Amidst the raging chaos, war would descend upon the world. Spreading its claws, it would be the judge of peace and violence, good and evil, and of course, life and death. The shadows of this event would extend until the very edges of the world, through the grassy plains, down the tranquil waters, and beyond the vast skies. One would askfor what reasons? Obliteration? Revenge? Surely not. Like all aspects of the universe, this phenomenon, too, was a simple result of give-and-take.*** "I''ll have the sweetest drink here." It took one glance from the average citizen of Nolmes to acknowledge that the young manleaning against the counter with a gentle smilewas not from around here. Was he a scholar from the bordering kingdoms? A foreign noble? The latter seemed to not be the case, since he knew of different vernaculars and conversed freely with citizens. "Where did you come from? Are you a merchant? Adventurer?" One of the customers at the pub scooted beside his seat, eyes flickering with curiosity. "What brings you to Nolmes?" Her words were easily inundated by the liveliness around them. As always, the mercenary streets were bustling with people. Under the sunlight, the young man''s dark hair was even more conspicuous than usual as he turned towards the customer. "I''ve travelled here from Adalan. He smiled. The young man spoke in a way that was eloquent but casual, and his voice was soothing to the ear. It matched the calmness in his eyes, which moved in a way that made it easy for even strangers to open up their thoughts. "Wow. That is far." She eyed him impressively. "I bet you''re looking for Alan''s, then. Everyone in Nolmes... No. More like the whole Zacriya Kingdom knows his store. You''re going to find yourself looking at a lot of good stuff here." The dark-haired man continued to nod in response to the surge of information pouring out of the person''s mouth like a leaking dam. "Here''s your Limberry Two-in-One, our sweetest drink." The waitress slid the cocktail glass towards him, her tiger teeth showing through a grin. Consider it on the house. Glancing at the drink fizzing with a tint of pink, he glanced up through his lashes. "You''re too kind." "Don''t worry about it." His slender fingers hooked onto the cup''s glass stem, pulling it towards him. The man took a small sip, then grimaced. Brows furrowed, he scrutinized the pink liquid. It was quite disappointing for the sweetest drink on the house, but it would suffice. As the man was about to take another sip, he paused. Bzzt. Something buzzed in his ears. The man glanced around his surroundings, dazed for a moment after hearing a sound that no one else seemed to notice. "Is the drink too sweet?" The waitress chuckled after seeing his blank expression. No, it was not too sweet. In fact, it was not sweet enough. He didn''t have a chance to respond, though, because there was a voice echoing in his head. ...Can you hear me? This time, his eyes visibly widened as he ascertained its existence. It was deep and stoic. Perhaps too deep, since despite being amidst a pub filled with voices, it boomed in his ears with elucidating clarity. He quickly finished his cocktail, not forgetting to leave the waitress with two copper yones as a tip as he got up to leave. Hopefully, this wasn''t a sign of insanity. After all, it had only been less than a few hours since he stepped foot into the capital of the Zacriya Kingdom. The streets were packed with people, but the man had no problem making his way through thanks to his nimbleness. He dodged the seas of bodies as he stopped by some unnoticeable corner in an alleyway, away from city center. Pausing to sneak a few glances around him, the man made sure that no one was listening before speaking into thin air. "Hello?" Immediately, the voice responded. You can hear me? This was quite something. The response that manifested out of nowhere was indeed coming from his own mind. Baffled at his current situation, the man subconsciously touched his head. Was it some sort of Nolmes-exclusive communication system? The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Who are you?" He felt like a fool as he directed his voice into the air. I don''t know. "What?" I can''t remember. The response brought a frown to his face. It was one thing if he had no idea of the speaker''s identity, but a whole other problem if the speaker didn''t know himself. "Is it amnesia? Some sort of memory loss?" The man was muttering to himself, but the voice ended up responding to the rhetorical question. Perhaps so. It''s been like this for a while now. The man raised an eyebrow at the unexpected turn of events. Silently, he evaluated the situation of the unknown speaker, who was, to a certain extent, similar to his own. Thirteen years ago, the young man had found himself in a boy''s body. Call it intuition, but despite having no recollection of his past, he was certain that this body he had somehow occupied didn''t belong to him. The air, the people, the surroundingseverything just seemed off, even himself included. With no family, relatives, or connections, he then spent years wandering between regions, even across kingdoms, taking up different jobs in order to survive in this foreign environment. This was why he couldn''t help but become intrigued after seeing an entity that was in a situation comparable to his own. Fascination, however, was not equivalent to involvement. He had no plans of getting involved in these unnecessary complications. There was a reason why he decided to set foot on the Zacriya Kingdom. It was a kingdom of opportunities. Compared to Adalan, which was known for its emphasis on adventures and thrills of the untamed wilderness, the Zacriya Kingdom was flourishing with connections and pathways towards affluence. Liberty and prosperity. Those were his most important values. Perhaps it was because of the accumulated experiences throughout his life, but the man''s goal was simple. He wanted to make enough money to buy a house by the coastlines as his permanent dwelling. Then, he would travel around the world with the leftover abundance of cash, knowing that there was a home he could always come back to. Indeed, that was Edris''s dream. I just remembered something. The speaker''s deep tone, reverberating against his eardrums, brought Edris out of his trance. "What is it?" The voice had paused for a moment at his prompting, but the latter was not prepared for his next words. The world will soon be welcomed with war. "...What?" Edris let out a dry laugh at the statement, dismissing it on the spot as nonsense. The reason was simple. The ruling kingdoms on the Eastern Continent, although formally under the Derion Empire, were all autonomous sovereignties. The only things bonding them together were their proximal geographic regions and occasional trade interactions. There was no point for unacquainted neighbours to wage war against one another. In that case, the only other possibility would be the Western Continent, on the other side of the world. The Thyrone Empire on the Western Continent always maintained a sense of superiority towards everyone else. As a result, the two parts of the world barely interacted with each other. However, Edris couldn''t help but frown at the voice''s ominous statement, because it would be troublesome if it was the truth. As if to confirm his judgement, the voice spoke again. I have to stop it. Edris''s frown dragged deeper. Despite not even being able to recall anything about himself, the voice had a weird sense of righteousness to act for others. Unlike him, Edris was not the type to pursue things in order to satisfy his curiosity; abstract pursuits were nothing in front of concrete benefits. "Come to think of it, how are you speaking to me?" I''ve tried to talk to people by using mana to enter their minds, but you were the only one who actually heard me. "Getting into people''s minds?" That sounded quite dangerous. ...Only travelling. I can not affect them in any way. So he''s like a powerless spirling. Edris fell into deep thought. He didn''t know how the voice was able to communicate through his consciousness. According to the speaker, his voice couldn''t be heard by others nor could he do anything to make them notice his presence. Frankly, Edris didn''t want to be stuck with a voice in his head. How was this any different from having a domestic pet fly that harmlessly buzzed around your ears all day? With these thoughts in mind, he decided to peacefully put an end to this strange encounter. Edris smiled into the air. "Let''s go to the Healing Faction. I think they may have a way to communicate with you. Maybe they''ll even know how to retrieve your memories." The Healing Factionone of the five factions in the kingdom. There, they dealt with all types of health issues and magic dysfunctions. Naturally, Edris didnt plan to become further involved with the voice after hearing all he had to say. He would, kindly, pass the voice on to the healing mages. He couldn''t be sure whether theyd actually find a solution to the speaker''s problems, but that''s none of his concerns. Right now, the wise decision was to get rid of this voice in his head before he could get caught up in some troublesome events. Giving his own decision a mental nod, Edris was about to be on his way when the voice''s casual comment echoed in his head. You might want to move. "...What?" Despite his confusion, Edris subconsciously took a step back. The next thing he knew, an object blurred in front of his eyes. A few strands of his dark hair flew up at the breeze formed by the flower pot as it smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces. Dazed, Edris stared at the scattered clay that sprawled before his feet, covering the ground in a messy layer of brown. All the hairs on the back of his neck shot up as he was hit with a realization: If he hadn''t stepped back, instead of the floor taking on the impact of the falling pot, it would be his head. Edris shuddered at how close he was to being injured, and even worseat how his dream could have gone unfulfilled. Just like that. He then thought about the voice in his head, who had somehow foreseen the event before its unfolding. Edris cast his gaze upwards, as if looking directly at the invisible entity. "Just what are you?" 2 | I Befriended the “System” "...Just what are you?" Edris''s question was left unanswered, however, as the culprit behind the fallen flower pot hurried down the cobbled steps. There are two of them. The voice echoed in his mind as the latter turned in the direction of the emerging footsteps. Half-expecting to confront some alleyway punks, Edristo his chagrincame face to face with a woman and her child. "Sir, I am so sorry for my child''s rudeness. I promise he didnt knock the pot on purpose." The woman''s voice shook as she spoke with downcast eyes. "We have nothing to give to you as compensation. Please let us go just this once, I beg of you." With one arm, she pressed down on the back of the younger one so he was also in a bow. "I''m sorry..." The child with curly, orange hair, looking to be around five or six, was sickly in appearance. Edris stared at the mother and son with a baffled expression. Did he look like such an unreasonable person? Sure, his appearance was far from a noble gentleman, but he''d at least consider his face somewhat pleasant to look at. After a few seconds of silence, Edris shook his head gently. "Please, lift your head," he said, and they hesitantly looked up. "I won''t ask you for anything. It was an accident after all." The woman''s eyes widened at the dark-haired man''s words as if they were coming from a saint. Tears accumulated in her eyes as she entered another deep bow. "We thank you for your benevolence." Benevolence? Hesitantly, Edris accepted her words with a complaisant smile. If people posed no threat to his well-being, it was in Edris''s philosophy to treat them with respect. After all, it was always better to make more friends than enemies. Watching the backs of the mother and son slowly fade into the distance, Edris refocused his attention on the speaker inside his head. His questions remained unanswered. "The flower pot. The footsteps, too. How did you know?" I could sense it. The voice didn''t explain anything further than that, but nonetheless, his answer came as a surprise to Edris. "What else can you sense? Arching an eyebrow, the man grew curious about the voice''s capabilities as he anticipated his next words. You''re weak. "..." Ignoring his offended expression, the voice continued. However, you are nimble. More agile than 70% of the people within a two kilometers radius. The merchant to the northwest direction, fifty meters away from you. He''s trying to scam a man by claiming his swords are artisan-crafted. He created that shit by hiring someone who knew mana sculpting with four silver yones. "Hah..." Edris nodded thoughtfully. "And aside from people? What else do you know?" The voice was starting to get annoyed at incoming questions. ...To your left. The third apple on the second row is the freshest one. At his words, the man shifted his eyes to the fruit cart to his left, eyeing the bright, red fruit. It was useless but impressive information, and Edris was fascinated. A smile emerged from his lips. Contrary to his previous opinion on the voice, simply hearing it now was music to his ears. Edris changed his mind. It would be a pity to offer the voice to the factions now that he had realised his potential. He couldn''t help but start thinking about all the wonderful feats he could accomplish using this system-like entitya whole perceptive database. Edris thought he could already see the imminent day where hed live his life in carefreeness and affluence. "Miss, how much are your apples?" He called out to the store owner. "Two copper yones!" Tossing the amount onto the cart, Edris grabbed the third apple on the second row, giving it a few joyful tosses into the air. "For you." He spoke into the air and offered the apple from his palm. After a few seconds, he lightly knocked himself on the head. "Silly me, I forgot you couldn''t eat it. I shall savour it for you." ... The voice fell silent as Edris''s teeth sunk into the fruit, a refreshing crunch echoing through the alleyway. "Now that I think of it, you mentioned that you''ve never met anyone other than me who could hear you, right?" Correct. Good. This made things easier. Edris was growing excited simply thinking about his plans after getting the system-like entity on his side. Hed never openly admit it, of course, but Edris was quite good at talking. It was a natural skill to develop, because he would have never been able to reach the Zacriya Kingdom otherwise. Not to mention with bare minimum money and abilities. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Considering your current situation, I think it''s better for you to stay with me then." Edris started laying his trap. "Of course, I''m not forcing this upon you, not at all. I just think it''s quite strange that we were able to meet despite the circumstances, don''t you?" Strange? Confirming that the voice had taken the bait, Edris nodded before continuing to speak. "Indeed. It''s been, what, a few days that you''ve been wandering around here?" Three days. "Exactly. Three whole days passed without you meeting anyone who could hear you, yet guess how long I''ve stepped foot onto this city''s land?" The dark-haired man carried on by answering his rhetorical question. "Barely half a day. Just a few hours in, and we ended up in this magical encounter. I think it''s more than a mere coincidence." Edris was mentally laughing at the words coming out of his mouth. He angled his eyes towards the clear sky as a ray of light shone onto him. "It must be the Will of Serenity. It''s fate. Although the major kingdoms on the Eastern Continent were largely independent of one another in terms of specialities and traditions, there was one commonality they all shared: Their reverence towards the Church of Serenity. Needless to say, Edris didn''t believe in fate. Nor was he a follower of Serenity. But none of that mattered. All he had to do was connect a series of coincidences, coin them into the category of ''fate'' and voilaeverything just makes sense. However, he heard no response from the entity even minutes after he had spoken his words. Eyebrows furrowing, he was almost convinced that it had lagged before hearing the baritone voice again in his head. What nonsense are you spewing right now? Blinking twice, he quickly recovered from the voices blunt response. "Not a follower of the deity? No worries, me neither." Edris waved his hands half-heartedly, not expecting his actions to be seen. Contrary to his assumptions, however, the voiceresiding inside his consciousnesscould perceive his every expression and movement. In fact, a conceptual frown was appearing on his abstract facial features. He had seen the dark-haired man''s interactions with the woman and child. At that time, Edris spoke with tact and compassion, perfectly delivering himself as an empathetic, thoughtful traveller who had seen and witnessed too many of the world''s cruelties. So what was this sudden contrast in personality? "How about a deal?" Unaware of the voices current thoughts, Edris spoke again, this time more clearly. His cunning look from earlier was washed off by a gentle smile. A deal? "I''ll help you retrieve your memories. In return, you will aid me to the best of your abilities throughout my travels." Edris made sure only to offer to help him with his memories, not stop the ''war'' that was mentioned. The reason? Edris just wasnt someone who would go out of his way to put himself through unnecessary troubles. Sensing the voices wariness, he spoke again. "Just think about it. What are you going to do during the times when your memories are still lost? Wander around aimlessly like you''ve been doing the past three days?" The voice was quiet, and that prompted him to continue. "Right now, Im the only one who can hear you, and very likely the only one willing to help you. However-" he paused for effect, "-youre not the only one who can help me. I''m telling you all this because you seem to not know much about the kingdoms nor their people because of your amnesia, but not everyone is as kind and compassionate as myself." The voice is momentarily baffled at the dark-haired man''s self-proclamation. No one in their right mind would fall for it after seeing the calculations in his eyes. Yet the man didn''t even bother to hide his intentions as he spoke. "Here, I''ll even write up a contract," Edris offered, and without waiting for a response, he messily scribbled down the conditions on a piece of paper and signed his name. He lifted the paper into the air. "Here." I cannot touch it. "Oh, right. My apologies. I''ll write it for you. What''s your name?" Edris''s tone was nowhere close to apologetic, but the voice did not pay much attention to that as he was deep in thought. The former spun the pen in his hand, patiently waiting for a response. ...I do not have one. "Ah." The voice''s thoughts became complicated after his own response. He felt a pent-up frustration at all the unknowns, his unknowns. On the other hand, Edris was not in the slightest bothered by his lack of identity. He was still trying to suppress his excitement thinking about how to best make use of this being. "How about this? I''ll temporarily make up something you can use for now, and once you regain your memories, you can drop it. You just need to agree verbally, and we''ll be bound by the contract." You''re going to make up a name for me? "Why not? I can''t just call you ''you'' forever, right?" Edris stroked around with an air of nonchalance, his tucked chin indicating contemplation before it was suddenly replaced by a gentle smile. "Oh. By the way, there''s a default penalty of fifty thousand gold yones for breaching any part of the contract, but I assume we don''t have to worry about that happening." ... Taking the silence as affirmation, Edris nodded in satisfaction. It was truehe did not plan on breaking the contract. Edris wasn''t a good person, but he had not yet stooped so low as to scam an amnesiac persoentity. He aimed to live a comfortable life free of restraints, so he believed these sacrifices to be, in the least, necessary. After a couple of added moments of contemplation, he lifted his index finger. "How about Ace?" Ace... The word was repeated by the beings deep voice. Ace. Number one. It represented the start of a new beginning. It also represented Edris''s high hopes for the system-like being inside his head. He was going to turn him into his ace card. Edris did not verbalise the second part of his thoughts as he smiled into the air. "Quite a symbolic name for a new start, don''t you think?" It was at that moment. As these words spoke into existence, a surge of gust bellowed throughout the alleyway, creating a whirlwind around Edriss feet. The force tore off the posters on the walls, sending them flying into the sky. Edris welcomed the roaring air as he spread his arms, extending them like an embrace. His hair, dancing frantically in the wind, was a darkened blue that revealed the extension of galaxies. Contrasting with the state of his surroundings, his eyes were calm like the center of a storm. "Well?" He awaited the voices response. Despite all the commotion around them, the answer was crystal clear in his ears. ...Do as you wish. Like a magic spell, the hysteria around him dissipated instantly, leaving the alleyway as abruptly as it came. The voicenow Acepeered towards the dark-haired man from within his mind and couldn''t help but frown at what he was seeing. Edris''s eyes, although composed, now had a peculiar glint as they curled in satisfaction. 3 | I Know Nolmes under the moonlight was known as the City of Vitality. The contrast between the stars and the city painted the sky a beautiful gradient of blue and red. Greetings occurred between its customers amidst the pub. Curving through the different tables, the waiter arrived at the counter where he delivered the violet drink to its customer. "Limberry cocktail. Enjoy." Edris nodded in return, not forgetting his polite smile. After the waiter left to take more orders, he turned to take a sip, only to then frown at its taste. "Did they make this with lemons?" It is fifty percent sugar. Ace''s deep voice rang inside his head. "No wonder it''s so sour." Limberries were a local favourite in Nolmes. The berry itself was oval, with its raw state in a light lilac and growing darker in the spectrum as the fruit ripened. Nolmes took advantage of their versatility and prevalence throughout the Nolmes Forest, turning the fruit into a must-try for both travellers and locals. After reluctantly finishing his drink, Edris strolled out of the restaurant pub and into the guildhall beside it. "I am here for a mercenary ID." He was going to register his identity, just in case he decided to become a mercenary in the Zacriya Kingdom later on. The mercenary path was known for its hellish commitment and lack of freedom, but it was still a potential choice. Edris was someone who always kept his options open. He waited patiently for the front desk receptionist to look up from her position. The latter, indulged in piles of paperwork, glanced up grudgingly to see a smiling, foreign-looking man. "A-ah. My apologies," she said immediately, tipping the rims of her glasses before passing him the registration document. "Please fill this in and return it to the front desk once you''re done." "Thank you. I will do exactly that." Her eyes followed the young man''s back as he made his way to a nearby wooden desk. His dark hair was like a blot of ink on a vibrant canvas, emphasising his presence in the room of bright-headed people. Unaware of the receptionist''s lingering gaze, Edris sat on the chair as he sifted through the tedious-looking registration form. It asked for all the standard information like name, age, sex... Edris raised an eyebrow as he came across a particular section of the document.
| ARE YOU AN AWAKENED? Yes [ ] No [ ] IF YES, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR POSITION BELOW. |
Give-and-Take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?Edris let out a mocking laugh at the Sacrificial Hourglass''s question. The sinister words were truly fitting for a sacred item rejected by humanity. Bottling up his complaints, Edris took a deep breath. His response was simple: "Yes." All eyes were on Edris. The spectators who had shown apprehension regarding the match progression a minute ago were now in utter shock as the traveller, one step after another, inched towards the centre of the light. Even with the dangerous situation at hand, with his dark hair flying wildly in the wind, with the area enclosed in a torrent of dust, Edris smiled with an eerie calmness, as though he was on a picnic stroll. Rational. Coolheaded. Now that Edris thought about it, he had always been like this. The direr a situation and the more at stake, the easier it was for him to keep sane, to step out of the situation and determine the best, most profitable course of action. While the Sacrificial Hourglass''s words had daunted him initially, Edris was no longer worried. It was because of something the item had mentioned before its question. Give-and-Take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium. If the Sacrificial Hourglass was built upon the idea of balance, that changed everything. It meant that he was not sacrificing anything but only giving something in return for something else. Distinguishing the slight difference reassured his heart, and Edris felt better knowing he wasn''t being forced into an unfair deal. You really... The tone in Ace''s voice was oddly complicated, but Edris had no time to ponder upon it as countless colliding noises drowned the voice from his head. Despite his mind being clear, his body was reacting to an unknown source of energy that swarmed into his insides. At that moment, a darkened haze poured out of Edris''s hands; it revolving around both him and Celio until it completely devoured the latter''s golden light. The haze, thick and almost an obsidian black, condensed as it developed into a spiralling web, its lines squiggling into the air. The dark web soon amplified in size, growing exponentially until it was the size of a heavy storm that filled the entire amphitheatre. At the same time, an oppressive aura surged out of the dark-haired man, sending shivers throughout the arena. Regardless of one''s knowledge on magic or mana manipulation as a whole, anyone who witnessed the traveller''s current state would reach a unanimous conclusion: The traveller had also lost control over his powers. A thick barrier of purple suddenly enclosed the arena, separating the spectator seats and the inner field. "A protection barrier?" The Crown Prince blinked at the large shield before his eyes. "It''s the traveller? Even now, he is trying to protect us?" "But by putting himself in danger like this..." Mutters here and there, the spectators fell restless in their seats as they focused all their attention on the barrier, various emotions stirring in their hearts. Although it acted as a protective barricade, its opaqueness was similar to the traveller''s ring of fire and prevented them from seeing anything within it. Strangely enough, Edris found himself in the same state. It was eerily quiet on the inside, but he knew that the situation outside was a chaotic mess. Edris recalled the agreement he made with the Sacrificial Hourglass. He had asked for something that could neutralise other forms of magic. It was so he could cancel out Celio''s destructive powers to prevent it from running wild. He thought it would be troublesome if it ended up destroying the stadium and, even worse, injuring others. Activating an attributed skill required a large mana consumption, so the boy was likely to be knocked out unconscious by now. Putting that thought behind his head, Edris glanced around him. Indeed, he received the neutralising barrier he wanted, but even Edris didn''t expect it to have such a flashy appearance. While the fire storm was created through the reactions of mixing different potions, he had still been able to discern the outside environment within the torrent. However, the purple storm that Edris had instigated just now acted like thick curtains, secluding everything from its interior, including light.
Securing the Giving Segment... Securement complete.
Now preparing the Taking Segment...The mechanical voice echoed throughout the darkness, causing Edris to frown. It was unsettling to be stripped of something without knowing what it was. Even worse, the only thing he could perceive right now was darkness. As if responding to his thoughts, the area around him brightened, and Edris blinked to readjust his vision. The air, the surroundingseverything felt different. It was as if he was in another dimension. What surrounded him was a state of emptiness, completely unrelated to the arena setting. "Ace? Can you hear me?" Edris called out to the speaker in his head. He received silence in return. As he was about to attempt a second time, a tapping sound echoed around him. Then a shuffle. Amidst the open grounds, a shadow trudged towards his direction. Soon, Edris could make out a silhouette. His eyes widened after recognising who it was. "How are you still here?" Celio, having regained control over his powers, stood before him and blinked several times in confusion. He pointed to himself. "Me?" At that moment, another voice sounded in his head:
The Taking Segment will now commence.Edris had never felt closer to death. 12 | I Got It Under Control Edris frowned so deeply that he thought he might stay that way for the rest of his life. He didn''t expect Celio to stay conscious, let alone be caught within the torrent. The air around them thickened considerably during these few seconds of silence, signalling the commencement of the "sacrifice." A thick fog engulfed the void-like space, blurring the features of the boy standing before him. The next thing he knew, the haze to his left forged into a bubbling, spherical surge of crimson while a corresponding force emerged on the right side, taking form in a contrastive, azure light. The former burned its surroundings while the latter froze the air in its vicinity. The two forms of energy stirred vigorously, threatening to burst any moment from now. Resting on opposite sides of the purple torrent, the forces expanded rapidly, trying to engulf all in their vicinity. Standing in the eye of the torrent was none other than Edris, with Celio right across from him. The forces manifested from the artifact are directed towards you. "I thought the torrent blocked you from communicating," Edris said, half-relieved and half-questioning. Ace''s familiar voice echoed in his head. Ignoring Edris''s reaction, he continued on. I had to make preparations to save your weak ass. You''ll survive, but it''s another situation for the beast tamer. He won''t be able to take it with his current body. As the voice spoke, the two contrasting energies shot towards the centre simultaneously, closing the distance between Edris and Celio. The immense pressure from the ends sent a crushing sensation towards the middle of the torrent. Edris''s mind almost blanked out from the impact until he forcibly clung onto his consciousness. He stole a glance at the golden-haired boy across from him. Celio''s eyes were wide open but dazed. Amidst the approaching forces, he stood frozen like a statue, mind awash and unable to move an inch. The ground below them trembled uncontrollably, and Edris knew this was no time to hesitate. In a sweeping motion, he plunged forward, extended both arms, and threw Celio with all his strength towards the far end of the torrent. Immediately following his action, Edris choked out a gasp as the forces smashed into him from opposite directions, causing his body to emit a nebulous glow. The crimson and azure merged into a dreary, blood-like purple as it poured out of his body and expanded into every part of the torrent, integrating with the hollering wind around him. In an instant, a distorted scene flashed before his eyes. It was a black sphere that dripped with blood. It floated soundlessly amidst a purely white room, as still as a single frame in time. One by one, droplets of crimson dragged themselves down the black surface, only to dissipate immediately as they left the black sphere. Edris found himself subconsciously moving towards the sphere. Pictures lined up on the "walls" around him, but their contents appeared censored to the human eye, emerging as nothing but a blur. Rather than noticing the pictures, Edris only stared ahead towards the sphere in the centre of the room. There seemed to be something particular about it, to the point where he had subconsciously blocked out everything else in its surrounding. His steps felt oddly heavy, with each step requiring a strenuous effort from his legs. A relentless buzzing stripped his ability to think. Instead, his mind fills with incoherent thoughts and phrases, inundating his existence with an unprecedented sense of foreignness. It felt as though he was being stripped away from this world. As he took his third step, Edris stiffened as a faint voice reached his head in an urgent crescendo. Wake up! Like a bell, the voice elucidated his mind immediately as Edris stepped back with a sharp inhale. The scene before him collapsed with this action, breaking into countless tiny pieces that dissipated into the air. The afterimage of the black sphere lingered in his vision, and his forehead covered with a thin layer of sweat. It was then Edris heard a mechanised voice in his head:
The Taking Segment is now complete.
Thank you for your sacrifice.*** All the audience could hear were stirrings of gusts and clashes between the torrent and the ground. Even that was enough to produce deafening reverberations that filled their heads with anxiety. Although the insides of the torrent were in a tumultuous state, the barrier around them did not break as it withstood the impacts one after another. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. It was at that moment. A flickering light erupted within the purple torrent, causing it to shoot straight towards the sky. Eyes wide with disbelief, the audience watched as it exploded after reaching a certain height, sending bursts of gusts in every direction. The purple dissipated into the blue, painting the sky in a dark gradient shade. Even though it was still daytime, it felt like they were witnessing an interaction between dawn and dusk. The enchanting scene captured everyone''s attention as they upturned their gazes, unable to look away. "Dear Serenity..." Dazed, someone had accidentally muttered their thoughts out loud, but no one could retort his comment. It was because they thought the same as well. Only a few moments later, the spectators rejoined reality and hurriedly cast their gazes towards the arena field. At the edge of the field was Edris, while Celio, whose powers seemed to be now under control as he was blown to the arena walls, sat slumped right below the wall of the spectator seats. The latter''s pupils constricted, trembling uncontrollably as he recalled what he had just experienced. Playing before his eyes was the vivid scene where Edris had saved him from the approaching crimson and blue, embracing all the impact by his vulnerable, lonesome self. Frantically, Celio spun his head towards the opposite ends of the arena. When he saw the dark-haired man standing and in one piece, he let out a long exhale. Gathering the strength in his numb legs, he pushed himself back on his feet and scampered in Edris''s direction. From Edriss perspective, he vaguely perceived a figure who he suspected to be the boy with golden hair coming from his periphery. However, he had no time to pay Celio any attention, as all his senses were hyper-strung in preparation for the aftermath of the Sacred Artifact. However, nothing abnormal happened even after a few seconds, and Edris breathed out in both relief and confusion. His insides still felt as if it was on fire, but thanks to Ace''s mana support, the burning sensation diminished considerably from what it was back in the torrent. Speaking of Ace''s mana capabilities, Edris lamented inwardly how he would have missed out on his abilities if he had not asked. "The, the winner of the Wulin Tournament has been decided!" Recovering from the aftershock of the match, the announcer hollered into the diffusal orb, sending the groundbreaking results throughout the arena. His voice flowed into the spectators'' ears, finally bringing them out of their dumbfounded state. In their eyes, an attributed beast tamer was taken down without even a chance to activate his abilities to the fullest, while the dark-haired traveller, although dusty in appearance, only displayed mild injuries. Remaining on guard for any internal changes in his body, Edris turned towards Celio. Despite his apprehensive gaze, Celio seemed hesitant to speak directly to him as he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth in vain. Upon seeing the boy''s nervous reaction, Edris started to feel awkward himself. Frankly, he had pushed Celio out of the way because he thought it would be inconvenient for him if someone from a wealthy family were to get injured. Things would become complicated if this event caused him to receive the attention of nobles. Even worse, if the youth''s parents decided to hunt him down and throw him in prison, it would be over for Edris and his dream. "I.." Before Celio could even squeeze out a second word, Edris lifted his hand with a smile. "It was a good match." Celio''s bright eyes lightened at his words. After staring at Edris''s outstretched arm for a few long seconds, he seemed to have reached a conclusion as his complicated gaze transformed into one with conviction. Celio lifted his hand and met Edris''s in a fist pump. Celio sniffled emotionally as he looked towards Edris. "Thank you for your guidance." Hm? Guidance? Contrary to Edris''s confusion, the boy only grinned in response. After the announcement faded, a series of rhythmic clapping sounded in the area. It belonged to none other than Dolan Zacriya, who was leisurely making his way down from the third-floor balcony. At the sight of the Crown Prince, everyone in the arenaspectators and competitors alikebowed under his presence. Without a care of the kingdom''s customs, Edris only lowered his head a tad, just to show respect. "A formidable match," Dolan said to the two competitors. Contrary to his title, the Crown Prince spoke amicably. His words sounded more like they belonged to an impressed spectator rather than from the future leader of Zacriya. "Not at all, Your Highness. I am still lacking in many, many aspects." Celio replied, his tone habitual. It was as though he had experienced many similar situations prior to this. Not wanting to get involved with the royal family, Edris chimed along with a half-hearted nod to express similar sentiments. Clenching the scabbard by his waist, Celio gazed at him with eyes that held a million things to say. "It is also thanks to Sir Edris that I did not succumb to the aftermath of my powers." "Indeed. Thank you for stepping in to prevent the risks from escalating." With a nod, Dolan turned towards Edris. Under the eyes of the thousands present, the Crown Prince extended his palm for a handshake, which Edris humbly received. At that moment, their eyes widened simultaneously, but for different reasons. Dolan''s pupils shrunk with disbelief as he fixed his attention onto the dark-haired man. More specifically, on the feeling of his hands. They were just so...cold. Touching his palm, Dolan felt as if he was brushing against raw ice in the Crystallized Chasm. Edris, on the other hand, had a separate reason for his bewilderment. Although he was shaking the Crown Prince''s hand, it felt as if he was touching an inanimate object. A smooth, cushion-like texture. Even rubbery. It was the feeling of skin, but something was missing. Edris stiffened. There was no temperature to his touch. 13 | I Think its Fine "The winner of the Wulin Tournament is some traveller?" In a glorious room filled with gems and adornments, a young man glanced up from his office table. He grew contemplative at the butler''s statement. With his index finger, he pushed his silver spectacles upwards, allowing them to rest on top of his pink hair. "Yes, My Lord. According to the people present, he managed to win against an attributed beast tamer without a scratch on his own body." "That''s not the best part." A voice sang from the balcony across the room. A young woman with matching pink hair rested her elbows on the balcony''s marbled railings. Her gaze landed on the cup of frion tea before her. Tilting her head slightly, she turned to the young man, who stared back with ruby eyes that gleamed under the light of dusk. "I rewatched the broadcast. The traveller didn''t use any mana or cast any spells. He seems to be relying on some unknown force, the purple whirly thing." She brought the teacup to her smiling lips and sipped. "How exciting." "Mia." "I know." The young woman, Mia, twirled her silky strands of hair around her finger. She turned to him with a slight shrug. "I won''t cause trouble. At least for now. I''m too tired just preparing for the upcoming examination." She glimpsed past the balcony, towards the city centre at dusk. *** Soon after, nighttime descended upon the City of Vitality. The pub on the first ground floor of Mosky Inn, as with all other pubs in the city, exploded with conversations. The capital had fallen into a state of uproar at the unexpected spectacle at the Wulin Tournament finals. Many discussions centered around the mysterious traveller, while others also involved the backgrounds of the attributed beast tamer. "I heard that the traveller rejected His Highness''s invitation to join the factions," one customer said, rubbing his beard. He slumped against his chair, taking in the others'' looks of disbelief. Involvement in the noble circle was one of the best ways to gain status and connections in this kingdom. A high social standing was equivalent to an enormous scope of opportunities. As a result, many found the traveller''s action to give up the recruitment ridiculous. "I heard he was also invited to His Highness''s upcoming banquet," the woman beside him stated. She then scoffed. "When you''re talented, I guess trivial things like money and fame hold no value. It''s not something people like us could understand." A waitress swiftly made her way toward the chatting group, a tray of sandwiches rested on her palm. As she set the plates on the table, she bent down and lowered her voice into a humble whisper. "I''ve personally talked to the winner before. He''s half a regular here." She cleared her throat and angled her chin upwards. "Not only was he talented, he was also very kind." Amongst the intrigued faces, the waitress nodded to herself as she recalled the dark-haired traveller''s smiling eyes and agreeable demeanour. "He is truly a peaceful person." While conversations about the tournament overflowed the ground-level pub, a certain dark-haired man was situated on the floor right above them, slacking off on his bed while eating limberry gummies. You''re awfully calm for someone who almost died. Ignoring Ace''s usual disrespect, Edris reached for the steaming cup of milk on the bedside table. His fingers grazed past the handle, accidentally knocking the cup off the wooden surface as its contents spilt all over his hand. The empty cup rolled onto the floor while Edris, unfazed by the blunder, lifted his hand. He stoically examined the patch of red that was expanding on his skin. Edris stared at his burning hand for a good ten seconds before clicking his tongue. His head tilted to the side. "How fascinating." He felt as though the hand connected to the rest of his body did not belong to him. Edris speculated that the sacrifice in return for the torrent-looking skill was the loss of thermoception, as well as any pain related to the condition. He tried eating ice, taking cold showers (he used to find them extremely unpleasant), and even pulling out a cake from the stove with his bare hands, but he didn''t feel anything. Plopping back onto the bed, Edris wiggled his fingers before his face. Without their original warmth, the fingers were starting to look like mere objects happening to be attached to his body. This could be a problem. Ace sighed indiscernibly as he took in the dark-haired man''s lack of reaction. The inability to feel heat or coldness may seem handy at first glance, but in reality, it was an extremely hazardous condition; if he were to fall ill or become severely burnt, he would be unable even to recognise his injury if it was not physical. In extreme cases, it may even lead to death. Are you planning to search for a cure? Edris let out a short laugh. "Are you aware of a cure for this condition?" Unsurprised by Ace''s silence, he casually tossed a limberry gummy into his mouth. "If even the great Ace who went through the entire Grand Library does not know, how am I supposed to know?" Seeing Edris''s relaxed attitude towards the situation, Ace found no need to press further. Do as you wish. Ironically, the person who paid no attention to the state of his body was the same one who went around every day expressing his adamance on living a comfortable life. Edris sensed a complex swirl of mana coming from the speaker in his head, but he brushed it off as Ace did not mention anything about it himself. For Edris, the inability to feel temperature didn''t pose a major problem to his future plans. Although it would be inconvenient at times, this condition wasn''t exactly interrelated to his perception of pain. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. If there ever came a time when his injuries extended past a certain point, Edris was sure that his body would send him a danger signal. After all, it''s humans instinct to survive. He knew that better than anyone. Also, being able to eat frozen desserts without getting a brain freeze is a blessing. Rather than worrying about the risks, Edris viewed this as a natural consequence. In the trade with the Sacrificial Hourglass, he was given a skill to neutralise the beast tamer''s light, and in return, he was stripped of his ability to perceive temperature and related pains. After a gain, a loss would inevitably follow. Edris understood that quite well, so he had reached an acceptance with ease. With a flick of his index finger, Edris watched as a small spiral of purple erupted from its tip and danced around the rest of his hand. This purple stream would allow him to nullify mana and magic by coming in contact with it. He called it the Tempest. Edris knew he had a high aptitude for mana, but he wasn''t taught how to draw it out into actual magic. The trade didn''t make him an Awakened, nor did it teach him the actual conversion process from mana to magic; it only somehow enabled him to create this "Tempest" from pure will by absorbing his mana and throwing out this skill in return. It felt as if he was an opaque box that only yielded input and output, without being aware of the process in between. Not that the process mattered to him, though, as long as it produced the desired result. Allowing the stream of purple to disperse, Edris then mentally noted to himself to leave the artifact alone and not use it unless absolutely necessary. Since the sacrifices were chosen randomly while being equivalent to his proposal, a large proportion of the exchange was based on luck. This time, it was the loss of thermoception. What if the next time it was the loss of gustation? Or the ability to sleep? Edris loved sleep. It''s almost time. Pushing these thoughts to the back of his head with a shiver, Edris finished the last gummy in the packet and pulled himself up from the bed. The Crown Prince had arranged a meeting with him this afternoon for Edris to pick compensation as the winner of the Wulin Tournament. After cleaning up the milk, Edris draped on a grey cloak, pulling the hood over his head as he walked out of his room. Intending to leave discreetly, the dark-haired man took the less known staircase down the ground floor. He tugged the hood even lower as he roamed past the pub customers and staff. Only five steps remained between Edris and the door when it happened. As he skimmed through the pub entrance, he happened to meet the gaze of a certain blond boy who was staring right back at him. Stocked beside the door with a large bag on his back, the boy appeared to have lurked here for days. His sparkling, golden eyes sent an ominous warning toward Edris, and by the time he tried to leave, it was already too late. "I finally found you!" Celio exclaimed, his bright voice reverberating around the room as everyone turned to look at him. Unaware of Edris''s internal dread, he hustled towards him eagerly, landing right in front of the man with a ninety-degree bow. "Thank you again for the match day." His energetic voice filled the room, and if it weren''t for his naive demeanour, Edris would have suspected that the boy was actively working towards his downfall. Murmurs arose as people started to recognise them as the first and second place in the Wulin Tournament. "The runner-up really seems to respect him" "So the traveller is really as nice as the rumours say?" Grimacing internally at the eyes around them, Edris mustered a friendly smile as he grabbed onto Celio''s wrist and politely dragged him to a secluded hallway behind the main area. After they were out of public sight, Edris had Ace ascertain that no one followed him. There''s no one here. His deep voice rippled with a rare tinge of amusement, a sentiment Edris did not share one bit. Undoing the smile from his face, Edris turned his gaze towards the youth standing before him. He was a whole head taller than Edris, and the more he looked, the more certain Edris became that the boy came with an inherent glow. Facing him with anticipated eyes and a pure smile, Celio reminded him of a newborn duckling. Although inexperienced and naive, Edris was sure that the duckling would grow to be very successful in the future. It had nothing to do with him, though. He didn''t want to act heartless and pour cold water over a youth''s fiery aspirations, but he had no intention of acting mother either. Aiming to end this encounter as soon as possible to collect his reward, Edris spoke with a flat tone, "So, have you found your answer?" "Y-yes!" Celio replied immediately. Edris found himself feeling burdened as he confronted the boy''s sparkling eyes. He forced his gaze aside. "That''s good. I''m sure your path will be one filled with excitement." You can be your hero, while I go and collect my money. Of course, he did not say the final part out loud. Finishing his statement with a halfhearted smile, Edris patted him on the shoulder as he headed to the light-filled exit behind him. Celio''s gaze followed his actions, and the boy watched as Edris strolled towards the light, his figure glowing as it merged with the outside world. After a few steps, Edris realised something was off as he felt a chill behind his back. He didn''t dare to turn around, for he had a feeling his suspicions would come true if he did. As Edris conflicted over his options, a spot of gold appeared in his peripheral vision. It belonged to none other than Celio, who was following him from behind. He likes you. Ace coughed, as if trying to suppress his emotions. Was it laughter or mockery? Edris didn''t want to know. "Hold on. Edris held out a hand in front. "Dont follow me." The beast tamer seemed taken aback by his sudden bluntness and just stood there, at a loss. Their confrontation attracted gazes from the pub and its surroundings. Taking in the mutters, Edris exhaled from his nose. "You got something to say?" "I, I have a dream!" The beast tamer exclaimed from behind. "I''m going to become a righteous person, someone who pursues justice, someone gentle yet competent. Like you." Confronted with Celio''s glowing eyes, Edris subconsciously frowned as he let out a longer exhale. "...Do as you wish." He quickly added, But still, dont follow me. The best way to end a conversation with young people like him was to go along with their words. However, Edris''s words were followed by immediate regret as he watched Celio''s boyish grin expand to his entire face, as if he had won the lottery. "So I can really join? Thank you! I will be sure not to hold you back!" The beast tamer seemed to have reached some sort of misunderstanding, beaming as he trotted to his side. "Sir Edris? Is this what others call you? I feel it is a bit distant, though. And Edris sounds too casual, I''m unworthy to call you that just yet May I call you Hero?" "No." Edris shut him down immediately. "Saviour?" "Just call me Edris." "But surely not! How about Master Edris?" "No" "Just Master?" "" Heh. Taking Edris''s weary glance as an affirmative response, Celio grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Master!" Master? Master of what? Slacking off? Even though Edris considered himself shameless, he was baffled nonetheless at Celio''s attitude. The boy had called him ''master'' even though Edris didn''t even use a sword and had nothing to teach him. "So where are we going?" "I thought I told you to not follow me?" "But how else can I learn from you? I cant stalk you from afar, right?" Celio asked genuinely. A grin made its way to his face after getting Edriss silent approval. "So? Where are we going?" When did it become "we"? Despite Edris''s internal doubts, he decided to worry about them later. A much more important matter was at hand. "The Royal Palace, he responded, a smile creeping up to his lips. The place where he would collect his reward. 14 | Im Perfectly Healthy A pristine, white carriage stopped before Mosky Inn, its appearance garnering the attention of those both inside and outside the pub. Engraved in front of the carriage was the emblem of the Zacriya''s royal family. In the shape of a shield, the emblem consisted of interweaving coils of red and gold imprints, emphasizing the single feather at its centre. The doors to the carriage swung open, and a gentleman, dressed in a black tailcoat, stepped out. He groomed the side of his greyed hair and pressed his hand to his chest with a bow. "Sir Edris. His Highness has sent this carriage for your convenience. We shall head to the Royal Palace now, if you are ready." His gaze fell upon the golden-haired boy beside the traveller. "If Sir Celio is a part of your party, he is free to join as well." Edris didn''t refuse the Crown Prince''s offer as he stepped into the carriage. Settling down, he tilted his head towards Celio, who remained outside with a look of hesitancy. Edris sighed softly as he leaned back in the cushioned seat. "Are you not getting on?" At his prompting, the boy parted his lips, then shook his head with a grin as he jumped into the carriage. "I am!" The ride went smoothly, since other vehicles and people automatically moved aside at the sight of the royal carriage. After a few twists and turns, they soon arrived at the palace. As Edris and Celio stepped to the ground, they were greeted by two escorts. They led the guests through the grand entrance gates, past the extravagant hallways. Like a curious child, Celio spun his head left and right, observing his surroundings as he trailed after Edris, who responded to the escort''s pleasantries with a gentle smile. He didn''t know how long they''d been walking, but after strolling through several hallways, they reached what looked like the main chamber of the palace. At the end of the elegant space was an indoor garden enclosed by a layer of glass. The glass walls encompassed the greenhouse in an orb-like structure, glistening under the sunlight. Even the supporting pillars were transparent, giving the place a refined, almost mystical appearance. In the centre was none other than Dolan Zacriya. Amidst the greenhouse scattered with guards, Crown Prince was having afternoon tea all by himself. Nolmes''s afternoon sunlight seeped through the glass panes, underlining his defined appearance. The Crown Prince had a small face, most of which was framed by his shoulder-length hair. This gave him a striking yet elegant aura as he lifted his gaze to admire the greenery around him. A bright smile appeared on his face at the arrival of the dark-haired man, which grew even brighter after noticing the beast tamer beside him. Dolan placed his ceramic on the table and made his way to the two. "I didn''t know you were friends." His gaze shifted between the two, pleasantly surprised. Before Edris could reply, the boy beside him immediately shook his head. Lowering onto one knee and placing his right hand over his heart, he formally greeted the Crown Prince before speaking up. "I''m still working on it!" Celio''s bright voice echoed around the room. "Talented people must attract each other." Dolan laughed gleefully as he gestured to the two to have a seat. In private meetings with the Crown Prince, the common formality was what Celio had done. Unlike the golden-haired boy, however, Edris merely responded by placing a hand over his heart with a simple bow. It wasn''t that he didn''t know about the etiquettes. In fact, Edris was familiar with all types of customs due to his travels throughout the years. He just wasn''t a fan of nobles. After all, who would be when they lived their lives nowhere near the sophisticated yet restricted lifestyle of those in the upper-class society? "Four o''clock. Just in time for tea." Dolan acknowledged Edris''s simple greeting with nonchalance. Placing a hand on his shoulder, the Crown Prince gave a quick gesture to the guards as they led the two guests to the ceramic table. Typically, afternoon tea among the nobles took place between two to five, with four o''clock as the optimal. Various refreshment platters, including savones, pastries and scones, were set on the table. After the three sat down, three servants, each holding a silver tea tray hurried over. Clear, pink liquid poured from the teapot and filled the cup almost to the rim. "With milk, sugar or lemon?" asked the servant behind Edris. Having witnessed the exchange earlier between the traveller and the Crown Prince, the servant''s tone contained a hint of disapproval, probably from the former''s lack of etiquette towards the star of the Zacriya Kingdom. Edris paid no attention to the servant''s discontent. His focus was on the bowl of sugar cubes across the table. "Frion tea is best when taken with lemon." Dolan gently stirred his cup of tea, before placing the spoon back onto the saucer. "It''s a classic in Nolmes." Edris''s grey eyes flickered, lingering on the sugar bowl for another second before he swiftly removed his gaze. He nodded at the Crown Prince''s words with a smile. "Then I shall take upon Your Highness''s recommendation." "With milk, sugar or lemon?" Another servant moved behind Celio, who flinched at her presence. "I''ll settle with plain, please," he quickly responded. Sitting across the table, Dolan creased his brows as he observed the dark-haired traveller. After a few seconds of silence, he couldn''t help but ask in concern, "Are you okay?" Compared to the match day just over a week ago, Edris''s appearance shifted rather drastically. His eyes held their usual calmness, but the rest of his complexion had paled considerably. In just a week, Edris''s tan, malted skin had turned to a peachy beige. His facial features, having lost their natural flush, left his face with an aura of solemnity. Even when they shook hands on the day of the finals, Dolan noticed that his fingers had been icy cold despite just having gone through an intense battle. "I''m fine, Your Highness. Thank you for asking," Edris replied with the typical formula. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He didn''t think much of the question, as he was aware of his own physical changes. Naturally, they were due to his loss of sensitivity to temperatures. The aftermath of using the Sacrificial Hourglass resulted in his body making several adjustments to adapt to his condition. One of the adjustments, Edris noticed, was his reduced sensitivity to sunlight. The blood inside him also flowed differently; he couldn''t pinpoint exactly what was different, but it had resulted in his suddenly pale complexion. Other than the few changes, he felt as healthy as ever. While Edris inwardly observed his conditions, the youth beside him fell silent at the Crown Prince''s words. Celio immediately stole a glance at Edris, only to realize the latter''s sickly state. Celio''s mind flashed back to the match day when he lost control over his powers. At that time, Edris had pushed him away in the purple storm and withstood the pressuring forces himself. His injuries must have been from then. "I''m sorry" He turned to Edris, his youthful features squeezed together into a pained look. The latter, who had been engaged in his own thoughts, blinked at the sudden apology. "I''m perfectly healthy, though?" Edris responded honestly. Seeing the dark-haired man reply, then his pale face, Celio guilt only tripled as he bit the inside of his cheeks. A second later, he lifted his head and stared at Edris with eyes full of determination. "I will repay you no matter what," Celio said. Heh. Ace, who had been quiet until now, let out a snicker. Even though it was a short reaction, that didn''t stop Edris from feeling offended. Crown Prince Dolan examined the two silently, an amused glint glossed over his blood-dyed pupils. "It''s a shame that you''re unwilling to consider joining our factions," he said. "Truly a shame that we''re losing such a talented individual." "There are many more talented ones in the Zacriya Kingdom." Edris merely smiled. "It would truly be a shame if the kingdom had wasted their resources and opportunities on a traveller like me." Raising the steaming teacup to his lips, Edris purposely blew lightly on the surface before taking a sip. Under the intrigued gaze of the Crown Prince and Celio, he placed the cup back onto the table before meeting their eyes. "I''m only here to settle down for a peaceful life." The corner of his lips curled slightly as Dolan lifted his eyebrows, intrigued. Before becoming the Crown Prince, Dolan had his own experiences interacting with travellers, some from neighbouring kingdoms such as Adalan and Wendimore, and others even from parts of the Western Continent. Unlike the majority of others, the dark-haired man across from him showed no signs of nervousness despite meeting him for the first time. A bleak countenance, without the slightest ripple of emotion, as if everything in the world stood equal in his eyes. The traveller''s hungerless gaze matched his words; they were fitting for someone who sought nothing but peace and serenity. Dolan didn''t believe in those eyes. At first glance, there was nothing wrong with Edris''s statement. But he couldn''t help but wonder: Why would someone like him attend a tournament about combat if he wanted peace? The more he spoke with the mysterious traveller, the greater his interest in him grew. Why is he looking at me like that? Under the blatant scrutiny of the Crown Prince, Edris took another casual sip of his frion tea to hide his annoyance. His previous statement was nothing but the truth. It was true that he wanted peacefor himself. But how was he supposed to be at peace if he didn''t have money? Seeing that the traveller was unfazed by his gaze, Dolan redirected his attention to the boy beside him, whose intense eyes were fixed on a butterfly on a garden vine. "Sir Celio, are you interested in joining one of our factions?" Dolan asked with a dazzling smile fitting for the kingdom''s future leader. Celio first snuck a glance at the dark-haired man beside him, and after seeing Edris''s reactionless expression, he turned back to the Crown Prince with a polite shake of the head. "I am beyond honoured for this valuable opportunity. However, I''m afraid I must respectfully decline. I believe it''s unfitting for me, a mere finalist, to receive this bonus which is only meant for the tournament''s winner." He discreetly cast his gaze to his left. "And also, I am set on following my Master on the path of self-improvement. I believe I still have a long way to go." Why bring me into this? Sighing inwardly, Edris pushed down his conscience-stricken mind and took a bite out of a blueberry scone. He noticed Celio''s expectant stares from the corner of his eye and turned to the boy with a gentle smile. Despite the boy''s naivety, Edris couldn''t help but be impressed at his handling of the situation. Although very young, he spoke in a dignified and respectful manner, an apparent result of years of involvement with the upper society. A very useful skill. As Edris smiled in satisfaction at his newly gained asset, Celio took his smile as a look of approval and grinned back brightly. Dolan, observing the interaction between the traveller and the beast tamer, let out a dramatic sigh. "Two rejections in a row." He frowned, throwing a biscuit into his mouth. Although the action was considered "unnobly" for his position, he paid no mind to the astounded looks of the servants and leaned forward on the table. "Both of you would at least attend my upcoming banquet. Give the Crown Prince some face, will you?" "Your Highness!" One of the servants gasped at his bold words, but immediately recoiled after meeting Dolan''s eyes. "Of course, Your Highness." Edris smiled, and Celio chimed in with an affirmative nod. Dolan''s eyes sparkled in satisfaction. He heaved backwards on the armchair and snapped his fingers. "Now for the main course." Following his swift action, a knight disappeared into the distance, only to emerge moments later with a cart. As he pushed the cart forward, Edris made out three silhouettes that laid on the top of the golden surface, covered up by a red quilt. Those were the three reward options. Eyes brightening considerably, Edris put on an neutral face as he tried to hide his emerging smile. With a lift of his finger, Dolan activated his mana channel, and the red quilt floated off the cart, revealing the items before them. On the left was a slim sword, brimming with a bluish glow; in the middle lay a treasure chest engraved with the royal family''s emblem; and lastly, a thick book blinded with markings, wrapped in a chain-like seal. "You have three options," he stated, signalling the cart closer. He pointed to the glistening sword on the left. "First is Evos Gladius, a category three sacred artifact. It''s an artisan-ranked mana enchantment sword that sharply raises the user''s technical skills. Perfect for Awakeneds who are swordsmen." Sneaking a glance at the traveller''s reaction, Dolan continued on. "In the chest are 150 000 gold yones, in the form of gold bars. You have the option to collect the physical monetary value, or you can request conversion to items with equal values. This does not include sacred artifacts. But of course, most of them are worth more than that, anyway. "Your last option is the Harkness Notebook. This item is said to comprise centuries of knowledge accumulated by the Harkness family. The grand mage, Verity Harkness, sealed the notebook to prevent just anyone from receiving its powers. Many mages and other Awakeneds have attempted to unseal the item, but as you can see, none have led to success. "Now then, which will be your decision?" Although Dolan had given a brief explanation of each option, most of his words were subconsciously filtered out by Edris as the traveller gazed intently at one item on the cart. The bars of gold were calling out to him. At the bare richness glowing before his eyes, Edris didn''t even bother to consider the other two alternatives. As he was about to state his final choice, a deep voice sounded in his head, forcing back the response that was halfway up his throat. That notebook Ace''s usual stoic voice was coated with a tinge of disbelief, and Edris immediately sensed an ominous foreboding. I''ve seen it somewhere. 15 | I am One Who Keeps Promises In the elegant glass conservatory, the dark-haired man suddenly became still. His silence caused both Dolan and Celio to glance towards him in puzzlement. "Have you made your choice?" Dolan asked after sensing his hesitation. He was almost certain that of the three options, Edris would decide on the monetary reward. The man didn''t seem like the type to be a swordsman, nor did his performance back at the tournament place him as a mage. After a second, Edris let out an indiscernible sigh as he reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the 150 000 gold bars. "I''ll go with the notebook." "...Interesting choice." Dolan didn''t question his decision. With a lift of his hand, he activated his mana, bringing the Harkness Notebook off the cart and into Edris''s hand. A pressuring energy flowed out of the notebook. It wriggled and squirmed, as if threatening to rip open the vine-like seals encased all over the front cover. Celio tensed at the abrupt spike of magic in the room, instinctively turning his attention to the source of the disruption. Even those who weren''t an Awakened could sense the Harkness Notebook''s peculiarities, let alone an attributed beast tamer like him. Beside him, the traveller weighed the item in his hands, appearing contemplative before giving the Crown Prince a polite bow. "I''m sure you''ve recognised the potential of this item after coming in contact with it. But despite the obvious mana presence, it''ll be quite difficult to unlock Verity Harkness''s seal fully." Dolan shook his head with a laugh. The Harkness Notebook consisted of centuries of knowledge from the Harkness family, one of the most powerful families who supported the Zacriya family from the beginning of the Eultra Era. Most of their family members were recorded in history as enthusiastic pursuers of knowledge, and all the Awakeneds in this family line ended up on the path of a mage. "Forgive my brazenness, but didn''t most of the Harkness family perish during the Manifestation War?" Celio cocked his head to the side. According to historical records, the Harkness family lost most of their members in a quasi-war against the Adalan Kingdom over three centuries ago. Since then, their power and influence have continuously declined, and those remaining live in seclusion until this day. Celio vaguely recalled being taught the history of the Eastern Continent and all the influential families back when he was in the Adalan Kingdom. He had learnt the knowledge, but whether or not he remembered it was another story. "You''re correct, Sir Celio," Dolan said with a smile. "Although the Harkness family has significantly reduced their involvement with the kingdom''s affairs, they still left on good terms with the Zacriya family. "During their time of prosperity, a total of fifteen volumes were created by the leaders of the family. These volumes had been scattered throughout the continent after their downfall. Five of those fifteen are in the hands of the Resource Faction, here in the Zacriya Kingdom." Nobody knew of the exact contents of the notebooks, but the fact that these were from the Harkness family was enough to categorise the series as sacred artifacts. However, they were ultimately only deemed exceptionally rare items due to its mounts of unknowns. The Harkness series were undoubtedly popular, but despite this fame, it was difficult for even archmages and those who dedicated their lives to studying mana and magic to unlock the seals. As a result, the series'' value accumulated mainly from rumours, eventually framing the volumes as items with boundless unravelled potential. But even then, the uncertainty hindered many from continuing their pursuit of the notebook series. There were historians and collectors who spent their lives searching, hoping someday to discover all fifteen volumes of the Harkness Notebook. After all, people become thrilled by the impossible and unexplained. With these thoughts in mind, Dolan thoughtfully observed the traveller, who held the notebook in his hands with a complexed gaze. His knuckles had whitened from the grip, yet the man remained unmoving, as if indulged in nostalgia. The corners of his lips upturning, Dolan thought that quite an interesting person had arrived in the capital. Contrary to the Crown Prince''s entertained smile, Edris''s heart was bleeding. The sound of money escaping down the drain filled his ears every time he looked at the heavy notebook in his hands. As with everyone else in the greenhouse, he had sensed the menace emerging from the item the moment it was revealed, perhaps even more prominently due to him not being an Awakened. Edris slowly breathed out. He clenched the notebook tighter in his hands. If he didn''t, he had a feeling they would start trembling on the spot. You didn''t have to pick the notebook. Ace''s deep voice rang in his mind, and Edris scoffed inwardly. He tucked the notebook into his bag, and lowered his voice into a small mutter that only the two of them could hear. "I''m someone who keeps their word." I see. Although he wasn''t a saint, Edris tried to uphold his reputation as someone who kept his promises. He would rather give up the money than be bothered by the guilt that came with choosing the monetary rewardespecially since he was aware how rare it was for Ace to come upon a trace of truth behind his amnesia. Of course, he didn''t explain any of his thoughts to the voice inside his head. He turned to the Crown Prince and, with a slight bow, thanked him for the reward. Dolan acknowledged his gesture with a half-hearted wave. Brushing back strands of his red hair, he relaxed his features into a pensive smile. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Let us meet again at the banquet." *** "Master, when is the banquet?" Celio asked. He heaved his leather bag tighter to his back as he walked alongside Edris on Nolme''s packed streets. In his bag was the Harkness Notebook, which Celio had voluntarily asked to hold on to after seeing Edris''s leaked discontentment towards the item. "In exactly a week," Edris replied. Banquets among nobles occurred with prevalence, and they were held at least twice a month by different families in power. The approaching banquet was special in that the hosts were none other than the royal family themselves. "I heard the Crown Prince is the second son in the Zacriya Family," Celio commented as he lowered his voice. "So why is he the Crown Prince?" Under normal circumstances, the heir to the throne was always the eldest of the royal family. In the case of the Zacriya Family, it was Treo Zacriya, Dolan Zacriya''s older brother. "The first prince has fallen ill," Edris said simply. From what he''d heard through the gossip circulating the capital, Treo Zacriya succumbed to an unknown sickness and willingly passed his status as the Crown Prince to his brother. "The first and second prince must have a friendly relationship with each other." Celio nodded thoughtfully to himself. "That''s nice." Even if the brothers are friendly with each other, it doesn''t mean that no conflicts arise from this situation. Edris merely responded with a low chuckle. The various forces behind the Zacriya Kingdom were driven by their own incentives. Treo Zacriya''s decision to give up his position no doubt instigated opposition from those who supported him. Naturally, the King wasn''t planning to stand still and let the conflict ferment into something bigger. The political spotlight had shifted from Treo Zacriya towards Dolan Zacriya, so this banquet was likely planned as an opportunity for him to reinforce his new status; it was a chance to gain favorability and support from the nobles while asserting his power against the opposition. To think I have to participate in something tiresome like this He was not looking forward to witnessing interactions between passive-aggressive aristocrats, but he supposed it was inevitable. "Come to think of it" Celio paused in his steps before eyeing himself up and down. "What''s the dresscode for the banquet?" For a convenient escape, he had only packed comfortable and inconspicuous clothing which were, without a say, unfitting for formal occasions. The boy''s words incited similar thoughts in Edris''s head as he silently noted his appearance. Beneath his dark cloak was a casual collared shirt and black pants, which were identical in style to the rest of his wardrobe. Now that he thought about it, it would be quite awkward to attend a royal banquet looking like this. Something clicked in Celio''s mind at the dark-haired man''s long-held silence, and the boy put up a proud smile, like a child eagerly awaiting to show off his skills. "I understand, Master." His eyes sparkled with resolve as he pumped a fist to his chest. "Just leave it to me!" *** By the time Edris arrived back at Mosky Inn, it was already night. He had parted with Celio halfway through, as the latter seemed distracted by something and left in a hurry. Of course, Edris was content with that and didn''t press for details. Steering towards the back of the hub, he sat down at an empty table. Skimming through the variety-filled dinner menu, he ultimately went with the sweet omelette and a limberry smoothie. After the waiter left with the order, he took out the Harkness Notebook from his bag. Celio had returned it to him before the two parted ways. "The Crown Prince said that it was sealed. Do you have a way past this?" He asked, his voice automatically drowned out by the boisterous chatters in the pub. I can try. "What''s so special about it?" As he wasn''t an Awakened, Edris only scrutinised the strange engravings with his bare vision. While all types of speculation emerged in his mind, he couldn''t expand on any of them due to his lack of knowledge in magic and mages. It called out to me. Ace''s response caused him to lift his eyebrows in surprise, but it lasted only a few seconds. The dark-haired man rested his elbows on the wooden table. "I''ll leave it to you then." Despite his curiosities, Edris decided to not meddle in whatever the entity in his head was planning and let Ace figure things out himself. From what he knew about the item, he''ll give it at least a month for Ace to examine the seal. After all, this was a rare magic item sought out by the most renowned mages, and its potential was something even archmages failed to unlock. A young waitress approached his table with a tray of food, and Edris reeled in his thoughts as he fixed his gaze on the scrumptious meal placed before him. Drooling with a dense layer of cheese, the golden omelette oozed a mouthwatering aroma that wafted into Edris''s nose as it melded with rising steam. Positioned beside the main entree was a strawberry tart, fancifully decorated with colourful sugar. Edris looked at the piece of dessert with knitted brows. "I didn''t order this." "It''s on the house." At the response, he lifted his head to habitually thank the waitress, only to stop as the latter abruptly leaned towards him with sparkling eyes. "I knew it. It''s you again!" The waitress exclaimed, her loose bun wobbling on the top of her head. Her words faded amidst the noisy pub, and it took Edris a good second to recognise the familiar face. It was the same person who had recognised him the night after he had won against Faren Ablemore. If he remembered correctly, she had also reacted in a similar manner then. "Yes, it''s me," he replied calmly, a gentle smile hanging across his face. "Congratulations on winning the tournament, you''re actually famous now!" She grinned. Not waiting for him to reply, she pressed her index finger to her lips with a wink. "Don''t worry. I won''t go around telling people that you''re here. After all, even famous people gotta be able to eat in peace, right?" She''s very talkative. Are you acquainted? With Ace''s blunt comment reverberating in his mind, Edris upheld his gentle smile as he muttered a few words of thanks to the waitress. While he would have traded a few useless pleasantries on such occasions, he couldn''t help but notice that his omelette was growing cold. A short silence followed their brief exchange, and Edris thought she would take this as a sign to leave him and his omelette in peace. However, the young waitress only glanced around before sitting on the seat across from him. Edris raised an eyebrow. "You see I somehow managed to serve your food multiple times and even recognised you twice, right?" She fiddled with her apron, eyeing the dark-haired traveller with a sheepish smile. "In a way, isn''t this Serenity''s Will?" This sounds awfully familiar Edris had no idea where she was going with this. No, more like he didn''t want to know. Unfortunately, the waitress took in his perplexed look as a sign to continue. With a clear of her throat, she straightened her posture and stared into his eyes. "My name is Darcie." She inhaled deeply before blurting out her next words. "Please be my teacher!" 16 | I am a Traveller Despite the pub''s heat and rowdiness, silence accumulated between Darcie and the traveller like a thin layer of frost. Her shameless confidence waned at the dark-haired man''s bland silence, and the young waitress quickly spoke again to explain her situation. "Less than a month ago, I became an Awakened after attending one of the aptitude consultations hosted by Mage Faction. "I heard from others you''re a really strong Awakened and became sure of their words after seeing you win the Wulin Tournament. So so I was hoping that you can teach me some things, in the face of fate!" She hid the fact that having used up most of her savings just to book the consultation, she no longer had the finances to purchase spellbooks or hire mage tutors. This was why she resorted to seeking individual Awakeneds hoping they would be willing to help. Of course, she was fully prepared for rejection. After all, there was no reason for someone like Edris to heed her request, especially when they weren''t even considered acquaintances. However, as a waitress in a social pub, she had heard about his kind personality here and there. Having ascertained the rumours after witnessing this gentleness in person, she couldn''t help but hold hope that the traveller would help her out. "Miss Darcie is it?" The traveller spoke softly, and Darcie subconsciously relaxed at his voice. "I am a traveller." She immediately understood the meaning behind his words. To travellers, the world was their home. She could tell that to the man sitting before her, Nolmes was only a temporary stop and that he would soon be on his way to continue his journey. "Ah, I mean, I understand perfectly! It''s just that I''m the first Awakened in my whole family, so I''m kind of at a loss of what to do and" Her voice trailed off as she mustered a weak smile. Both her parents have died, and as the oldest in the family, Darcie had Gran as well as her six-year-old sister to take care of. When she learned about her potential as an Awakened, she was thrilled as it already represented a broader range of opportunities for her and her family. However, the seemingly endless obstacles she had to overcome to reach those opportunities drove her to desperation. She eyed the dark-haired traveller, recalling his gentle refusal as her eyes unknowingly watered. Nonetheless, she was grateful that he was willing to hear her out. If it were others, they would either laugh or tell her to scram. You''ve fooled another one. What do you mean by ''fooled''? Actually, what do you mean by ''another''? I never said I was an Awakened now, did I Edris lamented inwardly as he watched the young waitress fiddle with her work uniform, noticing her callus-filled hands. She seemed barely an adult. In her early twenties, at most. Even if he wanted to help her, he couldn''t. The poor girl had asked the wrong person in the first place. Placing his unused fork onto the napkin, Edris waited patiently for Darcie to recollect herself. "I can''t help you, but help doesn''t always come from someone specific," he said with a gentle smile. "Sometimes, the best teacher is what''s around you." It was the best advice he could give as someone who learned to adapt to all types of environments. At the traveller''s words, Darcie fell into a deep silence. After a few seconds, she lifted her head with a grateful smile. "Thank you for your advice." As she said that, Darcie pulled out a small slip of paper from her pocket and slid it across the table. It was a yellow, rectangular coupon with a bakery logo on the front. "My grandma runs a bakery store on the southern end of Lennet Street. It''s called Wendy''s Bakery Stand. Please accept this as my thanks and visit anytime!" She grinned, showing her tiger teeth. "Thank you, Miss Darcie." Edris took the yellow coupon with a slight bow of the head. "I hope you can reach your goal." Glancing at the young waitress''s back that slowly disappeared to the customer-filled main area, Edris sighed soundlessly as he retracted his eyes to the meal before him. His omelette had grown cold. *** After finishing his food, Edris headed to his room on the second floor. Today''s series of interactions left him exhausted, causing him to instantly fall asleep as he crashed onto his bed. Edris slept dreamlessly that night, as always. Since his earliest memories, Edris didn''t dream. To him, sleep was just a state of unconsciousness and an enjoyable way to recover energy. He didn''t know how long he was out for, but it wasn''t very long. He was awakened by the deep voice inside his head. Someone''s coming. Edris wanted to ignore his words but ultimately pulled himself up. Still wrapped under his blanket, the dark-haired man glimpsed towards the window with groggy eyes. In its dim orange, the sun was barely out as the majority of the sky was still embraced by darkness. Soon following Ace''s words were a series of knocks by his door. "Master, it''s me!" Celio''s energetic voice burst through the door between them, and Edris considered seriously whether he should pretend to be still asleep. After the second series of knocks, he forced himself out of bed. He spent three seconds to allow his mind to defog before pushing down on the door handle. Despite being early in the morning, the golden-haired Celio greeted him with a bright grin, looking as energetic as ever. Without waiting for the boy to speak, Edris arched an eyebrow. "How did you know which room I was in?" "The front desk recognized me when I came looking for you. And when I told her you were my Master, she showed me your room number," Celio replied, then immediately grinned. "Never mind that, Master. I''ve found a solution to our banquet clothes!" Edris blinked twice, his mind clouding again at the boy''s enthusiasm. *** The next thing he knew, Edris found himself standing in front of a fanciful boutique. It was a stand-alone store situated on Lennet Street, a few blocks from the central city. The panel on top of the storefront stuck out with three words printed in a luxurious font: ORTEON''S FAMILY BOUTIQUE Edris lifted his head, squinting towards the store that stood before the rising sun. He then glanced at Celio, who was looking back at him with anticipatory eyes. "You woke me up before the sun did to take me here?" Edris asked. For him, sleep was an enjoyment. Although he was set on earning money, he was the type of person who would live comfortably whenever possible and uphold small delights in life like sleep and food. "This is one of the best formalwear boutiques in Nolmes, so I worked really hard to reserve a spot," Celio replied proudly and, without further ado, pushed open the double doors. He knew that his Master wasn''t one to hold interest in trivial things like attire. After all, when you''re a powerful individual who travelled the world, clothing wouldn''t exactly be a top priority. Stolen novel; please report. As the student, this was where Celio would come in! Clothing etiquette was something especially nitpicked upon amongst the upper-class circle. To many nobles, the quality of one''s clothing was equivalent to class and status. As someone forcibly introduced to such interactions from a young age, Celio had witnessed countless who were belittled, even humiliated, due to their way of dressing. Although he personally saw no correlation between the two, he wasn''t planning to let his Master experience such ignorance. The moment the two men stepped into the boutique, five pairs of eyes simultaneously turned toward them. Among them, a middle-aged woman with high cheekbones and plump red lips swayed in their direction. "Good morning, Madam Amos." Celio lowered his head slightly, and the woman, in a layered dress, returned his greeting with a slight dip of the body. Her gaze shifted from the youthful boy to the dark-haired man behind him, and the latter responded to her scrutiny with a confused but respectful smile. "Handsome lad, I see you''ve also brought a handsome friend." She pressed her hands together pleasedly, eyes fluttering at the two eye candies standing before her. Edris suddenly felt oddly chilly under her gaze, but he wasn''t given a chance to back out. With a clap of her hands, Madam Amos gestured to the four staff behind her as the group moved forward, surrounding the two men. Before he knew it, Edris was standing before a full-body mirror, his own appearance reflected before his eyes. Two tailors hovered around him with measurement tapes, moving his limbs around as if he was a work-in-progress puppet. "So pretty, oh simply so, so pretty!" Madam Amos gushed nonstop as she admired the two men from all angles. She then tapped her chin, thinking. "You''re the type that must watch out when walking at night! I heard that several pretty people like you lads have been disappearing recently." "I think we''ll be fine" Celio laughed awkwardly. Edris''s head perked at Madam Amos''s words. As he was about to inquire further, his breath hitched as one of the tailors slid the measure tap under his arms and around his chest. Edris''s grey eyes shifted to glance at Celio, who stood next to him in a matching position. The only difference was that the boy appeared to be accustomed to this situation as he obediently followed the tailors'' instructions. The brat has more common sense than you do. At least he knows to make preparations. Edris mentally rolled his eyes at Ace''s daily insults. However, he had to admit that Celio had exceeded his initial expectations with his knowledge of the upper-class society. Initially, he thought that Celio was just some naive young master from a wealthy family in his rebellious stage. It turned out that the boy, although still young and inexperienced, was not as useless as he had imagined. Edris stopped in his tracks. Celio said that this boutique was one of the most famous in the capital, which meant it was expensive. How did he manage to book a slot in such a short time? He didn''t accept some weird conditions now, did he? Edris was about to interrogate Celio when he suddenly recalled the boy''s bag of gold. With an inward sigh, he swallowed the words back down his throat. Maybe he was the naive one. After a tiresome period of trying and retrying countless outfits and accessories, the fitting process finally ended. Madam Amos told them to pick up the personalized attires in three days. By the time the two exited the boutique, it was almost noon. The sun, hanging above their heads, emitted surges of heat fitting for Nolmes''s tropical weather. "How about something to eat? It''s on me," Edris said to Celio with a smile. Although he wasn''t told this, Edris knew that the young boy had paid for both the attire and the personalized tailor fee. He didn''t know the exact price (he also didn''t want to know), but Edris wasn''t shameless to the point where he would rely on a teenager''s money for everything. "May I?" Celio''s eyes flickered at his words, and he beamed. "Master, you''re the best!" Edris merely responded with a smile as he felt the slit of paper in his pocket between his fingers. "How about pastries? I heard there was a renowned bakery store around here. Wendy''s Bakery Stand, if I remember correctly." The bakery belonged to the grandmother of Darcie, the young waitress who had asked him for advice the day before. He didn''t plan to dismiss the young boy''s efforts with a discounted meal, but if he had a coupon, why not use it? "I''m fine with anything!" Celio bobbed his head up and down. You''ve got no morals. "Hey now." Edris laughed under his breath. *** The storefront was small yet cosily adorned. Several blue bells chimed as Celio pushed open the wooden door. A whiff of sweet aroma immediately filled his nostrils at his entrance, and the boy swallowed at his awakened appetite. In the back of the store was a senior woman, looking around sixty in age. Her grey hair, tied in a tight bun, glazed in light as she lifted her head at the two customers. "Hello there, handsome lads. What can I get for you?" The corner of her eyes creased into a kind smile that resembled the waitress''s youthful grin. "Your recommendations, ma''am?" Edris glanced at the menu, then at Celio. After careful consideration, the latter chose a ''Nolmes Special'' sandwich and a vanilla milkshake while Edris went with a frion milk tea, extra sugar. The total of the meals amounted to five copper yones. After the meal, the two strolled out of the bakery store. Celio rubbed his stomach in satisfaction while Edris slid his hand inside his pocket, rubbing a rectangular piece of paper between his fingers. Unfortunately, he couldn''t use his coupon since it was only valid on weekends. Under the brilliance of the afternoon sun, they walked through Lennet Street, past the area that fell under the intersecting shadows of swaying branches. On one of the branches sat a sparrow, gawking at its surroundings with its pitch-dark eyes. A gust of wind swept through the streets, and the sparrow spread its wings and fluttered into the sky. "Master! I recalled that I left something at the bouquet, so I''ll have to fetch that." Celio rubbed the nape of his neck and mustered a smile. "You don''t have to wait for me for dinner! There are a few things I still have to do in the capital, so I''ll be away for a few days "Oh, you don''t have to help me or anything. I can figure this out on my own! And don''t worry, I''ll make sure to finish before the banquet. "I''ll come to find you once I get everything sorted! I''ll also bring the banquet clothes!" I wasn''t planning to wait for you anyway Edris didn''t bother to dig out the details and simply nodded with a half-hearted smile. He waited for the golden-haired boy to disappear from his view before turning his attention to the voice inside his head. "Is he being followed?" By an Awakened. As expected. Edris recalled the single sparrow that had been on the tree beside them. Sparrows were uncommon in Nolmes, where doves and pigeons were the norms. That said, Edris suspected the bird of being some kind of signal. One that the beast tamer recognised. "...Is it dangerous?" He asked. I sensed no menace coming from it. It seems to only serve as a method of communication. The boy seemed to know it, too. "Then that''s fine." Feeling lighthearted now that Celio was gone, Edris spun around onto Main Street. Under the broad sky, he lifted a hand to block the sunlight. As the royal banquet wasn''t until another half a week, Edris planned on spending the next few days roaming around the city. With his mercenary ID, he was eligible to take on some jobs, start his own business, or even join forces with another merchant. Although he wasn''t planning on doing so, at least not yet, he visited Alan''s Mercenary shop and had the machina explain the necessities of the field. While he was at it, Edris also inadvertently inquired about mental conditions, hoping for the voice in his head to gain insights into his current situation. Unfortunately, none of the information which he received was deemed helpful. Three days before the banquet day, Celio came to find him again, this time with the customized banquet outfits. Eyeing the clothing that should have been bars of gold, Edris sighed inwardly and asked the boy to keep them for now. That night, the two of them ate at an Adalan-styled restaurant near the Mosky Inn. Adalan food was known for its unique flavours that resulted from integrating several different herbs and spices. Unlike Zacriya, which preferred distinct saltiness and sweetness, Adalan food often merged different tastes in their meals. During the meal, Edris listened as the boy raved over all types of random things, from the taste of food to how he wanted to become a chef when he was younger. Celio didn''t mention anything about the sparrow, nor did Edris bring up related topics. *** "Wake up." On the morning of the royal banquet, Edris woke up to Ace''s familiar baritone voice by his ear. Eyes still closed, he lazily rose against the bed and waited for his mind to clear. He had gotten accustomed to the existence in his head, but he couldn''t help but lament inwardly at Ace''s alarm-like presence, waking him up at the exact time every morning. "I am awake. Can''t you see that I''m sitting..." Edris''s eyes shot open. The voice wasn''t from his brain, but verbally delivered to his ears. Ace got his body back? Was it the Harkness Notebook? Traces of sleep gone in an instant, he whipped his head around the room, expecting to see Ace''s physical body for the first time. During the time they''ve spent together, Edris had subconsciously formed a mental image of the speaker inside his head: A burly, middle-aged man with rough features and intimidating eyes. What confronted Edris was none of that. Not even close. His gaze fell on the fluff of pink floating before him. Dumbfounded, Edris stared at the creature that was only slightly bigger than his fist as the latter stared back with round, ashen eyes. After a good minute of silence, the plump-looking Ace spoke up in a voice deep like the ocean. "The fuck are you looking at?" 17 | I Do Not Hear It "Master!" Celio waved enthusiastically as he saw Edris striding down the stairs. The royal banquet was scheduled to take place during the early evening, but all guests tended to arrive an hour before the designated commencement in time for the red carpet. With a packed banquet attire looped in each arm, Celio arrived especially early in the morning so he wouldn''t miss the traveller. After all, he knew it would be difficult to grab hold of Edris once he left the inn. As Celio was about to greet him, his words slipped from his mind as he noticed the ball of pink resting on Edris''s shoulders. "A spirling?" He asked with wide eyes. Spirlings were entities most closely associated with nature. Infused with mana, they have the power to enhance an Awakened''s mana channel and strengthen their abilities. However, as spirlings were said to originate from ancient times, they were considered extremely rare, and most people wouldn''t come across any in their entire lives. Most spirlings lived in concealment, and the minority in civilization accompanied elementalists, Awakeneds who were capable of taming spirlings and rumoured to be blessed by nature. "Master, you''re an elementalist?" Celio''s golden orbs grew even wider as several speculations arose about the traveller''s identity. "No. This thing was here today when I woke up." Edris shook his head. He eyed the fluff ball on his shoulder, musing. "It must have been lost." At his words, Celio nodded in understanding and, without further ado, leaned closer to examine the tiny creature. "How cute!" He grinned before turning to Edris, who only smiled in response. To Celio, it was a gentle smile, but to the pink fluff in front of him, it was as taunting as a smile could get. The corners of Edris''s lips upturned a few degrees further as he snuck a glimpse at Ace, who looked as if he was about to commit murder. After gaining a physical form, Ace lost the ability to communicate with Edris through his mind. Although the loss was supposedly temporary, it was something Edris was thankful for, since otherwise, he would be hearing profanities right now. "You''re not an elementalist, but this spirling decided to follow you," Celio said with a nod, as though he had reached some sort of understanding. "As expected from my Master. Your heart is, indeed, full of kindness to attract nature''s companions." At Edris''s stiffening smile, it was Ace''s turn to sneer. *** At four in the afternoon, a crowd had gathered before the royal palace. More precisely, it wasn''t the main palace but a smaller building built on Felicity Hills, a plateau just south of the main royal palace. The building, named by the King of Zacriya as Chateau Felicity, was designed just for social gatherings as such. Nobles and journalists gathered around the outside courtyard of Chateau Felicity as carriages lined up against the gates. One after another, the guests stepped out in their glamorous attires and strolled through the garden trail that led to the central floor, where the actual banquet was held. Each serving guest would show their invitation to the palace servant and then have their names announced before entering the area. "Lord Magnus Vyris of the Vyris household has arrived!" All eyes immediately turned towards the entrance gates at the servant''s announcement. The Zacriya Kingdom was divided into four territoriesnortheastern, western, southwest, and centralwhere each area was controlled by a main household. The western territory, known for its flourishing land and gemstone mines, was controlled by the influential Vyris family, known for their close ties with the Zacriya princes. The carriage doors opened, and a man with light pink hair stepped out. Dressed in an elegant maroon suit, Magnus Vyris was an attractive man that looked to be in his mid-twenties. There was something about this mansomething about his posture, the way he walked, the way his eyes shimmered in the sunthat surrounded him in an air of grace. But most of all, people were charmed by his unique coloured hair and eyes, which were representative of the Vyris household''s noble status. His ruby-like eyes quickly skimmed the crowd as a gesture of acknowledgement before disappearing into the main chamber. People''s attention was so focused on the young Lord of the Vyris household that they almost ignored the carriage right behind him. Almost. "Sir Edris and Sir Celio have arrived!" The servant''s voice boomed through the entrance. Although the Wulin Tournament was not a mainstream competition, its unexpected developments had spread throughout the central territory and made their way around various parts of the kingdom. Having heard of the exceptional battle between the mysterious traveller and the beast tamer, people were naturally curious about the two guests. The carriage doors opened, and the beast tamer was the first to step out. Cloak fluttering as he jumped to the ground, Celio casually scouted his surroundings. He wore a black dress shirt that was a slim cut to his fit figure. Draped over his shoulders was a white surcoat adorned with gold embroidery that complemented his golden hair and eyes. Despite his youthful appearance, Celio had the aura of a well-taught noble. At the young man who seemed to be glowing, the crowd couldn''t help but start quiet discussions amongst themselves. "I heard the beast tamer was from Adalan," a woman muttered to her lady friends. "Likely well-off, too. He''s got the bright eyes." "I had regarded the tournament. Father said he looked likesome Adalarian knight? I can''t seem to recall the proper title..." "Impressive. And cute! Do you suppose he is matched?" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. As the nobles conversed enthusiastically, another figure peeked his head out of the carriage. Edris, inwardly pleased at Celio''s attention-grabbing presence, quietly stepped out behind him. As the crowd was distracted, he hoped to go in without drawing unnecessary attention to himself. Just as he took the first stride, a rush of gusts swept past the crowd, its coldness throwing all conversations to a halt as the people present subconsciously shivered on the spot. Although Nolmes was a tropical city, its temperature ranged drastically from day to night and was especially apparent in windy conditions. As people instinctively recoiled at the cold, someone noticed an indifferent individual amidst the carpeted path. His hair was a rare shade of dark blue, almost black, and a gentle smile tugged by his lips. Surrounded by a peculiar sense of serenity, the mandressed entirely in blackstood calmly as his azure surcoat fluttered in the wind. Amidst the surge of wind that obscured one''s sight, he stood out like the focus of an oil painting. Being unable to perceive temperature is actually quite useful. At least I don''t feel cold. Edris, ignoring the reactions of those around him, smiled in satisfaction as he waited for Celio to recover from the gust. The crowd was quiet as they watched the dark-haired traveller stroll to the entrance, the young beast tamer trailing behind him. *** Light poured into his eyes the moment Edris stepped into the banquet hall. The area extended just over twenty meters in length, generously adorned with various riches and glories. At the end of the hall was a raised platform; it held a long table which had three spots reserved for the royal family. Beneath the platform was several round tables, designated for the guests. As Edris stepped forth, he was immediately approached by a pink-haired man whojudging by the timingappeared to be waiting for him. "You must be Sir Celio. Ive heard about your remarkable deeds at the Wulin Tournament," the man complimented Celio, who only bowed politely in return before subtly shifting behind Edris. "And you must be Sir Edris," he said with a nobly smile. "What an honour to meet the renowned ''Tempest Initiator'' at His Highness''s banquet. My name is Magnus." Edris almost grimaced at the nicknames; they seemed to be getting weirder by the day. He''s heard of Hypnotist and Traveller, but Tempest Initiator was a first. Hidden beneath his dark surcoat, Ace whispered in a low voice. "An archmage." At his words, Edris immediately put up a friendly look as he extended his palm. "My pleasure to be known to the young Lord of the Vyris family." "Likewise, I didn''t expect the Vyris family''s reputation to extend beyond the Zacriya Kingdom," Magnus shook his hand with a smile. "Not at all. Your name is one recognizable to the entire Western Continent." "Nonsense," Ace commented from behind, a mutter which Edris ignored him as he gave Magnus an equally friendly smile. Although Magnus Vyris was both a distinguished nobleman and an archmage, he didn''t behave in the prideful manner commonly seen in other young lords with similar status. Edris appreciated the man''s poise, but not the attention his presence was bringing them. His mind wandered back to Ace''s words. Archmages were Awakeneds who achieved close to top-tier results in magic usage and skill development. There were less than fifty archmages in the Zacriya Kingdom and just over a hundred in the entire Eastern Continent. Because of their influence and potential, the archmages'' identities were primarily concealed by the kingdoms, unless they decided to expose themselves by openly revealing their mana presence. At this thought, Edris couldn''t help but wonder how much Ace''s abilities have improved for him to recognize one just with a glance. Before exiting his room this morning, Edris had Ace provide an overview of his condition; according to the latter, his current form was still temporary. Although it was a nuisance to maintain, it was still better than nothing. Nodding at his explanation, Edris had then asked him about the Harkness Notebook. "So you managed to open it? Where is it now?" "I ate it," Ace replied calmly. "Pardon me?" "I ate it." "..." What might have taken the average mage years and decades to figure out was realised by Ace in a week. Not to mention, he had absorbed all of its content, even down to its physical state. Edris had fallen silent for a whole minute before lifting his head back up. "So about your memories" "I still don''t remember anything." Ace''s response was curt and blunt. "...It''s fine." Frankly, Edris wasn''t too discouraged. Sure, his heart was bleeding at the bare money he could have gotten if he hadn''t chosen this week-long-lifespan notebook, but thanks to the item, Ace had achieved exponential growth. Optimistically speaking, it wasn''t a bad trade-off for Edris, as there were now more ways to make use of Ace''s skills. Bringing his mind back to the present, Edris forcibly pushed back the memories as he turned his attention back to Magnus Vyris. After exchanging a couple more pleasantries, they parted and approached their respective seats. Edris and Celio sat at the Awakened-specific table to the immediate left of the platform. The table was sparse with people; including the two of them, only seven were present, and Edris wasn''t even an Awakened. After exchanging a general greeting with those at the table, Edris leaned back and relaxed in his chair, casually observing the surroundings. It''s a clever set-up. The hall was set up in a way that openly demonstrated the Zacriya family''s relation with different nobles in power, as well as the general power dynamic of the kingdom. Five tables were spread across the hall, and each seated the nobles from its respective territory. As there were only four major territories, the fifth table consisted of the influential Awakeneds in the Zacriya Kingdom. He supposed this was expected. As a kingdom known for prospering mana sites, Zacriya placed a high emphasis on Awakeneds, especially those who chose to become mages. Representing the northeastern territory (which included the capital), influential families such as the Ablemores and the Orteons were seated closest to the platform stage, while the less powerful were positioned at the back of the table. Countless pairs of eyes scrutinized the surroundings as the nobles in power sized each other with passive-aggressive smiles. Taking in the various interactions, Edris let out a faint sigh. Frankly, he was starting to regret being here. I''m just a traveller who wants to make money. I agreed to this since rejecting the Crown Prince twice would be troublesome, but From the corner of his eye, Edris noted Celio''s dazed state. Although sitting straight and staring ahead, Celio''s gaze was empty. Edris suspected that the boy somehow learnt to sleep with his eyes open. Impressive. Suddenly, a clear voice boomed throughout the entire banquet hall. "His Majesty, Her Majesty, and the Crown Prince are entering the hall!" Immediately after the announcement, the two grand doors opened simultaneously, and all guests rose from their seats. The first to enter was the King and Queen of Zacriya. Like the Crown Prince, they also had red hair unique to the royal family''s blood, adding a sense of fierceness to their already dignified presence. Especially the King. Despite the signs of senilty on his face, his hair kept ablaze, adding a touch of vitality to his ageing presence. All heads bowed as they passed through the long banquet hall, towards the top of the elevated platform, without acknowledging any greetings. It was because the main appearance was yet to be made. Entering right behind them was none other than the spotlight of the eventDolan Zacriya. In his majestic formal clothing, Crown Prince Dolan looked nothing like the carefree prince Edris had met back in the royal palace''s conservatory. He stared straight ahead and, with clear strides, made his way to the centre seat between the King and Queen. With his red hair neatly styled behind him, Dolan lifted his hand slightly, and the banquet doors closed shut. With the right hand over his chest and his head slightly lowered, Edris was absentmindedly planning his dinner plans when Ace, resting inside his coat pocket, muttered something that made his blood run cold. "The Queen is using disguise magic." Damn it. Edris wanted to unhear this at once. 18 | I Smile, I Nod Deciding to ignore Ace''s ominous words, Edris redirected his attention to the royal family. Impressive. If people didn''t know about Dolan''s original status as the second prince or his older brother, Treo Zacriya, no one would doubt his presence as the Crown Prince. The door closed behind them, indicating the commencement of the banquet. At the Crown Prince''s gesture, everyone took their seats, casting their eyes to the three seats on the elevated platform. "I feel bad for the bedridden first prince," Celio said under his breath. "He must be really sick not even to attend the banquet." The banquet, although hosted by the royal family, was meant to be semi-formal. After the King delivered his usual patriotic addresses to the guests, the rest of the banquet time was left to social bonding and opportunities for them to suck up to the new Crown Prince. Meals were soon brought to the tables by palace maids and servants that trickled into the area one after another. Roasted meat, grilled vegetables, fanciful desertsthe different varieties of food were put on display beside each other, forming a spectrum of appetising colours. As the dining portion of the banquet officially began, Celio nudged Edris slightly and excused himself to the restroom. "You don''t have to tell me." Edris waved his hand as the boy got up from his seat. After Celio disappeared from the table, Edris''s eyes lightened as he sat up from his relaxed posture, taking in the plates of gourmets placed before his eyes. After taking a few bites out of his cheesecake, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and glanced around. Although these social gatherings weren''t exactly his cup of tea, this didn''t mean that Edris wasn''t planning to take advantage of the opportunity. After all, his goal was to buy a house and have enough money and connections to live comfortably for a lifetime. However, he couldn''t help but feel wary about Ace''s comment from earlier. He casually glimpsed the long table that sat the royal family. Ace said that the Queen was under some sort of disguise. A fake? Edris subconsciously frowned. If someone had disguised themselves as the Queen, then their action, if found out, would inevitably be an offence worthy of immediate death penalty. Scooping a spoonful of bread pudding, he savoured the sweetness of the desert and examined the Queen from afar. In an elegant red gown, the Queen was conversing with her lady friends who had approached her at the table. Her bright red hair, braided into a sleek bun, rested behind her head and was adorned with brilliant pieces of jewellery exclusive to the royal family. Appearance-wise, she looked as noble as the Queen of Zacriya could get. Amidst his thoughts, Edris noticed someone approaching his direction. He was an old man with thick, nut-brown hair, looking to be in his mid-forties. With elevated steps, he was headed straight for where Edris was standing. "Dominic Orteon. Duke of Orteon," Ace said curtly, submerging under Edris''s cloak as the man came closer. "In charge of the northeastern territory. Leads the kingdom''s textile industry." The Orteon household controlled the kingdom''s northeastern territory, including the current capital, Nolmes. Known for their specialization in textile production and commerce, the Orteons were considered a major powerhouse in the Zacriya economy. Edris had learnt this information a few days ago when he consulted the machina, Alan Grennor, about merchants and the kingdom''s economy. Still, he couldn''t help but be impressed by Ace''s access to all types of information. A true database. Edris gauged his current situation. While he appreciated an influential figure like Duke Orteon''s interest in his presence, Edris found minimal, if not nil, benefits in building a bond with him. Therefore, he decided to conserve his energy. Edris was going to plaster on a smile and nod along until the duke leaves. "Your Grace," he greeted the old man in a respectful but distant manner. "I''m surprised you know me." The man looked taken aback. "To think the Orteon business has come this far to have a name beyond the kingdom!" Do all noble greetings follow a specific template? Edris vaguely recalled Magnus Vyris, who had responded with similar remarks as he plastered on his harmless smile. "Not at all. Your presence is one recognizable to the entire Eastern Continent." If Ace could still speak in his head, he would be scoffing at Edris''s replicated response. Thankfully, the ball of pink wasn''t currently capable of doing so. As Duke Dominic rambled on about his acknowledgement of Edris''s abilities during the Wulin Tournament, the latter merely smiled at appropriate times, politely insinuating that he did not care. His insinuation passed unheard as the duke continued praising Edris for things he already knew. However, on the topic of Crown Prince Dolan''s older brotherTreo ZacriyaDuke Orteon mentioned something that caught his attention. "It''s truly heart-wrenching to see His Royal Highness''s worsening condition." He sighed sympathetically, brushing his pointy beard with two fingers. "I can''t seem to understand what Her Majesty is thinking either, reserving from us bulks of custom-made dresses during a time like this" Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Dresses?" Edris tilted his head. "Her Majesty''s maids have been visiting our company lately with requests for custom dresses for Her Majesty." Duke Dominic nodded. "Quite frivolous shopping despite the occasion, if I must say so myself." The moment he muttered his thoughts, Duke Dominic immediately caught onto meaning of his words and stifled a few coughs. "Of course, an old guy like myself wouldn''t dare to speculate the minds of the Zacriya family." At the duke''s blunder, Edris simply chuckled along, dismissing his statement as a joke. "You''re too humble." He knew that Duke Dominic didn''t mean any malice in his statement. Despite the divided territories and power, the Zacriyas were highly regarded by the different factions. They were a royal family that always emphasized the significance of peace. Peace. It was a value passed down from their ancestor to every generation of the family. With over a thousand years of legacy, the Zacriya family was the most prominent power in the kingdom, and one of the most influential in the Eastern Continent. The reason why the Zacriyas had maintained influence after all these years was thanks to their ancestorToren Zacriya. He was the creator of the Zacriya Kingdom and its first king. He was an elite archmage, a creator, and a hero. He was the main character of countless myths and legends, and his tales of adventure flowed upon throughout the entire Zacriya Kingdom, spreading to the hearts of citizens like wildfire. Even Edris, who only arrived in the kingdom barely months ago, was no stranger to this legendary figure. He wasn''t a fan of heroic tales, but he must admit that stories of Toren Zacriya''s great adventures had spread far and wide throughout the continent. In fact, it was reasonable to say that there wasn''t a single person unaware of his name. Edris swept his gaze past the heads of conversing nobles, towards the row of portraits that hung on the walls of the banquet hall. They were portraits of all the past rulers of the Zacriya Kingdom. Although recording magic didn''t exist during Toren Zacriya''s time, people were able to deduce his appearance from ancient records of the Creatos Era. Crimson red hair, daunting countenance, and blood-like pupils. Toren Zacriya was said to be a menacing man but also someone with a strong sense of righteousness. Many considered him humanity''s saviour. In the Creatos War, it was he that led his companions and the rest of the human race through the period of devastation and bloodshed. Edris narrowed his eyes. The Creatos Era, also known as the Period of Ruination, lasted until almost a thousand years ago. According to common belief, Toren Zacriya, as the leader of the Seven Conquerors, fought with his companions against the God of Forsake, who was trying to bestow calamity to this world. After countless arduous battles, they finally achieved triumph, thus ending the Creatos War and bringing upon a new time: the Eultros Era. The current year was 995 E.E., almost a thousand years since the end of the Creatos War. Withdrawing his eyes from the large portrait at the centre, Edris refocused on the current conversation with Duke Dominic and started to think. The Queen was mass buying while her oldest son was on the death bed? There was something off about this whole situation, but frankly, he didn''t care to make sense of it either. Getting involved with the royal family wasn''t in his plan for a carefree life. Deep in thought, he failed to notice that Duke Dominic observing his every expression. At the dark-haired man''s long silence, Duke Dominic nodded to himself. He had met many young people like him in the past, many of whom attempted to get friendly with higher society to make a name for themselves. However, he felt that the traveller standing before him was different. As strange as it may sound, he felt no ambition coming from him that should be common in others sharing his situation. "You are just as thoughtful as rumours say." From their discussion about the royal family and the first prince, Duke Dominic could tell that the traveller was concerned for the royal family and the kingdom. Edris decided to ignore the man''s comment as he merely responded with a smile. He knew the reason why this duke had approached him: as a foreigner the Crown Prince personally invited, Edris''s presence was comparable to a budding flower. The Orteon household held the majority of control over the northeastern territory. To maintain good relations with the royal family and their position, they always kept an eye out for potential benefactors like Edris. After all, they had nothing to lose, developing good bonds with someone who may grow to be an asset in the future. Having conversed for another short while, Edris was about to politely excuse himself when Duke Dominic''s eyes brightened at the person approaching from behind. "And you must be Celio!" He exclaimed. Celio, who just came back from the washroom, blinked at the man''s sudden enthusiasm as he replied dazedly with the proper etiquettes, remaining behind Edris during the entirety. "I''ve heard of your accomplishments in the Wulin Tournament," Duke Dominic said sincerely. "You truly resemble your father." Celio visibly stiffened at his words, and Edris glanced up from his lashes. He knew the boy was from a wealthy background, but he didn''t expect his family to be acquainted with the Orteon household. Since he stood in front of Celio, Edris couldn''t see the stunned expression on the beast tamer''s face as he tried to stop the duke from exposing his identity altogether. Despite the careful smile hung across on his youthful face, Celio was sweating profusely within. The entire Moon family was still under the impression that Celio had left on a training excursion. He didn''t expect to meet someone who recognized him all the way in the Zacriya Kingdom! Thanks to his old man, Celio had came into contact with a number of prominent figures, from a young age, too. But seeing how he retained no recollections of Duke Orteon, their meeting must have been ages ago. Celio gulped. There were adults like him then and now, who acted as though they were life-long companions when, in reality, the last time he saw Celio was probably when he was still on diapers. Regardless, there was a more important matter at hand: Master! He still doesn''t know about my identity! However, it was too late. Before Celio could block out his words, Duke Dominic was already diving into nostalgia. "Speaking of your father, how is he? The last time we spoke was in Odeen. Back then, he was still the imperial general, but look at him nowCommander Moon of Adalan''s imperial army!" Duke Orteon laughed heartily, completely unaware of the boy''s horrified look. "Anyway, please give Evans my regards and tell him that I''m still waiting for him to redeem the drink promise." Evans Moon? Commander of the Adalan Kingdom''s imperial army? Edris blinked twice at this information. The Moons in the Adalan Kingdom was a family that directly served their king, Myles Xine. With a deep-rooted history of combat experience, the Moons established a reputation for both competency and affluence. Despite their influence, the Moons were humble people that tend to lay low from public''s eyes. If it weren''t for the nature of his previous works in Adalan, Edris probably wouldn''t have even discovered their existence. There was one characteristic about the family that Edris particularly recalled. Although they were a family that specialized in combat, their territory, built upon a gold mine, also gave them a geographical advantage to wealth. Edris, appearing indifferent on the outside, was taking in the duke''s words with a single thought in his head: Money! If they were talking about the same Moon family, then that meant the boy standing behind him was more than affluent. He was filthy rich! 19 | Ill Drop a Bomb As Edris mentally took note of the young beast tamer''s background, he was hit with another thought. Celio''s last name is Moon, and he''s the son of the Adalan Kingdom''s Imperial Army Commander? How in the world did he manage to run away from home? Skill-wise, there was no way Celio could escape under the eyes of some of the brightest forces in the kingdom. Although he was adept in combat and was an attributed beast tamer, there was no way that nobody noticed his escape. Organising these thoughts, Edris reached a preliminary conclusion: His father was not only aware of his son''s actions, but he also supported them from the shadows. Maybe he wanted to give his son some challenges to overcome so he could grow with experience? But to allow him to run all the way to another kingdom Were imperial commanders all this extreme? Edris sighed inwardly and stored these thoughts in the back of his head. Although he was curious about the rationale behind the Moon family''s actions, it didn''t directly affect him, so Edris planned to leave it only at the level of speculation. Plus, he was almost certain that the Moon family, knowing about Celio''s escape, must have sent someone to observe the youth from the shadows and help him in perilous situations. He glimpsed at Celio behind him, only to realise that the golden-haired boy was staring at him with teary eyes as if he had committed a crime. "M-Master, I" Celio stammered, casting his gaze down as his words trailed off. "I''m sorry I hid this from you." "Everyone has secrets. There is no need to tell others everything," Edris said plainly. Celio curled his fists and, after a few seconds, nodded slowly. Dominic Orteon, observing their conversation, also gave a meaningful nod. "How impressive! To think a young man like you was already at a level to take disciples." He stroked his beard. Before Edris could deny his statement, Duke Orteon turned to Celio with a grin. "Since you''re already here, how about visiting your Uncle Dominic''s house? I have a daughter around the same age as you. I think you two will get along well." Celio''s ears immediately grew red while Edris listened with amusement. Duke Dominic''s offer was considered the norm in upper-class society. After all, nobles wanted to forge connections with other families of the same or higher standing. Arranged marriage was quite popular in this manner. "Your Grace, I''m only sixteen." Celio held his palms before his chest with a flustered look. "More importantly, I''m set on following my Master to improve my skills and gain more experience as an Awakened. I still have a long way to go." "It''s Uncle Dominic. Uncle! Also, why are you so embarrassed? It''s just an offer to make friends. Nothing more." Duke Orteon laughed. "I''m sure Sir Edris here won''t mind your absence for a few hours, no?" At his words, both Celio and Dominic regarded the man who had remained silent during their conversation. The former''s gaze was pleading for him to refuse while the latter looked at him in anticipation. Under their gazes, Edris shrugged a smile. "I am in no position to tell him to stay," he said. "It is purely up to Celio''s decision." Seeing that the beast tamer immediately paled at his reply, Edris almost laughed out loud. "However, Celio came all the way here to hone his skills. And I have no doubts he''ll grow to be even brighter in the future." He took a glimpse at Celio, only to see that light had returned to his eyes. "It would be a shame for him to stop now amidst his youth adrenaline, don''t you think so too?" "But of course! Even though I am unfamiliar with mana and magic, I can see that young Celio is heading towards a bright future." Dominic Orteon said in agreement. "He''s Commander Moon''s son after all!" Just as Celio let out a sigh of relief, Edris spoke up again. "I''m sure your words will prove its truth," he said. "With that being said, there is no harm for Celio in befriending many unique people. After all, meeting others is also a way to grow as a person. What do you think, Celio?" Staring at Edris as if he was being sold off, Celio mustered a polite smile. "Of course." "...You really got no morals." Ace''s whisper reached his ears, and Edris chuckled softly before speaking again. "You heard him, Your Grace. Although things are busy now, Celio will surely pay a visit in the future." "I will look forward to it." Dominic Orteon laughed. "I hear plans without me?" All three guests turned toward the source of the voice. With his red hair flashing in the distance, Dolan Zacriya made his way toward them with an amicable smile. "Your Highness." Dominic Orteon immediately greeted him with a bow, which Dolan casually acknowledged with a nod. Noticing that the Crown Prince was here for Edris and Celio, the duke exchanged some polite remarks before knowingly taking his leave. "I hope you''re finding the banquet to your liking." Dolan turned to the dark-haired man. "It far exceeds my expectations," Edris replied with his usual gentle smile, and Celio politely agreed with a nod. "I meant to get in touch earlier, but how is the Harkness Notebook?" Dolan asked. He knew the traveller didn''t specialise in magic, so he speculated that the item might have been a useless reward. "I made good use of it." Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Dolan raised an eyebrow, not hiding his fascination as he eyed him up and down. "That''s good to hear." Edris pretended not to notice his expression and only smiled in response. After this interaction with the Crown Prince, he thought that the two of them weremore so than notsimilar. Before Dolan Zacriya attained the title of the Crown Prince, he was a carefree individual. At least, that was the public''s image. Even before Edris arrived in Nolmes, he''d heard stories about the Zacriya Kingdom''s second prince''s notorious reputation. Despite being a member of the royal family, the second prince of Zacriya was raised in a lax environment as all the necessary pressure went to the first prince, Treo Zacriya, who was supposed to be the next heir to the kingdom. As the second son, Dolan Zacriya spent his time travelling and lavished himself with entertainments, but when the first prince fell ill, he suddenly found himself pushed under the spotlight. Only then did the previous rumours start to subside. Although Dolan Zacriya originally spent his time playing around, Edris knew he definitely wasn''t stupid. On the contrary, he thought the Crown Prince was shrewder than most nobles in the kingdom. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to settle the conflicts between different households in power with such efficacy. The second prince becoming the Crown Prince was unprecedented in the Zacriya Kingdom. Yet large conflicts between nobles were kept to a minimum, and any rumours circulating in the capital were suppressed quickly. Dolan gave Edris a noble-like smile, and the latter returned the expression. He thought that the Crown Prince was the type who appeared proper on the outside but subtly took control from the shadows. Under this premise, Edris and the Crown Prince were quite similar. While Edris had no intentions of being involved in political affairs, unlike the latter, they were both types of people who would go to lengths to achieve their goals. Edris had no problem saying that Dolan Zacriya, like him, wasn''t that great of a person. "Oh, Magnus!" Dolan suddenly exclaimed as he looked in the direction behind Edris. Magnus Vyris, son of the Duke of Vyris, who was in charge of the western territory, strolled over after at his prompting. Edris watched as the two exchange a simple greeting. Under normal circumstances, Magnus would be required to greet the Crown Prince formally, but the two seemed to share a close relationship for the latter to address him just by his name. Before the Crown Prince could introduce him to the group, Magnus turned to Edris with a handshake. "We already met earlier," he said, gracefully brushing a strand of pink hair from his forehead. Unlike the Crown Prince, who gave off the refreshing aura of Nolmes''s daylight, Magnus Vyris reminded Edris of the breeze at duskrefined but chilling. "Indeed, Your Highness," Edris said to the Crown Prince. "Lord Magnus is an impressive individual." He meant what he said. Becoming an archmage at his age was more than impressiveit was a genius achievement. However, Edris pitied the man after considering all the horrible responsibilities towering upon his shoulders in the future. Smiling on the outside, he mentally offered his condolences. "How''s Mia doing?" Dolan asked casually, and Magnus let out a chuckle. "Sulking. She complained for the longest time about how she couldn''t come to the banquet." Magnus turned to Edris and Celio. "Mia is my twin sister, but she couldn''t come with me today since she was busy preparing for the archmage examination." Archmage examination? Another one? Solely from his encounters at the banquet, Edris would have thought archmages to be streetside occupations. He assessed his current position, only to realise that he was amidst a conversation with quite a few prominent figures. "Archmage examination." Edris blinked. "Impressive." "Sir Edris, your words are too kind." Magnus shook his head. "Both of you, quit the compliments." Dolan''s laughter bounced through the hall, drawing pairs of eyes towards their conversation. "Now that I think of it, why don''t you fight it out to get to know each other?" "You sure like to joke around, Your Highness," Edris immediately replied. "I wouldn''t dare to compete with the pride of the Vyris family." Despite his humble decline, he was genuinely horrified by the suggestion. Magnus Vyris''s competence wasn''t just based on words. Observing the well-postured archmage standing before him, Edris felt that he would be in the afterlife after taking half a hit hit from the man. "You wouldn''t stand a chance against him," Ace said from behind, and Edris silently agreed with his statement. He was perfectly aware of where he stood in terms of power. Other than his enhanced physiques from using all types of enhancers and the Tempest, which he had recently gained from the Sacrificial Hourglass, Edris had no other skills. Naturally, he wouldn''t go on a suicide mission against someone like Magnus Vyris. While Magnus humbly shook his head, Dolan laughed out loud, his broad shoulders shaking from the action. He seems to be enjoying this Seeing the Crown Prince''s amused expression, Edris suddenly had an urge to do something impulsive. His mind flashed back to Ace''s comment from the beginning of the banquet. Should I? Despite his question to himself, Edris had already decided. He was going to drop a bomb on Dolan Zacriya. "Ah, that reminds me." Starting hesitant, Edris waited for the attention around them to disperse before lowering his voice toward the Crown Prince. "I''m not sure if I''m in the place to say this, but" As his voice trailed off, Dolan Zacriya waved his hand casually. "Speak your thoughts." Controlling his urge to smile, Edris meaningfully snuck a glimpse in the direction of the Queen, then drew his gaze back to Dolan Zacriya and Magnus Vyris. He was planning to subtly insinuate at the Queen''s condition to the former. Once he incited the bomb of doubt, Edris would then leave the Crown Prince to handle the rest by himself. "It''s about Her Majesty" Edris said under his breath while observing Dolan''s puzzled face. Just as he was about to continue, a deep voice sliced through his head with elucidating clarity. Thirty degrees to your right! Before his mind even processed the information, Edris''s instincts took over as he swung an arm to the side, slamming the Crown Prince out of the way. The abrupt movement caused them to fall back, barely evading the arrow that pierced through their original spot. The magic-coated arrow dug itself right into the wall behind them, its vibration bringing the banquet into utmost stillness. "There are intruders!" At that moment, someone''s horrified scream filled the hall, and everything fell into chaos. The mosaic windows around the banquet hall exploded into pieces as people dressed in all black slid into the building. Above people''s heads, several patches of ceiling also broke as long ropes fell from them, followed by more people in black. Having recovered from the impact, Edris quickly regained his balance as he pulled the Crown Prince to his feet. When confronted with the unfolding chaos, he subconsciously frowned. Most of the guests at the banquet were nobles with no experience in mana manipulation. Although many held authority over the Mage Faction and magic item productions, they didn''t have any specific abilities themselves, so they were barely better than the average citizen when it came to combat. Edris skimmed the entire banquet hall. The guards present had positioned themselves around the King and Queen at the sight of the attack, leaving the nobles to survive on their own. Not including Magnus Vyris, who sat at the nobles'' table, there were a total of six Awakeneds in the room, while the total number of intruders amounted to over thirty. As even more of them rolled into the banquet hall, Edris grimaced as he took in the chaos before his eyes. It looked like his dinner plan was going down the drain. 20 | Ill Remember This "Lord Magnus." Edris spun toward the pink-haired archmage, who immediately nodded in response as a vigorous layer of mana surrounded his body. At the sudden attack, a rush of terror flooded the banquet hall. Some nobles scampered under the tables while others rushed to the exit, only to be killed off by the assassins. Without further ado, Edris slid forth and extended his palm. In a matter of seconds, a stream of purple poured from the center of his palm; it coursed through the tables and crawled up past the broken windows, enclosing the room in a dimmed environment. He had sealed off the entire space to prevent both the enemies and the magic arrows from entering. This also meant the original guests wouldn''t be able to exit, but that was the least of Edriss worries. "The Tempest" Hidden under a round table, one of the nobles poked his head, awestruck by the sight of the infamous shield. "Your Highness, are you alright?" Edris asked the man beside him while sustaining the shield. "...Yes." Dolan nodded before taking in the messy situation. After affirming that the Crown Prince was alive, Edris turned to look at the young beast tamer. "Celio, I need your help." At his curt words, the latter immediately understood his intentions. "Leave it to me!" With a sweeping motion, Celio tensed his body, and a golden light emerged from his chest, solidifying into a long sword. The brilliant light threw the assassins into a temporary daze, but that short moment of delay was enough for him to knock several of them out on the spot. Along with Celio, the five other Awakeneds in the banquet hall were fighting against the dozens of people in black. Amidst the battles, Edris''s grey eyes landed on the crevasses extending all over the ground, glowing even more apparent with the darkened hall. Standing in the centre of the spell circle was none other than Magnus Vyris. His eyes sealed shut as he appeared to be chanting something. Waves of mana bellowed from below, pushing strands of his hair into the air. After a few seconds, the archmage''s eyes flew open with a crimson glow, and he immediately looked toward Edris and Dolan. "The teleportation circle is ready!" "And the limit?" Edris asked as he pinned everyone''s location with a sweeping glance. Teleportation was considered highly advanced magic. With its significant demand for mana, the spell had a substantial toll on the user''s body and was extremely difficult to sustain. "Five people at once. There''s a one-minute downtime between each round." Magnus''s voice sounded strained, and a single droplet of sweat trickled from his jawline. "I can maintain this for five rounds." There are over a hundred guests at the banquet. Edris inhaled sharply, eyeing the gaze of others that automatically steered towards him. He had somehow taken on the commanding role in light of the sudden intrusion, and now everyone was waiting on his plans. How inconvenient. Logically speaking, the most acceptable course of action would be first to teleport the royal family. Magnus Vyris''s teleportation circle had a limitation of twenty-five people maximum, which left over seventy people stuck in the banquet hall. This meant that the only way to minimise casualty would be to kill the intruders as soon as possible. Once the Zacriyas teleport, we''ll have to take whoever is in sight and get rid of the intruders before they can injure the other guests. It wasn''t that Edris prioritised the Zacriyas because they were royalty. No, his choice arose from a much more practical standpoint. Everything stemmed from the fact that someone had disguised as the Queen and succeeded. Not to mention, Treo Zacriya was ill as well. The royal family weren''t people just anyone could get close to, yet one time after the next, they''ve fallen prey to misfortunes. With these thoughts in mind, Edris glanced toward the elevated stage of the banquet hall. Following this pattern Either the King or the Crown Prince was next. Whoever was behind this, their target was the royal family. To avoid giving new openings to the culprits behind the assassination, the best course of action would be to get the royal family out of here as soon as possiblefor the sake of themselves and everyone else in the banquet hall. Before Edris could speak, one of the assassins catapulted into the air, breaking past the tables as he aimed an attack toward the archmage. The burst of mana brushed past Edris and Dolan, towards Magnus Vyris. All of Magnus''s focus was on maintaining the teleportation circle, so he could only watch as the assassin inched closer by the second. When they were less than two meters apart, the assassin suddenly swerved to the left as he was slammed sideways by a crimson force. The one who cast the attack was none other than the spiky-haired Faren Ablemore. He was the youngest member of the Mage Brigade and the eldest son of the Ablemore family. Despite being an Awakened, he had sat with the nobles in the northeastern family, hence why Edris didn''t noticed him earlier. "Lord Faren!" Magnus blinked in surprise as the young mage rushed before him, knocking the assassin out cold. He quickly nodded in greeting before turning to Edris. "Sir Edris, please leave the defence to me," Faren said as he rose his staff into the air, surrounding himself with a faint orange glow. Edris nodded, then swept his gaze towards the elevated platform. The King and Queen of Zacriya were cornered at the edge of the platform, looking anxious as they were surrounded by several knights who rushed to protection. They don''t appear to be injured. After assessing their conditions, Edris turned to the Crown Prince, who was blasting mana towards the ends of the room to hinder the assassins'' movements. As the founder of Zacriya''s Royal Mage Brigade, Dolan Zacriya was naturally an Awakened himself. "Your Highness," Edris said. "Lord Magnus has finished the preparations for teleportation. I advise you to escape along with His and Her Majesty." "The King and Queen will leave at once. I will stay here," Dolan said firmly. "As the Crown Prince, I cannot afford to bail and leave others in danger." How fitting for the Crown Prince. Edris couldn''t understand Dolan Zacriya''s persistence, but accepted his words without contending. Just as he was about to have Celio gather the King and Queen, Edris suddenly had another thought. "Ace, would you like to test your limits? I know you''ve regained some more of your mana. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have been able to warn me telepathically." Amidst the chaos, it was easy for Edris to speak normally without being noticed by others. He hadn''t overlooked Ace''s warning inside his head at the start of the assassination. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. After hearing no response from under his cloak, Edris clicked his tongue. He continued talking, his calm voice fading in with the chaos. "Since you''ve obtained a physical form and regained some of your mana, although it''s temporary, wouldn''t it be a perfect chance to test your abilities?" There hadn''t been many chances for Ace to act with his physical state, since he would end up becoming too conspicuous and attract unnecessary attention. However, that was under normal circumstances. The chaotic situation unfolding before themit was a given opportunity for him to test his skills. If he was lucky, he might even unlock some of his previous memories. At his prompting, a hint of pink stuck out from the edge of his cloak. Ace, with his round, obsidian eyes, stared at him coldly. You''re just trying to use me to get rid of the enemies. Edris only smiled in response. You''re not scared. Just annoyed. "Correct." Edris''s smile grew wider. Although the situation was bothersome, there was no reason to be afraid. He had visited the machina, Alan Grennor, before coming to the banquet and bought plenty of defence potions to strengthen his body. Even if the intruders ended up with the upper hand, he was fully capable of escaping without scratch. Edris hadn''t prepared the enhancements specifically for the banquet, but to take precautions against his inability to perceive temperature. With this physical limitation, he wasn''t planning to go around the capital without improving his conditions. After all, it would be problematic if he died without himself knowing. Edris didn''t bother conversing further with Ace and drew his attention back to the current situation. The Crown Prince was halfway across the banquet hall, on his way to bring the King and Queen to the teleportation circle. Simultaneously, Celio skillfully led the other Awakeneds in combat against the assassins while Faren Ablemore and Magnus Vyris collaborated in sustaining the teleportation circle. As for himself, Edris was situated by the corner of the banquet hall, outstretching his palm to maintain the Tempest. During this process, he didn''t have to watch his back thanks to Ace who, acting as though he wasn''t going to help, threw the attackers out the window one after another with forces of mana. Silently taking in Ace''s movements, Edris subconsciously shivered at his precise yet cruel approach to getting rid of the enemies. Was he an assassin before he lost his memories? Edris thought it was a fitting occupation, considering Ace''s personality. At the same time, he noticed his own deteriorating state. Although he felt no signs of heat, his dress shirt was already drenched in sweat. Three minutes. This was the maximum time left he had for maintaining the shield. Edris observed his surroundings. Over two-thirds of the assassins were wiped out, with Celio leading most of the fights. While waiting for the Crown Prince to arrive with the King and Queen, Magnus, with the help of Faren Ablemore, had successfully teleported several of the nobles in the proximity to save time. Seeing the situation coming to a close, Edris discreetly lowered the shield little by little, without the assassins noticing. Suddenly, Ace''s deep voice echoed in his head as a question. You said this was a chance for me to test my abilities. "It is. Why?" Despite his words from earlier, the incident was coming to a close, with most of the enemies already wiped out. He pushed the puzzlement behind his mind as Ace spoke again. Your body is quite strengthened. Edris nodded hesitantly, not knowing what he was getting at. "I invested good money on improving my physical conditions, after all." I figured out some new things about myself. "Good for you?" Would you like to test your limits too? A ray of sunshine escaped through the Tempest, which had thinned considerably at Edris''s command. The blade of light entered the room like a semi-transparent veil. "What?" An ominous feeling instantly arose at Ace''s words, but it was interrupted by a yell that cut through the banquet hall. "Master, the Queen!" Celio''s urgent voice hit him at once, snapping Edris out of his conversation as he immediately cast his gaze toward the center platform. Inches away from the teleportation circle, the Queen stood in absolute stillness. Her ruby-like eyes filled black, inundating her iris and pupils. Her hands, adorned with gemstones and rings on each finger, rose above her head as they clenched the King''s neck tightly in their grip. Despite being half the size of the King, she somehow managed to lift him, letting his feet dangle inches from the ground. On the ground beside her were Faren Ablemore and several other Awakeneds, who had succumbed after depleting their mana. Dolan Zacriya, having been slammed against the wall, could only stare at his mother, who was strangling his father with her bare hands. Like the Crown Prince, the remaining nobles in the banquet hall shared the same horrified expressions. For a second, the room was silent. Even Dolan, who was closest to the Queen, hesitated to suppress who was supposed to be his mother. The Queen is an Awakened? No, that''s not right. She''s a normal person, but somehow managed to bring out her mana forcibly after being possessed? Quickly reaching a preliminary conclusion, Edris dispersed the remaining layer of the Tempest, restoring the room in its brilliant daylight. With the remnants of his energy, he planned to direct all of it towards nullifying the Queen''s condition. Before he could recast the Tempest, however, Edris''s vision suddenly blurred. The next thing he knew, the scene before him distorted, and the ground below him submerged in a blinding light, enveloping his entire body. Hit with an abrupt vertigo, Edris stumbled a few steps back, but by the time his eyes readjusted, he found himself confronted with a whole different scene. Edris stood right in front of the Queen, in place of the original King. All of this happened in less than a second. "What" All traces of nausea was replaced with pure shock as Edris instinctively backed up. Despite himself teleporting across the room, his cloak was left far behind in his original position. From the corner of his eye, he took in the stupefaction everyone''s face. Forget about their dumbfounded looks, Edris himself was baffled at his sudden teleportation. He knew who was responsible for this. I''m going to fight that pink piece of shit. Ace had teleported him right in place of the King. Standing right across from him was the possessed Queen of Zacriya, who, having lost her grip on the King''s neck, had retracted her hands to prepare her next move. In a short second, a black liquid wrapped around her entire right hand as the Queen plunged forth, aiming to pierce through everything in her way. However, the only thing in her way happened to be Edris''s teleported body. With a sharp inhale, Edris watched as her fingers drilled past his clothes, sinking into his abdomen. He took a step back, then two. The Queen retracted her hands. Drip. Drip. Drip. The entire hall silenced as they watched a trail of crimson trickle from the traveller''s body, creating a pool of blood on the floor. "Sir Edris!" "M-Master!'' Dolan and Celio''s urgent voices pulled Edris out of his trance as he examined his current state. Contrary to the reactions of those around him, Edris was thinking of something else. It actually doesn''t hurt that much? Although he was impaled in the stomach, the wound felt less painful than he had expected. Sure, he could feel the Queen''s hand squished against his organs, and sure, there was a daunting amount of outpouring blood. But other than that, it was endurable. The injury wasn''t as deep as it could have been. Was it due to the absorption of defence enhancers? The effects are even better than I imagined. Edris was about to straighten his back when he noticed the reactions of his surroundings. At that moment, he dawned with another idea. To the others, he had just saved the King from being murdered by his Queen at their son''s social banquetwasn''t that kind of a big deal? What would they do if their saviour happened to be severely injured? He dropped his gaze to his bleeding stomach. Although the teleportation had been against his will and the inflicted wound wasn''t that serious, the continuous flow of blood was real, and it appeared as a sight nothing short from abhorrent. The moment he confronted the Queen''s attack, Edris had concentrated the Tempest towards her body, neutralising whatever had possessed her from within. With her mana channel now purified, the Queen dropped limp into the Crown Prince''s arms. After reaffirming that the King and the Queen were both alive and that the remaining assassins had been apprehended, Edris deliberately let out an exhale as he slid onto the cold, hard floor. "Master!" Celio immediately rushed forth to catch Edris''s falling body, only to flinch at the temperature of his skin. Laying limp with half-closed eyes, Edris even made sure to cough out some blood for optimal effects. Under the concerned looks of the nobles and Awakeneds, he weakly lifted his hand and gazed towards the far end of the room. To others, the traveller appeared to be reaching for something beyond the windows, but to Edris, his action was directed towards the ball of pink that hid under his cloak. I''ll remember thiswas what the gesture meant. Letting out an inward scoff at Ace''s stoic expression, Edris let his hand drop weakly onto the ground. In the silent banquet hall, the traveller closed his eyes. 21 | I Dont Need It Edris slept extra well that day, although he was the only one who did. With the news of an assassination at the royal palace spreading like wildfire, the rest of the kingdom was in utter chaos. The Crown Prince had suppressed the rumours about the Queen''s involvement in the incident and imposed a confidential agreement upon all the guests who attended the banquet. As a result of this event, the Crown Prince and the Zacriya Kingdom''s territorial leaders have been occupied with work. Although Edris was mentally conscious, he kept his eyes closed. He felt comfortable under the blankets and laid dormant, hoping to drift back to sleep. However, someone sniffled frequently beside him, and he didn''t have to open his eyes to know it was the young beast tamer, Celio Moon. I know you''re awake. Hearing Ace''s familiar deep voice echoing in his head, Edris let out an inward sigh as he opened his eyes. As he adjusted to the colour-saturated room, what confronted him was an unfamiliar but extravagant setting. Contrary to his initial expectations, this wasn''t Mosky Inn. He realized that after he "fainted," Ace had left him at the banquet hall instead of teleporting him back to the inn. That damn ball of pink. Upon seeing the man''s grey eyes flutter open, Celio immediately shot up from his seat. Wiping his puffy eyes, he grabbed both of Edris''s hands. His eagerness poured over Edris like a bucket of ice water, clearing his mind immediately. It was then that Edris finally took notice of his surroundings. Marbled floor, gold-lined blanket, a portrait of a redhead hung across the wallonly one location corresponded to this scene. Before Edris could stop him, the beast tamer was already shouting with excitement. "Master, you''re awake!" Celio''s clear voice echoed throughout the spacious room like a cymbal. Edris cleared his throat, causing Celio to turn to him immediately. "Master, are you still unwell? Should I get you a cup of milk? Tea? Wine?" "...Milk is fine," Edris said after a second, then smiled. "And sugar. Thank you." Preferably a bowl of sugar, so he could take as much as he likedthough he didn''t state the last part out loud. Upon hearing his mission, Celio immediately nodded as he moved towards the exit. As he reached for the door handle, it swung open simultaneously as a redhead rushed into the room. With his usual silky hair messily tied behind his ears, Dolan Zacriya looked towards the bed where Edris was lying. When their eyes met, the Crown Prince exhaled in relief. He seemed genuinely happy to see Edris, which gave the latter an ominous feeling. "Your Highness," Edris pulled himself up to greet him, only to be pushed back against the pillow. He blinked twice. "No need for such trivial greetings," Dolan said. How are you feeling?" "Better than ever," he replied honestly, head sunk into the soft cushion. "How long was I out for?" "Half a day. Are you sure you''re feeling better?" At Dolan Zacriya''s second time asking, Edris nodded with a gentle smile. "I am fine, Your Highness. It is an honour to be under your worry." Ignoring Dolan''s complicated expression, he then asked out of pure formality, "Is Her Majesty doing alright?" "The healing priest said that the Queen was possessed by dark magic." Dolan lowered his head. "Thanks to you, most of the magic was already expelled, so it was easier to treat her condition. She''s currently resting in the palace." "That''s good to hear," Edris said. "And the guests?" "Thanks to you and the other Awakeneds, we could minimize the number of deaths. But there were quite a few injured. "The assassination was well planned. Before acting, they knocked out the palace guards outside the banquet hall and somehow disabled the mana barrier, which was why they managed to infiltrate the palace so smoothly." At Dolan Zacriya''s recount of the situation, Edris started to think. Now that the incident was over, he had time to consider the motives behind the assassination. The infiltrators managed to push past the royal palace security and sneak in without anyone noticing, which meant they had both a thorough plan and a skilled director. Also, if even Ace didn''t detect their presence until the last moment, they must be quite impressive. When the Queen appeared at the beginning of the banquet, Ace had told Edris that she was using disguise magic. Was their plan to assassinate the King during the uproar? If so, since when did the Queen become possessed? Amidst his various trails of thoughts, Edris''s expression unknowingly turned grave. Dolan, upon seeing the traveller''s stern look, pursed his lips into a line. Other than the deaths of three nobles, the most injured person was no other than the man lying before him. Yet despite his injuries, the first thing Edris asked him when he entered the room was the conditions of others. He wasn''t even a citizen of the Zacriya Kingdom, yet he didn''t hesitate one bit to risk his life for its people. What an astounding individual. Dolan silently affirmed this thought in his head, then turned to the dark-haired man. "Sir Edris, there is something I must confirm with you." With a hesitant tone, Dolan took in Edris''s puzzled expression before continuing. The room was silent as the Crown Prince uttered the following words: "Are you, perhaps a prophet?" *** In another room in the royal palace, the King of Zacriya sat beside the sleeping Queen, his face buried in his hands. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. In the bed beside the Queen lay the unconscious first prince, Treo Zacriya. The King, Drolis Zacriya, sat with solemnity and was deep in thought for a long time. A thin mist filled the room, wafting in the incense of smoky lavender. He was thinking about the foreign traveller at the banquet, the man who had saved him from the hands of the possessed Queen. Traveller Edris. He was almost certain that this young foreigner had some special connections with the kingdom''s founder. He suspected that he was the reincarnation of Toren Zacriya himself! Drolis Zacriya shot up from his seat at this audacious thought, causing the chair to fall behind him. Immediately following his action, a guard''s voice echoed outside the room. "Your Majesty, is everything alright?!" "...Yes," he gave a curt response, then sat back down. Tapping the rims of the chair, the King recalled the situation at the time. From the reports of nobles and witnesses present at the banquet, the traveller had used teleportation magic to transport himself across the banquet hall. Without expertise or years of accumulated knowledge on mana, there was no way for him to create a teleportation circle on the spot. All by himself, too. Unless one was a talented archmage like Magnus Vyris, teleportation was only doable by a collaboration of a mage brigade, after precise calculations and planning days before its actual execution. It was also more common for the executor of the skill to teleport others than themselves, as someone needed to maintain the circle as the teleportation proceeded. However, he had witnessed with his own eyes that the travellerlooking to only be in his twentieshad teleported himself in the spur of the moment, within the snap of a finger. The last person to achieve such feats was the grand mage in the Harkness family from centuries ago. Prior to the banquet, Drolis Zacriya had vaguely heard about the presence of a traveller from the mouth of his second son. This young man''s appearance had caused a splash in the capital. In just the short span of a month, he had won the Wulin Tournament, saved them from assassination, and made a name for himself throughout the kingdom. But amidst all his deeds, what stuck out to Drolis Zacriya the most was Edris''s pale appearance and gentle smile. There was something saintly about his presence, something that Drolis Zacriya couldn''t quite pin his finger on. Even when he was stabbed, the traveller''s smile was eerily out of place. Unlike a smile for his age, it was a smile that showed the vicissitudes of life and time. From the Crown Prince''s accounts, the traveller had chosen the Harkness Notebook as his reward despite not being a mage himself, which made it all the more suspicious. The Harkness Notebook was the accumulating experiences of the Harkness Family and was inspired by the deeds of Drolis''s ancestor: Toren Zacriya. Having lived for over two hundred years, Toren Zacriya was said to have become an angel after his death, silently preserving peace upon the kingdom and its people. Silently gazing toward his unconscious wife and son, Drolis Zacriya released a heavy sigh. "Something big is going to happen." *** Prophets. Considered mythical beings, prophets were divine messengers of the higher realms. Legends had it that beyond the Mortal Realm, other spaces existed where beings like prophets, angels and demons dwelled. Unlike angels, prophets could be both inherent at birth or a pursued status. Legend had it that those who attain the highest level of mana development receive the right to ascend beyond the Mortal Realmalthough no one had personally witnessed such phenomenons. In the context of humanity, prophets were considered demigodshuman beings closest to deities. According to various historical speculations, Toren Zacriya had been reborn as a prophet after his death. Others claimed that he became an angel. Naturally, these were unproven stories. With these thoughts in mind, Edris listened with a blank expression at the Crown Prince''s question. Upon witnessing the traveller''s silence, Dolan took that as an affirmative response, and his heart swelled with complicated emotions. "I know best not to ask questions I should not know. Therefore I will keep my curiosity still," he said solemnly. "Instead, I would like to thank you sincerely for your help. Both towards myself, my father, and the guests at the banquet." Normally, Edris would have debunked Dolan Zacriya''s speculations on the spot, but he couldn''t help but be amused at the way the Crown Prince somehow managed to make sense of this ridiculous misunderstanding. "Your Highness." Instead of refuting his words, Edris put up a smile. "What makes you think that way?" "Father, I mean, the King played a part in inspiring these speculations," Dolan said with a cough. "But rest assured, I would never intentionally dig into your background, especially when we, the Zacriyas, are deeply indebted to your help. "Your capabilities of mana manipulation are simply outstanding. Even if you are not a prophet, that does not alter the fact that, even as a foreigner, you''ve provided immense aid to our kingdom. "It would be only right for you to receive compensation for your honourable deeds." While Dolan Zacriya expressed his appreciation, a single thought was in Edris''s head. What a silver-tongued man. The Crown Prince was easily one of the most eloquent speakers he knew. Perhaps it was due to his noble upbringing, but he had a way of bringing across a point without flustering the other side. "My actions arent intended for compensation," Edris bowed his head slightly, ignoring Ace''s echoing scoff in his head. "But if you insist." "Then it is settled!" Dolan exhaled in relief at the traveller''s compliance. "Once you get better, I will arrange a recognition ceremony immediately. In consideration of your contributions, I think a Category One medal is only deserving." Of the kingdom''s recognition awards, Category One was considered one of the highest national honours. Hm? What did he say? Category One medal? Recognition ceremony? I must have heard incorrectly. If it weren''t for his skilful expression management, Edris would have frowned right there. When the Crown Prince offered rewards, Edris thought they would be monetary compensation, or perhaps other mana items he could feed to Ace. But a medal? A Category One medal? Not only was the recognition utterly useless, it might as well be an unspoken moral contract before the millions of citizens in the Zacriya Kingdom. Accepting this so-called "reward" would be equivalent to affirming his participation in future problems concerning the kingdom. "Your Highness," Edris said calmly, "Though I appreciate your kindness, I wish not to be bound by such recognitions. I am only performing my duties as a pursuer of peace." At Dolan Zacriya''s apparent confusion, Edris expressed his honest thoughts. "I only wish to live comfortably." "Pardon me?" Dolan blinked twice. If anyone else were standing before him, they would have eagerly accepted the reward and got onto their knees in gratitude. However, the traveller saw his offer as not only uncomfortable but also a burden? Dolan let out a laugh, brushing his red hair from his forehead. "You are truly an intriguing person." "You flatter me," said Edris, still aghast at the Crown Prince''s offer. He then firmly shook his head. "Also, I am not a prophet. I am only a traveller. An average, typical, mundane human being." Having seen what Dolan Zacriya was capable of, Edris decided to cut short the mummery before it blew out of proportion. If it were anyone else, they would have thought Edris was speaking out of humbleness. However, Dolan Zacriya had to believe it after seeing the traveller''s sincere gaze. "I understand," he said, this time with a tinge of amusement. "If you do not want recognition, I will not force it upon you. However, please at least accept the monetary compensation for your injuries. Consider it from a friend." "Well. If you insist." Edris reluctantly smiled. "Master!" The door flung open, revealing Celio with a tray of cookies and milk. "I''ve got what you asked for!" Giving the servant a general acknowledgement, he then greeted the Crown Prince before hurriedly approaching the bedside. Holding the cup in his hands, Edris took a sip of the milk, embracing its creamy sweetness in his mouth. Although he had just woken up from a long sleep, he was already starting to feel exhausted once more. Eyeing the smiling Crown Prince and the young beast tamer, Edris sighed inwardly as he took another gulp, pushing the negative thoughts to the back of his head, Little did he know, at the same time as he was enjoying his drink, a rumour was sweeping across the kingdom. A rumour about a prophet''s descent. 22 | I Dont Believe in Those Things ALAN''S MERCENARY CORNER. NOLMES. A trickling melody sounded as someone pulled open the door. "Welcome to AMC. How may I help you?" Alan Grennor raised his head with a typical customer-service smile. "Ah, Lord Faren! It''s been a while, hasn''t it?" Faren Ablemore greeted him with a small bow and closed the door behind him. "I am here to pick up my enhancers." After losing the match against the traveller, Edris, he immediately purchased a batch of enhancement potions to strengthen his physiques. The match showed Faren Ablemore the importance of having multiple cards at hand rather than over-relying on a speciality. While his family didn''t seem even half as upset about his loss as he did, Faren knew he had smeared dirt on the family''s name. He needed to get stronger. "They''re all here in the storage room. I''ll go fetch them right now," Alan said, with his shoulder-length hair tied behind him. "By the way, I heard about your participation in the Wulin Tournament. The results are unfortunate, but I heard it was a phenomenal match." "Not at all, I still have a long way to go compared to Sir Edris. Pardon me, I mean, Prophet Edris." Faren shook his head. "Prophet? But aren''t those just rumours?" Alan raised an eyebrow. "I was there during the incident." Glancing around him, Faren lowered his voice. "His deeds were truly phenomenal. I do not doubt the rumours." He had seen with his own eyes the moment Edris teleported across the banquet hall in order to save the King, even at the expense of being impaled himself. Even though he was a foreigner to the kingdom, he had acted faster than any of the people present to protect it. Despite all the blood pouring out of the traveller''s body, Faren Ablemore could never forget the peculiar expression on Edris''s face as he reached outwards, towards the soft, glowing light behind the window. It was truly a divine sight. "That sounds likequite something." Upon seeing the young mage''s adamant look, Alan didn''t ask further questions. A few moments passed, and he emerged from the storage room with a box filled with colourful containers and slid them across the counter. "Here are your enhancers." Faren nodded as he took the box into his hands. After affirming its content, he pulled out a leather pouch from his pocket and poured all the enhancers into it. Even as he emptied the box, the pouch maintained its original shape, which was only the size of his palm. It was his enhancer-specific Spatial Pouch, with a capacity of two hundred enhancers. "It''s good doing business with you." Faren nodded as he passed the remaining payment in a Yone Pouch that contained 10 000 gold yones. He had already deposited half of the amount when he placed the order. "Likewise. You''re AMC''s beloved VIP customer, after all," Alan said with a smile. "Looking forward to our next transaction." After Faren Ablemore left the store, Alan leaned back into his seat. Before he could fully sink into the backrest, however, the door flung open again. "Oh, did you forget something" His words faded into the air as Alan stared at the hooded figure by the entrance. His golden eyes flickered a few times before speaking again. "Edris?" The man yanked off his hood, revealing his midnight blue hair. At the machina''s dazed expression, Edris shrugged a smile. "Its been awhile." Even though he had recovered the third day after the incident, Dolan and Celio still insisted that he rest at the royal palace for another week. As a result, he resorted to sneaking out of the palace himself. "First the Tempest Initiator, then the Prophet. I was right. You seem to be creating quite the ripple after all." Alan leaned back in amusement. Edris didn''t bother sustaining his facade in front of the machina, who cared not for formalities unlike the nobles of the upper-society. Of everyone he met so far in the Zacriya Kingdom, he found it easiest to communicate with Alan Grennor due to their similar values. Both Alan and Edris shared the sentiment that the best interactions between human beings were ones that followed the principle of equivalent exchange. He tossed a bag full of coins onto the table and smirked. "The nicknames don''t matter. What matters is this." Alan shared a matching expression as he eyed the pouch before him. "What are you looking for this time?" "I need something related to invisibility," Edris said. Even though he had refuted Dolan Zacriya''s absurd speculations about him being a prophet, the rumours still managed to spread throughout the kingdom faster than he had expected. Edris lamented inwardly. With eyes preying at his back every other step, it would be a hassle if he couldn''t move freely without being recognised as the person with cringeworthy nicknames. "Invisibility" Alan seemed to catch onto his thoughts as the machina let out a chuckle. "I don''t have any available at the moment, but new products are coming in later this week. I can get back to you once they arrive." "Let me know as soon as they do." Edris nodded. "I also need more enhancers, and a mana detector." From the assassination incident, Edris felt he still needed to strengthen his physiques. Even though the injuries he sustained from the Queen weren''t severe and healed relatively quickly, he still felt slight discomfort after waking up. The pain likened to the spiking sensation after taking a sip of a steaming soup, although he could no longer experience even that thanks to the Sacrifical Hourglass. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Subtle pain, but still pain. "Mana detector?" Alan blinked. "Why would you need that?" Not only were mana channel detectors expensive, but they were also mainly sought after by nobles for their children, in order to test their mana aptitude. "Do you have it?" Edris didn''t bother answering his question. Normally, he wouldn''t spend money on a one-time usage item, especially a detection device, but he needed to know how much he could improve with only enhancers. Enhancers could improve one''s physical abilities only to the extent their mana channel allowed it. After that, the individual would have to work to strengthen their physical body little by little through arduous training, often resorting to the path of an adventurer. However, Edris didn''t want to put himself through such troubles. His only goal was to live a comfortable life, after all. "I do. Are you making the purchase today?" Alan rummaged through a cupboard, pulling out a cube-shaped device. "Yeah," Edris took over the item, shoving it into his bag. He wasn''t worried about the cost; his savings had increased quite significantly thanks to the Crown Prince''s compensations. As he also filled his bag with enhancers, Edris stared at the bulging sack and wondered if he should also buy a Spatial Pouch. After a short contemplation, he decided to save that for next time. "Are you going to carry all that back?" Alan raised an eyebrow, eyeing the baggage on the ground. Edris only smiled at the machina''s question as he pointed below his feet. Simultaneous to his action, a ring of light seeped through the wooden flooring, enveloping the man in a glow. Before Alan could say anything else, Edris had disappeared along with a flurry of dust. Staring at the now empty space, Alan released another laugh. "It seems that a crazy one has appeared." *** "Oh, gentle one! Oh, Prophet Edris!" The moment Edris arrived back at the royal palace, he was bombarded with the priest''s enthusiasm as the latter trailed him from the grand hall, all the way to the front of his resting chamber. "Prophet Edris!" The white-robed priest, Alder, followed him with a desperate look on his face. Edris stopped walking, turned around, and inspected the man from top to bottom. Things have gotten annoying. His original plan was to put down his things and head out again. He had scheduled a meeting with a merchant to go cottage-seeing around the city coast. With a lofty amount of money added to his savings, Edris thought he''d at least start scouting the area and take the first step toward his dream. Now, he seriously contemplated revising his plans. Despite the circulating rumours, Edris didn''t go out of his way to make an official denial as he thought the title would bring him more benefits than drawbacks. He didn''t expect troubles to show up one after another. This wasn''t the first time Priest Alder had visited him. Three days ago, he was getting ready to leave the royal palace when this old man, dressed in a white cassoke, suddenly showed up while telling him to join the church. According to the old man, he had hurried here from the central Church of Serenity in the wills of higher-ups, after hearing about the prophet''s plan to settle down in the capital. Priest Alder was the start of the hassle, but definitely not the end. Aside from him, Edris had been pestered by nobles and Awakeneds alike, all trying to dig out his information and address. Why? They wanted their fortunes told? Edris jeered inwardly at the situation as he cast his eyes back onto the priest. He knew well that the existence of prophets was far from their depiction to the general public, especially non-mana users. Yes, prophets were known as messengers of the divine, but in no way did that implicate their ability to predict each person''s future. In fact, no one can predict another person''s future. Edris never understood the origins of this misunderstanding. Suppose he took up this false role of a prophet and went around the kingdom misleading random citizens about their future. Would they mindlessly obey simply because he was a so-called prophet? If he told someone that they would obtain immense affluence in the future, would that person proceed to live by his words and rot away for the rest of his life, with the false presumption that, in the end, he would gain affluence no matter what? Just because the "prophet" said so? The thought sounded utterly ridiculous to Edris, and even more so when he knew that there were actually people who lived like that throughout the world. "Prophet Edris, please listen!" At the priest''s relentless pleadings, the dark-haired man let out a faint sigh. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the pink ball in his trench coat pocket. As he raised a hand to halt the pleadings, Edris spoke to Ace in a whisper, "How long is the meeting spot from here?" He had booked a second meeting with the merchant to scout the Nolmes cottages. A block away. "Hm. I suppose I could just walk then." As Edris stood still, mentally finalising his plans for the day, Priest Alder approached him from behind with a chary smile. "Uh, Prophet Edris? Sir?" Prior to meeting the rumoured prophet, Alder received several accounts of Edris''s good-willed nature. He didn''t expect the traveller to be so hesitant about joining the Church of Serenity. "Master!" A cheerful voice echoed throughout the corridors, and following the sound, a golden-haired youth came running towards them. "Celio, you''re late," Edris said as he waited for the boy to catch his breath. "Sorry, Master. I was making sure of the meeting spot with the merchant." Celio rubbed the nape of his neck as his eyes landed on the white-robed man. "And this is?" Seeing that Edris had no plans to proceed with the introduction, Priest Alder quickly introduced himself. "A priest? What brings you here?" Celio cocked his head to the side. "Ah, well. You see..." "Priest Alder." Finally, Edris turned towards him, and Priest Alder nodded promptly, regaining hope after seeing his sudden initiative. The dark-haired man smiled. "I''m an atheist." The corridors fell silent. "P-pardon me?" Priest Alder stared at the man before him, at the man who was supposedly a prophet sent by the deities. Edris strolled past, ignoring his dumbfounded expression. "I don''t believe in those things." During this whole time, the angelic smile never left his face as he exited the palace, leaving the priest completely flabbergasted. *** "Sir Edris! Ah, pardon me, Prophet Edris!" The moment Edris passed the palace''s gates, he immediately regretted his decision to walk. Stalled around the gates were several carriages, obviously owned by nobles of high status. Before Edris could turn around, three butlers from three different carriages called out to him simultaneously. Without further ado, they approached him hastily, each carrying gifts in their hands. "You''re famous," Ace commented within the coat, amused. "Celio." Edris pressed shut the rims of his trench pockets as he took in the situation with a sigh. "Tell the merchant we''ll have to reschedule the cottage visit for another day." Another day, surely. Although Edris was smiling, the action didn''t reach his eyes. 23 | I Guess Ill Play Along Edris was escorted onto the carriage belonging to the Orteon household. During the ride, Edris and Celio sat on opposite sides, the former taking a nap while the other stared out the window. "Master, they''re all following us." Half his head poked outside, Celio glanced toward the carriages trailing behind them. "It''s all preplanned," Edris said, still attempting at his shut eye. "No matter which carriage I took, it''ll lead to the same destination." "Why are they so keen on meeting you? Why can''t they wait after you recover completely?" Edris had recovered a long time ago, but instead of telling him that, he only chuckled under his breath. "Maybe they want their futures told." He slowly opened his eyes. "Celio." "Yes?" The beast tamer titled his head. Edris smiled. "Would you like to help me with something?" *** THE ORTEON HOUSEHOLD. NOLMES. Setting his teacup on the table, Vincent Riselto peered into the distance. "It appears that he''s arrived." "I shall go greet him." Dominic Orteon, stroking his thick beard, rose from his seat. "Your Grace, I''ll come with you," Vincent Riselto offered, to which the man responded with a nod. At the entrance, a few hundred meters away from the Orteons'' glass conservatory, two figures stepped out of the carriage. As he approached the gates, Vincent Riselto could better scrutinise their long-await guests. Dark hair, pearly grey eyes, slim figurethe prophet looked to be a young man in his twenties. Beside him was a golden-haired boy who looked to be even younger, perhaps just reaching adulthood. A whole head taller than the prophet, the younger boy glimpsed around him with curious eyes. They''re the famed prophet and attributed beast tamer? The ones valued by the Crown Prince? To Vincent Riselto, the two looked no different from novices who just stepped into upper society. "Sir Edris and young Celio, welcome!'' Duke Dominic waved enthusiastically at their arrival. "Uncle Dominic!" The beast tamer, Celio, waved in response. "We meet again, Your Grace." Edris greeted the duke with a gentle smile. "Too bad we''re not here today for Celio''s social bonding." His words caused the golden-haired boy to jolt on the spot, and Duke Orteon let out a hearty laugh. "Not at all. It''s already a great honour that the famous prophet can visit the Orteon household. I''m sure you are very busy." He gestured to Vincent Riselto beside him. "This is the Marquis of Riselto, Lord Vincent. I''m sure you''ve heard of the city of Riselto, just east of the capital." "Nice to meet you, Lord Vincent." Edris bowed slightly, and Vincent Riselto quickly returned the gesture. After the introductions, Duke Orteon led them past the main hall and into the garden''s tea house. Sitting around a table full of afternoon gourmets were four other nobles. They stood up promptly at the sight of the awaited guests. "Prophet Edris! I heard you were gravely injured at the banquet. Are you feeling better?" The youngest nobleman of the group was the first to speak. "Much better. Thank you for worrying," Edris replied with a smile. "This is Earl Haphen." Dominic Orteon said, then proceeded to introduce the other three nobles. "And they are Duke and Duchess of Belton, and this is Viscount Eathe." Aside from the Duke and Duchess of Belton, the three other nobles had been present at the banquet. But unlike Duke Orteon, none of them had paid any attention to the nameless foreigner back then. Now, each of them acted more enthusiastically than the other as they competed to pull Edris, the "prophet" who had saved the King and Queen of Zacriya, to their side. Vincent Riselto silently observed the dark-haired man, who reacted to the nobles'' compliments with amicable smiles. After a few rounds of pleasantries, he concluded that convincing Edris was going to be an easy target. Although rumours painted him as a talented individual and a messenger blessed by the divine, Edris appeared to him as no different than a young man inexperienced in social situations. Just look at the way he handled the conversationscareful, redundant, lacking. From one glance, it''s easy for Vincent Riselto to recognise the prophet''s short insight toward the true influences of the kingdom. Vincent Riselto, as a marquis in charge of the kingdom''s west coast, saw himself as levelled in competence as Dominic Orteon. He was in control of an important area of the kingdom, a region prone to outside forces in the scenario of kingdom conflicts, yet simply because of his status as a marquis, the Duke of Orteon held authority over the entire northeastern territory, allowing him to overrule Vincent''s control if necessary. However, there was now an opportunity. He smiled at the dark-haired man who was reaching for a strawberry tart. Prophets were known for their ability to predict the future, and there happened to be one sitting right before him. If he could distance the royal family and Edris and have the latter join his side "Prophet Edris," he commenced. "I heard you were friendly with the second prince?" He was referring to Dolan Zacriya, the kingdom''s current Crown Prince. "Lord Vincent." The ginger-haired man, Duke of Belton, crossed his arms. "His Highness is the Crown Prince now. You''re not doing this on purpose, are you?" "Ah, my apologies." Vincent Riselto brushed him off with half-hearted shrug. "But Your Grace, the Crown Prince must be moved to tears to witness such loyal subjects. Don''t you think?" "Now, now." Before the two could start squabbling, Duke Orteon let out a hearty laugh as he turned to Edris. "Sir Edris, or do you prefer to be addressed as Prophet Edris?" "Just Edris is fine," the dark-haired man replied. "Then Edris, I heard you plan to stay in Nolmes for a while. Is this true?" Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "I am still deciding, Your Grace." Edris smiled. "After all, I''m merely a traveller." "No need to be humble, young man." Vincent Riselto laughed. "No mere traveller can get acquainted with the royal family in such a short amount of time. You''re quite something." "You''re flattering me, Your Lordship." "Marquis Riselto doesn''t sound very friendly." Beside him, Celio whispered at a volume only Edris could hear. "I''ve heard of him from my father back in the Adalan Kingdom. While Uncle Dominic manages the northeastern territories, he controls the eastern borders around there. "I don''t think he supports the royal family, though. So I''m not sure why he would openly be rude to His Highness knowing that you''re friends with him." "Friends?" Edris''s brows furrowed but decided not to pursue the topic further. He turned towards Vincent Riselto. "Lord Riselto, it appears you''re discontent with my relationship with His Highness?" "Hm, ''discontent'' is not the right word. Perhaps concerned would be better fitting." Vincent Riselto tapped his chin lightly. The fact that Edris didn''t react negatively to his statements about Dolan Zacriya was a favourable sign. "I simply think the royal family should not be so easily tempted to please foreigners. "However, after meeting you in person, I can truly see your competence as a young man blessed by the divine. Pardon me for what I''m about to say, but I believe it will be a waste of your talents to meddle further with the royal family''s affairs." "Lord Riselto!" The young-looking Earl Haphen glanced at the marquis anxiously. Seeing that the dark-haired man once again bore no reactions, Vincent cleared his throat confidently and continued. "Earl Haphen, why are you acting like this when it''s the truth? We all know the presumptious rumours that circulated His Highness prior to his becoming of the Crown Prince. Will we really allow him to be the heir to the throne?" "However, there have not been any apparent issues since his uptaking, am I wrong?" Duchess Belton took a sip of her tea as she exchanged glances with Duke Belton, who shared similar reactions. "No apparent issues only imply that he''s hiding them well. Look at all the trades we''re having with the Adalan Kingdom! Why should we share our resources as a mana-flourishing region and voluntarily give up our advantage to other kingdoms?" "But arent you''re also gaining resources in return?" Edris asked curiously. "Young Edris, you are still too naive." Vincent shook his head. "Although it is considered a trade, it''s far from an equivalent exchange. The Adalan Kingdom specialises in weaponry and military crafts, what use are those in a time of peace? If this keeps up, we''re bound to experience a loss!" "Peace is not ever-lasting. We must be prepared for anything." Duke Belton huffed. Unlike the marquis, he supported the kingdom''s weaponry trades with the Adalan Kingdom. As the leader of the southwest Belton territory, he knew that if there ever came a war, this area would be the first to fall under attack due to its exposure to the ocean. "When was the last time we engaged in war? A two centuries ago? Maybe three?" To the left of the table, the brown-haired Viscount Eathe casually commented. "Of course, war is possible, but how likely?" "Exactly!" Vincent Riselto exclaimed as he spun toward Edris. "Take this as my advice to a foreigner, but you''ll be better off becoming acquainted with anyone that''s not the royal family. Especially when they''re sitting on an unstable throne." His words implied not only the diminishing authority of the Zacriyas, but also the existence of families who shared similar levels of discontent toward the kingdom''s current state of affairs. "Vincent, that is enough." Dominic Orteon touched his bearded chin with a sigh. Despite the marquis''s daring words, ones surely considered an offence towards the royal family, the other nobles remained quiet as stillness bestowed upon the space. Taking a glance around him, Celio frowned unnoticeably at what he was hearing. To him, Marquis Riselto was just here to complain behind the royal family''s back while deliberately sabatoging the relationship between his Master and the Crown Prince. It wasn''t righteous at all. Despite his discontent, Celio kept quiet as he observed the dark-haired man sitting beside him. Not too fast, not too slow, Edris finished his strawberry tart and turned to Vincent Riselto. "Then, in your opinion, Lord Riselto, how should the kingdom''s leader behave?" "Prophet Edris!" Duke Belton''s eyes widened. Vincent Riselto was known to be opinionated, but he didn''t expect the young prophet to also move along with his comments, especially when they involved disrespect towards the royal family. "I knew we were on the same page." Vincent Riselto huffed in satisfaction. "Naturally, the focus should be on our own kingdom and strengthening our existing forces rather than sucking up to others. "I see, I see." Despite the tension from everyone present, Edris maintained a laidback smile as he asked another question. "Is that why you stored your finances in the Wendimore Kingdom?" At his words, the room was once again thrown into silence. This time, however, the silence didn''t last. Duke Orteon and Earl Haphen, who had been reserved during most of this conversation, immediately shot up from the table. "Lord Vincent? What does he mean by that?" The latter stared at him in disbelief. Normally, he would not take seriously the words of a foreigner, let alone one who was nameless in the upper-society until only recently. However, the young man wasn''t just any foreigner. He was a prophet, a messenger of the divine! "Hah! You''re against cross-kingdom trades, but you''re okay with depositing your own goods to maximize profit?" Duke Belton sunk back in his chair with a dry laugh. "Who would have guessed, marquis. Who would have guessed." "Nonsense!" Vincent Riselto immediately refuted their comments, but everyone knew that the words of a prophet were far from nonsense. With shaking hands, he glared at the dark-haired man, who was reaching for another strawberry tart. Edris, sensing his hostility, retracted his hand and sighed. "Am I mistaken?" "Of course you are! I would never trust another kingdom with my money." "So you didn''t hide your money there?" "No! I did not!" "Then what did you store?" "In-" The room fell silent once more as Vincent Riselto choked back his words halfway down his throat. With that, he basically admitted to keeping his valuables in another kingdom to avoid income taxes. His intelligence is unfitting for a marquis. Contrary to his calm expression, Edris almost laughed out loud at Ace''s internal statement, which seemed to be getting sharper by the day. "Vincent" Duke Orteon inhaled, not knowing what to say, "You, you How could you!" Earl Haphen stared at the marquis in disbelief. Although he was ranked lower than Vincent Riselto in terms of the peerage, he thought they were on friendly terms as the marquis had promised him benefits for the Haphen family if he were to take his side. He would have never imagined that behind his back, the man was storing up his assets in another kingdom! At the sight, Celio suppressed his shock as he snuck a glance at the dark-haired man. With just a few words, Edris managed to stir chaos amongst the nobles, guiding them towards self-destruction. Celio subconsciously swallowed as a single thought emerged from his mind: As expected, the person I chose to follow is truly amazing. Unaware of the boy''s inner thoughts, Edris quietly munched on his second tart as he observed the nobles fight amongst themselves. The moment he entered the tea house, he had asked Ace about the information of each person present, and thanks to his previous travels, Edris had found the marquis''s name to be somewhat familiar. As expected, he ascertained his speculations after matching his past knowledge with the information gathered by Ace. While the nobles argued with each other, Edris noticed that Viscount Eathe was quietly observing them from his seat. If he remembered correctly, this brown-haired noble was the only one who didn''t directly involve himself in the situation, other than his question towards the marquis about war. To Edris, however, the viscount''s involvement didn''t make a difference, as his first step was already complete. Edris had two goals upon coming here: The first was the mess with the nobles. The second was to leave ensuring they''ll never mess with him. Edris considered himself a petty person. While his cottage-seeing schedule was interrupted by their gathering, he wasn''t going to waste his afternoon participating in the political mind games of nobles. That being said, might as well make the meeting worthwhile. Face flushed with embarrassment, Vincent Riselto stepped back as his eyes fixed on the dark-haired man across the table. At the sight of that annoyingly peaceful smile on Edris''s face, he couldn''t help but question how someone like him could be the prophet. "He must be lying!" Vincent Riselto pointed his finger, rage flaring up his nostrils. "What evil deeds are you planning?" Immediate regret followed his actions as Vincent Riselto met his eyes. For the first time since their encounter, the young man''s calm look was replaced by a frigid, foreign smile. 