MMORPG: REBORN MARK ADVENTURE IN ONLINE GAME

A Faint Echo of Power

Raven left the auction house, stepping into the cool evening air of Viles Town. The sky had turned a deep shade of indigo, and the streets were still bustling with players preparing for dungeon runs, crafting gear, and trading.

But Raven's focus remained on the Ancient Page he had just purchased.

Some random warrior had laughed at him, convinced he had wasted his money on trash.

Yet, as Raven pulled the parchment from his inventory and examined it under the dim streetlights—he felt it again.

That faint, tingling energy.

A presence, subtle yet undeniable, lingering within the faded ink.

"This isn't ordinary."

He narrowed his eyes, flipping the parchment over, checking for hidden inscriptions, embedded runes, anything that might reveal its true nature.

Nothing.

But that didn't mean nothing was there.

---

Testing the Page: A Subtle Reaction

Raven moved toward a quieter alley near the Alchemy Center, away from the crowds.

Taking a deep breath, he focused, channeling a tiny fraction of his mana into the parchment.

The moment he did—

A flicker.

Barely visible, almost imperceptible—but Raven caught it.

For a brief second, the faded ink on the parchment glowed faintly, pulsing with a weak golden light.

Then it vanished, as if nothing had happened.

Raven's grip tightened.

"So it does react to mana."

That meant this page wasn't just some useless junk item.

It had a purpose.

And now, he just had to figure out what.

---

The First Lead: A Hidden Connection?

Raven thought back to everything he knew about Mortal Online.

In older MMOs, "Ancient Pages" usually belonged to lost tomes, hidden spellbooks, or forgotten crafting manuals.

But this game wasn't that simple.

The fact that this page reacted to mana meant it could be tied to:

1. An ancient spell or lost magic technique

2. A hidden quest or secret lore piece

3. An advanced alchemy formula

Considering he was already on the path of an alchemist, that last option seemed the most likely.

"If this is part of an ancient alchemy text… I might be holding something priceless."

The only problem?

He had no idea what it said.

---

Seeking Answers: The Alchemy Academy

There was only one place in Viles Town that might hold answers—

The Alchemy Academy.

If this page belonged to a forgotten alchemical tome, then someone there might recognize it.

With that decision made, Raven slipped the parchment back into his inventory and turned on his heels, making his way toward the academy.

As he walked, he couldn't help but smirk.

The idiot who mocked him at the auction house?

Soon enough, he'd regret it.

Now, back at the Alchemy Academy, Raven spotted Varian near the entrance. The instructor raised an eyebrow as Raven approached.

"You're here already?" Varian asked.

"I'll go soon," Raven replied, referring to POISON CAVE

Varian studied him carefully. "You sound confident. Do you have posion resistance

Raven didn't answer directly. Instead, he reached into his inventory and pulled out something unexpected—

A tattered, yellowed parchment.

The Ancient Page.

Varian's gaze sharpened the moment he saw it.

"What is that?"

A Mysterious Page—Varian's Reaction

Raven held up the Ancient Page, letting the dim alchemy lanterns illuminate its worn edges and faded ink.

Varian's eyes narrowed immediately. His usual stoic expression flickered with something else—recognition? Curiosity?

"Where did you get that?" the alchemist asked, his tone sharper than before.

Raven noted the change in demeanor.

"So, he does recognize it."

"Bought it at the auction house," Raven replied casually. "The guy selling it thought it was junk."

Varian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached out.

"May I?"

Raven hesitated for a split second before handing it over.

Varian took the Ancient Page carefully, as if it were something fragile—something dangerous. His eyes scanned the surface, his fingers lightly tracing over the faded symbols.

The older alchemist's frown deepened.

"This script…" he muttered under his breath.

Then, before Raven could question him—

A faint glow pulsed from the page.

It was subtle—barely visible—but Raven didn't miss it.

Neither did Varian.

For the first time since Raven had met him, the man looked genuinely surprised.

---

A Hidden Connection?

Varian took a step back, still holding the parchment, his expression unreadable.

"This… shouldn't be here," he finally said.

Raven crossed his arms. "So it's not worthless."

Varian let out a low breath, his grip tightening on the page.

"Worthless? No. But it's not something just anyone should be holding." He looked at Raven seriously. "Tell me—why did you buy this?"

Raven shrugged. "It reacted when I used mana on it."

Varian's eyes flickered with something close to concern.

