask of thee. What goes on four legs at dawn, two at noon, and three at dusk?

Sara: A human, even a child has heard that one…

Sphinx: ...Correct. Four as a baby crawling. Two as an adult walking. Three as an elder supported by a cane. Not that I needed to explain to someone who answered correctly… Then we shall proceed with the next question. Why am I asking you riddles?

Sara started to think, but her face slowly turned into a despaired one, she obviously didn't knew the answer.

Marco: *Sigh* ...To understand how much idiot we could get?

Sphinx: …

Sara: …

Tamamo: …

Sphinx: ...C-Correct… I didn't expected those words to be used, but the answer is correct…

Tamamo: Pffff….

Tamamo was trying to hold back a laugh while Sara looked at Marco with a dumbfounded face.

Marco: What? I may look like a smart one but I have those moments too, like using cocaine instead of flour… 'Good memories… G.o.ddammit Gabriel, I will find you and kick you in the a.s.s one day.'

Sara: ...Cocaine?

Marco: Drugs…

Sara: Ohhh….

Sphinx: Ahem…

Then Tamamo, Sara and Marco turned towards the Sphinx, who talked.

Sphinx: Now, the final question. In other words, this shall decided everything.

Sara held her breath while Marco and Tamamo looked normal, then she spoke.

Sphinx: Why are you taking this trial?

Marco stood silent, he didn't answered her riddle because he already gave an honest answer before, if it wasn't for Sara, then he would come here only for the yellow orb, but now he helped her all the way. Instead, he said.

Marco: Sara, you answer this one.

Sara: Huh? Me?

Sphinx: ...Do you not have an answer? If you do not give me your reason, I shall not acknowledge you.

Marco: I already gave you the answer, I came here for the yellow orb, nothing more, nothing less. If it wasn't that I have not any other method to get to h.e.l.lgondo, I would have dragged Sara back to the Kingdom immediately, without even letting her take the trial.

His answer may seem cold, but it was the reality, if it wasn't for the yellow orb and for the absence of ideas to get to h.e.l.lgondo safely, he would have dragged Sara over the sand to take her back to her father, even if she cried or begged him.

Sphinx: ...Your words are true. I can sense it from here that you don't want even to partic.i.p.ate at the trial. Then, I shall ask the girl. Why are you taking this trial?

Sara: ...I'm sorry, but I can't give a good reason… I'm just doing this to get closer to the one I love!

Sphinx: …

The Sphinx falls silent at Sara's words, and Sara frowned.

Sara: What… Is that not good enough? Would "For honor" or "For justice" have been better?

The Sphinx, Tamamo and Marco smiled, and the former spoke.

Sphinx: Why would you hesitate to answer with that? This Dragon Seal Trial is intended to be for marriage between man and monster.

However none have attempted it thus far with that as their reason. So far, the desire for the riches contained in this Pyramid have been their goal...

Then the Sphinx glared at Marco, who shrugged.

Sphinx: Are you truly taking this trial in the name of love? Four legs at dawn, two at noon, and three at dusk. That is, a human. n.o.body actually thinks about the meaning of this riddle. Attempting to marry a monster… Do you not realize the fatal flaw? The short lived nature of man?

Sara: In other words… Even if a human marries a monster, they will never live as long as their partner?

Sphinx: ...Correct. It is inevitable that the monster will be forced to watch their partner die. The human may have had a satisfactory life… But the monster will be forced to live on, separated from their love for far too long…

Marco knew what she was talking about, if Marco had still angel blood in his veins, he could live longer, but he removed it without thinking about the possibilities, when he heard that it would harm his being he immediately removed it.

About his powers, the System doesn't seem to include a longer lifespan, if he marries a monster, then both him and the monster would be f.u.c.ked, since Marco would die first, even if he became a half-monster.

Sara: Well… That… Wait… Are you talking about yourself!?

Sphinx: A thousand years ago, I loved a human. He was the Hero Sabasa, the Emperor of the Burning Sands.

Sara: Eh!?

