Rin looked at her bulging belly. She was very excited but Bokie was more excited than her. Looking at the King's shocked expression made Rin burst into laughter. They were done eating and decided to tour the palace a bit but got stopped by Silver. Touring the palace means avoiding Silver and that request. Rin was not ready to face Silver. She didn't know what answer she should give him.
"Where do you think you are running of to?" , Silver asked appearing from nowhere. Rin knew that what was coming was inevitable so she decided to go with the flow. "I want to see the rest of the palace, which includes the kitchen" , Rin answered. Bokie nodded in agreement .Rin just liked it when Bokie always agreed with her. "You are trying to avoid me" , Silver began. Rin avoided eye contact while fidgeting with her clothes.
"Follow me" , Silver said in a soft voice. Rin never understood why Silver is always calm and elegant. Everything about him his elegant ,even his style of walking. Rin sighed at the thought of this. The trio got to an entrance opened to a narrow staircase that seemed to descend forever, leading to a hidden room buried deep underground. "Err Silver, are we really climbing that thing , I mean the stairs" , Rin questioned , scratching her cheek . Silver dipped his head in agreement. Rin and Bokie stared at each other's faces and gave a long sigh. 'Rin, whatever you have done to Silver , make sure to apologize. It is because of you that is why we are receiving eternal suffering' ,Bokie said to Rin telepathically. 'Eternal suffering' , Rin scoffed at the mention of the words. Rin knew that their mind their mind were linked , allowing them to speak without moving their lips. Rin never understood why , but she just brushed the thought off her mind.
After what seemed like forever , they reached an enormous gate with intricate runes and curling designs that shimmered whenever light touched them. Rin looked at it in awe. If the gate was magical , then what about the inside. Rin and Bokie watched at Silver placed his hand on the door. The door opened. 'Foolish me , a door with no handle can only be opened this way' , Rin thought. When the room came to view, Rin's mouth just dropped open. The room was a secluded chamber deep within the palace, its air thick with the scent of aged parchment and lingering spiritual energy. It looked like the shelves were carved from ancient spirit wood . The shelve lined the walls , packed tightly with jade slips , scrolls bound in beast hide , and tomes whose pages shimmered faintly with embedded runes.
Soft wisps of qi drifted from some of the texts , as though the knowledge within was still alive and breathing. Weapons rested on ornate stands - swords with sheaths etched in glowing talismanic lines , spears formed from star - iron that emitted a low hum, and sabers whose blades glinted with with trapped lightening. The weapons pulsed lightly, reacting to the presence of living cultivators, as if eager to be wielded once more. Rin knew she was no cultivator so the weapons pulsing must be because of Silver. Scattered across the lacquered tables were artifacts gathered from ancient ruins ; cracked jade pendants with leaked remnants of primordial aura , small cauldrons inscribed with alchemical patterns, crystalline shards floating an inch above their pedestals, revolving slowly as they absorbed ambient qi. A clean mirror inlaid with spirit stones reflected no the room but swirling images of distant mountains and forgotten realms. Rin now understood how Silver was knowledgeable. At the center stood a stone platform, old enough to predate the kingdom itself. Runes crawled across its surface like living serpents , rearranging themselves whenever someone drew near. The entire chamber thrummed with restrained power, as though every object contained secrets capable of shaking the heavens if awakened. Rin knew they could shake the heavens even when not awakened.
"This place is amazing . How did you even come up with something like this?" , Rin gushed. " Don't be stupid. If your father is the king of a prestigious kingdom where everyone in the kingdom is well to do , what can't you do" , Bokie scoffed at Rin's thought. "Silver, it seems every weapon here are created by qi. If I am right, only refiners do that." , Rin queried. Silver gave a small, confirming nod. He knew where the conversation was going and he did not mind. " Refiners no longer exist because it is difficult to comprehend. They are completely extinct , so why do you have weapons forged by refiners? " , Rin was thinking out loud. Silver wanted her to think so he delayed in giving her an answer. Rin's face brightened up into a big smile , " Don't tell me you are the refiner? Or there is a refiner in the palace?" . " I am " , was all Silver said. Silver went to where the weapons were and took one. He unsheathed it , it glowed dimly. He sheathed it back and walked towards Rin. 'Don't tell me he is going to tell me to e his disciple if I accept this' , Rin thought. "Now , you can stop avoiding me and answer that question" , Silver said with a serious tone. " Hehe, which question?" , Bokie face palmed himself as he realized that was the stupidest answer Rin had ever in her life given.
Rin sighed. This was a life changing decision. She already knew the answer so she decided to go with the flow. She remembered her father's words which said that, ' one can not please everybody in the world . The person has to please himself first'. This was what Rin was going to do exactly. Now Rin was dead serious. "I appreciate the kind offer you gave me. Taking us out of the dungeon , feeding us and sheltering us. But I don't think I am the best person for this offer. It seems you have quite the reputation here. What would everyone think when they hear you've taken a wanted thief as a disciple? I'm sorry , I can't" , This was the first time Rin had ever done something like this in her life. She looked deep in Silver's eyes hoping to find regret, sadness or something but she found nothing. He was still calm as ever. This moment was disrupted by Bokie's clapping. He was clapping like a maniac while saying, "Interesting speech , Rin. I have never seen you so sentimental and emotional". Rin side eyed him and replied," I am not getting emotional. I am saying the truth. It is a fact". " I understand but have this" , Silver handed her the sword. Damn it was heavy. 'After all that I said and the only thing Silver gave me was a heavy sword' ,Rin thought.
Note: Currency in the novel
1 star gold = 100 platinum coins
1 platinum coin = 100 gold coins
1 gold coin = 100 silver coins
1 silver coin = 100 bronze coins.