"You tried channeling mana into an unidentified relic?"

Raven smirked. "I like taking risks."

Varian sighed, rubbing his temples. "You reckless idiot…"

Then, after a moment, he handed the page back.

"I don't know the full details," Varian admitted, "but I can tell you this—this isn't an ordinary alchemy note."

Raven tucked the parchment away, his interest piqued. "Then what is it?"

Varian hesitated.

Then, in a quieter tone, he said—

"It might be a fragment of an old Grandmaster's research."

Raven's fingers tightened around the Ancient Page as Varian's words sank in.

A Grandmaster's research?

Alchemy Grandmasters weren't just ordinary potion makers. They were legends, their discoveries shaping entire eras of alchemy. The mere thought that he held a fragment of such research sent a thrill through Raven's mind.

His gaze flickered to Varian, who was still watching him carefully.

"This is the first time I've heard of Grandmaster research showing up in an auction house," Raven said, his tone casual—but his mind was already racing.

Varian let out a slow breath. "Because it shouldn't." He folded his arms. "Pages like this are either locked away in ancient ruins or kept by secretive alchemy sects."

Raven frowned slightly.

"Then how did it end up in the hands of some random player?"

Varian's expression darkened. "That's the question, isn't it?"

Raven could tell there was more Varian wasn't saying. The instructor clearly recognized something about the page, but whether he was hiding information or simply uncertain was unclear.

But Raven wasn't about to push—not yet.

Instead, he unfolded the parchment again, staring at the faint remnants of ink.

"Can you read it?" Raven asked.

Varian exhaled. "Some of it."

His eyes traced over the faded words, his brow furrowing as he mentally translated the ancient script.

"...It speaks of refinement," Varian murmured, his voice taking on a thoughtful edge. "An alchemical process that purifies a substance beyond ordinary limits."

Raven's interest sharpened.

Purification? That could mean anything.

Stronger healing potions, more potent poisons, advanced transmutations—the possibilities were endless.

"What kind of substance?" Raven pressed.

Varian shook his head. "That part is missing. This is just a fragment—the process is incomplete."

Raven glanced at the page again. The faint glow from earlier had disappeared, leaving only its worn, mysterious markings.

So I need the rest of it…

He looked back at Varian.

"Where would I even start looking for the other pieces?"

Varian was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"There are three possibilities."

---

Three Paths to the Truth

Varian held up three fingers.

"First—" He lowered one finger. "Check the auction house again. If one page appeared there, it's possible another might surface. Keep an eye on it."

Raven nodded.

"Second—" Another finger lowered. "Search ancient ruins or lost alchemy labs. If this is truly from a Grandmaster's research, the rest might be hidden in places where alchemists once practiced."

That was a far more difficult lead to chase. Ruins meant dungeons, and dungeons meant danger. But Raven wasn't the type to shy away from a challenge.

"And the third?"

Varian's expression grew serious.

"Seek out independent alchemists and rogue scholars."

Raven frowned slightly. "You think someone else might have the rest?"

Varian nodded. "It's possible. There are alchemists who operate outside the Academy's influence—recluses, hermits, even exiled researchers. Some of them might have come across fragments of this research."

Raven processed the information.

Three different paths—

The auction house (Quickest, but unreliable)

Ancient ruins (Dangerous, but most rewarding)

Independent alchemists (Difficult to track down)

And then there was one more question.

"Do you think the Alchemy Academy has any records of this research?" Raven asked.

Varian's gaze hardened.

"If they did, they wouldn't tell you."

That response told Raven everything he needed to know.

The Academy wasn't just a place of learning—it had its own secrets, its own agenda.

And if this Ancient Page was connected to something powerful, they wouldn't just hand over answers.

Which meant…

Raven would have to find them himself.

Before Raven could leave, Varian raised a hand, stopping him.

"There's no need to rush," the alchemist said, his tone steady. "I'll study this page for a day. Once I'm done, I'll tell you whatever I learn."

Raven's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're keeping it?"

Varian sighed. "You don't even know how to read it. Give me time—I'll decipher what I can."

Raven hesitated for a moment. He wasn't the trusting type, but Varian had no reason to lie. Besides, he needed answers.

"Fine," Raven said, handing the Ancient Page back.

Varian nodded, carefully rolling it up. "Come see me after you finish the task I assigned you. I expect results."

Raven smirked. "Then I guess I'll be back soon."

Without another word, he turned and left the Alchemy Academy.