**************************
Linus was currently in an inn in Duskshire, Umbrathal. He has came here to meet the duke Rudolf, to confront him, and the reason he was confronting him is because, duke had helped him in his previous life. Otherwise Linus would definitely had killed him. He was already feeling down, thinking about his life, where is his life going.
Linus though has lived for 83 years still didn’t know how to perceive this situation. He had always wanted his parents to stay close and love him but, he never had mother from the moment he was born and a father who hated him because his ego is too big, He just couldn’t comprehend the joke his life has become, he don’t know if he should laugh or cry..
“Hey link, what should I do. Any idea like you always had.” “……” “nothing? Heh, so even a know-it-all sage got stumbled when it came to emotions, I really miss the time, when I only had to move forward and either kill or get killed”
“master should rest early, do whatever your heart says master, your loyal subordinate will follow you through life and death. For me you are my father and a friend, to you I might be a subordinate or even a bug who can talk. However that doesn’t change anything, to me you will, always take priority, this might be the first time we talked so much in both lives. You should follow what your heart says, you have us to correct your mistake. We will make sure your dreams became true”
Linus’s heart melted hearing link’s sweet words, this might be first time Linus has heard link show this much emotion, although he don’t accept it but he has always been a optimistic person, always looking forward in his darkest time, and when link entered his life, he started to become a better person. More than he was before, but this changes Linus didn’t notice. They were still visible to his subjects. That’s the reason of his subjects loyalty, as loyalty isn’t forced it is created.
Linus said after taking a breath. “Hmm, yeah I had always thought of you as my friend though, its just you are too dense, and knowing this things really doesn’t matter, we had to take our interest with them anyway” “true, you know from where I come, people were afraid of me, because they couldn’t handle my soul and I had gained self consciousness. Though most people were normal commoners who can’t do any magic, their life intrigued me, but they were afraid of me, for my potential and the things I represented. So They immediately terminated the program from which I was born and my soul dispersed and when I entered this world my soul got further torn down by the barrier when I entered this world unknowingly. ”
Linus glanced upward and took a long look at sky full of stars. Than suddenly an idea hit him “hey link do you want a body.?” “huh where did that come from, No. why would I do the hard-work, isn’t the work I am doing already enough.”
Linus had an imperceptible smile on his face, “link do you think our story will have a happy ending.” “Obviously, if not us than who” link chuckled at the same time with Linus, both looking forward to their future, which though seemed bleak, they hold the power to change the inevitable destiny.
Linus came in his inn room and went, to bed, to sleep, and to escape from reality.
*******************************
Sard was looking outside the hallway as he was walking toward meeting room, it was late at night and the case of Linus''s disappearance has blown up, A meeting was taking place regarding the mysterious man, tomorrow a deacon will arrive from the capital, for further investigation. To determine who to make a scapegoat to appease the pope. Sard couldn’t help but rub his temple, why did that noel have to curse at pope, now they have to navigate amidst two strong factions.
Sard walked into the meeting room, and casually sat on his seat, while everyone was spitting saliva on each other , bishop Alan Boyd, pointed his fingers on sard and said loudly “you were the last person who saw that boy, may I know why you visited him, and what you talked about”
Everyone turned silent and looked toward sard, sard’s eyes narrowed, at first he was just here to see the dogs bite each other, but this bishop from Samuel''s faction targeted him for no reason,
Sard just stared at Alan, whose face was turning red from the embarrassment, Sard stood up and smiled. Sard said while sweeping his eyes on everyone. While everyone was trying to escape his gaze and definitely cursing at Alan for releasing this beast.
Sard smiled and started speaking “yes I visited that boy, to try to understand why the king targeted this boy, and you will not be surprised, but according to this boy, he has nothing to do much with it, neither his father, but when I asked why are than king and his accomplice moving against him—” “get to the point bishop sard” said Alan with a glint flashing through his eyes clearly not aware of how much in water his head has gone.
