《The smartest mimic》


 Ch 1- parasitic ring

    We were sent to exterminate a nest of mimics, it was dangerous and rewarding. Dangerous because elder mimics can take on the shape of beast and counter moves they have memorised, so basic strategies won''t work. Rewarding because mimics keep hoards of treasures in order to study them and properly disguise themselves.


    However this time I''m rather confident because this time we have a inferno mage on our side, I didn''t bother asking her name because why would I? She knows why we''re here and we know why she''s here, we all want treasure and with her here it''s only a question who can run the fastest after the flames settle.


    There are rules though whilst plundering a mimic nest:  1) mimic check anything that''s there twice.            2) first kill, then take.                                3) be picky, not greedy, take something valuable and not a bunch of tin.                                      4) mimic check the floor.


    The last one I made from personal experiences, it happens way to often.


    ...


    We arrived at our destination, a cave that probably used to be a mine. We have quite the terrain advantage, or at least she does. Now I''m no magus but I pretty sure that ''inferno'' is the third highest rank a fire mage can reach after that comes ''phoenix'' and above that is ''dragon''. There is also ''Calamity'' but that can be achieved by any element and even some magic less beings have reached it. If I''m not mistaken there are also variants but I don''t have the knowledge to talk about them.


    I take in a deep breath and put on my mask, which honestly is just a bunch of rags that cover my mouth and nose with charcoal in between but hey it gets the job done. Oh, that guy seems to have forgotten his mask, sorry buddy but with an inferno mage that whole cave is gona be filled with smoke. A determined look formed in his eyes and then he took a breath so deep I thought his gut was going to burst. Really? You plan on holding your breath for the entire time? But one thing is clear if he dies I will take his coin.


    ...


    Dam, he''s going quite strong with just one breath, he might make it. I have only heard of people from fishing villages who have been trained to spearfish maur- m??r- moer- some fish that starts with m, holding their breath for this long. Now that I actually pay attention he is quite tanned and has a short spear with a hook at the end, meant not to kill but to catch. What was the nearest fishing village again? That floating one, but half of them float. Oh yeah it was the one that tames sharks.


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    ...


    The mage came to a stop, and so did we. She made the hand gesture for ''faker'' and ''old'' then raised two fingers without turning around. Great, two elder mimics and this deep in the cave they probably prepared themselves. Now for the hard part of the job.


    <hr>


    All of the sudden smoke filled the air and a immense sense of danger came over me. I tried to figure out what is going out by looking around but my vision became a blur and it became hard to breath. What now? What now? What now? What now? What now? What now? Will I die like this? THINKTHINKTHINKTHINKTHINKTHINK. I have an idea but it will take a lot of time, but it might be my only solution.


    Mimics only copy the look of something they can''t become something they haven''t seen. And that''s exactly what I''m gonna do, come up with something on my own!


    <hr>


    Well that was weird.


    The two elder mimics just formed a wall, don''t get me wrong a great disguise. But doing it while people watch isn''t that effective. Especially if one of them can turn sand into glass.


    If I have to be honest this whole ''extermination'' has just been a uncomfortable walk, even for the inferno mage considering she only casted one spell and has just been pushing the wall of flames. Or is it hard to keep a single spell up? I don''t know.


    Then the flames abruptly died out, everyone panicked for a second but calmed down as fast seeing that we reached the end. And that guy is still holding his breath, I''m impressed.


    Ope, before I forget. I stab the ground with my dagger and sure enough a hiss of pain came from down below. It didn''t take long to kill it considering that we''re 6 people. Some looked at me questioningly but you only need too explore 5 abandoned places to become paranoid. I look over to the guy still holding his breath, or spend one night on the open sea.


    <hr>


    I looked over all the valuables that have been hoarded. Mostly jewellery of different sizes, some things were there twice but I didn''t bother mimic checking them, I let the others do it. My eyes land on a silver wring with a crimson rubin on it, no its not exactly silver, platin? I newer really had the luxury of learning all that one makes jewellery from by heart, unlike some other people.


    I picked it up and closer inspected it, I''m gonna be honest with you I have no eye for jewellery this could be the world''s most expensive piece of metal craft or the cheapest attempt of copying luxury yet all I see is a ring. However I have an eye for crystals and this ruby is looking mighty fine. I''m keeping this.


    I put it on my ring finger and it fitperfectly.


    <hr>


    The sentient one''s make their way out of the cave and once out one of them let''s out a ungodly deep breath and winced some weird sounds.


    "Now for the obvious question, what will we do with everything we earned?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? Sell of course!"


    Answered my host.


    "That''s why it''s a obvious question!"


    Laughter broke out, except from the one still that''s still wincing.


    "Also why are you wearing that ring? You usually don''t wear what you plan on selling."


    "Oh, I''m keeping this one. Unlike the other one''s I can''t really figure out it''s value."


    "Give it to me, I''ll figure it out for you!"


    "No, I know how fast you can run!"


    Laughter broke out again and this time the wincing one joined. Well I guess I managed to pull it off, I''ll be able to sustain myself on her blood. There will be problems with this but give me a break I need time to think.


    "Besides it has a fine ruby, I''ll get it enchanted."


    Well fuck

 Ch 2- obedient little ring

    We didn''t manage to reach the city before nightfall, but that''s fine were prepared. Besides most of us can, and did, sleep on the street. But this isn''t a street it''s the wilderness, I learned that lesson the hard way.


    We set up camp and whilst sitting infront of the campfire lit by a little to eager wizardess I was the first to break the silence.


    "So should we get acquainted or...?"


    "Acquainted?"


    The guy sitting across from me asked questioningly, he was young and had slim but muscular build. One couldn''t notice it geared up but we''re getting ready to sleep.


    "I''ll demonstrate. I used to be a ranger in the red forest until it was discovered that I was growing a few drug ingredients there. Ever since then I have somehow made a living."


    They didn''t ask what I meant with ''somehow'', it''s easy to take a deadmans belongings. Then the inferno sorceress (I really don''t know what to call her) stood up and after a look on the ring she took from the mimic nest she told a bit of her story.


    "I used to be a pupil in the arcane academia of yui''tzui but was kicked out because of my drug overuse and ever since then I have been trying to gain more power in any way possible."


    One didn''t need to guess what drug she took, her white hair said enough. The deeper the haircolor of a magus the more natural its connection to the arcane is, her hair rejects the concept of color. Then the guy who impressed me with his breath stood up.


    "I used to be a shark hunter on the floating village of storm tide but was exiled after a ''accident'', I jet have to earn enough to afford a actual spear."


    And he sure enough had the body to call himself a shark hunter, now that I see him without gear I can confidently say that he is intimidating. The guy who was confused by my proposal stood up next.


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    "Used to be a swordsman in the guild of blades but after a drunken fight I might have ''hurt'' someone important and ever since I have been on the run."


    Next stood up someone who I failed to notice.


    "Used to be part of the sacred temple of Kulsht, after I had badly beaten four seniors I was punished by having the mark of the sinner branded on my chest and was kicked out rather...unceremoniously."


    Next was a rather talkative person.


    "I''m just a rogue who wants to be rich."


    She was the most honest one from all of us, but I don''t mind, we all left out pieces of info.


    "I will be the first guard of the night."


    <hr>


    After whatever talks they had with my hostess (I figured out that she''s female) she went to sleep. Thankfully she takes me of beforehand because I don''t think I can go unnoticed if she never took me of.


    First I cut my connection with the ruby, I used a real ruby for my disguise. Then I took the shape of a teny tiny snake and made my way away from her. Before I could reach the outside the whole tent became bright and unimaginable danger and fear came over me. I looked back and sure enough my hostess was standing infront of a raging fire with her arms crossed and her eyes narrowing on me. Her eyes darted from me to the ruby and then spoke.


    "Back"


    Heh?


    "Come back here."


    She landed her hand on the ground.


    Wha- why would I listen to you when I can just leav-


    The fire behind her roared and the danger I felt increased tenfold.


    I moved as fast as I could, right now ring and snake are all I can turn into. Once on her hand she brought me to eye level and I''m very scared please help. Her open hand turned into a fist and I was caught in her tight grasp.


    "You do as I say, turn into what I say and never even dare disrespect me. And never even think of leaving."


    The pressure was unbearable a real snake of my side would have died by now! Then everything just became a blur and the next thing I know I was in some jar. The flames died down and she let out a deep breath.


    "How didn''t he notice what just happened her? I swear if he''s taking a nap!"


    She left to.check on the guy that was supposed to keep guard and I knew that this is my chance. There''s a reason I chose a snake over something with legs: flexibility. A normal snake would be trapped but as a mimic I have total body control which allows me to use the belly of the snake as a suction point and slowly inch upwards.


    It was slow but steady and surely I almost reached the end when the yelling outside sufficed and I could hear footsteps coming this way. Dammit she''s coming back! I let my grip losen, falling was the fastest way down. The landing hurt, in order to hide my pain I turned into the ring but now missing the ruby.


    She came back clearly angry and then looked down on me.


    "Did I tell you to turn into a ring?"


    Well fuck

 Nightmares dont lie

    I am the current guard, after I and the sorceress beat th ranger I took the role because I couldn''t sleep anyways. Atleast now I have an excuse to run from my nightmares.


    It''s sayd that a group will have nightmares the first night they spend together, I''m not sure how long I would have lasted if I saw their faces again.