24 | I Cant Help But Laugh LENNET STREET. NOLMES. "Papa!" A boy raced around the streets, his ginger locks bobbing with each step. After running around for a while, he curved back to his father''s storefront. "Wha-cha doing?" The boy fluttered his eyes. "Careful, Rudy! Don''t run too fast or else you can''t catch your breath." A woman chased behind him, pulling the boy into a hug. She looked toward her working husband. "Coon, dear. I thought all of the requests were already finished?" Just over a month ago, they were still a family of three who barely got by living in the prosperous capital. However, it all changed when her husband, Coon, signed up and participated in a small-scaled tournament. Although he lost after the first round, he had returned with a whole gold yone. For a family like theirs, it was enough to last them weeks. As if that was the stirring point, their weaponry business had flourished since then. Thanks to the series of events, they earned enough money to take their five-year-old to the Healing Faction and support him with the necessary nutrition for him to grow healthily. "Do you remember the man who I told you about? The one who gave me the gold yone?" Coon said as he heated a piece of iron, his muscles bulging with the movement. "He''s a prophet, Lily. We were saved by a prophet." "A prophet? Is he the one we''ve heard about all around the capital? Prophet Edris?" Lily gasped. "Oh Serenity! We must thank him thoroughly." Coon nodded. "That''s why I''m creating something for him right now. Even though it''ll probably be much less than anything he owns, we should at least express our most sincere gratitude." "Mama, it''s your birthday soon. Can we eat at Grandma Wendy''s then?" Tugging the woman''s sleeves, Rudy looked up at her with a cheeky grin. Wendy giggled softly. "Yes, yes. Since it''s a special occasion, we''ll do just that. You love their bread, don''t you?" The boy bobbed his head up and down, only to stop as something caught his attention. Cocking his head to the side, he lifted a finger towards the hill in the distance. "Mama, what''s that?" At their son''s question, both Coon and Wendy glanced in the direction of his finger, only to stiffen on the spot. Other Nolmes citizens seemed to have also noticed the commotion as they cast their eyes towards the north, towards the most wealthy neighbourhood in the capital. Although it was a sunny afternoon, a gradient of purple painted the northern sky, darkening as it got closer to the hillside. On the tip of that hill was Duke Orteon''s mansion. "What the?" Coon unknowingly dropped his tools onto the ground. The entire building was covered in a spiralling storm, engulfed in utter darkness. *** FIVE MINUTES AGO THE ORTEON HOUSEHOLD. Under broad daylight, a large shadow cast upon the glass teahouse, and arguing nobles stiffened at the sudden change in atmosphere. An oppressive aura seeped out from the prophet, surrounding him in an air of frigidity. His grey cloak, matching the colour of his eyes, fluttered from behind despite no wind in the teahouse. Overwhelmed by the pressure exerted by the young man, Dominic Orteon subconsciously gulped. Opposed to his gentle demeanour from earlier, Edris''s complexion darkened as it bore a mixture of tension and pain. "Edris, are you okay?" The duke''s outstretched hand froze midair as he saw darkness seep out of the young man like he was a broken vessel. "W-what is this?" Rather than answering his question, Edris inhaled carefully, as if suppressing something within. He then mustered a faint smile. "Actually, my powers have been a bit off-balance ever since I absorbed the dark magic that possessed Her Majesty." As he said that, Edris made sure to surround himself with more of his purple Tempest to match the mood. The nobles collectively paled at his ominous statement. Combining Edris''s words with his current appearance, they thought the young prophet might be going insane. In a matter of seconds, a thin veil of darkness shrouded Edris''s entire body, attempting to devour him whole. Within the veil, Edris observed the nobles'' reactions in satisfaction. He was getting quite annoyed with their relentlessness in following him around the capital. Unless he did something about it, he had no doubt it would continue into the future, so Edris decided to alter his persona a bit. Although amiability was the desirable trait in making connections, it was also the easiest to latch onto and be taken advantage of. So, what if he became a spontaneous bomb? At that moment, the streaks of raging purple around him intensified, and a sea of black poured into the room. In the darkness, Edris glanced towards Celio as he made a discreet gesture, just as they agreed in the carriage. It was the signal to commence the plan. At his action, the beast tamer nodded and took a deep inhale. "O-oh no! Master. Is. Losing. Control!" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "..." Edris had many concerns about Celio''s acting, but as it was thankfully overlooked by the frantic nobles, he disregarded them for now. Amidst the uproar, he lowered his head and muttered at a volume only he could hear. "Now." Of course, Edris wasn''t talking to himself, but to the ball of pink inside his cloak pocket. Closing his eyes, he felt the teleportation circle appear under his feet. Once. Twice. Three times. In the room inundated with streaks of dark vines, nobles watched with terrified eyes as the prophet appeared in different parts of the room one second after another, igniting flashes of light in randomised intervals. "What''s happening to him?" Vincent Riselto stepped back, aghast at what he was witnessing. "Is that the aftermath of absorbing dark magic? Is the prophet being corrupted by dark magic?" "T-this is dangerous, Your Grace, we must get out of here!" Earl Haphen said to Duke Orteon as he spun around anxiously, just in time to notice that a purple barrier had enclosed the entire teahouse. Duke and Duchess Belton rushed towards the exit, only to realise it was sealed off. As the only Awakened noble in the room, the former cautiously pressed his palm towards the purple, only to jerk back at the strange texture of the barrier. Exchanging a wary glance with his wife, he activated his mana channel and covered his hand in a faint, bluish glow. The moment he contacted the barrier again, an electrifying sensation overwhelmed his senses, thrusting him onto the floor. The barrier had nullified his mana, sending a painful backlash along with it. "Dear! Are you alright?!" Duchess Belton cried as she kneeled onto the floor, supporting him by the arm. Still in a daze, Duke Belton moved his head up and down as he cast his gaze towards the origin of the barrier. "Edris, snap out of it! You can''t lose control here!" Across the room, Duke Orteon called out towards the dark-haired man who was engulfed by the torrent. Little did he know, the current franticness was exactly what Edris wanted. Naturally, the dark-haired man wasn''t actually affected by dark magic, nor was he losing control. As the chaos continued, Edris suddenly heard a strange comment coming from one of the nobles, Viscount Eathe, who remained seated at the clattering table. "Hm That''s not dark magic." Edris blinked. Indeed, the viscount was correct. The phenomenon happening in the teahouse space was a mixture of Ace''s teleportation portals and the Tempest, but it wasn''t something an ordinary person would be able to decipher. There''s something peculiar about him. He seems to be familiar with dark magic? "...Now you''re telling me?" Edris sighed under his breath. However, whether the viscount was familiar or not with dark magic didn''t matter to him. Even though Viscount Eathe could tell Edris wasn''t using dark magic, he, along with the others, was still under the assumption that the prophets powers were out of control. As his plan reached its climax, Edris broadened the degree of his Tempest for the last time, stirring up an even crazier torrent within the centre of the room. The purple Tempest was a neutraliser, which meant it could not actually cause physical damage to its surroundings. In other words, it was for show. After all, the key to the plan''s success didn''t lie within Edris''s Tempest. Amidst the chaos, a spark of light ignited in the darkened space. Celio''s eyes blazed gold as a powerful surge of mana sprung from his body. Light gathered around his hand, forming a long sword in his grip as he aimed it towards the ceiling. The tip of the weapon lit up the entire room, gathering all the attention onto the attributed beast tamer. "Master!" Celio whipped his head towards Edris, who was shrouded in a raging storm. "I. Will. Save. YOU!" He sprung forth with the sword, creating a line of explosion behind his stride. Light expanded rapidly through the entire room, vanquishing all traces of darkness. In a matter of seconds, the teahouse space regained its original brilliance as the purple barriers receded into the shadows. The dusted air dispersed, and nobles'' finally regained their vision, only to see the teahouse in a disastrous state. Furniture was scattered all over the space, and the ceiling above them was entirely obliterated, revealing the afternoon sun that hung brightly above their heads. But despite the damage to the teahouse, the nobles found themselves somehow unscathed. It was then they noticed that each body in the room was shrouded in a purple shield, gleaming softly in the tattered space. As the realisation hit them all, the nobles collectively cast their gaze toward the centre of the room. His hair a mess and face deathly pale, the prophet stood shakily as ribbon-like streaks of black descended around him, slowly fading in lustre. Even though his entire teahouse was shattered, Dominic Orteon couldn''t retract his gaze from the young man who, even on the brink of losing control, still tried to use his powers to protect them. Vincent Riselto had a different thought in mind as he witnessed the prophet''s internal struggles. If the prophet had not retained part of his rationality and protected them with his Tempest, they would have all been dead by now. ...We were going to get involved with someone like him? Earl Haphen felt a shiver down his spine as he was hit by a delayed surge of fear. He glimpsed at Marquis Riselto, who seemed to share the same thoughts by the appaled look on his face. Forget about having the prophet on their sidethey were lucky if the man didn''t blow up on the spot! While the nobles drowned in lingering fear, the dark-haired man gleefully harvested the fruits of his plan. With Ace''s help, Edris had neutralised Celio''s ability using his Tempest, shaping it into mini shields that surrounded the nobles. Celio had focused his attack on the ceiling so it wouldn''t affect the rest of the teahouse. The reason behind this was to cut back on the repair fee, just in case the duke asked Edris to compensate for the damage. In that aspect, Edris considered himself to be quite generous. In the still room, the prophet let out a soft cough, and the nobles instinctively flinched at his action. Remaining stock-still, they watched as Edris slowly pulled himself onto his feet and held onto the young beast tamer for support. After a few steady breaths, Edris looked toward Duke Orteon with an apologetic smile, one that''s even gentler than what he bore upon his arrival. However, that gentle smile only sent chills down their spines. Skimming his surroundings, Edris sighed softly and turned to the duke. "I apologise on behalf of Celio for your ceiling. As you can tell, he was only doing the necessary in consideration of my current condition." A look of melancholy filled his grey eyes as the prophet coughed again. "If it helps, I would like to offer compensation" "No, no need. Edris, uh, Sir Prophet Edris," Duke Orteon interrupted him promptly, almost stuttering as he did so. "I wish you the best in your speedy recovery." At the duke, who managed to cling on to his manners even after witnessing everything, Edris responded with a polite nod. "Thank you, Your Grace," he replied. "It''s unfortunate that Celio''s unable to make friends with your daughter this time, either. Hopefully, next time. I''ll even have him model your clothing line for free." After a short pause, he let out a chuckle. "Next time." The two words echoed in Dominic Orteon''s ears like a foreboding bell of death. Without waiting for him to speak again, Edris bowed half-heartedly to the people in the room and turned towards the exit. As he was leaving, he heard a mumble from one of the nobles. "A fallen prophet" Fallen Prophet. With a smile, Edris strode out the door. They were getting better with the nicknames. 25 | I Thought You Were Just Shy? "News! Big news! The prophet lost control over his powers and blew up the Orteon Manor! "He''s corrupted by dark magic! "The prophet has fallen!" The paperboy''s voice boomed through the streets, reaching the ears of travellers and locals alike. Running down the street, he passed a fruit cart to his right, where a sparrow rested still on the wooden ledge. A light breeze swept by, and the sparrow fluttered its wings. *** MOSKY INN. NOLMES. Slouching on his pillow, Edris savoured his cup of milk and sank deeper into the bed. Sitting across the room was the young beast tamer, Celio. He hummed a joyous tune as he cleansed the sheath of his sword with a handkerchief. Edris yawned lightly. Even though they destroyed the entire greenhouse roof, the ever-so-kind Duke Orteon had refused his proposal of offering recompensation (avidly, if he may add). In other words, Edris didn''t have to waste a single yone for his actions. Nodding to himself, he decided that this was the type of lifestyle he liked: simple, comfortable, and free. "Do you plan to stay disconnected with your family forever?" He kept his usual laidback tone as he glimpsed at the boy across from him. Celio visibly stiffened at his words, his grip tightening onto the dagger. He didn''t expect Edris to bring up his family, as he had avoided mentioning much about them during their time together. But again, he also didn''t expect to escape the eyes of someone as perceptive as Edris. Now that Celio thought about it, in just a matter of weeks, Edris had managed to achieve extraordinary deeds. Triumphing at the Wulin Tournament. Befriending the Crown Prince. Blowing up a dukes manor. "Master" Celio glanced toward Edris, eyes twinkling. "Did you really come from the Realm of the Clouds?" "No." Edris shut down the speculation without hesitation. He had stopped speaking ambiguously in front of Celio after discovering that the young man would take everything he said at face value. Noting Celio''s slightly sullen look, he put down his empty cup with a sigh. "Celio." "Yes, Master?" "Do you know about wobbuls?" At the unexpected question, Celio tilted his head, perplexed. "I''ve heard about them. The shell creatures that live in the Midpont Ocean, right?" Edris nodded. "Due to their brittle physique, wobbuls are considered one of the weakest underwater creatures. As a result, they always travel in large numbers." Voices bounced off the windows, spreading a mixture of yelling, music, and laughter at the external. "Wobbuls communicate through the antennas on the side of their shells. Studies from the Mage Faction have shown that, despite their disadvantaged position in the ecosystem, they have a surprisingly advanced language system among their kind." Celio listened to this spontaneous lecture intently, not knowing where Edris was trying to go with this. The latter only smiled after seeing his absorbed-but-equally-dumbfounded face. "However, even that is insufficient to make up for their shortcomings. Despite the wobbuls'' communication advantage, they lacked initiative. None of them took the step to be the one that would lead the group. The thought of being a leader just wasn''t biologically developed and this communication was only employed on a very individual level." "But what you''re born with doesn''t determine everything," Celio retorted instinctively. "Just because a species doesn''t inherently lead doesn''t mean they can''t." "Perhaps so, but with no precedence, the whole notion of a ''leader'' remains nonexistent in the first place." Edris shrugged. "They''re already used to placing themselves as a priority, so communicating in clusters only function to optimise individual survival. And their current number in the waters has shown that it had somehow worked out." Celio''s lips thinned into a line. He wanted to criticise the wobbuls, but found himself unable to grasp a starting point. There was a sense of inevitability in this whole situation that he didn''t even know where to begin. Before he could secure his thoughts, Edris spoke again. "I am like a wobbul." Celio blinked twice. "Pardon?" "I am not a leader." The dark-haired man lightly tapped the pillow in his lap, pensive. "I am in no position to tell you what to do, nor do I want to put myself in that role." Responsibility was a strong, even troublesome, word. No matter how much potential laid within the young boy sitting across from him, Edris wasn''t going to take responsibility for his moral cultivation. "I''m like a wobbul, but I''m ultimately not." His grey eyes confronted Celio''s unyielding gaze. "As an older human being, the only thing I''d say is not to do something that you''ll regret." The best advice he could give was the accumulation of his own experience, from his perspective and his alone. At that moment, Celio understood something. Wobbuls were innately born without knowing the concept of a leader, but they were not wobbuls. They were humans. While Celio felt regretful for the species, he was reassured of his own position. Unlike the wobbuls, he was a human, capable of self-autonomy and free thought. And unlike the wobbuls, he was going to take advantage of being human. The beast tamer again made eye contact with the man across from him. After getting to know Edris, Celio truly felt relieved that he had stepped out into the world. Although Edris had an artful way with words and sometimes liked to mess with people, he was undoubtedly a righteous person. He thought back to the afternoon tea event. Even when the nobles tried to bribe him, Edris still protected them. The man had set himself analogous to a wobbul, but in Celio''s eyes, even if he were a wobbul, Edris would be sure to be the first to step up. The first to lead. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. He would find a way to lead the group, even if the meaning of "leader" itself was nonexistent. Precedence, then revolution. Celio gulped as the two words popped up in his mind. "I understand, Master!" Edris stared blankly at the young beast tamer that seemed to be blazing with determination. He opened his mouth a few times, but decided to swallow the questions down his throat. Instead, he shifted his attention to the pink fluff floating in midair, seemingly meditative as he surrounded himself with a condensed wall of aura. Narrowed his eyes, Edris silently studied the pink fluff. At first, he assumed that Ace was an elemental or some sort of spirling as Celio mentioned. However, he soon dismissed the thought after realising that Ace was not only capable of teleportation, unlike elementals, but he was also very smart. The possibility still remained that Ace was a spirling, but definitely not just any spirling. Edris reasonablly held his suspicions. After all, what spirlings were capable of absorbing the knowledge of an entire library? The more he thought about it, and the more Edris sensed that the pink fluff in front of him was enshrouded in mysteries. With such thoughts circulating his mind, Edris''s gaze intensified as he continued to scrutinise the ball of pink. Ace, noticing the man''s stare, finally opened his eyes. Fuck off. A vein popped on Edris''s forehead as his lips forced into an unnatural smile. "Look at you, being considerate around little kids." While Ace sometimes spoke aloud when it was the two of them, he always communicated telepathically with Celio around. As a result, the naive beast tamer remained under the impression that Ace was your average spirling to this day. "Master, is there something up?" Celio cocked his head to the side. "No, it''s nothing," Edris sighed, fiddling with the cup in his hand. At the gesture, the beast tamer shot up from his seat. "Please give that to me! I''ll go refill it for you!" "...Thanks." Edris dazedly passed Celio a glass of milk and watched as the boy left for the inn''s lobby. Now alone in the room, he redirected his attention back to the fluff of pink in the air. "I''ve been wondering about this for a while now" Edris popped a sugar cube into his mouth. "You said that this wasn''t your original body?" No. "Then what does your original body look like?" I don''t remember. As he said that, Ace tightened his concentration as the surge of mana thickened around him. He was gradually rebuilding what remained of his mana so he could someday regain his physical form. "Your physical body" Edris couldn''t help but wonder about the appearance that would suit someone with a voice as deeply dead as Ace''s. Frankly, his voice didn''t sound like it would belong to a human. Maybe he was a book spirling that was burnt in a fire? Those existed, right? Or maybe a human subspecies? Perhaps a machina like Alan Grennor? But again, machinas could only use their mana for crafting, so teleportation was out of question. In that case... "A rock?" Edris blinked twice. He thought that Ace''s deep voice was fitting for a rock spirling. Suddenly, a knock pulled him out of his line of deductions. Before he could get up to answer, the door opened by itself as Celio sprung into the room with a newly filled cup of milk in one hand and an envelope in the other. "Master! The pub owner said there was a letter for you." He gestured toward the doorstep, only to find it empty. "Oh? Is he gone already? Come to think of it, he did look kind of nervous on his way up. Maybe he has to go do his business?" No, he was just scared. Edris sheepishly averted his gaze. Thanks to his efforts at the Orteon Manor, Edris attained a reputation that enabled him to get around places without being stopped by others. Luckily, he was still allowed stay in the inn, but that was only after signing a strict contract with the owner, which included a pledge that he wouldn''t blow anything up. Slitting the envelope open, Edris found himself reading a short note from none other than a certain machina. While freedom was an upside, a downside to this reputation was that all efforts to get in contact with other merchants fell in vain. "Master, what does the mail say?" Celio''s golden eyes flickered curiously. "It''s from Alan Grennor, a merchant," Edris replied, a noticeable smile on his face. "Apparently, some interesting things arrived in store." *** THE NEXT DAY ALAN''S MERCENARY CORNER "Welcome to..." Alan Grennor''s voice trailed off at the sight of a familiar face. "I see you''ve received the letter." Standing at the doorfront, Edris removed the cloak from his head. The machina unintentionally breathed a sigh. Naturally, he had heard about his deeds at the noble''s manor. Although he expected it, Alan didn''t think Edris would manage to single-handedly throw the kingdom into chaos after arriving in the capital merely weeks ago. "And the items?" The latter didn''t bother with the pleasantries as he strolled past him. With a helpless shake of the head, Alan made his way to the back of the room, returning shortly with a wooden box in his hand. He slid it towards Edris, who then flipped open the lid. "It''s called the Mysterious Veil," he explained as Edris examined the dark piece of clothing. Upon hearing the name, Edris entered a frown. "You''re bad at naming things, as usual." Ignoring the traveller''s remarks for the sake of his mentality, Alan continued on, "The veil is made of mana-infused materials found in the Crystallized Chasm. By wearing it, the user gains invisibility. "The veil is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, damage, and most magic examinations, and it''s expected to maintain effective unless exposed to exceptionally powerful magic made for detecting invisibility." Edris eyed the cloth meaningfully as the machina finished his explanation. After a few seconds, his lips curled into a smile. "How impressive. I''ll take it." "I knew you''d be interested in things like this." "There''s something else I want you to take a look at." Not waiting to be prompted further, Edris gently tapped the surface of his cloak pocket. As Alan was about to ask what he meant, his eyes widened as a pink ball leisurely floated from the pocket, resting itself on Edris''s shoulder. "This is quiteInteresting." He couldn''t hide his fascination as he examined the fluff of pink before his eyes. "Is this a spirling?" Spirlings were creatures hard to come by in civilization. When they did appear, they often emerged in pairs with an elementalist. Even as someone with a broad network connection, it was Alan''s first time seeing one in the flesh. Seeing that the machina also didn''t know much about the situation, Edris shook his head. "It''s still unsure, but he seemed not to be a normal spirling. He also doesn''t remember anything from his past." "Amnesia?" "Since you''re an informant, we figured you might know something about this." "Hold on." Alan stopped him with a lift of the hand as he examined the pink Ace. "I didn''t expect you to be able to inspect spirlings. How did you know he''s amnesiac?" "Inspect?" Edris brushed him off. "He just told me." "Spirlings can''t talk." "They can''t?" The two men looked at each other, then simultaneously turned towards the pink fluff floating in the air. "I thought you just chose to speak in my head at times because you were shy of strangers?" Edris blinked twice. "What kind of nonsense is that?" Ace stared at him in disbelief. "I already told you that you were the only one that could hear me." Edris turned to Alan, jabbing a finger toward the pink fluff simultaneously. "You can''t hear him talk right now?" Alan stared at him as if he was insane. The melodious trickle of the front doorbell interrupted their conversation, and the trio instinctively looked towards the entrance. "Sorry, we''re on break right" Alan couldn''t finish his sentence as his eyes widened at the visitor standing in front of the door. With a slight pant, the visitor closed the door behind him as he came face to face with the two men. Under the large cloak, strands of fiery red hair fell into sight as the person lifted his head. "Y-Your Highness?" Alan visibly stiffened at the sight of the Crown Prince. Dolan Zacriya seemed equally surprised as his gaze shifted from Alan to Edris, then to the pink fluff between them. His lips parted slightly. "Prophet Edris?" Dolan said. "What are you doing here?" At the Crown Prince''s question, Alan instinctively turned to look at the so-called "prophet" beside him, only to see that Edris already stood prepared, with one hand in a wave, another in his pocket, his face innocent. "Greetings, Your Highness. It''s been a while." Alan''s usually expressionless face sank into disbelief. 26 | I Have a Wish "Gran, I''m here!" The bell at Wendy''s Bakery twinkled, and a young woman burst through the doorfront. "I can hear you just well, Darcie dear. No need to yell." Wendy chuckled as she came out from the back of the store. "Your shift ended for the day?" "Yep. I switched my late-night shift with another coworker today. It''s Doris''s birthday, after all. We gotta celebrate!" As she said that, Darcie poked her head around the bakery isles and gasped. "What''s this, gran? You''re almost all sold out!" She turned to look at the sky outside the store window. The sky dimmed as dusk slowly fell upon the city, painted in a darkened orange. "But it''s barely dark!" "The business has been doing well lately, you see." Wendy tucked a strand of whitened hair behind her ears. "Say, Darcie, have you heard of the Prophet?" A few weeks ago, Prophet Edris and his companion visited the bakery for lunch. Apparently, their actions caught the eyes of other citizens around the area, and as a result, they attracted quite a lot of customers to the store. Darcie blinked at the question, then proudly crossed her arms by her chest. "I may not look like it, gran, but the Prophet and I are acquainted with each other." Seeing her granddaughter''s smug smile, Wendy raised an eyebrow. "You are?" "Of course! His name is Edris, and he''s a regular where I work. One time, I even almost got him to take me as his disciple!" "Did you now" Wendy smiled, the tips of her eyes creasing in the process. "He seemed like a nice man when I saw him in the bakery." "Super kind." Darcie nodded, only to knock herself on the head. "I got caught up and forgot what I came here for! Gran, are there really no bakeries left? None at all?" Darcie started to pout, and Wendy couldn''t help but chuckle at her youthfulness. Two years ago, Darcie''s parents died due to sickness, leaving Darcie and her younger sister Doris on their own. She was only fourteen at the time of the incident, but Darcie immediately dropped out of the academy and started working part-time to care for the remaining family. Having watched them grow up, Wendy naturally undertook the role of their unofficial guardian. Although they''re not related by blood, she treated the girls as her own granddaughters and supported them whenever she could. "Of course there is. I''ll never forget about young Doris''s birthday," Wendy said as she revealed a bag of limberry cupcakes, along with a boxed cake. "Take these. Don''t worry about the money. Instead, send her my greetings, won''t you?" "Gran" Darcie took over the bakeries with a complicated expression, and after a few seconds, she rushed over and pulled Wendy into a tight hug. "Doris and I are the luckiest to have you as our gran. You''re really the best." "Geez, sentimental as usual, aren''t you?" "Gran, you should join us for dinner. I have enough food for the three of us." "The bakery doesn''t close till another three hours." Wendy gently caressed the back of the young girl, whose face remained buried in her shoulder. "It''s getting dark, so you should head home before then. Doris is waiting! Remember to eat especially well on this special occasion." "Will do, will do." Darcie giggled. After giving Wendy another big hug, she looped the bags over her arms and headed towards the door. Making her way outside, she didn''t forget to blow a kiss toward the elderly woman, who only shook her head with a helpless smile. Standing outside, Wendy noticed the moon now hung above her head, spreading its silver rays upon the city. She took a whiff of the cool night air and grinned with her tiger teeth showing. "Doris will be so happy when she sees all this!" *** "A spirling?" Dolan examined the floating ball of pink. "It appears so." Edris nodded. "It''s been with me following me for a while now." He snuck a glance at Ace''s deadpanned eyes, then shamelessly continued. "It seems to have taken a liking to me." "Is that so" Dolan didn''t seem surprised as he withdrew his scrutiny towards the pink ball. "Prophet Edris truly has nature''s favour." Prophet Edris merely smiled in return. Witnessing their conversation from the side with a strange expression, Alan couldn''t help but step between them. "Your Highness, what troubles you to personally come here yourself? If you need anything, I could just have people bring it to the palace." Dolan Zacriya was a regular at his store, a VVVIP, to say the least. However, their usual transactions occurred through his butler, so this was Alan''s first time meeting the Crown Prince in person. A strange silence settled between them. The Crown Prince shifted his gaze left and right, hesitancy seeping through his handsome face. Edris ignored Ace''s stare as he kept a plastered smile, while Alan grew more confused by the second. What could it be for the Crown Prince to show such apprehension? Blatantly speaking, with his influence and power, there was no reason for Dolan Zacriya to come to him for assistance. He had plenty of competent people back in the palace to tend to his requests. Unless Alan''s eyes widened. "It''s about my brother." Dolan sighed. "His conditions are getting worse, and it seems to be due to dark magic. The priest said he didn''t have long." Alan gulped. Unless it was something the Crown Prince was keeping a secret. "I''ve been looking into the origins of this dark magic. So far, results point towards the underground from the Nolmes slums. More specifically" he looked towards them "the Sect." Mage, Education, Healing, Fortune, and Riskthese were the five factions in the Zacriya Kingdom. However, there was an unspoken sixth faction, what was known now as the Underground Prison Sect. Originally, this sixth faction was called the Judgment Faction. This faction collaborated with the Risk Faction; criminals deemed dangerous by the latter were taken to the Judgment Faction to claim their punishments. Alan wasn''t sure of the details either, but rumours have it that a major conflict between people in Risk and Judgement led to the disbandment of the latter. This was over three years ago. "Even the priests couldn''t purify this dark magic." Dolan pursed his lips into a thin line. "With Her Majesty ill and His Majesty in distress, the current royal family shouldn''t be taking on more problems in its current state." "So, Your Highness decided to take on this problem alone?" Alan looked at him in disbelief. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "I can handle it," Dolan said. "As an informant and merchant, I just need you to provide me with your best items that go against dark magic, as well as any information on the Sect. And as usual, you will be generously compensated." At the Crown Prince''s words, the machina couldn''t help but crease his brows. While the Crown Prince wasnt wrong about the royal family being in a pinch, taking on this investigation without telling any of the palace people was undoubtedly reckless. Alan observed the stern expression on Dolan''s face. Rather than reckless, his decision could even be coined as "How naive." Alan''s breath hitched in his throat as the man standing beside him spoke his thoughts out loud. Edris, quiet until now, looked at the Crown Prince with the same calm expression since he entered the store. "Pardon me?" Dolan''s eyes flickered as he glanced toward the dark-haired man. The last person who spoke to Dolan Zacriya, the future king of the Zacriya Kingdom, in such a manner was executed on the spot. The person before that was Mia Vyris, the twin of Magnus Vyris, one of his few friends unbounded by political ties. The air in the room thickened. Witnessing the situation unfold right inside his store, Alan felt as if he was ageing exponentially. Even if Edris currently held a special reputation as the Prophet, speaking to the Crown Prince like such was clearly overstepping a boundary. Please, if he were to cause trouble, at least do it outside! "Your Highness, Edris, I think that''s enoughC" Before the machina could stop things from escalating, his sentence halted halfway as the Crown Prince lifted a hand his way. "You''re saying I''m naive." Dolan turned towards Edris. "How so?" "Not you, Your Highness." There was not a hint of anxiety in Edris''s voice. "It''s your plan." "My plan?" "Since your goal is to find the culprits behind Prince Treo and Her Majesty''s injuries without notifying the palace, you''re planning to head to the Underground Prison Sect alone, correct? After all, that''s why you''re coming here personally to meet Alan Grennor, since he''s the best merchant in the kingdom. After being in contact for some time, after confirming with your own eyes that he was clear of suspicions, only then could you proceed with your plan. "You trust him, at least more than those in the palace, right?" "What are you" Alan wanted to grab the nearest voice-strip potion and chug that thing down Edris''s throat. It''s one thing if Edris didn''t care about his life, but don''t drag him into it! "If I''m not mistaken, there are leaks in the palace, correct? And quite close to the royal family, too." The clock, ticking like a bomb, was the only audible thing in the room. "...As expected from the Prophet. You''re truly something." Rather than appearing angry, Dolan merely ran a hand through his hair and, under Alan''s horrified gaze, let out a refreshing laugh. "Your guess is spot on. I can''t trust people in the palace." He laid both hands out with a shrug. "I''ve got a few suspicions, likely the truth, but I can''t make a move on them unless I have conclusive evidence." Dolans mind flashed to the rumours circulating throughout the kingdom. "Crown Prince Treo suddenly fell ill!" "There has been an assassination attempt at the royal banquet. Her Majesty has been injured by dark magic!" To outsiders, a series of misfortunes had fallen upon the royal family, but Dolan knew they were more than misfortunes. They were a list of premeditated events aimed at him. Prince Treo didn''t "suddenly fall ill"he became like this in his stead. Similarly, Her Majesty wouldn''t have been injured by dark magic if it weren''t for Dolans presence. He could never forget the day of the attempted assassination, the horror in the Queen''s eyes as the dark magic invaded her last bit of consciousness. For you. Those were the words the possessed Queen had mouthed towards Dolan Zacriya from across the room. The attacks, the invasionCthey were all aimed at him. Dolan''s decision to act alone wasn''t just because he wanted to avoid information getting to the palace moles. In fact, it was the opposite. "Using yourself as a lure is a naive move, Your Highness," Edris said, pulling him out of his trance. He peered towards him with eyes that resembled the Serenity Lake. "Your enemies are in the shadows. Acting like this will work against you in the long run. You may want to lure them out of the darkness by letting yourself in the sunlight, but have you ever thought about what they''re truly aiming at?" "You mean" "It''s not only you, Your Highness," Edris said softly. "It''s the entire Zacriya Kingdom." Upon hearing his words, both the Crown Prince and the machina widened their eyes. As Dolan Zacriya had only recently become the Crown Prince, it was a sensitive time for both the royal family and the Zacriya Kingdom. What would people say about him if one incident followed another, all related to those around him, all occurring during this critical period? Dolan had assumed initially that whoever was working against them was after the royal family, but it appeared that his thinking was still juvenile. "Your Highness," Edris remained unfazed by their reactions as he continued. "What is the most effective way to ruin anything?" Despite Dolan''s silence, they all knew the answer to his question. It was from within. A kingdom''s greatest fear was not inexperienced ruling, but an inconsistent one. Inconsistency was bound to lead to distrust. If what was supposed to be the heart of the kingdom was no longer trustworthy, it wouldn''t take long for the rest of the kingdom to collapse. "You''re right. I was too naive." Dolan pulled back his hair with a sigh. Without a proper plan, the consequences of his actions backfiring would be grave. In the worst-case scenario, it may lead to the kingdom''s downfall. Whoever was behind all this, they''ve set up a multilayered trap for both the royal family and the kingdom itself. In this case, the most important thing Dolan Zacriya could do was stay steady. Stay steady for both himself and the citizens of Zacriya. As the Crown Prince, he should at least be able to do this much. "To think a foreigner could see the kingdom''s situation more clearly than its own Crown Prince." Dolan turned towards Edris with a wry smile. "I''m truly embarrassed." "Don''t be, Your Highness," Edris said. "After all, these are only my speculations." "But I can''t just leave the Sect alone." Dolan pursed his lips into a line. "There are too many problems with that place that we didn''t know where to start investigating. With all the recent events, I can''t shake off the feeling that something is going on there." "Are you still going to investigate, Your Highness?" Alan eyed him with apprehension. "I can''t leave it alone now, can I? Especially when it might harm the kingdom''s people." Dolan sighed. "Don''t worry, though. I won''t do anything that would place myself at risk." "I will prepare the items." Watching Alan make his way to the back of the store, Dolan fell into deep contemplation. His original plan coming here was to ask Alan for both information and items that could purify dark magic. However Dolan quietly stared at the dark-haired man, recalling how he had extracted the dark magic and saved the Queen at the banquet. There was a living magic purifier right in front of him. "Your Highness." Sensing the Crown Prince''s gaze, Edris cautiously took a step back. "I''m merely a traveller." From the back of the store, Alan nearly scoffed. After all Edris had done, now he''s pulling the traveller card? "Hey, what kind of person do you take me for?" Dolan held his hands in defence. Despite being surrounded by paperwork these few days, even hed had heard about the Orteon Manor incident where Edris had lost control of his powers and gone berserk. According to the circulating rumours, the traveller had only barely held on to his sanity thanks to the attributed beast tamer and his own saintly convictions. Frankly, Dolan was apologetic towards Edris. In normal circumstances, he would have had the palace knights or even members of the Mage Brigade carry out the investigation. Still, in the presence of dark magic, Dolan didn''t have full faith that he would be able to ensure everyone''s safety. Furthermore, dispatching these people would inevitably attract attention from the palace, which was the last thing he wanted to happen. On the other hand, Edris was both the winner of the Wulin Tournament and the holder of the Tempest, the incredible skill capable of neutralising all magicincluding dark magic. "Your Highness" "You will be generously compensated." Edris''s sentence fell midway. Seeing the dark-haired man''s hesitation, Dolan promptly followed on. "You can make any request of me. Do you want money? Potions? I heard you were house-touring in Nolmes. "As long as it is in my power, I will grant your wish." Edris entered a rare silence, and Dolan unknowingly held his breath, awaiting his next words. Instead of continuing on, however, the dark-haired man responded with a question. "Do you know why I came to Nolmes?" Not expecting an answer, he continued. "Someone told me some very lovely things about it. About how it''s a city where opportunities are found at every corner, about it being a place where everyone is given a chance to dream. "My dream is to live a peaceful life." His grey eyes met Dolan''s ruby ones. "Your Highness, do you think you can grant this wish?" 27 | I Have My Worries Ace had his eyes locked onto Edris the entire way back to Mosky Inn. At first, the latter simply ignored it, but after enduring the relentless, scrutinising gaze for five minutes straight, he finally turned to the fluff of pink resting on his shoulder. If you were a human, I might think youre trying to flirt with me. Why did you agree to help Dolan Zacriya? A group of children raced past Edris, who casually dodged his body to the side. People always packed Lennet Street in the afternoons, whether working, eating, or simply taking a walk. Instead of responding to Aces question, Edris peered to the southern end of the street, only to blink twice. The bakery is already closed at this hour? This time of day was optimal for local businesses, especially restaurants, to make money. Wendys Bakery Stand was one of his favourite bread shops in Nolmes. Not only were their desserts actually sweet, the store owner often packed him samples. On afternoons like this, the line to the bakery would often extend out the door, even down the side of the street. Eyeing the CLOSED sign that dangled by the door front, he slowly retracted his gaze. What a shame I know, I know. You think that theres no reason for me to help Dolan Zacriya. But he offered me a deal, and I told him my wish, remember? Edris wanted to live a peaceful life. It didnt end up being a part of the written contract, though. I suppose not. The finalized transaction between Edris and the Crown Prince involved the former investigating the Slums and the latter providing monetary reward in return. The extent of investigation was up to Edris, but the amount of money he received would be of equivalent value to the information he supplies. And as for the wish about a peaceful life It was just some food for thought for the Crown Prince, the future leader of the kingdom. Liar. Ace mercilessly exposed Edriss excuse. While the wish wasnt contract-bound, the fact that the man had mentioned it first made it the unspoken condition. In past transactions, Edris always chose tangible items as his conditions. Yes, he always prioritized money, but Ace knew the base amount in the contract alone was far from enticing for Edris to accept the deal. After all, with his capabilities, he could fully secure the same, if not more money, without involving himself in the risks posed by the transaction. But he did, and this time, his true condition was nothing close to the usual tangible items. Peace. It was a concept. A subjective, timeless concept. Knowing Edris, who would always aim for the greatest benefits in any situation, there was no way the man would put an abstract concept as his condition, especially when the other partys request involved putting himself in potential danger. Ace glanced up again, and this time, Edris held his gaze from the start. Instead of the usual plotting glint in his eyes, they rest in aloofness, unfocused as the dark-haired man strolled deep in thought. Just as Ace withdrew his eyes and was about to retreat to his cozy pocket, the man spoke up. Youre right. I dont do anything that is not of at least equivalent exchange. Edris shrugged. Partaking in an investigation that involves both physical labour and mental skills in exchange for a verbal promise of peace doesnt sound very fair, does it? But Ace, do you remember what my goal was upon coming here? A house. Edris wanted to buy a cottage in Nolmes, and then travel the world. You actually remembered? Im moved to tears. The housing market in the Zacriya Kingdom was only open to those with power, often nobles in direct collaborations with the royal family. Nolmes, for example, fell under the management of the Orteons, who provided resident dwellings with funds from the Fortune Faction. As regular citizens, they could only "rent" out a dwelling from the Resource Faction for a certain number for years, then choose to renew the contract. A rent contract, however, was vulnerable to a variety of unlisted circumstances. Unstable housing prices, natural disasters, shifting groups in power... Indeed, it was prone to exploitation. What Edris wanted was something permanently his. You could have asked Dolan Zacriya to have that as your reward instead. That defeats the fun of it, doesnt it? After all, its the whole process of working, saving, then buying the house that truly makes it your own. Ignoring Aces judging stare, Edris chuckled. To get a free one just like that? I wouldnt want the Crown Prince to use it against me one day. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Although pricier and far more complicated to achieve, the house he aimed for was one solely under his ownership, one outside the control of all authorities. Often, Ace found Edriss logic unfathomable. Its highly improbable that he will. Highly improbable. But not impossible. Edris cleared his throat. Anyways, Im sure you can tell, but whoever the Crown Princes going against, theyre quite skilled. Theyre aware of his weaknesses, as well as the weaknesses of the kingdom. Considering the possibility that those forces were from neighbouring kingdoms, the idea of war was no longer out of the question. Edris recalled Aces words on the first day they met. If nothing was done about the budding conflicts, its plausible that more chaos would unfold in the near future. And if the situation escalated to a certain pointthe kingdoms eventual downfall. It would be a gruesome process to go through for everyone, and Edris was focused on a particular aspect of the process. Indeed, he had his worries. A specific, apprehensive thought had been lingering on his mind for a while now. Whats the purpose of a house? To Edris, it was permanent dwelling. Its supposed to be a place he could return to for a long, long time. However, in the context of war My cottage, he muttered to himself in all seriousness. You think itll be able to withstand mana bombs? *** THE ROYAL PALACE. NOLMES. Two figures sat in the Crown Princes room. Your Highness, this may not be in my place to say this, but I believe you should reconsider. Dolan, sipping his limberry tea, set his gaze on the white-robed man across from him. Is that all you wanted to say, Priest Alder? Priest Alder had come to update the Crown Prince about the conditions of the Queen and the first prince. After hearing about his transaction with Edris, the priest had expressed his adamant opposition. Dolan didnt refute his words as he only stared at him in silence. There were few people in the palace that he could trust, and Priest Alder was one of them. Although he was an obsolete, stubborn man, he and Priest Edith had served the royal family for decades. They were the only ones Dolan could trust to treat his family. Priest Alder, I am not telling you this to consult your opinion but to notify you. B-but Your Highness! To bet your cards on someone as unstable as Prophet Edrisits far too risky! Unstable? Dolan leaned into the couch. A radiant smile pasted across his face, as though he was at one of his garden parties. You should have seen him. He recalled their encounter from earlier. Aside the travellers pale complexion, which had at this point become a defining trait, he didnt look sickly at all. His eyes, especially, were identical to when Dolan first saw him at the Wulin Tournament: calm and clear, without a hint of uncertainty. Without knowing about the rumours beforehand, no one would think he was in an uncontrollable state. Dont worry, Uncle Alder. Dolan said, and Priest Alders exasperated look softened at his drop of formalities. I know what Im doing. So all you need to do is keep up what youre doing. Mother and Treo depend on you. I could count on you, right? ...Of course. Seeing that the Crown Prince was not planning to yield, Priest Alder knowingly backed off. His forehead creased in light of another thought. But will Prophet Edris be okay on his own? Its the Sect hes trying to investigate, after all. Shouldnt we send at least some people to help him out? I offered, but he declined, Dolan said, a tinge of regret in his tone. While employing troops would draw attention from people in the palace, Dolan still kept other tactics up his sleeves. When he suggested to Edris on providing him with subtle reinforcements, the latter straight up refused. I will go alone, Edris said. You may not know this since youre not from around, but the Slums are a dangerous place, Dolan explained. Its full of people that the Risk Faction has trouble dealing with. Even if both of you are quite powerful, it will be difficult to handle by yourselves. Your Highness. In response to his apprehension, Edris merely smiled. You must have heard about the rumours about me. Do you know what they are calling me? Dolan fell quiet at his question, but they both knew the answer. The Fallen Prophet. Do you think its wise to dispatch anyone from the palace to support someone with this reputation? Even more, are you sure that the support you gather wouldnt backfire in this situation? Your Highness, I would appreciate it if you leave me with ample freedom in this transaction. And that had marked the end of their conversation. Dolan let out another sigh as he placed the empty teacup on the table. Priest Alder took it as a cue and leaned forward to pour more tea, but the former shook his head, his mind spiralling into another matter at hand. Back at Alans store, he had asked Edris about his wish, to which the traveller replied with peace. Peace. It was an abstract word, even philosophical. Did Edris have a specific definition for peace that he wanted him to work towards? Dolan wasnt sure, nor did he ask. He wasnt sure what it would take to fulfil his wish, nor the specifics it entailed. However, he would never forget the sincerity on the travellers pale face as he spoken his wish. It was an expression that gave him a sense of uneasiness. There was a sense of certain conviction to Edriss words, to the point where Dolan would expect the traveller to resort to anything to achieve this peace. Even if it meant sacrifice. But to achieve a peace that involved sacrificeCwould the end result still be peace? Since his arrival in the kingdom, Edris had already involved himself in several large-scale incidents and was injured multiple times. Even Dolan, who didnt frequently interact with the dark-haired traveller, noticed his deterioration. Edris had attributed his physical change to a bad diet, but naturally, Dolan saw right through the excuse. He didnt want the traveller to injure himself further for the sake of a kingdom he had only set foot on weeks ago. It just wouldnt make sense. If Prophet Edris says its fine, then I will respect his decision. Strolling towards the balcony, Dolan peered down at the streets of Nolmes. As usual, it bloomed with the liveliness of citizens, bursting in a spectrum of vibrancy. As the Crown Prince, I wont interfere with his plans. Its for the best for both of us. He leaned past the golden railings. A gust of wind blew past him, and into the room behind him as it left the doors swinging side to side. As the Crown Prince? Priest Alder keenly caught the distinction in his words. The tips of Dolans lips curled up. 28 | I Might Get Injured, I Might Die MOSKY INN. NOLMES. "Dear Mother" Celio clenched the paper in his hands and, after a minute, crumbled it into a ball. After Edris brought up his parents, Celio thought it was okay for him to at least send his mother a letter, letting her know that he was alive. Over two months have passed since he ran away from home. Other than the Commander, the rest of his family and friends were under the assumption that he had gone on a training excursion. The young beast tamer grew glum at the thought of his overbearing old man. He couldn''t grasp what was going on in the Commander''s mind. When Celio first ran off, he thought he had concealed everything perfectly. He was young, but not stupid enough to venture into the unknown on a whim. He had made countless preparations months in advance of his plan''s execution. But the Commander. His unyielding, obsolete father! Little could he have guessed that the old man saw through his plans from the very beginning. However, this was exactly where Celio grew confused; rather than chasing him down and hindering his escape, his father had turned an unprecedented, shocking blind eye towards his action. It wasn''t like him at all. With the Commander''s personality, Celio was fully expected to be beaten half dead having his plans found out. Sliding down the chair with a sigh, he tossed the paper ball into the trash can, where it met up with its other crumbly paper friends. Since his earliest memories, Celio hadn''t been on good terms with the Commander, to the point where he couldn''t recall the last time he addressed the old man as "father." While he lived in Adalan, all that came out of that old man''s mouth was training, order, and power. Merely living under the same roof as him and his relentless mumblings was enough to instigate a rebellious soul within the young beast tamer. After a couple failed starts, Celio walked out towards the door with a sealed letter in his hands. Before his hand even landed on the handle, however, there was a knock. Celio froze. Edris carried the keys to this room, so there was no need to knock. It wouldn''t be the inn owner, either, as he''s been avoiding them for dear life ever since the Orteon Manor incident. Not only the owner, but most people who recognize Edris would walk the long way in fear of the Fallen Prophet. Who would be looking for him at a time like this? *** DUSK. MOSKY INN. The walk back took longer than usual, because Edris kept getting distracted looking for bakery shops. Carrying a paper bag filled with limberry tarts, he trudged up the stairs to the inn''s second floor. When he opened the door to his room, however, Edris was confronted with a strange sight. Not one, but three heads simultaneously turned towards him. "Master!" Celio immediately ran up to him like a frightened puppy. "You''re finally back!" Aside from the young beast tamer, there was another man standing beside his bed, and yet another leaning by the balcony fence. "...It looks like we have some guests." Despite smiling, there was not a hint of delight in his voice as Edris skimmed around the room. "Edris. Fancy seeing you again." Magnus Vyris strolled into the room, waving as if they had been friends for a lifetime. "We were originally waiting by the lobby, but you took quite the time to arrive, so we had little Celio let us in. I hope you don''t mind." Edris glanced sidelong at the pink-haired archmage, studying him intently. The last time he saw Magnus Vyris was at the banquet. Thanks to the latter''s cordiality and poise, Edris''s first impression of him was quite favourable, at least when compared to the other nobles he met. Unfortunately, he had a feeling this impression wouldn''t last long. "Sorry for the intrusion!" Beside the pink-haired archmage stood the eldest son of the Ablemores, who bowed multiple times before returning to his uptight posture. Faren Ablemore tightly clenched the long staff, but even that wasn''t enough to hide his trembling hands. "If I remember correctly" Edris raised an eyebrow. "His Highness agreed that he would not interfere with his reinforcements." "As the Crown Prince, perhaps not." Magnus gave a smile so radiant it would make flowers bloom. "But Dolan requested my assistance in the name of my fellow friend. I simply could not refuse. I truly hope you understand." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "You''re a very hopeful person, Lord Magnus." "I do appreciate your compliment! Also, Magnus is fine." "Alright then, Magnus." Dropping the formalities instantly, Edris shifted his gaze from the pink-haired man to the one beside him. "I am assuming His Highness had asked you for the favour, so what is this gentleman here for?" "Ah, you see" At his question, Magnus pressed both hand to the mage''s shoulders, giving them a good pat. "My good friend Faren here is going to assist you in my stead." "It''s a pleasure working with you, Prophet Edris!" Faren Ablemore exclaimed. Edris silently stared at him with somewhat of a strange expression, then turned his gaze towards the pink-haired man beside him. "Although Dolan did personally ask for my help, I''m in a bit of a situation here. Even with the Crown Prince''s authority, we still need to undergo a set of procedures for me to be registered to participate in official missions, let alone ones like this," Magnus explained, his face sullen. "Having the status of an archmage can be quite a pain, you see. My mana is tracked by the Risk Faction, and I''ll never hear the end of it if they find out that I used it without notifying them beforehand prior notice." Edris thought Magnus Vyris must have been holding himself back at the banquet. Never in his life did he meet a person as loquacious as him. Not to mention, he was an esteemed lord and archmage of the upper society. Before Edris could say anything in return, the archmage seemed to have convinced himself of something as he returned to his previous cheery state. "But worry not! I assure you that Faren would do just as good of a job in my place," he stated. "Not only can he cast wide-radius spells, but he''s also someone who''s full of surprises." "I will try my best!" Faren quickly chimed in. "Wait, Master, we''re going somewhere?" Celio perked up at the contents of the conversation he was hearing for the first time. Heh. Edris sighed. This was a mess. He didn''t know the Crown Prince''s intentions behind sending these two here, but it was definitely unnecessary. When Edris assured he didn''t need reinforcement, he was serious. The traveller himself may not be enough, but he still had a certain pink fluff at hand. Edris planned to make good use of this opportunity to test Ace''s limitsif he even had any. He thought the Crown Prince was clever, but what''s with the unexpected stubbornness? Not to mention, Edris felt even more confounded at the way the archmage threw out all those violent terms like wide-radius attacks, combat The last time he checked, they were going to hold an investigationnot head to war. This wasn''t simply Edris being an optimist. Rather, his statements came from realistic considerations. As someone who had personally experienced the so-called slums in other kingdoms, Edris knew the rules of the people there. To an extent, those who lived with nothing were more civil than those who always wanted something; the former understood the notion of exchange and the value of sacrifice, while the latter resorted to oppression. "I''m going to the Slums." Edris turned to Celio. "There''s been sights of dark magic that seem to originate from around the area." "Then I will" Edris held up his hand before Celio could finish his sentence. "Even though it''s an investigation, there''s no saying what would happen there. I might get injured, and I might die." Celio didn''t miss the seriousness on his face as Edris spoke. Unlike its usual nonchalance, his voice was grazed with fatigue. "You would be subjected to the same risks, perhaps even greater." Of course, Edris wasn''t planning for himself nor the people going with him to get hurt. There was Ace and also the Tempest for him to use. Even though Celio lacked experience with the "real" world, he didn''t think the boy would have too much trouble with his talent and abilities. If anything, he might have a better chance than Edris of surviving in a situation involving violence. However, he still chose to prepare Celio for the worst-case scenario. Edris didn''t want to take responsibility for anything unforeseeable. The beast tamer was still young and innocent, but he should know at least this much. "Are you saying this because you don''t want me to go with you?" Contrary to Edris''s intentions, Celio''s mind landed on a whole separate channel. His golden eyes looked like they were about to water up, but they remained locked on Edris, irises unmoving. "I''m coming. I promise I won''t be a burden." "I know you won''t, but" "Please." At Celio''s adamancy, Edris fell silent for a few seconds before shrugging in compliance. "Do as you wish." As he said that, the man pulled out something from his bag and tossed it towards the beast tamer, who caught it with one hand on reflex. "A weapon. It''s yours now." Celio''s eyes widened. In his hand was a small but intricate, double-edged dagger. Sophisticated lining traced around the handle, and the blade glowed majestically under the warm lamp light. He had scammed it off Alan the last time he visited his shop. Given the nature of their collaboration, he knew the machina wouldn''t refuse. "I will cherish it!" This time, his eyes really did grow teary, and Edris had to hold up his hand once more to stave off any of the beast tamer''s emotional rambling. "Prophet Edris, may I also become your disciple" "No." Edris firmly cut Faren off, only to notice Magnus''s entertained look from his periphery. He was getting a headache from the people in the room. "Come to think of it" Celio''s cheery voice waned slightly as his eyes wandered from one person to the next. Edris, with his dark hair and ghostly grey eyes, was practically known throughout the capital. Then there''s the famous eldest son of the Ablemore family. Lastly, Celio himself had golden hair that screamed the word "foreigner." According to the plan, the three of them were going to investigate the Slums secretly. "Does anyone here know any disguise magic?" Faren awkwardly scratched his chin while Magnus shrugged as if it was none of his business. Edris looked at him strangely. "What do we need that for?" For once, Celio didn''t know how to respond. From Edris''s mind, Ace let out a long, long sigh. 29 | I Can Only Offer You This NIGHT. NOLMES OUTSKIRTS. The Slums were located on the capital''s outskirts, away from merchant shops and bustling streets found in city centre. It was a desolate area where tents and shacks replaced infrastructures commonly seen in central Nolmes. With buildings here made out of brick materials for their sturdiness, the area appeared considerably shabbier than the rest of the capital. After teleporting here with them, Magnus Vyris had left in a hurry after receiving a notice from someone via his Infuser, leaving Edris, Celio, and Faren to their investigation. "Lord Magnus seems quite busy," Celio muttered, recalling when the pink-haired man disappeared off the balcony. "I guess having a renowned title like an archmage has its own inconveniences." "He''s quite the character, to say the least." As he said that, Faren bore a complicated expression, but it soon was replaced with a frown as a strange smell entered his senses. Celio seemed to have noticed it, too, as he subconsciously lifted his collars to his nose. As an attributed beast tamer, his senses were even sharper than the average Awakened. Edris straightened the rims of his cloak and surveyed the area. The three of them stood in a dirty alleyway, each with a brown hood over their heads. Celio had purposely bought the cheapest cloaks to avoid standing out. Aside from the clothing disguise, their hair were also dyed auburn brown, the typical hair colour of Nolme citizens. Celio glanced at the hint of pink in Edris''s cloak pocket. "Master, you should definitely keep him." He nodded affirmatively. "To think it even knows how to use disguise magic What a useful spirling!" At Celio''s words, Edris turned away, his lips forming a pensive grin as he pulled down his hood. He moved past the young beast tamer, giving the latter''s shoulder a light tap in the process. "We should get going." Rubbish piled by the sides of the streets, mixing in with the deteriorating houses. Due to their lack of resources, routine garbage collection wasn''t available in areas like such. As the three of them moved deeper into the area, the foul smell that was faint at first intensified. By the time they reached what appeared to be the heart of the slums, the smell was so strong that Celio ended up gagging his way through the streets. Beside him stood Faren Ablemore, who now carried a grimace after becoming the victim of Celio''s several vomit outputs. The mage calmly took a few steps away from him, and then switched into his fourth cloak. Then, Faren pulled out a notebook from his bag and scribbled onto its pages. "Lord Faren, what have you been writing this whole time?" Seeming to have recovered a bit, Celio looked over to the mage. On the latter''s notebook were pages filled with not only sentence descriptions but also full-scaled drawings; each stroke was done with utmost precision, and together the lines formed pictures so vivid they brimmed with life. "A report for the Crown Prince. MagnusCLord Magnus, I mean. He told me that although His Highness couldn''t come personally, he wanted a report of the situation here," Faren explained. "This is a Sense-Capture Notebook, so whatever is recorded is retained entirely in the five senses. "Mana infusion on both the recorder and the reader''s part is needed to activate this item. By infusing their mana onto the pages, whoever reads this can immerse themselves in the exact moment I recorded these pages, basically sharing the recorder''s senses." "That''s so cool." Eyes sparkling, Celio studied the fine-art drawings spread across each page. "Can I also draw like that if I infuse my mana into it?" "Do you have previous experience with drawing?" Celio shook his head. Art was one of the few things he lacked the talent for. "Unfortunately, this notebook doesn''t come with the technical skills themselves." Faren chuckled. "I''ve been sketching since I was a child, so you could say I''m pretty good at it." "It''s impressive," Edris said honestly as he peered over to see the products. Pretty good was an understatement. To create drawings with sophistication like this in a short amount of time (while walking, too) wasn''t something that could be easily achievable by the average person. The next second, Faren Ablemore''s face visibly brightened. "Prophet Edris, your compliment holds more value to me than any achievements." "Is His Highness planning to claim land rights to the Slums?" "Perhaps, but you''re asking the wrong person. I wouldn''t be sure of what His Highness is thinking." Not seeming to mind Edris''s lack of reaction, Faren merely laughed. "I''m just a son of an earl." A rush of gusts blew from the streets, bringing along with it another surge of nausea for the young beast tamer. "This area was built on untitled land, which is why it''s poorly managed compared to the rest of the capital," Faren explained as he handed a handkerchief to Celio, who miserably crouched over by the sidewalk. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Even though it''s not formally titled, isn''t the Riselto family in charge of the areas around here?" Edris asked. Faren Ablemore blinked twice upon hearing the traveller''s statement, then gave him a wry smile. "Correct. As expected, youre even knowledgeable in our affairs despite not being from around here yourself." Edris shrugged. "Some readings here and there." Although he wasn''t the one doing the reading. Countless wary stares shot their way the moment the three men stepped foot in the residence area. The space was overcrowded with "residents," who maintained vigilance towards the unfamiliar faces. "This" Faren''s eyes widened as he subconsciously stopped writing in his notebook. Beside him, Celio, too, had a conflicted look on his face. He came from a fortunate background, and the beast tamer was aware of that himself. Conceptually, he was mindful of the wealth disparity between different parts of a kingdom, especially after hearing about it from his mother back in Adalan. He did not imagine it to be with such intensity. The metallic stench of blood entered his nose. Bodies piled by the tents, along with garbage. Some were alive, others not so much. By one of the tents, two bodies which seemed like mother and child leaned against each other. The mother held the child in her arms, quiet and trembling. The child, looking to have just passed infancy, had pale cheeks hollowed inward. "Why did you stop writing?" Edris said after noticing Faren''s dazed expression. "Didn''t His Highness want an update on the current situations in the Slums? I think this would be quite the impactful scene to record." "Yes Yes, I suppose so." Faren steadied his voice as he reopened his notebook. "I was just shocked atthe extent of deterioration here." "You''ve never visited places like this on any of your missions?" Edris asked. "I heard you''re a member of His Highness''s mage brigade." "Oh. Yes, I am. But..." Edris''s question seemed to have caught him off guard as the mage scratched his head, flustered. "The Slums is usually not a part of our jurisdiction..." "I apologise. I didn''t mean to make you feel guilty or anything." "Don''t be, Prophet Edris." Faren shook his head. "We should have paid attention to the Slums sooner. Maybe if we did, things wouldn''t have been able to progress to this state." "It''s certainly not pretty." Edris''s tone was formal but cold. He glanced around their surroundings and let out an indiscernible sigh. "These depressing places are everywhere." "Prophet Edris, you really are composed." "Master, have you been to many places like this before?" Despite the dreadfulness around them, Edris''s expression was unexpectedly calm, even unfitting for the situation. "You see all kinds of things when you''re a traveller." Not only seeing, but being. At his statement, Celio and Faren both fell quiet, the former looking towards him in confusion while the latter woeful. Edris didn''t dwell on the topic further. As Celio was about to ask another question, he noticed a presence from behind the former. Without thinking, Celio yanked Edris aside, the movement knocking the figure behind him onto the ground. "What do you think you''re" Celio''s voice faltered as he stared at the young boy on the ground. Looking to be around five years of age, the boy glared at him. It was a vicious glare that Celio would have never expected to see in a boy as young as him. In the boy''s hand was a neatly-trimmed pouch. "Wait. When did he!" Faren blinked as he reached in his now-emptied pockets. Seeing that the three foreigners weren''t planning on hurting him, the boy pulled himself up and attempted to bail. Before he had the chance to do so, however, a hand grabbed him by the collar and yanked him backwards. The reverse momentum caused the boy to stumble again, and as he was about to fall, another hand steadied him. With one hand still on the boy''s collar, Edris took the money pouch with the other and tossed it towards Faren. He then crouched down until they were at eye level. Confronted with the foreign man''s gentle gaze, the boy instinctively looked away. The man didn''t condemn him, nor did he try to lecture him. The man didn''t say anything at all. Instead, he reached in his pocket to pull out his pouch. Loosening the strings on the bag, Edris handed it to the young boy. Despite dangling it right in front of him, the boy didn''t move. "It''s not money, nor is it pity. It''s a sugar," Edris said, and the boy looked up. "I can only offer you this." No violence. Don''t steal. Edris didn''t tell him any of those things. He had no right to do so, anyways. The world''s a cruel place; it took so much away from people, so what''s wrong with people trying to adapt to its cruelty? Abstract things like morality and justice were only possible after survival. A few seconds of silence ensued from their meeting stares, and the boy ultimately took the pocket out of Edris''s hands. Despite his still-cautious gaze, they now bore a new layer of curiosity towards the foreigner. The next second, however, the boy stepped back, noticing something in the distance as he recoiled. Celio turned in the direction of the boy''s gaze and saw a hunched man heading their way. The smell of alcohol reeked as he got closer, and the beast tamer drew back with furrowed his brows. When the hunched male was less than ten metres away, the boy spun around and dashed off without hesitation. A fist-sized rock came flying his way, barely missing the boy''s back as it grazed him by the shoulder. The boy stumbled, then kept running. Shock washed over Celio''s face and was soon replaced by anger. He pivoted in the man''s direction and, with a swift swing of the arm, knocked him from his original course. "What''s wrong with you, throwing a rock at a kid like that?" At the beast tamer''s sudden attack, the hunched man spat as he took a few steps back, his face flushed from the alcohol. "You little bastard. Who are you to get involved with my family matters?!" "Family? That boy is your son?" Faren frowned from behind. "Only makes things worse." Celio''s expression was grim. Seeing the man wobbling from side to side with no signs of repenting, he clenched the dagger in his hand. Before he could do anything, however, Edris stepped in between them. Standing before the man still on the ground, Edris formed a gentle smile. The hunched man, confused at first, widened his eyes when he saw the man pull out a silver yone from his pocket. "What do you want?" The man asked, gaze glued on the brimming coin. Edris tossed the silver yone up and down, watching as the man''s eyes followed it like a dog at its toy. "You came from a Blind Tiger, didn''t you?" 30 | I Cant Help But Wince "You came from a Blind Tiger, didn''t you?" Blind Tigers. They were illegal pubs distinctive to under resourced areas. Naturally, nobody would open up pubs or restaurants in the Slums, so people here instead established Blind Tigers as places for cheap drinks and unapproved transactions. As a result, these pubs retained exclusive information that would be hard to come across anywhere else in the capital. The man understood him immediately as his face contorted into a wicked smile. "I don''t know. Did I?" His tacit prompting was met with silence from the foreign man. Even though Edris was smiling, his eyes were cold as they stared down at him. Still sitting on the dirt ground, the man felt an indescribable pressure coming from him and instinctively shrank back. "...It''s that way." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Two blocks down, and it''s the side entrance of the fifth house to your right. The passcode is ''equality,'' but you have to yell it like you mean it! Hahaha!" Edris paused for a moment. After ascertaining that the man was telling the truth, he pressed a hand to the man''s shoulder with a smile. "How ironic." Paying no attention to his words, the hunched man crawled up and opened his palm, signalling for money. His payment never came. The hunched man''s eyes lost focus in the next second, and as having his soul extracted from his body, he flopped onto the ground. "Prophet Edris?" Faren stared at the unconscious man, then at Edris''s calm face. "Is he Dead?" Celio looked towards him, also wanting an answer. "He''ll wake up soon," Edris replied, and the beast tamer sighed in relief. Edris slid the silver yone back into his pocket. He glanced towards the far end of the street, where a short figure hid behind one of the tents, quietly observing everything going on. "The kid needs a father, after all." *** They found the pub in a rundown, tattered alleyway at the edge of the Slums. Stepping over pieces of rubbish and other unknown objects along the way, Edris and the others found themselves in front of a long, narrow tent. A diagonal sign with the word PARADISE sagged weakly from the front, almost toppling over as Celio pushed open the door. The inside was completely empty. Welcomed by cobwebs, rolling dustballs, and disorderly brick clutters, they took in the abandoned sight with frowns on their faces. "The man lied to us?" Faren whipped his head around in confusion while Celio immediately stepped to head back out and hunt down the man. "Hold on." Edris stopped the two as he strolled around the area. He turned to Faren. "Do you recall the password?" "Yes, it''s ''equality'' if I remember correctly," the mage replied, unsure where he was going with this question. "Repeat it, but this time, activate your mana." "Huh?" "I can do it!" Celio quickly chimed in, and the next moment, a faint golden light emerged from his body. "Equality!" As if responding to his words, a portion of the grass in the corner started to rumble. Under Faren''s looks of astonishment, the dry patch of hay faded away, revealing a flight of wooden stairs leading to what seemed like a basement. "As expected," Edris said. His suspicions started when they encountered the hunched man. At the time, Edris had considered it strange how the man managed to throw a fist-sized rock across a ten-metre distance, not to mention actually hitting the boy. Even if he had good physiques, it wasn''t something the average person could accomplish. His suspicion proved to be valid after he got Ace to examine his stats. The hunched man was a mana user, though it appeared that he didn''t know it himself. Unlike the average Awakened, the man, having lived in the Slums his whole life, knew nothing about mana manipulation. He wasn''t lying when he told Edris that he had to yell out the password. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. For him, it was yelling, but on a technical level, it was because he had unknowingly activated his mana whenever he did so. This, too, was confirmed by Edris when he touched the man''s shoulders. The Tempest was a mana neutralising skill, meaning he couldn''t use it to inflict any conditions on a normal person. However, Edris noticed that he could use the Tempest on the man; this was only possible if the man was an Awakened. "They''ve hid it well," Faren muttered, scribbling into his notebook. "Should we go in?" Celio asked. Edris nodded. Contrary to the desolate outdoors, opening the door to the pub was like entering another world. A dim purple tint entangled with humid space. Stepping into the haze-filled room, Celio subconsciously held his breath as he trailed behind Edris, trying to keep together as they squished through the narrow space. Some chugged alcohol by the counter, while others did the indescribable on the couch. One of the people they passed by tripped over the floor, almost tumbling onto Celio. She glanced up with a disoriented smile, blowing a kiss at the sixteen-year-old before pushing herself back to her feet. As tense as a pillar, Celio stared harder at the back of Edris''s head. Faren followed the two at the end, evading drunkards left and right. Recording everything in sight, the mage couldn''t help but put on a complicated expression at this foreign part of the kingdom. It took a while to curve through the messy pub unnoticed, but the group managed to reach the corner of the room. Two guards stood in front of staircase entrance, one leading to the pub''s second floor. Upon their approach, the guard on the left stepped forward. "Beyond here is the Special Guests floor." He eyed the three foreign faces. "I haven''t seen you guys around. Do you have a passcode?" "Equality," Celio replied. "You people are acquainted with Johen? Wasn''t he supposed to be here earlier?" "He had something urgent to take care of, so we''re here on his behalf," Edris said with a sigh, not a moment of hesitation in his voice. Behind him, Celio and Faren silently exchanged gazes. The former was dumbfounded at the situation, while the latter was mentally in awe at Edris''s impromptu acting. From their conversation, Faren only grasped a basic understanding of what was going on. The hunched man from earlier, Johen, was acquainted with one of the "special guests" mentioned by the guard. However, judging by the guard''s reaction, it was a hierarchical relationship instead of one between equals. Not to mention, the code he gave them earlier seemed to be one of exclusive nature, seeing how the guard immediately associated them with Johen after mentioning the password. The guard crossed his arms, as if judging the validity of his words. Upon his scrutiny, Edris merely gazed back, eyes calm and innocent. As the guard was about to ask another question, something shattering sounded from above. "Where are the service people? Are they deaf?!" An angry voice boomed from the second floor, and one of the waiters hurriedly made his way upstairs. "Can we go now? The matter we must discuss with our guests is quite important." Edris made a gesture towards the rooms on the second floor. "I''m sure you don''t want more guests to be angry." At his words, the two guards fell silent. After exchanging a few words, they nodded to each other and simultaneously stepped to the side. "Thank you." Edris smiled as he strolled past them. While Paradise''s ground floor was a mixing pot of people, the second floor took on a more refined, lounge-like appearance. There was only one hallway, dimmed and lined with private rooms on both sides. Each room seemed to be either empty or soundproof, since other than the ruckus from the guest earlier, the rest of the hallway was inundated in stillness. Eventually, the guard leading them stopped in front of Room 208. He knocked three times on the door. A raspy voice emerged from the inside, "Why are you just standing like that? Get in already." Celio turned to Edris with cautious eyes, but the latter only nodded in response and stepped into the room. It was a medium-sized room with six people. A harsh fragrance filled the space, causing Celio to scrunch his nose. Unlike the air in the first floor, there was something different about this scent that he couldn''t pinpoint. Faren seemed to have noticed it, too, as he gave the beast tamer a slight nudge. At his action, Celio nodded in understanding as he subtly activated his mana to keep breathing to a minimum. In the back of the room sat who seemed to be the central figure here. A large, tattoo-faced man leaned into a long couch as a puff of smoke released from his mouth. A lit tobacco was in one hand while a leash was wrapped around the other. Attached to the leash was a man. His clothes were stripped from his body, revealing his skinny arms and protruding ribcage. For the first time since they arrived in the pub, Ace spoke up. What bullshit is this? If Edris could see his face right now, he''d imagine Ace''s expression to be ten times worse than his own. Inhaling once more from his tobacco, the man eyed the three of them up and down. "Youre not Johen. I thought he said he''d bring the deeds today to me personally?" Not waiting for them to respond, he waved the hand holding the leash, jerking the skinny man''s neck forward. Despite the action, the skinny man didn''t show any signs of discomfort as he slumped by the couch, eyes unfocused and a drunken smile on his face. "No matter." The tattoo-faced man kicked him aside as he rested both elbows on his knees. "Where are the goods? I want them. Now." Ignoring his question, Edris asked, "Are you the leader here?" The next second, the man''s face fell, and one of his subordinates at the side stepped forward. "Watch it. Who are you to speak to Boss Prophet like this?" Celio and Faren widened their eyes simultaneously. Even Edris''s face was replaced by a rare frown. What a familiar sounding name. A strange atmosphere settled upon the room. "Prophet?" Faren was the first to speak. Noting their reaction, the tattoo-faced man leaned forward with a crooked smile, showing his golden teeth. "Ever heard of the Fallen Prophet?" His smile deepened after seeing Edris wince. "That''s me." 31 | I’m Not a Good Person, But... "That''s me." Contrary to his expectations, the young man posed no particular reaction to his introduction. Boss Prophet scoffed and, yanking the leashed guy to the side, rose from the couch. He was at least two heads taller than Edris. Boss Prophet crossed his arms and leaned forward, studying the latter in amusement. What a poor, scrawny guy you are. What was Johen thinking? His breath reeking of a mix of garlic and alcohol, he scoffed. It looks like the bastards itching for a beating again. Should it be to his son this time? While Edris stood indifferent, Celio already pressed his hand to the dagger at his side, ready to make a move. Noticing the beast tamers actions, Faren gave him a subtle shake of the head. The mages gaze fell on the sheets of paper scattered on the table, each filled lists of names with numbers beside them. The tattooed-man standing before them seemed to be a rent collector in the Slums. Faren suspected that the drunkard from earlier, Johen, must have been either one of his subordinates or a mid-man between the residents and the land tenure. He leaned towards the latter speculation. After witnessing Johens earlier state, he found it suspicious how the man managed to secure such a large amount of alcohol for himself. It was the Slums, after all. Forget about lavishing on alcohol, the average resident barely subsisted with their current resources. Even as a land tenure, it would be difficult to obtain such resourcesunless he had connections with the higher-ups. And what did higher-ups have access to that would otherwise be difficult to obtain? Information. Johen didnt tell us to come here. We threatened him to give us the passcode. Despite all the provocations the man threw out, Edris only smiled at him. You have information on the Underground Prison Sect, correct? At his words, Boss Prophet stopped whatever he was about to do and eyed him in silence. He fell back to the couch with a laidback smile. Despite the fact that Edris had just admitted to threatening one of his subordinates, the man remained unfazed, resting his chin on his palm as he looked at Edris intriguingly. The next moment, a sack was thrown onto the table before him. Boss Prophets eyes widened as a gold yone rolled out of the bag. Information, Edris repeated, ignoring the look on his face. Do you have them? Boss Prophets initial bewilderment faded, replaced by a chuckle that eventually erupted into full-out laughter. The man was so pleased he was laughing nonstop like a maniac. I see you know the rules well! Oh, I love working with smarties like you. Finally sitting back up, he wiped a tear from his eye. Youre trying to participate in the Hunt, arent you? Silly me, of course youre here for that! Celio and Faren both held dumbfounded looks. Edris raised an eyebrow, prompting the man to continue. I heard theyve imported some good ones this year. Youll need to be registered to get in the venue," Johen continued. "But of course, with methe Fallen Prophethere, that wont be a problem. I only need information. You wont be saying that once you see them in person. Only then will you understand how marvellous they are. Actually, a batch of them actually happens to be here. Eyeing the bag of gold yones again, Boss Prophet licked his lips as he looked towards Edris. I like you, so you get a special benefit. In fact, Ill give you a glance at them right now! With a snap of his fingers, the door behind them swung open. A guard walked into the room, and following him were five others. What Faren subconsciously mumbled out loud as Celio instinctively covered his eyes. Edriss expression darkened. Of the five new bodies in the room, three were females, and two were males. Like the man on the leash, they were dressed in thin rags, covering the bare minimum of their body. The five stood in a line, shivering. Youre lucky you have a nice face. I happen to be especially kind to people with nice faces. Boss Prophet leaned back, one leg crossed over the other. It took a while to tame them for the Hunt, but it''s worth it. Have your pick. Behind Edris, Faren Ablemore snuck a glance at the five people. His pupils constricted at the sight. Rather than expressions of fright, the five, standing still by the door, were peering towards Edris with what he would describe as an absurd look of anticipation. Not anger nor fear, but anticipation. Farens stomach churned. Seemingly to have noticed the young beast tamers expression, Boss Prophet smirked. Surprised? Dont be. These people know all about good service. After all, they got to be worth their cost, right? Im here for information, Edris said again, his gaze remaining on Boss Prophet. Thats strange. You dont seem like the shy type Boss Prophet clicked his tongue in a regretful manner. With a flick of the wrist, one of his subordinates brought over another document. He threw a folder onto the table. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The guest list as well as the overview of the Hunt tomorrow night. All yours. Flipping through the pages, Edris raised an eyebrow. Even if Boss Prophet was a landlord associated with the Sect, this information wasnt the type to be given to someone just because of ones affiliation. Amidst Edriss thoughts, another voice spoke up. "Are you looking to be happy?" The girl standing in the rightmost position raised her hand. "Shea can help." Looking to be in her teens, the girl had auburn hair up to her waist and freckled skin. She was petite for her age. The girl stepped out in her bare feet. Despite the chains binding around her ankles, she inched towards Edris. She reached to tug his cloak. He stepped away, leaving her hand to dangle in mid-air. The girl glanced up with her round eyes. Don''t you want to be happy? Shea can do anything. A strange one, but she does a good job. We didn''t even have to tame her. Boss Prophet said, licking his lips thoughtfully. Master This is Celio clenched his jaws as he glimpsed the man in front of him. At the beast tamers apprehension, Edris didnt respond. Instead, he turned toward the man on the couch. Are you in charge of the Hunt? Of course not. Im one of the guest list organizers. Those people are on another level. Boss Prophet didnt think much of Edriss question as he shrugged. Hey. Dont be greedy now, alright? The folder I gave you already has all the information I know. Tch. If it werent for the fact youre loaded, I would never Before he could finish his sentence, Boss Prophet flinched as his vision clouded. The next thing he knew, he was yanked off the couch, with one side of his face smashed against the table. Blood spurted from his nose, dripping to the metal surface beneath his face. The hooded traveller who calmly stood a moment ago now had his gloved hand over his hair, while the other continued to skim through the booklet papers. So this is all the information you had? Edris said, pensive. Makes things easier. Celios jaw dropped. In his mind, his Master had always been the gentle one, upholding a calm yet civil demeanour. This was his first time seeing him resort to violence. The abrupt turn of events left everyone in a momentary daze. The guards hurriedly rushed forth to stop Edris, only to be taken back again by the purple fog leaking out from him. Seeing that Edris had made his move, Celio immediately followed on. The beast tamer lunged forth, pulling his dagger from his side. The next moment, the guards tumbled onto the ground, knocked unconscious. Edris brought out a handkerchief from his pocket and smoothed it over his glove, one finger at a time, wiping away the red stains. He then dropped the cloth onto the half-conscious Boss Prophets head. Beside him, the leashed man flinched. With eyes calm as usual, Edris looked at the quivering man, then at the row of people at the edge of the room, who seemed disoriented after witnessing the events unfolding. Edris took off the leash from the mans neck, looping it onto Boss Prophets head. The young man looked towards the row of people, coldness settling in his voice. Leave. Turning towards Boss Prophet, he examined the mans bulging face, then shook his head. Even Edris, who did not consider himself a good person, saw the man as disgusting. Normally, I would leave trash to just rot on its own. But children. Ah, why does it have to be children? Bringing children into this, it just doesnt sit right with me, you see? Edris was someone who planned ahead, but he was also flexible; his flexibility right now was telling him to do something about the garbage in front of him. In the silent room, Edris stood still for a second or two before the corners of his mouth returned to their usual upturned gentleness. His eyes flickered under the dim purple lights. Ah, this wont do. I suppose this is no longer an equal transaction on my part. With a smile, Edris cracked open the mans mouth with his gloved hand and took out the gold yone from earlier with the other. My apologies, heres your payment. Edris dropped the coin down his throat and forced it shut. Boss Prophets pupils constricted as the piece of solid squished through his trachea. His mind blanked, and when he came to be, he found himself shrivelled by the couch, gasping for air. You, you! Do you know who youre messing with? You pay for this. Boss Prophet squeezed out through a series of gags and coughs, his eyes bloodshot. Ignoring his words, the young man only continued to tighten the leash around his neck. When he was at the second last buckle, Boss Prophet was choking for air. However, the second last buckle was where Edris stopped. Letting the leash dangle from Boss Prophets neck, he stepped back and wiped the dirt off his hands. Youre not going to kill him? Faren asked from behind, and Edris glanced at him. What I did just now was purely on personal incentives, but now its time to get back to work. Im here to investigate for His Highness, after all. He shrugged, eyes creasing into a smile. Have you forgotten, Lord Faren? I am a seeker of peace. Killing is not very peaceful now, is it? Faren, who had been recording in his notebook this whole time, stared at him with a complicated expression. He parted his mouth to speak, but no sound ended up coming out. Faren inhaled slowly and put the notebook back into his bag. Youre right, Prophet Edris. Faren cast his gaze towards Boss Prophet. Then I will do it. "Lord Faren?" "It''s my responsibility. For the sake of the kingdom. It''s because people like him exist that the kingdom has places like this." Edris gazed at him with his pale eyes. After a few seconds, he stepped back with a chuckle. Boss Prophets expression transformed to befuddlement as the two men exchanged places, but it ashened once more as the leash around his neck tightened. What, what you do want? I can give you money, as much as you want! By the time Faren reached the last buckle, the man was pleading on his knees. I dont even know you! Who are you? Why are you guys doing this to me? The room fell into a state of stillness. Boss Prophet felt the movement on his neck enter a pause, and he raised his head instinctively. The pause only lasted a second, though. The scholarly-looking man didnt even bother looking at him as he resumed his actions, and Boss Prophet found himself struck by the pair of cold, grey eyes belonging to the person standing behind him. Under the rooms purple light, they had an unsettling glint that sent shivers down his spine. Just who Who am I? Edriss voice resounded through the room. I have quite a few identities. On simple terms, Im a traveller. Id also like to consider myself a seeker of peace. He leaned forward, eyes creasing like the moon. But I guess youll like this one more His tone was light as a feather, but his next three words were enough to push the man into a state of horror. The Fallen Prophet. 32 | Im Glad Youre Alright Outside Room 208, a silhouette lingered by the door. A young girl crouched by the walls, fiddling with the metal chains around her wrist as she quietly listened to the muffled sounds coming from inside the room. After the hooded man demanded their exit, the five had promptly scattered out one after the other, and she was the final person to leave. While the four people before her left hurriedly, the girl chose to remain by the door. Her long lashes hovered over the rims of her eyes as her gaze lowered to the ground. Her index finger slowly drew a smiley face on the dusty floor. If she probed deep into her memories, the girl could scoop out faint memories of her past. She knew that she used to live in the capital, that she used to be surrounded by people. She didn''t know how she got here, but when she woke up one day, she was in the Slums, lost and alone. The girl did everything she could to survive. Most of the Slums'' residents lived in suffering. After all, few financial pathways were available around here, and the food they were given was barely enough for subsistence. The few who didn''t live poorly were either addicts or alcoholics, but it was these people who had the most power. She was good at adapting and had above-average looks, so she often caught the attention of those powerful people. He was one of them. The first time they met was on a rainy night. The girl, crammed against the alleyway trashpiles, lifted her head and was met with a pair of glowing, green eyes. A person wearing a suit stood hovering over her. He held a red umbrella over her head, blocking off countless drops of rain. "Good evening." Despite the sound of splattering rain all around them, the man''s voice was as clear as day. "What''s a lovely canary like you doing here?" The man introduced himself as Mister Finch, one of the area''s landlords. She was abandoned, the girl was told. Mister Finch also said that he pitied her, that he would take care of her. Mister Finch gave her a name: Shea. Shea didn''t know what pity meant, but it was the first time someone gave their utmost attention to her. It was a strange feeling. She''d also seen some girls taken in by other landlords, but a few days later, she saw them again on the streets, unmoving. This was the common fate for people like her in the Slums, so Shea thought the same would await her too. But it didn''t. Mister Finch was a kind person. Instead of kicking her out, he taught her all types of things, from arithmetics to lip-reading; they were things Shea wouldn''t even think of learning in her entire life. In the beginning, she couldn''t get them right, and Mister Finch would be disappointed in her. His kind and countenance smile would wane, replaced by an emotionless face. But as time passed, she learned how to make him happy. Good things happened when he was happy. She no longer ate leftover food; she no longer slept in the basement; she no longer was in pain At some point, his happiness became her own. One day, Mister Finch took her outside. He led her to a strange building. When Shea asked where they were going, he turned to her with a smile. "Paradise," he said. When Shea asked why, he told her he was going on a trip and couldn''t bring her. He said to her that she would do great there. "Would it make you happy if Shea stayed here?" She tilted her head. At her words, Mister Finch stopped walking. He looked at her, a smile slowly spread across his face. "Yes." "Yes, Shea, I would be very happy." That was the last time Shea saw the man. Mister Finch was right. She did do great here. Many people wanted to be happy, and she fulfilled their wishes. Even though their happiness was comprised of things different from Mister Finch, Shea didn''t mind. They liked her, and she liked being liked. Maybe it was because so many people liked her, but she was allowed to participate in something extraordinary. Or at least that''s what the people in Paradise told her. The Hunt was what they called it. They told her she would do great there. Shea was excited; she wanted to make people happy. Boss Prophet and the hooded manshe had heard them talk before entering the room. She knew the latter was here for the Hunt, to be happy. After all, that''s the only reason they would also bring her here. Upon seeing him, Shea had thought that, like the others, the man would also be happy after seeing her. So why? Her brown eyes lingered at the door, attempting to stare through it. She gazed toward the hooded man whose back had faced her this entire time. How strange. She couldn''t make him happy. At that moment, the door to Room 208 flung open, pulling Shea out of her thoughts. A boy with bright, golden hair, looking slightly older than her, stepped out into the hallway. The two of them made eye contact. "You''re" Celio instinctively tensed as he studied the girl crouched outside the room. He recalled her presence in the back of the room, and a frown emerged on his face. "Why are you still here? You should run away." Lord Faren told him to guard the door, and his Master seemed to have unfinished business with the fake prophet, which was why he came out by himself. He didn''t expect to see anyone out here. The girl in front of him appeared a few years younger than him. Being almost two heads shorter, she had to actively uptilt her head to meet his gaze. Celio''s eyes trailed from her messy hair and tattered clothes to the chains binding her limbs. Seemingly unfazed by his scrutiny, the girl only stared back in curiosity. Celio let out a sigh. The girl tilted her head as she eyed the brown cape that dangled in front of her. She stared at the piece of clothing, then at the yellow-haired man offering it. The girl blinked. The next thing she knew, the shackles around her ankles collapsed, and she could move her legs freely. "I don''t know how you got here, but you should get out. This place isn''t for you." Celio said, extending the cape once more. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The girl stared at him with a strange look, as if he was speaking a foreign language. After a few seconds, she took the cape from his hand. "Hey," she said. "Do you want to be happy?" *** MEANWHILE INSIDE ROOM 208. "The Fallen Prophet." Contrary to the calmness in his voice, Edris was on the verge of a full-body cringe after squeezing out that nickname from his own lips. He was aware of his reputation in the kingdom. Sure, the title was quite notorious, and sure, it was widespread throughout the capital, but he didn''t expect someone to actually uphold the title as their own. Oh, the embarrassment. Pushing down his inner conflict with a deadpan smile, he turned back to the man on the floor. By the looks of the pure horror on Boss Prophet''s face, he didn''t expect Edris''s answer at all. "Lies!" He hollered the next second. "I am the Fallen Prophet. You imposter" His eyes bulged at the swirl of purplethe infamous Tempestresting on top of Edris''s finger tip and, in the next second, obediently cowered back on the floor. "I-I-I-I''m sorry. I truly am," he stuttered, face flushed from the lack of air. Or was it from the mortification of being exposed by the "Fallen Prophet" himself? Edris wasn''t sure. Regardless, Boss Prophet scrambled onto his knees, pressing his forehead onto the hard floor, only to be yanked back by the collar still in Faren Ablemore''s hand. "Where do you think you''re going?" He narrowed his eyes. "Please spare me! I''ll do anything. Just don''t kill me." Unconvinced, the mage moved his hand across the leash buckles. "More information! I have more information!" At his words, Faren''s hold on the leash loosened as he spun to look at Edris. Boss Prophet fell back, desperately trying to refill the air in his lungs. "Start speaking," Edris said. "When I met with the people who gave me the guest list, I overheard some conversations." Voice quivering, the man regarded both of them with a careful gaze. "Something about collecting from the preys, something about awakening..." The man''s pupils suddenly constricted as his voice hitched in his throat. With trembling lips, he glared toward Edris and Faren with a look of disbelief. Faren froze as he realised something. He lifted his hand, brushing his fingers across his right cheek. Blood. The next moment, Boss Prophet''s head slipped from his neck and rolled onto the floor. "Down!" Before the mage had a chance to react, he was yanked down by Edris, who also ducked to the ground. Several objects flew above their heads, smashing the windows and engraining themselves onto the wall across. One of the objects exploded on the spot, spreading an eruption of flames around the room. Shards of glass scattered all over the floor, melding in the pool of crimson leaking from the decapitated man. "Are you alright?" Edris whispered, gazing at Faren beside him. The latter nodded in response. Amidst the burning room, Faren''s clouded eyes unknowingly landed on a lump in front of him. Boss Prophet''s corpse. Faren''s face paled as a surge of nausea rose within. Heart pounding in his chest, it took him everything he had to not vomit on the spot. Ten seconds passed in silence. After ascertaining that whoever was behind the attack was gone, Edris gave the mage a nod and stood up half bent from the ground, dusting off tiny glass shards in his hair. He glanced over to the broken window. A breeze rustled from the empty frame, and a beam of moonlight shone into the room, intermixed with the rising smoke. Amidst the tattered room, Edris stood still, lightly tapping his chin, thinking. His mind flashed back to Boss Prophet''s words. Whatever the man had overheard, it must have been confidential information. Information important enough that simply mentioning it got him killed on the spot. Boss Prophet had mentioned something about collecting and awakening... Struck by another thought, Edris lifted his head. During the sudden attack, something had flown past their heads. He moved his gaze to the wall on the other end of the room. Three cards were ingrained in the wall, surrounded by flames. "Cards?" Faren noticed them as well. "Whoever''s behind the attack must have been an Awakened. No way regular cards can break through glass windows. These must be mana-infused." Edris nodded in agreement. He carefully moved towards the walls and yanked off the card at the centre. Both sides of the card were blank. He did the same to the second card. Blank as well. As he reached for the third card, however, he was hit by a sudden burst of pressure, and his fingers stopped an inch away. "Prophet Edris?" Faren called out after seeing that the man had frozen on the spot. Thump. Thump. Thump. Something was wrong. On a rational level, Edris knew that the mage was right behind him. However, the latter''s voice emerged as a distant echo, reverberating around his ears. His heart pounded clearly in his chest, drilling in each beat with lucidity. An indescribable feeling rose within his chest, bringing up fragments of memories he didnt even know existed. Not now. Closing his eyes, Edris focused on the sound of his own heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. After five seconds, the man opened his eyes. A purple spiral engulfed his hand as Edris reached for the card, jerking it in a single movement. Out of caution, he had activated the neutralising Tempest just in case there was still leftover magic embedded in there. Flipping the card to its front, Edris glanced at the cover: A torrent of fire. "Prophet Edris, the fire is spreading." Faren coughed from behind. He raised his cloak to cover his nose and mouth. A thick fog of smoke had surfaced all around them, instigated by the explosion of flames. Edris gave him a nod. He looked back at the card in his palm, giving it one last glimpse before shoving it into his pocket. "Let''s go." *** OUTSIDE ROOM 208. "What?" Celio asked, dumbfounded. "Do you want to be happy?" The girl asked again. "Shea can do great." The young beast tamer blinked twice, then immediately stepped back. A million responses must have ran across his brain in that split second, but Celio only ended up shaking his head profusely. "Im- Im already happy!" He said defensively. At his flustered response, the girl only lowered her head. A few strands of hair falling before her face. "The guy over there, and you You guys are weird." Before Celio had a chance to respond, a surge of heat surfaced from behind. An ominous feeling arose in him, and the beast tamer instinctively jumped to the side, dragging the girl with him. An explosion occurred right at the spot where they had been, sending debris flying into the air. A shard of glass brushed past Celio''s face, smearing red onto his left cheek. The entire room behind them was enveloped in a sea of flames. "What the" Celio gasped as he rushed forth, only to be pushed back by the intense heat. "Master! Lord Faren!" The explosion caught many''s attention, and panic immediately arose. People started pouring out of Paradise, scrambling to get to safety. Celio attempted to move towards the door, only to be yanked back. Flustered, he looked down at the source of the restriction and realised he was still holding on to the girl''s wrist. "S-sorry!" He released his grip on her. "You should go too. It''s not safe here anymore." Amidst the burning chaos, the girl''s expression was unexpectedly calm. "Where to?" "Huh?" "Where should Shea go?" Her round eyes, reflecting the sea of flames, peered into his own. Celio didn''t know how to respond. As if she had expected it, the girl merely stepped back. Under Celio''s dumbfounded gaze, she raised both arms, and the chains around her wrists contorted and curled, as if responding by some invisible force. Celio''s eyes widened as the blocks of metal flopped onto the ground. "You''re an Awakened?" The girl responded by cocking her head to the side. Before Celio could ask further, the girl was already making her way into the flames. "Wait, hold on!" Celio''s chest tightened, and he reached for her back. To his surprise, instead of setting ablaze, the girl''s body blended in with the fire. The flames clung onto her and coiled around, as if welcoming her into an embrace. He watched as the girl disappeared into thin air. While Celio was taken back by the turn of events, he immediately overcame the shock and focused on the more important matter at hand. Even though the girl disappeared into the fire, it didn''t seem like she was in pain, so she should be okay. With these thoughts in mind, the beast tamer spun around towards the burning room, only to come face to face with no other than Edris. "Master!'' he exclaimed. "Are you alright?" "Naturally." Edris shrugged. At his response, Celio let out a sigh of relief, only to stiffen once again. He skimmed their surroundings. Edris had stayed in the room with Faren Ablemore, but right now, the latter was nowhere to be seen. As if reading the boy''s thoughts, Edris spoke up. "He''s taking care of things in the room." Celio blinked. "What happened in the room? Will he be okay?" "He''ll be fine." As he said that, Edris looked behind him, towards the silhouette emerging in the smoke-filled room. "After all, the Crown Prince is not your average mage." "Oh, that''s a relief" Celio froze. "Pardon me?" He then saw someone in the distance. As the silhouette got closer, the person''s hair, initially brown, seemed to recombine itself into a fiery red that grew more and more pronounced after each step. The beast tamer''s gaze moved from the person''s signature red hair to the item in his hand. The Sense-Capture Notebook. Confusion found its way to Celio, and a knowing smile appeared on Edris''s face. "I''m glad you''re alright." Edris looked towards the man in front of them. "Your Highness." 33 | I Know Him After getting out of the burning Paradise, Edris proposed they spend the night at the nearest inn. With their disguises activated once more, he headed to talk to the receptionist while Celio and Dolan waited in the lobby. The beast tamer fidgeted on the spot, sneaking a glimpse at the man beside him every now and then. Sensing a gaze to his left, Dolan casually offered a princely smile, causing Celio to turn away in embarrassment. After a few minutes, Edris returned to the main hall. The sight of the man was like a string of hope to Celio, who hurriedly marched his way. "Master! I''ll go sort things out in our room!" He said, almost pleadingly. He and Edris shared a room, while the Crown Prince had his own. Edris raised an eyebrow at the youth''s desperateness. Ever since the latter was told that the Faren Ablemore with them this whole time had been the Crown Prince all along, Celio had entered a state of flusteredness. As for the reason behind his reaction, Edris had a couple of speculations. Mind flashing back to the youth''s gagging incidents, he stifled a cough. Edris tossed over the key and his bag. "Go on." Watching the beast tamer scurry upstairs, Edris turned to pass another key to Dolan. "A shabby place, but it''s the best option we have. Unfortunately, you''ll have to settle with this for the night, Your Highness." Since they were still not done with the Slums investigation, it would be best to avoid unnecessary movements back and forth between the outskirts and the capital. "I''m not as spoiled as you think," Dolan said half-heartedly. "More importantly, I''m quite curious about something." He raised an eyebrow at Edris, who had his usual gentle look. "How did you recognise me?" "Where ever you are, Your Highness will always be the brightest starlight in the kingdom." His words seemed to have thrown Dolan off guard, and a whole three seconds'' worth of silence fell upon them. ". . ." . . . Edris smiled shamelessly. How did he recognise him? The same way as how he found out about the Queen''s disguise magic, of course. Starlight, my ass. Ace''s bluntness echoed in his head, and Edris''s smile grew wider. At first, it was the small actions and things he said that raised suspicions. The real Faren Ablemore was not only a noble but also a member of the Royal Mage Brigade, a special force gathered by Dolan Zacriya himself. As a part of a group specialising in peacekeeping, Edris found it strange the way he acted after seeing the desolate sights. Even if Faren''s never been to the Slums, he should have been trained as a brigade when confronted with these situations. Beyond this initial suspicion, the way "Faren" addressed Magnus Vyris was also unnatural. Knowing Faren Ablemore''s demeanour, he would never take on a casual, even laidback manner when discussing a reputable figure like the archmage. The small blunders here and there, in accumulation, allowed Edris to come to a preliminary conclusion: this Faren Ablemore was a fake. He had to admit, though, the Crown Prince employed a rather advanced disguise magic that even Ace couldn''t detect at first. It wasn''t until he first used his mana to activate the Sense-Capture Notebook that his speculations were verified. Dolan almost straight up grimaced before catching his own unsuitable expression. He cleared his throat. "In any case, it appears I''ve been too naive." His red eyes, currently maroon under the effects of disguise magic, peered outside, towards the direction of the Slums. "The people there, the amount of suffering They were to an extent I could never imagine only by looking at palace reports." Dolan''s voice tensed as he gripped his notebook. "It feels like a foreign section of the world." "The world has always been foreign." To his statement, Edris only shrugged. "Good night, Your Highness." *** "Master!" The first thing Edris was confronted with as he opened the door to the room was Celio''s teary eyes. "Did you know that it was His Highness with us all along?" Celio asked. "Indeed." "Whasince when?!" "Since the Slums." "You should have told me!" Celio cupped his cheeks, dragging them down with his palms. "I even threw up on him so many times. This is definitely not okay" "Perhaps he won''t mind." At the man''s reassurance, Celio looked at him and sniffed. "Really? He really won''t be mad?" "If you want, you can go ask." Edris jabbed a finger towards the wall. "His room is right there." Celio blinked twice. Ask him what? If he was okay with being barfed on four times in one day? If he were the Crown Prince, even if he weren''t angered by the events before, the question would undoubtedly do the job. Lifelessly, Celio waddled to his bed and stuffed his head into the pillow. "I''m going to sleep." Silently shaking his head at the grumbling beast tamer, Edris sat down at his own bed. He opened his bag and started scouting through his things. In the bag were an item box, a few enhancers, and another sugar pouch. You did not bring much with you. Indeed, Edris had intentionally packed lightly, bringing only what was necessary and leaving his equipment with Alan Grennor. "What do I need to pack when I have you?" Edris smiled. Ignoring the aura of disgust radiating from the pink fluff, Edris tossed the bag to the table and leaned back. Eyeing Celio, who was already fast asleep, Edris deactivated the mana lamps, leaving the room dimly blue from the moonlight. "Hey, I''m serious." Edris chuckled as he looked at Ace. "I only have two objectives coming here. First, to fulfil Dolan Zacriya''s request to find any potential connections between the Sect and the attack on the royal family. And as for the second" Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. With the disguise magic deactivated, Edris''s grey eyes glowed under the moonlight. The tips of his lips curled with his following words. "It''s to see what you, the mighty database, are capable of." Edris wasn''t a philanthropist, nor was he a hero. He wasn''t planning to involve himself in the so-called Hunt, nor did he want to stop whatever was happening in the Sect. No more, no less, Edris would simply do his share of the deal with the Crown Prince. Once he received his reward, they would go their separate ways. And as for the other end of the agreement He''ll leave it for the Crown Prince to figure out himself. Stop talking like that. It''s creepy. Satisfied with Ace''s reaction, Edris laughed under his breath. A ray of light brushed past his face, giving his already defined features an added touch of elegance. He was ready to complete the investigation, secure the money, and then welcome his carefree life with open arms. *** The next morning, the three of them reconvened back at the lobby and headed to the pub area. Debris scattered around the area. Not much was left of the original house that the pub was built under. Despite the incident last night, there were no efforts to deal with the damage or clean up the area. Similarly, no one cared to look into the cause of the fire. The Slums weren''t a part of the Risk Faction''s jurisdiction, and everyone else was busy surviving. "The innocent people from the pub all got out safely, right?" Celio''s head perked towards the rundown area. "The fire spread slowly from the room, so they should have had ample time to evacuate," Edris said. He glanced at the Crown Prince, who kept his gaze on the remains of the building. A few residents walked by the site, taking a few curious looks before continuing on. "Your Highness?" Edris''s voice pulled Dolan out of his thoughts, and the latter shook his head. "It''s nothing. The location of the Hunt is around here?" "Seems like it." Edris pulled out a document from his bag. It was the one he got from Boss Prophet yesterday. Following what''s on the paper, the three of them arrived at a hidden sewage site east of the central Slums area. A hole intruded from the side of the brick walls, overcome by a dank odour. "This is the entrance?" Celio grimaced at the darkness leaking from the tunnel. Spirals of wind that entered the mouth of the tunnel created a hollow echo, sending shivers down his spine. The beast tamer looked at Edris for directions, only to see the latter digging in his bag. After a few moments, Edris handed him a piece of paper. "I''m going in alone. Let''s meet at this address, at this time." Before Celio could object, Edris pulled out a navy cloak and draped it over his back. The moment the hood covered his head, the man in front of him disappeared into thin air. Celio blinked twice. "I only have one of these, and there''s no way of knowing what''s waiting there. Worst case scenario, the unforeseen will put us both in danger." Edris''s calm voice echoed around him. He reappeared into his vision. "You don''t want that to happen, right?" Celio lowered his head. He understood where Edris was coming from and knew he was saying all this out of consideration for his safety. A thought struck him as Celio lifted his head. "Wait, the two of us?" He turned towards the Crown Prince. "Your Highness is also not going in?" "He''s got more important matters to take care of," Edris said, looking at Dolan with a smile. "Right, Your Highness?" "I was going to, but" Dolan laid out his palms with a sigh. "Prophet Edris is right. Since he''s the only one with the Mysterious Veil, following in after him will only increase the risk." Hearing Dolan''s agreement, Celio slumped deeper on the spot. "And further, I plan on scouting the pub area once again. Just in case there are any unintended casualties." "As expected from His Highness. You have a heart as wide as the Midpont Ocean." Edris nodded to himself. "Celio, you should go help His Highness. We''ll meet later at the address I gave you." "I understand, Master. Please be careful!" "Little Celio''s right." Dolan patted Edris firmly on the shoulder. "Please be careful, and please do not do anything reckless that would get you injured." Get hurt? Why would I? Edris stared at him strangely. Of course, the investigation was not without risk, but he had prepared thoroughly before coming here. If anything, he could always ask Ace to teleport back. Edris casually brushed off the Crown Prince''s hand and smiled. "Thank you for your worries, Your Highness. I will surely come back with the information you want." With that, he turned to face the tunnel. An uninviting aura reeked out of the darkness, but Edris remained unfazed as he stepped on the threshold between light and dark. He took a step forward, then another. The cloaked man disappeared into the darkness. *** Edris let the pathway lead him. He was accustomed to the dark, so he could adjust quickly to the surrounding environment. However, Edris didn''t even need to do that. He stared at the glowing ball that was floating in the air. "You can even do that?" As usual, Ace ignored his questions. Beside the cobbled path was a wide gutter filled with rainwater and waste deposits. Sometimes, rotten flesh would resurface, while other times, they would see undefined but equally questionable substances. A pungent smell wafted through the space, and Edris pulled his collars further up his face. Apart from the sound of streaming water, there was clattering at the deep end of the path. The muffled noise gradually evolved into the sound of clinking metals with Edris''s steps. After some more walking, a white dot emerged from the darkness, signalling the end of the tunnel. "Looks like we''re almost there. Hey, stop glowing and get in here." Hovering the hood further over his head, Edris hurried the floating Ace to the inside of his cloak. He looked towards the walls, and after making sure he was indeed invisible, Edris advanced towards the light. *** A few minutes later, Edris stopped walking. Something''s wrong. "Yeah." While he still saw the white dot ahead, it stood at the same distance as the beginning. Having adjusted to the darkness, Edris examined his surroundings. The air around him was damp. Under his feet, waste stuck by the sides of the gutter. Aside from the dripping water from the top of the tunnel to the gutter, all was still. "It''s too quiet." That was the problem. It was far too quiet. If he was walking through a sewage tunnel, the water beside the sidewalk should flow somewhere. However, the one beside his feet was as still as Serenity Lake at night. "We''re in an illusion." With that conclusion, Edris lifted his left arm, and a purple gust erupted from his palm. The gust rushed straight ahead and enveloped what seemed to be an empty space in front of him. The next moment, Edris heard something shatter by his ear, and the darkness in front of him distorted. The tunnel was like a narrow tube that erupted into a pool of free space. The brightness pierced through his eyelids that had held darkness merely moments ago. Slowly blinking his eyes open, Edris was confronted with an unexpected sight. "...So this was how they managed to plan the event without anyone noticing." He was standing at the edge of a mine-like area almost as wide as the royal palace''s garden. It was in a shape of a half-sphere, giving off a spacious but perturbing feel. Seven tunnels surrounded the stone walls, all leading to the centre of the chasm. A bright circle hung at the top of the sphere chasm, bringing light to the rest of the space. Under the bright circle, workers travelled the space systematically, each holding carts filled with weapons. Screeching came from all directions, a result of machines grinding against each other. Grunts coming from the workers were incoherent, if they intended to communicate something at all. It''s a factory. Edris''s gaze moved around, skimming the edges of the orb-like area. Countless cages were installed in the uneven walls, spiralling around like layers of icing on a cake. Those cages were currently empty, but Edris had a rough idea of their purpose. A familiar face. "Hm?" At Ace''s words, Edris directed his attention to the centre of the orb. A stack of man-made stairs led to a small, elevated stage, also made of rocks. Someone was standing there, pointing around ambitiously to direct various events. "I know him from somewhere..." Brown hair, green eyesthe figure did seem familiar. Edris squinted to pin a name to the face, and he soon got his answer: Viscount Eathe. Five nobles were present at the Orteon incident, and he was one of them. If Edris recalled correctly, this person worked under Vincent Riselto, the marquis who tried to persuade Edris to his side. Unlike their last encounter, Eathe wasn''t wearing any of his noble clothes. Instead, he dressed in a white collared shirt, wide trousers, and a thick jacket swung over his shoulder. His shoulder-length hair was pulled back with a headband. He''s familiar with dark magic. "Ho" Edris narrowed his eyes onto the small spirals of darkness that trickled from the viscount''s fingers like drops of ink. Viscount Eathe, affiliated with the powerful Riselto family, was both a slave importer and a dark magic user? An intrigued smile tugged at Edris''s lips. "It appears that I''ve discovered yet another thing that can throw the kingdom into chaos." 34 | I Know Her "Lord Magnus!" Magnus Vyris lifted his eyes and saw someone wave at him across the street. Tossing the rest of the chocolate macaroon into his mouth, he gracefully brushed the napkin over his lips before giving the person a smile. "You''re quick to act, Lord Faren." Faren Ablemore wiped the sweat from his face as he hurriedly crossed the streets, to the patio where the archmage sat. "Not at all. This is my duty as a member of the Royal Mage Brigade." "Please, have a seat." At the invitation, Faren pulled over a chair and sat across from him. He pulled out a folder from his Spatial Pouch and handed it to Magnus. "Here are the newest reports on the banquet incident." Magnus had originally planned to tag along with Dolan on their investigation, but his plans were forcibly cut short after receiving notice about new information on the attempted palace assassination a few weeks ago. As the archmage flipped through the folder, Faren Ablemore continued his report. "Of all the attendees of the banquet, eleven of them suffered minor injuries. And of those eleven, nine of them suffered strange side-effects." "The purple markings?" Magnus lifted a brow. He skimmed the document content. "Do we know the cause of it?" "Primary speculations are that they came from dark magic. All the affected individuals were those who weren''t Awakeneds, but were the most sensitive to mana out of the group." Magnus tapped the table with his fingers as his eyes landed on the picture of the marking. It was a small circle with messy rims and three petals surrounding it. However, a closer look would reveal a small crack from the bottom of the circle, slowly extending to its centre. "Are these markings harmful in any way?" "None reported so far, but we are keeping a close eye on them," Faren responded. He scratched at his spiky hair. "I don''t know if it''s in my place to say this, but" "Go ahead." Faren breathed out slowly. "The affected individuals each had this exact same marking, all of which appeared on the same day today. And we all know that today is" "The first prince''s birthday." Magnus finished his sentence with a sigh. In past years, there would be celebrations for members of the royal family, but given the current situation, it obviously wouldnt be happening. Magnus crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Not to mention, this is the only new information we got since the incident. Aside from these markings, we''re still stuck in the initial stages of the investigation. This timing It''s as if whoever''s behind this is intentionally reminding us of their presence." "You''re right. Frankly speaking, rather than side effects, these markings give off a feeling of A taunt." A grave expression spread across Faren''s face as he forced himself to finish the thought. If the banquet incident and the first prince''s conditions were caused by the same group of people, then this was no different from an open act of provocation. "How about Prince Treo? Is it possible for the priests to check whether he also has the marking?" Faren asked. "We could ask His Highness about it, right? Can we link to him through an infuser orb?" At his question, Magnus''s hand holding the documents flinched indiscernibly. He laid the papers on the table and casually cleared his throat. "His Highness is Unavailable right now. I shall inform him about this tomorrow." "Unavailable? Is everything okay?" Faren asked apprehensively as he glanced at the archmage, who seemed to be averting his gaze. "He''s fine. Just occupied with work." Magnus sipped his tea, then fixed his gaze at the clueless young mage sitting across from him. "Thank you for everything, Faren. You''ve been a great help. I really appreciate it." "Huh? No problem. As I said before, it''s what I must do." At the archmage''s sudden compliments, Faren awkwardly scratched the back of his head. As the two stood up to leave, an old woman trudged up to their table. "Ma''am, do you need help with anything?" Magnus gave her a polite smile. "My granddaughters. Have you seen my granddaughters?" The old woman could barely stand as she supported herself with a cane. "Did they wander off on their own?" Faren led her to his chair, then crouched down to eye-level. "When was the last time you saw them?" "Five days ago." At her answer, Magnus and Faren simultaneously turned to look at each other. "This is the third report this week," Faren said under his breath. Magnus''s face grew grim and he massaged his temples with a sigh. Apart from the banquet incident, they''ve also been receiving an increased number of reports of disappearances throughout the capital. Thanks to the rising cases, he''d been thrown in overtime labour, living with piles of papers for the past few weeks. The Mage Faction had been collaborating with the Risk Faction to trace down a potential pattern behind the reported cases, but so far, they seemed to occur completely randomised. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Could you tell me a bit more about your granddaughters? Their names, age, the last time you saw them, anything would be helpful." He said softly. "Their names are Darcie and Doris. One''s twenty, and the other just turned seven. I last saw Darcie five days ago at my store, when the sun was just about to set. It was Doris''s birthday, and she was just about to head back to celebrate. The girls love strawberry cake, so I saved some for her to bring back to eat together with Doris. But when I closed the bakery and visited them at night, they were both gone. "Doris runs off on her own at times, so I wasn''t too worried about her, but Darcie had disappeared as well, so I thought something might have happened. She didn''t come the next day, and when people in her workplace said she was missing, I just" The woman blew into a handkerchief. "Young man, are you with the factions? My girls are okay, right? "You''ll find them and get them back safe, right?" "Ma''am, please do not worry. My colleague is filing a search request right now." Magnus took her hand into his, giving them a reassuring pat. "We will do all that we can." As he said that, he looked at Faren, who gave a nod in return. Magnus didn''t know when, but from some point, the peace they had all grown accustomed to was no longer the default mode of life. He cast his gaze over the entire Lennet Street. As usual, it was bustling with people, but he couldn''t help but feel a sense of uneasiness. A shift was occurring throughout the capital. Subtly, but surelysomething was about to change. *** THE SLUMS. NOLMES. Edris stayed concealed behind one of the rock pillars, silently observing the set-up. "Hm Something''s strange." Edris tapped on the rims of his cloak pocket as he muttered to himself. "Hey, what can you make out about this place? For instance, the number of people? Mana levels?" After a few seconds of silence, a deep response came from his pocket. I can''t detect an exact number. There seems to be something interfering with my analysis. As expected. If his speculations were correct, this chasm was not where the Hunt would be held. At least not the current space. Edris directed his gaze to the operating machines and moving workers. Rather than the main stage, it seemed more like a production site, a preparation area for the Hunt. The document he took from Boss Prophet was vague on the contents of the Hunt; it only listed the number of attendees, but even they were marked by nicknames. However, what it did include, down to the smallest detail, were the production materials. How very strange. Edris narrowed his eyes. I can''t pinpoint the exact number of people in here. But as for the mana level Ace''s second half of the sentence dragged him out of his thoughts. With the active inference in the chasm, Edris didn''t expect Ace to be able to detect anything at all. "What about the mana level?" They''re incredibly high. "Hm?" Edris blinked. "That makes no sense." If the Hunt was what he had imagined, there would be two groups of participantspredators and preys. The latter likely included people similar to the ones he encountered yesterday in Paradise, while the former involved those of upper society. But if that was the case, where was the abundance of mana coming from? He had initially assumed that this was one of those events held behind the scenes of the wealthy that wasalthough morally questionablefor the sake of entertainment. From the information he was getting, however, there seemed to be something more to it. Amidst the clatter of noises, a distinct sound caught his ears. It started from a height, then slowly descended to his level. Footsteps. But they were not just any footsteps. They were completely unified, troop-like footsteps coming from one of the seven tunnels. Soon after, the same pattern of footsteps emerged from the rest of the tunnels as well. They were getting closer by the second, almost overshadowing the working scene in the central area. The first person emerged from the tunnel at the very left. The figure was covered in all black clothing, so Edris couldn''t make out much of their identity. The person in black wasn''t the main focus, however. It was the line of people that trailed from behindthe preys. At their appearance, an eerie silence suddenly filled the chasm. Viscount Eathe, standing on a protruding platform, examined the line of people from left to right. After a few seconds, he snapped his finger. "Lock them." Contrary to Edris''s expectations, no injuries were seen on the chained-up individuals. In fact, they looked like a healthy batch of people, each with a firm build and physique. Something worth mentioning, thoughthey were strangely obedient, trudging on in a systematic manner, executing each action through pure muscle memory. Their simultaneous footsteps echoed throughout the chasm. Edris suppressed a shudder. The same was happening in all seven tunnels. One by one, the preys were led into the spiralling cages by the people in black. Not a single word was spoken throughout the entire process by either side. The one that broke the silence was Ace. Echoing in his head, what the pink fluff said next was enough to make Edris''s blood run cold. It''s them. They''re the origins of the intensified mana level. "How... Annoying." Edris couldn''t help but throw out a word of complaint. He narrowed his eyes. "You''re saying that all those chained up people, they''re Awakeneds?" This was ridiculous. Edris didn''t know how the people behind this managed to kidnap all these Awakeneds, not to mention hypnotised them as well, but he knew this whole situation was leaving him with nothing but omnition. He decided to quickly find the main area for the Hunt, record the situation for the Crown Prince, and then get the hell out of here. Tugging the Mysterious Veil closer to his body, Edris discreetly shifted from pillar to pillar when he suddenly froze in his tracks. Edris? At the man''s sudden halt, Ace poked his head out of the pockets and stared in the direction of his gaze, only to freeze as well. That girl Perhaps for the sake of uniformity, but all the kidnapped Awakeneds were dressed beige from top to bottom in a body-fitted suit. Amidst the line of marching preys, a certain girl, slightly shorter than others, caught his eye. A small frown appeared on Edris''s face. Obviously, he didn''t expect, nor want, to see any familiar faces in a place like this. She''s the one that works at the inn. "Miss Darcie." 35 | I Did Not See This Coming "Miss Darcie." Although they didn''t interact much, Edris remembered Darcie from their few conversations at the first floor pub. The girl with tiger teeth, who always seemed lively, who always kept a cheerful smile, was now reduced to one of the preys in line as they all trudged forward emotionlessly. Are you going to save her? "What makes you think I can do that without getting myself killed?" Edris responded under his breath. "It''ll be straight-up suicide. Our main goal right now is to find out where the Hunt is actually being held right now. That''s where all the valuable information is going to be. "After that, we''ll go straight back to the surface. I have a feeling this ''hunt'' is more complicated than expected. It''s safer just to notify Dolan Zacriya of this and have him prepare reinforcement." So you''re leaving her to die? "I didn''t know you were so righteous." Ignoring Ace''s stoic stare, Edris swiftly moved towards the tunnel at the very right. "Here, let me ask a question. What''s the best way to get rid of a limberry tree?" "Naturally, you can''t be plucking out every single leaf, right? That would be both a waste of time and energy. Might even get yourself poisoned, if toxic insects are on there. "The best way, then, is to yank the entire tree all out at once, roots included." Obviously, the roots of this situation weren''t going to be found here. From the looks of the captives'' overall conditions, they probably held a somewhat important role in the Hunt, one that required them to be physically in optimal conditions. Until its commencing, then, it was unlikely that the guards would injure them in any way, let alone put their lives at risk. By now, Edris was at the closest pillar to the seventh entrance. If his speculations were correct, this was not a half-sphere area they were in, but one in the shape similar to an hourglass. He got this idea after looking at the structure of the chasm. Pillars that edged the chasm, staircases in the tunnels cages, spiralling cage placementsthese elements all showed signs of not horizontal but vertical expansion. He glanced up at what seemed to be the ceiling of the chasm, one that reached an incredible height. The true location of the Hunt was likely on the upper half of the hourglass. And right now, the only way to go up was through one of the tunnels. People were still pouring out of the passageways as they were each led to a cage. Edris planned to sneak in the moment the last person leaves. Three, two, one It was at that moment. Edris leaned forward as the last person moved from the tunnel towards the centre, only to instantly freeze again. A high-pitched cry broke the silence in the chasm. It came from none other than the seventh tunnel, the one Edris had planned on entering. Haven''t yet even landed his first step, he gingerly retracted his foot and glanced around him. The sound occurred so abruptly that he had forgotten for a moment that he was currently invisible. The cry, now escalated to a full-out scream, aimed to grow even louder in a pressing crescendo, as though corresponding to the emerging silhouette in the tunnel. A child scrambled out of the darkness. Her hands were chained like the other preys in the chasm, but unlike their emotionless states, a vivid, horrified expression was on her face. As another piercing scream erupted from her mouth, Edris noticed left half of the child''s face was submerged in raven-black, webbing imprints; obscurring her already minature features, they were extending to the right side as well. The child''s sudden appearance threw everyone in a daze. Even Edris took a second to take in her presence before he stepped back to the side of a pillar. The rampaging child looked young. Too young. Her beige clothes sagged as she darted all over the place, stumbling several times because she stepped on her own pants. In the short span of seconds, she threw the entire chasm into chaos. While the preys still stood unresponsive, their leading figures in black began chasing after her. The little girl, with a height barely at Edris''s waist, was unexpectedly nimble in her movements as she escaped several reaching hands. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Where did she even come from? Stop her right now." The viscount had an annoyed expression on his face as he watched the child run about with seven adults scrambling after her. Edris was leaning forward to get a better view of the situation when, without warning, a burst of mana exploded from the young girl''s body. He blinked in surprise. "To be manipulating mana at this age This child''s an Awakened too?" The child looked young. Even younger than the boy from the Slums. Even so, she was still brought here as prey, because she''s an Awakened. Amidst the chaos, Ace spoke up with a rare tone of wariness in his voice. That''s not simple mana. "What?" Edris was about to ask further, but his words slid back down his throat at the sight before his eyes. The child''s mana burst had created a momentary pause between her and her pursuers. Taking advantage of this gap in time, she dashed around the chasm, making a sharp turn towards the tunnel she came from. In other words, the tunnel that Edris was currently standing next to. Below her, puddles of black seemed to be forming after her every step. It''s black mana. As she got closer, Edris subconsciously gulped. It was because the girl was no longer aiming toward the entrance but the pillar right beside it. She was running straight at him. "We need to go." Not a trace of calmness was left in his voice. "Activate the teleportation portal. Now!" A faint glow appeared under his feet, but Edris remained alert. He didn''t know what scared him more. The fact that the child used black mana or the glare in her eyes. They seemed to contain a sea of flames. The next second, something even stranger happened. The child ran ridiculously fast. The wind drove her dark bangs past her forehead, exposing her fierce eyes that somehow made eye contact with Edris''s own, even though the latter was currently invisible. Maybe it was pure coincidence, perhaps she had noticed his presence, but the girl suddenly lunged and reached out. The momentum of her jump thrust her forward, and before Edris could step back, she snagged onto his arm. A surge of black mana followed her jump, splattering itself all over Ace''s transportation circle. Edris''s heart dropped as his hood fell from his head. As he froze on the spot, the child also stopped moving. And so did everyone else in the chasm. Still standing at the centre of the platform, Viscount Eathe stared dumbfounded at the random man with auburn hair that seemed to have materialised from thin air. Heart pounding against his chest, Edris flinched as the girl''s grasp somehow eroded a part of his cloak and now pushed its way through his flesh. A mind-numbing pain shot through his brain, spreading towards every muscle in his body. Edris clenched his jaws and exhaled through his nose. Just as he decided to endure it until the teleportation circle activates, the glowing lines under his feet began to fade. Then it disappeared altogether. "You got to be kidding meC" Edris inhaled sharply as more pain shot through his wrist. Ace, who had left his pocket after the spell malfunction, froze after seeing what happened. He skimmed at the remnants of the circle on the ground, at the child who was stepping on the circle, and lastly, at the black mana dripping from her body onto the circle. The child, who had remained motionless since gripping onto Edris, suddenly looked up, and her eyes met Ace''s obsidian orbs. Without warning, she reached forward. Although Ace managed to dodge her action, he couldn''t evade the single drop of black mana floating his way. The drop of black mana sunk onto him, and in the next second, an illuminating light engulfed the ball of pink. The light soon expanded to the entire chasm, gleaming with a brightness that forced everyone to shut their eyes. The world around them seemed to stretch outwards, distorting into the oblivion. After a brief moment, the light dissipated, leaving behind only bleached afterimages. Already marching down his platform, Viscount Eathe blinked furiously to readjust his vision, only to fall stupefied at the renewed scene before him. The man with auburn hair, who had been standing there mere seconds ago, was replaced by a familiar dark-haired man. The child, now unconscious, still maintained her hold on Edris. Blood trickled from the latter''s wrist. As if that wasn''t strange enough of a sight, Viscount Eathe''s bafflement only intensified as he shifted his eyes from the prophet to the whole other person that had manifested beside him. Half a head taller than the prophet, this person had hair comparable to snow and eyes flickering like black granite. And most importantly Viscount Eathe''s face scrunched together. The person was completely naked. Edris, with his mind muddled from pain, only stared blankly at the unknown face beside him. He rubbed his eyes, which had grown watery from the bright light. "Ace?" He did not see this coming. Seeing the ethereal-looking man react to his question was enough of a confirmation, and Edris inhaled deeply. This whole situation was making it very hard for him not to swear. Unfortunately, Edris''s attempts at composure weren''t shared by the man beside him. In the enormous chasm, the white-haired man''s baritone voice reverberated through the air. "What the fuck is all this?" Ace said. 36 | Im at a Loss For Words "Get in there!" The metal door swung open, and Edris and Ace toppled into a narrow cell. One of the workers pressed Edris against the walls and snapped handcuffs around his wrists. Without attempting to retaliate, Edris only flinched as the chains scraped over his wrist, a metallic stench of blood filling the air. The other worker turned towards Ace, only to subconsciously shudder after being confronted with the white-haired man''s cold gaze. He quickly pushed another pair of shackles over his wrists and stepped out, not forgetting to lock the metal doors as he did so. After the worker left, Edris moved towards the front of the cell and observed the lines of people trickling in, filling them up one by one. The prison cells spiralling around the chasm seemed to be precisely designed, having just the number of cells needed for each prey. After the scary child fainted, she was taken back into the tunnel by one of the workers. In her current state, she was no longer in the position to be a "prey," so the cell originally prepared for her opened up. Only to be immediately filled again by none other than Edris and Ace. Each cell, built like a display case, entailed just enough room for one person to stand, so the two of them had to squish against each other to conserve space. "This is a problem" The dark-haired man let out a soft sigh. He didn''t expect Ace to regain his physical form so quickly, nor did he expect it to be thanks to the contact with black mana. To prepare for unexpected situations throughout the investigation, he had intentionally asked Ace to conserve mana whenever possible. This was why Edris had stayed at a nearby inn rather than teleport back to the capital; it was also why he didn''t involve him in the whole Boss Prophet situation. What Edris didn''t expect, however, was for all the accumulated mana to be redeemed in this manner. At a time like this, too. Needless to say, regaining his physical body had taken up all of Ace''s mana, and it was hard to say how long it''ll take to recover, especially in a nasty, underground environment like this one. Edris frowned. He had told Celio and Dolan Zacriya to assemble at a given location, but with the current state, he doubted he''ll meet his end of the plan. He wasn''t worried about the two, since the Crown Prince would likely come with reinforcements after noticing his absence. Indeed, he was more worried about the timing. With Ace gone, they could no longer teleport, so going by carriage would be their best option. But even so, with the fastest route to the capital and back, it would take at least twelve hours for reinforcement to arrive. Eyebrows slightly creasing, Edris tapped his lips in contemplation. According to the papers from Boss Prophet, the Hunt was scheduled for tonight. Edris''s original plan was to immediately escape after finding the main hall. From there, he would meet up with Dolan Zacriya and ask him to request a formal investigation. However, it obviously wasn''t going to happen now. "Hey. Your arm." A deep voice pulled Edris out of his thoughts. He glanced up from his lashes at the man behind him, whose bare skin was almost pressed against his back. It was then he realized that the man behind him was still naked. Following Ace''s gaze, Edris looked down at his own wrist, which was now charred black after the girl had grabbed on to it earlier. Sheets of skin eroded, revealing the nasty sight of smouldering flesh and blood spilling from the wound. If he looked closely, Edris could discern parts of his protruding bones. "Ah." He said blankly. Under Ace''s scrutiny, the dark-haired man pulled out a small Spatial Pouch from the inner pocket of the Mysterious Veil. Luckily, it was the part that had remained intact despite the girl burning off over half of the piece of clothing. Pushing his healthy hand into the pouch, Edris dug around for a few seconds before pulling out three items: a Frion paste, a roll of bandages, and an elixir. He then tossed the entire cloak to Ace, who caught it with one hand. "Use this to cover up." Turning his back towards the white-haired man, Edris rubbed the mint-coloured paste onto the wound, grimacing as it mixed with blood. Frion was a type of herb, and its leaves, when made into pastes, worked as a painkiller. Truly, it was times like this when Edris was glad he couldn''t perceive temperature, since it probably would have hurt more otherwise. After the painkiller set in, he poured the potion over his wrist and watched it integrate into the lumps of flesh. Behind him, Ace (with the cloak now secured around his torso) watched in silence as the man tossed the empty elixir back into the pouch and grabbed the bandages. With chains still around his arms, Edris wrapped bandages around his arms several times. The entire process was executed without a single unnecessary step, as though he had done it many times before. If it weren''t for the man''s paling complexion and the sweat drops on his forehead, one might not even notice that he was in pain. "That''ll do." Nodding in satisfaction at his bandaged hand, Edris exercised his muscles to slowly form a fist. "Where did you get the pouch?" Ace asked. "An offering from our lovely Crown Prince." Edris smiled. "Good thing I didn''t buy one back at Alan''s." "The child was a black mana user. The healing process for black mana is more complicated than you think." If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Regular mana was a source of energy that originated from nature, but black manaCalso known as tainted manaCwas different; it was said to be created from an unnatural mutation that posed severe, prolonged harm to its victims. Ace''s gaze seemed to be fixed on the red undertone slowly spreading beneath Edris''s bandages, but the latter didn''t pay it much attention as he only waved his arm with a shrug. "I guess I''ll just need to get properly treated when we get out then." It wasn''t that Edris didn''t take the man''s words seriously. He was just more focused on other matters at hand. While normal mana could be absorbed, stored, and used by all who knew how to control their mana channel, only a rare number of individuals possessed an affinity to black mana that allowed them to use it. And even then, there was a limit to how much black mana the person could use before they experienced a backlash. Edris thought back to the child. Even as someone who had spent most of his life going around the world, it was his first time meeting a black mana user in the flesh. Not to mention, she was a little girl, too. Perhaps as a balance to its rarity, black mana was more powerful than regular mana but also more detrimental to its users. Black mana users also suffered a sad truth: even though they weren''t rejected by black mana, they would inevitably be rejected by civilization after using it. Edris decided to stop thinking about the child, and instead, he shifted his eyes to the man behind him as a random thought popped up in his head. He''s built like a mannequin. A tall person with broad shoulders, long legs and sturdy thighs Ace reminded Edris of the mannequin models he saw when he and Celio got custom-made outfits at Orteon''s Family Boutique. Less than a fist''s distance was currently between them, and Edris could feel the rise and fall of Ace''s chest against his shoulder blades, a sign that the man was really alive. He twisted his body, so they were facing each other. It was then he realized that the white-haired man was taller than him. Edris craned his neck to meet his eyes. "What?" Ace didn''t hesitate to stare back. "The black mana twisted your neck as well?" "You know, if you couldn''t talk, I would have put you as the prophet instead." He withdrew his gaze regrettably. "With a face like that Such a shame." Glossy white hair, defined facial features, bow-shaped lipseverything about the man was nice and saintly. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Until he opened his mouth, that is. "Don''t worry about it." Edris''s eyes creased in a smile. Despite the narrow space in the cell, he still managed to make himself comfortable by leaning against the walls. "How long until your mana replenishes? Or actually" he wiggle his hands, letting the shackles clatter against each other, "how long would it take for us to break out of these?" The chains were magic-restricting devices that Viscount Eathe had hurriedly brought over to keep the prophet in control. After all, he knew well what Edris was capable of, especially having witnessed the entire unfolding of the incident at the Orteon Manor. "We can''t even move because of these." He sighed dramatically. "The viscount is unlikely to do anything harmful to us since he thinks I''m acquainted with the Crown Prince, so I guess at this point, we really do have to wait for reinforcements." It was at that moment. The chains restraining Ace''s wrists plopped onto the ground with a hollow clang. The two men stared at the open handcuffs between them, then at each other. "Your mana restored?" Edris blinked twice. "No." "You didn''t lose your mana in the first place?" "No." "Don''t tell me you broke it with brute strength" Listening to the dark-haired man''s wild speculations, Ace merely shook his head. "Looks like the guard from earlier forgot to lock it properly." *** At the same time as the workers prepared for the Hunt in the chasm, Eathe was sitting in a room two levels above, observing the scene through a one-way window. He took a sip of his wine, visibly annoyed. "I didn''t expect that crazy prophet to be here." Edris''s sudden appearance was a pain in the neck for the viscount. He didn''t know how the prophet managed to get past the illusion barrier in front of the sewage site, but now that Edris learned about his involvement with all these kidnapped Awakeneds, he could no longer leave him be. "I could just kill him, but" Eathe smashed the wine glass onto the floor, letting the shards and liquid spill all over the red carpet. "Why did he have to be so close with Dolan Zacriya?!" The prophet''s relationship with the Crown Prince was another burden to his current situation. From the looks of it, the two were on friendly terms, to say the least, so he didn''t want to risk doing anything that could put him as a suspect later on if Dolan Zacriya found out about the prophet''s disappearance. Even though the Crown Prince had only recently undertook his position, his abilities were not to be underestimated, especially knowing that he had the entire Royal Mage Bridgade and the archmage Magnus Vyris under his control. "At least the beast tamer is not with him this time. Or else things would have gotten even more problematic." The viscount cast his eyes downwards, taking in the full view of the chasm. The cells lined up one after another, creating a spiral leading up to the half-sphere top. At the centre of the ceiling was a white orbthe event''s main course. Behind him, workers promptly moved to clean up the shards of glass. One of them approached the viscount from behind and poured wine into a new cup. "How beautiful." Viscount Eathe whirled the glass cup around with two fingers. "Its just as they said, the Hunt this year will be extraordinary." Each prey stood still in their cell like a docile doll, and spirals of them, along with the cascading light coming from the orb, formed a heavenly view before him. The only stain was the cell at the very end of the spiral, house to the two intruders. Eathe narrowed his eyes. The man with white hair. It was his first time seeing him with the prophet, but that''s all the reason not to let his guard down. Although, judging by his looks, the man gave off the feeling of being nothing more than a vase, Eathe couldn''t afford to underestimate his potential. After all, the same could be said for Edris when he first met the prophet, but look at how wrong he was. A knock sounded from the doors behind him. "My lord, all the two hundred preys are in place, except for the Awakened from earlier." At the worker''s report, Eathe took a glimpse at the time. Three hours left until the Hunt. "The guests should be coming in soon." He poured the rest of the wine down his throat and straightened his collar. "Keep the girl confined. And also make sure to stay alert to any potential abnormalities coming from the prophet''s cell." With the Hunt happening tonight, there was no room for failure. If he couldn''t personally hurt Edris, he''ll make that the prophet and his friend remain trapped until the end. Then, he''ll ask the Hypnotist, who was attending the Hunt as well, to erase their memories of the night. "It looks like he''s injured too, but even so, we can''t let down our guards. Although I doubt he''d be able to try anything with those shackles." He had prepared the mana-restricting shackles in case any of the Awakeneds snapped out of the hypnosis state, but they also proved to be of great use in this situation. The shackles'' powers were absolute. No matter how much potential they had as an Awakened, their mana is no longer usable once they''re locked in. In other words, they would be reduced to no more than ordinary human beings. Eathe glimpsed at the pale-looking prophet and the pretty boy beside him. No matter how he looked at it, there was no way that those two would be able to get out of the shackles and escape with brute strength. "Everything is going according to plan." 37 | I am a Civilized Person Ace. Hypothetically speaking, how possible would it be for you to break the door with your bare hands? Around the same probability as you being a prophet. How unfortunate. Edris sighed as he pressed his face against the visual panel of the door. The top half of the door was transparent, while the bottom half was made of metal. Where did all the guards go? Maybe you should try to seduce one when he comes. After all, with your looks, it shouldnt be impossible A trickling coldness brushed past his back, and he closed his mouth with a smile. Even though Ace stated he couldnt break doors, Edris had a feeling that if he kept talking, the man was fully capable of at least dislocating a shoulder or two. Letting his thoughts wander, Edris noticed a familiar face in the cell diagonal to theirs. Miss Darcie? He called out to her in a whisper. No response. As with the other Awakeneds in the chasm, Darcie stood in her cell like a display, her usually tied-up hair released to her waist and her expression aloof. Seeing that this method wasnt going to work, Edris took a step back. He had forgotten that Ace was still standing arms crossed behind him. The dark-haired man turned around with a half-hearted smile. Oops. Sorry about that. Ace narrowed his eyes. Without further ado, Edris took another step back. He sprung forward at once and slam the bottom of his feet to the metal. An echo followed the action, ushering a harsh cry from the door. Arent you worried about the guards hearing you? None of them are here right now, and its not like I kicked it open. Theyll only assume this is my futile attempt to escape. Edris shrugged and cast his gaze forward. Miss Darcie? To Aces surprise, Edriss series of actions actually prompted some reactions from the girl. She flinched, and something flashed in her aloof gaze. After several more kicks, Darcies dazedness faded. Her eyes regained focus, and she began to wobble left and right. Waves of sharp pain shot through her brain, but she managed to crane her neck towards the source calling out to her. Who, whos there? Miss Darcie, it is me. Edris. Can you hear me? Edris replied softly. I What am I doing here? Why are you here? I know you must be confused, but could you please tell me everything you remember about how you got into this current situation? I dont know. Youre saying what? Or him. Its muddled. Everythings muddled! Despite Edriss attempts at obtaining information from the girl, Darcies responses only grew more incoherent as confusion flooded her brain. Her head jolted up as she stared past her cell doors. Her gaze bore the entire palette of despair as it aimed straight towards Edris. You must get out. Run away before its too late, she said through quivering lips. Suddenly, her eyes widened in horror as the girl let out a heartwrenching sob. But Doris. Shes only seven. Shes only seven this cant be happening to her. My sister. Take her with you. Youre a prophet, right? Please, save her. Save my sister. Please, please please please please The entire chasm was silent, except for her chant-like mumblings. It was at that moment. A shuffling noise occurred near the leftmost tunnel, and Darcies mumbles discontinued with her sharp inhale. Her eyes bulged uncontrollably, but the next second they fell lax as Darcie returned to her previous aloof state. A single tear slid down her cheek. The hypnosis is back into effect. Calmly, Edris moved his gaze away from the girl to the leftmost tunnel. Whoevers behind this, they must be quite a high levelled Awakened. Only attributed mages can use mind-altering magic. It relies heavily on both experience and mana input, Ace said, his attention lingering on the cell across from them. Its dark magic. Edris nodded. Looks like someone is behind the viscount. Someone who uses dark magic. The dark-haired man tapped his lips. When he first saw the Awakeneds obedience, he had considered the viscount to be behind the hypnosis. However, he didnt look strong enough to pull off such an advanced skill. In that case, I wonder who While Edris was amidst his thoughts, the initial shuffling sound grew louder. A worker entered from the leftmost tunnel and was soon followed by six others, all dressed in black. As if reacting to their entrance, the orb at the top of the chasm lit up, casting light to the entire chasm. The next second, Edris and Aces cell door flickered a couple of times; then, it turned completely opaque. The viscounts trying to hide our existence? The corners of Edriss lips upturned. I guess some important figures are here. Shortly following his words, leisure footsteps could be heard entering the chasm. Edris peeked through the opaque door. A blurred silhouette strolled the very front, with several figures following behind him. If his speculations were correct, Viscount Eathe was escorting his guests around the chasm to showcase the Awakeneds. Edris could piece together some terms they threw out. Something about Awakeneds and high-quality mana. As the group approached their direction, however, the lights above them flickered off. The outside noise stopped all at once, leaving them in enclosed darkness. While Edris was accustomed to being in a dark space, even he couldnt make out anything when it came to complete darkness. Hey, cant you glow like before? Did you forget I am currently depleted of mana? Aces deep voice brushed Edriss ears from behind, and the latter subconsciously shuddered. A handicap on his visual and auditory senses simultaneously implied the heightening of others. Not to mention, in the narrow space, his perception of time also seemed to fall distorted. Perhaps it was for a few minutes, perhaps a bit more than that, but the two of them simply stood in silence. Im bored, Edris suddenly said. In a situation like this? Ace knew that Edris could be unfathomable at times, but he still couldnt help but crease his brows at the nonsense coming out of his mouth. Should I take a nap? But its kind of uncomfortable here. Edris blinked as a light bulb lit in his head. Actually, I have a better idea. Could you get something for me in the bag? You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The Spatial Pouch was hidden in his cloak, which Ace now had tied around his lower body. What do you need? The mana detectors. Ace creased his brows. You even brought those with you? I dont trust leaving that machina with anything other than enhancers and elixirs. Edris shrugged as he wiggled his wrists. These cuffs block mana formation, but not mana detection; I always wanted to test my mana and magic capabilities, so might as well use this time to my advantage. Despite his judging gaze, Ace didnt say anything further and reached down at the pouch. As he handed the items to Edris, he noticed his messily wrapped bandages were slowly falling apart. Dont move. Edris blinked twice, only to nearly step back on instinct when Ace began to fix up the bandages on his wrist. After a minute, the man stepped back and handed him the two devices. I didnt know you could treat wounds. Edris raised an eyebrow in amusement. I read it in a book. Ive never done it before. Edris casually lifted his two arms, only to realise that the bandages were now wrapped way too tightly. If it were any other person, he would have thought they were purposely cutting off his circulation. Yeah, I can tell. He smiled flatly. Thanks. With that, he bent over and started setting up the two devices. Mana-channel detectors were primarily used by mages to help nobles detect whether their children had the potential to become an Awakened. Edris told him it was two devices, but they were actually attached to each other and came in pairs. The detector wasnt hard to use; all he had to do was attach the two nodes on the side of his body. One to his carotid artery while the other right above his heart. After that, he just needed to flick the switch and wait for the results. Indeed, it was simple and effective, but these advantages were nothing to Edris in the face of the price tag. Not to mention, it was a single-use item too. If it werent for the fact that I needed to understand my own body conditions better thanks to the effects of the trade, I would never drop so much sorry money on something like this. He grumbled. When operated by a mage, they would infuse mana into the detector to both speed up the process and improve its accuracy. However, since neither he nor Ace was currently capable of using mana, Edris could only hover over the device and wait for the results. The mana channel detector emitted a dim glow amidst the otherwise pitch black space. On it was a screen with an empty bar. It was supposed to be filled according to the percentage of mana in the users body that could be formulated into usable magic. Another minute passed. Still no reaction? Its not broken, right? Edris poked at the machine, a frown emerging from his lips. He was fully prepared to get back at Alan Grennor for offering him a scam when the bar began to flicker. Oh. Its here, its here. Edris licked his lips. Lets see Ace, who had been rested against the walls, leaned forward as well. After seeing the report, both of them fell silent. On the dimly lit screen was an empty bar. Actually, if one looked closely, he would see that a fraction of it was filled up. A number then spat out from below:
RESULT: 0.001.How sad. Ace was the one to break the silence. A wobbul has an average mana aptitude of two. I didnt know you were so talkative, Edris said with a smile. Despite the urge to step on the detector, he merely inhaled deeply and flipped the machine to its side. After the aptitude test results came out, it was now calculating the size of his inherent mana channel. Having already taken a direct hit from the previous result, Edris stared blankly at the loading bar. He didnt think anything would top ituntil the machine started flashing again.
RESULT: FAILUREThe word appeared on the screen in large, bold letters, and after flashing a couple more times, the entire screen fell black altogether. Indeed, another silence. Ace stifled a cough, and Edriss eye twitched. Currently, the machine looked quite punchable. Unfortunately, he wasnt given a chance to execute his thoughts as the cells opaque door unexpectedly flashed back to its previous state, returning them the entire view of the chasm. Edris didnt know how long had passed since they were blocked from the outside, but it must have been a while. Other than their cell, the rest of the chasm had been emptied out. Well, almost emptied out. From the corner of his eye, Edris made out a crowd at one of the seven tunnels in the distance. Moving frantically around the hoard of people was no other than Viscount Eathe, whose face bore a mix of rage and embarrassment as his workers flailed around in an attempt to capture something. Someone, to be precise. Its her again. The scary child. Edris winced subconsciously as he was reminded of his eroded wrist. With her long hair flying behind her steps, the girl sprinted around the giant chasm, literally biting off anyone who attempted to lay hands on her. From afar, Edris and Ace took in the entire situation in their cell. Since they were in a corner from a distance away, the group didnt seem to notice their presence. How is it that she has so much black mana within her? Edris watched as a puddle of black appeared under her every step. What are you fools doing, letting her run out again just like this? The viscount scowled through gritted teeth. I apologise, Lord Eathe. One of the men in black huffed in response as he sent more people after the child. We did lock her away, but she somehow managed to melt the doors. We really didnt expect this, my Lord. The doors were metal! Stop talking and just catch her already! Eathe dragged a hand down his face before turning towards his guests. Sirs, I truly apologise for this. All the prey have been prepared for the Hunt. Its just this brat that came out of nowhere One of the guests casually raised a hand, and Eathe knowingly shut up. The guest was no other than the hypnotist, one of his employers for the Hunt. The situation didnt seem to faze him as the hypnotist smiled through his mask. What must you mean by that, Lord? That child is simply adorable. I didnt see her on display earlier, though. Might she be a prey as well? His reaction caught the viscount off guard as the latter mustered a smile. Originally, yes, but she is quite disobedient, so I figured Oh, but thats all the better! His voice erupted with joy. She would make a very engaging prey. My anticipation for tonight only deepens. At his words, the other guests muttered similar words of agreement. I, I am glad to hear that. Viscount Eathe bowed while smiling. At the same time, the workers finally caught the child and knocked her unconscious. As the guests turned around to walk to the exit, Eathes smile dropped immediately. He bit the insides of his jaws. With the hypnotist present, he was originally planning to tell him about the prophet and the white-haired man and erase their memories, but with this whole embarrassment, bringing it up now would only further tarnish his reputation. Lord Eathe? One of the guests called from behind, and Eathe immediately put on a pleasant smile. I am coming. It cant be helped. Hell have to bring it up after the Hunt ends successfully. Eathe took one last glance at the cell before turning towards the worker who had hauled the girl into a sack. Give the brat the punishment she deserves, but make sure it doesnt show. Well need her for the Hunt as well. Make sure shes obedient. Understood. With that, the chasm fell silent once more. Having witnessed the entire scene with a frown on his face, Edris then heard a deep voice beside him. Trash. Very hard to disagree. While he shared the same sentiments, Edris wasnt someone who cared enough about others to take up trash-picking as his personal responsibility. He simply wasnt someone like that. Really. Ace, I am a civilized person. At the dark-haired mans sudden comment, Ace rolled his eyes. As civilized people, we must follow the rules of society. However Edris craned his neck left and right. I dont see any rules to be followed here. Do you? In that case, its not my fault for not following rules if there are none in the first place, right? You always say nonsensical things like this when you have excuses to make. Ace deadpanned. Edriss lips creased into a smile. I am a civilized person. But that doesnt conflict with me wrecking this place. As he said that, he brought his bandaged arm up to his collarbones and felt the pendant under his fingers. The next second, Edriss eye smile faded, replaced by a cold gaze that brought about a certain sense of foreignness upon him. Aces eyes widened as he realised what the man was planning. You Edris didnt respond. All his attention was directed toward the mechanical voice in his head.
Give-and-Take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?38 | I Have a Hypothesis After parting with Edris, Dolan and Celio headed back to the pub site. While the beast tamer began to scout the area, the Crown Prince slowed his footsteps as he stood dazedly before the wrecked mess. Staring at the burnt-down area, Dolan was reminded of everything from the previous night. His mind fell into a state of complication. As someone who''d been travelling throughout the kingdom ever since he could remember, Dolan thought he knew what his nation and people were like. Truly, he was naive. Dolan crouched over to a pile of debris and picked up some ashes. He rubbed it between his fingers. Slavery was illegal in the Zacriya Kingdom, yet the people he saw from yesterday were treated like mere livestock. The high education rate was a feature that the kingdom took pride in, yet away from central city, countless children lack the resources to even subsist. Dolan smashed his fist onto the ground, blood smearing his knuckles. "I was a fool." Being exposed to his narrow vision was like a punch to the face. He thought he had experienced all needed for him to become the future ruler when, in reality, he simply partook in all that he wanted to experience. "I just looked around once more, and luckily it seems like aside from the scums we met in the VIP yesterday, the customers and workers all got out safely." After his surveillance, Celio trailed back to the front, only to see the red-haired man deep in thought. "Your Highness?" "I''ve been living under an illusion all this time." Dolan let out a shaky laugh. "How pathetic." "Please don''t say that about yourself." Celio frowned. "Everyone can be pathetic at some point in their lives. We must not succumb these moments if we want to become stronger. "It''s okay to be pathetic, Your Highness." Amidst his self-deprecating thoughts, Dolan couldn''t help but glance up at the beast tamer. He knew that the youth was trying to comfort him, but "Little Celio, you''ve got a way with words of encouragement." "Ah, do I? I suppose I''ve learnt a lot from Master these past few months." Obviously not catching the hint, Celio rubbed the nape of his neck with a sheepish grin. "But I still got a long way to go!" Dolan merely put on a princely smile. The small talk between them was forcibly interrupted as Celio suddenly perked up from the spot, alertness filling his gaze. At his vigilance, Dolan tensed as well. "What''s wrong?" "Master is in trouble." Celio''s expression darkened. "Prophet Edris?" Dolan looked around them. They were far from the sewage site where they had parted with the dark-haired man. "How do you know?" "Instinct." At Celio''s curt response, Dolan didn''t seem dissatisfied nor surprised. On the contrary, he trusted those words, especially knowing that the youth was an attributed beast tamer. "In that case, we need to get reinforcement. But the problem of distance and time comes into play." Dolan mumbled, crossing both arms before his chest as he started to think. It would be too inefficient for them to head all the way back to the capital for reinforcement. Dolan specialised in recording magic, so he couldn''t create a teleportation portal on the spot like Magnus or Edris. The spell would take at least half a day, a far too risky move to take in this situation. As for spatial communication, Dolan did have infuser orbs with him. Under normal circumstances, those would allow long-distance connections and message delivery. The problem, however, was that for the infuser orb to work, the receiver must also have one with them, and the two must be preconfigured beforehand to connect successfully. Dolan paced back and forth. At this very moment, Edris could be risking his life to obtain information for him, yet he felt powerless as a Crown Prince to do anything about this danger. "I''m going back to the sewage site, Your Highness. I can''t remain here while Master might be in danger." Clenching the dagger by his waist, Celio was about to rush off when Dolan pulled him over. "What day is it?" He asked. Celio blinked twice. "Uh, the eleventh?" "The eleventh. Eleventh This might work." Without warning, Dolan grabbed onto his wrist and peered into his eyes. "Celio, knock me out unconscious." "Got it." "Alrighthuh?" The young beast tamer had replied without a moment of hesitation, so promptly that even Dolan, who had asked the question himself, was taken back. "Is there something wrong, Your Highness?" Celio mirrored his perplexed expression. "No, it''s just that I just expected you to ask for an explanation." If it were Dolan himself confronted with the same question, he would have definitely asked for a clarification. He needed to know what he was getting himself into, after all. "But you found a way to help out Master, right?" Celio cocked his head sideways. "If everything goes according to plan, yes." "Then that''s what matters!" Behind Celio, the sun dipped beneath the horizon, emitting an orange light around his silhouette. "If it''s Your Highness, it must be a trustworthy plan, which is all the more reason why we must hurry!" Dolan fell silent for a moment, then mustered a determined nod. Thank you for trusting me. This was what Dolan had intended to say, but before he could finish the first word, the beast tamer''s eager fist was already swinging his way. Then everything went black. *** Amidst the darkness, Edris opened his eyes. After activating the Sacrificial Hourglass, what confronted him was the same empty space as last time. A peculiar force dallied in the distance, urging him to come closer. Before using the mana detector, Edris thought that he had at least an above-average aptitude for magic, only to be punched in the face by reality. However, the second half of the test resulted in failure, which could mean two things: If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. First, the piece of junk was broken. Second, his mana channel outweighed the machine''s analytical capacities. Edris was willing to take a risk. He strode forward, taking glimpses of his surroundings. It felt as though he was walking in a void, boundless to the point where he couldn''t have discerned whether he was moving, if it weren''t for the shrinking distance of the dim glow. At last, he came across the source of the light. A black sphere situated a few meters from where Edris was currently standing. It was the same one that had appeared back at the Wulin Tournament. Several picture frames levitated around the sphere, and just like last time, their blurriness prevented Edris from distinguishing any of their content. He attempted to take another step, only to realise that some invisible barrier prevented him from approaching further. At that moment, a mechanical voice echoed around him.
Give-and-take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?"Yes." As if responding to his answer, the environment around Edris started to change. Smaller spheres ripped themselves out of the black sphere, generating a surge of pressure that hurled itself towards him. His vision grew bleary and his ears began to ring. His body, down to the last fibre of his being, screamed at him to get out of the way. The force approaching with the spheres was more than enough to trigger one''s survival instincts, and, of course, Edris was no exception. However, he didn''t move. At the same time, a stream of energy poured out of him, replicating the process from when he obtained the Tempest. The only difference was that rather than being purple, the energy this time was murky and obscured, without a definite colour or form. The stream of murkiness wrapped around Edris, as if trying to devour him whole. Edris stood without resistance. A bead of sweat slid past his temple. Despite the gale-force winds around him and his obscured sight, Edris''s gaze was void of all panic, a stark contrast from when he first used the sacred artifact two months ago. The exchange continued on for minutes. Unlike the mess of progression that led to the Tempest, the Sacrificial Hourglass seemed to be taking its sweet time. The energy stream that had by now engulfed Edris condensed into a fog, ousting the oxygen from his surrounding. Edris could feel his strength slip away as his mind grew hazy. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, the fog cleared with a burst of energy, and the chaos around him dispersed at once. Edris collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. His back was drenched in sweat, and the corner of his eyes reddened from the asphyxiating fog. After the trembling stopped, he brought a hand to his face and smeared off the remnants of tears. As he did so, he felt something on his left helix. An earring. A cold smile flashed across Edris''s face. The moment he touched the earring, all its information poured into his head. "The Distributor, is it?" Barely the size of a blueberry, the Distributor was in the form of a circular barbell. The entire earring was silver at a glance, but a closer look would reveal its translucent texture. The earring was a sacred artifact that allowed him to share his mana with others; its usage was limited to one person each day, and the amount of mana that could be shared depended on the user''s channel size. Edris rubbed the earring between his fingers, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. The outcome this time revealed two crucial pieces of information. The first involved restrictions on the sacred artifact itself. The Sacrificial Hourglass was only capable of bestowing abilities upon the user, not the target of the user''s wishes. Otherwise, it could fully offer Ace the ability to replenish his mana and have him pay the price of equivalent exchange, instead of using Edris as an intermediary. The second piece of information was about Edris''s mana channel. The mana detector for his channel size failed to produce results, but thanks to the artifact, Edris implicitly received his answer: His mana channel was at least large enough to support Ace''s mana recovery. While there weren''t exact measurements, Edris now had a vague idea of his channel capacities. Recalling the coverage of Ace''s powers, he felt a smile creeping onto his face. Ever since he received the Tempest from the sacred artifact, Edris had a question: How did the Sacrificial Hourglass decide on the articles of "give-and-take"? When he first activated the artifact at the Wulin Tournament, he didn''t do it with hopes of gaining a specific ability. Instead, he was driven by a general goalto stop the beast tamer from going berserk. However, Edris ended up receiving the Tempest and, in return, sacrificed his thermoception. As for this time, similarly, he didn''t use the artifact knowing he''d receive the Distributor. His goal was for Ace to regain his mana, and the result was his newly gained mana-sharing skill. What Edris received in both cases were skills beneficial for achieving the goal on his mind during the transaction. The Sacrificial Hourglass acted on contextual considerations; it was capable of weighing the best options and selecting the most appropriate ability in return. With these information taken into consideration, Edris had a hypothesis: The Sacrificial Hourglass was a conscious entity. Inherently conscious or manipulated by a conscious being, the sacred artifact wasn''t just an item that operated on systematic, inborn rules. It was capable of fine tailoring the "giving" options based on circumstantial needs, as long as the user gave back something equal in value. Edris smiled. If it can think, it can be manipulated. His hypothesis was currently verified in front of his eyes.
Securing the Giving Segment... Securement complete.
Now preparing the Taking Segment...
The Taking Segment will now commence.There was a reason why Edris decided to use the Sacrificial Hourglass again despite knowing its potential dangers. The extent of the users sacrifice depended on how much they gained from the transaction. But what if he didn''t necessarily gain anything? The user of the Sacrificial Hourglass would "give a part of themselves" to fulfil a personal desire, but what would happen if they wished for an ability related to "giving"? The Distributor allowed Edris to share his mana with others, but on a more fundamental level, it just provided him with the platform. Edris was still the one "giving." In other words, wouldn''t this transaction be not one of give-and-take, but give-and-take-another-give''?
Give-and-take exchange initiating now now now...If Ace was here, he would surely shake his head at the devious expression currently on Edris''s face.
...Take-and-take exchange Initiating now?The mechanical voice gave a hesitant pause, and Edris almost laughed out loud at its wavered tone. It was an instance of take-and-take, indeed. Equilibrium was something that must be maintained with the overall exchange. Edris''s new skill was one of "giving" nature, which meant that, ultimately, he had gained nothing in return. According to the rules then, the Sacrificial Hourglass was required to make up for the imbalance.
The Exchange is now complete. Thank you for your sacrifice.Edris stood up and patted the dust off his pants. He skimmed his surroundings with a saintly smile. "No, thank you for your sacrifice."
