My Fate as a Cannon Fodder

Chapter Fourteen: Pride

Serenity's situation right now really reminded her of the classic riddle presented to Oedipus Rex by the Sphinx in Greek Mythology. Just like in Oedipus Rex, if she were to answer the riddle incorrectly, her punishment would be either contracting a disease or poison. But compared to being eaten by the Sphinx like the one in Oedipus Rex, her punishment seems rather decent.

If only the riddle presented to her was the 'four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and three in the evening,' she would've easily known the answer.

"What's your answer child?"

Truth be told, Serenity's intelligence isn't something to laugh at. Having graduated from one of the top medical schools in her country, it's safe to say that although she's more well-verse when it comes to science and medicine, she already have thought of several answers to the riddle.

The only problem is, all of the answers she thought of seems to fit the bill! And now without the system's help, she could only choose one among her variety of answers.

Seconds turned into minutes, and without even Serenity realizing it, thirty minutes have already passed by!

"Child, we don't have all day." The black jaguar growled, its tail swishing up and down lazily.

"The scroll is impatiently waiting for an answer."

Serenity pursed her lips and immediately shouted the first word that pops in her head, "Pride!"

With closed eyes and clenched fists, Serenity nervously waited for the beast's reaction. She only acted on impulse and shouted her answer.

At that moment, she vividly remembered someone telling her that whatever the first thing that pops into her mind after being asked a question, there's a large chance that that is actually the answer. Testing her horrible luck, she patiently waited and waited, only to hear the beast's amused growl.

"You really are a Lockett. Congratulations! You have answered the riddle correctly."

And as if on cue, the scroll glowed very brightly that its light even engulfed the whole room. In the middle of the scroll, a round thing about the size of a palm slowly materializes. After it finished materializing, the glow dissipated and the originally opened scroll silently rolled itself up.

"Here. You've earned it, the Lockett family's token."

Serenity approached the table that contained the scroll and studied the token situated in the middle. The token is made out off the blackest material Serenity has ever seen. It's so black that even when she held it up towards the illuminated pearl, the light didn't even reflected on the thing.

On the middle is the picture of a side profile of a jaguar. A large pen and a sword that forms an X mark overlaps it. And on the other side of the token, instead of the same jaguar, a picture of a beautifully bloomed red spider lily with a reddish tint covered it. The word Lockett proudly displayed in the middle.

"Keep the token safely child."

"What type of benefits will I get for having this token?" Serenity asked while still admiring the detailed designs of the token.

The beast only snorted, "Don't underestimate the value of this token. You could use it to instantly become the Royal Tutor. You instantly get bragging rights for having solved the Lockett family's magical scroll..."

Serenity frowned, "Only that?" Becoming the Royal Tutor is her purpose as to why she originally came here to solve the riddle. But bragging rights? What's that? Can it even be eaten? She doesn't have any use of that.

"Let me finish speaking first child!
Now that you have the token, it automatically grants you the authority over the Lockett family's secret army, half of the family's business and half of the family's prized treasures. You can even use it to summon me in times of trouble. Me! A magical beast!"

Serenity's eyes widen, now realizing the power of the token. Basically, having the token means that you practically control the entire Lockett family and all its posession. No wonder it has been vied for by a lot of people. No wonder the riddle is extremely hard. If it fall into the wrong hands, the Lockett family is doomed.

"Now you know how important the token is child. You can only blame your ancestor, my master, Triton Lockett for having thought of this nonsense!"

"Have the token ever fallen into the wrong hands?" Serenity asked the question that kept bothering her to no end.

"Luckily, it has not these past few years. The token would either end up in the hands of a Lockett descendant or a good samaritan. Actually, those who wish to answer the riddle have dwindled over these past few years! It's a good thing that a Lockett have the token this time."

Serenity sighed feeling a heavy burden has just been placed on her shoulders. Carefully keeping the token in one of her pockets, she then turned to look at the scroll. The scroll is just like any other normal scroll if it weren't for it shining now and then and floating over the table.

Serenity touched the scroll lightly, trying to learn more about this magical artifact when it suddenly started glowing. The black jaguar that is about to doze off to sleep suddenly became alert and Serenity, the perpetrator of it all, slowly backed away.

"What's happening?" Serenity asked while looking back and forth between the scroll and the black jaguar.

"Relax. It's only giving you a warning."

A warning for what? For touching it? Is this a threat?! It's obviously a threat!

Damn it, where's the system when you need it!

While Serenity was internally panicking, she watched as the scroll continued to glow very brightly. The whole ordeal took around a minute before several words floated above a scroll, forming a sentence.

'Dont be too proud to ask for help when you have problems'

"..." What's the meaning of this? What warning?! It's obviously an advice! This jaguar lied to me!

Serenity stared pointedly at the supposed spirit beast. The beast only snorted, "It seems I have miscalculated."

Miscalculated my foot! I almost had a heart attack right then and there.

"Don't give me that look. I was actually surprised that the scroll would give you advice. It usually only gives out warning. It's the first time that I have seen it act like this."

"So what do I do with this piece of advice?" Serenity grumbled, pushing the matter earlier to the back of her head.

"Obviously you follow it! Ancient magical artifacts are very mysterious and eccentric. For it to act like this means something will happen in the future concerning you."

"Now that I think about it, this advice seems to be most suitable for you."

"Why is that?"

"Didn't what happened yesterday at the Scholar's Exam is a prime example? You refuse to ask help when your paints were tampered with. Instead of just accepting the position of the Royal Tutor then and there, you've gone the extra mile to even try and answer the riddle. And coincidentally, the answer to the riddle earlier is Pride."

"The scroll has given you both an advice and a warning actually."