    The grip on my blade tightened.


    <hr>


    I patrolled through the forest like I always do except that I''m watching myself patrol. This again? How often do you want to tease me with this?


    What? Don''t you enjoy remembering the day you forgot how to smile?


    Said my own voice to myself.


    Perhaps if you were as good as your mother then that wouldn''t have happened.


    I didn''t say anything, I can''t win an argument against myself. Besides this all, was born from my weak mind.


    Then the young version of me noticed something and froze, just like that day.


    <hr>


    I smoked my pipe whilst enjoying a nice day.


    "You know it''s not really fair if you always smoke that thing."


    "Oh please, not my fault that some idiots don''t know when to stop."


    "But you don''t stop."


    "I don''t need to."


    "One day your gonna regret it."


    "Oh yeah? Gonna make me thunder boy?"


    He fell silent, like always when I challenge him. We''re thunder and flame a duo with with unparalleled destructive potential. But then a wet smell of dirt, the smell of rain came to my nose.


    And then I shuddered as I realised that I have been betrayed.


    <hr>


    It''s a day like any other the waves shake the floating village and the seagulls plague the sky with their disgusting singing. I make sharkbait so that the spear fishers have a bit of extra time before they have to give up their catch.


    I''m not really skilled with the spear myself as strong as I am it doesn''t matter if I''m to slow to hit anything. The best I could catch are deepsee oysters and squids because they rather fight, the squids I mean how would an oyster fight?


    My biggest value is that I''m quite good at building things because of my strength but when building boats or other complicated things I usually need the help of others, and with help I mean instructions.


    Eh, doesn''t really matter right now, I''m not here to work but to meet with the one who stole my heart.


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    But she never came.


    <hr>


    It was chaos, people screamed and then were silenced by death. Most would panic right now but in the temple I and my fellow clerics where taught to stay calm in moments like these. More like got used to it.


    I have to save them! But I can''t, not like this, not unarmed. I need armor, I need a weapon. The armory, it''s right there. I can just go in, I can just gear up. As I made my way there a hand grabbed me by the shoulder.


    "No, don''t do it. You took the oath to never wild a weapon to never kill or to harm others!"


    I looked him in the eyes, he''s a junior back from the temple, he has the same bleached hair and white robes on him just like me.


    "I took an oath to save those that need me! And if I have to condem one life to save the other then I will do it without hesitation!"


    He punched me in the face in a desperate attemp of stopping me.


    But I punched back.


    <hr>


    I''m dreaming, I know that and that''s why I''m in controll. I''m fishing in a golden lake sitting in a golden boat wearing a golden suit. I have gold but I''m fishing for platin.


    <hr>


    Just by the introduction of them I can tell more about them then they did.


    The most illegal thing one can do in a forest is hide a body, but one can''t grow shit there. The strongest thing one can grow in the red forest is a barry that would give you food poisoning. He probably killed someone. And ever since then he lived the life of a bandit.


    The sorceress wasn''t a student of the academia, if she was she would have elongated the name and titles of the academia and her own to make one fall asleep. She got her hands on fire magic some other way. She might be addicted but as long it doesn''t get in the way.


    The brute, he probably isn''t that smart and he knows it that''s why he didn''t say what he actually did. He isn''t a shark hunter but a deepsea hunter. That alone makes him dangerous and he didn''t actually say where he''s from.


    Something mist have happened because the clerics of the temple wouldn''t fight each other. He probably wasn''t exiled and he probably burnt the mark of the sinner on himself and ran away.


    The rogue is probably the most honest and best one of us. As she doesn''t have the murky eyes of a murderer that all of us have.


    <hr>


    There it layed, the lord of the forest. A majestic deer without any one as majestic as him, now dead. Its killer didn''t take a trophy or a proof of the kill for they know what they did. I touched the blood that was still filled with a mysterious something beyond me and brought my hand to my face and then drew the symbol for ''hunter'' on my cheek.


    The hunt was on.


    <hr>


    Flames roared, thunder crackled and water howled. Those sounds didn''t leave the fight once. Thunder is hard to dogde is but easy to block. Water is hard to block but easy to dogde. But they''re just sitting in that water dome completely protected from me, I will tire out before them. I grabbed a fistful of dark Ash and stuffed it in my mouth.


    I will boil them alive!


    <hr>


    Where is she? The other villagers looked at me worriedly. I don''t like what''s going on, something happened. Then, the bravest young man in the village approached me fearfully. He had something wrapped in cloth. He handed it over and stood straight. The thing wrapped in cloth was a hand. Her hand.


    I recognise the teeth line at the spot where it was torn away, it''s the work of a shark.


    I walked away without saying anything, because nothing was asked. They knew what I''m gonna do. All I needed a weapon.


    Then I jumped in the water.


    <hr>


    I put on the chainmail I don''t know how to put heavier armor on, then  grabbed a short sword and a short shield. Now I was ready.


    I ran out to help them but was stopped again.


    "We can''t let you do that!"


    Four juniors stood in my way, all shorter than me. I just shoved them to the side. I need to help them, I need to save them!


    <hr>


    Ha! Somethings took the bait! I pulled the golden fishing rod and pulled out of the water a silver fish. Not what I was hoping for but I''ll take it!


    <hr>


    So what now?


    I''m sitting in a jar and right now I can''t leave.


    What can I do? Cry?


    Hmm? My hostess seems to have a troubled sleep but what can I do?

 Bad morning

    A disgusting scent that I haven''t known before woke me up. And to no one''s surprise there were tears on my face. She would have laughed that a big guy like me cried, yes she would have, she would have.


    After wiping my tears away stood up, not to my full height that would uproot my tent, it happened before. I had to move carefully to leave my tent without breaking something. Once out I saw the source of the smell, the mage was smoking her pipe.


    Her white hair was a mess and I haven''t seen anyone as done as her. She looked me in the eyes and continued Smoking her pipe without breaking eye contact. I just sat down a bit away from her the wind was blowing against her so I should get some fresh air here.


    "Bad dream?"


    "Bad dream, bad dream?"


    "Bad dream."


    It was simple and short, we both had nightmares. She took out her ring and just looked at it.


    "When should we get going?"


    I asked because I''m horrible at planing ahead, I will not take a leader role.


    "After breakfast."


    "But nothings being prepared."


    "Exactly."


    I don''t really under-ah, she wants me to make breakfast. Well I''m not really good but a hungry person doesn''t complain so I guess I can try.


    <hr>


    I didn''t give a response to the brute leaving. I just stared at the ring but not really, my eyes looked a hundred steps past everything. Why did I need to remember him? And why was his death so detailed? I don''t think I even was close enough to see him. I only heard his scream.


    My look focused on the ''ring'', I wonder.


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    "Hey, from now on your name is Kotzuk."


    "And I will teach you the ways of the arcane. First of one has to open their internal mana ways and then awaken the core. Now I''m gonna forcefully open yours."


    <hr>


    What theeeeaasasasaasesesaAAAAAAAGHHHHH1


    It''s as if a thousand molten hot arms hollow me out and fill me up with lava over and over and over and over and over again and again. I''m not sure how much time passed but the pain never stopped.


    <hr>


    Breakfast was quite good it had a bland taste and was to salty. We should get going now. I stood up.


    "I want all of you to be ready in half an hour, rouge you will lead us to the best place to sell. After that I will take the lead."


    The brute and rouge made no sound instead they just went to their tents and started packing up. The ranger looked at me for a bit and then just shrugged, idiots atleast know to do as told. The swordsman and healer however looked at me questioningly.


    "You got a problem?"


    Then they both turned to get ready. I didn''t like it but the only reason I hold the leader role is because I''m the strongest. The healer probably has a great understanding of the human body and mind. I recognise the gauntlets that the swordsman was wearing he''s probably a good tactician. But right now our goal is simple: sell.


    I looked down on my ''ring''.


    <hr>


    Half an hour later


    I''m not really sure if half an hour passed but I''m not the last so that''s good. The sorceress holds the leader title with force right now but I can understand it right now, but if she keeps that reasoning then I will confront her.


    "Where''s the brute?"


    Yes, that''s a good question. From behind I could hear heavy footsteps, not in slow but I could feel the weight of every step. Truly a brute.


    "Alright, so everyone is here. Rogue, what''s the best place to sell in most a days worth of travel."


    "If we do or don''t hijack a caravan?"


    "Is it that much better?"


    "No, not really."


    "Exactly."


    She pulled out a map and compass and after a bit of thinking:"Then we go to the city on top of the glistening mountain."


    "Knife ears?"


    I dealt with elfs before and let''s just say their frontrunner''s tend to end themselves after being captured, I had to save a lot of them.


    "Why is it called the glistening mountain?"


    Yes, good question.


    "It glistens in the sun, literally."


    "How far is it away?"


    "If we leave now then we should be there just before nightfall."


    "Then what are we waiting for? Lead the way!"


    <hr>


    The pain finally left me and now I feel, different. As though a new part of me woke up. And there''s also something I can''t describe as tough it should be but isn''t a part of me. I tried interacting with it and it went, somehow?


    "Ah, you''re back. Now it''s time you learn mana control. Don''t worry if you struggle I''ll do it forcefully again."

 Deal

    We arrived without much issue, we did come across some fools with a death wish but let''s just say there''s a lot more ash. It was dark and the lights of the city were not far away.