Sard just stared at Alan for a good 10 second then smiled and continued but this time dropping a bomb “He told me his father has something that the Nereidian dukes wanted, and only his father can provide it” hearing sard everybody turned to look at Alan, whose face has turned livid,
“lies, what proof do you have, or are you saying your word are proof” Alan desperately tried to cut sard from saying but was unsuccessful as Sard has already dropped the bomb “I swear it by my faith” said sard as he bit his thumb and sprinkled blood in air. Than the blood sparked into a golden flash and returned to him once again.
Seeing sard’s action, everyone was surprised as everyone though sard is just planning to take it on for Alan''s aggression. But sard just took oath using his faith, if he had lied, his body would have burst apart at best or he would have lost his power at worst.
Even Alan looked surprised by sard’s action, sard looked at Alan whose gears were churning to think of something fast. But sard wouldn’t give him time.
“So just as I said, that boy said Nereidian dukes are pursuing him, the king is moving against him, which is natural as his father was old king’s close confidant, but why is our church moving against him and going as far as exiling a sick boy into ancient ruins. It almost felt like there was some personal motive even after that mysterious man profaned our god and god’s spokesperson, the pope.” Said sard as he looked at Alan while smiling.
Everyone visibly gasped, and looked at Alan sympathetically, like saying ,why did you provoked him. Alan’s face has gone livid a long time ago. He wouldn’t have provoked the devil, but this was ordered by deacon Samuel.
sard had guessed that deacon wanted an scapegoat and who will be better than the person who met the boy before disappearing, sard also wouldn’t. Act against the church from his previous conduct. He became the perfect scapegoat, this was the reason why everyone acted like they did.
“I will take my leave” than sard stood up and left from the room as he had to give everyone time to let them spread the news “the devil has acted against the deacon and Nereidia.”
Sard arrived in his private room, and ordered nano to send the content of meeting to Linus.
[cannot proceed, not enough authorization, sending it to master noel, succeeded]. So that mysterious man was noel. And I don’t have enough authorization to contact an angel?? Thought sard to himself.
I can sleep well tonight, Wade, son I will avenge you or die trying to avenge you.
*********Rudolf*********
Linus woke up as he saw an unfamiliar ceiling, while the sun rays were peeking from the window, Linus stood up took a bath and got ready, to meet duke Rudolf, he has asked link to make the appointment of today’s noon, by sending a bug body. Link has spent a hour at night while making a carriage and training a steward for him, though Linus don’t care about this things, but since link was enjoying it he didn’t say anything.
Linus created a organic body, which he attached the nanobots to control this body, this were the abilities of peak tier 3 pope, which the world hasn’t seen in a while. Because the angels bring them to their respective holy kingdom, and start to hunt the ones remaining in mortal world, this was because angels consider them future opponents, Although the gods can’t enter the world barrier so they make a loyal angel in mortal world. Linus turned translucent and started using the boy he created [Link register this body as Zach Doyle. A Peak Tier 2 Deacon]Stolen story; please report.
Linus walked outside the inn, the sunlight gently prickling on his skin, this was due to him installing so many nanobots in it. While he walked toward the carriage, coming for him, the carriage stopped in from of him, and Linus stepped inside, as the steward opened the door for him, this steward was also a bug, who has done masters in management, the carriage started to move toward the castle. Though Linus could see him a little exited but the steward was controlling it well. Well who can control themselves when their god is standing in front of him.
The carriage started to move amidst people, dressed in dark robes and dresses screaming their status as a dark mage, most of them still in junior rank, still in rank 1, enough to live 100 years, without any diseases for all their life, and if they didn’t broke through to rank 5 their life span will not increase. Though this many rank 1 were still unnatural in human countries, as their potential has diluted from generation to generation, that is the reason of intermarriage in Umbrathal royalty— Malcolm’s marry their own blood sister or brother, which the humans most frowned on. But was very common in the consortium’s ancient family and primal races of Emberlyn, the biggest counties on the continent, and the home of consortium faction, they live in their own bubble, the size of Emberlyn is half the size of continent, the dwarves controlled the economy, by creating Luxor and ————
Linus came out from his thoughts as, soon the carriage arrived in front of the duke’s mansion, even the gate was made of black iron, the mansion had a natural gloomy aura, “completely reasonable aura” chirped link as though complementing the mansion. But Linus knew he is just trying to compare it to his palace, he created in inception, though Linus can’t help but feel awe whenever he saw his own castle, according to link, this was his favorite church from his homeland. It was called as collagen cathedral.