...Immediately, the scene before him disappeared and was replaced by the familiar cell space. Edris blinked to adjust to the darkness. "You''re back." The deep voice caused Edris to reflexively jolt on the spot. He turned to look at Ace, leaning by the walls with arms crossed. "How long was I out for?" "Four minutes and twenty-four seconds." "Shorter than I thought." As he tapped his lips in thought, Edris evaluated his current situation. Compared to five minutes ago, he sensed a leaping improvement of his conditions. Although Edris had a high pain tolerance, even he found it difficult to endure the constant discomfort drilling into his wrist. Now, the pain had dimmed considerably, bringing along an invigorating shot of energy throughout his body. "What an exchange." Edris laughed refreshingly. There was nothing better than achieving your goal and receiving an additional reward in return. "Something''s different about you." Ace stated, his dark eyes fixed on the man. Sitting by the door, Edris rested both elbows on his knee. He didn''t respond to Ace''s comment. Instead, he looked at him with a brilliant smile. "Ace," he said. "We''re bounded by a contract, right?" To others, it was a simple question; to Ace, it only signalled trouble. The white-haired man frowned. "What do you want?" Edris''s smile grew deeper as he looked at his ace card. "It''s time to create some chaos." 39 | I Can Teach You MAGE FACTION. NOLMES. After filling out a report for the old woman, Magnus and Faren returned to the Mage Factions headquarters. Two guards bowed at the sight of the archmage and the mage from the brigade. Giving a faint nod in response, Magnus and Faren simultaneously stepped in front of the recognition orb to verify their identity. After a few seconds, the orb flashed green, and the entrance door slid open. It wasnt until the two men entered the headquarters that one of the guards turned to the other with starry eyes. Did you see him? It was the archmage in the flesh! So its true. Hes really working here now. The other man peeked behind him. Who would have thought? Magnus Vyris was a genius and one of the few archmages in the Zacriya Kingdom. However, it wasnt until recently that he began actively participating in the factions missions. Less than half a year ago, he was still known as a wandering Awakened that journeyed around the kingdom to better develop his skills. In fact, people widely believed that Dolan Zacriya was the reason the archmage returned to the social scene. Before being passed the Crown Prince title, Dolan Zacriya was known for his spontaneous personality; always craving novelty, this second prince seldomly came to the capital. Some said that the two had met during one of their adventures and cultivated a friendship. The inside of the Mage Faction was designed in pristine white. From the reflective floor plan to the marbled pillars, everything gave off a dignified feeling. What are your plans for the rest of the day? Faren asked as they walked down the main hall. Taking a nap. Magnus shrugged. Faren Ablemore stopped and stared at him strangely, only to blink in understanding as he was struck by a thought. Todays the eleventh, right? At his question, the archmage merely smiled in response. Magnus officially joined the Mage Faction just over six months ago. During this time, the two of them had to grow acquainted with each other after a completing few missions together. From these past months, Faren noticed that on the first, eleventh, and twenty-first day of every month, the archmage would nap at dusk, just when the sun was about to sink below the horizon. At first, he thought it was just because Magnus Vyris followed a strict schedule based on self-discipline, but he soon realised it wasnt the case after witnessing Magnus straight up fall asleep amidst a mission that had taken place during this time. Must be a genius thing, Faren told himself. Its not something that should be questioned. How about you? Magnus asked. Heading down to the Dome again? The Dome. Located in the underground level of the faction, it was where Awakeneds committed to training that aimed to enhance physical strength. Yeah, combat is harder than I thought, but Im getting better. Faren smiled awkwardly. The battle against Prophet Edris really showed me what I was lacking. Quite an applaudable attitude, Magnus reassured him with a pat on the shoulder. After the two parted, Magnus headed to his office on the upper floor and opened the door. The orange sunlight pierced through the full-length window, casting its rays onto the couch beside it. With a sigh, Magnus closed the doors behind him and went straight toward the couch. Resting his face in the patch of light, he closed his eyes. When he stopped feeling the warmth on his face, Magnus reopened his eyes. He was no longer in his office but in what seemed to be a childs playroom. Colourful scribbles filled the walls around him, and at the centre of the room was a pastel blue couch. Magnus stared at the piece of furniture for a second, before rubbing his temples with both hands. Are you having fun, Mia? He wasnt talking to the couch, but the head on the couch. Yesthere was a single, detached head. The head giggled. Last time you were a rabbit. The time before a piece of cake. Do you really have to pull weird scenes like this every time? At his question, Mias ruby eyes rolled around, as if deep in thought. She grinned. Naturally. This is all valuable data for my studies as a soon-to-be archmage. This project needs to be groundbreaking. Itll be what helps me pass the exam, after all. Magnus sighed again. The Archmage Examination was one of the most widely anticipated events of the Zacriya Kingdom. Every year, a handful of grand mages would be chosen to take the exam, and those who prove their worthiness would then be bestowed the title of the Archmage. Under his enigmatic twin sister''s request (threats), Magnus had been participating in a series of her experiments. Hm, lets see Mia muttered to herself, controlling her floating head to make it fly around the room. The wall texture is a bit more sophisticated this time, and the draws are more accurate in colour. But its still lacking from what I had in my imagination. Every participant must present a discovery or a development of an existing skill that will contribute to the future of the field of magic. As an Awakened who chose the path of a mage, they needed to prove their worth to reach a higher class. Most tackled material-focused magic realms such as natural elements and crafts; studies with tangible effects had the most chances of being deemed valuable. Contrary to others, Mias approach was a dream. As a grand mage who specialised in thought, she could enter others mental space while theyre in a dream-like state and influence their subconscious, whether through conversations or signs. However, this was only possible for Mia because of her talent and magic class. But what if there was a common spell for it? Using ones subconscious and conscious states of mind, she created a shared mental space that could connect different consciousness simultaneously. Here, individuals that come together would be able to communicate without external items, almost like telepathy. On a more advanced level, one may even be able to communicate via thought, even in the physical world. If her project succeeded, it would undoubtedly be a groundbreaking creation. While Magnus was in a state of contemplation, the pink head turned towards him. Lift your hand. Shrugging, the man did as he was told. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Until now, only the spellcaster herself could move freely in the mental space. Those pulled in would only be able to converse and couldnt perform any other physical movements. A bit better, but theres still a delay. A pout appeared on Mia''s face. How long did it take for you to enter this time? Around three minutes? He recalled the moment he closed his eyes. Unlike the past few times where I had to literally knock myself out, it only took a fading consciousness this time, so I suppose its an improvement. Hm, an improvement! Mias voice noticeably lightened as she nodded to herself, her pink hair following the momentum. Must be because were siblings, so its easier to link consciousness in this dream environment. Have you tried connecting to others? Of course, my dear brother. Who do you think I am? Mia plopped on the couch. I posted the spell all over the Mage Faction and the Mercenary Guild. I even sent one to Dolan at the palace. Anonymously, of course, since examination projects are supposed to be confidential. All they have to do is draw out their mana while mentally chanting the spell, then knock themselves out right after they finish. But so far, not a single response from anyone other than you. No one in their right mind would go so far as to follow instructions on a sketchy advertisement. Magnus shook his head. A lack of experiment subjects could be a problem The head dropped back onto the couch with a glum look. Maybe Ill drag someone in by force Mia, thats illegal. The twins conversation halted abruptly as they sensed an additional presence in the space. Footsteps reverberated from around them, and it was getting louder by the second. You Someone actually activated your advertisement spells? Magnus blinked in disbelief as he tried to pinpoint the source of the sound. Even as an archmage, he was severely restricted in this dream space. The most he could do currently was control his facial features and one of his arms. Contrasting with Magnuss prudent state, Mia was licking her lips in anticipation. All her attention fixed on the approaching silhouette, but her face dropped after seeing who it was. Oh, its just Dolan. Dolan? Wait, Dolan?! Magnus almost choked as he forcibly twisted his neck behind, coming face-to-face with a familiar red-haired man. To think this would actually work. Dolan Zacriya seemed just as taken back. Taking in the environment around him, the Crown Prince eventually fixed his gaze on the head on the couch. Mia, where is your body? Why? Am I not cute without it? The girl batted her eyelashes. Arent you supposed to be investigating the Slums with the prophet and the beast tamer? Why are you here? Magnuss eyes widened. Only unconscious people can enter this space. You were knocked out? Are you okay? The prophet? You dont mean the foreigner? The one who won the Wulin Tournament? Mia peered towards the area behind Dolan. Is he here too? Did you bring him? Argh, the damn faction and their damn rules. If it werent for these, I could have tagged long. I knew it wasnt a good idea to join. You duped me into this role! So did you, Dolan? Hey, dont ignore me! Despite the twins surge of questions, Dolan kept quiet for the next few seconds, his expression complicated and his gaze shifting from one to the other. Finally, he opened his mouth. Ill explain everything after. Right now, there are more urgent matters at hand." *** THE UNDERGROUND PRISON SECT. NOLMES. The nighttimes descent indicated that the official Hunt would soon be on its way. Guests trickled into the site, their identities concealed under masks. The entire event was hosted behind an illusion barrier, preventing all without an invitation from entering. The site was divided into two levels, connected by portals inside the seven tunnels. The bottom level was where all the captured prey were held for display, while the actual Hunt took place on the top floor. The Hunt was an anonymous event, so everyone, from workers to guests, all wore some sort of disguise. Viscount Eathe stood from the second floor, observing everything from the windows. In the past years, the Hunt was purely an upper society event. There would be play tents, fighting rings, and chases. Naturally, these existed for the sake of entertaining the guests, members of the upper society. However, this year was a bit different. Lord Eathe, the preys are ready. One of the workers spoke from outside the door. Transport them to the upper level. Its time to showcase them to our guests. Viscount Eathe paused. Is the hypnotist here yet? Didnt I tell you to tell him that I have something to discuss? I have delivered your words, Lord Eathe. He should be here shortly. Good. He then took out an infuser orb and spoke into it. The prophet and the man with him. Did you two secure them properly? The hypnotist will be here soon. Whats taking so long? After thinking about it, he had decided to call the hypnotist over now to notify him of the two peoples presence, instead of waiting for the end of the Hunt. Just to be safe. A short pause occurred after his question, and the orb soon lit up again. Reporting. They have been securely detained. We knocked them out to prevent any potential resistance. We will bring them right now, Lord. Good. Having been notified of the situation, the viscount let out an inaudible sigh of relief. He cast his gaze out the window. Beneath the observation room was the upper level. The guests all sat at long tables, enjoying the gourmet food provided to them. After dining, they would be the first witnesses to an extraordinary event. Remember to take the tunnel at the very right. It goes straight to here, so you dont accidentally bump into any of our guests. Other than the hypnotist, we cant let any of them know about the intruders tonight, or it would be a disgrace to my reputation. Got it? Understood, Lord Eathe. Viscount Eathe swirled the wine in his hand, a smile creeping to his face. The funs about to begin. *** On the other side of the conversation, one man tossed the infuser orb into his pocket while the other tossed a body into the cell behind them. Who doesnt love a free infuser orb? Edris grinned in satisfaction as he patted his Spatial Pouch. These are expensive too. Ignoring the mans comment, Ace bent over and tossed the second body into the cell. Having regained some of his mana, Ace had easily bashed through Edriss shackles. While it was still insufficient to break through the cell doors, that was no longer a problem once the two guards came into view. After knocking them unconscious, Edris and Ace disguised themselves in their clothing. The white-haired man unbuttoned the top of his collar and straightened his vest. Beside him, Edris swiftly changed as well, not forgetting to throw his old clothes into the Spatial Pouch. With a snap of the finger, Ace then altered both of their hair colours to match the ones of the workers. The rightmost tunnel leads straight to where he is, Edris recalled the viscounts words. Alright, I guess we just gotta choose any tunnel but that one then. According to the viscount, the rightmost tunnel was the one that would allow them to avoid other guests, which meant that the viscount and the guests were currently on different levels. Edriss goal was to investigate the Hunt and its relevant participants, and then wreck the event. To accomplish the first half of his goal, he naturally decided on the path that would provide greater information. As the two were about to leave, the orb in Edriss pocket suddenly vibrated. He brought it to his palm and cleared his throat. Yes, Lord Eathe? He spoke with a flat, crassy voice, one that completely differed from his usual feathery tone. Make sure you mask them as well. Dont let anyone see their identity! The viscount snarled from the orb. The hypnotist will be here soon, so hurry up. Edris raised his eyebrow. While he had planned first to examine the area with all the guests, the hypnotists presence led to second thoughts. Likely, the hypnotist the viscount referred to was the same one responsible for hypnotising all of the captured Awakeneds. Understood, Lord Eathe, Edris said quickly before ending the conversation. Change of plans. Were heading to meet the viscount. Lets see who this hypnotist really is. Tossing the orb in his pocket, he lifted his head and was confronted with Aces speculating gaze. What? You dont know how to use mana. But you know voice manipulation, Ace said. There are many things in the world that can be achieved without mana. Its nothing to be surprised about. Edris was about to brush him off, only to pause midway as a smile made its way to his face. But I suppose this is one of my many talents. If you want, I can teach you. By the time he finished talking, Ace was already headed toward the tunnel. This guy. Edris stifled a laugh. 40 | I Might End Up Killing You After the gourmet dinner, workers swiftly cleared off the long tables and directed the guests to the edges of the upper-level chamber, where gold-rimmed seatings awaited their presence. Settling down, the guests watched in amazement as a circular stage slowly rose from below ground, filling up much of the floor space. On top of the platform was a mechanical device with all its clockworks exposed to the eye. Countless gears grated against each other, yet their motion released no sound to the ear. At the centre of the gears was a translucent sphere, much like the one on the bottom level of the chasm. Good evening. A clear voice, amplified by a diffusion orb, spread across the upper-level chamber, and all eyes turned toward the source of sound. Viscount Eathe emerged from the balcony of the observation room. He fixed the mask on his face and, placing his right hand over his heart, entered a graceful bow. Welcome to the annual Hunt. As you all know, this years Hunt is a bit different from usual. We have planned a marvellous event that shall be of great entertainment to all of our lovely guests. With a snap of his fingers, several workers marched from the tunnels. What followed them were steady steps that belonged to lines of captured Awakeneds. As if following a designated pathway, the Awakeneds made their way around the chamber, lining themselves in front of each guest like products on display. Compared to past years, our batch of preys this year are of quite high quality, the viscount explained, his voice broadcast around the entire chamber. Each of them would contribute towards a greater project, produced by the sacred artifact present at the centre. His words sparkled a surge of reactions from the guests, most of which contained a mixture of shock and pleasure. A sacred artifact! someone from the seats gasped in delight. Indeed, the viscount responded as he glanced sideways at the sphere. The Plunge, we call it. As you may have noticed by now, all of the preys this year are all Awakeneds. Their mana will be absorbed by this sacred artifact, leading to a special awakening. Not permitting for the guests to ask any more questions, he continued. Of course, we understand that the fact that they are Awakened or not hardly matters at all to everyone present today. After they are stripped of all their mana, these preys would be under all of your disposals. As if remembering something, the viscount smiled politely. And worry not, the amount of mana they have will not affect their entertainment value. Everyone is free to have as much fun as you want with them. Below him, the guests nodded to each other, satisfied with his explanation. For them, an Awakened prey is no more valuable than a regular one. The presence of mana served best as just another source of amusement. They were just curious about the pleasure they would gain from this special Hunt. With intrigued looks, they fixed their attention on the sacred artifact. Two masked workers climbed to the circular platform. One started setting up the artifact while the other led an Awakened onto the stage. The premiere showcase. It''s not as amusing to watch group extractions compared to a thorough, individual wipeout, so weve prepared an exemplar Awakened. Eathe explained through the diffusion orb. The Plunge will extract all mana from this Awakened, and we hope to provide everyone with the most enjoyment in this viewing experience. The guests hollered enthusiastically as if watching some circus spectacle. While the workers were setting up, Eathe withdrew from the balcony. In the observation room, another man sat leisurely on the couch, a teacup hooked onto his pinky. Sir, thank you for taking the time to meet me here," he said politely, bending over to pour him more tea. The man on the couch was dressed in a black robe, and a pure white mask covered his entire face. It was an opaque mask that hid all his facial features, yet the man seemed to pay it no mind as he brought the teacup to his face anyway. The robed man tilted the teacup, and after a few seconds, he set the teacup back onto the table. The cup was now empty. Ignoring the goosebumps crawling up his spine, Eathe squeezed out another smile as he bent over to pour more tea. Would you like some wine as well? I got some very high-quality wine here Viscount, I dont like people who talk in detours," the hypnotist spoke lazily. ...My apologies. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he cleared his throat. There are two people I would like you to perform hypnosis on, if possible. He purposely didnt elaborate on their identities. The more he said, the more incompetent he would appear. Luckily, the hypnotist didnt seem to care much about the details. He lightly tapped the cup, and the viscount immediately took that as a cue to pour more tea. You say that you want me to hypnotise some people. The hypnotist tilted his head, as if peering at him through the mask. So, where are they? Am I expected to be waiting for their arrival? Of course not! His heart pounded so fast that Eathe thought he might start hyperventilating on the spot. His face whirled towards the door entrance, just in time to see two workers approaching his way. Here they are, sir. Here they are! He exclaimed and stomped towards the door. Hurry over, you fools! The kind sir has been waiting. At his eager words, two workers trickled into the room, the first empty-handed and the second with two bodies hurled over his shoulders. I told you to give them masks, not to take off everything and only leave them with masks! The viscount stared at the two nude bodies in disgust, but he didnt have time to scold them further. After the two workers set down the bodies, he pushed them aside and glanced up. Sir, these are the people I was talking about. Its quite embarrassing, but we somehow found these uninvited rats on the site. It would be greatly appreciated if you could hypnotise them so theyll forget everything they witnessed here. Still sitting on the couch, the hypnotist peered over his shoulders as he let out what seemed to be an amused chuckle. Why go through the trouble to keep them alive for me to hypnotise? In no ways am I trying to devalue your skill, Eathe said quickly. Its just that These intruders are somewhat a special case, so its better not to kill him to prevent further troubles. Oh? The hypnotist stood up from the couch and made his way to the front door. At the same time as the conversations unfolding, Edris silently took in their surroundings. Across the room was an observation balcony visible from the full-length window. He peered out the window through his mask. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. An enormous orb lay in the centre of the chamber, surrounded by seats of well-dressed, masked nobles. The orb glowed chronically, and it seemed to be absorbing streaks of mana at a ridiculous rate. Edriss eyes widened after seeing the source of all this mana. Her once rosy complexion reduced to a sullen grey, Darcie hung by the centre of the orb with her arms and legs restrained by thick metal cuffs. Layers of skin sagged downwards, and strands of auburn hair piled onto the ground beneath her dangling feet. Darcie looked like an entirely different person from when Edris had seen her merely hours ago. Back at the front door, the hypnotist crouched to examine the two bodies. With boney fingers, he brushed past their entire face, from lips to forehead. As he reached the first strand of hair, the hypnotist paused. He upturned his head, bones crackling in the process. Hey, you two. He was speaking to the two workers that were standing on the side. At his call, the room settled into a five-second long silence. Unlike the hypnotist, who was concealed from head to toe, they only wore masks that covered the top half of their faces. At the sudden tension of the room, even the viscount was hesitant to say anything as he glanced at the two unmoving workers. Under the gruesome silence, the shorter one turned towards them, his downcast gaze revealing his long lashes. Look at me, the hypnotist said. And take off your mask. Each second felt like an eternity as the worker calmly lifted his hand. His fingers expanded across the width of his face, grabbing hold of the mask. A faint smile flashed across his face as he glanced sideways towards the other worker, who just happened to be staring back. Eye contact, then chaos. Ace kicked out at the hypnotists chest, sending the latter rolling across the floor. With his strength, the kick should have sent the hypnotist flying, but the man reacted quickly by bringing his hands to his chest, intercepting some of the momenta. The hypnotist crashed into the couch, and the collision caused the tea set to break and shatter all over the floor. At the same time, Edris lunged forward and reached for the viscount. Grabbing hold of his collar, Edris planted his feet and, with a heave of a breath, hurled the man towards the full-sized window. Everything happened within a blink of an eye, so quickly that by the time Eathe came to his senses, he was already flying out the window. In the chamber space, the guests lifted their heads simultaneously as shards of glass erupted from above. The scene unfolding before them threw everyone into a daze. The viscount was falling from the sky, with a masked worker surfing on top of his back. Flying through the air, the worker had one hand pressed against the viscounts neck while streaks of purple enshrouded the other. Edris released his grip on the viscount as the two approached ground level, causing the latter to smash onto the stage. Edris spun around and raised his arm; the Tempest erupted from his palm like a bolt of lightning and poured towards the sacred artifact, engulfing its entirety. Unfortunately, he wasnt trained enough to perform acrobatics in the sky. With less than three meters distance to the ground, Edris curled over and pressed both arms over his head, wincing as he slid across the floor. Pulling himself to his feet, he expected at least some sort of bruise but found his body surprisingly intact. He rotated his wrists and arms. Looks like my physiques have improved too. Having witnessed the entire series of actions in utter abhorrence, the guests bailed immediately. They spilt out the chamber like swarms of insects, scurrying towards the tunnel exits. Much to their chagrin, the tunnels had all been blocked off by those who had regained their rationality after the hypnosis wore off. While most of the Awakeneds had fallen unconscious, a few trained individuals held on. Those Awakeneds turned towards the guests, eyes ablaze with rage. Soon, the ground was full of unconscious bodies. Despite everything the nobles originally had in store for them, the Awakeneds didnt take their lives. Yes, theyve been classified as the talented Awakeneds, but before this happened, most were just regular citizens trying to live a good life in the kingdom. The nobles valued entertainment; they valued life. As tempting as it sounded, revenge wasnt enough for them to throw away their principles. Taking in the situation with a sweeping gaze, Edris decided to pay these people no mind. Instead, he cast his gaze towards the enormous orb now buried by a veil of purple. Edris flicked his wrist, and the Tempest dissipated into thin air. Its mana-powered engine now neutralised, the cuffs on the orb unlocked by itself, and Darcie slumped onto the ground. Edris gently patted her face. Miss Darcie? No response. As he was about to try again, a feeble voice sounded behind him. Darcie? A little girl stared at them with puzzled eyes. Her gaze shifted from the unconscious Darcie to the man beside her. Is my sister going to be okay? Edris didnt respond. He pulled out his Spatial Pouch, dumping all the elixirs onto the ground. One by one, he flicked open the cap and poured its contents onto Darcie. It took all his bottles for her shrivelled skin to regain some of its original vitality. Confirming that Darcies breathing was back to normal, Edris carried her towards the little girl. He bent over and gently set her on the ground, making it so she was leaning on the walls behind her. As he stepped back, the little girl ran over and hugged Darcie tightly. She peered up at him with cautious eyes. Youre Doris? Edris stood up and glanced at the short-haired girl. Doris nodded. How do you know me? Are you friends with my sister? No. If youre not friends, why did you save her? she asked. When mom and dad died, except Gran, all their grownup friends pretended that they didnt know us. To repay her. For what? At the little girls series of questions, Edris responded with a slight shrug. Crouching over until they were at eye level, he gently patted her on the head. A strawberry tart, I suppose. After settling the sisters by a safe corner, he walked towards the viscount, who was lying limp at the edge of the stage. Eathe attempted to crawl away at his approach, but his movements were soon restricted as Edris hovered over him with a smile. Long time no see, viscount. I knew Dolan Zacriya sent you. Eathe snarled through gritted teeth. From the corner of his eye, he could see the hypnotist fighting with the other worker. The former seemed to be at a disadvantage, almost toppling over with every movement he pulled. Eathe knew that he could no longer rely on the hypnotist. With all his remaining strength, Eathe condensed his mana into a burst of energy, surrounding himself with dark magic. The moment he was about to chant a spell, however, his vision shook as his face was pressed downwards and mercilessly scraped over the harsh surface. All traces of dark magic vanished, and Eathe groaned in pain. Something warm trickled down his nose, and he glared at Edris through bloodshot eyes. Impressive, viscount. I didnt know you could use dark magic, Edris said. His pale eyes flickering in the dust-filled chasm, the man retained nothing of the gentleness that Eathe had witnessed back at the Orteon Manor. The memory of that day resurfaced in his head, and the viscount forced out a sneer. Why? Are you surprised youre not the only one with tricks up your sleeves? He spat. An outsider who cant even control his own powers. And you call yourself a prophet? Edriss lips parted slightly, and he turned his head. To the viscount, it was because his words had hit the bullseye. To Edris, he was simply trying hard not to laugh. He had completely forgotten about the lie he made back at the Orteon Manor, but it appeared to have had a more profound impact than he thought. So why not play along? He gazed back at the viscount. At this angle, Eathe could make out the fervour in the mans eyes. The contrast from his usual tranquillity gave the man a ghostly presence. All the more reasons you should be careful. What if you say too much and cause me to lose control completely? A gust of purple swirled around his fingers, and Edriss eyes creased like crescent moons. I might end up killing you. 41 | I Have Many Questions I might end up killing you. The viscount tensed visibly at his words. Edris chuckled, which only sent chills further down his spine. Calm down. Im just here to ask a few questions. I do consider myself a peaceful person, after all. What do you want to know? The Queen and Prince Treos illnesses. Whos behind it? Eathe stared at him intensely, trying to dig out his intentions. But no matter how hard he looked, that calm-looking face gave nothing away. Instead, Edris gave him a modest smile, an act thoroughly incompatible with everything he''d done so far. Eathe shook his head. I dont know. Right as he uttered his sentence, a shadow flashed behind him, followed by a loud crash and bursting debris. The intermission caused them both to look over toward the scene. The next second, Eathe''s mouth dropped. The hypnotist slid down against Plunge, trembling. A white-haired man, the one who was with the prophet, landed lightly across from him. In his hand was the white mask that had belonged to the former. From the front, it appeared to be an ordinary mask, but at an angle, one could see that chunks of bleeding flesh were dangling from behind. The white mask wasnt a mask, but a literal face. Edris creased his brows. This person was hypnotised himself. The real culprit behind all this is not here. Ace tossed the bloody mask onto the corpse. Withdrawing his gaze, he lifted his blood-covered fingers and examined them with narrowed eyes. Disgusting. Watching as the hypnotist slumped onto the ground, both Edris and Eathe shuddered, but for different reasons. The former was simply grossed out by the sight, while the latter was horrified by the white-haired mans brutality. So, viscount? Edris smiled at the man who was sweating profusely on the floor. The Queen and the first princes illnesses. Whos behind it? I really dont know! He cried out in a voice crack. Even though Im a viscount, Im still just a lower-tier Nest member. Everyone in Nest uses dark magic, and there are people outside of Nest who also use dark magic. Like you! You probably use some form of dark magic! Nest? From a distance away, Ace looked up. I never said the illnesses were caused by dark magic. Edris raised an eyebrow in amusement. I heard it from rumours, all rumours! All I know is that its something the higherups have been planning for a long time, but nothing else. I really have no idea, I swear to Serenity. Words poured out of his mouth like a waterfall as Eathes eyes constantly darted between the prophet and the white-haired man, as if a second slower would lead him down the same path as the corpse on the side. People like us dont have access to details for things like that, and were not allowed to either. Inconsistency tugged at his explanations, and anyone could tell that the man was lying. Edris, however, was more concerned with something else. Blood vessels leaked to the centre of Eathes eyes, but the viscount seemed not to have noticed as he continued blabbering on, his voice becoming more intense by the second. Veins bulged all over his face and neck, giving the man a swollen appearance. Do you know whos above me? Nest wont let you get away with this. Theyll peel you layer by layer, feed your skin to your family! At this point, incoherent phrases started to pour out of his mouth as the viscount twitched on the spot. Youll keep shrinking, keep shrinking til you become nothing. His symptoms are similar to the girl. Someone is trying to hypnotise him, Ace said, taking a glimpse at Edris. A dark magic user. Itll be annoying if it succeeds. With that, he walked over to the viscount and, without another word, clutched a fistful of his hair. Lifting the man into the air, Ace was about to plunge his hand into his chest when Edris grabbed onto his wrist. One last question, he said, turning to the viscount. You said youre a lower-tier member of Nest. So who sent you here? At his question, the viscount only responded with laughter, splatters of blood flying out of his mouth as he did so. Furrowing his brows in disgust, Ace dropped him back onto the ground. Youre done for The viscount choked out through his blood and laughter. When Nest finds out When Robin finds out This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Before he could finish his sentence, a foreign presence filled the chamber, causing Edris and Ace to turn their heads simultaneously. A teleportation circle had appeared under the Plunge and, in the next second, devoured the entire sacred artifact right before their eyes. More precisely, the sacred artifact, almost three times their heights, was condensed right before them. Edris didn''t think it was possible, but the artifact folded onto itself, shrinking into a thin slit of paper. A card fluttered in the air, but he didn''t get a chance to look closer. It was because even though sacred artifact had disappeared, but the teleportation circle remained. Suddenly, Edris felt a chill up his spine. He instinctively looked towards Ace, who seemed to be sharing his thoughts. Things are not finished yet. As if responding to their words, a silhouette soon arose from the teleportation circle. A person strode across the stage, his entire body concealed under a robe and his entire face covered by a white maskjust like the fake hypnotist from earlier. Raising an arm to the air, the figure pinched onto the card in midair, and it disappeared with his touch. Is it the real one this time? Edris frowned. He and Ace stepped backwards, keeping a careful distance between them and the robed man as the latter continued to move forward. The man walked dazedly, without acknowledging any other beings in the chamber as he stopped before the viscount. Mister Robin Eathe opened his mouth to speak, only to widen his eyes the next second as the robed man bent over and pressed his lips to his forehead. From across the stage, Edris took in the situation with a blank face. Hm. He scrunched his nose. He didn''t know how to react to this sight. Everyone who used dark magic seemed enigmatic to at least some degree. Although Edris had many questions, he forced them down his throat after seeing the viscounts expression. It wasnt confusion or shock but complete horror. The robed man, Robin, leaned back with a dreamy smile, lips smeared with dashes of red. Good night. Blood spurt from Eathes eyes, nose, and even ears. First a viscous red, then raven black, they oozed out uncontrollable, like rolling waves at midnight. The blood began to evaporate, creating a thick layer of fog around them. Three seconds passed, but that was all it needed to leave the viscount shrivelled on the ground, his body deflated like a balloon. Edriss eyes shook at the deformed lump of flesh that no longer resembled anything human. Only one thought was in his head: Dangerous. That person is extremely dangerous. Without hesitation, Edris brought his thumb to his lips and bit into it. A dot of red emerged from his pale skin, and he pressed it onto his left ear. The blood was instantly gobbled up by the earring, creating a massive torrent of outpouring mana. The white torrent lunged towards Ace, integrating into his body at the moment of contact. At the same time, Edris threw his arm sideways and activated the Tempest. A purple storm erupted from his palm, hovering over the Awakeneds at the edge of the chamber. Two contrasting powers poured out of him simultaneously, painting the surroundings in a collision of white and purple. The release of both the Tempest and a large amount of mana tugged at his bodily limits, and he could feel his organs writhing into each other. Edris glanced sideways stiffly. Ace. I know. The white-haired man took off at once, sending a gust of wind behind his steps. His obsidian eyes were like two bottomless voids as they peered ahead towards Robin, who remained unstirring at his approach. Light condensed in Aces right hand, sculpting itself into the shape of a gladius. The sword glowed like a torch of hope in the abyss, illuminating the entire underground chamber. *** How much longer until the portals complete? Dolan asked. Patience, patience. Mia sighed loudly. Magnuss working on it right now. Having updated the twins about most of what''s relevant to the situation, Dolan was now pacing back and forth in the mental space, what Mia called the Playroom. Magnus had returned to the physical world to gather reinforcements. Usually, he would be required to submit a Force Deployment request to the factions, but in urgent situations, exceptions were allowed. Dolan wanted to leave the Playroom as soon as possible, as little Celio was still waiting outside. However, Mia had stopped him. Apparently, she had something to say. I was going to let Magnus know of it today, but since this whole situation happened, I figured Id tell you first. It wouldnt make much of a difference, anyway. Dolan raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. I dont know if you know this yet, but a marking was found on everyone injured at the assassination. A circle, surrounded by three petals. In response to her words, a crayon in the corner of the room floated in midair and started to scribble on one of the walls. Have you seen this before? After examining the drawing, Dolans eyes widened. Yes. On Treo. He had seen the same marking on his brothers body during one of the priests examinations. Around the size of his fist, the marking was situated on the back of his shoulders. He didnt pay it much attention at the time. Engravings were a hobby of his brothers, so while the marking looked peculiar, it was just one of many others. As members of the Zacriya family, these types of bodily alterations were strictly prohibited, so the engravings have always been a secret between the two of them. This was also why Dolan hadnt mentioned it to others. Since I can access peoples dreams to an extent, Magnus had asked me to look into the matter. It took a while to prepare and a couple of trials and errors, but eventually, I was able to enter one of the victims dreams, the pink-haired mage explained. Once I got into their mental space, it was much easier for me to access their memory. And guess what I found. Her ruby eyes emitting a glow, Mia controlled the crayon to write something else on the wall. At its last stroke, the black crayon snapped in half. Dolan, have you heard of Nest? 42 | Im Afraid Not The first thing Darcie felt was a wave of nausea. Faint sounds of collision seeped into her ears as an imminent brightness threatened to rip through her eyelids. The intermixing of light and sound crashed into her senses at once, and she subconsciously let out a groan. Darcie? Can you hear me? A familiar voice and a familiar name. Fluttering her eyes open, Darcie stared dazedly as the distorted figure slowly stabilised into a person. Tears filled her eyes the moment she ascertained the person''s identity. Doris, is that you? She remembered now. It was her little sisters seventh birthday, so Darcie had gotten off work to celebrate. When she got home, however, she saw her sister being kidnapped right before her eyes. Her last memory before losing consciousness was the approaching of two people dressed in all black. At the thought, Darcie brought her legs to her chest, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead. She recalled flashes of her sister''s unconscious face and the horror that fell upon her as the figures in black simultaneously looked her way. The surges of memory came upon her in the form of another wave of nausea, and Darcie suddenly found it hard to breathe. Before she could say anything else, she was pulled into a tight hug by a small pair of arms. Darcie. Its me. Im Doris. Face buried against her stomach, the little girl, only half of Darcies size, trembled as she listened to her sisters heartbeat. After a few seconds of silence, she squeezed out a whimper. Im scared. Darcie''s breath hitched in her throat as her nose grew sour. She wrapped her arms around Doris, exhaling shakily as drops of tears streamed down her cheeks. Even though Darcie became an Awakened, she was a slow learner. With no money to hire an academic mage, she joined a charity club where other Awakeneds, in similar situations as her, would help each other out. Yet as time passed, she noticed that no matter how hard she tried, she''d always be the last to understand a skill, the last to pull off a spell successfully. Even when it was the most rudimentary ones in the book. If only she discovered her potential sooner, or maybe if she practised more and was more talented... Then maybe, just maybe, she would have been able to protect Doris from those people. She wasn''t a good sister. Im here, Doris." She swallowed, feigning calmness. "Its going to be okay. The two of them stayed just like that, neither saying anything. After half a minute, Darcie turned her attention to the chaos in the background. Flashes of light emerged from different parts of the chamber, each followed by a loud explosion. She knew something intense was going on, but the details werent something a regular person could discern with raw vision. What is happening? Darcie muttered subconsciously as she turned towards Doris. Are you hurt anywhere? Doris shook her head, pointing towards the distance. That man saved you. Darcies gaze landed on a masked man standing amidst the chaos. At sight, several faded memories resurfaced, and Darcie readjusted her vision. Dazedly, she glanced at the man again, a sense of familiarity rising within her. Prophet Edris? The mans loose vest fluttered wildly in the wind, its flamboyance creating a stark contrast to his thin build. A purple fog spilt out of one of his hands while streams of white flowed out the other. As Darcie witnessed this sight, she couldnt help but wonder how the man was still standing. It wasnt just Darcie. As the hypnosis wore off, more and more people started to regain consciousness. The first thing they noticed was the thick veil of purple shielded above their heads. It didn''t take much for them to comprehend that the barrier was to protect them from whatever was occurring at centre stage. Following the direction of the barrier, their attention then fixed on the three figures on the circular platform. In their eyes, the owner of the purple shield was obviously on their side; the same goes for the white-haired combattant, seeing the way they collaborated. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. The former controlled the set like a puppeteer behind the scenes, while the latter took the role of the active executor. The white-haired man and his opponent weaved through the ragged space, creating sparks all over the chasm. One hand still gripped onto Darcies arm, Doris pointed towards the white-haired man with the other. Darcie, is that an angel? He looks like the angels in my picture book. No Darcie refuted out of habit, but her voice trailed off as she stared at the astounding sight. Majestic, righteous, and kindangels were mythical creatures that had only appeared in the kingdoms fables. But if there ever existed a fable about a snowy-haired angel fighting as a knight, she thought it would be the scene unfolding before her eyes. She hugged Doris tightly and whispered, Maybe so. Hearing the sisters conversation, other Awakeneds gazed towards the stage with looks of both hope and anxiety. They couldnt help but wonder about the identities of the two that came to their aid. Even though none of them had met the two before, their presence gave them all an indescribable sense of reassurance. Unaware of the thoughts of the surrounding people, Edris planted both feet on the floor as he concentrated on the battle between Ace and Robin. With a constant supply of mana at hand, Ace wasneedless to saystrong. He moved swiftly and precisely, and the mana sword in his hand was like a weapon of death as it slashed toward its target without mercy. In any normal battle, his opponent would have undoubtedly lost their lives at this point. However, there was something different about this one. A snicker escaped his lips as the robed man swirled to the left, evading the strike from Ace''s sword. The mana-formed weapon sliced through the air, leaving behind a lingering streak of white. Rather than an exchange of combat, the man moved ever-so-gracefully, as if he was a performer on stage. Each movement was executed with utmost ostentation as he glided across the platform, engaging in a ballroom dance. His flirtatious gaze swept past Ace, both teasing and provoking. The latter''s face visibly grimmed as he shot forth for another attack. Even Edris couldn''t help but crease his brows at the excess exhibitionism. What''s more angering, however, was the effectiveness of his style. Every time Aces sword was about to hit its mark, the robed man somehow managed to slither past like a shadow, widening their distance at once. At first, Edris thought the man was trying to run away, but that speculation proved to be wrong, as Robin moved around Ace. He spread his arms and grew closer little by little, only to draw away again when the latter tried to attack. Once or twice may have been luck, but by the third time, Edris knew something was off. This whole time, the robed man played a defensive role, evading Aces attacks as he deliberated back and forth, as if in a dilemma about something. But about what? From his peripheral vision, Edris noticed the viscounts remains lying lifelessly on the ground, and his eyes widened. Dont let him touch you! Edris yelled. Memories of the observation room and the viscounts last moments flashed in his mind. If his speculations were correct, the mans ability, be it hypnosis or something else, was only possible through physical contact with his target. It would explain why the viscount had them personally bring the intruders to the hypnotist, as well as the sudden death of the viscount after Robin touched him. Despite the chaos, Edriss words managed to reach Ace as the latter fell back at once, his dark eyes capturing Robins every movement. Noticing the change of pattern in the white-haired mans movements, Robin let out a soft sigh. He landed flawlessly on the ground, patting off the dust on his hair. Looks like Ive been found out. He laid out both hands, voice tinted with regret. I cant help it. Your abilities are so beautiful I want to keep you for myself. With a meter distance between them, Ace raised his gladius as he stared at Robin with narrowed eyes. The latter didnt seem offended but rather pleased as he leisurely examined the glowing sword. Ah. So, so pretty. He laughed uncontrollably, his silvery, high voice echoing through the chamber. Wiping a nonexistent tear off his mask, he then turned towards Edris. Hey, will you give him to me? Edris was going to reply that he was in no place to answer the question, but he paused, suddenly remembering that they were technically under a special contract. Im afraid not. He shrugged a smile, and Ace gave him a look. Heartbreaking. Robin sighed softly, then stepped forward without warning. Without a moment wasted, Ace swung his sword, and the white mask on Robins face snapped into two. Unlike the fake hypnotist, whose mask was attached to the flesh, this one seemed to be a regular mask as it plopped to the floor. Under the mask was an innocent-looking young man with light blue eyes. Solely from his appearance, the man would easily pass as one of the scholarly mages. Minus the bloody lips and hysteric gaze, of course. Robin didnt seem to notice his exposed face, or he simply didnt care. Either way, he lunged forward and reached out toward Ace. His actions were nimbler than expected, and Ace immediately slid sideways. Instead of his face, Robins hand managed to touch his mask, knocking it down in the process. Ace moved backwards again, enlarging the distance between them. So close. Clicking his tongue, Robin bent over and, with both hands, picked up his white mask off the ground. He gently wiped it with the sleeves of his robe and then placed it in his pockets. As the hypnotist lifted his head, he made eye contact with Ace and paused mid-action. Hm? Whats this? Robins eyes lit up as he judged him from top to bottom. You look like someone I know. 43 | I Dont Need Your Gratitude You look like someone I know. Robin eyed him up and down. Who are you? Someone he knew? While sustaining his powers, Edris listened to the conversation in bafflement. Not only him, but Ace himself was also staring at the hypnotist at a loss for words. The white-haired mans face was nowhere close to being common, yet Robin had deemed him as someone familiar. What do you mean? Ace spoke for the first time. You do know how to talk! Robin turned to him, pensive. He suddenly smiled, and taking advantage of Aces moment of hesitation, he pivoted sideways, moving past him and straight towards the dark-haired man behind him. Like a slime in water, he slid through the stage in silence. Before Edris knew it, the man was right in front of him. He tried to step back, but it was too late. Robin reached out and, with his right hand, cupped the side of his face. The slimy sensation of his hand pressed into Edriss skin, driving goosebumps throughout his entire body. Since you seem to be enhancing his abilities. In that case, I just need to hypnotise you first, then hes all mine, right? Satisfaction flashed across his eyes. Good night. As if proving his words, a black fog rose and wrapped itself around Edris, devouring his face entirely. It felt as if his head was being peeled one layer at the time as the fog threatened to seep into his consciousness, dragging him into the deep sea. On the other end of the chamber, Darcie held her sister closer to her chest. She cast her gaze upwards, towards the ceiling. A shield of purple glowed dimly above their heads. Despite the man''s endangered state, the barrier still subsisted. This person had saved both her and her sisters lives. But now, he was about to die. Darcie clenched her fists. Her tenseness caused Doris to glance up. Darcie? I I want to help him. No, I need to help him, Doris. Or else hell die. Darcie bit her lips. Even though she had only recently become an Awakened, she knew how to manipulate mana on a fundamental level. It wouldnt be enough to inflict severe damage on the robed man, but it should buy them a second or two. Darcie stared straight ahead, anxious. She needs to at least try, or else she''ll live in regret for the rest of her life. Suddenly, there was a tug by her sleeves. Darcie looked down and saw Doris staring back at her with a firm gaze. Calm down. Darcie blinked. Despite just passing her seventh birthday, her little sister often spoke in a manner that seemed way past her age. Maybe it was a natural consequence of growing up without parents, but she couldnt help but be apprehensive at Doriss early maturity. I know you want to help, but I think we should wait, Doris said, looking over to the stage. Darcie followed the direction of her gaze, and her eyes landed on the white-haired man across from them. Despite Prophet Edris''s state of peril, he showed no signs of coming to his aid. A slight frown appeared on Darcie''s face. That man isnt doing anything. I thought they were together? Hes not doing nothing, Doris said, her round eyes fixed on the stage. Hes waiting. Aside from the gurgling noise coming from the fog, the entire chamber was silent. The Awakeneds at the sides gulped. It wasnt that they didnt want to help, but they simply couldnt see the possibility of succeeding, when even the person who had come to save them was subdued just like that. Even though they were grateful for the stranger that came to their aid, it wasnt to the point where they would throw away their lives. The air in the chamber seemed to have thickened as the mana flowing out of the dark-haired man trickled into nothingness. Both of Edriss arms dropped limp to his side. At the sight, everyones heart dropped. There we go. With a satisfied glint in his eyes, Robin lifted his hand. The fog around them dissipated, but rather than the wooden looks he usually received from his victims, all he saw was the dark-haired mans narrowed eyes. Done with the touching? Edris asked. Robins mouth parted. Without hesitation, Edris went straight for a kick in the chest, sending the man toppling backwards. He wasnt as strong as Ace, and the kick only managed to force the man a few steps away. However, that was enough. Robin tried to steady himself by planting his heels, only to realise that a certain white-haired man was already waiting right behind him. Taking advantage of the moment of instability, Ace slid forward and aimed right at his neck. Robin leaned back and reflexively lifted one of his arms in defence. Next thing he knew, that arm was on the ground, twitching. The tip of Aces sword pointed at his neck, and Robin slowly raised his other hand to indicate surrender. Walking up beside Ace, Edris pressed his foot down onto the arm on the floor, giving it a few smothers. No blood came out of it. He glimpsed at the arm, then at Robin. A sense of disgust found its way, and Edris rubbed his face with a handkerchief. Fucking creep. The viscount, the hypnotistnone of these Nest people seemed normal. As if confirming Edriss thoughts, Robin started to laugh uncontrollably. He bent over, almost squeezing his lungs out as laughter continued to spill. How fascinating. Both of you. With a flick of his remaining arm, the one on the ground melted into a pile of liquid. The protruding bones on his elbow began to extend, soon followed by tissues, flesh, and skin. In a matter of seconds, a new arm had formed. A bit late, but shall we go for introductions? Naturally, nobody responded, but the man didnt seem in the least bothered by the silence. People know me as a hypnotist, but Im also secretly from Nest. Hm. Guess its not a secret anymore. You may call me Mister Robin, or just Robin, if youre the friendly type. But of course, thats not my real name. Taking a glimpse at the corpse behind him, Robin let out a melodramatic sigh. Unfortunately, Im just here on a small errand. But if fate allows it, we shall soon meet again. In the meanwhile, Ive prepared a present for you all. Edris frowned. What are you on about? His question was left unanswered, however, as the man flashed him a grin. With his newly grown arm, Robin blew a kiss at the two of them as a teleportation circle appeared under his feet. Good nightand enjoy. Ace was about to go forth with another slash, only to be stopped by Edris, who shook his head. Save your energy. People like him are just He rubbed his arms with a shudder. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. There was a reason why he didnt continue to fight the hypnotist. Despite the disturbing behaviours, he didnt seem to be coming here to harm them. Edris didnt know what his abilities were, but seeing how the man had straight up regrown his arm, killing him wouldnt be an easy deed. He''d already invested much of his mana into the Tempest to neutralise the hypnosis effects, and he needed to continue Aces mana supply as well. There were still matters left to take care of. At this thought, Edris turned towards Ace. He arched an eyebrow. Come to think of it, you really just watched him try to brainwash me, didnt you? Ace looked at him, eyes stoic. You wouldnt let yourself be hypnotised so easily. Should I feel honoured by your trust? Ace scoffed, and Edris shrugged in response. He said I looked familiar, Ace said, gazing towards the spot where Robin had disappeared. Ive never seen him before. If you think about it hard enough, maybe youll remember something. Edris peered over his shoulders, towards the lump of black flesh on the ground. But not now. He frowned. It seems that we have more trouble at hand. Ever since the hypnotist disappeared, the viscounts corpse had entered a pulse. At first, it was just light movements, but now the pulses was slowly growing in size with firmer, longer pumps each time. An ominous feeling rose within Edris. A bomb, Ace concluded. So the present he was talking about is this human meat bomb? Edris inhaled with a cold smile. Robin, was it? Ill remember it. At the rate its expanding, it would take at most five more minutes until it explodes. How annoying. Securing the mask on his face, Edris spun around and faced the Awakeneds. He directed his voice throughout the chamber using the diffusion orb he took from the observation room. This place will soon explode, he declared calmly. But before that, we will all teleport out of here. I will try to minimise the after effects with the Tempest, but those who are less accustomed to the effects of magic may still experience discomfort, so please look out for each other. Ignoring their dumbfounded expressions, he smiled at the white-haired man beside him. Your teleportation circle can hold two hundred people, right? It came out as a question, but both knew it was an affirmative statement. Ace turned away with a scoff. He muttered something under his breath, and a surge of mana spiralled around him. The ground below them began to glow, forming a circle of symbols that expanded across the entire chasm. The Awakeneds could only gape at the sight. The complexity of teleportation magic was no secret to any Awakened. Typically, days of planning would be required to perform the skill, with precise measurements of the necessary mana consumption and a specific destination coordinate. Moreover, there was a strict limit on the number of people one teleportation circle could withhold. But according to the masked man, he was going to teleport all of them at once. There were over two hundred bodies in the chasm! They glanced toward the two figures at the centre of the stage, gazes filled with awe and guilt. The one with dark hair lifted one of his arms, and the purple shield that surrounded them thickened, protecting them from the flying pieces of debris. Across from him, the man with white-haired kept a stoic expression as light poured out from him and extended to the rest of the spell. Despite everything that happened, those two were still trying to get them out of here, even at the expense of using such difficult magic. An Awakened with long hair stepped forward, wariness all over his face. At his approach, the owner of the purple shield glanced over, and the Awakened shuddered at his distant gaze. Before he could express his thanks and apologies though, the dark-haired man spoke up. I didnt come here to save you. So I dont need your gratitude. The Awakened stared at him blankly, at a loss of words. Edris looked away. It was true. He only came here to investigate the Slums and somehow ended up being caught up in this mess. The investigation had been his only goal from the start, and saving these people was the only aftermath of how things had turned out. He''d noticed the Awakeneds hesitancy to step in when Robin was hypnotising him. Edris wasnt mad about it. In fact, if he were in the same situation, he would''ve acted the same. Yet now that he had made it out alive, they decided to give their thanks. Their gratitude held no value to Edris; it would only serve as a self-comfort for the Awakeneds themselves, for their earlier cowardice. Edris wasnt in the mood for superficial exchanges. I didnt expect you to help them for free, Ace said calmly. Youre making it sound like Im a bad person or something. Edris laughed. Not that youre wrong. He wasnt a saint. He was Edris. And Edris never did anything that yielded no benefits in return. From an objective point of view, there was nothing they could give him that would be of equivalent value to what Edris gone through in this investigation. All the Awakened here were regular citizens of the kingdom, and Edris wasn''t interested in their offerings. His help was definitely not freeit just wouldnt be the citizens paying the price. The corners of Edriss lips curled up. Amidst the chaos, his smile was like a splash of daylight in a torrent of colours. His Highness must be waiting. *** Dolan Zacriya shot up from the ground, breathing heavily. Your Highness, youre awake! Sitting beside him, Celio perked up immediately with worried eyes. I didnt mean to knock you out for such a long time. I swear I tried to control my strength! Its not you. I just got held up by something. Dolan shook his head. More importantly, lets head back to the sewage site. I believe that help is coming soon. The sky above them inundated in darkness, void of its usual nighttime glitters. A moonless night. Magnus was already waiting for them at the sewage site. Behind the archmage stood twenty members of the Royal Mage Brigade and a high-levelled priest. I cant sense any presence coming from the tunnel, so chances are that an illusion barrier has been put in place. Magnus took off his hood and stepped towards the entrance. Be on guard. At his words, everyone nodded firmly. As they were about to enter the tunnel, however, Celio stopped behind them. He pointed outwards, blinking in confusion. Hold on. Whats that? Dolan turned around and gazed in the direction of his finger. Some distance behind the site, he could see a desolate hill. That hill was currently glowing all over. What the One of the mages muttered out loud. Theres a huge bright circle on the hill! Celio squinted his eyes. Wait, I recognise that. Its Masters teleportation spell! Prophet Edris? Dolan said in disbelief. Didnt he go into this tunnel? How did he end up on the hill all the way over there? Lets head there first, Magnus said. The answers should all be on the hill. With countless questions bottling up, the group quickly reached the bottom of the hill. What confronted them was a sight far beyond anything they could have imagined. The entirety of its surface covered in a glowing circle of symbols, the hill emitted a steady glow of white and purple, which seemed to grow even brighter under the pure black sky. Such, such a grand teleportation spell! The priest stared at the hill in bafflement. He had never seen such large-scale teleportation in his eighty years of existence. The rest of the mages just stood, mirroring the priests reaction, all jaws dropped in shock. As if that wasnt enough, they next saw bodies rising from the ground. They emerged from the circle one after another, like the dead returning from their graves. Ten, thirty, fiftypeople just kept appearing from the circle. Different portions of the hill glowed in spontaneous intervals, and the entire scene looked so absurd one would think they arrived in the Realm of Afterglow. It wasnt until the last body came into view that Celio rushed forward. Master! Standing at the very front of the mass group of people was a dark-haired man. He took off his mask, revealing his pale face was smeared with dirt. One of his arms was tightly bandaged. With his other arm, he gave them a wave. Seeing his familiar smile, Dolan felt a burden lift off his shoulders as he slowly puffed out a sigh. You now Dolan couldnt help but scowl. How could he not when the person, who had self-proclaimed as a seeker of peace, returned in a state that appeared as if he had just survived a war? As he approached Edris, however, Dolans expression grew stranger. Beside the dark-haired man was a face he''d never seen before. Compared to Edriss battered state, this person didnt have a single scratch on him. With skin glowing and white-hair fluttering in the breeze, he could easily pass as an illusion, sticking out like a sore thumb in the group of people. Dolan had many questions. Before he could ask about the details, the ground below them began to shake. The next second, a deafening explosion erupted in the distance, in the direction of the sewage site. The brigade of mages immediately advanced into formation, launching a barrier to block any debris flying their way. The entire Nolmes shook at once. Torrents of gust washing over them all the way from the hill, kicking up the smallest particle of dust in the vicinity. It was an explosion that reached the ears of every citizen of Nolmes, and its news would soon extend across the entire Zacriya Kingdom. Dumbfounded, Dolan stared at the smoke in the distance and then at Edris. The latter smiled back. Then fell to the ground. 44 | Im Quite Impressed When he opened his eyes, Edris found himself in an unfamiliar place. He was in a cube-shaped room, surrounded by four white walls. Behind him was a black door, and a single couch was situated in the centre of the room. Examining his surroundings, Edris lightly tapped his lips. A dream? Although he didnt know the exact size of his mana channel, he knew he was close to his limit after sustaining both the Tempest and the Distributor for such a long time. His original plan was to least hold on until he returned to the inn. Unfortunately, plans didnt always keep up with changes. His body ended up giving up on him just before the end. Right in front of everyone, too. Edris recalled the looks on the Crown Prince and Celios faces right before his vision faded. He clicked his tongue. This could be a problem. Come to think of it, he muttered to himself. Where is this? Your mental space. Edris spun towards the voice, and his gaze fell toward the centre of the room. The couch remained static, but a black easel had materialised right beside it. A canvas board was stacked on the easel, and looking closer, Edris could make out something on the canvas. A face. And it was moving. Edris and the face just stared at each other. After three seconds, the former turned around and headed to the door behind him. Now, if youll excuse me. Hey now, Im here to help you, and this is how you treat your saviour? The face pouted. Edris glimpsed over his shoulders with creased brows. Do you know how long it took me to get into your mental space? You werent dreaming, either, so whats taking so long for you to wake up? Her ruby-like eyes rolling backward, the face blabbered on. Im a busy person too, you know. If it werent for Dolans promise to provide me with more participants Ah, forget it. The face looked away, and the easel it rested on swerved sideways as well. I see. Without further ado, Edris turned to face her. He placed his right hand on his heart in a slight bow. Thank you for your help. How may I repay your efforts? At his words, the face snuck a glance his way. Well, youre quick to adapt. Edris merely shrugged a smile. I would have you be my test subject, but Voice trailing off, the face shook from side to side. Forget it. Magnus would be mad. And youll probably just further complicate things Anyways! I did this under a request, but also partly to satisfy my own curiosity, so its whatever. Curious about me? Why is that? Who isnt curious about the Fallen Prophet? The face gave him a smug look. Youre flattering me, Edris said. Arent you curious about me? Youre speaking to a face on a canvas right now. Should I be? He spoke with such a sincere expression that it was hard to tell if the man was joking or not. Be it the way he talked or his general countenance, there was something about him. Something that felt out of place. The face looked at him strangely. Youre just as peculiar as they say. The canvas thumped on the spot, then turned itself around. Remember to close the door behind you. Youve been out for too long. At her reaction, Edris didnt push further. Pressing a hand on the doorknob, he peered over his shoulders and gave the canvas a gentle smile. Thank you again for your help. He paused. Lady Mia. Wait, how did you Before Mia could finish her sentence, the dark-haired man was gone. *** Edris woke up to the familiar sight of gold-lined ceilings and marbled floors. Luxurious setting, wealthy-smelling airindeed, he was back at the royal palace. He shifted his head sideways, and the duvet ruffled. A subtle, almost nonexistent movement, but that was all needed for three pairs of eyes to simultaneously peer toward him. Master! Celio cried out, and Edris sighed inaudibly. How long was I out for? A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Five days, Dolan strode over from across the room. How are you feeling? Five days. No wonder he felt so well rested. Edris pulled himself up from the bed, slumping against the cushion behind his back. As he sunk into the silk fabric, he silently assessed his current state. Compared to his time at the Slum, it literally felt as though he''d been remade. His body no longer ached, and his mind was clear, which was more than a satisfying result. After all, the improved conditions he currently experienced were the beared fruits from scammingconversing with the Sacrificial Hourglass. It was a take-and-take transaction. Of course, he was the one doing the taking. Not bad, Edris concluded. Not bad?! Sitting beside him, Celio bounced up from his chair with an exasperated look. We were worried sick. You should have seen yourself, Master. Your entire body was icy cold and you were so pale it looked like you had no blood left in you! I thought you were going to die! Edris blinked twice at his outburst, which was giving him a sense of deja vu. He shook his head with a faint smile. Please dont curse me like that. At the sight of the familiar gentleness, Celios words drifted as he slowly sat back down, suppressing sniffles here and there. Giving the young beast tamer a small pat on the head, Edris then turned to the Crown Prince and the archmage. I met Lady Mia while I was asleep. She told me that you''d asked her to help me regain consciousness. He smiled. Thank you, Your Highness. And Lord Magnus. Just Magnus, remember? But Im surprised you knew it was her. Mia almost never shows her actual form in these spaces, Magnus remarked. She didnt. She was a face on a canvas. At Edriss statement, the room fell into a strange silence. That''s just like her. The archmage cleared his throat. Then how did you know? How, you ask? Edris recalled their conversation. Frankly, the answer was apparent from the start. What kind of person would be acquainted with both the Crown Prince and the archmage? She had addressed both of them straight by their names, too. But most importantly Edris stared at the archmage with a strange expression. Magnus, Lady Mia is your twin. Magnus blinked twice, his ruby eyes widening in the process. Oh, I suppose youre right. Dolan covered his face. Anyways, we should be thanking you. It was you who saved the lives of over two hundred people, after all. If you have anything you want or any requests to make, please say so. I will fulfil them as long as theyre within my power. Well, there you have it. Magnus beamed. Its a relief that you seem to be recovering well. If you dont mind, we have a priest who can take a better look just to make sure youre okay. Edris gave a nonchalant nod. Gladly. There was no reason to refuse free healthcare. A white-robed lady entered the room, her silver hair flowing past her waist as she walked. All of Zacriyas priests belonged to the Church of Serenity. Priests generally were a more concentrated class of mages who specialised in healing magic. Of course, there were also spiritual priests, but they were scarce in number. These Awakeneds were said to carry the passed souls to the Realm of Afterglow and delivered Serenitys blessings to newborns. Greeting the people in the room, the healing priest placed her hand over her heart and entered a graceful bow. My name is Edith, she said. Father Alder is currently out of the palace, so I will be performing the examination on his behalf. Oh? Where to? Dolan asked. According to Father Alder, he experienced something lately that shattered his worldview, so to cope with this epiphany, he is currently working to better his understanding of himself and the world he lives in. Sounds wise Celio mumbled in awe, not noticing that a certain dark-haired man had slowly looked away. Edith kneeled next to the bed and took out a beige book. Placing the book by her left side, she then turned towards Edris with a slight bow of the head. Now, if youll allow me. Please do. Edris smiled gently. The priest held his injured arm with both hands, slowly unravelling the bandages. Master, if you dont want to see this, you can look at me instead, Celio suggested. Edris blinked twice. Ever since witnessing his injuries a couple of times, the beast tamer seemed to have formed a strange perception of his health condition. Silently shaking his head, Edris glimsped at his bandaged arms. His mind wandered back to the culprit behind this wound and gave an abhorred shudder. If he closed his eyes right now, Edris felt that he''d still see the pair of fierce eyes belonging to the black-mana user, the child who almost dragged him into the afterlife. So, so scary. Layer by layer, the blood-stained gauze loosened, revealing his bare skin. As the final layer was unrolled, Edris expected an unpleasant sight. Some flesh, some crimson, and if he was lucky, a forming scab. Back at the Slums, the inflicted wound was deep enough for bones to enter sight. Contrary to expectations, however, he was confronted with nothing but pale, smooth skin. If one stared intently, they could make out a faint scar across the diameter of his wrist, but otherwise, it was as if the wound was never inflicted in the first place. Brows lifted, Edris rotated his wrist, caressing the smooth surface. No temperature, but it was to be expected. What he didnt expect was the sight of his arm in one piece. Apparently, five days was enough for a wound like this to heal completely. The Sacrificial Hourglass was this effective? Edris was quite impressed. Unfortunately, the priest didnt seem to share his sentiments as her expression twisted from calmness to perplexity, then blatant shock. She moved her hand to feel his pulse, and Edris could have sworn he felt her fingers trembling as she did so. First, they touched his wrist, then the side of his neck. Then his wrist again. Priest Ediths frantic actions caused a strange atmosphere to settle among the people in the room. Dolan and Magnus exchanged wary glances while Celio fidgetted with the silk bedsheets so raptly that his fingers might as well rip right through them. Is, is something wrong? The beast tamer gulped. In the silent room, Priest Edith glanced up at Edris in horror. How are you still alive? Hm? Edriss smile stiffened. He was feeling quite offended by the words coming out of the priests mouth. 45 | Im No Longer Impressed After a series of questions and examinations, Priest Edith left the room. Dolan and Magnus saw her out, leaving only Edris and Celio in the bedroom chamber. Master, are you sure youre okay? Celio grumbled. Why not just rest a few more days here? His Highness and Priest Edith suggested that you take it easy at least until the end of the month. I am taking it easy. Just not here. From across the bedroom chamber, Edris was packing the few things he had. Tying up his bag, he pressed two fingers to the side of his neck, just beneath the jawbone. After half a minute, his hand fell to his side, fingers tapping against the sofa. "How strange," Edris mumbled. "I''m feeling fine right now, but..." Why was there no pulse? Priest Edith had created a fuss after discovering his pulseless body, rolling out a number of other machines and tools immediately for a more thorough examination. But much to her chagrin, the examination results were all within a healthy range of values. Edris was as healthy as any other average human beingexcept that he had no pulse. Edris closed his eyes. Thanks to the doings of the Sacrificial Hourglass, he was now extra sensitive to his bodily states. Hunger and sleep levels being one aspect, if he focused his mind, he could even sense strands of hair nagging at the nape of his neck, his lungs expanding at every breath, and the very presence of thinking in progress. Indeed, if he tried, he could become aware of every one of his bodily processes, voluntary and involuntaryincluding his beating heart. Yet when he put his fingers to the surface of his skin, there was nothing. How very strange. Edris lowered his gaze, contemplative. Heightened awareness could be helpful in situations where he needed to precisely evaluate his conditions to make decisions accordingly. For example, he''d fainted back in the Slums due to mana overuse, but with this skill in hand, he would know exactly when he''d reach his limits and how far he could go without endangering himself. If he ever got injured again, he''d also be able to pinpoint the exact location, though treating them would still require a professional. However, this awareness also came with its own dangers. Edris shook himself out of his trance. Hyperawareness could easily lead to obsessive behaviours. Currently, Edris could actively control where to focus on and evaluate his inner states, but what if there comes a day where this hyper-perceptivity becomes permanent in his consciousness? This strange phenomenon aside, his healed injuries were also a matter of concern. According to the priest, he had underestimated black mana''s potential; supposedly, exposure to it was enough to cause discomfort, but the moment black mana invades the flesh, it''d be impossible for even archmages to survive. But if that was the case, how did Edris, who wasnt even an Awakened, heal after only five days? Of course, the wound from black mana had caused him considerable pain. It was dulled by his lack of thermoception, but still severe to the point where hed found it hard even to move his arm. However, when he''d brought this up to Priest Edith, she only shook her head. In normal circumstances, you would have died before you could even feel the pain, she explained. The priest didnt know the answers to his conditions, but she did come up with a complicated, burdensome examination schedule that''d supposedly help him find answers. When he turned down her offer, she''d then referred him to a well-paid research position in the Healing Factionas the experiment subject. Naturally, Edris had firmly refused that offer as well. This kingdom really isnt very friendly to me. Pulling a grey turtleneck over his head, Edris suppressed a shudder. He had come to Nolmes for the opportunities, but all he received in return were troubles. Edris wasnt superstitious, but at this point, even he was wondering if he had done something that had led to all the misfortunes. Should I just settle down somewhere else before it gets worse? Amidst his thoughts, the door to the chamber swung open, revealing none other than the Crown Prince. Magnus left to finish some matters. Dolan eyed him up and down. Leaving already? I have troubled you enough, with the chamber, medical care and all. Edris smiled. Not at all. In fact, I would feel more comforted if you had stayed at least until the end of the month, knowing your injuries. You know, Priest Edith called you a healing miracle. Edris let out a small laugh. I guess I was lucky. Despite saying that, he knew more than anyone that the reason would be anything other than luck, considering the number of misfortunes he had experienced in the past months. He did admit, however, that the yieldings of the exchange with the Sacrificial Hourglass this time had surpassed his expectations. The artifact seemed to have given him a dose of vitality, or something along those lines. Not only did he heal from what was supposed to be a lethal wound to the average human, but he was also in a better state overall, especially on a physical level. Although his complexion appeared more sickly to others, Edris felt healthier than ever. About the incident, Dolan began. It seems to be the doings of an organisation called Nest. Were investigating the details right now, but so far, it''s spelling out dark magic affiliations. The person we came into contact with introduced himself as Robin, a member of an organisation called Nest. Edris shared what he learned back in the underground chasm. They possessed a sacred artifact, too. The Plunge, they called it. Correct. Dolan nodded. We found the Plunge to be an unlisted artifact. Were unsure of its origin, but judging from the witnesses descriptions of its functions, its at least a category two artifact. Category two? Since sacred artifacts are meant to mimic Signas, once acknowledged, theyre then categorised based on their predicted potential, impact, and general compatibility. Category four includes artifacts safe for general use, while category one are those reserved for professional, urgent circumstances. Dolan sighed. Unlike the seven Signas, which are blessings from deities, sacred artifacts can be crafted by machinas. Its a strenuous process, though. At most, only one is produced annually. All the known artifacts are monitored strictly by the Resource Faction. We didnt expect an organisation to have a sacred artifact as private property. This means someone in the Resource Faction might have secretly produced an artifact and supplied it to Nest. Theres a second possibility, Your Highness. Edris regarded him. Nest has a machina member of their own. Currently, they knew little about Nest, but this lack of knowledge only further implies this organisations hidden dangers. Machinas were an extremely rare group of Awakeneds, but thinking back to Robin''s abilities and their members'' associations with black magic, he wouldnt dismiss this possibility. Machinas were rare, but not that rare. In fact, Edris was acquainted with one himself. Youre right. Brushing his red hair behind with one hand, Dolan frowned. This Nest is definitely something we need to be on guard about. Apart from the fact that all the victims are Awakened, we found the majority to be from Adalan. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The Crown Princes face fell grim. Edris understood his worries. Viscount Eathe was one of the nobles involved in this years Hunt. Not only was he a part of Nest, but he was also one of the leading players in bringing together the preys. A notable noble taking part in illegal slave imports across kingdoms His actions were more than sufficient to elicit hostile sentiments between the two kingdoms. If not resolved effectively, this initial hostility may become the instigator of something far, far worse. There are many problems with this kingdom. Its laughable that Ive only noticed this now. Dolan rubbed his face, sighing as he did so. Absentmindedly, he strolled past Edris and Celio, towards the windows at the end of the room. He glanced out into the colourful city, contemplative. Beginning with the Slums, theres a surprisingly large number of underage residents there. This shouldnt be something children like them need to undergo. Were coming up with plans to improve its current conditions, as well as providing opportunities for the people who live there, but its been difficult. Cant everyone just help out a little? Celio asked. The Resource Faction could only provide them with temporary dwelling and accommodations, and the nobles, theyre another problem on their own. Dolan sighed. The guest list you provided us has been immensely helpful. Even though they were coded, we could pin out many of the involved families through the Risk Faction and those who were present at the Hunt. But its not easy getting them punished. At the Crown Princes words, Celio furrowed his brows. But what theyre doing is obviously unjust, so why? Well Corruption, human nature, you name it, Edris answered for him. Despite the bluntness of his words, he had a gentle smile on his face. After all, how can people be judged with fairness by a structurally unjust system? But Celios lowered his gaze to his feet. This isnt right. Its not. But unfortunately, this seems to be the case right now, Dolan said. And of the uninvolved nobles, most of these families are unwilling to provide support nor associate themselves with them His sentence trickled off as the Crown Prince slowly inhaled. After a few seconds, he turned towards Edris. Your wish, Dolan said. I will fulfil it. He was talking about the verbal agreement they had a while back. Silence dawned between them as Edris returned his gaze, calm as usual. I look forward to it, Your Highness. As for the investigation, Ill let you know if more important information comes up. That you dont have to, Your Highness, Edris said immediately. I fully trust you and the factions will take care of it. You now Dolan laughed. Lets talk about you, actually. Im sure you know this already, but youre quite the figure right now. Edriss smile stiffened. Am I? Yes, you are! Celio said enthusiastically. Seeing the beast tamers sparkling gaze, Edris was starting to get an ominous feeling. The kidnapped Awakeneds all shared what they saw back at the Slums. Thanks to them, your reputation is now saved! Celio grinned. This is considered a nationwide event, after all. And you played the major role in minimising the casualties in this event. The Crown Prince seemed to be looking at him with an expression containing both amusement and pity. Its not an exaggeration to say that your actions have spread throughout the entire kingdom. Ah. Edris felt like swearing right now. So thats how it is. During the confrontation with Robin, he had intentionally hid his identity from the other Awakened in the chasm. He thought it would''ve been a hindrance to his carefree life if he were to become famous because of his actions. In fact, he had planned to escape right after teleporting everyone to safety, but his body ended up giving out on him right after. That reminds me Dolans expression turned strange as he glanced toward Edris. Prophet Edris, who''s the man with white hair with you? He was referring to no other than Ace. Edris blinked twice. He''d completely forgotten about this trouble. He fell silent, causing Celio and Dolan to exchange looks with each other. "His name is Ace," he finally said. Is he really an angel? Celio asked, and Edris looked up from his trance. Angel? "Master, do you know what people are saying about you two right now? Theres been stories circulating these days, saying that the Fallen Prophet was saved by an angel sent by Serenity! Celio pouted. Theyre dismissing all your efforts and making it sound like he did most of the work. What is this? A theatre series? Edris listened to the beast tamers words with a straight face, but internally, his head was filled with question marks. He didnt expect a continuation of the Fallen Prophet shenanigans. It was already absurd enough that he had been suspected of being a prophet, but he didnt expect Ace to be deemed as an angel. His mind unknowingly flashed back to Aces foul vocabulary, and Edris stifled a laugh. At his action, both Celio and Dolan looked at him. "Your Highness, I''ve been wondering something," Edris said. "What made you think that I was a prophet in the first place?" At first, he thought it was because of the Tempest, or maybe the teleportations. But even then, prophets were considered mythical beings. He was sure that these skills could be pulled off by others, especially people like Saire Harkness. "Ah, well..." Dolan scratched his face awkwardly. "To be honest, I''m not quite sure." Edris blinked twice. "Huh?" "His Majesty was the one that told me to ask you about it." The Crown Prince laid out his hands. "My father never explains the things he does and why. But from what I know, it''s probably related to our kingdom''s history. You''ve heard about the stories about The Giver, right?" Edris nodded. The Giver was the title Toren Zacriya went by during his time as the leader of the Seven Conquerors. These legendary figures played an essential role in securing humanity''s victory during the Creatos War, and afterwards, they dispersed themselves to various parts of the world, protecting the newly gained peace. Many fables rose in response to this history, be they about the Conquerors or the origins of their weaponsthe seven Signas. One of the stories stated when Toren Zacriya passed away, he was invited to the Realm of the Clouds by the Serenity Deity and became a prophet. "You see, the sayings about our ancestor being a prophet, my father sincerely believes in them. I can''t go into the more confidential details, but every king in Zacriya receives a prophecy the night of their coronation." "A prophecy? From Toren Zacriya?" "Perhaps so, or maybe even the Serenity Deity herself. The contents of the prophecy are strictly confined to the King, but as long as he acts accordingly based on the prophecy, the kingdom will continue to prosper, and peace will be maintained." Dolan shrugged. "Sounds sketchy, I admit. But according to His Majesty, this prophecy is one of the most crucial reasons why we, the Zacriyas, stayed in power to this day. "He called it an inevitable responsibility, a calling." "Is it okay for you to be saying these things as the Crown Prince?" Celio asked. "Calling these things sketchy and all..." "I''m not denying their validity. I just won''t wholly believe it until I go through the experience myself, Dolan said casually. Edris nodded. As an atheist, he wasn''t in the position to make any comments about the Zacriya family''s beliefs. He did find the Crown Prince''s attitude towards the situation impressive, though. "And the angel part? Where did that come from?" he asked. "About that..." Dolan looked hesitant as he ran a hand through his hair. "I mean, doesn''t he look like the angels we grew up reading in fables? The kidnapped Awakeneds were all talking about it too, about how he was glowing and things like that. I guess that''s how the news spread." "..." Mind flashing back to Ace''s overall appearance, Edris let out an awkward cough. Given a face like his, he supposed there were bound to be rumours like these. Hes not an angel, Edris said, clearing his throat. Just someone I know. He helped me out back at the Slums. You seem to know all kinds of people. Dolan raised an eyebrow. Edris laid out his hands with a shrug. Comes from being a traveller, Your Highness. He paused. Actually, about that personwhere is he? After you fainted, he was taken to the Mage Faction. After all, apart from you, he was the only other witness of the entire situation. Dolan pursed his lips into a line. But he wasnt very cooperative. He wouldnt say anything about himself, and only gave us the minimum about what happened in the chasm. Sounds like Ace. Edris thought back to the mans stern personality and sharp tongue. He also recalled Aces strange sense of logic that strayed from the average human brain. He also went off track for many conversations, mentioning things that sounded quite preposterous. A war? Edris asked, and Dolan widened his eyes. How did you know? A lucky guess, I suppose. Not bothering to elaborate, Edris straightened his turtleneck collar and grabbed his bag. A mysterious person with a suspicious background but outstanding abilities. Furthermore, this person was being difficult throughout the investigation process, even muttering ominous statements related to war and violence. Edris could already imagine the factions wariness towards him. But whats more? This person was currently bound to him by a contract. Massaging his temples, Edris let out an inaudible sigh. One trouble after another. This kingdom really wasnt planning to let him breathe. Master, where are you going? Celio blinked. At his question, the dark-haired man glimpsed over his shoulder. The Mage Faction. He needed to get Ace out of there before the man turned himself into a suspect. 46 | Im Listening The Mage Faction was a lofty, white tower located at the foot of Felicity Hills, the same place where the Zacriya family held the royal banquet. As with the other magic-affiliated landmarks in the capital, there were always peoplelocals and tourists alikeroaming around the area. Some circled about for walks, while others took their chances hoping to encounter good-looking, talented mages from prominent families. As of now, the Mage Faction in Nolmes appeared closer to a tourist site than a professional headquarters. Only its frontage, though. The rest of the tower was still highly confidential, open only to registered mages in the faction. It was currently late afternoon, and the faction was at its busiest stage of the day. Dozens trickling in and out of its vicinity, carrying liveliness and vibrancy with their steps. An arch bridge adjoined the ground and the tower entrance. As usual, two guards stood on opposite sides of the arch bridge''s pathway, regulating the flow of approved visitors and faction members. The sun shone brightly above their heads. One of the guards, basking in the warmth of the sunlight, released a yawn. "It''s pretty warm for a mid-autumn day." "You''re right. If I remember correctly, last year around this time was already cold enough to wear pelted jackets." His taller coworker agreed, only to start frowning the very next moment. "Apparently, prices are going up for those jackets this year." "They are?" "My wife told me. Especially the trendy, sturdy ones. Y''know? The ones from Adalan." Ahthe gigasnow pelts? The first guard clicked his tongue. "It''s the Adalarians. Them and their crazy drive for adventures. They''re hunting them all down." He was about to say something else, but the words ended up trickling down his throat after noticing someone approaching in the distance. "Wallas, look. Who is that" The taller guard squinted his eyes, trying to discern the blurry silhouette. Although the frontage of the Mage Faction was usually packed with lingering townspeople, there was something distinct about the approaching figure. His posture, the way he took every stride, the overall auraall these signs together made up a noble. The person was concealed entirely under their cloak, but as the guard narrowed his eyes, he caught a strand of symbolic red that flew from beneath the hood. Hold on. Red? "No way." The two of them shared a dumbfounded glance toward the unexpected guest. "His Highness? That''s Crown Prince Dolan, right?" "What''s His Highness doing here? Alone as well? Where are his usual guards?" As if this wasn''t enough of a shock, the guards soon realised that two more figures were behind the cloaked Crown Prince. Unlike Dolan Zacriya, these two didn''t bother with the hood coverage and allowed their identities to expose to the public. This time around, the guards easily recognised who they were. Behind the Crown Prince and to the left was the runnerup of the Wulin Tournament, Beast Tamer Celio. To the right of him The guard, Wallas, subconsciously gulped. Suddenly, the sunlight didn''t seem so warm anymore. Crowds of people patched out in different areas of the front, but strange enough, none of them seemed to notice the conspicuous trio as they made their way to the foot of the arch bridge. At the Crown Prince''s presence, two guards moved simultaneously, entering a precise, fifty-five degrees bow as they pressed their right palm over their heart. "Your Highness." "No need for the formalities," Dolan brushed them off as he headed straight to the entrance. "Y-Your Highness, only mages are allowed in the faction," Wallas said hesitantly, his eyes darting between the red-haired man and the two behind him. "What business brings you here? With these, these guests as well." The Crown Prince halted in his steps and turned towards him. Wallas instinctively lowered his eyes. "Perhaps we can relay the message?" The taller guard, Faybo, spoke up in an amicable, careful tone, observing the smallest changes of attitude. "Some personal business. It''s nothing to be worried about." "But His Majesty said" The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, and Faybo closed his mouth. Under any other scenarios, the Crown Prince''s presence at the faction would be nothing but a pleasant surprise. Since he was an Awakened mage himself, he would be let through immediately. In fact, even if it were just the Crown Prince and the beast tamer, they would have been let through. But the current situation was a bit different. Wallas and Faybo exchanged glances, at a loss of what to do. The former snuck a cautious glimpse at the trio, eyes landing on a certain dark-haired man. What was the Fallen Prophet doing here? Although Wallas was just a palace guard and naturally had no say in the matters of royal affairs, even he''s heard of the rumours surrounding this traveller. Tempest Initiator, Hypnotist, Fallen Prophet Countless titles and achievements associated with the traveller standing before him were flying through his mind one after another. Suddenly, Wallas froze. Hypnotist. What if the Fallen Prophet had somehow hypnotised His Highness? The man obviously came to the kingdom with intentions in mind. Considering everything he''d done in Nolmes in the past months, it wasn''t an unreasonable guess. Amidst his speculations, Wallas accidentally made direct eye contact with him. His pale complexion glimmered under the mellow sunlight, and his hair, having grown just past his ears, fluttered with the breeze. The dark-haired man, noticing his dazed look, smiled at him. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was a gentle, well-mannered smile. Pretty, too. But for some reason, Wallas still felt goosebumps crawling up his back. The Crown Prince paid no attention to Wallas''s trance as he strode past him and crossed the arch bridge. The beast tamer and the traveller followed behind him, the former giving the two guards a slight bow as they crossed paths. At the grand entry gates, Dolan Zacriya pressed his palm onto the identifier on the side. Both gate doors swung open the next second, and the three disappeared into the tower. It was only until they were entirely out of sight that both guards exhaled, releasing the breath they''d been unknowingly holding in for the longest time. "So intimidating" Faybo rubbed his face, wiping away the layer of sweat spread across his forehead. "What do we do now? That was His Highness, right? And the two behind him are the ones from the tournament" "His Highness might be hypnotised," Wallas said with a grave expression. "HypnoHypnotised?!" Recalling the Crown Prince''s insistence and the Fallen Prophet''s meaningful smile, he shook his head, pushing all hesitation to the back of his head. It was better to be safe than sorry. "Find Commander Poet. Now." Wallas spun towards his coworker with urgent eyes. "Tell him we have trouble." *** Dolan Zacriya strode down the reflective, white floors, his surcoat fluttering behind him and his every step echoing through the space. Behind him, Edris and Celio trickled along; the former perked his head here and there in awe, and the latter strolled with leisure, appreciating the faction''s interior fashion. Rather than a working space, the Mage Factionat least its ground floorgave off the impression of a social ballroom. The Mage Faction was built extending upwards. Currently on the ground floor, they were surrounded by refineries, from glass pillars to layered fountain displays. Situated at the centre of this floor was a grand staircase, its ivory steps winding up in an seemingly interminable spiral. The faction''s main hall acted like an inn''s lobby, reserved for social interactions and basic work registrations. Aside from the administrative counters, this floor also accommodated several restaurants and cafes, many of which had patios that acted as sites of conversation for the faction workers. Now that the Crown Prince managed to get them to the interior, there was no need for him to continue with the disguise. He pulled large hood behind him, exposing his red hair that stood out like a blood stain in the ivory space. His cloak, having been custom-made, allowed Dolan to conceal the presence of himself as well as three of his companions. Dolan knew that the Mage Faction only allowed entries of registered people. Magnus had run off somewhere again, and it would have been too much of a hassle to request non-member entry, so he went with the most efficient pathway and pulled the Crown Prince card. If Treo were here, he would be shaking his head with his signature "what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you" smile, and if Magnus were here, he would be ripping his hair out, scolding him for the extra work Dolan had tossed on his plate. Well, in the archmage''s case, it was his fault for running off in the first place, so Dolan didn''t feel as guilty. Pushing these thoughts aside, he refocused on the scene before them. Any form of conversation occurring less than a minutes ago had dissolved into thin air, throwing the faction''s ground floor into dead silence. Countless pairs of eyes fixed on the three new bodies standing centre floor. Even though everyone in this building was an Awakened mage, as with the average citizen, it was their first time seeing the Crown Prince in such proximity. And not to mention, out of thin air. When they noticed the dark-haired traveller and the young beast tamer, even more confusion filled the room. So much had occurred in such a short time that, minds empty and jaws dropped, the crowd found themselves simply staring from afar, unable to take a step forward. Eventually, someone broke the silence. "Your Highness!" A voice echoed in the distance, soon followed by flustered footsteps. A woman, looking to be in her fifties, almost tumbled down the spiralling stairs as she rapidly made her way towards him. "Lady Saire." "Call me Professor Harkness! You and your ungraceful mouth, my Serenity." The woman roared across the room, and a mage sitting by a cafe dropped his sandwich. Plastering on his nobly smile, Dolan watched as the woman huffed and puffed, finally recovering enough to speak again. "What are you doing here? You should be approving documents in the royal palace! Or attending conferences. There are many, many cases waiting for you to look at." "Please excuse her words. This is quite the norms between us." Dolan glimpsed at the dark-haired man behind him. "She was my professor back when I was in my studious days, so we have quite an amicable relationship, hence our manner of communication. Sorry if it scared you." At his comment, Edris observed the stomping woman approaching them in the distance, then shifted his gaze back to the Crown Prince. He shrugged a smile. "Not at all, Your Highness. What an enviable student-teacher relationship." Even though his mighty database wasn''t here to provide a biography of the woman, Edris was well aware of who she was: Saire Harkness. Descendent of the Harkness Family, the family of renowned mages only. She was one of the few, perhaps even the only known Harkness wasnt living in recluse. Living up to the family''s reputation, she was one of the top archmages in the Zacriya Kingdom, no, perhaps in the entire world. Her dauntless personality aside, she was also said to be the Awakened closest to taming the Signa left behind by the kingdom''s finder, Toren Zacriya. Surprisingly enough, Edris knew this woman beyond recorded words as well. It was his first time meeting the archmage in person, but on technical terms, he would say that they wereto a degreealready acquainted. After all, Ace had gobbled up one of their family''s fabled notebooks just over a month ago. "Who''s these two?" Noticing his presence, the woman pushed past the Crown Prince and gazed toward Edris and Celio. With her index finger, she tipped up her monocle. "None of you are mages. You''re not even supposed to be here." Her blue eyes scrutinised the two, taking an extra second on the dark-haired man before darting back to the Crown Prince, who gave an innocent smile in return. "My friends, Edris and Celio." "Bringing uninvited people here just like this, I didn''t know you were still so irresponsible." "It''s an urgent matter," Dolan said, looking towards Edris. "We need to go to the fourth floor. That''s where all the witnesses of incidents are usually retained, right?" "It is. But what business do you have with them?" Saire narrowed her eyes. "It''s Edris over here. He and his companion helped out significantly with the Slums incident a few days ago. He only woke up just now, and he''s here to see his friend." Edris, who had been listening in on their banter, blinked as he was cued. Now that he thought about it, to the Crown Prince''s eyes, the relationship between him and Ace would be akin to friendship, seeing the deed they had achieved together. "Yes. Yes, I am," he concurred. "The Slums incident? I was just there, talking to the group in charge of the case." Saire scratched her head as her expression grew strange. She glanced at Edris. "The friend you''re talking about. Surely you don''t mean the handsome lad with white hair?" Edris blinked again, twice, then gave a belated nod. He''d forgotten that Ace, once pink and fluffy, had regained his physical form. "Hm Are you sure he helped out?" the archmage mumbled. "The situation up there doesn''t look like they''re just collecting information." "What do you mean?" he asked. "In any case, if you''re looking for him, you should hurry." Saire jabbed a finger towards the staircase behind her, gaze upturning. "It looks like they want to open up the Dread Chamber." "The Dread Chamber." Dolan''s eyes widened. "An interrogation." Saire shook her head. "Likely more." "Ah, what are those people doing?" The Crown Prince sighed in annoyance, running a hand through his hair. "We should hurry before" As he spun towards Edris, Dolan''s words halted in midair. A strand of hair twirled around his finger in contemplation, the traveller simply stood there with a downcast gaze, without a tinge of urgency that one would have towards a friend who was in a predicament. On the contrary, Dolan could have sworn that for a brief moment, a smile had flashed across his face. 47 | I Can Help With That "Edris?" The Crown Prince''s voice drew him back into reality as Edris nodded with an assenting smile. "Indeed. We should hurry." Contrary to his words, the dark-haired man''s steps showed no signs of haste as he trailed behind the group, towards the staircase. The reason for his reaction was simple: he no longer found reasons to intervene with the interrogation. On his way to the Mage Faction, he had reorganised the entire situation with a calmer mind. Despite the chaos he caused back at the Slums, despite blowing up the site, and despite Ace being kidnappedhe still came back in one piece, with the culprit document, having saved all those Awakeneds from the Hunt. Anyone with eyes could see that the traveller had done more than enough for the kingdom he wasn''t even a part of. Even if Edris were to be interrogated, all he needed to do was tell the truth of what happened. So, what exactly should he be worried about? Indeed, he had initially tried to avoid the interrogation solely due to its low return. Aside from their troublesome and restrictive nature, interrogations, in essence, demanded free information from the suspect in the name of "pursuing the truth" and "bettering the kingdom." Ace was affiliated with Edris by contract, and the faction would undoubtedly turn to him if their relationship was found out. Edris would never involve himself in something that didn''t offer gains at least equivalent in value, which was why he wished to avoid the scenario at all costs. However, this was no longer the case. "Woah" The beast tamer''s voice disrupted his trance, and Edris looked towards the source of his astonishment. A few minutes had passed since they started venturing up the staircase, and some magic was definitely involved in its functioning. For one thing, the spiralling staircase extended far longer than seemed possible from the outsider''s view. The passing from floor to floor appeared to be a discontinuous process. Despite all the steps they took, they could only cross from one floor to the next after a certain amount of time. So in the meanwhile, all they had to do was keep moving "up." Edris gazed down at the people on the ground floor. Through the birds-eye view, he could now get a better grasp of its oval-like setup. Interestingly, while theyd caused a commotion among the mages merely minutes ago, all attention had dispersed the moment they entered the staircase. He speculated that some sort of barrier filtered out the climbers from the outside, hiding them from the public''s view. Edris took another step, and the view took a steep dive down. It appeared that they had climbed another floor. The third now, if he counted correctly. The Crown Prince mentioned their destination being the fourth floor, where Ace''s interrogation planned to take place. A silence had ensued upon them the moment they started climbing the stairs. Personally, Edris paid no mind to the quietness and used it to organise his thoughts. However, he could tell that the young beast tamer in front of him was growing restless. "Come to think of it, what does the Mage Faction do?" Celio wondered out loud. "There are factions back in Adalan as well, but I thought that things like interrogations were supposed to be handled by the more administrative factions?" "Looks like you know your stuff, boy." Saire''s impressed voice sounded from the front of the line. "The Mage Faction is unique to our kingdom and takes on a broad range of responsibilities, all related to magic. Especially those involving data inspection and research." "You could say it''s an integration of the other four factions. Not as extensive, of course. But since the other factions are all spread throughout the kingdom, it saves us both time and effort when dealing with occurrences within the capital," Dolan added. "Indeed. Take the Dread Chamber, for example. The one we have here is a replica of the actual thing in the Risk Faction. Usually, those Risk people deal with crimes and interrogation, but for less severe cases, we try to avoid travelling all the way past Nolmes Forest." Edris blinked. "A replica, you say?" "Mhm." Slowing her steps, the archmage poked her head backwards, shooting him a grin. "But don''t worry. Even though this one doesn''t have all the crazy features in the original, it should be more than enough for peeking into someone''s memories." Giving her an absentminded nod, Edris began to think. Indeed, if the faction resorted to any other interrogation methods, hed still attempt to pull Ace out of the situation. But this wasn''t just any kind of interrogation. Replica or notthis was the Dread Chamber. Invented by Eins Everlund, another one of the Seven Conquerors, the Dread Chamber was considered the most effective interrogation method up to date. Edris idly gazed down at the floors below them, contemplative. He''d heard about some details regarding the Dread Chamber in one of his previous jobs; the chamber was notorious for screwing up the mentalities of those who used it, but on a milder level, it was known for its ability to dive into one''s memories. The interrogated individual, thrown into a room oversaturated by mana, would unknowingly enter a stage of hypnosis as all their memories become exposed to its viewers. Every detail of their lives, from their time in the womb to the present second would reveal themselves through the mana overload. The key feature to the interrogation laid within its absolute exposure, stripping bare a person''s existence on both a physical and mental level. The method itself was painless, maybe uncomfortable at the most to those unaccustomed to mana exposure. However, if the individual tries to resist, it would be a different experience. But technicalities aside, Edris was more interested in a particular aspect of the interrogation: The broadcasting feature. While standard examinations between the interrogator and suspect involved the former actively recording the entire process, the Dread Chamber came with a broadcast system that absorbed the results to its last detail. Put simply, it acted as an embodiment of the individual''s entire life, recorded and made accessible to all, without the individual being aware of it themselves. In other words, as long as Edris managed to get his hands on the broadcast, he''d be able to access all of Ace''s memorieswithout the latter catching on. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Edris never forgot the fact that he was still under a contract. One that required him to help Ace regain his memories. So wasn''t this the perfect opportunity? Edris was one who kept promises, but keeping a promise doesn''t conflict with satisfying his own objectives. The Dread Chamber would be the key to him gaining the upper hand in the contract. Ideally, this interrogation would give Edris a general sense of the mans origins, which he''ll keep contained until Ace exhausts his value. A day Ace didn''t regain his memories, a day he remained contract-bound to Edris and would work for him as a handy database. "We''re here." Saire''s voice echoed from the front of the line, and Edris glanced up. Before he had processed it, the view around them had changed again. The white steps under their feet vanished and were replaced with limestone tiles, and the elegant setting around them distorted into an office-like environment. The archmage led them through an extensive hallway, passing through dozens of grey doors lined up on both sides. Eventually, they turned right at a corner, taking them to what appeared as the fourth floor''s waiting space. "The Dread Chamber is just at the end, but I assume you would like to see your friend first." Saire gestured with a tilt of her head. The groups presence led three heads to lift simultaneously. Among them, the man with spiky hair was the first to speak. "Your Highness! OhProphet Edris? Beast Tamer Celio''s here too?" Faren Ablemore stared at them with bags under his eyes, jaws hung in surprise. A number of inspection rooms spread behind him, identical to those they passed by walking down the hallway. Putting up a polite smile, Edris looked across the round table, past the young mage from the Ablemores and towards the person on the other side of the window. Back straight and arms crossed, Ace sat sternly in his chair as if he was a model for some portrait artist. The gleam of the white walls reflected off his skin, blurring the distance between the two. At first glance, the man looked as ethereal as ever, but a closer look revealed his dulled eyes and paled lips. Edris squinted indiscernibly. Ace''s complexion had noticeably worsened from five days ago. Although the white-haired man wasn''t physically constrained, two mages hovered and loomed right behind him, paying attention to even his smallest movements. Edris wasn''t sure what entailed the conversation between the mages and Ace, but it was obviously enough to instigate extreme caution from the former. "I heard you''re planning to use the Dread Chamber?" "Yes, Your Highness." At the Crown Prince''s question, Faren Ablemore stood up and straightened his robe with a nod. "After conversing with this person, Ace, a sighted participant in the Slums event, the members of the Royal Brigade concluded that a more lucid account from the participant is necessary." "Just talking?" Edris asked, and Faren blinked twice. "Yes. All we did was try to ask questions." Then what caused Ace to be looking like that? "This person is Prophet Edris''s friend," Dolan explained. "As with Prophet Edris, he also contributed to saving the hundreds from the underground explosion." "He did?" Faren''s darted between the two of them, then turned toward the white-haired man with somewhat of a perplexed look. He massaged the bridge of his nose. "He hadn''t mentioned any of this or what happened at the Slums." "More like he hasn''t mentioned anything useful at all," one of the mages grumbled, dark circles also visible under his eyes. "On the first day, he would answer at least some of our questions, but after that, he stopped speaking all at once." Another mage laid out her hands with a sigh. "It''s not that we''re trying to make things difficult on purpose. But it''s hard not to be suspicious after seeing his reaction." Stopped speaking completely? Edris raised an eyebrow. Even though Ace lacked common sense, it shouldn''t be extreme to the point where he couldn''t hold a coherent conversation. Simple matters such as recounting an event or answering questions shouldn''t be a problem. Unless "But even though he played a helpful role in the Slums event, I''m afraid we still need to hold a further inspection due to the faction''s regulations. But that can''t be done without the participant''s verbal consent" Faren''s voice trailed off. "I can help with that," Edris said, a response which caused both the Crown Prince and Faren Ablemore to turn to him in surprise. Dolan gave him a careful look, asking if he was really okay with proceeding with the interrogation. Edris merely responded with a half-hearted shrug. "It''ll make things easier for everyone, no? Plus, we don''t have anything to hide." "Thank you for your understanding, Prophet Edris. Really." With prominent dark circles dragging his complexion, Faren looked like he might cry any moment from now. "No worries. I apologise for the trouble mymy friend here has caused. Ace is quite unique, and can act a bit irresponsible at times." Edris wore a rueful smile as he spoke. "I''ll try seeing what I can do." "Can you really do that?" Faren sighed. "He''s not a suspect or anything, so we can''t exactly force him into the Dread Chamber. If you could get him to cooperate with us, that would be perfect." "I can try, but I''ll need to talk with him alone first. That way, it''s easier for him to loosen up to others. You see, he''s really shy of strangers, Edris said, emphasising the latter half of his sentence. Since the glass wall separating him and Ace was one-sided and soundproof, Edris threw out all types of lies shamelessly. At his proposal, the Crown Prince ordered the mages to empty the inspection room, leaving only Ace and Edris. Even though those from the other side of the glass could still observe their actions, they could no longer discern the conversation within the room. "Ace." At his voice, the man looked up from his seat. As always, Ace''s eyes held a coldness to them, and within his dark pupils reflected Edris''s approaching silhouette. The next moment, Edris was standing right in front of the long table where he sat. "Long time no see." When he first heard about Ace''s uncooperativeness from the Crown Prince, Edris thought it was due to the man''s eccentric personality. However, he soon dismissed this initial belief after hearing the specifics from Faren Ablemore. Edris gazed toward the white-haired man with his usual, gentle smile. Unfazed by the latter''s silence, he leaned forward so his back faced the people outside the glass window. He bit into his thumb, and a bead of red formed on his skin. A strand of dark hair grazed past his cheek at his motion. Edris tucked the strands behind his ear, revealing the earring on his helix. "How are you?" He brought the same hand towards Ace, giving him a lofty pat on the shoulder. "How have you been?" Indeed, he had overlooked something. Something important. Aside from Ace''s amnesia, there was something a more fundamental reason behind the formation of their contract: Linkage. During his way here, Edris had wondered why Ace didn''t simply teleport back to the inn but instead let himself be retained in the faction for five days straight. Now that he saw the man in person like this, the answer was as clear as day: It wasn''t that Ace chose not tohe simply couldn''t. Despite his vast potential, Ace had an inherently weak affinity to mana. This was why he needed a vessel, a linking point between him and the external environment. In the beginning, Edris was the only one who could hear him, and residing in his consciousness was what allowed Ace to draw the missing mana back into his body and replenish his energy. "It''s been five days." At that moment, Edris heard a buzzing noise reverberating around him. Faint at first, growing stronger by the second, the noise wasn''t coming from around the interrogation room but from within. Five days, sixteen hours, twenty-one minutes and seven seconds. Ace''s familiar deep voice echoed in his head, and Edris''s lips curled up. 48 | I Understand, But Not Really Five minutes later, Edris strolled out of the interrogation room. The moment he stepped out, he found himself instantly surrounded by several mages at the back of the waiting space. They gazed at him with expectant, almost exasperated eyes. Among them, Faren Ablemore was the first to speak. "Did it work out?" "Of course." Edris smiled harmlessly. "We''ve had a good talk. I believe my friend is ready for verbal consent." After learning about Ace''s mana deprivation, Edris had transferred some of his own mana through the Distributor. Since he was still recovering from the overconsumption himself, Edris only allocated enough for the white-haired man to regain his speaking abilities. From there, he then kindly asked for Ace''s cooperation towards whatever measures awaited him by throwing out the terms of their contract. Naturally, Edris didn''t tell him that the "measure" awaiting him was actually an interrogation. What he did do was warn him of the potential harm if he put up a resistance. A casual warning, but still a warning. Whether Ace decided to heed his suggestion was another story, but now that Edris had notified him in advance, even if Ace resisted and became injured, he could avoid all responsibility. After all, Edris still hadn''t forgotten what the entity did during the royal banquet. A stab to the stomachhe had to return the favour somehow, right? Reeling in his thoughts, Edris watched as the mages released a wave of relieved sighs. Some even slumped onto the floor in alleviation. At their haggard states, Edris couldn''t help but mentally offer his condolences. At the Mage Faction, the interrogatory process followed a strangely self-contradictory system. Typically, interrogations that utilised the Dread Chamber were only implemented on dangerous figures whose crimes had already been confirmed. As Toren Zacriya once stated, those who do evil cannot complain when condemned by evil itself. However, the case with Ace was a bit different. Since he was only initially brought in as a witness (and later a participant) and did not perform any crimes, the mages were prohibited from forcibly proceeding with an interrogation. Ironically, consent was also an esteemed value of the Zacriya Kingdom. So in other words, they couldn''t implement the Dread Chamber without Ace''s verbal agreement to cooperate. What they didn''t know was that Ace literally could not give consent due to his mana deprivation, which had led to his inability to speak. Mages like Faren Ablemore needed to hold an official interrogation to fulfil their role but couldn''t thanks to Ace''s unresponsiveness. As a result, they''ve been under a constant state of stress for the past few days. "I''ve collected the consent!" One of the mages bolted over from the interrogation room. Edris could have sworn he saw tears flying out of his eyes. "We can now proceed with the Dread Chamber!" He had vaguely noticed it from Magnus Vyris''s words of complaints, but Zacriya''s factions followed a highly sophisticated operating structure, with rules implemented for almost every occasion. From the kingdom''s meticulous management of high-levelled mages to their precisely assigned jurisdictions, there seemed to exist an obsession with control. He could see where they were coming from. Strict regulations led to order, and order led to peace. As a kingdom with peace as its highest value, it would do anything to uphold this reputation. Understandable, but not really. Shortly after the mage''s statement, the white-haired man walked out of the interrogation room, led by two more mages at his side. The one on the right had a mop hung over his shoulders, which caused Edris to blink twice. With each step, Ace stared ahead with a cold yet unwavering gaze. His stoic eyes lingered on Edris for a short second as he passed by him, an action which the dark-haired man didn''t reciprocate. After Ace disappeared into the hallway, Edris followed the Crown Prince and Saire Harkness into the monitor room. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. A one-sided window filled the entire front wall, revealing the situation inside the Dread Chamber. On the outside, it appeared no different than any other rooms they came across earlier. White walls, white floor tiles, white everything. The entire room was glossed in a bleary glow. Even the floor lights stuck on the edge of the baseboard were white. But the presence of an unfamiliar person broke off this uniformity. From afar, the figure looked like a blot of ink, a crack in this pristine environment. Sprawled over the floor, the person''s boney limbs twisted and turned in unnatural places, and a puddle of black ink pooled beneath him, bringing about a sense of eeriness to his appearance. His unkempt, coppery hair flopped over his face, hiding away his facial features. The doors to the Dread Chamber slid open, and one of the mages entered the screen''s view. "You''ve been here long enough. It''s time to leave." The man laid unmoving for the longest time, his stiff shadow elongated by the floor lights on the wall edge. Just as Edris began to wonder if he''d died from the interrogation, the man on the floor heaved a long breath. Black, bubbling liquid flowed out of his nostriles as he did so, adding to the pond beneath him. "Okay." The man rose to an upright position and, without hurry, snapped his limbs back into place, one after another. The entire room was silent except for the explicit popping of his joints. It took some time, but the man managed to pull himself back to his feet. His hair, straggly from the apparent lack of nutrition, swung from one side to the other as he wobbled toward the front door. Through those thick strands of hair, he stared at the white-haired man by the entrance. Ace stared back. Three seconds passed in silence, and Edris finally thought that something was about to unfold between them, the ragged man withdrew his gaze. Without another word, he trudged past Ace, leaving a trail of black behind every step as he disappeared into the hallway. One of two mages escorted him along the way. "Who was that?" Edris asked. Eyes lingering at the empty front door, he then glanced at the remaining puddle of black. It was being wiped clean by the mage who''d brought a mop with him, as though he''d expected this to happen. "A black magic user," Faren said. "He doesn''t have a name, so we call him by his case number, 746. He''s supposed to be at the Healing Faction, but due to research purposes, we had him transported here." Then as if suddenly struck by a thought, he added, "Oh, but worry not. It is research done with consent. The subject has agreed to participate in our data collection, on the condition that we allow him to use the Dread Chamber." "What?" Celio gaped, looking down at the white room. "Why? Isn''t the Dread Chamber used for interrogations? He''s asking to be interrogated?" "Not exactly," Saire said. The archmage seemed to have something on her mind as she stared sidelong at the stained floor. "Since this is a replica of the Dread Chamber, it only retained the original''s memory reading feature. 746 is not here for the results, but the process." Perhaps it was the pure confusion that''d climbed onto the young beast tamer''s face, but she decided to be a kind soul and elaborate. "You''re probably aware of this, but black mana users are rejected by the world. Their existence itself denies the natural mana cycle." Providing a visual to her explanation, the archmage cupped her hands together, forming a smooth, circular curve from top to bottom. "Whereas mana normally circulates and replenishes within an individual, only filling to the size of their channel, those with an affinity to black mana are forced to endure its entire presence filling their body until they explode." Under the beast tamer''s attentive gaze, she pulled her hands away from each other, little by little, only to abruptly squeeze them into tight fists. "Then the puddle on the floor" Celio gulped. "It''s the surplus amount of black mana extruding from their body," Saire affirmed his unspoken thoughts. "Unlike normal mana, black mana knows no control. Humans with affinity to them are rare in the first place, so when a bond occurs, black mana uses the human as a medium, a vessel that must be exhausted to the last crevice." "That must be really painful." "It is. It''s unbearably painful." This time, Dolan was the one to speak. "So much that suicide is the most common ending for black mana users." "For people like 746, the Dread Chamber is an escape." Saire lowered her gaze. "When it peeks into a person''s lifetime, the oversaturation of mana in the chamber completely blocks out their senses. Your mind enters a state of dormancy without being aware of it, which is how we''re able to dig out a lifetime''s worth of memories without the person themselves noticing." "It''s because their senses are overwhelmed to the point where they can no longer distinguish between pain and numbness, dream and reality, life and death," Edris stated calmly. "How depressing." He glanced sidelong at the Dread Chamber. In the duration of their talk, the mage had completely removed the outspread mana puddle, reverting the floor to its previously immaculate state. The cleaning was done, which meant the next operation of the Dread Chamber was ready to be on its way. The mage straightened his back, wiped his forehead, and held out the mop in front of him. The cleaning tool had soaked up all the black mana, taking on a jet-black look from top to bottom. It took the mage three rounds to extract all the mana into a container. By the time he was done, his face was flushed with fatigue. Hugging the large container with both hands, the mage wobbled to the end of the room. Before heading out, he shifted his attention to the white-haired man still waiting by the entrance. "I gotta take care of this. As for youSee that spotlight at the centre?" He gestured to Ace with a slant of the chin. "All you have to do is stand beneath it, then leave the rest to Serenity''s Will." With that, the mage hurried off, leaving the white-haired man alone at the edge of the chamber. As if responding to the single presence remaining, the Dread Chamber''s snow-like walls twinkled and, one by one, shifted into a hue of blue. Above his head, a congregation of colourful threads gathered, forming aurora lights that intertwined like woven threads. Ace stood at the very rear of the mystical space. He seemed to take no notice of his transforming surroundings as he stepped into the Dread Chamber. Like an outside observer, he stood still and silent, regarding the centre of the room, toward the only patch of white remaining. He slowly closed his eyes. "Quite a pretty friend you have there," Saire commented, chin rested on her palm as she scrutinised the man behind the glass screen. Edris followed the direction of her eyes and peered at the corner of the screen. Almost simultaneously, Ace acted as if he''d detected his gaze as he lifted his head, eyes darting straight toward his direction. ...Scary. Even though he knew Ace couldn''t see him due to the one-sided window, Edris still found himself shuddering at his perceptiveness. Being mana-deprived for so long had dulled Ace''s senses considerably. Edris couldn''t help but be thankful that white-haired man wasn''t in his best condition, otherwise he''d probably recognise the Dread Chamber at first glance. The next second, Ace retracted his gaze and began walking. Every step he took seemed to brighten the room by a little. His long strides carried him to the centre one step after another, illuminating the space around him like a cascading ripple. However, the moment he took his final step into the spotlight, everything clouded over at once, and complete darkness engulfed the room. The abrupt surge of tension caused everyone to hold their breaths. No light, no sound, just waiting. The interrogation was about to begin. 49 | I Wish To Unsee The room dimmed, and the Dread Chamber interrogation commenced. At first, there was a flicker. Then sparks of colour burst from the centre of the room, forming long streaks of light that weaved all over the white-haired man. From the monitor room, Edris watched the glowing pigments spiral upwards, amalgamating with the ceiling auroras. These lights danced all around the room, illuminating the darkness. Ace looked like a sculpture, unmoving yet ethereal, as he stood upright in the centre of the room. His eyes were unfocused as they trailed onto some invisible spectre, staring off into space. Although the man appeared to be in a dazed state, he didn''t seem to be in pain; this led Edris to believe that maybe Ace had actually taken his word to heart, allowing the Dread Chamber''s intrusion into his mental space without resistance. He found the thought baffling, considering the man''s personality and how quick he was to disagree with everything Edris could possibly say. Amidst his run-on thoughts, Edris noticed a flash of red turn towards him in his peripheral vision. Dolan was looking at him with a complicated expression, lips thinned into a straight line. "Sorry about this." Edris wasn''t sure what prompted the Crown Prince''s sudden apology, but he shook his head and told him not to worry about it. "It''s the fastest and most effective way to prove his innocence, after all." He veered his attention back to the interrogation process, only to realise the light surrounding Ace had dimmed; they flickered and waned, stripping away from his presence, inviting darkness''s return. Edris watched as the white-haired man''s silhouette become buried by the gloaming shadows. As the final strand of light faded into oblivion, the glass window blurred. It took Edris a second to realise that what he thought was a one-sided window in the monitor room was actually also a full-length screen display. Thick, glowing letters emerged on the glass screen.
TARGET ANALYSIS COMPLETE. LOADING INSIGHTS NOWAccording to Saire Harknesss words from earlier, this Dread Chamber was a replica of the original in the Risk Faction. Even though it lacked some features of the original, it was nonetheless sufficient for memory analysis. This implied that Ace''s entire lifetime, down to its most minuscule details, would be soon exposed to him. Edris''s head lifted, curiosity fully piqued as he leaned forward. His eyes locked on the screen, not unblinking but immersed as they intently awaited the reveal. Long streaks of colour fluttered onto the screen in the shape of a narrow, rectangular strip. Looking closer, he could make out animated, smaller rectangles lined one after the other, seemingly extending without end. Although blurred, each strip comprised a different combination of forms and colours as they flowed downward like wooden logs in a running stream. One look at the moving figures gave away the identity of the strips on the screenthey were products of Ace''s memories. Elbows rested on the counter and hands clasped, Edris appeared just like an indifferent audience, retaining that calm countenance as he always did. It was his upturned lips that gave away his anticipation; a tilt so subtle but surely there, not quite smiling but tilting as they intend to. Let''s see who you really are, my ace card. The accumulating suspense from the loading process made each passing second feel like hours. The flowing, rectangular strips on the screen endured everyone''s gazes as they flickered and flowed, sorting out the input of memories for release. Suddenly, the extending strip halted its course of movement, allowing one single rectangular scene to fill up the entire screen. Ace''s memories started off messy, full of incoherent scenes intermixed with one another; the rustling of trees, the closeup view of a fruit cart, the erupting voices of countless strangersa rush of sensory details filled the screen, bringing about disorientation and hindering all logicality. "Huh. This shouldn''t be happening." Faren Ablemore studied the disconnected scenes with a frown. "Even though this Dread Chamber is incomplete, it never yielded such strange results." "Broken?" Celio tilted his head. "Wasn''t 746 using it earlier? He didn''t do anything to it, right?" Dolan blinked disorderly scenes compiling on top of one another. Saire shook her head. "If there were a dysfunction, the Dread Chamber wouldn''t be giving us half-assed results like this. It just wouldn''t function at all." Their remarks gave Edris an ominous feeling as he leaned by the counter, thinking. He''d already prepared himself to see Ace as a fetus in the womb, or something of similar imagery. Even if it wasn''t something so vivid, Edris assumed at least some chronology or patterns in the output. Not whatever was unfolding right now. Was it because of Ace''s amnesia? But even then, his memories still existed on an objective level. He just couldn''t actively recall them back into his consciousness. Or maybe something else was interfering with the Dread Chamber? The current mishmash of scenes prompted several speculations to surface in Edris''s mind, and none was leaving a good taste in his mouth. Ever since the crazy guy from Nest said Ace looked familiar, Edris knew that he was no ordinary amnesiac. Given the white-haired man''s strange personality, his capabilities, and not to mention, his unexpected affiliations with organisations like Nest, Edris realised that the secrets surrounding Ace were perhaps heavier and more dangerous than he could imagine. All the reason why he needed to find out about Ace''s past, so he''d know what he might be getting himself into. Few things could prompt his interest, and discovering Ace''s hidden secrets had become one of them. But with his initial expectations let down, the situation''s progression had left Edris in a nettled mood. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. It was at that moment. The patternless, obscured scenes began jittering on the spot, slowly regaining their focus. The audio of the memory outputs remained muddled, bringing the emphase to the visuals of the screen. Ace''s first memory surfaced into view. "Oh, wait. I think it''s working!" Celio exclaimed. Everyone unknowingly edged closer, eager to make sense of the first clear-cut, comprehensible scene. However, with five pairs of eyes glued onto the big screen, everyone found themselves staring at a familiar, pale face. The room dropped dead silent. At the same time, a million question marks flooded Edris''s brain as he just stood there, face blank and as stiff a statue. A whole ten seconds passed in the still room as the group studied Ace''s first fully-pieced memory. In Edris''s constricted pupils, the afterimage of the screen ran on, flickering. It felt as though his brain had suffered from a massive collision: the impact of his own face plastered, high-definition, on the screen. "" Oh, how he wished to unsee this. Different from his usual countenance, the face on the screen bore a look of pure confundity, with eyes widened, mouth hung open and all. Whats worse, Edris knew exactly when this scene occurred; it was during their investigation at the Sect, the exact moment when Ace materialised into his human form. At the time, he''d been completely taken back by the entitys transformation that his usually controlled expression flew out the window. Witnessing this unprecedented arrangement of his own facial features gave Edris an emotional impact equivalent to if Ace ever wore a truffle skirt and dyed his hair pinkno, cotton candy pink. He knew he''d been quite surprised at the time, but after seeing his actual expression delivered from Ace''s perspective... Edris abandoned the sight on the screen as he withdrew his gaze, entering a stage of denial. Beside him, Celio bore a dumbfounded expression while Dolan remained static, still processing the scenes played before him. Faren''s irises actively trembled while Saire tapped her chin, pensive about something. Edris closed his eyes with a slow, careful inhale. So this was what it meant to shoot oneself in the foot. His emotive face was a start, but definitely not the end. All memories that succeeded the first were also events that occurred at the Underground Prison Sect, played from Ace''s perspective. As a result, the dark-haired man made many, many friendly appearances. His facial expressions, hand gestures, and body movementsall of these were thoroughly mercilessly exposed on the screen. Forget about Edris himself, the people around him could only stare open-mouthed at the rolling memories. The beast tamerin particularwas utterly flabbergasted. Since the Wulin Tournament, he had been by Edris''s side almost every day and never had he seen his Master wear such... vivid expressions on his face. Different memories continued to play from the screen, and the fact they still couldn''t hear anything other than muffled audio made the visuals on their own all the more awkward. Another scene came into view, and the group watched as Ace and Edris were thrown behind the bars, taking in the sight of other cages lined around the underground chasm. The Crown Prince''s face ashened as he recognised the viscount standing before them. The screen shifted, and another memory took over. In the dank, narrow cell, the dark-haired man calmly tended the injury on his wrist. The vivid gashes of red pierced through the screen with unsettling lucidity, and both Celio and Dolan turned to him with widened eyes. Edris calmly averted their gaze. More scenes ran through the screen; from sneaking into the second floor to fighting with the viscount and the hypnotist, each event at the Sect unfolded before its viewers. After reaching the finale, where Ace and Edris teleported with over two hundred people, the screen blanked all together, leaving the room in its previous dimmed lighting. From beginning to end, this Dread Chamber replica only managed to discern Ace''s memories starting from his human form. In other words, it only gave Edris a replay of the information he''d already knew. He unclasped his hands and exhaled. Peaceful thoughts, Edris. Peace... Another wave of silence ensued. Luckily, this one didn''t last long as the archmage from the Harkness family opened her mouth. "SoWhat kind of relationship do you have with your friend?" "" Faren''s eyes bulged at her question while Dolan attempted to cover up his surprise with a cough. Celio''s round eyes darted from side to side, obviously perplexed. "Lady Harkness, you just said itfriends." "Indeed." Edris nodded agreeably. Every part of his face was pieced into a gentle countenance, without a trace of his internal humiliation. "But if you want a more precise relationship, I''d say contract-bound companions?" He smiled shamelessly. "After all, Ace is my spirling." From the corner of his eye, he saw the young beast tamer''s mouth drop open. With things having developed to their current state, Edris was done for the day. Through the Dread Chamber, he thought he''d get somewhat of an omniscient point of view, or even just a simple, clear exposition of Ace''s past. Unfortunately, the world seemed never to follow his wishes. Instead of benefits that would allow him to better take advantage of the entity, all he received in return was a recount of their trip to the Sect from a first-person perspective, as well as a lifetime''s worth of embarrassment from his face featured on the big screen. Great. Simply wonderful. The archmage seemed to take his lie with no particular reaction as she retained a thoughtful expression. "Is that so" "It is." Edris then turned toward Faren Ablemore. "As I''ve mentioned before, does this clear things up for the faction now?" It took the mage a few seconds to process his words, and a prompt nod came from his head when he did. "Yes. Yes, it did. Thank you, Prophet Edris." He gestured to the mages outside. "The witness is cleared of suspicions. He is free for release." The next moment, the Dread Chamber regained its initial brightness, returning to the appearance of a standard interrogation room. The screen barrier between the monitor room and the chamber disintegrated, clearing the view from both sides. In the centre of the room stood the white-haired man. Upon hearing the commotion, he turned his head sideways and met Edris''s eyes. Even though the wall between them had faded and they stood only a few meters away, neither took the step forward, and the stares prolonged. The white-haired man looked pensive, a little preoccupied, as though he had something to say. However, he remained silent, only continuing to stare at Edris sternly until his eyes grew bleary. Edris watched as the white-haired man stumbled forward, collapsing onto a wheeled bed that had been timely pushed in front of him. The mage from earlier, the one with the magical mop, calmly meddled with the man''s limbs until they were in a comfortable position, laying nicely on the bed. The movement were performed in a ceaseless stream, as if coming straight from muscle memories. Noticing Edris''s incoming gaze, the mage gave him a polite nod. "This is a normal reaction from everyone who undergoes the Dread Chamber," Saire said, coming up beside him. "Since your friend didn''t seem to have resisted the interrogation, the after-effects shouldn''t be too severe. He''ll wake up soon." Edris politely thanked the archmage for her explanation and strolled over to the bed, the beast tamer trickling after him. Gaze briefly skimming past the unconscious Ace, he rested his hand on the handles and turned towards the rest of the group. "If you''ll excuse us, we will be on our way." Now that Ace was proven innocent and there was nothing more he could gain from the interrogation, Edris saw no point in further wasting his time. All he wanted to do right now was head back to Mosky Inn and down an entire cup of sweet, creamy milk into his stomach. After that, he''d relax in a nice, warm bath. Although unable to physically feel the heat, he needed the mental comfort for everything he''d been through today. Edris silently affirmed his plans with a nod. *** Three minutes later, Edris found his plans drained into the void as he stared blankly at the unfamiliar woman in front of him. The moment he stepped out of the monitor room, hed noticed something was off. A new group of people sat by the round table in the fourth-floor lobby space, turning simultaneously at his appearance. Among them, a woman instantly shot up and strode towards him. The loose bun on her head bobbed up and down, and her armours clattered with every step. Even though the woman was barely at Edris''s shoulders, the aura emanating from her was enough to paint a menacing presence upon everyone in the room. As her eyes set on the dark-haired man, Edris immediately stepped back with a sense of foreboding. Behind him, Dolan Zacriya stepped out to the side. A crease formed on his forehead as he noticed the unexpected visitor. "Commander Poet?" He blinked. "What brings you here?" 50 | I Dont Mind Living Up To Them Commander Poetyet another prominent figure in the Zacriya Kingdom. She was the leader of the Zacriya Kingdom''s Expedition Army, Royal Mage Brigade, and the only person in the kingdom to pursue both the swordsmen and mage pathway. With an expressionless face, Edris glanced at the white-haired man, lying unconscious on the bed beside him. The trouble this man had brought upon him Commander Poet took a step towards Dolan Zacriya, who watched as she lowered to one knee and pressed her right hand to her heart in a formal address. "Greetings, Your Highness. I have just returned from my mission in the western territory and am here to report the results." Giving Edris a side glance from her lowered head, she continued, "The brigade and Expedition Army, along with the Duke of the Vyris''s people, have established five gemstone mines in the outskirts of the territory." "I''m glad to hear it," Dolan said. "But it''s sufficient just to report these matters to the Resource Faction. What brings you here?" "I heard about the situation at the Slums during the expedition, and its details further upon my return." Commander Poet''s sharp gaze fixed on the dark-haired man beside him. "Your Highness, this person is dangerous." Dolan arched an eyebrow. "You mean Edris? In that case, perhaps you''ve been misinformed" "No, I know who he is: the Fallen Prophet. He''s suspected of using dark magic. Hypnosis, even." The Commander shook her head. She squinted at the dark-haired man, who simply stood there enduring her scrutiny. "Your Highness, I''m unsure of your relationship with this man, but please keep an impartial judgement towards this situation." "Actually, I can confirm that the young man over here is not a dark magic user. Take it from an archmage," Saire butted in, her monocle glinting as she glimpsed at Edris. "But I do agree that there''s something quite peculiar about the pretty one beside him." "Master''s spirling?" Celio blinked. "Too naive, beast tamer boy. He is no spirling." Saire laughed, and Edris casually averted his eyes. "At least on my end, this archmage has never met a spirling capable of taking the form of a human." At his professor''s remark, Dolan sighed inaudibly. He also knew spirlings couldn''t take on human forms, but he''d planned to leave the matter as it was after witnessing the memory footage of the Sect. After all, Edris had helped him out tremendously with several of the kingdom''s affairs. As long as he didn''t harm the kingdom and its people, Dolan wasn''t the type to fuss over minor details. However, now that Saire Harkness had straight up exposed the matter, he could no longer do so. "Your Highness." Upon hearing Saire Harkness''s words, Commander Poet spun towards him. "You were planning to let someone as suspicious as him go?" Eyes narrowed, she got a vertical wrinkle between her brows as her gaze locked onto him. Dolan broke off the eye contact with an awkward cough. "Not necessarily" What a situation, he thought. He was aware of Commander Poet''s adamant nature. As the central figure of his mage brigade, she was a reliable, sometimes obstinate, leader who always stuck by the rules and enforced strict morals on both herself and her subordinates. Only five years older than himself, Poet grew up with him in the palace as his and Treo''s training companion. Even back then, she''d kept a sharp boundary between personal feelings and duty. Dolan would never forget when she''d beat him and his brother to a pulp every combat class but fall onto her knees once the class finished, begging for their forgiveness. Young Dolan had found her actions unfathomable. If it were anyone else, they''d definitely tank the match against him. After all, Dolan was the Prince of Zacriya; it would to them no good to fall on bad terms with him just because of a sparring class. However, Poet never held back. Not even once. Even though she was scared to death of being punished, she stuck to the match''s rules and gave it her all every single time. His brother, Treo Zacriya, once asked her the reason behind her persistence. Compared to Dolan, his brother was much more delicate and often sustained even worse injuries than he did. However, no hint of anger or humiliation was in his tone as he inquired, the curious sparkle in his gaze brightening his face full of bruises. At the time, Poet had responded with the word "duty." The purpose of a sparring class was to mimic real-life situations. If there ever came a day when Dolan found himself amidst a hostile situation, his enemies wouldn''t stop halfway and go, "Oh! Since your title is the Second Prince of Zacriya, I''ll go easy on you!" Heck, he''d probably get killed on the spot with that mindset. Naturally, they had no reason to punish her for her actions. And so, every match would end with Poet in tears and the Zacriya brothers in bruises. The former would beg for forgiveness and the latter would forgive, then get beaten to pulps again the very next class. Shaking away his thoughts, Dolan tuned his focus back to the current situation. Commander Poet stood well-postured, bearing the same adamant expression from years ago. He sighed. She really did not change. Poet''s stubbornness appeared excessive at times, but it could easily be overlooked with her loyalty and competence. After all, these traits were what gained her even the King''s recommendation, propelling her to the Commander''s position. However, dismissal doesn''t imply nonexistence. Her headstrong personality was nonetheless problematic, and it could lead them to many, many unnecessary hassles. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. For exampleright now. "I understand your hesitancy, Your Highness. My men have reported to me that over two hundred people were saved from the Slums'' explosion," Poet said, directing her voice at the dark-haired man at the edge of her vision. "I heard you did it." Seeing her statement was not denied, she continued, "Although I appreciate your actions, it''s a different story with the white-haired man beside you." "You must have misunderstood something, Commander." Edris smiled. "This person over here is my friend. He was with me the entirety of the investigation." "Edris is right," Dolan piped in amicably. "We just ran the Dread Chamber on him. Starting from the Sect investigation, he''s been helping Edris out, especially in combat." "And before it? The Dread Chamber is supposed to reveal the user''s entire life," Commander Poet said. "The Fallen Prophet had entered the Slums due to His Highness''s request, but how about him? There are too many questionable things about him. A background check is only necessary." Just as she finished her sentence, a rustle sounded from the wheeled bed behind the dark-haired prophet. Edris stiffened, but his action went unnoticed as the Commander''s eyes flickered past him, landing on the person on the bed. The rest of the group looked over as well. On the bed, the white-haired man laid dormant, his long lashes protruding from his closed eyes. "We couldn''t get a clear view of his memories before the Sect, but I think it''s going too far to suspect him simply because of that." Dolan sighed. "That only makes it all the more dubious. Why is it the memories become clear exactly in the Sect? We can''t rule out the possibility that his memories were manipulated so that if he ever became suspected, he could clear his name." The Commander was obviously not buying his explanation as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "That''s" "It''s entirely conceivable. The Awakeneds were reported to be hypnotised, Your Highness. It''s possible that this man himself was a victim of the spell. A puppet for the puppeteer. Even more, both he and the Fallen Prophet may have partaken in the entire scheme." "Master did no such thing." Celio stepped forward. "After saving all those people, he even fell ill for five whole days." "That''s right, Poet. I don''t see a need to look too deep into this." As Dolan said that, he peeked at his professor in an attempt to request help. Unfortunately, Saire Harkness completely disregarded his action as she leisurely leaned her back by the counter. From her looks of amusement, Dolan wouldn''t be surprised if she pulled out snacks from her pockets the next second. "Professor!" he whispered. "What? I can''t even watch the banter in peace?" Saire rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I''ve got things to take care of anyways, so I''ll be off. I''m not too worried with Quine here, but don''t go overboard, alright?" "I bid you farewell, Lady Harkness." Commander Poet took a pause in her indictments. She stepped back and gave her a polite bow. "Have fun." With a sloppy wave of her arm, the archmage spun around and made her way to the stairs. Dolan watched in exasperation as her merciless back faded into the distance. Shaking his head, he forced his attention back to the trouble at hand. Now that Saire Harkness was gone, Commander Poet turned back, studying the young beast tamer with an uncompromising gaze. The latter, although taken back, kept steady. Poet looked toward Dolan with a disappointed sigh. "I hope you know, Your Highness, that the Mage Faction is only open to designated individuals, yet you have brought these people here. Forgive my words, but as the Crown Prince, the future leader of this kingdom, have you not considered the aftermaths of your actions?" "Poet, you''re really" Dolan let out a weary sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose. Everyone had certain types of people they found difficult to deal with, and he was no exception. From the experience he gained partaking in countless social situations as the Crown Prince, he''d learned to steer away from two kinds of people: The first kind was those with a strong sense of self. These people possessed goal-oriented, pillar-like mentalities and acted upon their morals basically on instinct. When interacting with them, forget about reaching a compromise, even persuading them to alter their stance by the tiniest bit was equivalent to climbing Mount Echo with bare feetno, with no feet. Commander Poet belonged in this category. With her personality, once she decided on something, she would see it to its end no matter what. Seeing that she was dead set on Edris''s companion being suspicious, she would do anything to dig out the truth, whether it proves or disproves her speculations. The second was those similar to himself. Dolan reached up to massage his temples. Coincidentally, both types of people were currently present. Although the traveller had been so far accommodating with their requests, perhaps adhering to his self-proclamation as a "seeker of peace," how long would his patience last? Dolan couldn''t help but feel that it''d be unwise to push further, but he knew Commander Poet had no intention of backing down any time soon. In other words, the situation had reached a stalemate. At that moment, Edris, quietly listening to their entire conversation, stepped forward. "Now, now. Let''s not get riled up here." He laughed half-heartedly. "Commander, I''m not sure where all the hostility is coming from, but I thought someone as distinguished as yourself would know to take rumours with a grain of salt." He turned to the woman with a smile. "It''s common sense, after all." "Rumours cannot form without some level of correspondence to the truth," Poet said simply. "Then how do you suggest we go about this?" Despite the dark-haired man''s calm response, uneasiness tugged at Dolan''s chest. Edris was like a bottomless, ancient well. Behind that selfless, gentle smile, Dolan found it difficult to truly discern the truth of anything he said. Although Edris was still smiling, there was an additional layer of foreignness to it that he couldn''t quite pin his finger on. Poet held no specific reaction to Edris''s capitulation. She turned towards the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, I propose we take the suspect to the Risk Faction for further, more thorough investigations." "That''s going too far." Dolan frowned. The Risk Faction was where the original Dread Chamber was kept, but it was also home to many other interrogation devices made exclusively for criminal investigations. People sent to this faction were all evil-doers with triable crimes. The Risk Faction was the ultimate punishment site. Even if a person were innocent, they would definitely be treated as guilty upon arrival. "No can do." Edris''s clear voice resonated in the waiting space, and everyone turned toward him. The dark-haired traveller kept a calm countenance, but his gaze was now as cold as ice. At that moment, Dolan thought that whatever was holding the traveller back during this conversation had finally snapped. Even though it was his first time seeing this side of him, Dolan knew what Edris was feeling right now: Anger. "Commander, I don''t know why you''re so adamant about adjudging my friend a criminal, but I recommend you give up the thought." He didn''t bother waiting for a reply and continued. "First hypnosis, then dark magic. You seem awfully invested in the stories about me. Especially the not-so-friendly ones" He stepped forward. His eyes narrowed as they skimmed the people in the room, at last landing on the woman in front of him. "If this continues, I don''t mind living up to them." 51 | I Have Limited Patience "If this continues, I don''t mind living up to them." The Commander tensed at his words, eyeing him with caution. For a moment, neither of them said a word. Just as everyone thought the situation would erupt into something worse, the dark-haired man stepped back, a harmless smile returning onto his face. "I''m kidding, of course. Did I scare you?" Naturally, he wasn''t capable of hypnosis or dark magic. Nor whatever rumours the Commander had been hearing throughout the capital. He was just spewing out nonsense for the fun of it. The reason? Despite his gentle smile, Edris was currently in a foul mood. The first thing he experienced waking up was the bombardment of information from royalties. Without a break, he then hurried all the way here to retrieve his burden-of-a-database, only to fall victim to first-hand embarrassment from an interrogation that wasn''t even meant for him. As if all this wasn''t enough, even a simple bath had been reduced to wishful thinking as he found himself listening to the ramblings of the woman before him. Edris smiled like a saint. "I have limited patience, Commander. I''d appreciate it if you''d showcase your stubbornness elsewhere." While he could lose control of his powers" again like he did back at Duke Orteon''s Manor, it''d be a dumb move in the current situation and only add on to his suspicions. Dolan Zacriya was a useful card he''d prefer to keep at hand, one he needed to increase his control overnot throw to waste. Though Commander Poet was getting on his nerves, she was also a card he could manipulate to achieve this goal. "Stubbornness?" She stared at him, an irked tick on her face. "And what would a foreigner like you know about me?" Edris gave a passive shrug. If he took a hundred steps back and evaluated the situation from an outsider''s perspective, he could understand where the Commander was coming from. With his entire background a mystery, Ace was a reasonable target of suspicion. Commander Poet was simply following the protocols and holding account for the kingdom''s well-being. Indeed, her actions were understandable. Too bad he didn''t care. "Oh! He''s awake!" Faren''s voice interrupted the two, and all eyes fixed on the bed behind them Edris whirled around, and the first thing he saw was Ace''s piercing dark eyes boring straight into him, threatening to penetrate right through his soul. It was then Edris knewhe''d heard them. When Quine Poet voiced her suspicions about Ace''s background, she''d exposed the true intentions of the Dread Chamber. Edris had told Ace that it was a simple inspection, not a full-scaled interrogation. Confronted with Ace''s narrowed eyes, Edris lamented inwardly before arranging his face into a shameless smile. "Well, if he''s awake, I can ask a few questions, right?" Watching as the white-haired man rise from the bed, Commander Poet marched his way, crossing her arms as she stood before him. "What is your name?" she asked. No response. The white-haired man sat in a upright posture, gaze forward, hands in lap. At a glance, he looked like a soldier awaiting instructions. Despite the Commander right in front of him, he didn''t even bother meeting her eyes as he peered into the distancetowards the exact location where Edris was standing. "His name is Ace," Edris said, laying out his hands in a helpless manner. "He''s quite shy, so I don''t think you''ll be getting what you want, Commander." "I did not ask you," Poet said coldly. She took another step forward and pressed a hand to his shoulder. It was then Ace finally met her eyes. "I hope you know, Ace. You are currently on the land of the Zacriya Kingdom, and you are currently one of our primary targets of the investigation for the incidents occurring in the capital. I ask that you cooperate with us." Her grip on his shoulder tightened as she emphasised the last part of her sentence, but the man posed no reaction to this threat. "I take it that you must be a foreigner as well. A foreigner who does not know the rules around here, or who is talking to you." She gazed down at him. "Do you know who I am? Or should I introduce myself to you as well?" "Quine Poet. Female. Aged thirty. Current Commander of Zacriya''s Royal Mage Brigade." Commander Poet''s eyes widened, and so did everyone else in the room. Her question seemed to have flipped some sort of switch in the white-haired man''s head as he rose from the bed. While standing, the Commander barely reached his chest as Ace towered over her. Ace''s gaze fixed on the woman in front of him, then on the dark-haired man in the distance. The next second, a deep, ocean-like voice reverberated throughout the room. "Officially registered as an Awakened at the age of three and, at the four years and seven months, entered Nolmes Academy as the third youngest Awakened in its academic history. Her mother passed away at her birth. Her father currently works as a researcher at the Resource Faction." Ace''s face bore no emotions as the Commander''s shock reflected in his motionless pupils. He just kept talking. "Joined the Expedition Army at twenty-one, the Royal Mage Brigade at twenty-six. Successfully completed one hundred and twenty excursions to date. "Favourite place to visit in Nolmes is Romeo''s Cafe; favourite drink is strawberry smoothie; favourite colour is pink; favourite food is" From achievements to hobbies, down to her most ordered drink in the pub, Ace listened out one fact after another with utmost apathy in his tone. He took no notice of the surrounding looks of bafflement as he continued down the list. At that moment, Edris considered paying the 50 000 gold yones contract fee so he could leave the white-haired man behind at oncefor the sake of his well-being. Ace was definitely doing this on purpose. Frankly speaking, all the information the man spoke of was nothing unheard of. Most were records collected from previous interviews, newspapers or achievement folders in the library. Anyone could probably find them if they tried looking. However Edris watched as the Commander, Quine Poet, stood numbly on the spot. Her eyes were as still as the rest of her face; they stared ahead, aghast as she took in the recount about her entire life that poured out of Ace''s mouth. He couldn''t blame her for the reaction. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The facts Ace brought up were nothing newit was the way he blurted out everything unhesitantly, matter-of-factly. In her current eyes, nothing about this man could be considered "normal," especially as someone who was supposed to be unconscious mere minutes ago. From their interactions over the months, Edris had come to see Ace as more of a verbal database than an emotional human being. He was used to hearing Ace''s monotonous splurges in his head, but the Commander obviously was not. "That''s enough." He tapped his back, stopping the white-haired man just as he was about to move on to Quine Poet''s love life. Despite his increasing annoyance, he kept his face calm and tone friendly. "It appears my friend has woken up. We''ll be taking our leave." Commander Poet was still frozen on the spot, but a rush of heat had spread across her freckled face, contorted with a mixture of shock and humiliation. If he stayed, Edris had a feeling she would either burst out in tears or stab them to death. One or the other, no in-between. "W-wait, Edris. Your friend over there" The Crown Prince stared at him dumbly, still in a trance. "Please don''t mind Ace''s words just now. He acts a bit strange, but he''s an avid fan of the Royal Mage Brigade. Especially our Commander over there," Edris said without blinking. "He happens to have quite good memory, so he remembered a lot of facts about her from previous newspapers and interviews." Dolan drew his head back with scrunched brows, unconvinced but impressed. Unconvinced by his flimsy lies; impressed by the unabashed earnestness in his gaze as he spewed out those lies. "That''s straight up ridiculous!" Commander Poet, having snapped out of her state of shock, glared straight at Edris. "You expect me to believe this after all he just said about me?" "But Commander" Edris turned to her, shoulders lifted in a shrug. "It was you who asked the question. My friend simply answered what he knew." He tilted his head innocently. "Or are you behaving in such a manner because you''ve never met someone who likes you?" The Commander stood there, wide-eyed and flushed from head to ears. "No way." Edris blinked. "Really?" She opened her mouth to speak again, but no words came out. So instead, she reached into the bag at her waist and pulled out two pairs of mana shackles. "Hold on, hold on. Poet, let''s calm down here!" The Crown Prince hurriedly moved in front of her, holding both arms out as he slid into her view. Faren Ablemore also tagged along from behind, ready to support. "Don''t tell me you''re defending them after all this." Slamming the shackles onto the ground, the Commander spun around and faced the wall, trying to cool down. After three seconds, she turned back. Her narrowed eyes locked onto the white-haired man, and Ace held her gaze with indifference. The tension in the waiting space was palpable. The Commander and her subordinates stood on one side while Edris''s group mirrored her on the other. Moving frantically between the two were the Crown Prince and Faren Ablemore, the latter almost entering a breakdown. Although Edris didn''t plan to aggravate the situation, Commander Poet was too riled up for her own good. And frankly, his fuse was also feeling short from all the accounts of today''s annoyances. Another three seconds passed in silence, broken as Commander Poet took an aggressive step forward. Almost simultaneously, a cough echoed throughout the room. At first, it was soft and subtle, even repressed, but it soon escalated to a whole coughing fit. The suspense crumpled as pairs of eyes shifted toward the source of the sound. Edris bent over, hiding his face which had grown rosy from the rush of blood flow. He turned his back to the group and pressed a palm against Ace''s bed railings to steady himself. The cool light from the ceilings reflected off his pale skin. Only then did the group realise just how awful the man currently looked. "Master! Are you alright?" Celio immediately supported Edris from the other side, and the latter inwardly cheered at his prompt reaction. He waved a weary hand in reassurance and gave him a nod. "I''m alright. Just a bit tired." "You don''t look okay. I''m sorry, I should''ve known you''re still recovering from the Slums." Dolan glanced downwards, guilt eating at his expression. "Your Highness. You''ve said earlier that you would fulfil a request of mine," Edris said. "That''s right." "Does the offer still stand?" "Of course. Anything within my power." "Do you trust me, Your Highness?" "...I suppose I do." Dolan blinked, not knowing where he was going with this conversation. Edris gave a sidelong glance at Ace, then shifted his attention back to the Crown Prince. "Additional interrogations are unnecessary. My friend is not involved in any of the incidents in the capital, nor has he done any harm to the kingdom. I understand where your suspicions are coming from. I know the results of the Dread Chamber may have raised some questions, and the things he said about the Commander, too" Edris sighed softly. "My friend, Ace He has a special place in my heart. He''s quite important to me, you see. I''d hate to see him injured in any way, and from what I hear about the Risk Faction, harm is exactly what awaits him there." He shook his head, too slowly to be dismissive. His words lingered when he spoke, each released only after careful consideration. At the same time, there''s a certain authenticity to his gaze, dimmed but still lucent. Dolan''s lips parted at yet another side of Edris that he was seeing for the first time. His expression was shared by Celio, who grew teary-eyed throughout his entire speech. The mages glanced at one another, at a loss after hearing the traveller''s sentimental words. Despite the difficult situation, the genuineness in his voice as he cared for his friend wasn''t something they could just ignore. At this thought, everyone in the room fell silent, reflecting upon his words. Everyone except Ace, of course. Edris didn''t need to turn around to know that a look of disgust was probably on his face right now. Suppressing a smile, he continued. "My friend has a peculiar way of communicating, I admit, but he is not a threat to the kingdom. Not now, not in the future. I ask that you don''t dig any further. About me or the people around me. "Your Highness, my only request is to be left alone. Will you heed this traveller''s request?" "...You didn''t have to use the request for something like this." Dolan looked at him with a complicated expression. "But alright. I will take your word and not pursue the matter further. We''ll still need to investigate the incidents further, but it won''t be towards you, or your friends." The traveller released what sounded like a sigh of relief at his words. "Thank you, Your Highness." "Do you really trust what he says?" Commander Poet turned to Dolan, gaze complicated. "I do." "Your Highness!" "Poet." Dolan interrupted her, voice lowered. "Who are you speaking to right now?" "...The Crown Prince of Zacriya, Your Highness." "Exactly. As the Crown Prince of Zacriya, I promised Sir Edris to fulfil any wish of his liking as thanks for his deeds to the kingdom." Dolan narrowed his eyes. "Do you wish for the future heir of the throne to be one who goes back on his words?" "..." "In any case, we will be on our way." Slipped past the two, Edris then turned his head sideways, sweeping past the Commander with a frigid gaze. "The Zacriya Kingdom''s hospitality. It''s quite something, isn''t it?" Ignoring Quine Poet''s penetrating scrutiny, Edris turned to the Crown Prince with a slight bow. Celio mimicked the action. Ace remained upright. His stoic stare lingered on the two for another moment before retracting. Perhaps it was because of what Edris said, but Dolan Zacriya had a pained expression as he lowered his gaze, lips pursed into a line. Just as Edris was a foot out the door, he whirled around at once and, with a downward tilt of his chin, offered the Crown Prince a gentle smile. "Farewell, Your Highness." *** Compared to their trip up the tower, Edris''s walk down was almost instantaneous. Celio clung to his arm for the entirety, as if without it, the man would feebly collapse onto the ground. Edris didn''t stop him. He was too tired to care. Ace remained silent the entire way down. Even with his back straight and his strides assertive, there was a rare aloofness to his gaze, which Edris attributed to the aftermath of the Dread Chamber. "Hey." It wasn''t until they stepped out of the tower''s front doors and over the arch bridge that the white-haired man called Edris to a stop. The latter spun around and tilted his head. Ace stared at him with deep eyes. His voice was low and composed as usualutterly unbefitting the next words coming out of his mouth. "Edris," he said. "I remembered." 52 | I Dislike Them By the time Edris left the faction, it was already dusk. Under the tinted sky, the Mage Faction rose as a mountain, stretching towards the setting sun. He gave the tower one last glimpse, then turned away. "Hey." Ace''s deep voice echoed from behind, and Edris turned around. "Edris." The man stared at him with deep, obsidian eyes. "I remembered." Edris fell silent, his mind entering a blank. Perhaps assuming he''d misheard him, Ace spoke again. "After getting out of the room, a memory came back to me." "A memory?" Edris keenly caught the essence of his phrase. "What is it?" "My name." Ace breathed, casting his gaze to the sky above as a light breeze blew past them. "It''s 004." Silence dawned upon them. "...004? Numbers?" "Correct." Edris didn''t know how to feel about the situation. Despite his internal confusion, his expression remained passive as he peered at the white-haired man. "That''s all you remember? Just your previous name?" "Correct." Ace''s face held no emotions to them as he recited his newly gained memory, as though it had nothing to do with himself and was only another piece of impartial statement. It didn''t take long for Edris to come to terms with his words. He didn''t ask Ace for the specifics, nor did he pose any particular reactions. On the side, Celio''s round eyes darted back and forth between the two men, puzzlement written all over his face. After a few seconds, Edris turned his body so that his back was to Ace, his face to the glimmering sun at dusk. "Ace sounds better." Despite the Slums explosion five days ago, the streets of Nolmes quickly returned to their usual, everyday peacefulness. For most citizens, the incident was just another event to gossip about, another section of the daily newspaper. Children chased pigeons around the fountains while their parents sat and chatted with one another. On Lennet Street, people hovered and lined around restaurants, hitting the supper rush hours. Edris, Ace, and Celio were all in robes, so they could move around freely without fearing being recognised by other citizens. The way back to Mosky Inn was quiet, but not stale. Countless microexpressions rotated on Celio''s as he trudged along. He couldn''t stop staring at the white-haired man, who returned the action every now and then, just for the sake of it. Edris walked between them, feigning ignorance of the staring contest between the two. "Master." Celio swallowed, his wide eyes still fixed on Ace. "Is he really the spirling that was with us? The cute and fluffy pink thing?" His mind flashed back to the fist-sized fluff ball that always stayed in Edris''s pocket, comparing it with the daunting white-haired man currently walking beside them. Celio thought back to all the times he squished his cotton-like body or called him cute He shuddered on the spot. The contrast was too much for the seventeen-year-old to handle, and Celio could feel his head began to spin. It felt even worse than when he threw up on the Crown Prince back at the Slums. Ace gave the beast tamer a look, and the latter instantly turned away with a jolt. Edris shook his head, smiling. "Not sure about the spirling part, but the pink, fluffy thing with us? Indeed he was." Celio scratched his head, shivering once more. He looked as if he wanted to say something further, but a shadow passed his eyes as they stared off into the crowd. Celio scrunched his nose. "Celio?" Edris waved a hand his way. "Ah. It''s nothing." The beast tamer cleared his throat. He looked at Edris with a grin. "Master, are you hungry? We''re almost at the inn, and there''re some really nice bakery spots around here. Shall I go and buy something for us?" "There''s a pub first floor," Ace said plainly. "Ah, but that''s" "I guess some pastries would be nice." Edris smiled at the beast tamer. "I''ll leave it to you, Celio. We''ll meet back at the inn." "Sounds good!" Celio grinned. "I''ll be back soon with a lot of sweets!" Watching as the young boy faded into the crowd, Edris turned to Ace. "You knew that he was trying to make an excuse to leave, yet you intentionally gave him a hard time." He eyed him with amusement. "Is it because he called you ''cute''? "Fuck off." Ace continued walking, and Edris let out a small laugh. Even with the thick coat and hood hovered over him, Ace''s inherent intimidation continued to ooze outwards. He was tall and postured, taking each stride as if he was the only person in town. Several curious looks were thrown at him along the way, but the man didn''t notice them at all. Beside him, Edris strolled along lazily. He shoved his hands in the cloak pockets and stared down the street. "So, what are your plans now?" "I''m going to find Nest." At his response, Edris gave a knowing smile. Back at the Underground Prison Sect, they had met a man who introduced himself as Robin, a member of Nest. Robin didn''t specify at the time, but he had acted as if he knew something about Ace. "The Crown Prince said they were affiliated with the Adalan Kingdom," Edris said. "Then I''m going to Adalan." "What a coincidence, me too." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Ace cast a sceptical glance at his words. Edris blinked innocently. "I thought you wanted to buy a house here," Ace said. "I do, but not now. I''ve had enough for this kingdom for now." He gave a nonchalant shrug, then snickered. "The Crown Prince must be overwhelmed by guilt at the moment. The person who helped the kingdom with all these things had to resort to a personal request just to be left alone. Hopefully, that''ll give him an insight into some fundamental issues with this kingdom." "So you''re just going to leave like this?" "Why not?" He turned towards him with eyes casual but unwavering, glinting under the night sky. "I am a traveller, after all." Like everywhere else he''s been to, Nolmes ended up only a stop, not a destination. They traversed the rest of the way in silence. After several minutes of walking, a familiar sign entered their vision. In the distance was Mosky Inn, its familiar vibrancy brimming through the entrance, intermingling with a cacophony of voices loud enough to reach all the way here. Dinner time was always the peak for customers. "Oh, but don''t get the wrong idea. I''m not helping you out for free. We''re still under a contract, and as long as it''s still effective, we must help each other. Unless you want to breach our contract. Fifty thousand gold yones, don''t forget." Edris smiled, and before Ace could throw out an insult, he patted a firm hand on his shoulder. "So what do you say, travel buddy?" "Under one condition." "Hm?" Ace brushed Edris''s hand off his shoulder. "If you learn anything about my memories, you must tell me the first chance you get. You cannot hide anything from me. You cannot lie to me like you did today." "Pft." Edris covered the lower half of his face with his hand, stifling a laugh. He hunched over, shoulders shaking for a few seconds before shooting back up. "Of course," he replied solemnly, ignoring Ace''s unamused stare. "Listen, I lied to you this time because I was also unsure whether they''ll really end up finding your memories. That archmage, Saire Harkness, told me that the Dread Chamber was a replica and that it lacked many features of the original. "I didn''t want to raise your hopes, then dump ice water over your head. Seewe ended up getting no results after all, am I right?" Edris sighed. "I was trying to be considerate on your behalf, but you only see my actions as intentional deceit?" "Yes," Ace replied without hesitation. "" "I feel wronged and misunderstood, Ace." Edris stepped back, staring at him as though grievously wounded. "Fine. From now on, I''ll tell you everything, down to the smallest inkling of possibilities. Don''t come to me crying if you end up being disappointed!" "Write it on the contract." Ace crossed his arms, unfazed by his provocation. "" "Is this how you see our relationship? After all we''ve been through, we''re still just two parties bound by a piece of paper?" Edris shook his head dismissively. "In all fairness, then, I''m going to add a condition too." Ace arched an eyebrow. "Ace may not do anything that will intentionally put Edris in danger," he declared. "Don''t think I forgot about your teleportation shenanigans at the Dolan Zacriya''s banquet. You almost killed me." "But you survived." "I was stabbed, Ace." "But you lived." "What if I didn''t?" "I like to assume first that you would." Throwing out protests under his breath, Edris yanked out the piece of paper from his Spatial Pouch. Spreading it on a nearby bench, he scribbled down the new conditions and signed his name. He tossed the contract to Ace, who studied the content intently before writing down his own name. "Happy now?" Edris clicked his tongue and shoved the paper back into his bag. He spun his head towards Ace, only to realise that the man''s eyes had flickered past him, towards the space behind his shoulders. Following the direction of his gaze, Edris found himself staring down at a young girl with a bob cut. "Mister Edris," the girl said. Edris blinked twice. "And you are?" "I''m Darcie''s sister. My name is Doris." She glanced up at him with her round, brown eyes. "You saved us from that dark underground place." A few memories flashed in Edris''s head at her words, and he nodded in epiphany. "How is your sister?" When Viscount Eathe activated the Plunge, Darcie was the first victim. Edris didn''t know how long she had been stuck to the artifact, but by the looks from when he rescued her, she had sustained some severe injuries. "Darcie''sAlive. She''s no longer an Awakened. The incident hurt her physically and mentally, so she''s recovering at the Healing Faction right now. People from there said most of her mana was sucked out, and her mana channel was damaged permanently." As she explained everything, the girl kept calm, speaking as though she was recounting a distant story. "They said she would have definitely died if you didn''t use the potions." She then entered a deep bow. "I know that the potions are expensive. I don''t have the money right now, but I will pay you back everything eventually. Meanwhile, if you have any requests for me, I''ll do it." "Hey, how old are you?" At Edris''s unexpected question, Doris lifted her head. "I just turned seven." As if struck by a thought, she quickly added, "But I can do many things. Darcie and Gran always said I''m way more composed than kids my age." "But you''re only seven. You''re not even old enough to work." The legal working age in the Zacriya Kingdom was thirteen-years-old. Fifteen years for full-time, one year before adulthood. Of course, these laws only applied to the civilised, prosperous areas of the kingdom. In places like the Slums, every person was to themselves from the moment of birth. "I" Her voice trailed off, and the girl stared at her feet. "Kids." Edris shook her head, watching her flinch as he did so. "Really not fond of kids." Beside him, Ace let out a scoff. "Is that why you''re so lenient towards them?" "Yes," Edris said, a bit softer than usual. "Because I dislike them." At the same time, someone called out to them. Edris didn''t have to turn to know that a certain golden-haired boy was back from his secret rendezvous. "Master! Ace! I got snacks! They''re from your favourite bakery, the one with the kind old lady!" Even from a distance, Celio seemed to be glowing with vitality as he sprinted their way with one hand holding a bagful of food and the other waving intensely. "She even recognised me and gave me a free sample. When he was less than five meters away from them, Celio slowed his steps, halting right in front of the little girl. He glanced up at Edris, then Ace. With his free hand, he jabbed a thumb at her in confusion. "Whose kid is this?" "The one who gave you samples," Edris said. "She''s her granddaughter." "Wait, really! What a coincidence." Celio bent over, examining her with smiling eyes. "She''s so cute! Like a little round radish." Doris''s face scrunched into a pout at his words. Edris stifled a cough while Ace looked away. Naturally, nobody responded to the beast tamer''s strange analogy. Taking the bag from Celio''s hand, Edris bent down to the girl''s level. Under her puzzled gaze, he reached in the bag and pulled out a limberry-flavoured cream puff. "Here." When she didn''t move, Edris grabbed hold of her arm and tucked it in her hand. Doris''s eyes widened. "Your sister may be a normal person now, but you''re still an Awakened. You should use that to your advantage and get stronger." Doris kept quiet, and Edris let out a soft sigh. This was why he disliked kids. They were innocent, powerless, and easily scared. Yet many would grow up to be some of the world''s most selfish, powerful, dangerous beings. In his trance, Edris didn''t notice that he had fallen quiet for quite some time. Perhaps he was silent for too long, but the next second, the girl raised her head, her limpid eyes staring straight at him. "I may be a kid" Despite her trembling hands, Doris''s words were steadfast and clear. but I can learn." "Learn?" Edris blinked twice. "YesYes, I suppose you can. Attend the academy, or something. Knowledge is power. People say that, right? Go on, learn a lot, get stronger, become a civilised member of society, and live a comfortable, peaceful life. Especially the last part, that''s very important." "Live a comfortable, peaceful life" Doris carefully repeated his words, and then gave him a determined nod. "I will remember it." "Glad to hear that." Smiling in satisfaction, Edris stood back up and lightly patted her head. His action seemed to have taken Doris by surprise, as she reflexively reached for his wrist. The girl''s tiny hand landed right on his scar, the one he gained at the underground chasm. As her rubbery hand made contact with his skin, both of them froze. Edris''s eyes widened, and his blood ran cold in his veins. Memories from the underground chasm resurfaced in his head, and Edris stared dazed at the child in standing in front of him. Before he could even process what happened, Doris had already stepped back. "I will take your advice to heart. Thank you again." With both hands by her side, she entered another deep bow before whirling around and dashing down the streets. "Master? Is something wrong?" Celio''s voice dragged him out of his trance. Still half dazed, Edris withdrew his hand midair and grazed past the scar with his fingers. He peered towards the darkened street, which was now sparse with people. "Master?" " It''s nothing." Edris shook his head as he retracted his gaze. Was it his imagination? 53 | Im Getting The Chills Sleepwhat a glorious pastime it was. Although Edris decided on the Adalan Kingdom as his next travel destination, the heaps of trouble thrown his way convinced him that a rewarding rest was first needed above anything else. And so, rest was exactly what he did. The dose of vitality from the Sacrificial Hourglass slowed many of his biological processes. In his current state, many bodily desires no longer felt necessary; three hours of sleep was sufficient for replenishment, and one meal a day was enough to sustain his bodys nutritional needs. However, these curbs had nothing to do with his mental satisfaction. For six days straight, Edris spent his time slacking off. He isolated himself from all social interactions, including Ace and Celio, and spent half of his day sleeping and the other half in the capital, engaging in leisures such as fishing and sunbathing. Since he was out most of the day, there were several times when Edris would return to Mosky Inn and be notified of visits from some familiar-sounding names. The first person or two, hed still send polite messages in response, but by the second day, all attempts to visit were turned down by the innkeeper, with the statement that the Fallen Prophet had entered a state of solitary reflection to enhance his wellbeing. All the joy he experienced this week only strengthened Edriss wish to live a carefree and comfortable life, though his acquaintances expressed mixed reactions to this reclusive behaviour. For one, Crown Prince voiced his apprehension on multiple occasions, whether through letters or direct visits, with Edris reacting to neither. Then, there was the young beast tamer. Although Celio respected his decision and went on to train his skills, Edris had caught him sneaking around his front door several times in the week. Surprisingly, Ace seemed to be the most understanding out of all of them. Other than times when the man would drop by spontaneously to replenish his mana, he practically lived in the Nolmes Grand Library day and night. Unfortunately, Edriss leisure days came to an end on the seventh day. After he ate breakfast at an underrated local cafe, Edris headed back to Mosky Inn to drop off the complimentary sweets he received from the store owner. Staring at the post note on his door, Edris fell silent: I RUN A MERCENARY STORE. NOT A STORAGE ROOM. COME AT ONCE. He blinked at the note and was struck by a thought. Before the Slums investigation, hed stored his potions at Alans Mercenary Corner to lighten his load. At the time, he still didnt have a Spatial Pouch. His current one was from the Crown Prince, who had gifted him the item at the inn after his identity was exposed. I guess I do need to pick them up. Ripping off the piece of paper and stuffing it in his pockets, Edris pushed the door open. He stepped into the room and found Ace lounged on his chair, arms crossed in front of his chest, his obsidian orbs staring straight at him. Good morning, Mister Ace. Finally remembered your contract partner after three days? He strolled over and dropped the bag of sweets onto the counter. You came just at the right time. Im heading to Alan Grennors." Edris tapped his left helix with a smile. Come with? *** I thought we were going to see the machina. We are, Edris said. Ace eyed the puff of pink in his hand. So whats this? Never seen cotton candy before? Edris whirled around and gave a graceful bow to the old lady at the storefront. Thank you, my lady. Wendy, the owner of Wendy Bakery Stand, waved back at him. A crease formed on her forehead as she smiled. Sweets first thing in the morning? Ace asked. To make up for your salty remarks. The past few times Edris visited Alans was during uncommon hours, so he got to avoid the presence of other customers. This time, he wasnt so lucky. Meters away, he could already make out a line extending out front of the storefront. Several nobles and mages lingered around the entrance, and the stores insides swarmed with bodies. I keep forgetting how popular his store is. With a sigh, Edris pulled the cloak hood over his head as he dragged Ace along to the end of the line, two corners around the store. He poked his head out from the line, taking in the number of customers before him. Hey, brother. Edris nudged the person in front of him, lowering his voice an octave. Also here for Alans as well? Sure I am, but I overslept. You gotta line up early for these releases. Or else the itemsll be gone fast. The man huffed. How long have you been in line for? Lemme think Around twenty minutes now? Young man, you came even later than I did. So Id give it two hours at the least. The man angled his head, studying the two cloaked men. Foreigners? Theatre performers. Hence the outfit. Edris smiled, and the man gave a nod in understanding. Thanks for the heads up. Were a bit busy, so I think well be back later. Tugging the hood lower to his face, he grabbed onto Ace and stepped out of the line. They circled around the store, stopping under the shade of a willow tree. Edris yanked the cloak off his head. He decided to conceal himself due to his reputation in the capital, but he soon found his attempts to be inconspicuous undermined by the man beside him. Hey. Cant you change your appearance or something? Edris whispered, eyeing the white-haired man in front of him. You stick out even more than I do. Mana is precious, Ace said simply. He peered toward the string of heads in the distance. Were not lining up? Edris shook his head. He licked the cotton candy in his hand, a glint in his eyes. Ive got a better idea. *** Alan Grennor swerved from counter to counter, common space to storage area. Boxes piled on his two assistants as they hastened around the store to serve their clients. Winter was approaching, and with the cooling weather, itd be harder to obtain raw materials for many items, so his store had been bombarded with rush orders to prepare for the upcoming cold season. In the storage space at the very back of the store, the machina emptied his drawers and packed several boxes of enhancers. His golden pupils glowed a brilliant gold, responding to his machina attributes in action as Alan calmly and precisely sorted out all the order forms. He was about to head back out into the store when, from the back window, a dash of pink caught his eyes. Edris? He blinked twice, eyes returning to their original amber tint. The next second, the window slid open, and two cloaked figures jumped in from the back of the store. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I came right after seeing your message. The front of your store was packed, and lining up might cause more trouble if people ended up recognising me. Figured Ill take the load off your shoulders by taking a shortcut. Edris took off his coat and tossed it onto a chair. Hope were not intruding. Should I thank you for your thoughtfulness? Alan arched an eyebrow, noticing the third person in the room. And whos this? At his question, Edris waved the pink cotton candy in his hand, then positioned it right beside the white-haired mans expressionless face. Hold on. One of his hands rested on his hip while Alan moved the other to his face. The spirling you brought here last time? Seeing the dark-haired man bob his head with a smile, Alan sighed. And the Slums explosion? Also me. The machina breathed out slowly. He tied his shoulder-length hair behind his ears so that it was in a low ponytail. Ill go get your potions. Since it wasnt his first time hearing about Edriss shenanigans and definitely wouldnt be the last, Alan got over his bafflement quickly. One minute later, he returned to the storage room, his face arranged into a neutral smile of love and peace. Here you go. He handed Edris the items, watching as he poured it all into a Spatial Pouch. Anything else I may help you with? I need another Mysterious Veil. The last one said goodbye, Edris said casually, and Alans jaw dropped. It what now? How? Black mana. Black Alan turned around and held up a palm. Nevermind. Dont tell me anymore. Im not interested. Im guessing you dont know much about it either? Edris asked. Of course, dont you know how rare and dangerous black mana is? How do you always get caught in the most bizarre situations? Shitty luck, Ace said, earning a look from the man beside him. No kidding Alan didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Youre out of luck today as well. Unfortunately, the raw materials needed to make the Mysterious Veil are currently unavailable. One misfortune after another, Edris listened to the news with a smile dead inside. He brushed him off. Its fine. Just reserve one for me then. Ill either pick it up when Im back in the capital, or you can ship it over to Adalan. Youre going back to Adalan? Alan appeared taken back by the news. I thought you planned to stay here. At least for a while longer. Plans are the least consistent of all, Edris mused. Dont miss me too much. Alan rolled his eyes. He opened one of his drawers and brought out an infuser orb. Setting the item on the table, he gave it a light tap, and a lilac glow emerged from the sphere. At the same time, one of the orbs at the back of his shelf also lit up. If you need anything, or more importantly, if you learn of any business opportunities in Adalan He gestured to the orb. Then this is the way to go. Best of luck on your travels. Gladly accepted, Edris said. In that case I suppose Ill also wish you the best of luck with your business. Hope you dont get caught by the factions in the future and end up as an overworked researcher. Just stop talking. I dont want your misfortunes to spread to me. Alan sighed, then lifted his head as if struck by a thought. Speaking of luck, I heard quite an interesting item spawned in Nolmes Forest. People called it the Chance Amulet. Oh? Edris raised an eyebrow. The Chance Amulet from the felic tree? Ace said, and the machina turned to him with an impressed look. Im surprised you know about this. Felic. Its a special type of tree found deep in forests and jungles. Theres only one in Nolmes Forest. And its been there for hundreds of years, Ace said monotonously. This type of tree produces fruits that ripen once every decade, and once the fruits fall from the tree, peel them open, and you can find all sorts of enhancement items. Usually, the Resource Faction keeps a list of possible items and determines the decade-round harvests with the help from mages, Alan added. Once the time comes, an expedition team goes into the forest to collect it. As expected from my database. Edris patted the white-haired man on the back. Living in the library for the past week finally paid off. Alan held a complicated expression upon seeing the interactions between the two, but decided to push all questions down his throat. Hes basically spot on. Its not the first time a Chance Amulet spawned from the fruits, but Id say its a rarer item compared to others. He paused. Of course, whether or not you could find it was also based on chance, but if you manage to obtain it, Ive heard the item worked miraculously. Ill keep the news in mind. Edris nodded. Come to think of it, what are you going to Adalan for? Alan heaved the boxes on top of each other, sliding outside the storage room. One of his assistants scurried over, and the boxes soon disappeared from sight. Just this and that, Edris replied half-heartedly. From investigating Nest to helping Ace recover his memories, a list of things awaited him in the Adalan Kingdom, but Edris didnt plan on revealing any further details here. Speaking of Nest, Dolan Zacriya also decided to bring the investigation to the surface and implement forces from the factions. Initially, Edris didnt plan on keeping contact with the Crown Prince, but numbers held an advantage when it came to wide-scope investigations. According to one of Dolans letters, the royal familys misfortunes were also likely due to the planning of Nest. His priest had told him that the dark magic intruding Prince Treos body had obstructed his mana channel. The blockage caused the sustenance of bodily functions to be much more difficult, which was what led Treo Zacriya to a coma. The Crown Prince planned to investigate further this sketchy organisation along with the Mage and Risk Faction, and Edris needed information on its different members, especially the creep who seemed to recognise Ace. Although their goals differed, Edris naturally wouldnt refuse any free information from the Crown Prince. But most importantly Edriss mind flashed back to the creepy Nest member, Robin, who threw him into all kinds of hassles back at the Slum. Thanks to his acts, Edris experienced mental shock, physical pain, and a loss of consciousnessall in one night. As a result, Nest successfully entered his blocklist; seeing how they managed to kidnap Awakeneds all the way from Adalan, there was a great possibility that their activity also exists, if not more actively, back in his home kingdom. It was not in Edriss nature to take a bomb without throwing two in return. Hey. Ace gave him a nudge, pulling Edris back to the present. Mana. What am I? Your breathing mana pouch? Despite lamenting, he pressed his thumb to his left helix, then on Aces wrist. A stream of white flowed between them, and Alans eyes, witnessing the entire process, seemed to almost bulge out of their sockets at its unfolding. He gaped at the interweaving strings of mana, then at Edris. And where did you learn this from? Strictly speakingall thanks to you. Edris shrugged his shoulders. On the topic of mana, he couldnt shake off the feeling that something had been off since his conversation with the palaces priest. Edris knew from the mana test results that his mana aptitude was incredibly low, but his channel size was much larger in comparison. Otherwise, there was no way hed be able to supply Ace with a constant amount of mana while remaining lively himself. Leaning against the counter, Edris tapped his finger on his chin, thinking. Given that the results of the mana detectors were accurate, then another question arose: If he had no aptitude for mana, how did he control the Tempest? Aptitude referred to how easily someone could withdraw mana from their inner channel into the external environment. All this time, Edris was under the impression that even though he wasnt taught mana manipulation, he could create the Tempest due to his mana aptitude. However, his mana aptitude was shockingly low, which meant he was literally unable to withdraw his own manano matter how big of a channel he had. Then what was he using to create the Tempest? The wooden floor beneath him creaked as the dark-haired man plopped onto a chair, frowning. There were too many unanswered questions, and he felt that his mind wouldnt be at peace unless he found explanations to these uncertainties. From the very beginning, he only had one goal: to live freely and comfortably. This goal hasnt changed now, nor will it change in the foreseeable future. Since it was a long-term goal, Edris expected it to yield long-term results. He would do anything to reach his goal, even if it meant he would lead a busier, less comfortable life in the meantime. Hed done so for countless days, months and yearsa little longer wouldnt hurt. After all, Edris wasnt the type to dwell on instant gratification. Having replenished Aces mana, he withdrew the glowing stream. A hand stuck in his vision, and Edris looked up. Whats with you? Youve been spacing out for minutes now. Alan frowned. Fifty-one seconds, Ace said. Just thinking. Edris waved him off. Come to think of it, where did you get the Sacrificial Hourglass from? I didnt expect you to be generous enough to gift a sacred artifact. The machina blinked. What do you mean? Edris pulled out the pendant from under his cloak. Studying the hourglass-shaped pendant in his palm, Alan drew his head back with furrowed brows. Ive never seen this before. You literally mailed this to me. No? The items I mailed were elixirs. They were the most expensive ones I had in store! The sacred artifact slipped from Edriss palm and dangled by his neck. The hourglass gem in the middle was a dull purple, but the two tiny wing carvings beside it glimmered dimly under natural daylight, Hes been wearing the pendant for these past few months, but itd never looked more foreign to him as it did right now. Despite the chatters echoing from the outside, the storage room was dead silent. After a whole five seconds, Edris lifted his head. Then who the hell gave me this? He was getting chills from the ominous turn of events. 