    "So for their questions: we don''t know each other and the only reason we travel together is for safety."


    No one had a problem with that.


    "I never met an elf before, anything I should know?"


    "Don''t touch them and if you''re approached by a group bigger than five be ready to fight."


    "And they don''t have liquor either."


    "There''s a reason for that: they''re fragile. Like extremely fragile, we''re to them what ogers are to us."


    "Then what do they have?"


    "They brag about how they are born with elemental affinities and how their cores are active from birth but that''s just dirty jack all over again, but they do have nice silk."


    "Pah! A random spider-kin or moth-kin could weave you thinks that no elven tailor could dream of!"


    "But let''s be honest they''re just the pretty pets of some bored gods who want to test how thin they can make something without cutting it."


    "I''m not sure if that was an insult or a examination."


    "Me neither."


    "Oh I''m definitely stealing that one."


    "Come up with your own insults!"


    "What about dwarfs?"


    "Oh, don''t even get me started. Elfs, dwarfs, and all of their descending races are just the board game of some gods "


    "And we have first row sets."


    This is the moment where the rogue and brute realise just how rotten their team is.


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    ...


    "Who goes there?"


    "Just tired travellers looking for a place to rest."


    We didn''t hide our weapons because it would be more suspicious if unarmed civilians made it here than experienced combatants. Though I''m not really experienced I''m just really good at scamming people, I had practice.


    "For what reason has thou come?"


    "To rest and if possible to trade."


    It isn''t rare for travellers to sell what they found on their travels here, that''s why I picked the place.


    ...


    Ugh its weird how I just all of the sudden have access to mana but I have been getting used to it. Because otherwise it would happen again. We entered a room of sorts but the others didn''t follow, she''s going to rest again. She looked down on me with one eye and I could feel my insides being grabbed by something ungodly hot.


    "Eh, good enough."


    That was her only comment, relief washed over me and I knew that if I''m lucky I will have a chance of escaping. Nope I''m back in the jar. Well only three things left to do.  1) train my mana control.                                                        2) try to aquire a new form.                                                      3) cry.                                                                                           Oh, I don''t have tears, dam.


    ...


    The others might not notice but I''m definitely raising that mimic, I mean can you imagine a high tier spell caster who''s disguise is so good one needs divine perception to find him. I mean he even tricked me.


    Also there seems to be a enchanter in the city, one I know from the past. Actually it''s a similar scenario like the mimic, instead of killing I choose to make him submit now he''ll enchant for me without cost.


    I think ma and pa meet similarly, ma sayd it''s in the family. She even personally teached me fire magic and how to make dark ash.


    I should bring a gift with me when visiting the enchanter, for old times sake!


    ...


    I crawled out from beneath the pavement, reasons to be a vampire: you fit everywhere.


    I gave up hunting my blood long ago, not after that fire demoness took me as a temporary slave. I mean she taught me enchanting, she didn''t know it herself but forced me to learn it from nothing but a book. Back then I hated her, but now I''m mildly grateful. I live a life more comfortable than anyone else, whilst working the easiest job.


    So you can bet your ass I would have shit my pants if I would eat anything else than blood when I saw her. She approached me slowly but menacingly! I froze in place unable to do anything.


    "Good, you recognise me."


    Her voice was gentle and beautiful but it filled me with fear.


    "Here."


    "She threw something at me and I instinctively catched it. It was a potion bottle filled with dark ash! The drug I used to be so addicted to. I was both shocked and joyfull about this gift, it took me so long to get over it and yet I''m still addicted. I didn''t even think when I jugged the whole bottle.


    More, I need more!


    "I have an offer for you: be my shadow again and you''ll have all the ash you want."


    Refuse, refuse! I have to get out of here! So why is my shadow moving towards her why am I-


    ...


    Dam, poor fella. Guess the two of us are sharing. The same fate now. Should I call him brother? Yeah, he''s my brother from now on.

 A greedy childs morning

    I woke up, I had a wonderful dream where I was walking through a treasurery worthy of a king, I was dressed in a golden dress accompanied by golden knights.


    I jumped out of bed and got dressed enthusiastically, today is payday! And I''m sure that with my scamming skills that I will make the most cash from our group. Actually now that I''m thinking about it they will probably just threaten the elfs into buying our jewellery, is that also a form of scamming? Maybe I should also learn how to actually threaten people.


    ...


    It seems like I''m the last of my group to go downstairs, they where sitting at a table. Hey what kind of place was this again?


    "Hey uh, what kind of Inn is this?"


    "Oh, it''s not an Inn, it''s the local adventurer guild."


    "Cuse me?"


    "It''s the only dam place with a human chef in this entire city."


    Ah, do they dislike elfs that much? Now that I look at it, they''re dressed different too. The sorceress doesn''t wear her expensive red and black robes, instead she wears a pointy hat and bluish robes. The swordsman didn''t change, he only has a badge with a series of blades I think I would need to take a closer look. The healer isn''t wearing plate armor anymore but has Priestley white robes on, it hides his beefy build perfectly. The ranger doesn''t have his camouflage coat that hid almost his entire body on, revealing light leather armor. The brute doesn''t have his heavy armor on instead he''s wearing casual clothes, not really good clothes but also not really bad. And then there''s me a suspicious looking hooded figure.


    "I can smell problems sprinting here."


    I commented whilst sitting down.


    "And they will arrive with the first adventurers."


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    "How much did we even pay?"


    "We didn''t we just walked in."


    "Don''t they lock their doors?"


    "Knife ears."


    "You guys didn''t leave any of your stuff upstairs, right?"


    "I''m unexperienced not an idiot."


    Our conversation was interrupted by a good looking lady and even though she doesn''t wear hear uniform yet I can tell she''s a receptionist, they always make handsome people receptionists. She looked at us confused.


    "Look your doors."


    Swordsman sneered and just now I realised that I never got his name. I heard of soldiers stopping each other mid conversations because they might grow attached to each other. Are they afraid of scarring their hearts? Well any scarr pales next to the shine of gold.


    "I....see."


    She was taken aback a bit, what did she except with a unlocked door. I narrowed my eyes on the door and sure enough, no keyhole. How haven''t they been robbed?


    "Knife ears."


    I''m starting to get it.


    ...


    The first group of adventures came in and then the next and then the next. I''m not sure when but this place became full, like full full I don''t even have to leave my seat to pick pocket a few idiots. Who willingly walks past a thief?


    "Hey you guys!"


    And that was my cue to dissappear, I threw of my coat and jumped under the table. I threw a medium length metal staff (I love my bag of holding) to where it would make the most people fall. And whilst they where falling I rolled amongst them and acted as if I was also hit. Without anyone realising I kicked the staff under the table. By now my speed enchanted leg guard lost its effect, I it''s purpose is to make me the first to react even when ambushed.


    A tall and furious elf approached my party, no matter how much you glare buddy you won''t intimidate anyone.


    "Are you the ones that broke into our guild?!"


    "We didn''t break in, we just walked into a public building and were lucky enough to be the first."


    He didn''t like that.


    "Do you think that you can do whatever you wan?!"


    "Well maybe if you Knife ears weren''t such pushovers people might listen to what you say!"


    Our swordsman stood up.


    "Pushovers?!"


    The Knife ear didn''t like that. Then our swordsman put his hand on the knife ears chest and......pushed him over.


    "Pushovers!!"


    You need practice to be so good at being a racist duche or just experience. The people didn''t like it but what were they gonna do against a guy who just pushed over one of the most intimidating elves there to be? Oh great, now I''m also.becoming racist. The healer stood up.


    "Now now, let''s all calm down I''m sure there''s a better and more civilised way to solve this."


    He was playing the role of the coole head of our group letting them believe that he''s any better than swordy.


    "Maybe your friend should show that he himself isn''t a pushover."

 A rings studies

    Tell me my Student, what sets humans apart from the other intelligent races.


    The Student knows that his teacher means sentient but he never said that.


    -For starters most things that are poisonous and or venomous to most races is generally harmless to them, might burn a bit but nothing that can''t be sleept over. Almost every toxic substance dangerous to humans is magical in nature and even there the list is shorter than the other races.-


    That is true, my Student, now, what else?


    -They also are highly resistant to almost everything that should kill them and can build up immunities, killing a human with poison is like filling a bucket using a shovel.-


    Go on.


    -Humans also are suited for every environment, even those that despise life itself, though some more than others. For example elfs would need to slowly adapt their bloodline to a desert over many generations, a human only needs to dress accordingly and pack allot of water.-


    The teacher gestured for the student to continue, and so he did.


    -Unlike the other races humans aren''t born with active cores, actually, humans with cores are result of a human doing it with one of the other races. So pure full blood humans are born magicless. However they can still practice mana control and use the ambient mana in the area.-


    Now you''re getting closer.


    The student paused, magic? Mana control?


    -They.....also....are immune to mind magic, aslong the caster isn''t another human."


    Even closer


    The soul?


    -Well.....now I''m clueless, master, what does make humans so different from us that I have failed to see.-


    Humans don''t have religions of their own, haven''t you noticed.


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    The student froze, how did he not notice?


    That''s because no god wanted to claim them, even when they saw that humans fit in this world better than any of their own creations. That''s because unlike us, humans can''t be leashed. The first gods that tried to claim them as their own saw, that no matter how much of a reward they promised, no matter what a punishment was threatened, no matter what miracle happened. The humans just didn''t change, they kept what they had and took what they needed or wanted.