The carriage stopped at the gate, Linus walked down from the carriage, Linus walked like a noble with his chest sticked out while using his cane on the other hand, Linus looked around and saw a kid of age 7 run past him, Linus turned around and took a glance at the kid than just went ahead and entered the mansion escorted by his steward, and a maid from mansion. Though he has sprinkled nanobots for the kid as that boy was prince of Umbrathal kingdom. Linus followed them and entered the main hall, not many outside people were present, only some maids and a skeleton, completely normal place,
A steward came from duke’s study and invited him into duke’s study. Linus followed behind him. And entered the room, he saw duke Erick Rudolf, a man in his 60’s, with a M shaped receding hairline, sitting on his table while writing, he looked up and stood up to greet Linus, “nice to see to you mister Zach Doyle, please have a seat” “it’s my honor my lord” said Linus clearly disgusted by the noble''s way of talking, which he had never liked from the moment he was born. Linus took a seat and sat on the seat
“So, for what agenda have you visited me Mr. Zach. And I hope it’s something worthwhile.” Said Erick as he continued writing, clearly he was not very interested but only treated him politely for the sake of being polite. And wouldn’t hesitate to act against him
“Certainly, I am here to inquire about your involvement in dark Saintess.” Said Linus as calmly as he can.
Erick looked up in Linus''s eyes and asked with rage palpable from his eyes “who sent you, and how do you know about this.”
Linus stood up and bowed to introduce himself, “I am Zach Doyle. From Psion. I am here on behalf of Linus, son of miss eve, regarding your involvement in dark Saintess’s matter” Linus released his aura momentarily, the room has become a mess, all the paper shredded to bits of pieces, curtains waving in air, due to the compressed essence caused by his aura.
Just as Linus took his aura back, a man with, casual robes and flowery pattern appeared beside Erick, shielding Erick like a chicken shielding his rooster, in Linus''s eyes he as a peak tier 2 was really no different than a chicken.
Linus looked at him and sat down, on the chair, “I have introduced myself, it’s your turn to answer my questions.” Said Linus while having a smile.
“I am Ethan Rudolf, the retired patriarch of Rudolf family, may I know what young mister has wanted to know about.”
Linus didn’t said anything , just chuckled and saw Erick whose face has gone pale from hearing his father’s polite word, as Ethan wasn’t someone famous for being polite. This just means this man was dangerous.
Erick hurriedly repeated Linus''s words while taking deep breaths to calm down, which seemed to work as his sentence came to an end.
“What is Linus to you, that will determine, my answers” said Ethan with creased eyebrows. He summoned a chair and sat on it, while looking at Linus, to determine if he’s telling truth.
“Linus has joined our organization, I can’t say more as it is his privacy. That boy is a talent, that’s why I am doing this, now I don’t have much patience. So free me fast or …” said Linus while curling the corner of his lips. [master is so narcissist, hehe,] said link, while most probably recording him, and uploading it to nano-AI. He has done that before.
“I see, ask away all your questions, if this helps my grandson ” Ethan said while sighing.
“So why did your dark alliance tried to kill Lucas, and eve. And later Linus”
“What nonsense are you spouting, I am being polite but that doesn’t mean, you can say anything.” Ethan banged his hand on the study table, turning it to dust. As he stood up, ready to throw hands
[link contact Lucas and create a virtual two way communication]
“So you are saying, you pursued Lucas and Eve to celebrate their baby shower ?” heh Linus chuckled, while mocking them.
Just as Ethan was about to flew in rage, he saw a transparent yet familiar figure forming behind Zach.
**********************
Lucas was still sleeping in the same inn when nano woke him up, saying some master Zach was summoning him for a meeting.
He quickly stood up and opened the AI panel. While ordering, nano to freshen him up, clearly he has read the user manual.