54 | Im Sure You Are The door slammed open, and Edris stomped into his room. Heading straight to the bathroom, he stopped in front of the mirror and stared at the pendant necklace hanging down his neck. Both of his hands moved to the back of his neck, searching for the silver clasp. Nothing. Edris yanked the necklace around, rotating it so that the back was resting on his collarbones. Nothing. Edriss eyes widened. The clasp is gone. Now that he thought about it, the Sacrificial Hourglass had been on his neck ever since he received it in the wooden box. There were times where he tried taking off the necklace before bathing, but his fingers always ended up tangling the cord and losing the clasp, so he ended up just leaving it as it was. Now he knew whythe clasp was no longer there to begin with. He bolted to the closet, yanked out a pair of shears, and ran back into the bathroom. Eyeing its position in the mirror, he pushed the silver cord between the blades and pressed down with all his energy. The cord? Unscatched. His hands? In pain. Shears clattering onto the bathroom floor, Edris dragged himself to his bed and plopped down, his back sinking into the mattress. A white head entered his vision. You look pathetic, Ace commented, bending over his bed. Edris was going to throw back an insult when an idea suddenly struck him. He sprung up from his bed, so abruptly he would have headbutted Ace if the latter had dodged a second later. Disregarding the white-haired mans glare, Edris cut his thumb and pressed it to his ear, then he smacked his hand on Aces wrist, letting a stream of mana flow. Try breaking the cord with your mana! As he said that, Edris pulled his dark hair aside and shuffled his neck forward. Ace stared at the pale skin underneath his hair and let out a sigh. Despite the mans reluctancy, Edris soon felt a tug at the silver cord around his neck, soon followed by a flow of energy that made his skin tingle. Did not work, Ace said. Try using more of it, Edris suggested. Thats all the available mana you gave me. Ever since Ace entered his human form, Edris needed to constantly supply his mana to sustain the mans basic bodily functions. As a result, what would suffice to the pink, fluffy Ace was no longer enough for the human-form Ace, since a good portion of it was automatically absorbed to support his physical body. Just turn back to your previous form, then! You can look human again after this, Edris said. If I could, I would have a long time ago. Ace narrowed his eyes. I cant switch to previous forms at free will. The last form seems to be the result of a defence mechanism, acting in only for when my mana drops to a dangerous threshold. I thought you just didnt like that form because you didnt like being called cute? You think everyones as childish as you? In the end, Edris had to tranfer another surge of mana, this time even larger in quantity, to the white-haired man. He couldnt help but be grateful for his large mana channel. Otherwise, what awaited him was probably a permanent dwelling in the cemetery. Death from mana exhaustion. Hurry up. Edris scooched forward and tapped the cord on his neck. Ace clicked his tongue. This time, he pressed one hand onto the necklace and, withdrawing his mana, condensed a full size machete in the other. Like a blazing torch in a cave, the sword illuminated the entire room at once. *** Outside Mosky Inn, Celio was skipping down the streets to visit his Master after having booked the group a Wendimoren-themed restaurant for dinner. Even though Edris had notified him of entering a state of solitary reflection, seven days have passed since they last had a full conversation, and Celio couldnt help but be concerned for his Masters health. For all the months hed know him for, Edris was always pushing himself to the extreme. Even though he usually acted nonchalant, Celio knew that once an event came their way or there was something he had to accomplish, Edris would, without hesitation, go on to fulfil his goal at any cost. His Master may not be aware of it himself, but he was like the strings on a slingshot. Each time, hed push a little longer, reach a little further. Bit by bit, hed force himself to the extreme to reach his goals. But to what end? One time after the next, Celio didnt want to think about it, but what if there came a situation where hed pull the strings so tightly that they Inhaling sharply, Celio pivoted and planted his heel to the ground, stopping himself just before he stomped onto the swirl of green on the street. He puffed out a breath in relief, leaning closer to scrutinise the small lump. A catepillar, and its head was missing. You poor, unlucky thing. Mouth stretched into a frown, Celio scooped up its remains onto a leaf and plopped it under the nearest tree. Just as he was about to offer his condolences to the tiny insect, something flashed in the corner of his eye, and Celio spun around. The sudden light came from the right side of the street, on the second floor of Mosky Inn. Since it was still the early evening, most of the rooms were unlit as people hung out in the streets or in restaurants for dinner. However, one room was completely illuminated, glowing so brightly he couldnt make out what was happening from outside the windows. Isnt that Celio blinked twice. Masters room? The next thing he knew, Celio was running. His legs carried him into Mosky Inn, through the rowdy pub of the first floor, and up the flight of stairs. It took him less than thirty seconds to reach Edriss room, and in a single movement, he kicked open the door. Master! Celio thought that his Master had reached some sort of enlightenment due to his solitary reflection, but the scene playing before his eyes far strayed from his expectations. In the glowing room, Edris was pressed down against the table while Ace hovered over him. One of his arms was restrained by Edriss grasp as a ring of white surrounded them while the other loomed merely inches over his neck, a gleaming sword in hand. The image of the decapitated caterpillar flashed through Celios mind. What do you think youre doing to Master?! He immediately drew out his dagger and imbued it with mana. Reacting to his attributed energy, the dagger emitted a dazzling, golden glow, clashing with the white in the room. His eyes narrowed and he clenched his weapon, ready to save his Master from this atrocity. With a pivot of the foot, Celio lashed toward the white-haired man. Just as he was about to strike, Edris glanced up and said, Good evening, Celio. The beast tamer halted in midair, eyes full of confusion. Youre here at a good time. Unaware of the youths confoundment, Edris waved him over and pointed to his neck. Come and help Ace get this thing off me. The three seconds passed in silence, and a dagger dropped to the ground with a clank. W-what?! I cant do that! Celios voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes growing red with tears. I shouldve noticed earlier you were having such a hard time. But how could you just think of ending it all like this? If youre experiencing difficulties, if anything, you could talk to me! I may be young and naive, and I may be lacking in many aspects, but I wont hesitate to help you in anyway I can What are you on about? Edris stared at him strangely. He tapped the silver cord on his neck. Im talking about this necklace. Even Ace cant get it off with his sword, so you try with the dagger instead. The necklace? Still dazed, Celio wiped the tears off his face and scurried over. Oh, the necklace! Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Let me help out!" *** Thirty minutes later, Edris sat ruefully at the dining booth, gaze aloof as he sipped on his sweet lime brew, a specialty from the Wendimore Kingdom. Master, whats your necklace made out of? Celio furrowed his brows, scrutinising the pendant. He took a gulp out of his kiwi smoothie. Hows it possible that its unscratched even after all we did to it? Ace said nothing and sipped his cup of ice water. Id like to know the same, Edris grumbled. Currently, the Sacrifical Hourglass hung down his neck like a harbinger of death. As the pendant pressed on his skin, even though Edris couldnt perceive temperature, his mind couldnt help but fill in the sensation as chills ran down his spine. The waiter arrived with a cart of dishes, setting it on the table one by one. The restaurant Celio brought them to specialised in Wendimoren cuisine and was known for their nutritional, filling portions. Master, try this! Its called Amber Garden. It has oranges, carrots, beef steak, pumpkin puree, ilyiac seeds Basically a lot of things that are really good for your health! The young beast tamer pushed the bowl of colours towards Edris, taking a side glance at the white-haired man across from him. Ace, you try the Lilac Rolls. Its made of sweet lotus. Heard it improves peoples mood. With a half-hearted nod, Edris stabbed onto a piece of orange with his fork, bringing it too his mouth. He was chewing when he noticed the beast tamers anticipatory gaze. Chewing some more, Edris swallowed and managed a smile. Pretty good. Happy to hear that! Eat some more! These are good for you and replenishes your energy in no time. Celio grinned. Eyeing the dark-haired man taking his time with the food, he cleared his throat. Actually, I have something to tell you, Master. Edris washed down the salad with his brew, gesturing him to continue. A while ago, I sent Mother a letter to let her know how Im doing. But I overlooked the delivery coordinates, so now she knows Id ran away from home. I got a letter back from her a few days ago, and she told me to come back immediately. Celio fiddled with his straw and slumped back at his seat. Shes really, really angry. You should have considered this scenario when you ran away, Ace said. I didnt think shed find out! She even threatened to die if I dont come back before the end of the month. Shooting him a look, Celio pushed another plate of Lilac Rolls towards Ace. You dont understand. Mother is horrifying when shes angry. And shes serious about her words. Shed do anything. Ace downed the dessert roll in one go, only to grimace immediately after. Too sweet. Edriss ear perked up, and he reached for a roll. Celio pressed his forehead to the table, grumbling. I shouldnt have sent her a letter. Even if I did, I shouldnt have mentioned all those exciting things I did in Zacriya. Wulin Tournament, the explosion too! How did the news spread so quickly to the Adalan Kingdom? Now I cant even hide because she managed to get in touch with Uncle Dominic, who then agreed to use the Gates to teleport me straight there. He turned towards the dark-haired man with glassy eyes. Master, what should I do? Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Edris eyed the sullen beast tamer beside him. If he looked closely, he might as well see a patch of grey cloud hanging above him. What do you want to do? Edris asked him back. Dunno I just dont want to leave you all. Is that so? But were going to Adalan as well. ...Hold on. Celio sprung up, eyes lighting up at his words. Really?! Youre heading to Adalan? Ace too? Edris shared a glance with the white-haired man, then shrugged a smile. Master, you two should definitely come with me! The Signa Gates are designed just for inter-kingdom travels! Since people usually use it for trades or diplomatic meetings, its super convenient and you dont experience any side effects that might exist for regular teleportation, Celio said eagerly, as if he was an item promoter. And plus, since were just tagging along with Uncle Dominics textile material team, the entire trip is free. Edris smiled. I suppose it is on my end to see that you reunite with your family in Adalan. Its partly my responsibility that you got involved in the Slums incident. He didnt know how much mana hed need, now that Ace was in his human form, to teleport to a whole other kingdom. Rather than undertaking unnecessary tolls on his body, Celios suggestion was a much better trade off. Youre going somewhere? A tiny voice grabbed their attention as the three men whipped their heads around, only to see a familiar child by their table. Wait, youre the little kid from the other day! Celio exclaimed. What are you doing here? Im not a little kid. I have a name, the girl replied politely, eyeing Edris at the side. Its Doris. And Im Celio! Nice to meet you, Celio said with smiley eyes. Doris. I remember you, Edris said. You came here for me? Doris nodded. Howd you know my location? I could smell you. Can you now? Edris placed his glass cup back on the table, raising an eyebrow. So Doris, what business do you have with me? Doris didnt respond to his question. Instead, she tiptoed and reached past their table, grabbing onto the cutlery that happened to be the fork on Celios plate. Hah? What are you doing? The beast tamer frowned. Just as he was about to snatch it back, he froze at the sight of the fork floating in midair. Doriss face remained expressionless as her hands hovered over the silverware, continuing to stretch, press, and fold the air around it as if was clay. Corresponding to her motions, the fork bent and extended, eventually turning into a metal straw. Under Celios dumbfounded expression, Doris politely returned the forknow a strawonto his plate. Ive been learning to manipulate mana. She turned towards Edris. Im getting better. Im sure you are, the latter said softly. Although Edris was still confused as to why this little girl was showcasing her improvements to him, they were undeniably there. If he remembered correctly, Doris had passed her seventh birthday only recently, which meant this young girl, in such a short amount of time, already learnt to use mana to an extent where she could physically distort the objects around her. Without a staff, too. She was definitely talented. Even Ace held an intrigued expression upon seeing her potential. Doris seemed to have grown flustered at his compliment. She lowered her head, fidgeting with her sleeves. When I learn more and get better, Ill come show you again. Celio leaned forward, resting his chin on his palms. We probably wont be here next time though since were leaving soon. But good work to you in advance! Doris lifted her head, revealing her widened eyes. When? Four days? No, its three now, he said. Where? Before the beast tamer could answer her question, a wave of rumbles released from her stomach, and Doris clenched her shirt in embarrassment. Haha, your stomachs protesting! Are you hungry? Celio grinned. Even though the girl didnt respond to his question, her fixed gaze on the plate of Lilac Rolls on the table gave her away. Swallowing, Doris peered up at the three men, her careful gaze ultimately landing on Edris, like a kitten exposed to light. At her unspoken inquiry, Edris shrugged a smile and gestured her to take a seat. Doriss eyes lit up. Since Edris and Celio were sitting on one side of the booth, she climbed up to the seat beside the quiet white-haired man. The little girl and the white-haired man stared at each other in silence. Although neither side uttered a word, they seemed to have shared some sort of unspoken greeting, as they simultaneously broke off the eye contact the next second. Woah, look at her. Shes not afraid of Ace even after seeing those scary looks. Celio leaned forward, compliments spilling out of a mouth stuffed with food. The last time Ace looked at a kid, he made him cry on the spot! Chew your food, Ace rapped on the table with a finger, and the beast tamer knowingly stopped talking and started munching away. Beside the boy, Edris gave a helpless shake of the head. He noticed Doris staring at him, somewhat intrigued. Picking up a butternut cookie from the plate, he placed it in her plate. His other hand hovered to the side of his face, mouthing something as he did so: Its true. Sitting cross-armed right across from him, Ace shifted his stoic eyes toward the dark-haired man. Edris. Im chewing, Im chewing. Edris gave little Doris a knowing look, pressing a finger to his pursed lips while Ace leaned back with a scoff. Glimpsing back and forth between the two, Doris withdrew her attention like a professional. She grabbed onto the cookie with both hands and nibbled away, a smile hinting from her upturned lips. The four of them spent the rest of dinner engaged in small talks. Well, it was mostly just Edris and Celio talking, while Ace and Doris simply listened in silence. Master, we planning on going to the forest before we head to Adalan? Celio asked. The Chance Amulet sounds like a pretty cool item to have. Edris shook his head a negative. Ive heard about how dangerous Nolmes Forest is. Poisonous plants being one thing, therere also toxic species and other hidden dangers. Ah, thats true. I heard only the capitals Expedition Troupe heads in there every now and then to commit missions or to get to the Risk Faction, Celio said. The forests so close to Nolmes, yet after all these years only a small portion of it has been explored. Us going in there is equivalent to collective suicide. Edris swirled his empty cup with his straw. Plus, risking your life for something as abstract and inconsistent as lucknot worthwhile. When you put it this way, I guess you''re right. The beast tamer shivered. He looked at Edris with a consoling gaze. Its okay, Master. Youll get better eventually. After all, I dont think anyone can stay unlucky forever. Again, please dont curse me. As the conversation continued on, Doris, whod been quietly listening to their talks, suddenly stood up. Hopping off the bench, she dug into her pockets and pulled out a small, cotton pouch. She placed it on the table, and four copper yones spilled out onto the wooden surface. I earned this money myself from selling bread with Gran. I know its not enough for the meal, but I will make up for it. Before the group could say anything, she dropped into a deep bow, then ran out the restaurant. Shes a strange child, isnt she? Celio mumbled, watching her small back disappear into the distance. Edris nodded absentmindedly. Withdrawing his gaze from the entrance, he turned to see the beast tamer mixing lotus paste inside his smoothie. The refreshing kiwi green and purple paste interweaved, resulting in a very questionable hue. Edris slowly turned away. Youre a strange one as well. Ace took another sip of his water. 55 | I am a Traveller, After All MOSKY INN. NOLMES. By the time the group returned to Mosky Inn, it was already late evening. Celio was in the lobby, dealing with the sign-out process three days later, so Edris and Ace headed up to the second floor on their own. Opening the door to his room, Edris found himself staring at two familiar faces. "Oh! Edris, you''re back!" Magnus waved from the balcony. "Long time no see," Dolan said with a smile. A short moment of silence ensued between them as Edris narrowed his eyes. "I thought I closed the balcony doors." "You did." The pink-haired archmage shrugged. "But hey. You know Dolan''s circumstances. There''ll be trouble if we came here by foot and got recognised, so I figured teleportation was the way to go. Thank you for your understanding!" "I heard you''re heading back to Adalan. Is that true?" Dolan asked, gaze apprehensive. Edris blinked. "How did you know?" "Alan Grennor told me when I visited his store." "Ah, I see." Edris smiled. That disappointment of a machina. Where was his work ethics as a merchant? While Edris threw out several insults inwardly, the Crown Prince noticed the man standing beside him. He gave Ace a polite nod, and the latter returned the gesture. "Alan Grennor is correct, Your Highness. I am leaving for the Adalan Kingdom." Edris affirmed, laying both hands out with nonchalance. "I am a traveller, after all." "It''s a shame," Dolan said. "But in any case, I came here today with three things on the list. I hope you''ll hear me out." Edris raised an eyebrow, and he took that as a gesture to continue. "First, I''ve been wanting to tell you this in person, but I apologise for Commander Poet''s unruly behaviour the other day." As he uttered these words, the Crown Prince entered into a bow. After three seconds, Dolan rose from the position and peered into his eyes. "I do not expect my apology to be accepted, but I hope my sentiments go through. That said, please take this as a small token of my apology." Dolan opened his Spatial Pouch and pulled out a full-sized cloak. Neatly folding it into a square, he placed it in a bag and pushed it towards Edris. "I heard from Alan Grennor that you were also looking for an invisibility item. This cloak is called the Calvest. It has all the features of the Mysterious Veil, but it can transform into different styles and offers a variety of thicknesses. Useful for the unpredictable Adalan weather." Not waiting for Edris to react, he shoved the bag into his arms and stepped back. The former eyed the clothing inside the bag, then at the Crown Prince. "Moving on to the second thing on the list" Dolan held out his hand, and the archmage beside him let out a half-hearted sigh as he plopped a translucent sphere into his palm. "Second, since this would be goodbye for a while, please also take this infuser orb with you along the way," he said. "With this, you can contact me anytime you need help, or if either side discovered something new about Nest." Unlike the infuser orbs Edris saw at stores, this one was encircled by a floating disk and had the Zacriya emblem engraved on top. Dolan gave the orb a light tap to the surface, and the emblem lit up, emitting a fiery glow that matched the colour of his eyes. The Crown Prince tossed the infuser orb towards Edris, who caught it with one hand. "I got something to say as well!" Magnus''s hand shot up in the air, and an envelope escaped his sleeves, riding on a mana breeze which carried it into Edris''s hand. He looked at Edris with a cheery grin. "My lovely sister''s been asking about you, and when she found out we''d be meeting soon, she told me to invite you to her afterparty." "Lady Mia passed her examination?" "Nope. The Archmage Examination is still half a year away, but Mia being Mia, she''s sending out invitations in advance." "I see." Even though he had many questions regarding where her confidence came from, Edris arranged his face into a polite smile. "I will surely attend if I happen to be in Zacriya. Until then, please let Lady Mia know I wish her the best of luck on her examination." "Sure thing." Magnus gave him a thumbs up. "What is number three?" Ace, who''d been quiet up until now, suddenly spoke up. "You said there were three things on the list." "I didn''t expect you to be keeping count." Dolan chuckled. He glanced at Edris. "As for number three, it''s not from me but my professor. Saire Harkness, do you remember her? You met back at the Mage Faction. Actually, her message is one of the reasons I had to come to see you in person." "Lady Harkness?" Edris perked up at the unexpected information. "What does she have to say to me?" When he visited the faction to retrieve Ace, they''ve only briefly conversed in the monitor room, so he didn''t know what could''ve prompted her to have the Crown Prince personally relay a message. "Before I relay her message, I think it''ll be better to give some context about the situation." Dolan gave Magnus a nod, and the latter cleared his throat. "As you may know, Lady Harkness is currently one of the kingdom''s most powerful Awakeneds. Every Awakened, once their mana manipulation skills are developed past a certain threshold, can choose to pursue a pathway," Magnus explained calmly. "The one Lady Harkness chose, like the rest of her family, is the mage pathway, and she currently holds the title as the strongest archmage in the eastern continent." "And so I''ve heard," Edris said. "Edris, do you know what a Touch is?" Dolan asked. Before Edris got a chance to reply, the white-haired man beside him stepped forward, and Edris knew the Crown Prince had flipped on a switch. "Toucha specialisation. Once an Awakened decides on a pathway, the higher they go, the more developed and specialised their areas of focus in the pathway. Then once the Awakened surmount a number of thresholds, they will gain something called a Touch." Ace gave him a sidelong glance. "You could say it''s something like a unique skill, something different to every Awakened." "Impressive! Your friend is quite the intellectual." Magnus slapped his hands together in applause, an action wisely ignored by the rest of the room. "Hes basically on point. I don''t know about other pathways, but mage Awakeneds receive their Touch as a single word. My Touch, for example, is ''passage''. So any spells related to ''passage'' comes easier to me than others." "Mine is ''record,'' and Lady Saire''s is ''chance''." Dolan took over the baton of speech. "Touches are usually not as broad as the professor''s, but luck and aptitude also play a role. She''s spent her whole life studying spells related to ''chance'' and the cause-effect relationships. As a result, she''s grown to develop some foresight, allowing her to get a vague sense of one''s life directions and its influential factors." "Foresight?" Edris blinked twice. So, mana-based future telling? It seemed to him that everyone acted more like a prophet these days than he did. "So? You''re saying that Lady Saire''s message to me is something she discovered with her foresight?" Dolan nodded. "Looks like my professor''s gained a good impression of you. Usually, there''s no point in her doing this since the foresight only becomes comprehensible after the scenario unfolds. But anyways, she told me to tell you this: "Be mindful of your cards." Edris stiffened at his words, but the usual calmness returned to his face the very next second. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "When it comes to foresight, even she doesn''t know the meaning of them herself," Dolan said. "How about you? Does it raise any ideas?" Edris lightly tapped his chin at his prompting, letting his mind wander. After a longheld silence, he glanced up with a shrug. "Not sure." He smiled. "Please give Lady Harkness my thanks." Since it was already late evening, they only chatted briefly before the two nobles had to leave to avoid getting found out. Watching as Dolan and Magnus disappeared with the teleportation circle, Edris spun around to Ace. "You should leave as well." Since Ace regained his human form, Edris had opened up an extra room for him besides his own. Since he''d been executing his "solitary reflection" plan for the past week, Celio lived in the other room as well. That night, Edris fell victim to insomnia. Lying stagnant on his bed, he directed his gaze to the balcony windows. The full moon rose high to the midnight sky, emitting a serene glow to the city at rest. He''d left one side of the draperies open, and a seam of moonlight infiltrated the room. It pierced through his sheer curtains, casting on his bedsheets a lilac glow. Edris swallowed. There''s a tenseness to his muscles, making him feel more like a mannequin on the soft mattress beneath him than a human being. His hair sprawled across his silk pillow, and his chest rose and fell with every breath. Since sleep was no longer a biological necessity, Edris often found himself these days wrapped in the chaos of his wakefulness, his thoughts flailing without direction. Exhaling softly, Edris reached into his pocket and pulled out a rectangular card. It looked the same as any typical playing card, with an all-black design on the back and golden edges framing the front. Imprinted in the centre of the card was a torrent of fire. The interwoven colours of orange and crimson clashed against the moonlight, projecting a peculiar glint in his eyes. It was the card he obtained in Paradise, the pub back at the Slums. Edris pressed the card face down to the empty space beside him. He closed his eyes. "Be mindful of your cards, huh" *** THE SLUMS. NOLMES. Raindrops splattered nonstop, bequeathing a million stains to the blacktop street. Sitting against the brick walls of a narrow alleyway, Shea pulled her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her bare knees. Water washed over her skin with such harshness that it felt like she''d been caught in a deluge rather than a rain shower. The Slums was usually sparse with people deep into the night, mostly alcoholics roaming the area. But for some reason, not a single soul could be seen tonight. Maybe they were stabbed to death by the raindrops? Perhaps they''d been washed away to the barest of bones? Or even better, what if they had floated away like bubbles? In her blurry mind, Shea entertained herself with all sorts of scenarios. She didn''t know when, but at some point, the torrent of rain had reached a stop, being replaced instead by a tranquil melody in the distance. An airy, poetic sound wafted through the damp air, slowly increasing in crescendo. At the same time, a strange haze rose from the ground, dying a clear moon in a murky purple. A dash of red entered her peripheral vision, and Shea rose her head. She thought it''d been downpouring merely minutes ago, but the gentleman stood before her in a spotless suit, smiling as he held the umbrella over her head. Just like their first encounter. The rain stopped, yet she could still hear the sound of droplets splattering against the ground. Shea glimpsed the ground beside her. Droplets of crimson. "It''s been a while. How have you been?" Mister Finch asked, voice soft as though he was talking to an old friend. The girl tilted her head. "Are you here to take Shea away?" "Looks like you must have waited for a long time," Mister Finch bent over slightly, tilting the red umbrella as he did so. "Do you wish to come with me?" He extended his gloved hand, and Shea noticed it was dripping some strange substance. She took a whiff of its aroma: a sweet, metallic stench. "Will you be happy if Shea comes with you?" she asked, and Mister Finch only smiled in response. The fog spread all around them. Each building was veiled in the lightest of mists, their walls tinted purple, and their doors became silhouettes against a blanket of gloom. Shea''s eyes fixed on the outreached hand in front of her, as if it was the only thing she focused on in this world. Finally, she gave a small nod and placed her hand on his. Mister Finch didn''t speak. He lifted her to her feet and led her out the narrow alleyway, into the filthy openness of the Slums. From beginning to end, his face was arranged into a mellow smile, like a glowing candle in the darkness. The open road extended towards the moon, whose silvery light intertwined with the haze below. At that moment, four silhouettes emerged through the misty air. "Good evening! What a lovely night for us to come together." A voice like the whistles of birds echoed from a distance. It belonged to the silhouette at the very left. "Shut up, Robin." Another voice spat out, crisp but firm. "Miss Sparrow, what''s with the attitude today? Your date didn''t go well?" This one spoke in a bubbly, feminine tone, reminding Shea of the softness of down spiralling leaves. "His favourite fruit is limberries, but mine are apples." The woman called Sparrow lowered her voice. "It''s a tragic love. It''ll never end happily." "Jeez. Dramatic as always." The first speaker, Robin, whistled. "Say that again?" "Now. Now." A fourth speaker entered the conversation, his tone aloof with a brisk solemnity. "Fighting isbad. No punish." "Aweee! As expected from Mister Cranekind as always. Unlike you two, hmph!" The bubbly voice spoke again, this time with a hint of annoyance. Just as Shea was about to lose track of who was talking, a familiar voice sounded beside her. "Everyone, please welcome our new member," Mister Finch''s smooth voice directed into the air, ending the preexisting conversations at once. He moved to the side, pressing his hands onto Shea''s shoulders as he brought her forward. Four figures loomed over her the next second like elongated shadows against the moonlight. Confronted with four pairs of glowing eyes, Shea cocked her head to the side. "AWEEE!" the woman with the bubbly voice gushed in excitement. "She''s so cute!" "Dove." Crane shuffled a few steps away. "Too loud." "Hm. You don''t mean to tell me this scrawny lady is our fifth Player," Robin said. Mister Finch only smiled. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Really?" Dove''s voice came out in a lighthearted trill. "Does that mean we''re finally heading to the Labyrinth this month? Please tell me yes!" "Dove, you just wish to go to Adalan. Don''t try to hide it," Sparrow said with a scoff. "So what? I miss their Honeycomb Poundcake. Got a problem with that?" "Sparrow. Dove. Off-topic," Crane said. "Ah, sorry, sorry." Dove leaned forward to the girl. "Hey, what''s your name?" Her facial features were obscured under the haze and moonlight, but her golden eyes seemed to pierce through the haze as they glinted in curiosity. Shea was about to respond, only to freeze as Mister Finch gave her a light pat on the head. "She is Canary," he responded in her stead. Shea glanced up at him, and he gave her a smile; it reminded her of all the times they''d spend at his tiny but comfortable hut. There, the little girl would lay on the carpet by the fireplace and learn all types of knowledge and skills, while the gentleman would go through book after book. Except now, instead of the fireplace, they stood under the full moon''s glow, amidst the dirt-filled Slums. In such a setting, the gentleman''s smile appeared eerily out of place, but Shea couldn''t help but find in it a sense of comfort. "Finch, stop smiling," Sparrow said dryly. "You look like a pedophile." Robin laughed, his silvery voice reverberating through the air. "She really came for you, Mister Finch. You said that this pretty lady is Canary?" Shea looked at Mister Finch, then shifted her gaze toward the four others. She nodded slowly. "Yes Canary." At her soft response, the four figures moved to a horizontal line and clapped their hands, their applause echoing through the emptiness. Each of them wore a feathered mask, and their simultaneous action, under the veiled purple light, painted the scene with a haunting beauty. Mister Finch hovered an arm over Canary like a protective father to his child. Directing her attention to the row of four, he introduced them from left to right. "The talkative, laughing one''s Robin, the straight-forward lady is Sparrow; the giggling one is Dove, and the responsible one is Crane. You''ll get to know them more as you all get closer." He paused. "And I''m Mister Finch. You already know me." "Always saving himself for last, huh?" Robin teased. "What can you expect?" Sparrow scoffed. "He''s a narcissist." "I meanAt least he''s entitled to be one." Dove fluttered her eyes. "Charismatic people come with natural entitlements." "Dove. Inside matters. Too," Crane mumbled. Mister Finch stood at the centre of the group. His eyes creased with a glint of crimson, glowing under the moonlight. A cool breeze kicked up, lifting his tailcoat behind him as the gentleman held out his arms. "Welcome home, Canary." Mister Finch smiled. "Welcome to Nest." 56 | I Dont Accept Anything Free "Master!" Edris spun around at the sound of his name. A shade of white fixed on his philtrum, an aftermath of drinking his morning cup of sugar-saturated milk. Wiping the smear off his upper lip, he smiled at the approaching beast tamer. "Good morning, Celio." "Good morning, Master! Good morning, Ace!" As always, Celio was as cheery as one could get at seven in the morning. At his greeting, Ace gave a curt nod in response. Two days had passed since Dolan and Magnus visited his room at night, and today marked the day Edris''s group would depart to Adalan. Just over an hour was left until their designated meeting time with Duke Orteon. They planned to meet at the foot of Felicity Hills, location of the Signa Gates. Edris rinsed his cup and gathered his belongings. Frankly, he didn''t need to pack much; besides the Calvest and a few snacks, he''d already shoved most of his items in the Spatial Pouch. Seeing that Edris had finished loading his things, Celio knowingly took on the role of the group''s carrier and hauled all bags over his shoulders. Taking a step into the hallway, Edris spun around and peered toward the now-empty room. He left the balcony doors open, and entered a breeze that carried the curtains into an airy flutter. A dash of sunlight spread across the wooden bed, giving shape to floating dust particles in the room. "I think I''ll miss it here. Mosky Inn was such a cosy place," the beast tamer chimed in from behind. "When we come back, we should stay here again!" Edris didn''t say anything. He turned away with a smile, the door creaking close behind him. Since Celio had already completed the check-out process in advance, they didn''t have to notify the counter of their departure. As Edris walked out of the inn, he noticed a crowd had gathered by the entrance. A carriage parked on the side of the street, its familiar red and gold imprints glistening under the sunlight. He immediately recognised the carriage as belonging to no other than the Zacriya family. Before Edris got a chance to bail, a butler stepped out of the carriage and made his way toward him. "Good morning, Sir Edris," he said. "This carriage is prepared on behalf of His Highness. Although he could not personally be here to bid you farewell due to some personal issues, he told me to escort you to your destination, and that he looks forward to your next encounter." Edris had a neutral expression on his face during the butler''s explanation, but he was internally suppressing the urge to sneer. As expected from Dolan Zacriya. The royal family''s signature carriage, the butler''s recitations, the ostentatious scene first thing in the morningthe Crown Prince knew exactly what he was doing. There''d been an ongoing spread of rumours speculating the relationship between the Fallen Prophet and the Crown Prince. From their first encounter at the Wulin Tournament to later interactions during the royal banquet, countless conspiracies arose on whether Edris, the foreign traveller who''d take the kingdom by storm, had established a collaboration with the Crown Prince of Zacriya. This carriage was Dolan Zacriya''s unspoken answer to those speculations. He''d demonstrated his sincerity toward Edris by sending over the symbolic Zacriya carriage, while leaving behind doubts about the extent of their relationship by being absent himself. Was there a collaboration going on? Did the Fallen Prophet truly decide to side with the Crown Prince? His answer was direct yet uncertain, ambiguous yet there. A game of guess, but neither of them was the ones guessing. Edriss slim frame shook with mirth. If he were the palace mole, he''d been currently ripping his hair out at the Crown Prince''s perplexing actions. "Then I suppose I shall gladly take His Highness up on his offer." Edris smiled. Under the eyes of countless spectators, those under the sun and those hidden in the shadows, Edris and his companions stepped into the carriage. Thanks to the prestige of the Zacriya carriage, it was a smooth ride to Felicity Hills. Wendy''s Bakery Stand, Orteon''s Boutique, Alan''s Mercenary Cornerseveral familiar streets and infrastructures flew past them along the way. "That''s the Dialesenn Arena! And that''s the Wendimoren restaurant we went to a few days ago!" Poking his head out the window, Celio let the rush of wind run through his hair. "I''m gonna miss Nolmes." "There are stadiums in Adalan''s capital too. Also Wendimoren cuisines," Ace said flatly, back straight and arms crossed in front of his chest. His eyes were closed in a resting state. "I know, but it''s different." Celio frowned. "We made so many fond memories here. I can''t help but get attached." "Forming sentimental attachments is the least productive way to use your emotions," Edris said calmly. "It''s downright individual exhaustion. You''ll only wear yourself out in the end." Celio scratched his cheek. "I meanhumans are pretty sentimental creatures." "Sentimental?" Glancing out the window, Edris noticed a family of three taking a stroll by the sidewalk. Hopping around energetically, the child with orange hair pointed towards the carriage at its passing. His round eyes glimmered in excitement, and a smile hung below his rosy cheeks. "I wonder about that." Edris withdrew his gaze. He pulled the curtain panels to a close. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. *** They arrived at Felicity Hills earlier than expected, almost half an hour before the meeting time. Even then, several workers from the Orteon household were already up and running, setting up the textile materials for transport. The carriage door swung open, and Celio hopped off the steps. The moment his feet hit the ground, they sprung into the air again by the hollers of Dominic Orteon. "Celio Moon!" The Duke of Orteon stomped over to the young beast tamer. "I''ve heard about everything from your mother. Look at you, being independent. So independent you got the balls to run away from home!" "U-uncle Dominic." Celio rose his hand in a sheepish wave. "Good morning" "Not a good morning to me." He groaned. "Do you know how worried your mother was? She was sobbing over the infuse orb nonstop and I thought her tears would flood through it and leak to the other side!" Celio wanted to assume that the duke was exaggerating, but knowing his mother, anything was possible. He rubbed the nape of his neck as he muttered a few awkward words of apology. Just as he prepared himself for another round of scolding, he noticed Madam Amos in the distance. "Madam Amos! Good morning!" Celio said, waving his arms enthusiastically at the sight of his saviour. "Oh, if it isn''t our lovely customer." Madam Amos strolled over at his urging, her fashionable gigasnow cape wrapped between her arms and waist. "Were the banquet costumes to your liking?" "Of course. It''s all thanks to your taste in fashion." Celio bowed politely. "Such a sweet mouth." The madam peeked over to the space behind him. "Your pretty prophet friend isn''t with you today?" "Oh, you mean Master? He''s" Celio almost bit his tongue as the doors behind him flew open, and Ace stepped out of the carriage. A three-second silence, then Madam Amos gasped. "Little Celio, who is this?" Stars seemed to spill out of her eyes as the stylist gaped at the white-haired man leaning against the carriage. She hurriedly pulled Celio over, eyes still glued toward Ace''s every movement. "Is he your friend as well? You must introduce him to me. What''s his name? Age? Height? If he''s looking to make some good money, could you ask if he''d consider modelling for the boutique?" "Madam, you can just ask yourself" Celio finished his sentence with a sheepish laugh. Madam Amos didn''t try to conceal her interest, so everything she''d mentioned to Celio just now was also broadcasted to the white-haired man loud and proud. Her invite, however, meant nothing to Ace as he only glimpsed her with his usual stoic eyes. Belatedly, he recalled Edris''s daily nagging about greeting etiquettes and talking as "a civilized member of society." Only then did he toss the woman a half-hearted "Hello." Any average person would be daunted, even put off, by the white-haired man''s behaviour, but when it came to Madam Amos, his series of actions functioned like a shot of adrenaline. "Yes! It is this distant, wintry gaze that I am looking for. Simply wonderful!" she cried. Duke Orteon looked equally bufuddled at the unfamiliar face. "Celio, another new friend?" The beast tamer scratched his cheek. "I guess you could say that" At the same time, a third person stepped out from the carriage behind them, and Duke Orteon froze on the spot. Celio glimpsed sidelong at his face, which had paled several shades within seconds. Edris arranged his face into a gentle smile as he skimmed through the group of people. He greeted Madam Amos and exchanged some simple pleasantries. He then cast his gaze toward the duke in the corner. "Good morning, Your Grace," he said. "How have you been?" "Great! I''ve been great. Just great," Duke Orteon replied, perhaps a bit too eager. He calmed himself down with a clear of the throat. "And yourself?" "Uncle Dominic, are you okay?" Celio frowned. "You''re sweating a lot." "It is quite sunny today." Edris smiled. He turned to the duke and said, "Don''t worry, Your Grace. I''m doing well. My conditions have improved considerably thanks to His Highness''s treatments." "That''s good." Duke Orteon nodded dazedly, then repeated, "That''s good." Celio gave the duke a sympathetic look. Given that Edris had blown up his greenhouse a while back, his apprehension was expected. Duke Orteon looked noticeably relieved as he took in the assurance with an exhale. "In any case, the gates should be ready soon." He quickly adjusted his condition and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "We contracted a trading deal with the Adalarians recently on gigasnow pelts. Winter''s predicted to be extra cold this year, so earlier preparations are safer even though it''s still a few months away." Textile trade between Adalan and Zacriya was one of the few interactions between the two kingdoms; the former would offer their pelts and brelon wools in exchange for the latter''s high-quality, durable silk materials. "Your Grace! Could you please come over and check whether this organisation is okay?" One of the workers called from a distance, and Duke Orteon hollered back. "Be right there!" Before taking his leave, he turned to Edris''s group. "The setup''s almost finished, so feel free to come whenever you''re ready." "Master." Celio poked at Edris. "Should we go now?" The latter nodded as they headed to the curved structure in the distance. However, he was on his third step when Edris felt a hand on his turtleneck collar, jerking him backwards. Edris coughed and pivoted around, knowing the culprit was a certain white-haired man. Ace''s sharp obsidian eyes fixed on the row of greenery to their left, and in a sweeping movement, he was in front of one of the bushes. He reached into the bush with one arm and dug around the stem and leaves, his face expressionless throughout the entire process. After some rustling here and there, he yanked out his arm, heaving out a whole living human. "" Edris and Celio stared blankly at the unexpected finding. The former blinked twice after recognising the person as a familiar face. "Doris?" The girl with bobbed hair, covered in dirt and grim, gave a small nod. She peered toward Ace, who was still grabbing her by the collar of her shirt. At her unamused look, Ace stared back with an equally flat expression. He let the girl dangle for another five seconds before placing her back on the ground. "Why do you look like that?" Edris asked. Doris didn''t respond at first. She trudged up to him and gestured for his hand. Eyeing her actions in amusement, the dark-haired man did as he was told, opening up his palm. The next thing he knew, a translucent green coin appeared in his hand. Edris''s eye''s widened. "The Chance Amulet," Ace said. Celio immediately recognised the item as well, and he spun toward Doris, open-mouthed. "How did you get this?" "I went to Nolmes Forest," Doris replied. "Alone?" She nodded, a bit proud. "Alone." Edris stared at the emerald coin in his palm, then lifted an eyebrow toward the one who gave him the coin. "And you''re giving this to me?" he asked, earning a nod from the girl. Edris chuckled under his breath as he tossed the coin up and down, watching it flip in the air. "I don''t accept these things for free. Tell me, what is it that you want in return?" "I" Doris said, fiddling with her tattered clothes. "I want to come with you." 57 | I Look Forward to Working With You (END OF PART ONE) "I want to come with you." The Chance Amulet plopped onto Edris''s palm with a dull smack. He stared at her for a few long moments, as if taking time to process her words. "Pardon?" "Take me with you," Doris repeated her words, this time louder. Edris immediately tried to pass back the coin, only for the girl to tuck her hands behind her back and turn her head sideways. He didn''t know whether to laugh or cry at her reaction. "Do you even know where we''re going?" "No," Doris admitted. "But I want to come." The girl seemed to have come prepared for this conversation because the next moment, she was already reaching for something in her pouch. Doris pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and pressed it into Edris''s hands. "I have a guardian''s approval as well. Gran agreed to it. I even had her sign an official responsibility transferral form," she stated. Edris''s eyebrows wrinkled at the paper in his hands. He flattened it a few times and skimmed the content. On the end of the form was a signature from Wendy, the owner of Wendy''s Bakery Stand. The handwriting matched the words on the written store menu. Chances were that Doris did somehow manage to get her grandmother to heed her request. The entire time as Edris scrutinised the piece of paper, he could feel the little girl''s gaze boring through his forehead. Then as if fearing his refusal, the girl yanked out another, larger pouch from her pocket. "My entire savings in here." She shoved it on top of the agreement form. "It''s not a lot, but you can subtract it from my residence and meal fees. I don''t eat much. I also don''t take up much space." Before Edris could speak, she took a few steps back, creating a small distance between her and the group. Blowing out a long breath, Doris raised both her arms, and a gust bellowed beneath her feet. Around them, birds began to chirp as they flapped their wings, darting toward the sky. The simultaneous movement caused all heads around them to upturn. The workers in the distance stopped their movements, and so did the nobles from the Orteon household. Everyone watched as the enormous flock of birds flew into the distance. "Did you just do that?" Edris stared at the scrawny, dirt-covered girl in front of him with parted lips. Celio''s eyes shook as they darted back and forth between the distant flyers and the little girl. Even the usually disinterested Ace had glanced over as well. Doris nodded. "The birds are my friends. Through them, I can get information about our surroundings and help scout out any danger. I can also hear the same from insects. And water creatures." She gripped the rims of her shirt and lifted her head. "I''m still learning, but I will get better." "You''ve discovered your Touch already?" Ace asked. A Touch, as Dolan and Magnus mentioned last night, was equivalent to a specialised pathway, one that''ll provide Awakeneds with a great advantage if they tailored to learning skills related to their Touch. For example, the Vyris siblings'' Touch were "passage" and "dream," respectively, and Saire Harkness''s was "chance." Seeing her progress in such a short time, the girl obviously had a high aptitude for mana manipulation. It was even possible that she''d already awakened her Touch since the last time they saw her. Doris spent a few moments thinking about Ace''s question, then shook her head. "Not exactly," she said. "But I have a hunch." "Oh?" Another surge of gust blew between them, lifting layers of her hair into the air. Doris stared straight at them, and residing in her eyes was a sea of fire. Her dimpled showed as she gave them a faint but confident smile. "Life." "Everything''s in place! We''ll be soon ready to go!" Duke Orteon''s voice echoed from afar, pulling a halt to the conversation. "We''ll be there shortly!" Celio yelled back. "Master, what should we do?" After everything the little girl had thrown out, Edris only stared at her, an indecipherable expression on his face. He cast a look toward Ace, who turned away the next second, signalling indifference. Breathing out a sigh, Edris tossed the pouch into the air, repeating the process one time after another. The clattering sound of yones reverberated in the space between them. Under the dark-haired man''s abiding gaze, Doris lowered her eyes back down at her feet. "I don''t engage in unfair transactions," Edris finally said. "To be honest, what you gave me is insufficient to fend off everything we''ll do on our journey." At his words, Doris''s tiny hands curled into fists, and she shrunk into herself. However, Edris wasn''t finished. "Which means you''ll have to make up for what''s missing yourself. Will you be okay with that?" He watched as Doris''s head bounced back up at his words. She stared at him wide-eyed for the longest time, and Edris gave a casual shrug of his shoulders. "After all, business transactions must at least be equal in value. But what I look for in my transactions is a surplus. A gain." A glint flashed across his pale eyes. "Do you think you''ll be able to produce this surplus?" Doris fell contemplative at this question. The little girl bore a stern expression on her face as she entered a trance. It appeared like some gears in her head were working away at an intense arithmetic function. Finally, she gave him a serious, affirmative nod. Edris smiled. "Great doing business with you, Miss Doris." "Not Doris. I want to be called something else," she said. "Darcie is still sick, so she''ll be sad if she finds out I''ve gone far away without telling her. So I will leave behind my name. ''Doris'' will be the one to stay, to remain as her sister and only as her sister. Plus" Doris snuck a glance at the three of them. "she''d be distraught hearing about me doing dangerous things with strangers." "Dangerous?" Edris let out a laugh. "Who told you we''ll be doing dangerous things?" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He crouched down to her level. "Perhaps I should clarify this, but" Lifting an index finger, he pointed it toward the beast tamer, then the white-haired man. "I can''t say about them, but I''m a seeker of peace. Through and through." Edris smiled. "Here, we do things in a civilized manner." Celio entered a coughing fit while Ace scoffed out loud. Eyeing their reactions, Doris professionally withdrew her gaze. "If you say so." "In any case, I respect your decision," Edris said. "I will update it on your contract. What would you like to be called from now on?" The silence was shorter this time, as the girl had thought of a response in advance. "Ives." Edris blinked. Ives was the main character and title of a fable, familiar to many in the Eastern Continent. If he remembered correctly, the story went something like this: Ives was an orphan who grew up in the poverty-stricken part of an unnamed kingdom. When she was sixteen, she discovered that a prophet had given her their blessings through a prophecy. Under the power of the prophecy, she was blessed with powers strong enough to demolish an entire continent. To repay this blessing, she must use them solely to help others and bring prosperity to the world. And so, in a single night, the entire world seemed to have fallen in her favour. Scholars, merchants, townspeoplecountless worshippers stormed her house. Even people from the palace came over, inviting her to become the princess of their kingdom, a symbol of prosperity and fortune. However, where were they before? Where were they when Ives was sleeping on trees and feeding off leaves? Ives refused all their offers and decided to become a wizard in recluse. With her powers, she created a forest all for herself and killed off any who dared to approach. As time passed, Ives turned from the worshipped wizard to the figure of despair. She was mysterious, she was feared, she was strong. The fable ended in a tragedy. The kingdom fell apart due to a civil war, and Ives died alone in her forest from the overuse of her powers. On the day of her death, some runaway citizens tried to sneak into her house to steal her food and belongings, but they ended up causing a fire and burning to death, taking the entire forest with them. There was a reason why Edris recalled this fable with such lucidity. On the one hand, it was due to it being a tragedy, an extremely rare occurrence in a sea of happily-ever-afters. But more importantly, it was because of the fable''s moral. As with all fables in the kingdom, the story Ives was also assigned a moral: Be a selfless person and give back to the world. When Edris read the moral for the first time, he recalled feeling so speechless by it that he tossed the entire book in the trash. Thanks to its absurdity, he remembered the entire fable even until this day. Despite his mixed sentiments, Edris didn''t ask for an elaboration. He stretched out his hand, eyes creasing in a gentle smile. "Miss Ives, I look forward to working with you." The girl, now Ives, received his handshake with reciprocating firmness. Even though her hand was much smaller than his, at this moment, they weighed equal as two parties of a pact. *** The Signa Gate looked closer to a portal rather than a gate. Centered on a marbled platform by the foot of Felicity Hills, the giant ring-shaped structure stood as a guardian of valour and a bridge between nations. A spiralling force rumbled and furled in the centre of the ring, which bathed in an ocean-like glow. "Perfect timing! We''re just about to activate the gate." Duke Orteon said as he saw Edris approaching. His eyes landed on the new face in his group. "Who''s this little one?" "Her name''s Ives. She''ll be coming with us to Adalan." Edris smiled. Since Signa Gate transportations were strict on quantity, the duke didn''t question further on the issue. Including Edris''s group, around thirty people were going to be teleported at once. Duke Orteon wasn''t a part of the travel group; he was only here to oversee the transportation. "Make sure to watch over the child. Since it''s likely her first time using the Gates, the ride may be bumpy," he said to the group from below the platform. "That''s true" Celio said, glancing over to Ives. He offered his hand with a grin. "You should hold on so you don''t fall!" Ives stared at his outstretched hand, hesitancy crossing her gaze. She breathed out, then carefully tugged onto three of his fingers. "Make sure you hold on tightly!" Duke Orteon said again. "Maybe carrying her would be better?" "It''s fine." At his suggestion, Ives firmly shook her head. She looked toward Edris for support, and the latter tapped his lips in contemplation. "I suppose it would be better," he mumbled, then turned to the white-haired man with a gentle smile. "Ace, go ahead." "" Ace reacted to the dark-haired man''s unconcealed cheekiness with the usual stoicism. He glanced down, making eye contact with the girl half his size, and the next second, Ives was hauled over her shoulders like a sack of sand. His action took Ives by surprise. She stiffened, breath hitched and eyes unblinking. She moved her gaze toward Edris, signalling help. "Ives," Ace spoke slowly. "If you really want to travel with this man, look over the contract carefully." Ives blinked at his words, and so did Edris. "A contract is a two-sided agreement. He can list his conditions. You can too." He continued without a care for their puzzlement. "List your requirements clearly. For people like him, finding loopholes for exploitations is like second nature." "Hey, do I look like such an immoral person to you?" Edris arched a brow. "From experience, an affirmative." "I didn''t know you were the type to bear grudges." "Did you really just say that with your own mouth?" "Got it," Ives responded seriously, cutting through their banter. "I will keep it in mind." "Master, how come we don''t have a contract?" As usual, the beast tamer seemed to be on a whole other channel from the rest. "Can we enter one as well?" "All of you" With a hand stacked on his hip, Edris let out a sigh. He shot Ace a dirty look. "Are you trying to get her to vomit in a position like that? Just give her to me." He heaved the girl off the white-haired man and plopped her onto his back in a piggy-back position. "Ready?" Ives nodded as she clung to his neck like a sloth. After she steadied herself, Edris exchanged glances with Celio and Ace, then turned toward the Signa Gate. The travelling team from the Orteon household had already entered the portal, so the four of them were the last ones on the platform. "Go on whenever you''re ready!" Duke Orteon called from beneath. "Have a safe trip to Adalan!" Edris waved back, and Ace gave a curt nod. Streaks of light seeped out of the gates, as though inviting them in. On the other side of this barrier laid the Adalan Kingdom, the land of thrills and stories. "Bye, Uncle Dominic!" Celio waved his arms widely, then looked up to the sky. "AhI can''t believe we''re going back home after so long. Time sure flies fast. Right, Master?" Edris merely smiled. Home? He held no such sentiments toward the Adalan Kingdom. Even though he''d worked there for some time, the kingdom to him was no different from any other region he''d been to in the world. It was just another stop in his journey as a traveller, another location with missions to overcome. Be it Nest, dark magic, or even war, all of these were simply obstacles between him and his peaceful, carefree life. All he needed to do was surmount them. Indeed, things would only get better from here. With these thoughts in mind, the dark-haired man watched as his companions stepped into the Signa Gates one after the next. Eventually, only he and Ives were left on the platform. He glanced behind at the girl on his back, assuring her with a smile, and the latter nodded. The next second, Edris took a step forward. Only then did it occur to him that it was also his first time using the gate. The suction force was much stronger than he''d anticipated, and a surge of light devoured his body almost instantly. The traveller inhaled sharply as his waist was yanked forward, head following behind. Edris tumbled through the gate. [ END OF PART ONE ] 58 | I Start Off Confused Edris! A voice rang in the distance, snapping the dark-haired man out of his trance. He turned his head toward the person calling out to him. The voice belonged to a young man, looking to have just passed his teenage years. He was wearing a maroon blazer and matching dress pants, adorned with white lining around its rims. A wide smile plastered on his freckled face as the boy ventured toward him. Edris did not recognise this boy. However, recognition was the least of his worries. Edriss gaze fell on the top left corner of his field of view. A semi-transparent mini screen floated in front of him, marked with several unfamiliar labels. He blinked twice, then shifted his head side to side. The glowing labels followed. Surrounding him were hoards of other maroon-suited people, all making their way past a majestic set of golden gates. A sweeping walkway stretched out in an extended curve; it led them into the courtyard, toward the centre building. The red trimming and pearly pillars reminded Edris of Zacriyas Royal Palace, except instead of nobles and mages, the place was currently being swarmed by youths barely in adulthood. Amidst the moving crowd, the dark-haired man stood frozen like a historical statue, visibly confused. Dude, you good? The freckled boy waved a hand in front of his face, his curly hair poking into his vision. Lets head on in! Cant wait to visit the cafeteria. Heard MW has crazy good meals. Two bold, red words stuck out at the top of the building: [ MW ACADEMY ] His eyes trailed down, landing on the glowing letters in the lower centre of the display:
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE: INCOMING [STUDENT] OF MW ACADEMY |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE: INCOMING [STUDENT] OF MW ACADEMY |
| YOU HAVE AN INCOMING QUEST! [INITIAL QUEST] DETECTED! ACCEPT [INITIAL QUEST]? [YES] [NO] NOTE: Each player must complete their [INITIAL QUEST] in order to unlock their [MAIN QUEST] |
| INITIAL QUEST: Find your unrequited love! TIME LIMIT: 60 minutes |
| YOU HAVE AN INCOMING QUEST! [INITIAL QUEST] DETECTED! ACCEPT [INITIAL QUEST]? [YES] [NO] NOTE: Player must complete the [INITIAL QUEST] in order to unlock the [MAIN QUEST] |
| PLAYER [CELIO] ''S INITIAL QUEST: Give a motivational speech to the first-year student body at MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 60 minutes |
| PLAYER ID | Celio |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy through exceptional grades and a Scholarship of Excellence! Congratulations on your admittance! This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Thanks to your talent and hard work, you managed to seize a spot on this year''s acceptance list through top-notch examination results and outstanding interviews. You love learning and always arrive fifteen minutes early for each class. You are enthusiastic and actively seek opportunities to foster meaningful connections with prominent figures for your future career. INITIAL QUEST: Give a motivational speech to the first-year student body at MW Academy! CLEARING QUEST (MAIN): [UNLOCKED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF INITIAL QUEST] |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy by bribing the Principal. Congratulations on your admittance! Thanks to your filthy rich parents, you managed to seize a spot in this year''s acceptance list despite your subpar examination results and butchered interviews. You''re accustomed to skipping class, and you dislike learning. The only reason you agreed to your parents'' request to attend the academy is because of your unrequited love, also a student at MW. INITIAL QUEST: Find your unrequited love! CLEARING QUEST (MAIN): [UNLOCKED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF INITIAL QUEST] |
| [INITIAL QUEST] has been completed! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
| LABYRINTH #53: RULES & REGULATIONS |
Give-and-take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium. Would you like toNo.
Edris opened his eyes. After making sure he could still communicate with the Sacrificial Hourglass in the Labyrinth, he tucked the pendant back into his shirt as though nothing had happened. Frankly, he didnt know how to feel about this information. Although access to the sacred artifact provided him with a last resort in dire situations, this also implied that the pedant, with its origins unknown, retained powers that reached beyond the Labyrinths jurisdictions. The Principal was still talking, but students were no longer listening. Some glanced around while others fidgeted on the spot, growing restless. Edris glanced at the countdown on the glowing display. Less than five minutes were left to complete the initial quest. If his suspicions were correct, the time limit was likely the same for all players, at least when it came to the initial quest. Evidently, he wasnt the only one who had yet to complete the quest. Although the Labyrinth system didnt spell out any punishments for failing to complete the initial quest on time, nobody dared to underestimate its potential consequences. Silence! One of the professors, the one with a magenta bun, spoke into the diffusal orb, creating a high-pitched screech that dragged along the auditorium. The chatters died down, but the anxiety stayed. The Principal took no notice of either as he smiled toward the audience. I know you are all excited to begin learning, but it is equally important to understand and obey our rules here at MW Academy. Following his words, the fourth rule appeared on the players screen display. Rule four: keep learning a priority and pointless entertainment to a minimum. Your quiz results will be published on the board to prompt co-growth between classes. Romantic relationships are prohibited between MW students! If you are caught engaging in such distracting behaviour, your parents will be notified immediately. Ha? Edris stared at the Rules & Regulations page, speechless. Was his quest even achievable at this point? Also, what parents? It was at that moment. A cool breeze brushed against his forehead, soon sweeping across the entire auditorium. Snap. Edris cast his gaze to the front, just in time to see an enormous scroll drop from the ceiling onto the stage, right behind where the Principal was standing. It was a painting of a young woman with long curls and tanned skin, glowing under the stages spotlight. "Who in the world The auditorium fell silent, even more so than when the professor hushed them through the diffusal orb. All eyes locked on the face on the painting, half mesmerized, other half dumbstruck. Woah So cool. Someone mumbled under their breath. Edris gave a sidelong glance at the freckled boy, who now stood with eyes wide and jaws dropped. He didnt have to guess to know that the ostentatious display was works of a player, likely the figure on the painting, related to her initial quest. Edris glimpsed down at his interface. Less than two minutes were left of the countdown. He took a deep breath. Dude We have some crazy cool incoming students this year The freckled boy gulped, eyes still glued to the enormous portrait painting. Indeed. Edris nodded, also turning to glance at the painting. As expected from my unrequited love. The freckled boy whipped his head sideways at his words, staring at him in surprise. Edris gazed back, half-smiling. Unrequited love. Aside from the implicit requirements of being bold and flashy, as the freckled boy had asserted, the key to completing the initial quest lay within its wording. Specifically, the word unrequited. In Edriss case, he must find someone who checked the boxes for both personality and one-sided love. His role in the Labyrinth was already someone obsessively in love, so Edris didnt have to worry about his end. The problem was the other side. Edris couldnt risk choosing a non-player, since there was a chance theylike the freckled boy, for exampleknew the original owner of his role and were fond of him. That said, his best option was to select a player like himself. Edriss initial choice was Ace after seeing him on stage. The Labyrinth had somehow assigned the white-haired man to be a professor, quite a useful asset in their given setting. Itd be much more convenient for them to interact under the eyes of others, if he were to use the pretence of being in love. However, there was a problem. Edris wasnt sure whether Ace would fulfil either of the two trait requirements, especially bold as none of the professors showcased their personalities. Indeed, this initial quest gave him various choices, but each required careful deliberations. After all, he wasnt sure whether the quest gave second chances, either. Itd be problematic if he rashly chose someone and failed the Labyrinth altogether. Thus, the best course of action would be to choose a player still, but someone who he was certain they were strangers. With these thoughts in mind, Edris decided to take a risk and bet his chances on this flamboyant figure. She, shes your unrequited love? The freckled boy stared at him, dazed for a few seconds before something clicked in his mind as his eyes cleared with an epiphany. Ah, youre right. It is her! As expected from Edris At that moment, a ting echoed in Edriss ears as the screen in front of him flickered into a new message.
| [INITIAL QUEST] has been completed! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
| TIME TO COMPLETE [INITIAL QUEST]: 00:00:00:56 NOTE: Failure to complete [INITIAL QUEST] results in failure to complete Labyrinth 53. As a result, the player will fully assimilate into their [ROLE]. |
| Congratulations! You have completed the [INITIAL QUEST]! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy by bribing the Principal. Congratulations on your admittance! Thanks to your filthy rich parents, you managed to seize a spot in this year''s acceptance list despite your subpar examination results and butchered interviews. You''re accustomed to skipping class, and you dislike learning. The only reason you agreed to your parents'' request to attend the academy is because of your unrequited love, also a student at MW. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 100% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| Updating [MAIN QUEST] now [MAIN QUEST] updated! |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 89:23:59:55 |
| Player [CELIO] would like to share his profile with you. [ACCEPT] [DECLINE] |
| PLAYER ID | Celio |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy through exceptional grades and a Scholarship of Excellence! Congratulations on your admittance! Thanks to your talent and hard work, you managed to seize a spot on this year''s acceptance list through top-notch examination results and outstanding interviews. You love learning and always arrive fifteen minutes early for each class. You are enthusiastic and actively seek opportunities to foster meaningful connections with prominent figures for your future career. |
| PLAYER ID | Ives |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are a student attending MW Academy in place of your twin sister! Congratulations on your admittance! You are a child prodigy who, despite having a great talent for learning, has been neglected by your parents. Due to your sister''s illness, your parents have sent you here through connections with your uncle, who works here as a [PROFESSOR], to hold her place while she recovers. Your sister has always been the favourite child, so with this opportunity, you decide to take revenge by deliberately flunking every test and displaying animosity towards other students to sabotage your sister''s reputation. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 100% WARNING: If [AFFINITY] drops below 50, the player may experience spontaneous mute intervals, which may hinder performance during crucial situations; if [AFFINITY] drops below 20, the player will undergo various hallucinations. Once [AFFINITY] reaches zero, the player will merge with their [ROLE] and become a permanent member of Labyrinth 53. |
| [EARPLUGS] has been acquired! USAGE: Upon activation, the card user will lose their ability to hear anything for the next 90 seconds. "Your unrequited love can''t reject you if you can''t hear in the first place!" Place [EARPLUGS] into [SLOT 2]? |
| INVITATION HAS FAILED TO SEND! NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| TODAY''S ANNOUNCEMENTS: RANKING TEST |
RANKING TEST
Name: _______________
Q1: What is Weisha''s favourite fruit to eat for breakfast?
|
| PLAYER ID | Celio |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| RANK | 1 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy through exceptional grades and a Scholarship of Excellence! Congratulations on your admittance! Thanks to your talent and hard work, you managed to seize a spot on this year''s acceptance list through top-notch examination results and outstanding interviews. You love learning and always arrive fifteen minutes early for each class. You are enthusiastic and actively seek opportunities to foster meaningful connections with prominent figures for your future career. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 97% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| NOTICE TO ACCESS THE MUSIC TOWER, YOU MUST FULFILL ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: 1) BE IN THE STUDENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATION 2) BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PROFESSOR |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 81:13:45:02 |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 61:12:45:00 |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Abnormal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy by bribing the Principal. Congratulations on your admittance! You [EXPAND FULL DESCRIPTION HERE] |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 52% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 52% |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 82% |
| Congratulations! A hidden location has been unlocked! |
| You have been rewarded [MEDICAL PACK] for your discovery! The card has been added to your card slot. |
| You have entered [%3^#5@''S WARD]! |
Give-and-take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?"I" Just as Edris was about to respond, a second voice reached his ears. It belonged in the outside the hidden room, pulling back a sliver of his rationality above the surfaceit belonged to Ace. "There''s no one here." And everything went black. *** PRESENT. Edris sat by his bed, shuddering at how close he was to enter the Realm of Afterglow. If it weren''t for his experience dealing with Splinter Syndrome patients, he would surely have succumbed to the drop in affinity. In the end, he didn''t turn to the Sacrificial Hourglass. With the strand of remaining self, his consciousness had slipped in and out as the original owner of this role stepped forth, threatening to take over as he interacted with the people back at the academic building. Edris had allowed it. The worst thing to do at times like this was to fight the original role; not only would resistance result in a faster drop in affinity due to mental exhaustion, it would have exposed more openings to psychological intrusion. Edris thought back to the secret room and all its accompanied absurdities. His expression grew grave. "Just what are Labyrinths?" He reached for the bottle of water on the table. Gulping it down in one go, he pulled himself to his feet and headed to the bathroom. Standing before the mirror, Edris examined his current state. Although he''d concealed his condition earlier in front of the others, if one looked closely, they could still see a faint rosiness in his face and the wrinkled dress shirt beneath his blazer. With a sigh, he quickly fixed his appearance and tied back his hair. Heading out of the bathroom, he came face-to-face with Owein, who''d just walked into the room. The brown-haired man gave him a casual glance before heading to his side of the room. Edris watched as he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, then neatly folded his blazer and placed it on the table beside his bed. Sensing his stare, the man glanced up. "So you''ve survived." "How did you know about the room behind the portrait?'' At Edris''s question, Owein lowered his gaze. He grabbed the bag of yarn by his pillow and began knitting his scarf, which was now almost as long as him. "I''ve been there," he said. "Lies." When Edris entered the room, the entire floor was covered in dust. Unless the man knew how to levitate, there were bound to be at least some footprints left behind. At his merciless exposure, Owein fell silent. After a second, he turned back to knitting his scarf. Seeing the man didn''t intend to explain, Edris narrowed his eyes. "You told me to ''mentally prepare myself,''" he pressed on. "How did you know the room would lower my affinity?" Owein lifted his head. "It lowered your affinity?" This time, it was Edris''s turn to fall silent. "Weren''t you expect this?" Owein looked at him strangely. "No." "Then why did you then what was the warning about?" Owein''s entire body stiffened as he seemed to be reminded of something. His hands clenched onto his scarf so hard his knuckles were turning white. At the man''s reaction, Edris raised an eyebrow. "What?" "The room" Owein swallowed, looking visibly disturbed. "It''s really dirty." 81 | I Guess Im Honoured? Classes proceeded as usual the next day. The group gathered in the cafeteria during lunch, where Edris shared his general update on what had happened on the seventh floor, but without all the details of him almost dying. He only wanted to reveal what was necessary to ensure the optimal chances of their survival. Confessing every little thing would only prompt further anxiety, and instability was the last thing they needed right now. "No wonder Ives said you were acting a bit strange yesterday. It must have been dangerous." Celio gulped. "But Master, what will you do if they really start to suspect you?" "It''s not like I''m the only one on the list. And even if I am" Edris leaned back, knocking on the cafeteria table as his lips upcurled. "Do you think they''d really punish the son of one of the academy''s most important donors?" When he was in Sky''s room, he''d noticed a document on his desk containing a list of names ranked based on their "contributions" to the school. Simply put, a list of students they should remain lenient towards, regardless of their grades. As expected from the fair and loving MW Academy. "But shouldn''t we still try to look for the second intruder?" Ives said. "Otherwise, Mister Edris will remain a suspect." "The intruder is someone who knows who I am," Edris said, tapping his lips in thought. "A person who holds hostility towards me and can also skip the test without minding the consequences. There are only a few among students who can do this." "You''re still talking about the infamous intruder?" Edris glanced up and was met with the glowing number "12." The freckled boy throttled over with a plate of sausages as he joined the group of three at the table. "What more is there to say?" He stabbed his fork into a sausage and tossed it in his mouth. "All I could think of is how impressive the professors'' efficiency." Celio blinked. "What do you mean?" "Haven''t you heard?" The freckled boy chewed on his third sausage, swallowing as he took in the beast tamer''s look of confusion. "The intruder was caught this morning." *** A crowd had already gathered outside the dorms when Edris''s group arrived. Four cloaked people surrounded the blocked the entrance, preventing the others from the inside view. "Heard she tried to escape. See how that''d turned out." A student sighed. "It''s strange, though. Apparently, she was the one that confessed her crimes this morning when asked by the professors. But now she''s denying everything she''d ever said." "Probably regretted having a conscience," another said with a shrug, instigating a wave of laughter among the students. A few steps away from the main crowd, Edris silently listened to their conversation. He tapped the side of his leg, appearing contemplative about something. "Who is it? Who''s the intruder?" Celio tip-toed, trying to peer past the sea of heads. The freckled boy yanked him back down on his feet. "You know her, don''t you?" He gave him a strange look, then turned to the seven-year-old. "She''s Miss Prodigy''s roommate. No. 39." At his words, both Celio and Ives turned to him. The latter clung onto his sleeve as her usually controlled expression rippled. "Alicia?" she said. "There''s no way." "Hey, let me go!" As if to confirm her skepticism, a familiar voice echoed inside the dorms. A woman was hauled out from the entrance and pushed onto the floor. Watching as Alicia''s body dragged against the cement, Ives was about to step forward when a voice interrupted her from behind. "Ives." Edris peered in her direction with a calm gaze. He shook his head. Footsteps emerged from afar, and the hoard of students stepped aside, making way for the professors as they strolled out of the building. Leading the group was Magenta, with Moss, Sky, and Aureolin right behind her. "No. 39, your actions have been deemed a direct threat to the peace and harmony we have tried so hard to sustain here at MW Academy." She lowered her gaze to the woman on the ground. "It is only fair for you to be punished accordingly." "I''m telling youI didn''t do it." Alicia gritted her teeth, pushing herself from the hard floor. "I was there for the test. Just ask the people around me!" She whipped her head around, surveying the spectators, only for her gaze to be evaded by those around her. Amidst the surrounding students, her frantic eyes locked with those belonging to a certain seven-year-old. "Ives!" Alicia called out, causing heads to steer her way. "We were together on the test day, and during when the intrusion took place, weren''t we?" Ives stared at her. "We were." The woman released an exhale. She spun toward the pink-haired professor. "See? I told you so!" "Guess what? You also told us this morning that you didn''t want to live in guilt and that it was you who stole the test papers." Sky scoffed. "Looks like your guilt is not very long-lasting." "I was possessed! That wasn''t me!" "Magenta, do you hear the words she''s spewing out of her mouth right now?" "Silence," Magenta said as she gave the woman a side glance. "Us professors and other students were all present when you came to us with your confession this morning. And as for the test day students say there''s also been a period of time where you disappeared." Alicia stared at her with eyes full of disbelief. "I was taking a piss!" "Can you prove that?" Sky raised an eyebrow. "How am I supposed to" "This has been going on for too long." Moss sighed, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "No. 39. As your actions have resulted in an extreme violation of Rule #5, the professors have decided to skip the first punishment and move to the second. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "As a result, your parents have been notified of your misconduct. They will be here shortly." He gave the cloaked people a look. "Take her to the Principal''s Office." "W-wait, it''s not me! Also what parents? Why don''t any of you listen?!" Alicia''s words of denial faded into the air as one of the cloaked figures yanked her off her feet, hauling her over like a sack of sand. No matter how much she screamed and resisted, the grip on her back didn''t falter in the slightest. The students around her regarded the scene with fear, enlarging the distance between them as the cloaked people marched past. As Ives watched the woman''s figure fade into the distance, she was suddenly hit with a single thought: I still haven''t given back her notebook. The notebook filled with study notes the two of them spent weeks accumulating, the notebook which still had her doodles at the back, the notebook which held a single stain from her cup of morning coffee Ives clenched the rims of her blazer. She peered over her shoulder to the dark-haired man standing from behind. She knew the reason why Edris had stopped her. In the current progression of events, blindingly siding with Alicia just because they were roommates would only bring suspicion upon herself. Unlike Edris, whose persona revolved around his "unrequited love," Ives''s persona required her to show hostility towards all. If Ives were to step up, her action would undoubtedly be deemed as out-of-character, and with all the students watching, who knows how much her affinity would drop? But even then "Mister Edris." As the crowd dispersed, Ives spun around and glimpsed at the dark-haired man. A rare disorientation awashed her facial features as Ives pursed her lips into a line. "I don''t think" "I know." Edris interrupted her, grazing his hand along the back of her head. "Are you angry at me?" His voice was calm as usual. "I stopped you from helping her." "I couldn''t have helped her back then, even if you didn''t stop me." Ives shook her head. "But Mister Edris" She peered at him with her dark round eyes. "She copied down her pages for me. She also gave me a chocolate bar. I haven''t paid her back yet." As if afraid he''d laugh at her, Ives lowered her head and lightly tugged on his blazer. "You said everything in the world has to undergo equivalent exchange." "I did say that." "I''ll have to pay her back, then." "I guess you do." Unlike her expectations, Edris''s voice was soft and collected. Ives lifted her head, and she was met with a familiar gaze. Despite the unchanging, even cold, distance behind it, it brought upon the seven-year-old an undeniable sense of reassurance. Edris smiled. "Ives, I understand." Children. This was why he disliked children. They easily grew attached to others, and the result of that formed reliance was impeded judgments. Although Ives was more mature and competent than most children her age, she was still only seven. But to gain the favour of someone like Ives in such a short time, he supposed No. 39 was valuable in her own ways. Amidst his speculations, a small pair of arms wrapped themselves around his waist. Edris glanced down to see Ives''s head buried in his stomach. With a gentle smile, he caressed the back of her head in silence as his mind worked away with the details. Ranked No. 39, Alicia didn''t hold many impressions on Edris besides being a player and Ives''s roommate. They barely interacted throughout their time in the Labyrinth, and from the professors'' accounts, it was true she''d been absent for a short period of time during test day. Weighing the situation at large, Edris didn''t have much to gain aside from more hassles that''d come from involving himself in the matter. That was the case, but The dark-haired man sighed inaudibly. Indeed, he wasn''t planning to involve himself in the matter, but witnessing the extent of its effect on the seven-year-old, it looked like he''d have to dig deeper. Plus Edris thought back to Alicia''s reaction, then to the professors'' unnatural nonchalance toward her situation. Ives had reported to her about the mini-conflict they had with No. 43 in front of the academic building on test day. Under the presumption that No. 39 was, indeed, framed by another student, be they natives or players, what was their incentive for doing so? The seventh floor wasn''t a deed that could be executed alone. Chances were that multiple people collaborated, and their intentions reached far beyond simply framing Aliciaat least, it''d be quite petty of them if it were the case. The people behind this what''s their relationship with the second intruder? Edris cast his gaze toward the towering maroon building; it stuck out like a blood stain in the sky, bringing about uneasiness. "There''s something deeper to it." *** While Celio and Ives had afternoon classes, Edris decided to head back to the dorm. Thanks to the incident, security around campus buildings had gotten much tighter, with cloaked people floating around almost every street and even dorm hallways. Humming under his breath, Edris strolled through the patrolling guards and into the elevator. A cloaked figure stood by the buttons. It turned toward Edris with a black hole as a face. "Which floor?" The figure''s voice, sounding like metal against brick personified, scraped against the elevator walls as it directed toward Edris. However, the latter posed a particular reaction to the horrifying sound as he responded with a smile: "Seventh." The cloaked figure paused. Even though it had no face, Edris could sense unconcealed scrutiny. "You cannot enter," the Shadow finally said. "It is only for professors." "I know," Edris said. "I''m going there to find Professor 004." "We cannot let you in." "Why?" The dark-haired man tilted his head. "Isn''t it only right for students to find their professors if they have questions? I thought the academy promoted academic eagerness." "Let him." A voice resonated outside the elevator, halting the two amidst their conversation. Magenta stepped into the elevator, positioning herself right between the two. She angled her body toward Edris. "You''re No. 111." She smiled. "Correct me if I''m wrong, but I believe we''ve never talked." Edris stared at her strangely. "No. You are correct." The woman''s smile grew wider. "But I still know you." "I guess I''m honoured?" "No need. I am a professor, and it is within a professor''s duty to know all her students'' names." Magenta peered at him in amusement. "I hear you are looking for 004. He is with Moss at the moment for classes, so you''re out of luck." "In that case, I can come back later," Edris said as he turned to the elevator exit. Magenta pressed a hand onto his shoulder. "Now, now. They should be finished soon. In the meantime, why don''t you and I have a nice chat? If I may remind you, 004 is still a teacher on his probation period. So in terms of experience" Spinning his shoulders around so they faced each other, Magenta patted the dust off his chest pocket. "I may be a better teacher than him." 82 | I Plan On Taking Advantage Of It Edris knew that Ace was in class. How could he not, when he had familiarised himself with all five professors'' schedules like they were the back of his palm? Indeed, his intention had been to find Magenta in the first place. As the leader of the four professors, Magenta seemed to hold a slightly different role than the others. Edris was planning to test his speculations today. "Would you like coffee? Tea? I personally recommend green tea with honey." Magenta said, leading him past the seventh-floor lounge and into her room on the right end of the curve. Like Ace mentioned, each professor''s room followed a specific theme. Magenta''s grappled with the colour pink to the extreme. Despite the bright pink walls, flooring, and furniture, the entire room gave off an office-like feel, orderly yet restrained. Pulling his gaze away from the "DONOR''S LIST" scroll plastered on one of the walls, Edris responded to her question with a gentle smile. "I''ll gladly take you up on your recommendation." Ever since the Labyrinth rules were introduced on the first day, he''d discerned a trace of incongruity between the Labyrinth''s obsession with order and its inherently destructive nature. When the original owner of Edris''s persona took over, he''d caught glimpses of his memories prior to his enrolment at MW Academy. A meeting between parents and professors, and a hefty amount of money. In the flashback, he saw the professors print down his name onto a sheet of paperthe donor''s list, they called it. The same list he''d seen back in Sky''s room, and unsurprisingly, his name was on the very top. Edris had been wondering something for a long time. The students had experienced two tests so far, both of which Edris had Ives write on his behalf. According to the seven-year-old, there had been multiple accounts where others were caught cheating by the professors and thrown in [DETENTION]. Thankfully, luck had been on her side, and she''d completed the test both times without being noticed. However, Edris didn''t believe in luck. With the level of attention the academy placed on students'' learning environment, how did Ives manage to sneak in two test packagestwice, toowithout being noticed by the professors? It was then Edris concluded that it wasn''t that she wasn''t noticedher actions had been deliberately ignored. And the reason for the blind eye? Privilege, of course. The differential treatment based on rankings, the intentional dismissal of "problematic" students such as Edris, who haven''t attended a single class, and even the conspicuous scroll in Magenta''s room, which seems to serve as a reminder of power Edris had underestimated the influence privilege had on one''s freedom in the academy. Of course, he planned on taking advantage of this "privileged state." The leading figure among the professors was an excellent place to begin. "Sorry for the wait. I brought some desserts as well." Magenta placed the platter of colourful sweets on the table, then sat on the couch across from him. "How are you finding the academy so far? Not too straining? Are the cafeteria meals to your liking?" she asked. "My apologies for not inquiring about this earlier. Things have been quite hectic." Crossing one leg over the other, she looked at him with her head tilted. "No. 111? Is something wrong?" "Is it really okay for the blatant differential treatment?" Edris received her mannerisms with an arched eyebrow. "Now, I wouldn''t call it differential treatment." Magenta leisurely took a sip out of her coffee. "We simply like to be extra mindful of our special students. After all, your family has contributed greatly to the well-being of our academy, which makes your presence here all the more valuable." Keeping his wealthy "donor''s son" persona, he leaned back in the cushion and tossed a cookie into his mouth. "Shallow compliments." "I mean it with utmost sincerity." Magenta smiled. "It is quite amusing seeing all the interactions among our students here at MW. And you, No. 111, I find especially fascinating." She leaned forward, pink irises enlarging as they peered in his direction. "How do you know 004?" Hm? Despite his inner confusion, Edris stared back, unfazed. "Why does that concern you?" "Why not?" Magenta shrugged, then added, "After all, nothing good will come from being associated with him." "What do you mean?" "You, me, professors, students" She lifted a finger, pointing toward Edris, then at herself. "Everyone here is subjugated to the rules of the academy. But he''s different." She glanced at the dark-haired man. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "You''re fated to walk different paths." At her words, the room fell silent. Edris gazed at her, eyes boring contemplation. The next moment, he leaned back with a nonchalant smile. "That''s not for you to decide." Magenta smiled back half-heartedly. She reached down at her cup of tea, but before her hands could clasp onto the handle, Edris kicked the leg of the table, causing the liquid to splatter all over her hand. "The seventh-floor intruder," he began. "You know it''s not her, right?" "Why do you think so?" Magenta asked back. She patiently wiped each finger with a handkerchief. "She was the one that confessed to her wrongdoings." "The interaction back in front of the dorms. It''s much of a stretch," Edris said. "In other circumstances, the culprit wouldn''t even be given a chance to defend themselves. Once they violated a rule, those cloaked guys would knock them right out and take them to [DETENTION]." "No. 111, this is a world with only room for the powerful." Magenta sipped on her tea, which was empty at this point. "That is how we''ve all survived until now." "Is that your justification for using an innocent student as a scapegoat?" Edris raised an eyebrow. "A bit weak, I''d say." "I think you''re misunderstanding something here." Magenta sighed. "Us professors are only here to perform our duties given by the Principal, and as long as that requirement is fulfilled, we are left to our leisure. Personally, I do not care for what is within the shadows. In fact, I do not hold much interest in rules at all. "I''m more intrigued by the process itself, you see." Edris narrowed his eyes. "You asked why I allowed No. 39 to take the blame," she said. "Because it''s exciting, of course." "Watching students who know nothing about the world succumb to their desires, turn against each other, struggle until every inch of their being is exhausted of all lingering hope. I think it''s quite a beautiful process." Magenta tilted her body forward. She reached out to Edris, caressing the side of his face. A zealous flame was in her gaze as her lips curled into a chilling smile. "Don''t you?" *** Night soon descended upon MW Academy. Different from usual, however, were the student''s whereabouts. With countless cloaked figures patrolling around the hallways, even studying in their rooms had become an extravagant yearning. Many decided to evade them by spending their days in the library instead. The current time was 9:30 PM, an hour before the curfew check. Ives sat on her bed, brushing her fingers against the surface of the leather notebook. She was one of the few students who''d remained in their dorm rooms. She was waiting for Alicia''s return. After discussing with Edris in the morning, she''d gotten the confirmation from the latter on attempting Soul Solace once for the woman once she returned. Different from Soul Patching, Soul Solace was a form of psychological therapy that can be performed by anyone with experience dealing with Splinter Syndrome patients. They deduced from past victims that [DETENTION] tended to lower the player''s affinity by anywhere from fifteen to thirty points. Although a lofty number, it wasn''t enough for the player to experience too intense of a drawback nor reach the "mute-intervals" they''d undergo once their affinity dropped below fifty. From the times they''d spent together in the past month, Alicia seemed closer to the persistent, unyielding type, so although her punishment was a level above [DETENTION], Ives retained a sense of optimism that she''d pull through and come back safely. But optimistic thinking aside, she still couldn''t wrap her head around why Alicia would confess something she didn''t do. Was she threatened? But again, she''d adamantly denied her words afterwards, which Ives to suspect that she must have been in an abnormal state when confessing her "crimes." Amidst her contemplations, the seven-year-old''s gaze landed on the player profile in the corner of her view. More specificallythe [CARD SLOT] section. "An item?" All players were given a card on their first day of arriving at the Labyrinth. Mister Edris received [EARPLUGS], she got [LOUDSPEAKERS], while the beast tamer''s was [STABILISING SNEAKERS]. What if the person who framed Alicia had also relied on some sort of card item? The dorm door clicked open, pulling Ives out of her deductions. She lifted her head toward the entrance and saw Alicia walk into the room. "Are you okay?" she asked, and the woman glanced up. "Yes. I survived, somehow." She mustered a smile. "Time to catch up on all the work I missed." Ives released a soft sigh of relief. Although her face was stern and lips a bit pale, Alicia appeared to have survived the punishment and returned in one piece. "You didn''t miss much. You were only gone for a day, after all. But more importantly, are you sure you''re not hurt anywhere? Mister Edris has agreed to" Her voice halted mid-sentence. Noticing the seven-year-old''s irregularity, the woman turned to her with a puzzled expression. "Is something wrong?" Ives didn''t respond. All her attention was on the glowing interface floating before her eyes. Her affinityit had dropped to 93. But how? Affinity was dependent on how cohesive the player was in following their assigned role, but she shouldn''t have been impacted by her behaviour unless there were native students around Ives froze. At the same time, Alicia strolled to her side of the table. Stacking her notebooks on top of one another, she was about to heave the rest out of her bag when a card suddenly slipped out. Blinking twice, the woman bent over and picked up the card. "Oh, by the way, I found this in my bag today while coming back from the library." She turned toward Ives, lifting the rectangular slip between her fingers. "Is it yours? I might have been holding onto it for you. I can''t really remember" As she said that, she passed the card to the seven-year-old, who received it with trembling hands. The moment Ives gained hold of the card, a new message popped up on her profile interface.
| The card [RING OF LOVE] has been acquired! USAGE: When activated, a target will randomly be selected within the five-meter range and become infatuated with you for twenty minutes! "Slow-burn romance is overratedlet''s go for something quick and spicy~!" Place [RING OF LOVE] into [SLOT 2]? |
| THE INVITATION HAS FAILED TO SEND! NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| [PLAYER PROFILE] has been updated! |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 55:13:03:56 |
| [MAIN QUEST] has been updated! |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 30:23:59:59 |
| [MEDICAL PACK] USAGE: When activated, the player can drink one of the tubes in the pack to restore some health and [AFFINITY]. "Gobble gobble! Take a gulp, save a life!" NOTE: Rewarded for discovering The Hidden Location (?)! |
| Player [OWEINKTUV] would like to share his complete profile with you. [ACCEPT] ??[DECLINE] |
| PLAYER ID | Oweinktuv |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Abnormal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are a student who entered MW Academy through the professor''s letter of recommendation to the Principal! Congratulations on your admittance! Although you enjoy learning and going to the academy, your family encourages you to use your spend your time on more practical matters and prohibits you from going to class. Their only wish is for you to obtain the prestigious diploma at the end of graduation. As for your time here, you like to immerse yourself in crafts and exercise. You have a habit of running ten kilometres every morning and knitting every afternoon. You prefer quiet places over crowded locations. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 65% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| The card [FRUIT KNIFE] has been acquired! USAGE: With this knife, not only can you peel fruits with ease, but it can also be used once to slice through anything. "A brick wall? Watch me slice it like pudding!" Place [FRUIT KNIFE] into [SLOT 3]? |
| Rule #5: Life is valuable! MW Academy hopes to cultivate a loving environment; please do not engage in physical violence with one another. In the case of a conflict, notify a professor immediately! |
| SLOT 3: Fruit Knife USAGE: With this knife, not only can you peel fruits with ease, but it can also be used once to slice through anything. "A brick wall? Watch me slice it like pudding!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| The card [FRUIT KNIFE] has been exhausted! It is now your typical knife. [SLOT 3] is now empty. |
| Congratulations! A hidden location has been unlocked! |
| You have been rewarded [SWAP PORTAL] for your discovery! The card has been added to your card slot. |
| Open up details for [SWAP PORTAL]? [YES]?????? [NO] |
| You have entered [THE PRINCIPAL''S OFFICE]! |
| [MEDICAL PACK] USAGE: When activated, the player can drink one of the tubes in the pack to restore some [AFFINITY]. "Gobble gobble! Take a gulp, save a life!" NOTE: Rewarded for discovering The Hidden Location (?)! |
| Congratulations! The [HIDDEN QUEST] has been unlocked! |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S HIDDEN QUEST: Find out the [PRINCIPAL] ''s secret! TIME LIMIT: ????? REWARD: ????? |
| [SWAP PORTAL] USAGE: When activated, the player can swap locations with anyone who 1) the player has seen in the past hour, and 2) is within the one-kilometre distance. This card can only be used once. "Unexpected! Let me grace your presence with mine." NOTE: Rewarded for discovering The Hidden Location (2/2)! |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S HIDDEN QUEST: Find out the [PRINCIPAL] ''s secret! TIME LIMIT: ????? REWARD: ????? |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 00:72:48:50 |
| DECISION ON [Magenta] ''S PROPOSAL: [ACCEPT] [DECLINE] TIME LIMIT: 00:23:22:00 |
|
YOU ARE INVITED!