    There are also some other you missed. First, humans are the first sentient beings in this world of ours, they were here before the gods. Second, if you would have paid close attention to the way of human mana control you would have noticed:


    They''re demonic in nature.


    - bits and pieces of a lesson in the greatly and graciously constructed academia............


    <hr>


    So a fight broke out, to no one''s surprise. I watched as the cleric threw an elf over his shoulder and immediately punched another one in the gut which caused that unfortunate one to pause then knocked him out with a right upper cut. I studied his movements and motions, hoping to mimic them.


    ''So circular motions are the secret.'' ''He also never blocked, makes sense, if your shield is your body then blocking would still hurt you. Instead he parries and or grapples them.''


    The brute obviously wasn''t as trained as him, however, he was fairing better. With each punch a chest carved in and with each swing a body was sent flying. I at first thought being that bulky would be a disadvantage since that makes him easy to hit. But in hindsight, his flesh replaced armor. Slashes didn''t hit vital spots, stabs and thrusts couldn''t go deep and he''s basically immune to blunt damage. There yet has to be anyone smart enough to aim for his head.


    The ranger and rouge disappeared right before shit started to boil.


    The swordsman handeld spear carriers that would prove themselves dangerous to the brute. Unlike the cleric I couldn''t keep up with his movements, he was the furthest away from me and from this distance I can''t make much out. Especially since its so crowded.


    I was coiled around the finger of my hostess who was sitting on a pile of burnt spell casters, which kind of resembles a barbaric throne or I''m just starting to become delusional with how long I haven''t chewed anything. Actually, I never chewed before, I was abducted before I reached the point for solid food.


    ...


    I knew they where strong, but I didn''t think they were take-on-an-entire-guild strong. What now? What now? We rely on the guilders for protection and intimidation, but they beat them!


    In a completely destroyed guild hall stood three out of breath figures. The firsts white robes were cut and torn in the fight but the wounds on his body closed as fast as they came to be. The second was a giant of a man and I''m not sure I''d he really is human, there are a hundred stabs and a thousand cuts on his body yet barely any showed blood. The third had dents in his armor from all the spear men beating him after he cut off the spear tips. He was the one I wanted to get rid of the most, if he reports to the guild of blades what happened here then this city will bee wiped off the map.


    I strode towards him with fake confidence, I wanted to make an impression.


    "I challenge you to a duel of the blade."

 First bite

    Oh great, these were my only robes. How will I get new one''s without seeming suspicious. I don''t look like a cleric at all, the only thing that would hint to it is my bleached white hair. Should I try magus robes? I could pass as a white mage, then again what white mage looks like they belong in a gladiator arena.


    I looked over to the swordsman who decapitated unarmed the elf lady who both mocked him before the fight broke out and challenged him to a duel. Surprisingly we didn''t kill anyone, I look over to the brute, surprisingly.


    A trembling figure caught my attention, oh, it''s the receptionist. Poor girl, she can''t stand straight from fear. I slowly walked towards her, with each step the terror in her eyes grew and her trembling became stronger and stronger.


    I stood before her and she probably can''t see me with all the tears in her eyes.


    "Hey, you."


    Her entire being jumped up and then froze in place, understandably.


    "So, can you give me your name?"


    I tried to calm her down as much as possible. Her mouth opened and closed many times but no voice came out. I simply watched as she regained the ability to speak.


    "M-my name is-"


    "Doesn''t matter, just checked if you''re alright."


    Asking someone of their name is a neat way to know if someone is in shock.I turned around just to see that the rouge was already emptying the pockets of the brutes victims opponents.


    I looked around and am surprised at how gentle we were. If you remove the bodies and replace the broken furniture then I could never guess what happened here.


    But this is still more damaged than I woul have liked.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    This is definitely gonna draw attention.


    <hr>


    Well this result became obvious after the rouge started strangling elfs whenever no one was looking. But I was looking, I saw the whole thing, how she sneaked up on them from behind, how she silenced them before grabbing them, how she moved them away from the mob so her cover wouldn''t be blown. Marvellous.


    Maybe, I could copy it. The same movements the same bodie. The healers techniques need great understanding of one''s body and mind. But the rouge went by the same art as a snake, restrict, silence, choke.


    Wait, snakes, yes, why not just copy snakes? That would be a lot simpler.


    My hostess let out a long breath and pulled out her smoking pipe. Then, with a face as if she just remembered something, she whispered to me as gently as a moth.


    "You will now be tasting dark ash, it will be thinned out by my blood so you shouldn''t get addicted."


    Dark ash. By what I learned its a highly additive drug that can enhance the users mana control and some other stuff. Hmmm yes it would be a relief if I had a boost with my mana training. Just the thought of my hostess ''helping'' me makes me shiver.


    I''m starting to feel something. Is this seriously the same thing brother got addicted to? This edible ain''t shiiiiiiioooooouuueerrruuuuooouuiuuithhdvjuyddjudhitesh8reireiifg


    <blockquote>


    After the Kotzuk produced an extra organ to handle dark ash


    </blockquote>


    Alright, I take back what I said. This is some powerful stuff. No wonder sentient one''s get addicted to it so easily. This is thinned out yet I subconsciously made an extra organ because of it. I think what I made would be a miniature liver.


    Before I could test out my mana control a crushing aura that matches my mistresses could be felt.


    "Guild head is here!"


    Exclaimed the ranger who bursted through the front door, he whore his camouflaged coat.


    "Shit!"


    "Fuck!"


    "Finally!"


    There were mixed reactions to say the least. Everyone started putting on their gear, except a few and a lot. My mistress put me on her palm and whispered to me in a coallike voice.


    "Eat,  devour and grow. In the future our paths will cross but right now I can''t protect you."


    And then she just tossed me away, as if I wasn''t worth her time. I landet on a victim of the brutes wild swings and realised that this is my chance to get a bite of meat. I abandons my ring form and made my way to the nearest opening, the neck.


    And then I bit. My small mouth left a small bite scarr and for the first time in my whole life I got to chew something. And it felt great, it wasn''t meat but I still got to chew.


    Then I could feel something approaching and turned back into a ring. It was the panicking receptionist, her eyes darted from place to place until they landed on the not so visible backdoor.


    Alright, this your chance Kotzuk! My first trap.

 Glimmer of fate(greed)

    Today was horrible, I knew it was gonna be bad when that group of humans was already in the guild when I entered. Maybe it could have gone differently if I didn''t say anything to the adventures, maybe, but just maybe. I could tell that the worst of them all is the swordsman, the others didn''t have the distain in their eyes that he had. It became obvious that he wanted the fight to break out when one payd attention to his actions. But what would he get out of it? The only thing following would be a furious.....guildmaster. Fuck, he wants to fight the guildmaster. Only their sorceress is on the same stage as the guildmaster but that doesn''t mean the others will be dead weight.


    That being said I have to get out of here! I''m not sure who will come out as the victor even though the guildmaster has the elemental advantage but he''s outnumbered.


    I was making my way to the exit in the back of the building. But then in the corner of my sight I saw something. I curiously looked down to my left and saw a beautiful platin ring with a fine ruby that seems to glisten. I was enthralled by its beauty but then a crushing aura brought me back to reality. I looked around nervously but no one payd attention so I made my leave with the ring.


    ...


    If I''m capable of selling it for a good price, then I can finally leave this cursed mountain and go to the city east from here. There I can finally work as a librarian and get away from all these crazy hooligans!


    Now all I need is a buyer, wait I could sell it as an enchanted ring. How do I only realise now that this thing has mana regeneration?


    <hr>


    Huh, passing as a enchanted piece of gear is easier than I expected. I was able to catch the attention of the passing by receptionist with the help of some light magic. And just as I hoped she sold me to someone who is more likely to die.


    I act as if I''m enchanted with (lesser)mana regeneration by gathering and leading mana into my host''s body. I was sold to a rookie wind mage for s quite high price, if the rouge of my prior party wasn''t constantly talking about prices then I wouldn''t have noticed that he was scammed.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    His blood isn''t as good as my hostesses but what do you expect when comparing a inferno mage with a wind rookie?


    But I wonder how strong the one who the crushing aura belonged to was.


    <hr>


    Dam, didn''t expect the guildhead to have the earth element. I expected it to be a more versatile element like water or wind but earth? Its extremely annoying and unrational to go against an earth element simply because of its ridiculous defensive potential, or atleast that''s what I have been told. Usually the sorceress would have great troubles with this caster but now that I''m geared up in my heavy armor I can be much more reckless.


    I charged towards the enemy mage, taking the role of the vanguard, whilst both the swordsman and ranger attempt to flank him.


    A wall was raised between us and him, blocking a fireball that I failed to notice. I charged through the wall creating an opening. Multiple rocks of impressive size rose into the air and then charged towards us. The other two fell back and moved behind me, I know what to do. Without losing speed I kept on charging through the rocks, this, this is every earth elements weaknes.


    An enemy with equall resilience.


    The rocks stopped since he now has to focus on defence again, he has not only to worry about fire but also arrows and throwing knifes. I kept charging, not once slowing down. The earth trembled under me, with each step the ground shook. Until I noticed that the trembling didn''t come from me.


