READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 17: Ch 17
Arthur's small heart pounded in his chest as the bird fluttered around the storage house, unaware of the trouble it was causing. He had to move fast, or everything would be ruined. His eyes scanned the room one last time, hoping for a miracle.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some mud pots hanging from the ceiling.
Although Arthur had searched the entire storehouse, he had never looked up, assuming everything was in front of him.
Who would have thought that there were still a few things he had ignored?
"TELEK...EK.NESSISS"
"shit, this baby language"
Arthur hurriedly used his telekinesis to reach the top of the ceiling. He took the pot in his hand and tossed the hay aside.
The pot was sealed, but the faintest whiff of something sweet lingered in the air around it.
*Could it be…?*
With trembling hands, Arthur opened the pot. His eyes widened. There it was—the golden, glossy sheen of butter. The fabled "nectar of life" his brother had described!
Arthur's mouth watered as he stared at the glorious find. He carefully scooped up as much as his small hands could hold and placed it into his inventory. His system beeped:
---
**You've added 1 kg of Butter to your inventory.**
**You've added 2 kg of Butter to your inventory.**
---
Arthur grinned. This was it! He had completed the mission his brother entrusted him with.
But before he could feel any sense of relief, the door to the storage house rattled. Someone was coming!
Panic surged through Arthur's small body. He glanced around for an escape route. The window he had used to enter was too far now, and he wouldn't make it in time.
*Think, think!*
The door creaked open, and in walked one of the guards—Uncle Jerry. His heavy boots echoed against the wooden floor. "What was that sound earlier? Could've sworn I heard something in here," Jerry muttered to himself as he scanned the room. Arthur's heart raced. His body froze behind a stack of crates.
*Stay calm, Arthur. You can do this.*
Arthur, staying low, quietly shifted his position, ducking behind another crate just as Uncle Jerry rounded the corner. The guard was getting closer, his steps methodical and slow.
Just when it seemed like Jerry would spot him, the bird that had flown in earlier darted across the room, flapping wildly. Uncle Jerry jumped back, startled.
"Huh! Just a bird," he muttered, waving his hand dismissively as the bird flew out the window. Satisfied, he turned around and left the storage house, locking the door behind him.
Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. *That was too close.*
He hurried back to the window, his tiny body barely squeezing through the gap. As soon as he was outside, Arthur broke into a sprint, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced to the tall grass where his brother was waiting.
---
Outside, Alexander had been pacing nervously. He knew he'd pushed his luck with the guards, but he couldn't abandon Arthur now.
When he saw his little brother emerge from the grass, his face lit up. "You made it!"
Arthur ran up to him, breathless but triumphant. He held up his hand and whispered, "I goch if..."
ah again… this baby language, Arthur thought, still unable to speak properly.
Alexander's eyes widened in disbelief. "You… you really got the butter?!" He could barely contain his excitement. "Let me see!"
Arthur opened his hand, revealing the small pot inside. He had taken out the butter pot from the inventory after leaving the storage house, and there it was—golden and shimmering in the virtual display.
"I knew you could do it!" Alexander exclaimed, pulling Arthur into a tight hug. "You're the best little brother ever."
Arthur, beaming with pride, hugged his brother back. For a moment, it seemed like everything was perfect.
But then, from behind them, they heard a voice.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Both boys froze. Slowly, they turned around to see none other than Vasu—Alexander and Arthur's father—standing there, arms crossed and a stern expression on his face.
"Care to explain what you two are doing sneaking around the storage house?" Vasu's voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his tone.
Alexander gulped. "F-Father, we were just… um…"
Vasu sighed. "I don't need to hear it, Alexander. You've been warned about this before. And Arthur, sigh..."
Arthur's heart sank. He didn't want to disappoint his father, but the butter… he just wanted to help.
Vasu's expression softened as he knelt down to look them both in the eye. "I know you boys are curious, but some things are not for you to take. You could've just asked."
Alexander hung his head. "I'm sorry, Father."
Arthur looked down too, feeling ashamed. He had wanted to impress his brother, but now it felt like he had let everyone down.
Vasu chuckled softly. "You're lucky you didn't get caught by anyone else. And lucky for you, I know a little secret."
The boys looked up at him, confused.
Vasu smiled. "The butter in the storage house? It's for the festival tomorrow. If you boys had taken it, we wouldn't have had enough for the celebration. But since you're so determined to get your hands on it, how about this—you can help me prepare it for the feast."
Arthur's face lit up. "Really?"
Vasu nodded. "Really. But first, you'll help me clean up after this little adventure of yours. Deal?"
Both boys nodded eagerly, grateful for the chance to make things right.
As they walked back toward the farm, Vasu ruffled Arthur's hair and smiled. "You'll taste the butter soon enough, son. But remember, patience is a virtue."
Arthur glanced at his brother, who winked at him. The adventure may not have gone exactly as planned, but in the end, it was a lesson neither of them would forget.
---
Meanwhile, far away in a dark and ominous realm, the man on the skeletal throne sat brooding, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
The woman who had earlier emerged from the river of blood reappeared in front of him, kneeling.
"Lord, I have located the new avatar," she said, her voice trembling. "Shall I proceed?"
The man remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a voice that echoed like the tolling of a funeral bell.
"Bring him to me… alive."
The woman bowed and disappeared once again into the pool of blood.
The man leaned back on his throne, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Soon," he whispered to himself, "soon, the new avatar will awaken… and the world will tremble."
---
**Thank You for Reading "My Path to Immortality" So Far!**
Dear readers,
Thank you once again for your continued support and feedback. Your comments and insights help shape the story, and I'm so excited to share more of this journey with you. Stay tuned for the next chapter, and let me know your thoughts!
Warm regards,
Diablo2004