Good evening, beloved students of MW Academy! You are invited to attend the [PRE-EXAM DASH], a scavenger hunt hosted by the splendid professors to help you stress relief in light of the approaching [FINAL EXAM].
TIME: Tomorrow, 8:30 PM -10:30 PM LOCATION: MW Dormitory (floors 1-7) During this time, the entire dormitory is open to all. Students may search any part of the building for [TRIGGER BOXES], which are boxes full of surprises and fun! Some may contain useful items for the [FINAL EXAM]; others may include randomised pages from Weisha''s Notebook. Participation is optional. The event will end when all 300 boxes have been discovered or when the clock hits 10:30 PM. HOPE TO SEE YOU THEREOUR LEADERS OF THE FUTURE. |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy by bribing the Principal. Congratulations on your admittance! You [EXPAND FULL DESCRIPTION HERE] |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 82% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| Rule #5: Life is valuable! MW Academy hopes to cultivate a loving environment; please do not engage in physical violence with one another. In the case of a conflict, notify a professor immediately! |
| DECISION ON [Magenta]''S PROPOSAL: [ACCEPT] [DECLINE] TIME LIMIT: 00:00:03:27 |
| YOU HAVE DECLINED [Magenta] ''S PROPOSAL. |
| THE [PRE-EXAM DASH] IS NOW OVER. The curfew will be in effect shortly. All students should make their way to their respective dormitory rooms. |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE DESCRIPTION | You are an incoming student who got into MW Academy by bribing the Principal. Congratulations on your admittance! You [EXPAND FULL DESCRIPTION HERE] |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 80% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 00:03:05:46 |
| FINAL EXAM TEST PACKAGE STUDENT #: _______ TEST DURATION: 120 MINUTES DO NOT FLIP THE PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 00:03:00:09 |
| CLOSED FOR DEEP CLEANING |
| SLOT 1: [LOUDSPEAKERS] USAGE: Create and design any type of speaker you want! Once you link your voice to the speaker, your words will have ten times more impact than usual and capture the undivided attention of all within a five-meter radius for 90 seconds. "Mwahaha! A salesperson''s ultimate weapon!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| The card [LOUDSPEAKERS] has been exhausted! It is now your typical speaker. [SLOT 1] is now empty. |
| SLOT 2: [NO. 12''S FIREWORKS] USAGE: This condensed bomb has the potential to blow up an entire building! In addition to its impact, the creator has implanted a series of fireworks to occur simultaneously for the optimal viewing experience. "As a future alchemistI am telling you this will be the prettiest, craziest fireworks performance ever!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| The card [NO. 12''S FIREWORKS] has been exhausted! Hope you enjoyed the performance. [SLOT 2] is now empty. |
| PLAYER [CELIO] ''S MAIN QUEST: Blow up the music tower! TIME LIMIT: 00:01:23:55 |
| Updating [MAIN QUEST] status now [MAIN QUEST] status updated! |
| Congratulations! You have completed the [MAIN QUEST]! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
| Rule #2: Harmony is a celebrated feature of MW Academy! But while we take pride in our diversity, we also avoid unnecessary distinctions among students to minimise conflict. To keep a unified school atmosphere, please ensure you are wearing your uniforms at all times, recite the MW Anthem every morning, and immediately offer your prayers to Serenity at the sound of the music tower''s [BELL]. |
| SLOT 2: EARPLUGS USAGE: Upon activation, the card user will lose their ability to hear anything for the next 90 seconds. "Your unrequited love can''t reject you if you can''t hear in the first place!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| The card [EARPLUGS] has been exhausted! Time to embrace the world of silence. [SLOT 2] is now empty. |
| PLAYER [EDRIS] ''S MAIN QUEST: Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]! TIME LIMIT: 00:01:16:03 |
| Updating [MAIN QUEST] status now [MAIN QUEST] status updated! |
| Congratulations! You have completed the [MAIN QUEST]! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
| CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE HIDDEN QUEST Find out the [PRINCIPAL]s secret! TIME LIMIT: 15 minutes REWARD: The Real Story of Weisha |
| PLAYER [IVES] ''S MAIN QUEST: Establish a secret organisation! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:19:03 |
| Updating [MAIN QUEST] status now [MAIN QUEST] status updated! |
| Congratulations! You have completed the [MAIN QUEST]! Updating [PLAYER PROFILE] now |
Give-and-Take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?Give-and-Take? if Edris wasnt running out of breath, he would have scoffed out loud. In this situation, it was more like saying I-give-permission-for-you-to-take-my-life. No. Without question, accepting this exchange would be equivalent to accepting the invite to the afterlife. The Sacrificial Hourglass seemed to pulse with discontent at his answer. Ever since he''d scammed the artifact of the Distributor, it felt as if the hourglass was actively trying to get back at him. After a few more turns, the group managed to reach the third floor. The path Ives pointed to the pile of boulders blocking their way. Oweins face looked grim. The staircase has been destroyed. The stairs to the second floor had already fallen, and the ground behind them was crumpling down by the second. They were trapped. Move as far back as you can! Edris said as he opened up his profile interface. He was going to use [BLAZING TORRENT] to pave out a way. Just as he was about to activate the card, the wall facing the outside of the building wavered, and a hole opened up at the centre. Stolen story; please report. The next moment, Celios head popped up from below. Master! Here! Edris blinked twice. Celio? How was he sticking up against the wall like that? For a second, he almost forgot they were on the third floor. He quickly pushed the confusion out of his mind. Priorities first. Ives, Owein. Over here. Celios body was literally pressed against the maroon bricks of the building, his fingers gripping the edge of the hole. If Edris peered down, he would have seen that the beast-tamer had compiled numerous pieces of debris to build a mini mountain for himself. "Quick!" he called out. "My [SNEAKERS] can''t last much longer." With one hand clinging to the edge, Celio freed up his other hand to grab the seven-year-old, tucking her into a tight embrace. Once secured, he released his grip on the wall and dropped into the mountain of debris.
| SLOT 1: [SNEAKERS] USAGE: With these stylish shoes, the user can maintain balance on any surface, at any angle, for a set amount of time. "Sticky doo doo~ Sticky fashion is the new way to go." # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| The card [SNEAKERS] has been exhausted! Time to go back to being normal. [SLOT 1] is now empty. |
Give-and-Take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium.
Would you like to give a part of yourself toShut up. He squeezed out from gritted teeth.
As Edris inched closer and closer to ground level, Ace seemed to enter a short deliberation before stretching out an arm. The next second, Edriss body was thrown right into his arm. The act mitigated his fall for a mere second before Ace withdrew himself emotionlessly, allowing Edris to crash onto the ground. The momentum, although partially alleviated, still sent the latter rolling rounds against the dirt, stopping only after sliding for another few seconds or so. Master! Mister Edris! The others had risen just in time to see Edris crash into the ground. Owein shook his head. Hes not dead, Ace said plainly as both Celio and Ives rushed to the mans aid. I made sure the fall wasnt lethal. Should I be grateful? With great difficulty, Edris repositioned his body upright, leaning against a piece of boulder. He coughed a few times and wiped the blood from his lips. Ives handed him a handkerchief in concern, while Celio stared at his Master in horror. With how pale he looked, he was almost certain that Edris wasnt going to make it. Dont look at me like that. Edris shuddered at their abhorred gazes. Contrary to the others reactions, he was abnormally calm. With the help from the two younger ones, he pulled himself to his feet. Edris pressed a hand to his stomach. A few broken ribs, but nothing more. Although he hated to admit it, Ace had definitely saved his life just now. If it werent for his arm that alleviated the fall, Edris could already imagine the way his organs would mix and mash all over his body upon contact with the ground. He shuddered once more, distracting himself from the imagery as he redirected his gaze back to the academy. The entire building and its surroundings were now in ruins. Only a sparse handful of students had survived, and even then they sustained injuries no better than Edriss. From afar, he could make out No. 39 and some others forming a temporary medical team. The small group roamed around the area, patching up students here and there. Beside him, the seven-year-old let out a subtle sigh of relief. Giving Ivess head a quick ruffle, Edris turned to Ace. The latter gave him a side glance, probably expecting him to make some snarky comment. Thanks for that. Edris smiled. The white-haired man turned around, crossing his arms before his chest. Ignoring his reaction, Edris opened up his profile and glanced at the time. All his stats remained the except, except a countdown replaced the [MAIN QUEST] description.
| LABYRINTH #53 00:00:06:34 |
| CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE HIDDEN QUEST. HIDDEN QUEST: Find out the [PRINCIPAL]s secret! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:00:00 REWARD: The Real Story of Weisha |
July 14. Year ??? Todays weather: Sunny."Its different from the academic version we''ve been looking at, Owein said, his eyes narrowing. "This one seems to be a diary." As if this wasnt strange enough already, the following sentence did the job.
The moment I get out of this fever dream Its over for all of youThe group fell into a collective silence. Edris felt a headache on its way, numerous questions marks instantly flooding his brain. What in the world was this? 104 | I Will Make It Happen
July 14. Year ??? Todays weather: Sunny. The moment I get out of this fever dream Its over for all of youA brief silence descended upon the group. Celio sniffed awkwardly. "This is a bit different from what I expected." No kidding. Edris took in the words with a complicated gaze. The academic version of The Story of Weisha was concise and to the point, simply listing out factual characteristics of Weisha like an encyclopedia. On the other hand, this so-called real story sounded more like someone''s rant sessions than something that would give them factual information. They flipped to the following page.
July 18. Year 942 Todays weather: Cloudy. A week since we arrived in this world (I don''t think fever dreams would last this long). Still cant get used to the fact that they use magic to heat up water here instead of electricity.
July 30. Year 942 Todays weather: Cloudy. Got my mana aptitude tested today. Didnt know that was a thing. They said Id get results in a few weeks and told me to come back then. What is this ridiculous lack of efficiency? One-star rating.
July 31. Year 942 Todays weather: Rainy. Everything is different here. The culture, the technologies, the people Is this really going to be our lives from now on?Each diary page was a sparse segment of the writer''s life, usually contextless or recordings of everyday trifles. But from the meagre information they could piece together, the writer seemed to have been brought here against their will from another world? Although transmigration wasn''t unheard of throughout history, there were no empiricist backings of this phenomenon. Edris was no expert on history. The most he could pull from his knowledge was that transmigrators, like angels and deities, were entities that existed only in theory. The few mentionings found all fell under the Creatos Era, before the massive war against Diales that almost wiped humanity whole. Almost a thousand years have passed since then. Even then, the notion of transmigration mostly appeared in books to explain certain religious philosophies, with no records of the actual cases of transmigrators themselves. Given the casual nature of the entries, Edris wasn''t sure how much of the speaker''s stories he could take for word. For all he knew, the diary could be the final fantasies of a psychopath. He refocused back on the diary content.
August 14. Year 942 Todays weather: Cloudy. Been a month since we arrived here. I learnt how to ride a demidragon today. A win for me but a loss for my ass. People at Mount Echo wont be seeing me for the rest of the week.
September 12. Year 942 Todays weather: Sunny. Got results back. They said my aptitudes even higher than Einss, and he got real petty. HAH. Loser.Edris blinked twice. Eins? Eins Everlund? "Isn''t that" Ives reread the entry, making sure she wasn''t hallucinating. "The Archivist?" The information exploded like a bomb among the group. Edris found his mind jumbling up from the absurd mentioning of names he''d never expected to appear in this situation. Edris let out a low exhale, allowing a second to reorganize his thoughts. The current diaryThe Real Story of Weishahad been a reward for discovering the Principal''s office, the second of two [HIDDEN LOCATIONS] within the Labyrinth. The first location, in the form of a musty library, was found behind a painting in Professor Sky''s room. Edris thought back to the photo of two people he saw on the shelf of the [HIDDEN LOCATION]. He''d confirmed the man in the photo to be none other than The Archivist. His face matched almost perfectly with the one on the statue at the location of the Labyrinth pull, except younger. In that case, could the other person in the photo be Weisha? Assuming that the writer was the mysterious Weisha would change things entirely. From the entries so far, she seemed to have been acquainted with Eins Everlund for a long time. What was their story? Edris didn''t have time to think deeper into this, however, as the countdown on his profile was decreasing by the second. "Owein." Edris glanced up briefly, locking eyes with the curly-haired man. "You''re reading this, right?" The latter nodded. "I''ll recall it." Although the diary was a hidden reward, Edris wasn''t sure whether he''d be able to carry it out back into the real world. His priority was to flip through the entire diary before the countdown. With Oweins Lucid Recall, if they all came out of the Labyrinth with amnesia, at least the information wouldn''t go to waste. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
October 20. Year 942 Todays weather: Cold. Eins got into a fight with someone today. The man he fought was super fine, so I took his side (just kidding (not We ended up all getting dinner so them two can make up. It was supposed to be all peace and reconciliation, but the two ended up having an eating competition. And I ended up paying! So childish. The man said his name was Tooran. I feel like wed become good friends.
October 25. Year 942 Todays weather: Super cold. Tooran introduced us to frion tea today. Holy shit its so good.
December 14. Year 942 Todays weather: Slightly less cold. Tooran saw this notebook the other day. He said I spelt his name wrong; its supposed to be "Toren" with one O and E-N instead of A-N. Then whyd he pronounce it like that?"Is this who I think she''s talking about?" The beast tamer blinked twice. "Toren Zacriya? Founder of the Zacriya Kingdom?" "Judging by the date of the entry," Ace said stoically. "Yes." First Eins Everlund, then Toren Zacriya. That marked two of the Seven Conquerors already. "This diary, it''s from the Labyrinthright?" Celio unknowingly stepped back from the notebook, as if it was alive and would pounce at him the next second. Up until now, the general conception of Labyrinths has been that they were fictitious worlds within the greater reality, a dream-like phenomenon exclusive to the Northern Lands of Adalan. Upon entering, they then learned that this fictitious world, every player came in with a designated [ROLE], cards they could manipulate to their advantage, and quests they must complete to return to reality with generous rewards. Everyone had been so focused on surviving that they never bothered considering where these scenarios and roles came from. Who decided the content of these Labyrinths? The further into this diary, the blurrier the boundary between the Labyrinth and the real world becamethis was the thought shared by the entire group.
December 26. Year 942 Todays weather: Freezing. I met an old man today. I was inside the cafe, and he came up to me asking about the book I was reading. I had explained to him that it wasnt written in a language from here but my hometown, but he only laughed and said he wouldnt have understood it either way since he was illiterate. We spent the entire afternoon in a reading session; if Eins didnt come get me, I could keep at it till tomorrow!
December 28. Year 942 Todays weather: Slightly less freezing. I cant stop thinking about the old man. Whats with this worlds education system? No public schools, no adult academies, no nothing! Tell me why its even worse thanugh, nevermind.
December 29. Year 942 Todays weather: Also freezing. I held a sword for the first time today. Not for me.
December 30. Year 942 Todays weather: Freezing freezing. If I trained a little harder, I was told that I can beat up Eins single handedly (pretty sure I can already do that though
December 31. Year 942 Todays weather: Freezing freezing freezing. I miss home.The entries went on. As Ace flipped one page after another, the diary entries became increasingly sporadic. Some were months apart, lasting anywhere between a couple of sentences and no more than a few words.
July 14. Year 943 Today''s weather: Sunny. Today marks a whole year from the first day weve been brought here. Frankly, time flew by so fast that I would have forgotten already if Eins hadn''t reminded me. It''s a bit hard to keep track of the days here without the typical titles of the week. And with the likelihood of war unfolding Sigh. Violence seems to be a commonality regardless of which world we''re in.
August 29. Year 943 Today''s weather: Sunny. Went to see the sunrise on top of Mount Echo with the others today. Listening to them chat and laugh about the most random topics, I found myself thinking: Ah, if things can stay like this forever. To think I''ve really started seeing this world as home. Who would have thought? Ill protect it.The following few entries were even shorter, mostly about preparing for the "war" the writer mentioned. Although they didn''t go into much detail, let alone context, from the tone of the diary entries, things hadn''t looked very optimistic for the team.
November 13. Year 943 Today''s weather: During yesterday''s meeting, Emithy asked me about my plans after the war. I told her I''d never thought about it before. It was true. I only think about the present (and the past sometimes because I hold grudges), but I admit that got me thinking a bit. I heard looking forward to something gives people hope. In our current situation, I guess some hope wouldn''t hurt. If we come out of this in one pieceoh, and by we, I mean mostly Eins, since Toren will be just fine because he''s Toren, I''ll be fine because I''m invincible, and the others will be fine because... actually, don''t even get me started on them. Anyway! If we live through this, I want to open up a school. Yep. A school. The conversation with the old man was so long ago, and way too many things have happened since then, but it still bugs me from time to time. That said, if we were to survive this, I''ll open up a school. A big school. Of course, it''ll have my name on it (I like validation, so what?) It''ll be open to everyone in the world who wants to learnthe old man, the people we met while travelling, the future generationsanyone regardless of age, background, occupation, species. I told Eins about my plan later last night. He said he respects the optimism. I beat him up for that. Sure, I''ll admit it. I''m an idealist. And? What''s wrong with dreaming for a bit? The sole fact I''m here right now, breathing and stepping on the land of this world, is already a feat that should have been impossible. And what my own world couldn''t achieve Maybe I''ll be able to do it here. NoI will make it happen here. I''m Meng Weisha, after all.This diary entry was the longest one yet. As the last words trickled off, the group fell silent. MW Academy. Meng Weisha''s Academy. Peering into the lines of words on the page, Edris felt the puzzle piece click into place. Hed been wondering why discovering the Principals secret had led to the Labyrinth gifting him Weishas personal diary. At least on the surface, the two didnt seem directly related in any way. Now, he knew. The old man, however he got there, wasnt the real principal. It was Meng Weisha. Edris felt the book in his hands. He wondered what the woman would think after seeing the type of place her academy had turned out to be. He wasn''t sure whether Labyrinth 53 was something that accurately reflected the past. Maybe it represented only one possible outcome; perhaps it was only a made-up scenario to begin with. The entries after that became messy. Date markings disappeared, and the words looked wobblier, impatient; it was clear that she''d written them in a disoriented state. Eventually, they couldn''t get anything coherent out of her entries at all. Pages and pages onwards were filled with scribbles, angry markings, and tear stains. The diary ended abruptly, with only one sentence on the page:
Things weren''t supposed to turn out like this.The pages after that were all blank. No matter how many times they flipped onward, the pages remained like an empty canvas. Meng Weisha''s story ended there. Ba-dump. The diary resting in his hands, Ace heard another heartbeat, the vibration reverberating throughout his entire palm. This time, not only him but everyone in the group heard it. Instead of a heartbeat, it sounded more like a sob. The entire notebook shrivelled like a broken leaf. Ace clenched the book in his hand, but the pages bled past his fingers like ashes, disintegrating before they could reach the ground. The next second, a message popped up in their vision, enunciated in their minds simultaneously in a cold, mechanical voice.
| YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF [LABYRINTH #53]. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SURVIVAL! |
| YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE FIRST WELL! CONFIRM YOUR CHOICE? [YES] [NO] |
| Player [EDRIS] has made his decision! |
| MERCENARY ID NAME: Roos AGE: 25 SEX: Female ARE YOU AN AWAKENED? Yes [ X ] No [ ] IF YES, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR POSITION: Elementalist |
| Dear (to-be) Traveller Edris, You are invited on a worldwide expedition! Thats rightyou! The one holed up in that rickety cabindont act surprised. Its time to stretch those legs, pack your things (dont forget the leather pouch), and finally see what the world has to offer. Trust me, its more exciting than chopping broccoli. This isnt just any trip. This is your journey. Youll see new kingdoms, taste the finest sweets (Nolmess are the best, no bias here), and maybejust maybeyoull discover a little more about yourself along the way. And whats more? There are much nicer cabins (even biggercottages) out there. I hear Nolmes has a few with actual roofs that dont creak every time the wind blows. Pretty tempting, huh? Oh, and lets not forget the desserts. You think youve had good sweets here? Zacriyas got desserts that will make you rethink your entire existence. Limberry pie, frion paste cakes, butter stewed tartsyoull be spoiled for choice. Theyll even make you wonder why you ever tolerated my cooking (though we both know my charm made up for that). So? Why are you still reading? Get going! The world isnt going to wait, and neither is that dessert stand thats waiting to be discovered. Trust me, youll thank me later when youre sitting by a stream somewhere other than the little village, eating something other than whatever youve been surviving on while Im gone. Sincerely, The One Saving You From a Boring Life (youre welcome) |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 (MODIFIED) |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE | Year 4 student at MW Academy. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 100% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:71:59:55 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:70:45:31 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| LABYRINTH #53: RULES & REGULATIONS (UPDATED) [1] Cheating in any form of academic evaluation is strictly prohibited! If you are caught cheating once, you will enter [DETENTION] for a day; if you are caught cheating again, your parents will be notified of your misconduct; if you are caught cheating for the third time, MW Academy will be taking justified countermeasures. [2] Students must wear their uniforms masks at all times, except in locations designated as a [GREEN ZONE]. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. [3] Any usage of individual talentsincluding but not limited to mana manipulationoutside the given settings of Labyrinth 53 is prohibited at all times except during [GRADUATION]. [4] Romantic relationships are prohibited between MW students! If you are caught engaging in such distracting behaviour, your parents will be notified immediately. [5] Life is valuable! As MW Academy hopes to cultivate a loving environment, please only allow MW students to enter onto campus. In the case of any suspicious figures, notify a professor immediately. |
| TIME TO COMPLETE [MAIN QUEST]: 00:61:59:33 |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #53 (MODIFIED) |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE | Year 4 student at MW Academy. |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 80% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| THE INVITATION HAS FAILED TO SEND! NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| Player [ACE] has invited you to share your [PROFILE]. Accept the invitation? [YES] [NO] |
| THE INVITATION HAS FAILED TO SEND! NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:35:23:00 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| Congratulations! A hidden location has been unlocked! |
| You have been rewarded [MEDICAL PACK] for your discovery! The card has been added to your card slot. |
| You have entered [WEISHA''S WARD]! |
| Congratulations! You have discovered [THE ARCHIVISTS TREASURE]. Please input the passcode to unlock this item. NOTE: After three incorrect attempts, [THE ARCHIVISTS TREASURE] will self-destruct. |
| QUESTION: What do I like the most about Meng Weisha? Please verbally state your answer. |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:23:53:22 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| THE INVITATION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SENT! Awaiting the [PLAYER] to accept your invitation. NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as students of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:10:01:11 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:07:00:00 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, in the final hour, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, will be lifted! |
| WELCOME TO YOUR [GRADUATION]! |
| CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE UNLOCKED A HIDDEN QUEST: Player Ace 004head to the Principals Office! TIME LIMIT: ??? REWARD: Memory Fragment (1/5) |
| Congratulations! You have found a hidden location! |
| ERROR DETECTED! ATTEMPTING REPAIR NOW. |
| UNKNOWN SOURCE DETECTED. ANOMALY D3TECT3D. TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO PR//OTECT THE SYSTESJDM!! |
| UNKNOWN ERROR OCCURRED! UNKNOWN ERROR OCCURRED! UNKNOWN ERROR OCCURRED! |
| Congratulations! You have completed the [HIDDEN QUEST]. Reward [MEMORY FRAGMENT ?] will be distributed upon exiting Labyrinth 53. |
| COUNTDOWN: 00:01:00:00 NOTE: ALL MANA RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. |
Tick-tock goes the clock, Where time turns and does not stop. Gears will churn where shadows meet, Find him where the hands repeat.The riddle hung in the air like a taunt. Aces expression didnt waver, though his mind was already at work. Before he could press further, Robins form shimmered, the air around him distorting. I will wait for you at the finish line." His grin grew wider as his voice echoed ominously. "You can start running now. This guy Roos craned her neck to the side, cracking her fingers as she stepped forward. The next second, both sides halted. As the swirl of mana surrounding Robin reached its climax, it poured downwards, dispersing all at once, leaving the man in place, right where he was before his attempt at teleportation. For the first time, a flicker of confusion crossed his silver eyes. Robins smirk faltered as he glanced at Ace, and then behind him. The Shadow that had been silently looming behind Ace was gone. Robins pupils constricted as the realization dawned upon him. The space the Shadow had occupied moments ago was empty, yet the faint traces of mana hung in the air, a telltale sign of teleportation. You His lips twitched, and the mocking edge usually carried in his tone was replaced with something more volatile. Ace, ever composed, took a step forward. His gaze bore into Robin with quiet intensity, and though his expression remained stoic, there was something undeniably provoking about his presence now. Without uttering a word, Ace raised his hand, revealing a single card pinched between his fingers. The ornate design glinted faintly under the scattered lights of the tower: The [SWAP PORTAL]. 136 | I Cant Find My Face (12) Edris staggered to his feet, his amorphous Shadow form faintly reflecting the dim, flickering lights from the crumbling structure above. He glanced around, piecing together his surroundings. He was back at the bottom of the tower. His memory flashed briefly to the confrontation with Robin, to the way Ace had held the [SWAP PORTAL] card just out of view. It had been a gamble, but one based on observation. Robins arrogance, his compulsion to demonstrate his superiorityit was something they had banked on, and it had worked. Edris shuffled forward, his steps faltering. His shadowy limbs felt heavy, sluggish, like moving through wet cement. He brought a formless hand to the side of his head, his mind groggy and teetering on the edge of coherence. The tubes of [MEDICAL PACK] he had scavenged were long depleted, and a glance at his [PROFILE] confirmed his fears. His [AFFINITY] had dropped to 51. The faint hum of machinery reached his ears as he pushed deeper into the heart of the ruins. The towers collapse had torn through the underground layers, revealing a maze of cogs and turning wheels. Wires snaked like veins across the stone walls, and the faint glow of mana-powered contraptions illuminated the devastation around him. This was the heart of MW Academys infrastructure, and among it lay the rebels'' cachebombs and bodies piled indiscriminately. This wont do Under the dim lights, a frown appeared on Edriss face. His thoughts felt like whispers in the fog, making the search for [EDRIS] through this underground space take longer than predicted. In fact, itd be questionable whether hed even make it through half of it, given his current state. With another sigh, he trudged through the strenuous halls, leading to one chamber after another. The air was stifling, thick with the scent of burnt metal and oil. As he ventured more inward, the surrounding environment deteriorated in response. Piles of mangled bodies and half-assembled bombs formed a grim centrepiece. Edriss formless gaze scanned the room, searching for his body. He could feel it. [EDRIS] was close. A faint, mechanical whir interrupted his focus. A figure rose from the piles of bodies. Dove''s white hair cascaded over her shoulders like a curtain, and her eyes flickered in a way that promised only trouble. She rose from the pile of debris with eerie grace, her gaze locking onto Edris. I was hoping for 004, she said, her voice dripping with bland disappointment. But I suppose youll do. Before Edris could react, Dove lunged. Her movements were impossibly fast, her sheer physicality forcing him into immediate evasion. He darted through the maze of machinery, his Shadow form granting him the ability to slip through spaces she couldnt follow. Still, her attacks were relentless, her fists slamming into gears and pipes with terrifying force, sending sparks and shrapnel flying. Damn it. Edris cursed inwardly. His [AFFINITY] had dipped dangerously to 50. Edris calculated his options, knowing that activating the Tempest wouldnt help. Dove wasnt relying on mana manipulationshe was pure brute strength and unyielding determination. His strategy became one of avoidance, weaving through the shifting machinery, using his intangibility to stay one step ahead. His vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges. The looming threat of assimilation clawed at his mind. With a grimace, Edris slid sideways and rolled across the dirt floor, momentarily enlarging the distance between them. Before Dove could go for another blow, he reached for the object hanging weightlessly against his chest. The Sacrificial Hourglass stirred, its spectral form pulsing faintly against his chest. Gripping the artefact, he heard a mechanical voice emerge from his head:
Give-and-take is a necessary cycle for equilibrium. Would you like to give a part of yourself to the world?A mocking laugh escaped his formless lips. Dove, still crouched across the room, tilted her head in confusion. She saw the Shadow shiver slightly on the spot, its form flickering, and without hesitation, she lunged forward, her speed a blur. She aimed for a decisive strike, her figure a streak of pale movement against the dim light. But just as her attack neared, Doves eyes widened. The Shadow that had been sluggish moments ago twisted impossibly fast, evading her blow with a smoothness that caught her off guard.
Securing the Giving... Securement complete.
Now preparing the Taking segment...With a blink of an eye, the world had shifted. Time slowed, stretching like molten glass. The grind of gears became a low, throbbing pulse. Each particle of dust floating in the air hung suspended, glittering faintly in the dim light. Dove''s movements, once a blur of speed, now appeared deliberate, predictable. Her chain whipped toward him in slow arcs, her expression flickering between focus and confusion. Edris moved. The first step felt alien, like his body wasnt his own. His stomach churned as if hed skipped meals for days, and a sharp ringing in his ears made the silence around him almost unbearable. But the power coursing through him pushed these discomforts aside. His limbs responded faster than his thoughts, and for the first time, he felt ahead of the fight instead of desperately clinging to it. He lunged forward, the edge of his shadowy form cutting through the air like a blade. Doves eyes widened in slow motion, her lips parting as if to curse him. He was behind her before her chain could retract, delivering a sharp strike to her exposed side. The impact sent her stumbling, her balance faltering as she hit the floor. Edris didnt let up. He twisted through the clockwork, weaving between the colossal gears that turned with maddening slowness in his altered perception. To Dove, he must have seemed like a phantom, appearing and vanishing unpredictably. To Edris, it was all too clearthe arc of her attack, the split-second openings in her defense, the faint flickers of disbelief in her movements. Yet beneath this temporary strength, he could still feel the invisible weight dragging him down.
The Taking Segment is now complete.
Thank you for your sacrifice.The effects of the exchange rippled throughout his body. The longer he moved in this accelerated state, the heavier the toll became. His chest tightened, his lungs struggling for air. His limbs, though swift, ached with the strain of unnatural speed. The sacred artifact didnt grant miracles without cost. It was a trade, and every second was a step closer to his downfall. Edris knew it better than anyone. Move, damn it, he muttered under his breath, forcing his legs to carry him forward. Dove spun around, her chain coiling back into her hand. Her mana flared, forming a barrier of crackling energy around her. Mocking me? Dove said, her voice a distorted echo in his slowed perception. She hurled her chain with a surge of mana, the attack sharper and faster than before. It almost struck him. "...Tch." Edris barely evaded, the edge of the chain slicing through his side and sending him crashing into a nearby wall. The impact jarred him, and for a moment, his vision dimmed. The gears around him seemed to move faster, the world beginning to reassert its pace. From the corner of his eye, he saw Dove advancing once more, her chain coiled and ready. Her face was still blank, but her steps were deliberate. Her fingers flexed, and a sinister glint of mana formed at her side. The energy twisted and coalesced into a renewed metallic chain, glimmering with a transparently green hue. Poison. With a flick of her wrist, the chain lashed out, its toxic length hissing through the air. Edris ducked low, narrowly avoiding the strike as it cracked against the machinery behind him. Pieces of gear and metal burst into the air as he crashed against the wall to evade her second strike. Doves face remained expressionless, but the way she moved forward felt like a predator closing in for the kill. Fast, she said, her voice monotone but with a flicker of frustration. But getting slower. Then, from above, a shadow moved. Edriss senses flared, and before Dove could react, Owein descended from the machinery above, his rapier shimmering with a faint glow. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Lucid Clans training allowed him to strike with pinpoint precision, and his rapier narrowly missed Doves shoulder as she rolled to the side, reacting just in time. Dove immediately pushed herself upright, her eyes darting upward. Before she could reorient herself, however, a sudden gust of wind roared through the room. Looks like you could use some help. Roos stepped into view, her staff crackling with elemental energy. She gave Edris a side glance, and with a cascading twirl of her fingers, hundreds of spirlings pounced forward like feral beasts. Dove gritted her teeth as the chain cracked against the swirling creatures, sparks flying with each clash. Her movements were fluid, but there was a weight to her posture now, as if the relentless assault was starting to wear her down. Roos didnt relax, her spirlings attacking in rapid succession while Owein darted in and out, his blade seeking openings. Edris watched the exchange, his gaze flickering between the fight and the clockwork surrounding them. He exhaled, forcing his aching body upright. His mind, sharpened by the Hourglass, calculated the chaos around him. Dove was pinned, her movements restricted by the combined assault of Owein and Roos. It was his chance. Roos turned her head briefly, her green eyes sharp even amidst the chaos. Edris! Find your body! We got it covered here! She twirled her fingers, unleashing another whirlwind that forced Dove to dodge. Owein nodded, his voice curt, Ace and Robin won''t be here anytime soon. Go. Now. Edris didnt hesitate. His shadowed form darted through the cramped space, slipping between gears and avoiding falling debris as the fight raged behind him. Behind him, the clash of Rooss magic and Oweins strikes against Dove echoed through the chamber. Every second counted, and Edris knew his time was running out. The sound of gears grinding and clicking reverberated through the dimly lit core of the tower. After some trudging around, Edris finally reached what seemed like its heart, a labyrinth of interlocking wheels and pulleys stretching into the darkness. His gaze locked onto his body, suspended amidst the rotating gears, entangled in thick, shadowy threads that pulsed faintly with residual mana. The threads seemed to feed off his bodys vitality, glowing ominously. Edris clicked his tongue, a frown reaching his lips. Seeing his bodyhis own identityreduced to such a vulnerable and unsightly state left a sour taste in his mouth. Dust motes danced in the dim, flickering light, and the air carried the faint scent of metal and oil. Quiet surrounded him, broken only by the rhythmic stirring of the machinery and the faint ticking that mirrored the countdown on his [PROFILE].
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:05:24 NOTE: To optimise [PLAYER] experience, all Labyrinth restrictions, including mana usage, have been lifted! |
| MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:02:59 |
| CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE MAIN QUEST. MAIN QUEST: Complete your final journey as a student of MW Academy! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:00:02 |
| YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF LABYRINTH #53. |
| YOU HAVE UNLOCKED A NEW PLAYER ACHIEVEMENT: [Witness to the Fall of MW Academy] A NEW [CARD SLOT] HAS BEEN REWARDED TO YOUR [PROFILE]. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SURVIVAL! |
| LABYRINTH #53 WILL NOW COME TO A CLOSE. |
| YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE FIRST WELL! CONFIRM YOUR CHOICE? [YES] [NO] |
| Player [EDRIS] has made his decision! |
| ANCHOR HOUSE |
| ANCHOR HOUSE MANUAL |
| UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED |
| 1/5 Memory Fragments Collected 4/5 Remaining [CORE] Access Pending... |
| PLAYER ID |
| Edris |
| PLAYER''S LABYRINTH HISTORY |
| [1] Labyrinth #53 [2] Labyrinth #17 |
| CARD SLOTS |
| SLOT 1: [BLAZING TORRENT] SLOT 2: [EMPTY] SLOT 3: [EMPTY] SLOT 4: [EMPTY] |
| [1] Transfer to Another [PLAYER] [2] Donate to the [SYSTEM] [3] Destroy Upon Death |
| Player [EDRIS]''s decision has been recorded. |
| QUESTION: What kingdom is known for traditionally hosting the most wide-scaled Wulin Tournament? |
0 : 0The next few rounds played out like a comedy of errors. One question asked which year of the academys curriculum students learn the history of the Creatos Era. Ives guessed the second year, and Miss Rabbit guessed first. Both were incorrectit was the third year. Another demanded the name of the person who perfected the current recipe for Limberry smoothies. Ives took a wild guess, putting in some random figure, Chef Maltis, and remembering some stray rumor. Again, both gave wrong answers. The correct answer is The Archivist, Celio said behind her with a sigh. Well, more precisely, it was he who provided the recipe to Toren Zacriya, The Giver, after discovering limberries as an exclusive fruit of the Zacriya Kingdom. Why does this guy have a part in everything? Ives groaned. It was mortifying. Ives hadnt had formal schooling, so she was leaning on half-remembered stories told around campfires and bits of rumor people around her had offhandedly shared. Miss Rabbitwhoever she waswas clearly in no better shape. The scoreboard remained locked at 0 : 0. Finally, a question scrolled across the screen that made Ivess eyes light up:
| QUESTION: What plantcommonly found on the Nolmes Forests outskirtscan soothe mild nausea if applied correctly? |
1 : 1A reflection from the console revealed only the silhouette of her masked adversary, but Ives imagined a look of surprised curiosity mirroring her own. Just who was this Miss Rabbit? Snow gorses were considered herbs of quite a rarity, even among the Nolmerians. Ives had known that herb from scavenging in Nolmes, once using it to settle her stomach after an exhausting night. It was a bit of knowledge she never gleaned from any official classroom. Something in Ivess chest uncoiled, relief mingling with a hint of curiosity. The two sat across from each other, separated by the console, and for a moment, she wished she could see her opponents eyes. Whoever Miss Rabbit was, she shared more similarities with Ives than expected. She frowned, unsure if this survival knowledge was something worth bonding over. The next question popped onto the screen, and the game continued. Ives forced herself to focus, determined to avoid further embarrassment. She wanted to win, but so, apparently, did her opponent. The hush of the Golden Room in this corner felt charged, as though her next slip-up might cost her more than just a point. Somewhere behind her, Celio hovered, quietly rooting for her while also looking occasionally baffled. During the question-posing period, a barrier would appear between the player and the spectator, so he had no way of helping her out. All he could do was root for the seven-year-old quietly, though his brow remained furrowed at each new question and each surprising wrong answer that followed. How could she be so knowledgeable about an herb question yet fail a standard timeline question? He mumbled, then steered his gaze to the other end of the machine. And how is her opponent the same? The host, undeterred, announced the next prompt in a crisp, cheerful tone. Ives braced herself, aware that the scoreboard was now one-to-one, and determined not to let the bizarre nature of this trivia test get the better of her. She hunched forward slightly, eyes trained on the screen.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
| QUESTION: What mythical creature is rumored to guard the Crystallised Chasm in the Wendimore Kingdom? |
2 : 2It seemed they were neck and neck whenever obscure lore or practical knowledge from rough living came into play. Whenever it veered into more formal territory, they stumbled together. Ives found her curiosity growing, wondering who exactly was hiding behind that rabbit mask, such that they shared such a parallel patchwork of information. Rounds passed in a blur of near hits and near misses until, suddenly, the host announced that they were at match point. The scoreboard showed four to four; one final question would decide the victor. Ives adjusted her posture on the stool, the edges of the console bright in her vision, while Celio stood behind her, unable to mask his nerves.
| QUESTION: Which of The Archivists famously designed military strategies was carried out by The Roamer and The Giver to ambush the enemys supply convoys along the Midpont Ocean during the Creatos War? |
5 : 4She had five points. She had won. She looked down and exhaled, pulse fluttering with lingering nerves. Across the holographic interface, the silhouette of her opponent remained quiet. Ives could not see the other girls face through the mask, but she sensed an undercurrent of tension that drifted like a cold current between them. The image flickered, and the distant figure faded away. The final bell chimed once more, concluding the game with a fanfare that came off almost too bright, too cloying. Celio exhaled in an audible rush behind her. The station host, wearing that perpetual courteous smile, offered a congratulatory bow. CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS BUTTERFLY AT STATION NO. 54 FOR WINNING THE UNBID MATCH! Pushing the thought to the back of her head, the seven-year-old allowed herself a small, tentative smile. Ives rose to her feet, then accepted Celios offered high-five. Lets go find Edris, Celio said, still brimming with excitement. Ives nodded. They made their way through the milling crowd, passing the playful hum and clink of the purple machines. But it wasnt long before they sensed a shift in the atmosphere. The lighthearted chatter receded into hushed whispers as they drew closer to the black machines. A crowd had formed near one of the machines, the onlookers craning their necks. Something was happening. Ives noticed a hush among the spectators, their attention fixed on a single machine. She quickened her pace, a faint knot of worry tightening in her chest. When she slipped through a gap between masked bystanders, her eyes caught sight of their target. He sat at a black-machine console, his dark hair falling forward, fingers pressed against his temples as though fighting off a headache. Opposite him, a man in a bear mask watched without so much as flinching. She glanced up at the scoreboard overhead. The numbers corresponded to each side of the machine. For the current game, Edris was sitting on the right side. Ives felt a twist in her stomach. She edged closer, catching Celios equally troubled look. Together, they could only stare at the large, bold numbers on display. The numbers glared back:
5 : 0Edris was losing. Badly. 143 | Ill Do It For the Break (7) Edris strolled past rows of black machines, each station reflecting the flash of golden lights. After leaving the children to their own amusements, it was time to do some exploring on his own. He soon spotted Ace near a gathering of onlookers. A commotion at the center drew his attention. A man in a bear mask was reeling on his feet, slurring words at another masked figurea friend, from the looks of it, who wore a snake mask. From the voice, Edris recognised them from the twentieth-floor lounge. Jagon, in the bear mask, appeared different now: loud, insistent, and pressing his friend to join a game against his will. The snake-masked man shook his head, arms crossed, clearly unwilling. Edris paused to watch from a short distance. H-hey. The snake-masked manTerrace stepped backward. Lets just go. Why? Jagon mocked his panic with a step of his own. Youre scared? At the tension, Ace moved closer to Edris. Theyre quite different from back at the lounge, he said in a low voice. Edris shrugged. These games can do that to you. Its easy to misjudge when drinks and wagers mix. The white-haired man fell silent. His gaze flickered from Edris onto the rows of the console. Youve been in places like these before, havent you? Before Edris could respond, the snake-masked man stumbled backward from the circle. He nearly collided with Ace, who sidestepped with ease. That small movement seemed to catch Jagons eye. The bear-masked man lurched over, his wobbly steps betraying his inebriation. Pretty nimble, huh? Jagon grunted. You want to go against me in his stead? Come on, then. His tone was half a challenge, half a drunken snarl. His posture said he was ready to lash out, though he could barely stand. Ace tensed, about to lift his arms, but Edris moved forward first. He gave a calm smile, his pale eyes holding the bears unsteady gaze. Ill play with you. Jagon squinted as if trying to focus, obviously not recognising either from behind the mask. Huh? And who are you? Get out of the way. Ace looked poised to restrain the man or pull Edris back, but Edris only turned his head enough to show the side of his face. The white-haired man stared at him, eyes narrowed. Edris did not react. He understood the suspicions. After all, Edris was seldom the type to involve himself in others fights, yet here he was, stepping up to a volatile gambler with minimal provocation. Why? Naturally, there was a reason behind itand there was. Edris just wasnt the type to explain himself. Ill play, he repeated. Jagon let out a snorting laugh. Fine. Why not. They took their seats at the black-console table, numbered thirteen. A masked attendant stood between them, hands folded. When the man spoke, his voice had a neutral quality meant to diffuse tension. Gentlemen, please present your bid. Jargon raised a hand lazily towards Edris, a mocking smile seen through his half-covered mask. The intoxicating effects of alcohol seemed to have worn off the moment he placed himself in that gambling seat. Your call, gentleman. I propose cards, Edris said. One each. The loser forfeits whatever they offer. Jagon let out a low chuckle behind his bear mask. Cards, huh? Fine by me. He spread three battered cards in front of him like a small fan. Now, which one should I use? He let the question hang, flicking his gaze around. Then, in a sudden motion, he slid one card into the console. Edris drew out [BLAZING TORRENT]. Its surface gave off a mild sheen in the consoles overhead light. He dropped it into the slot without a word. The console glowed green, verifying their stakes. A transparent shield rose around the station, muffling the outside crowd. Edris saw Ace across from him, the mans ink-like expression just before the view blurred. On the console screen, a roulette wheel spun. Jagon shifted in his seat. Edris watched the pointer circle the list of possible mini-games. The spinner clacked to a stop, highlighting the title: WHEN THE SUN RISES. A cheerful beep followed. The instructions for the chosen game appeared on the console. Mister Bear and Mister Turtle, the attendant said, inclining his head at each of them, welcome to When the Sun Rises. The rules, as you see on your screen, require each of you to work with a set of tokenshalf labeled Torch and half labeled Shadow. You will place tokens face-down, then call the opponents token as one or the other. Correct calls earn points. Any token not called remains hidden. Edris kept his eyes on the row of tokens that materialized in front of him. Meanwhile, Jagon stretched his arms behind his head. Heh. Simple enough. After each round, continued the host, you can discard certain tokens and draw from a limited pool. The first to seven points prevail, or until a player forfeits. Good luck. Edris took stock of his tokens. He heard the faint hum of the consoles shielding. Beyond it, Ace and Terrace stood in the crowd, their features just visible through the tinted barrier. Jagon hadnt even looked at his own tokens. Instead, he seemed focused on Edris. You not going to check what you have? Why would I? Jagon replied. I can read everything I need from you. Edris raised an eyebrow, a flicker of wariness spread across his features. Can you now? When the first round began, a coin toss decided that Edris would act first. He placed a token, face-down, on the glowing field. As soon as he pressed it into the slot, he made his call. Torch. Jagons arm shot up, fingers splayed, as he spoke over him. Bluff. Edris turned his token over. It read Shadow, displayed by a purple marking at the center. A small chime sounded, and the scoreboard lit up.
1 : 0Edris blinked, surprised at the speed of Jagons response. The consoles shield kept outside noises minimal, but Edris glimpsed the various people watching from beyond the barrier. Outside the shield, Terrace muttered in a tight voice, He did it so fast Thats how Jagon gambles. Claims he can see every twitch. He glanced at Ace, who watched intently. Despite supposedly being on opposite sides, he seemed more attached to the other than his own. Hes an Awakened, you know, he said. A skilled beast tamer back in the real world. Says he can sense heartbeats, breathing, subtle movements. Ace gave him a sideglance, and Terrace gulped. Jagon said he can read anyones mind by observing their tells The white-haired man stood, posture upright and arms folded. If Jagon were indeed an awakened beast tamersomeone gifted with heightened sensesthen Edriss usual calm and subtle approach would be at risk. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. In the game space, Jagon leaned back, tapping a finger on the table. Told you so. You lots always make it so obvious. Edris ignored the barb and gathered his tokens. Shall we move to the next round, or do you want to talk more? Fiesty, I see. Jagon snorted, tossing another token onto the console. Torch. Bluff, Edris called out. At his claim, Jagon flipped over the token, revealing a flame-like symbol at the center. He clicked his tongue regretfully. Nice try, pale-face. Edris didnt react to the taunt. Next. Despite his calmness, however, the scoreboard ticked upward with a steady rhythm that seemed to match Jagons growing confidence. The bear-masked man leaned forward, gaze locked on Edris, voice laced with smug triumph. Youre slipping, he remarked, pressing his cards against the table. I can practically see it in your posture. Did you know that your pulse quickens every time you bluff? Across the console, Edris appeared to tense slightly, a shallow intake of breath that only made Jagon let out a low chuckle. Cmon, he continued. Just look at yourself. Look at your own bodys signals. You think you can hide those tells from a beast tamer? The spectators, mostly masked players from earlier, watched in uneasy fascination. Jagons remarks felt so pointed, so exact, that many had started to believe he was unraveling Edriss every move in real-time. It didnt help that Edris made tiny mistakeslonger pauses, sharper exhales, moments where he seemed to delay placing his tokens. Each time, Jagon pounced, calling his bluffs with uncanny accuracy. Ace stood a short distance away, arms folded. His face was unreadable, but there was a flicker of thought in his gaze as he studied the exchange. Edriss fa?ade had cracksor appeared to, at least. Meanwhile, Jagon was pushing the game forward with a frenetic pace, rushing the man into decisions, piling on the pressure. Each new round ended with Jagon claiming another point. At last, the scoreboard read six to zero. By then, several onlookers assumed the match was basically over. One or two stragglers began wandering off, muttering that Edris didnt stand a chance. Jagon, seeing them leave, called out, No need to watch this crumble, folks. Its decided. The apex predator always comes out on top. He paused to level his stare at Edris. Isnt that right? Edris let out a controlled breath, eyes flickering over his tokens. He said nothing in defense. The faint tremor in his shoulders, the slow exhaleit all seemed to confirm Jagons read. Celio appeared at Aces side, with Ives trailing behind. The boys gaze darted between Edris and the scoreboard, panic knitting his brows. Ace, he asked, voice low. Whats happening? Why is Master letting this happen? Ace didnt move his eyes from the game. I wonder. On Edriss side of the console, Jagon pressed on, reveling in the moment. You cant hide from me. All that composure you showed earlier? Gone. Now your postures slack, your breathings erratic, your hearts pounding. You probably didnt even notice, did you? He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. Ive spent years refining these senses. I know how to pry open an opponent with just a glance. Celio, observing Edriss ragged breath, chewed his lip. As a beast tamer himself, he had to admit that Jagons commentary seemed convincing. Each time Edris so much as shifted, Jagon crowed about detecting panic. The entire scene looked grim. But then Edris murmured something to the host, passing a small request across the console. Under Jagons look of amusement, he straightened in his seat. Mister Turtle has submitted a modification request for the match bid, the host declared. Oh? Jagon raised an eyebrow. Lets put it all in, Edris said. His voice sounded calmer than the trembling posture suggested. What? Jagon paused, narrowing his eyes. The scoreboard read six points in his favor, yet the man wanted to raise the stakes? Dont be foolish. Are you out of options already? A faint smile found its way onto Edriss face. Are you scared? Ha? Jagon looked at him as if the turtle-masked man had lost his mind. The crowd around them rumbled with hushed astonishment as Edris leaned back with a shrug. The host, taken aback, hesitated before speaking in a polite but firm tone. Mister Turtle, he said, I must remind you that you currently have only one card recorded on your [PROFILE]. You cannot Edris placed his gloved palm flat on the table, cutting the hosts protest short. Ill give up this. He then pulled back his sleeve slightly, gesturing almost offhandedly at his own flesh. This time, the crowd fell entirely silent. Master?! Celio blurted from beyond the transparent shield. The anxiety in his voice was clear. The hosts silver irises flickered, uncertain. Any stakes put forth cannot be revoked. This change is irreversible. Edris lifted his second hand as if it made no difference. Not enough? I can offer both. A hand for a card. He spoke in a calm, level tone that carried through the silence. Jagon, still seated, twisted around in his chair and gave a short, mirthless laugh. A ripple ran through the onlookers. Even those who had dismissed the match as decided were now fixated on Edris. No one seemed to breathe. Jagon chuckled again, an airy, amused sound, while Celios face paled. He turned toward Ace, voice trembling. What is Master thinking? Should weshould we stop him? But Ace didnt speak. His dark eyes locked onto Edriss figure, scanning every faint angle of his body language. At that moment, Edris glanced upward, and their gazes met. A muted sigh escaped Aces lips, though his features remained as impassive as ever. A reminder, the host intoned, clearing his throat, that decisions here have real consequences. They will carry into the Labyrinths and beyond them. I know, Edris replied, his tone unchanging. Still leaning back in his seat, Jagon roared with laughter, clutching his stomach in theatrical delight. Im at match point, and you want to hand me freebies? His bear mask shifted as he sneered. Your hearts racing. Youre feigning bravery when youre petrified. With a smirk, he dropped the rest of his cards into the console, one after another. Thanks for the quality entertainment, pale-face. The screen flickered, verifying the new stake arrangement. A murmur ran through the crowd as fresh tokens appeared for the next round. This time, Edris took the first move. His steps looked mechanical: he gathered the tokens, then sifted them without a single glance, as though their contents were irrelevant. Jagon was still riding his confidence, half expecting the man to slip again. But Edris paused, studying his opponent through half-lowered eyes. Lets guess together, he said in a gentle tone. Jagon arched an eyebrow at the invitation. Edris deftly switched one of his original tokens with a new one from the pile. He turned the chosen token face-down between them without even glancing at it. I say this token is a Shadow, he announced, tapping the back of it. His gaze lifted to Jagons. Am I bluffing or not? The host glanced to Jagon, waiting, but the bear-masked man blinked in momentary confusion. Bluff, he declared. Edris flipped the token. It bore the word SHADOW in bold lettering. A short, sharp inhale passed through the onlookers. Jagons jaw tensed as he snapped his head up. What The scoreboard updated at once:
6 : 1Ah, Edris made a faint, almost polite shrug. Looks like I wasnt. Jagons eyes narrowed in the dim light. For the first time that evening, his smile had disappeared. And amidst the thickening air of the Golden Room, a realization spread through the onlookers that something had shifted. A fluke is a fluke. Jagon gave a low grunt and placed his token for the next round, calling it Shadow. Edris tapped his own console and spoke in a measured voice. You said your beast-tamer abilities gave you extra sensitivity to peoples reactions. That you can read their tells. Jagon paused. He stared at Edris, as though searching for some hidden detail. So what? Nothing, Edris answered, sliding his hand over a switch on the table. Bluff. I call Torch. Jagon flipped the token, revealing a Torch label. The scoreboard clicked to 6:2. Edris picked up a fresh token from the pile. Youre not the only one, he added. What do you mean by that? Jagon asked. His voice had lost some of its earlier certainty. Edris didnt elaborate. He only glanced at the next set of tokens, his face calm. At the edge of the crowd, Ives watched the two men, frowning. Whats happening now? she asked in a low voice. Celio shook his head. I was sure Masters posture showed all the signs Jagon mentioned. Breathing, heartbeat, all of it. Ace stood beside them, arms folded. A misdirection, he said, his gaze fixed on Edris. Jagon thought he saw every movement, but hes been dancing with a shadow. Ives blinked. But Mister Edris really did look rattled. Look at his expression. Ace steered his eyes toward the console, a complicated look framing his own features. The two followed his gaze. Does that seem like panic to you? Ives studied Edriss face. His eyes held no fear, only a sharp focus. Celio exhaled, realization dawning. You mean..! Ace sighed quietly. His gaze settled on Edris, and he nearly shook his head at his opponents mistake. Edris was Edris, after all. This man was playing with his opponent. Jagon relied on his beast-tamer skills to interpret every quickened breath and pounding heartbeat as signs of fear. But such a focus on raw information could blind him to the reasons behind those signals. He saw elevated pulse, flush in the cheeks, tension in the musclesand assumed that must be panic. He saw a flinch, measured some ragged breath, and labeled it fear. It never occurred to him that those same indicators might come from something else. Edris wasnt rattled at all. Ace caught the light in Edriss eyes: a calm, anticipatory gleam that had nothing to do with dread. It was the look of a man who recognized an opportunity, of someone about to harvest a field hed planted. The white-haired man sighed. Hes thoroughly enjoying this. A quiet shift rippled through the onlookers, who sensed a turn in the games tide. Jagon eyed the dark-haired man with suspicion, a hint of doubt in his stare. Across from him, Edris arranged his tokens again. The console readied for the next call. The match was far from over. 144 | Ill Do It For the Break (8) Edris and Jagon faced each other, locked in a tense silence that spread through the Golden Rooms black-station area. Ace watched from across the machines. He knew, better than most, that the dark-haired man never had the reactions Jagon believed he did. Every breath, every shift of Edriss posture, was part of a plan designed to make Jagon trust his so-called beast-tamer senses. Jagons heightened perception let him track small changes in heart rate, breath, or stance. Yet he failed to see what truly mattered: Edris was not just playing the game; he was playing Jagon himself. The man in the bear mask clung to every quickened pulse, every twitch, convinced he had Edris cornered. He overlooked the deeper maneuvering going on behind those pale eyes. Before long, it was match point, 6:6. Jagon slammed his hand on the console. His voice now carried a hint of desperation. How are you guessing my calls right? You must be hiding something. Edris leaned back in his seat, his mask framing a certain placidity. Hm, so youre allowed to read an opponents signals, but we cant do the same to you? He shrugged. Youre less special than you think, Mister Bear. Jagon shot up, nearly overturning his chair. You! The host knocked on the table between them, his voice monotone. Mister Bear, calm down. No violence is allowed in the Golden Room. Jagon settled back down, though anger lit his eyes. He glared at the token in front of him. Edris observed him with a look that bordered on amusement. My hunch, he said, tapping the table with a slight pause, tells me this is a Torch. His lips curved faintly. Am I bluffing or not? Jagon narrowed his eyes, as though trying to dig out the answer behind Edriss words. After three seconds, he spat out the final response. Torch. Jagon flipped the token. Reflected against his constricted pupils was the familiar SHADOW symbol. The next second, the scoreboard flickered:
6 : 7CONGRATULATIONS TO MISTER TURTLE AT STATION NO. 13 FOR WINNING THE BIDDED MATCH! A murmur ran through the spectating crowd. Edris rose, brushing non-existent dust from his coat. The console flashed a notice of three new cards added to his [CARD SLOT]. He let a smile slip through. Thank you for the entertainment, Mister Musclehead. Jagon, staring at him, realized how thoroughly hed been fooled. Enraged, he threw his arm to his side in an attempt to hurl a bolt of mana, only for it to vanish in the space around them. No mana usage is allowed in [ANCHOR HOUSE], the host said plainly, then made a signal with his thumb and index finger. The next moment, two staff members emerged from the onlookers like lurking shadows. Heeding the hosts command, they seized Jagon before he could lash out again. Despite their thin appearance, the staff members were stronger than they appeared, dragging him from the room with no room for resistance. Edris stepped away from the console. Glancing toward the corridor where Jagon had been taken, he shook his head. What a joke. *** Edris stood on his balcony overlooking the pseudo-city. Night stretched over the towers and walkways of [ANCHOR HOUSE], bringing with it a hush that made the artificial constellations above seem oddly real. He looked down at his open palm, pulling it up in a swiping motion to evoke his [PROFILE]. Nothing. As expected. He had a feeling that it wouldnt work here. In the safety of [ANCHOR HOUSE], there were no floating windows, no status screens; such things existed only within the Cocoon pods or inside the next Labyrinth. He would need one of those to examine the new cards he had taken from Jagon. When hed won against Jagon back at the Golden Room, Celio and Ives had hurried over, eyes full of questions about how he managed such a comeback. Edris only waved them off. Gambling isnt for kids, he had said, already moving towards the exit. Focus on resting. We have bigger problems soon enough. Edris gazed at the town spreading below him. The next moment, a sigh escaped his lips. I know youre here. From the corner of his eye, a slim figure slid over the balcony railing, landing with soundless grace. His eyes flicked to Edriss face. You really cant use the door? Edris asked, half in jest, half in resignation. Ace only stared at him, not bothering with a response. The quiet might have felt oppressive to someone else, but Edris was used to it by now. The hush that stretched between them was its own kind of conversation. Under that unblinking gaze, Edris exhaled. I know what you want to ask, he said. Yes, Ive used the Sacred Artifact again. Back in Labyrinth 17. Ace blinked once, and a shadow crossed his features. And the aftermath? Nothing yet, Edris shrugged, but in truth, it wasnt exactly good news that no repercussions had yet surfaced. It could mean the penalty was lying in wait, ready to strike at a worse time. They fell silent, but only for a moment. Edris changed the subject as though picking a stray thread from his coat. That said... want to say anything about what you found? He waited, eyes flicking to Aces face. Its only polite to give back after receiving. Ace turned away, forearms leaning at the balcony railings. Labyrinth 17, I received memory shards from a hidden quest. Yet when I tried to unlock them here, the Cocoon blocked it out, he said. Its not the first time, Edris noted. Ace nodded curtly. The system itself seems to fight my attempts at retrieval. Almost like its engineered to keep me from reclaiming the memories. Edris listened. The wind whispered around them, rustling the fabric of his coat. How fascinating, he mused, despite the concerns of the situation itself. Appears that the current Labyrinth system has cracks. The discoveries so far would enforce the theory that this space they were all trapped in was in a paradoxical state. Themes growing crueler, erratic updates for players it was quite possible that multiple forces were trying to steer it. Could be an internal war. Aces eyes narrowed. War. Edris nodded but said nothing more. Ace didnt push. Instead, he pivoted back to an earlier questionsomething he had raised in the Golden Room. Youve done it before, the games. Edris blinked, then let out a half-hearted chuckle. So youre still on that? If there were anything one should know about Ace, itd be that the man seemed to operate on a different set of logic than the average person. If it were anyone else, theyd have no problem letting go of hearing an answer to a trivial question like this one. After all, the unspoken rule in human discourse followed that it was okay to leave unnecessary information behind.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. However, there was no such thing as unnecessary information to Ace. Edris had always known he was someone who hoarded answers, storing every detail in that meticulous mind of his. Had Edris brushed the question aside, it would doubtless return another day. Luckily, Edris wasnt the type to play hide-and-seek, especially when it concerns conversations like these. As long as it wasnt absolutely confidential, he didnt mind sharing things about himself when asked, especially if the sharing target was one who''d provide a more significant benefit in the longer term. Edris was a firm believer in equivalent trades, after all. I used to work at a gambling site in Adalan for a while, he admitted. A side hustle, really. Did it for a few months. Saw the typical scenes that occur in places like thosethe mental processes that go on, the common reactions, how to counter them Picked up a few skills back then, thats all. He watched Aces reaction. Though I didnt think Id ever have to use them again. And your participation in that match? Ace asked. The question sounded simple, but Edris recognised the undertone of mild interrogation. Before he could shape an answer, the man let out a scoff, as though answering himself. You were aiming for the cards from the beginning. Edris turned, lips curving in a faint, amused smile. Ha, he said, then gave three distinct claps of his hands. As expected from my partner. What a brilliant mind! Aces face remained impassive, but Edris sensed that if [ANCHOR HOUSE] hadnt been strict about preventing violence, Ace might have slugged him. In fact, Edris half-expected him to do it anyway, rules or not. Realization setting in, Edris lifted both palms in a quick gesture of truce. Consider it experience working as a host in Adalans gambling halls. You learn how people operate under greed, or pride, or both. Their emotions ramp up the moment they smell a reward or think they have the upper hand. Jagon was no different. Edris lowered his gaze to the balcony railing, tapping it with his fingertips. We already know this is likely a long-term struggle, he went on, voice subdued. And with the Labyrinths nonsenseespecially the wellswe cant be sure how our personal information will be used or twisted against us. Edris paused, then gave a shrug of nonchalance. I had to make up the loss somehow. Didnt you say it yourself? Surviving here is more than just avoiding death. Sometimes you need leverage. I never said that. Lets pretend you did. Ace didnt rebuke him, so Edris continued, It was obvious Jagon liked to flaunt those beast-tamer skills and hoard an advantage. The moment I realized his tendency to underestimate his opponent, itd be wrong for me not to exploit that. I only aimed for one card at first, but when he revealed all three Edris spread his hands, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. Well, it would have been rude not to accept the invitation, no? Ace stood unmoving, eyes narrowing slightly as though he found Edriss words more exasperating than impressive. For a second, Edris wondered what his own face looked likeprobably more than punchable enough to warrant a swing if Ace felt so inclined. But Ace simply turned his head away, finally letting the topic rest. The hush that followed felt taut, but not tense in a threatening way. It was just how they were: Edris, always with that casual, cavalier front, and Ace, storing every fact and observation in his methodical brain, ready to bring it up when needed. Edris leaned forward on the railing, letting the faux moonlight wash across his pale eyes. Anyway, he said with a slight chuckle. I appreciate the help earlier. Knew I can count on you. Ace still didnt respond aloud, but the flick of his glance toward Edris was enough to signal hed heard every word. They both knew Jagons defeat hadnt been as simple as Edris playing mind games. Even though Edris could fool Jagons senses and manipulate the mans calls, there remained the matter of guessing Jagons own tokens. By strict math, it might have been a coin toss, but Edris had never placed his trust in chance. Especially when it concerns his own. Edris turned his gaze upward. Beyond the glass dome overhead, the artificial constellations winked back in mocking resemblance of real stars. Back in the Golden Room, a sound-proof barrier separated the players and spectators to prevent unfair communication. However, Edris didnt need any verbal communication with Ace. The man had started off as nothing more than a voice in his head, after all. A gentle breeze passed between them. At length, Edris looked at Ace again, an intrigued smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Ace turned his head away, almost reflexively, as though unwilling to reciprocate such a moment. Both men gazed up at the glass dome overhead. A starry simulation twinkled above the pseudo-city, mirroring a real sky. Tomorrow would bring the next Labyrinth. Edris let his breath slip out as he turned to Ace. If we dont end up in the same place, he said matter-of-factly, remember were still two peas in a podon the same boat. The moonlight cast a faint sheen over Aces white hair. In that light, Edris could see the reflection of the sky in Aces eyes, and he was certain Ace could see the same in his own. Survive, Ace. The mans reply was steady, if somewhat curt. I should be telling you that, he answered. Youre much weaker than me. Edris let out a soft laugh. Come on now. He spread his arms as though to throw one around Aces shoulder, but the white-haired man sidestepped him in a near-effortless motion. Unfazed, Edris only chuckled, slipping his hands back to his sides. Of course, the great Ace would have no problems surviving. So if we do end up in the same Labyrinth, youll carry me, right? Ace said nothing, but Edris caught a flicker of speechlessness in his gaze. A small, unspoken understanding, but more than enough. *** Dawn arrived at [ANCHOR HOUSE], bringing with it a wave of anxious energy. All players, Edris among them, gathered on the highest floor. The countdown loomed overhead like a sword waiting to drop. No matter where they stood, it made no differencethey would be dragged into the Labyrinth regardlessbut many came here anyway, seeking some small illusion of control. Three minutes left. Edris, Ace, Celio, Ives, and Roos grouped together near one balustrade, while Owein took up a spot further off. Ives clung to Edriss sleeve, her eyes darting to the slowly dwindling timer. Celio rubbed his hands in agitation, muttering about regretting not having a bigger breakfast. Roos gave him a hearty thump on the back, laughing a bit too loudly for the mood. If you die, you die, she said, in a half-joking, half-serious tone. No point fretting over it. Celios head snapped up. Youre not helping! he nearly wailed, turning to Edris with eyes shining. Master Edris smoothed a reassuring hand over Celios shoulder. Ill see you on the other side. Celio swallowed hard, then gave a short nod. Edris turned to Ives next, his expression calm. Remember what I told you? Ives nodded in all seriousness, her round eyes glimmering with determination. If all fails, choose the most painless way to die. A strangled noise escaped Celio. What kind of advice is that? Shouldnt we be trying to survive instead?! Ace shook his head in the background. A tremor in the air preceded the Caretakers voice, which echoed around them, carrying a clarity that pressed on everyones minds. Players, prepare yourselves, she said, her words somehow reaching every corner of the platform. As before, your memories and identities may be tampered with. We thank you for your continued participation. Ives clutched Edriss sleeve tighter, Celio stared up at the ticking clock, and Roos merely rolled her neck as though loosening up for a race. Edris glanced toward Ace, then to the distant shape of Owein. The next Labyrinth was coming for them all, inescapable. Two minutes. One minute. Ten seconds. The tension in the air climbed. Edris drew a careful breath. A sudden wave of light flared across his vision, engulfing the scene. In that instant, he glimpsed the Caretaker far belowher face angled toward him, lips curved in a faint, unreadable smile. The world shuddered. Then came a jolt, as though he was pulled into some unseen corridor. Edris gasped, disoriented, while the brilliance around him folded in on itself, leaving only the echo of the Caretakers final words. When the brightness receded, he found himself slumped over a desk, staring at a stack of papers. The transition was so abrupt that his eyes still burned with leftover spots of light. He blinked. A desk? Was it his? The dark-haired man straightened and reached for the nearest sheet, scanning unfamiliar text. A name tag on the table caught his attention:
| NAME: EDRIS POSITION: INTERN AT ARCHIVE X. |
| MAIN QUEST: Survive the probation period and become an official worker at [ARCHIVE X]! TIME LIMIT: 24:00:00 |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #24 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE | Unpaid Intern at [ARCHIVE X] |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 100% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| SLOT 2: OmniKey USAGE: This key allows you to open any door, lock, safeanything with an empty space that allows insertion. "Cant hide anything from me now!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 3/3 |
| SLOT 3: Bulls Eye USAGE: When activated, this card becomes a spear with a 100% hit rate. The target must be within the users sight at the time of activation. "Cant run from me now!" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 1/1 |
| SLOT 4: Vocal Slider USAGE: This card can mimic any voice the user has heard in the past twenty-four hours. It is effective for three hours from the moment of activation. "Hey! Did you eat my vocal cords for breakfast?" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 1/1 |
| MAIN QUEST: Find out who killed Tinope Res! TIME LIMIT: 03:00:00 |
| MAIN QUEST: Survive the probation period and become an official worker at [ARCHIVE X]! TIME LIMIT: 24:00:00 |
| PLAYER ID | Edris |
| LABYRINTH | #24 |
| PLAYER STATUS | Normal |
| ROLE | Unpaid Intern at [ARCHIVE X] |
| AFFINITY LEVEL | 79% |
| CARD SLOT |
|
| The card [VOCAL SLIDER] has been activated! |
| VOCAL SLIDER USAGE: This card can mimic any voice the user has heard in the past twenty-four hours. It is effective for three hours from the moment of activation. "Hey! Did you eat my vocal cords for breakfast?" # OF USAGE REMAINING: 0/1 |
| MAIN QUEST: Find out who killed Tinope Res! TIME LIMIT: 01:04:39 |
| THE INVITATION HAS FAILED TO SEND! NOTE: [PLAYER PROFILE] can only be shared with other [PLAYERS]! |
| MAIN QUEST: Find out who killed Tinope Res! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:11:14 |
| CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE MAIN QUEST. MAIN QUEST: Find out who killed Tiniope Res! TIME LIMIT: 00:00:05:14 |
| YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF [LABYRINTH #22]. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SURVIVAL! |
| LABYRINTH #22 WILL NOW COME TO A CLOSE. |