    The ground split and for the first time my charge was stopped. I can''t reach him like this, but I can make the others. I turned around and with a swift motion threw a baffled swordsman, the healer followed next. The sorceress stopped me from throwing the ranger and without words I understood.


    It was up to the two.


    <hr>


    I did not expect been thrown today but who am I to predict the future. I landed with a roll since I''m not foreign to the concept of falling, but the swordsman had a worse time. I didn''t let the guild head prepare and dashed forward. In response a boulder that wouldn''t fly far hit my left shoulder, turning my arm useless. But after years of battling and self healing that wound only needed three seconds to heal. And as expected my limb arm regained strength whilst I kept running.


    I came into arms reach of the guild head, he was still mainly focused on keeping earth shields up. But then what I feared happened and he was cladded in armor made of rocks. I am most effective against unarmoured beasts but an armored opponent is my weakness.


    But the swordsman, for whom if been buying time, could hit between the cracks easily.


    <hr>


    This is your group? I didn''t think my host would be the one to souround himself with women.

 Parasite ring

    Elemantilists are a pain to fight since most of their attacks can only be blocked by more magic. Earth mages are an exception since most of them use their mana to move the earth around them so good armor or a shield with decent reflexes should be enough.


    The problem is killing the mage.


    The earth element has unparalleled defensive potential, it''s also the only defence focused element.


    In contrast my fire element has no defence at all.


    Wind mages use the ''parade shield'' strategy, being to fast to be hit.


    Water mages can learn the ice sub element and use that for defence.


    Lightning mages can flash bang their foes giving them precious seconds.


    Light mages can do the same but every light mage has equal mastery of shadow or else they would go insane.


    But fire mages rellie on killing their opponents fast enough to not need defence.


    And that little earth nerd would have died three times over if he wasn''t running away the whole time!


    The earth trembled again but this time it was much more violent, as if something is trapped below the ground and is trying to break free. Unlike him I don''t need to beg the earth below me for a favor, I can simply force it to do my bidding.


    With a snap of my fingers the bottom of the pit rose with an infernal roar. After three heartbeats the pit was no more allowing us advance. The rouge yelped in surprise as she felt the heat rising from the new ground. It wasn''t long until a barrage of boulders came our way, but they did little to slow down the brute.


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    He tried to run but the healer clung to him and just now I notice how his body is. Unlike the brute who''s strength comes from a lifetime of trials that everyone on the sea faces. Unlike the swordsman who swung his sword thousands of times until he had to convince himself to stop. Unlike the ranger who governed a forest for probably most of his life. Unlike the rouge who''s whole physike follows the beliefs of speed and stealth.


    The healer is different.


    As he held on to the mage his joints twist in ways that shouldn''t be possible and the worst part, he''s completely fine.


    I noticed the swordsman laying on the ground, his back twisted in a unnatural way.


    <hr>


    Huh


    This guy''s life isn''t really enjoyable.


    He is a wanna be windmage in a group of four.


    They have a heavily armored tank, a rouge and fighter.


    There''s some problems with the party.


    They don''t have a healer, why not? You need one.


    The tank is to dam reckless, the only reason she''s is because the leader is a relative with the local alchemist!


    Why is my host the bullying victim in this dam group? They should have known that early stage windmages can''t use offensive magic.


    And why is my host unarmed? A wind mage can move around in high speeds and at some point even fly.


    The only projectile attacks they have is the rouges throwing knifes.


    It won''t matter for long anyways, the toxins have kicked in.


    ...


    At first it was weird but as I kept going I got the hang of it. I clung to his bone and moved carefully, careful not to harm a blood vessel, careful not to damage any tissue, and extremely careful around the nerves. The nerves are extremely precious if they''re damaged then the whole limb would turn useless, the closer to the head the bigger the damage.


    However I''m growing tired of this guys routine. Once I reach this guys wind affinitied mana pool I''ll knock him out to set my plan into motion.


    ...


    Finally


    I''ll wait until he lays down to sleep, then I strike.


    ...


    Now it''s time. Time to feast.


    My tendrils already go through his whole body, the problem was eating so much at once. My body has been malnourished for my whole life now so the feast of a whole body might be to much.


    But what If I use those nutrients the very moment I get them? Well guess I''ll find out.


    <hr>


    I opened my eyes and sat up. I looked at my hand and clenched it to a fist. I did that several times until a mad grin formed on my face, much to my horror.


    It seems my body has found a new master.

 The schools of magic

    It was quite simple to take over the body of this idiot. Well actually It''s more like converting it.


    I ate every piece of muscle and bone then replaced it on the spot with my own using the newly acquired proteins and calcium.


    Then I separated his mana pool from the rest of his body. Before it dried out connected it to my own and vuala! Years of hard work skipped.


    Then I promptly killed him by eating whatevers left.


    Since I already replaced everything on and his bones there wasn''t much of a difference.


    It''s still dark and since I just ate a whole person I''m sure as hell not gonna fall asleep.


    This whimp had some books that I couldn''t read since I was on his ring finger the whole dam time. The thought of simply extending a tendril to h-my bag was musing but I need to get used to this kind of form. As I stood up I almost fell.


    Shit! How do they keep balance with only two legs? I keept fumbling like an idiot until it hit me.


    The liquid in the ears! Of course! What else could I have forgotten?


    Yeah this is a lot better.


    Now that I wasn''t threatening myself to plant my face into the ground isn''t a threat anymore I could actually walk. I paced a bit through the room since this still surreal for me. I''m bigger, stronger and faster than I possibly could have imagined in that rotting cave.


    Yet still a whimp. This guy has a measily thin body and pathetic magic capability, I''ll fix it.


    Let''s see, a history book I don''t need that, a romance novel...fucking whimp, myths and legends also useless.


    A beginners introduction into the schools of magic.


    Now we''re talking!


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    I sat down on the bed and made my eyes reflect light.


    There are multiple schools of magic each with their own philosophy and ways of enhancement.


    Elemental magic is by far the easiest and most versatile magic since it can be casted with pure mana, though tuning one''s mana pool to a certain element can bring certain benefits. A fire mage with an attuned pool has it five times easier casting fire magic than an arcane spell. However a mage with an unattuned mana pool has no problems with casting elemental magic and could even use a different school of magic.


    So dirty Jack all over again.


    Necromancy is its own school of magic and is considered the most strategically valuable kind of magic. A single Necromancer can command an army of undead and those undead won''t falter as long the necromancer breathes. Basically the big cousin of summoners.


    It''s an illegal school of magic... except in human territory of course. Actually, necromancers are the most sought after kind of mages in human territory. Even as sought after as tene- and chronomancers.


    Tenemancy is also an illegal school of magic... outside of human territory. Its the essence of chaos. Tenemancers can turn the flow of mana chaotic and cause unpredictable outcomes. Since its not technically ''magic'' only the highest tier anti magic fields would work on them. They don''t have mana pools. Not much is know about tenemancy since it can''t be studied, we only know what we watched happen.


    Chronomancy is, you guest it, only allowed on human grounds. It goes against the rules of creation which humans can''t care less about. Chronomancers can fuck with time but have to be really careful, after all, every action causes a reaction.


    Since chronomancers can cause unwanted damage and fixing that damage could cause more damage they''re used as last resort option.


    Celestial magic is a forbidden school of magic... on human territory. Its not because of politics or threads, they allow tenemancy after all, its just only fae can use it. The human relations with fae haven''t been... favorable. It doesn''t say anything else about it since only the fae know how that shit works.


    Psychic magic is considered advanced magic so it only mentions it.


    The school of the arcane is the Jack of all trades. They''re almost entirely made of enchantments but have free access to all the schools of magic.


    The book also mentions runes but they''re more like craftsmanship than magic so yeah.


    There''s also gate magic. Not a school but the most basic transportation spell that every school has a version of.


    I closed the book as dawn started to hurt my eyes.


    I wonder what my mistress is doing?


    <hr>


    Once the brute catched up with the earth mage he just beated the shit out of him.


    Well guess we won the.


    I heard a wet crunch followed by a pained groan. Looking over I saw that the healer was done putting the swordsman back together.


    I heard a yelp and then a thud.


    Looking over the rouge layed on a crimson puddle. I rushed over only to be outpaced by the healer. He kneeled next her his hand over her throat.


    He shook his head.


    "She''s cold."

 Info dump, because I can

    I decided to leave.


    I jumped out the window onto an empty street.


    My mind still lingered on the human teachings in the book I read. It gave a brief explanation on each school of magic and how to start your cultivation for each. Even illegal ones like celestial, primordial, divine, lunar and veremancy.


    Which surprises me. They deem necromancy as valuable yet veremancy as something ''cowardly'' and ''disgraceful'' and that''s me sugar coating it.


    Humans are prideful, not arrogant. In my short travels I have seen some humans on good terms with elves and other races (of which I don''t know the name of).


    I became curious. How come humans can both be such scum and respectable allies? I need to find a library.


    Luckily, that wasn''t hard.


    I didn''t want to bother with whatever librarian was in there so I just snuck in.


    There''s a lot of knowledge stored in here, about magic, alchemy, arts, crafts, biology and many more things.


    However there was one book under ''biological science'' that just said: Humans, true hellborne.


    I had to read that.


    Chapter one: Human biology and anatomy


    Humans are common sapient beings that live on the surface of the world, kind of. You see humans are special case of... everything. They''re one of the most robust races if not the most robust. Only ogers can top them on that and only because their diety specifically created them to be the most robust. Poisoning a human is very possible but you might burn a hole in your lungs while doing it since their extremely resistant against: Poisoning, the elements and mental damage.