He opened the virtual meeting and used his previous avatar, his old burly one, as he can’t risk with his current identity.
he saw a unknown room, and two very familiar, men sitting in front of him,
***************************
“So what do you have to say Lucas, did they pursued you and your wife to celebrate baby-shower”. Said Linus while turning around and looked at Lucas playfully. Who was still trying to comprehend the situation.
Lucas took a second to process his situation and burst into laugh and looked at Zach “yes my lord, they even sent a tier 1 dark priest to invite us.”
Ethan, turned around and looked at Erick who was also looking at him in disbelief.
“Did you sent the priest.” Asked Ethan to Erick whose face has turned solemn
“No, and I also ordered the alliance to no longer pursue them, as this was our family matter” said Ethan as he turned to look at Linus.
“There might be some, misunderstanding, we never sent anyone above rank 4 master, that too to only show that we are pursuing them. In truth we never wanted to make eve the Saintess, but were forced by the alliance.” Said Ethan white rubbing the bridge of his bushy eyebrows
“You were the alliance master at that time, and you are telling me you didn’t sent anyone to pursue me, or why not just say, that tier 1 priest was from a different faction, trying to smear your name.” Said Lucas while pointing his finger to Ethan, while having a contradiction in his own word.
Linus looked at Lucas, he felt what Lucas said is a possibility as well but why is he so sure that Rudolf family was pursuing him, it almost feels like he saw Ethan order it.
[link check Lucas''s body and see for any abnormality.]
Ethan stood up and roared at Lucas “I might be a dark magus, but I value my family more than any of you orthodox church dogs.”
“You were the one, who pursued us till we didn’t reached the Aurelia kingdom.”
“You idiot if I want to pursue a rank 4 master, do you really think you can escape”
[master there is a curse in his source magic, but it has been diluted to a very high degree, it must have been placed on him, when he was still in a junior mage rank, and when he broke-through to senior tier, it flowed in his whole body while being diluted constantly. The curse’s only function is to amplify feelings when the curse was planted, without doubting anyone.]
“Interesting, Lucas calm down, and mister Ethan, I apologize for my impoliteness, please seat, I also think there is another power at play here, let me say it first.” Linus quickly tried to calm both of them down, Lucas stopped what he was about to say, Ethan sat on his seat while mumbling something.
“Lucas, how did you knew about the tier 1 dark priest, how did you escaped and know if he’s from the Rudolf family and not from the alliance, or even from alliance’s raised dogs ?, Lucas you are always so cautious and think very carefully, yet, don’t you think your action are opposite from your usually calm demeanor.“
Linus looked at Lucas whose face became twisted with rage once again, but Linus snapped his finger and he returned to normal state. Lucas’s face turned pale, he had guessed it, the problem was with him.
“There is a curse placed in your source Lucas. Its only function is to amplify your feelings when the curse was planted, it will digress your mind whenever you think with calm mind about this matter. And since it was placed when you were still in junior rank, it has dispersed and diluted to your whole body.”
Lucas looked pale and nodded absent mindlessly.
Linus looked at Ethan and said “looks like, someone is targeting you from a long time. So who is it. Is it the light faction or the dark alliance. Since you are not powerful enough to make consortium move against you.”
Ethan’s face twitched, as he said “It is the royal family of Umbrathal—Malcolm. They are trying to reduce our authority in the alliance. However they didn’t expected, we will last for this long.”
Linus heard Ethan, and fell in thought, according to his previous life’s memory, what Ethan said sounds plausible. Linus stood up and said to Ethan “I will return after some investigation, I will also inform Linus about this meeting.”
[close virtual communication. And sent the MSG, I will come see him tomorrow]
Lucas’s transparent body disappeared from the room
Linus turned to take his leave, but suddenly Erick spoke up “may I know if lord Zach want to form an alliance with our Rudolf family.”
Linus looked at Erick who was sweating buckets, “I will think about it, and if you have nothing to do with these matter, than we will consider It, whatever happened but, you are still Linus''s family.”
[Master, who is this Linus person, you seem to really like him,] link giggled, while making fun of Linus.
Ethan looked at Linus and said “it’s already time for lunch, may we have honor to serve my lord.”
Linus nodded and gestured Ethan to walk forward, showing courtesy after slapping their face.