Sphinx: Our child became the next Lord of Sabasa Kingdom. For generations the descendants of our child have ruled over this land. My love slowly aged, as I could do nothing but watch him die.

I wanted to use my magic to turn him into a monster to prolong his life… But he refused. He wished to face his death as a human. We were together until his death. Then I was alone…

Sara: …

Sphinx: It was possible for me to die as a human. There is power in this world that can seal a monster as a human. If I used that. I could have met death together with him…

But I did not. I was scared of death. If my love and I both die, none would remember him in this world. Having every memory of his vanish from this world terrified me. Thus, I was separated from my love by death… For a thousand years, I have been alone…

Sara: …

Sphinx: You… What is your name?

Sphinx looked at Marco, who answered.

Marco: My name is Marco.

Sphinx: ...Marco… You are a special case… I have the power to see the fate of people, but…

...You are already dead…

Marco, Tamamo, and Sara immediately turned towards Sphinx with surprise.

Sphinx: Yes, I could see that you are dead… But you are still here, breathing, alive… But since you are a special case, I would like to ask you a question.

Marco understood what the Sphinx was talking about, he really died, there is a reason that he is what he is now, he died in his past life… It seems that the Sphinx could not see more, and that is a good thing.

Sphinx: If it was you, what would you have chosen?

Marco stood silent for a full minute, increasing the tension in the big room, everyone was looking at him waiting for an answer, when he finally opened his mouth.

Marco: … *Inhales* … *Deeply exhales* … I… I would… I would just let go… Life isn't always good, there are many cruel things… Separated from one's love like you, watching people die because you can't do much… You can just live on…

If we didn't do that, or forget about our pain, what would be the difference between us and wild animals? We are called monsters, we are called humans, but we aren't called animals because we have complicated emotions.

If you would die together with your loved ones, it just means that you are too weak to not being able to live without someone important, if you would have transformed him into a monster, that just confirms it even more.

But if you let him go, it shows that you are strong, making him proud of you even when he is away from this world… This is what defines us from mere animals, we are able to feel happiness, sadness, pain, joy…

Sara, Tamamo, and the Sphinx listened to his words, and the Sphinx sighed.

Sphinx: For one who loves a monster, the true trial is ahead. That is all I wished to say.

Sara: ...I understand. I will never forget your pain. When I'm bound together with Granberia, what will I do… When the time comes, I won't forget this.

The Sphinx smiled, and said.

Sphinx: You two have pa.s.sed the trial. Now, I shall present you with the proof of your accomplishment!

It seems that the Sphinx didn't included Tamamo, probably the latter would not care about it.

Suddenly, a small emblem of a dragon floated over the back of Sara's hand for a few seconds before making a mark on her skin.

Sphinx: And here is the yellow orb, the one you came here for.

The Sphinx was holding out a beautiful translucent yellow gem, the one Marco came here for, which he took and nodded to the Sphinx, before putting it back in his backpack.

Sphinx: ...I said I have lived in solitude and regret for years. But now I see it was not in vain. After a thousand years, I can once again see the flame that burned bright in his eyes… In you, Sara.

Sara: Eh… In me?

Sphinx: ...Now farewell, humans. Like him, continue to live a n.o.ble life.

Leaving that final message, the Sphinx vanished.

Sara: ...Even after a thousand years, she still loves him. That's amazing…

Tamamo: Well, that is true love…

Marco: Whatever, we finished this… Now we will leave to Sabasa, that father of yours owns me coins.

Sara: ...Alright…?

Tamamo shrugged and she and Sara followed Marco outside the pyramid, to find out that it was evening.

*Ding*

*Venom cured*

*Status: Healthy*

*Ding*

*Special Quest[Successful]: Rescue the Princess Sara*

Marco: 'Finally…'

[SPECIAL QUESTS]

1st. Kick Gabriel's a.s.s

2nd. Achieve coexistence between Monsters and Humans

3rd. Kill Illias

4th. Return to Lucifina's grave

5th. Visit every places in Illias Continent, Sentora and h.e.l.lgondo

6th. Slap Lazarus' face

7th. Find and make a contract with Gnome