    Humans are built like elfs, but better. They''re from nature on able to lift more than their own bodyweight. Which elfs need years of training to accomplish. They recover faster from flesh wounds and broken bones at the cost of eating five times an elf of their weight class would eat. Whilst their hearing is duller a humans sense of smell is hard to fool.


    It''s said the human with the strongest body to ever exist was practically invincible, spearheads failed to pierce his throat, warhammers hardly left bruises, fire and thunder spells barely got a grunt from him and at his absolute prime, it said that, he was able to open the gates of hell.


    Chapter two: Gender


    Humans have two genders: male and female.


    Human male''s are much bulkier than their female counter parts and do most of the heavy labour. There are exceptions, of course, under the right circumstances a woman can be bulking brute and a man a bunch of twigs. But usually men have a much easier time building up muscle and thic skin. Women on the other hand are gifted with a natural talent for magic and witchcraft. Men can also be born with a talent for the arcane, on rare occasions.


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    For a long time humans basically ignored the existence of genders, evident that their bathouses and living quarters that don''t separate men and women. Which can be very irritating on the first visit to such places.


    Their reasoning was:"If someone is desperate enough to rape a woman, their desperate enough to rape a man." Which considering their culture is uncomfortably reasonable.


    After a lot of heated arguments with a lot of the governors of other races humans changed that. By simply copying their laws but reading ''men and woman''.


    Nothing else changed.


    Chapter three: culture


    Humans respect two things: Strength and bravery.


    If their confident that they''re the strongest around humans can be real nightmares to deal with. However if you stay calm and composed against a display of power or ignore it they won''t push it, since that would be a sign of weakness. But if you fall for their bait, and respond with hostility, then expect having your teeth kicked in.


    A human refusing a duel is the absolute show of power, with such a move their announcing that whoever challenged them is so weak they could defeat them even if the challenger ambushed them in their sleep.


    However there''s no such thing as ''a human refusing to duel''. Their general attitude towards violence is: yes. Fighting someone clearly stronger than them is a great honor and accepting a weaker one''s challenge is a show of respect and sincerity.


    A human is at their absolute happiest whilst fighting someone equally strong.


    Sending their strongest is a show of respect and honor.


    Sending their weakest is how they announce defeat during war.


    Chapter four: hellborne


    You might have noticed that humans don''t have any sort of religion and any holy building made on human territory is burnt down and whoever made it was given a slow and painful death. They refuse to join any religion and if raised in a temple or church will be killed or put through a demonic ritual. Now that''s not per law, humans have on paper complete religious freedom and there''s no law against temples and churches. It''s just that civilians will go out of their way to do that, for an unknown reason. If captured whilst or after doing the deed they will commit suicide without a single remark.


    Human mana cores are different from that of other races. They are the most valuable kind of crystal and can be used to craft powerful catalysts. Humans go as far as they can to retrieve the cores of their fallen comrades. It''s the family, or the closest person to them, that get to decide what to do with the core.


    Now this is where it gets interesting.


    The Humans honor their dead by letting the prior mentioned gates of hell absorb the cores of the fallen.


    It''s depressing that this is the best outcome for a dead human since the people refuse the idea of religion. If left lingering the core will turn into a restless spirit and if crafted turn into a cursed catalyst with full sentients.


    Humans are the oldest sapient race in the whole world. It''s said the first Humans came out of the gates of hell and that they''re actually demons.


    That would explain a lot of things, but not all.


    In the end. Humans aren''t evil, only territorial and the whole world is their territory.


    That''s something. If it''s public knowledge that humans are demons why didn''t the other races try to get rid if them?


    I need answers and won''t find them in an nowhere elven city.


    The knowledge I seek are human secrets, I need to crawl into the bears den.


    <hr>


    My hands were on her cold chest.


    "Death, is the price of life."


    I spoke the mantra I have said so many times.


    "I call bullshit on that."


    Necromancy and vitamancy at the same time. Life and death both rushing into the girls body. Necromancy allows me to fix the damage on her and vitamancy to breathe life into her.


    "I, the preacher of flesh, command thy: Veni ad vita!"


    Demanded the cultist.

 The truth

    I sneaked through human territory for about a year.


    I learned a lot of things, one of them is the truth.


    The truth is that humans play a game where only the nobles will win. When commoners are only infants they will be exposed to the gates of hell which crooks their minds and changes their bodys. That turns them to warmongering killjoys which might aswell be demons. Those... things have no kinship at all, yes they do mate however there''s no bond between the mother or the father. The child is usually left at the hands of the ''handsome ones'' a sellect few who do administrative work and actually run the place.


    Sometimes a child can be ''born mighty'' those mighty ones will be then raised by the mother. At the age of an infant those mighty ones are taken through the gates of hell.


    So the only way a human child can feel being loved is either being born mighty or being born into a village to remote for the government to bother. That''s why the people that live in the floating Fisher villages are considered a different race entirely, lesser human.


    Over the year, my wind and pure mana pool both grew bigger and denser. I would be considered a storm rank mage since I made a breakthrough with the wind gate but I lack the offensive capabilities of one.


    One day, ontop of a dead elf, I made the discovery that I can only take the mana pools of humans because of how my mistress has formed mine.


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    Today I''ve made up my mind, I will cross the ocean.


    I will cross the ocean to reach the sacred island of the blue moon.


    Actually I made up my mind six months ago it''s just that I needed a water elemental infused pool to really justify my journey there. After a lot of patient stalking later I grasped the perfect opportunity to strike and earn myself a flood rank.


    So then you might be asking yourself: what are you doing spearfishing at a river then?


    Easy, my destination is a moving island I''ll need a salmons unique sixth sense of orientation to find it. However I''m sure the hardest part will be to convince them to teach me proper water magic.


    Every day I grow more anxious about encountering my mistress again. Its gotten to the point where even a candle light can keep me awake. Not when I''m sure that I''m alone not when I''m sure even a celestial is unaware of my presence, never did I feel safe again. Its as if there''s always the smell of smoke in the air.


    Whenever I fell asleep I would have the same nightmare. A thousand molten arms forget me into a thousand things, beaten, whipped, cut, torn, boiled and burned into a thousand different things. Weapons, armor, clothing, materials, objects, furniture, jewellery, treasures and it would always end with that God forsaken ring. I never again took in the form of that ring again yet I can''t get it out of my head.


    A platinum serpent coiled around a mistresses finger presenting a ruby. For me it''s the absolute show of submission.


    I gritted my teeth.


    Got one


    <hr>


    Dam, this feels weird.


    It''s like having eight new rights and lefts each. Goodness I can even feel on what altitude I am.


    I decided to take on the form of a octopus because it fits me.


    With a salmons sixth senses I always know where my destination is so I won''t have to worry about getting lost in this abbys.

 More than you can chew

    The ocean is vast.


    Everywhere there''s either something trying to eat you or something trying to kill you.


    Like that dip shit over there, I mean I killed it before it could do anything, but it still tried.


    Besides what was that even? It looked like something that happens when a human was left to lament in ocean water and was given unreasonably sharp claws. I thought it was a wandering spirit or a wraith but something strange happened after it ''died''.


    It turned to pure mana and returned to wherever it came from. Now I''m no necromancer but even I know that such a stunt needs a necromancer who can open the gate of death. For comparison the nation I was prowling around in had ten necros that can pull that off, that nation had a population in the billions and necromancy is highly valued.


    The worst part is it turned to pure mana, you know, one of the rarest natural manas. That needs a nether sage to happen, one with too much free time if she can afford to put such an enchantment on a mere wraith. That kind of stuff is usually only put on trump cards like nether manifestations.


    The bigger question is what is a necromancer doing at the bottom of the ocean. For what I know humans can''t breathe underwater.


    What if its a lich?


    I can''t name you a necromancer who''s wiling to give up her beauty like that. Human mages value every piece of them greatly, their youth, beauty, intellect and power. They would rather die than give up any of them.


    So anyways I followed the direction into which the wraith disappeared. A blue spot (term for places like the Marian trench).


    Wait a second.


    I focus on my sense of orientation. I send mana into my brain and make it work on overdrive. The world seems to slow down and anything in my field of view became much clearer.


    A illusion.


    To keep things from going there by making them believe that there''s nothing there. Honestly, I probably shouldn''t go in there.


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    A nether sage and a veremancer, if that isn''t an ominous duo.


    Actually.


    Either that veremancer has barely even tried or..


    A rune.


    Quite a lot of runes actually.


    Two for the illusion, one keeps it going whilst the other fucks with my mind.


    The other five hundred will spawn a shit ton of necrotic stuff, can''t say what exactly. But I can tell it was made in hurry since a few are defect which caused the wraith I encountered to happen. It makes sense that they were in a hurry, they were underwater after all.


    But still. Someone in a hurry wouldn''t add return of dead to each and every one of them.


    I squinted my eyes.


    Was all this made by only two mages? No. It was made by a single runesmith, human mages are too prideful for runes.


    Around five hundred things with rising numbers.


    I took on a semi human form because quite frankly I find it the easiest to use magic in. Below my waist it was an eels wet dream of a body.


    I removed the lungs and replaced it with a diving sack which won''t be important during the fight but I doubt I will have the energy to shape shift left after it. I replaced my bones with cnorbs which will allow me to heal my skeleton in mid combat. I used all the calcium to give my upper body a shellfish like armor, it won''t even slow me down.


    Alright then, let''s go!


    I rushed in there not waiting for anything to happen.


    200 wraiths 100 water wraiths 50 phantoms 50 phantom giant jellyfish 50 necrotic abominations almost all the other ones are defect. Except one.


    A nether spawn.


    Not just that it''s also attuned to the water element. It has the skeleton of a giant serpent, a hundred meters thick and god knows how long. Instead of flesh or intesthy there was only a pitch black something that left a dark mist where it was. Its eyes golden blue, not a combination you want to see.


    I''m not sure if I should be impressed or horrified that something actually managed to do necromancy with primordial energy or that they found primordial energy at the bottom of the ocean.


    For that to happen a God must either reside here and Gods don''t do that, the mortal realm is beneath them.


    Or at the bottom of the trench is a God''s corpse.


    Either way.


    I have a horde of enemies to fight through.


    <hr>


    Over the year I have realised something about myself.


    I aimed above my league.


    I could have turned into a rock, pebble, puddle or anything else you can find in a cave.


    But no. I chose to be one of the most attention catching pieces of jewellery. And even after my mistress picked me I didn''t back off. I sucked her blood in a pathetic attempt of damaging her, even if I tell myself it was for nourishment. Even after my horrifieng experience I could have simply hidden myself amongst one of the other races.


    Hell, I could have confessed to the elfs of what I am and cooperated with them. But I choose to walk into the lions den.


    When I learned the truth instead of using that information against them I simply grunted and saw it as a challenge.


    At first I wanted to convince myself that it was the human cores. But no matter how you look at it.


    I''m not better than them. I might be worse.


    They atleast have a code of honor.

 For vengeance and grief

    I charged every bit of my body with pure mana, turning each of my limbs to a deadly weapon for these mana beings.


    With the screeches of wraiths and howls of phantoms I charged into a something I shouldn''t.


    <hr>


    Meanwhile


    A brute and a wanna be priest were having a discussion in a dimly lit chamber.


    "Are you sure that it will work?"


    His concerns were understandable, people won''t just believe the claim that you can bring back the dead.


    "She was a lesser human wasn''t she? So her soul would have followed the soul stream to the blue moon, like everyone else who had a wet grave. The alter on the island of the blue moon has a direct connection to the one that appears every month."


    He chuckled, a slow and deep sound, it sounded like rocks being smashed together.


    "Alright, that''s what I''ll be getting out of it. Now what do you want from these ''heretics''?"


    The wanna be couldn''t stop a smile from appearing.


    "You see, the people of east Garttequ have started to become restless, they will not settle down until blood is spilled."


    <hr>


    One after the other I tore through the wraiths, pulsing my pure mana core and absorbing the mana they turn into.


    A rush of childish joy and excitement rose from my core.


    I can do this for fucking ever!


    <hr>


    "So to stop them from killing each other you want them to kill nuns and priests?"


    "And everything else that moves on the island."


    "How do you even want to reach the island? It only stands still under the blue moons light. And on that day it will be guarded by the blue moon."


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    "That''s were I come in."


    The brute, I should really learn his name, snapped his gaze to the shadow where the voice came from. From said shadow a dark figure emerged.


    <hr>


    The phantoms put up more of a fight than the wraiths,  but they still weren''t a threat. Thanks to the phantoms who are packed with mana I gathered more mana than I can actually absorb. I created a dome around me that has a ethereal hue, it''s all the mana I couldn''t absorb.


    I can''t let it return to the runes or else I wouldn''t have made even a bit of progress.


    Ah


    For the first time after the start of battle the nether spawn actually does something.


    <hr>


    The figure took shape, white hair, ashen skin and ruby eyes, a vampire.


    "And how is a vampire going to help?"


    The vampire, the mc''s so called big brother, had a grin that looked too human.


    "Not just a vampire."


    Countless pairs of crimson eyes appeared in every shadow of the room, whis was a lot.


    "Forty vampires, each of us capable of opening the gate of shadow. Enough power to transport twenty ships with our assistance."


    20 ships? That still raises the question.


    "What do you need me for?"


    <hr>


    The nether spawn opened it''s maw, primordial energy gathered in its mouth.


    Shit.


    Cealestis Ius necare  ( the heavenly right to kill)


    A golden green fire raptured from the spawns maw, every piece of me, no, the very fabric of my existence told me that if that as much as scratched me nothing would be left of me.


    Guess I have to put this massive amount of mana to use.


    I calmed my heartbeat, a chant isn''t something to be taken lightly. The more words the more complicated it is. One''s intent plays also a massive role.


    I intent to live.


    Mortale Ius vivere  (the mortal right to live)


    <hr>


    "Do you know why that island still has denizens on it?"


    The brutes frows furrowed, wasn''t that obvious?


    "Because its an island that moves ungodly fast and is near impossible to track."


    "Not exactly."


    "It''s guarded by a Leviathan, one you will have to take on."


    "Why me? Why not a mage or something like that?"


    The healer scoffed.


    "You think I didn''t try? Those arrogant fucks deem anything that hasn''t beaten them half to death beneath them. This is possible the most important marine battle yet and still any mage capable of taking on a Leviathan think it''s not worth their time!"


    The brute glanced at the vampire.


    "Don''t look at me, I''m forced to do this."


    "Why are you so hell bent on getting on that island?"


    "..."


    "I''m just following orders."


    <hr>


    A ethereal shield formed around me just in time to block out the flames. For a moment I was relieved, you know it kind of looks pretty.


    That moment only lasted until a light crack sound could be heard. Cracks like spider webs spread all over the sphericall shield.


    I panicked, I had to temporarily isolate the innermost section of my brain otherwise the fear of death would get me killed.


    Instauratio (repairment)


    The cracks fadded a bit but were still there, then they spread again.


    Instauratio


    Instauratio


    Instauratio


    Instauratio!


    INSTAURATIO!


    INSTAURATIO! INSTAURATIO! INSTAURATIO!


    And then, the sound of glass shattering could be heard.

 Freedom

    In that moment I probably was one if not the luckiest living being.


    My mana ran out the exact moment the golden green flames came to a halt. But I didn''t feel any urgency, the spawn is probably suffering from the backlash of using a heavenly right.


    Sadly my exhausted mind didn''t include that this godforsaken thing had also water mana.


    Aqua Draco rugiert (roar of the water dragon)


    Ah, shit.


    I flooded my veins with adrenaline in order to move my breaking down body. I dove down, avoiding the stream of water that smashed the rocks it hit to sand. I keept moving in a single smooth arch which the stream couldn''t keep up with.


    Then my luck ran out.


    An ethereal glowing tentacle clung to me, forcing me to stay in place. Panic swept over me as I thrashed and struggled but my body, empty of mana, couldn''t hurt the phantom.


    After what felt like the most dreadful eternity I might ever feel the stream caught up. The phantom was torn to shredds and so was my lower body.


    The powerful stream launched my upper body into the stone wall, leaving me motionless in a crater.


    I... achieved a lot. Most mimics couldn''t even gather half of the mass that I have. Its also unheard of for a mimic to use magic which just confirms that I succeeded in life.


    And what happens to those who succeed in life?


    They die.


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    So will I.


    But not today.


    I''ve been trying to do this like a man, which was wrong.


    I''m no man, I''m so much more.


    I looked into the spawns eyes, I looked at the horde of mindless undead and with a scoff I disappeared.


    <hr>


    Two young humans were helping load one of the many ships.


    "Say Will, is there something you''re afraid of?"


    "Hmm? What do mean Phil?"


    "That feeling you feel when looking down from a cliff or when the headmaster is scolding us."


    Will put down a barrel full of ale, it doesn''t taste good but is safe to drink and can be used to treat wounds.


    "Oh well, that''s a hard one. I have to think about it, what ''bout you Phil?"


    Phil put a box full of beef jerky ontop the other boxes of rations.


    "I fear becoming old n'' weak, I fear no longer being able to hurl logs n'' stones, I fear becoming to old to be a warrior."


    Will chuckled, that was a pointless fear for a warrior. Mages can leghten their lifespans by cultivating their mana cores living up to thousands of years with eternal youth but as a warrior the life expectancies is around 25 years.


    Will then grabbed a crate full of enchanted gear and lifted it with a grunt.


    "I fear what I don''t know there is. I fear what might just drop me dead out of nowhere. I fear what can take away a honorary death from me."


    <hr>


    After the mimics disappearance all went still.


    Then a phantom disappeared, the spawn looked over but couldn''t find anything. Fine.


    Invenire vivere (find live)


    ...


    Nothing


    Then another phantom disappeared, no matter what the spawn did it couldn''t find what was killing the phantoms. Then the spawn noticed that the runes startet to dissappear as well.


    They keept dissappearing until no runes were left, until, no wraiths remained, until the phantoms were all gone.


    Then, the spawn started to dissappear.


    Mauis Celestial ius occidere (the greater heavenly right to kill)


    Golden flames with a green hue spread through the area with a howling roar erasing all live in the area.


    It hit nothing.


    Maximum Celestial ius occidere (heavenly execution order)


    A golden pulse chased through a ten Kilometer radius removing all that lives.


    But it didn''t help.


    "Ccckkkhhhhrrraaa!"


    The spawn screeched as the backlash of two heavenly spells tore at its body, golden chains twisting it in funny angles, well not so funny for him.


    Then, just like all its breatheren, it disappeared.

 Death loves to gamble and so do I

    Nothing.


    Nothing is more than everything.


    Yet anything is more than Nothing.


    But anything can''t be more than everything.


    Nothing is more than everything, everything is more than anything, anything is more than nothing.


    And if nothing is- hold on, what for a shit show is this?


    Nothing is nothing, everything is everything and anything is what beggers live off of.


    My body started to form what seems like nothing, but in truth it was a gamble I won. Basically, I turned my whole body into seperate beings. Not sure what actually happened, but I don''t see anything trying to tear me into shreds so I take that I won.


    That gamble is honestly terrifieng if I think about it, I don''t remember what I did but I''m sure I can do it again.


    Either way, time to collect my reward for risking my life.


    I looked down the trench and something just felt... wrong. I shouldn''t be here, I shouldn''t do it.


    I dove deeper ignoring my natural instincts, I won the gamble once already. I will win again.


    Slowly as I got deeper and deeper the water got more and more golden. The water started to feel wrong aswell, I should go back...


    I found the part that kept telling me to turn back and got rid of it. Much better, no wait. That was my survival instinct. Eh, I''ll put it back later.


    ... how fucking deep is this dam trench? Like dam, I''m sure I''ve already swam a mountain length.


    Suddenly, I was on solid ground. I don''t mean the ocean floor ground, I mean full on dry land.


    I adapted in a matter of seconds, replacing fin and tail with legs and feet. I pondered for a moment on what form to take, I just went with my regular human form. White hair, green eyes, as tall as I can be whilst keeping decent muscle mass and most importantly clothes. It''s quite easy for me to shed skin that can take on the role of clothing. I felt the diference anything between skin can make when getting hit, though I''m not sure if it will be of much help here.


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    AEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEEAEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    My thinking was interrupted by a blood curdling scream that was anything but mortal.


    Alright, where the fuck am I?


    There are a lot of distorted and wrong figures, all of them humanoid. I can tell they are supposed to be human but they aren''t, They are triyng to be human.


    Atleast they are all dead.


    AEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    Atleast, most of them.


    This place, it feels manifactured and natural at the same time. This feels wrong, this is wrong.


    Before I didn''t really feel anything, but now the dread returned. Even with my survival instincts removed, the very fiber of my existence is trying to warn me. Too bad their warnings fell on deaf ears.


    There has to be something here, hopefully nothing alive. If I actualy find the corpse of a God... wait, what would I do with it in the first place? Pretty sure I can''t eat it, would just die from it. Should I bring it back to the humans? Whilst I hold a personal spite against them, I have to admit their adaptability and moral neutrality makes them extremly efficient to deal with this kind of stuff. When it comes to sheer research, humans get 200% more work per work done.


    But whilst bringing this to humans would benefit me, I would have to live knowing the corpse of a God is in the hands of those hellspawns.


    What if I brought it to whatever faction this God used to rule? The corpse would be brought to the gates of heaven immediatly or I could get a hefty punishment if it was a nature God for disturbing its resting place. Honestly, in two out of three scenarios it might actually be better to hand it to the humans since they would reward me for a nature Gods body and maybe even make my name go down in history if it''s a demonic God.


    AEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEHHHHHHHHHHHH


    That is, if the God is really dead.


    What do God''s die from anyways? There''s no record, atleast the public has acces to, that tells how and why a God could die. Old age maybe.


    As I kept walking deeper like a fool the coldnes in my bones grew with every step, it felt like even the cold of death was trying to warn me.


    Then I saw it, a ungodly disfigured humanoid being heaving and screeching in pain. I don''t think even I could copy such a disfigured shape.


    Alius defectum (another failure)


    I froze as I heard the voice that was filled with power and might beyond mortal capabillity, it didn''t sound dissapointed... but bored.


    I flinched as the humanoid thing was launched away burning with golden fire, but the fear in my bones didn''t let me move much more.


    A man stood tall, his hair and skin a perfect mixture of silver and platin. He wore a crown that is too big for him and ended up coverin one of his eyes. Said crown was dripping with blood that never seems to end, splattering the rest of his body with blood. Conterary to his gold, silver and platin he wore a simple pelt coat. His hands are hidden under gauntlets that seem to have wear and tear on them but still look like they could last a whole war.


    Hospes? (a guest?)

 The Shattered Tyrant

    The ancient seals of old eminate a low light with their ambient might. Said light glistened in his platin hair, hair smoother than any silk, finer than any sand, more graceful than any stream.


    His singular golden eye with a platin cresent would make any gem, crystal or diamond blush. Including anything else he would look at... or anything that would look at him.


    His silver-shimmering skin was containing the raw strength of his muscles underneath. Not one imperfection on that drool-worthy appearance.


    My gaze followed the slow blood stream flow down through the toned lines of muscle


    Dam, I knew I wouldn''t find anything normal. But Gods are on a different league of hot.


    Rude


    The remark came with a annoyed huff as he crossed his arms over his chest.


    Fuck even his disapproving look is hot.


    The first person I see in millennia is a immature pervert. Why are you even here, young one?


    Ah, right, manners!


    I straightened my posture and wiped my mouth clean of any accidental drool. I closed my eyes knowing I would just stare again if I looked.


    "I was just curious."


    Technically not a lie.


    Totally wasn''t planning on devouring the remains of a dead God.


    Wait... how am I even moving much less talking?


    Wasn''t I just frozen in fear a few moments ago?


    I took all the pressure off you and no, I didn''t read your mind, you''re just predictable.


    Dam...


    Now I am the curios one. Hand over your stolen cores.


    "But-"


    Do you think there''s even a slimmer of a chance for you to survive if I did choose to be cruel?


    "..."


    Don''t be stubborn now, I just want to take a look.


    With a slight grunt of pain I took out my cores. It hurt since there are now holes in my mana flow through my body.


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    Interesting. Curious, what kind of creature developed such vile cores?


    "... they''re from two humans."


    He suddenly looked at me as if I spoke blasphemy and then smiled.


    God I could suck on those lips.


    I am unsure how many years it has been, but it is obvious that I have not seen the surface in too long.


    In the blink of an eye the seals which were probably older than some civilisations shattered.


    Before I could react I was back on the ocean floor, drowning before my gills formed again.


    ... he took my fucking cores!


    <hr>


    A fleet of twenty ships sailed over the vast blue.


    On each ship two cloaked figures with bone white skin and hair with blood red eyes lurked in the shadows. Two vampires on each ship, they have a simple task, to open the gates of shadows, to guide the ships through the veil of the blue moon.


    However, there were some notable figures on the flag ship.


    "Say, I never caught your name, brute."


    "Call me Mumi, priest."


    "The name is Vinare."


    "If we''re dropping names, Gentlemen, I answer to the name Komu."


    The two men turned to face the vampire who seemingly manifested from the shadows.


    "Is there a moment where you don''t smoke? You reek"


    "Shush, preacher, I''m too important for your mission to have to bear your nagging.


    "... what does he get out of this again?"


    Komu let out an annoyed huff, a small cloud of smoke rising from his fang adorned mouth.


    "I already told you, I''m following orders, you don''t need to know more. Besides the blood you lot will spill is more than enough to pay for the trouble of these vamps."


    "That doesn''t make it any... wait."


    An uncomfortable silence, atleast for the pipe smoking vamp, hung in the air as the two men stared off into the distance.


    "Br-Mumi... did you perhaps feel something unusual just now?"


    "A warm and comforting weight in the back of my mind?"


    "Yeah..."


    "What the fuck are you two talking about?"


    Another irritated huff came from Komu, another small cloud of smoke rose into the air. However, he had to admit those two were starting to creep him out.


    "You there, with the small boxes. Did you notice or feel anything weird just now?"


    "... actually, it''s kinda hard to explain. But it almost feels like I''m wrapped in a blanket."


    "I suddenly feel heavy."


    Another lad just a few steps away shouted out without prompt.


    "I feel exhausted... old even."


    A woman, probably a hydromancer by her staff, remarked.


    One by one the crew confirmed that they either felt confident or exhausted in one way or the other.


    Why? None of them knew.


    "The sea is probably just getting into your heads, I don''t feel anything."


    Komu was used to being unaffected by most things. As an undead he could only feel hunger and the souls pleasure.


    <hr>


    I sat with an unimpressed look as I read the contents of the plans for "God eater zero", it''s full of assumed situations and very big ifs.


    "Who are you? How did you get in here?


    I have many names, young one, but you may refer to me as Deus.


    "I... that doesn''t explain anything."


    I stood up, handing the not so grand scholar back her work.


    You probably would recognise me as the God of humanity, in other words, the very being your little scheme is meant to kill.


    "Oh... did, did I anger you?"


    I could never possibly be offended by my own, but I am disappointed by that lack luster plan of yours.


    "How... why are you here?"


    I know what you''re thinking, you are part of me, and no, I don''t plan on stopping any of your little plans.


    But a heads up, my presence might change human nature across the realm.


    Just like I appeared I dissappeared into thin air. Leaving the scholar lady confused and with unanswered questions.


    I reappeared in front of the gates of heaven. I could have very much just appeared in the celestial realm, but bursting in is way more fun.