《Isekai Rejection [Cancelled]》 Chapter 1 + World Map Large Hadron Collider, Geneva, Switzerland, In the cold night, blinking lights on the control panel informed the duty personnel there was a malfunction near the Atlas crossing point. A detector was showing odd readings, and the associated error code was obscure enough to indicate the problem would not be easily solved. ¡®I''ll run a quick diagnostic and dump it on the morning shift.¡¯ The tired contractor rationalized his work ethic. He was a mechanical engineer by training, and had been sourced in to handle minor upgrades to the particle accelerator. Securing his tool bag to the bicycle, he began pedalling to the affected site. The frustratingly generic description of the error code occupied his mind while hurried breaths frosted the air. The problem with such a complex machine was that it was easy to lose track of version control, making it difficult to grasp the changes made. In spite of this, he knew better than to complain; because the last time something like this happened, the retrospective had revealed he had been at fault. Some might blame the test suite for not accounting for edge cases, but he knew better. Upon reaching the designated site, he parked the bicycle against the cool tunnel wall. His mind was on autopilot as the safety lockouts were engaged and began loosening diagnostic panels connecting to the main detector. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡®The detector looks fine¡­¡¯ he thought, checking the readout from his probe, all systems were nominal. With growing suspicion, he walked over to the superconducting magnets responsible for focusing the particle beam. Their readout also looked fine, but a few magnets were running hotter than they should. He circled around to visually inspect them when his vision suddenly flared with a flash that was brighter than a thousand suns! ¡®Had I forgotten the safety lockout procedure?¡¯ Even if he had, there were multiple systems in place to prevent such a failure. The blindness he was experiencing was most likely caused by the optic nerves getting fried alongside parts of his brain. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t in pain, and the confused panic gave way to a gradual sense of peace. Only a moment had transpired since he entered the path of the proton beam before the facility entered emergency shutdown. Soon, there was only the hiss of leaking vacuum and the clicking coils of cooling compressors. The Engineer died peacefully, with only a lingering regret about the unfinished isekai romance he had been enjoying just minutes prior. His last conscious thoughts were carried by a wave of buzzing protons and muons, piercing through the decaying shroud of reality into the worlds beyond¡­
[Higher resolution images can be found on Patreon for free] Map of Ark: Map of Enui: Chapter 2 The village was still smouldering as the sun began to set behind the northern mountain line. Soldiers could be seen picking through the wreckage, looking for survivors, and more importantly valuables. A guard was reluctantly shifting wooden boards with the haft of a spear when coughing could be heard just ahead. He clambered over some rubble and with the help of a spear, levered the remains of a charred table to reveal a dusty youth who looked mostly intact. The stolid man crouched down while leaning on the spear, and with one hand, grabbed the boy¡¯s ankle and dragged him to safety. The table collapsed shortly after in a cloud of ash as the man withdrew the spear and inspected the lad. ¡°You alive sonny boy?¡± The youth coughed weakly and opened his eyes. He tried to move, but a flash of pain in the ribs threatened to steal his consciousness away. The Guard harrumphed and dragged the boy up by his arm, lending his spear as support. ¡°World¡¯s blessing on you, never seen a sorrier sight than this if I¡¯m to be honest. Those tribesmen took everything that wasn¡¯t nailed down and burned what they couldn¡¯t!¡± The Guard whittered on, oblivious to the boy¡¯s pain, ¡°The checkpoint is just up ahead, and we can get some warm brew in ye.¡± The two staggered their way to a manned checkpoint lit by torches. Soldiers could be seen milling about, loading scavenged goods on to mule drawn carts. A frantic woman with singed hair was pacing around when she caught sight of the two tottering up to the checkpoint. She leapt down from the cart and ran up to them. ¡°Toli is that you? My son, oh gods please let it be you!¡± The light of hope in her eyes was extinguished as she drew closer and recognition crept in, ¡°Exill, World¡¯s blessing you are safe, have you seen Toli? He should have been home when they attacked, did you see him at all?¡± The woman pleaded while walking alongside the pair, desperately wringing her hands as she continued to throw questions at Exill. ¡°Calm ye¡¯ tits woman, can¡¯t you see the lad can barely breathe let alone answer ye¡¯ questions?¡± The Guard sighed in exasperation as they reached the cart and unceremoniously pushed Exill over its edge before retrieving his spear. He turned to the distraught mother and hesitated, likely searching deep down for every inch of tact, a gentle way to let this grieving woman down. ¡°The search is called off for today, it¡¯s late and growing dark, we¡¯ll look for ye¡¯ son tomorrow ma¡¯am so please make ye¡¯ way back to camp.¡± The woman whimpered as the Guard gently pushed her into the cart. He then turned to wave the driver a signal to set off. Perhaps now, he could finally kick his boots off and get off his feet. Today was a miserable day and his parched throat needed a wetting from breathing all those smouldering fumes. *** Exill lay cramped in the crowded cart as salvaged possessions poked his tender sides. The pain was tolerable, but he was stuck in a daze as he looked up into the dimming sky filled with unfamiliar constellations. Two moons shone brightly up ahead. ¡®What¡­¡¯ Exill mouthed as his mind raced, reflecting on what had happened moments earlier. He remembered cycling to site Alpha, the breath fogging up the night air. He remembered a bright flash as a stream of protons fried his sight. Lastly, he could recall a vague sense of regret, something about a book he had been reading. The next memory was of blinding pain and a sweaty armoured man standing over him. ¡®It¡¯s real. I''ve transmigrated into another world!¡¯ Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He lost focus when the cart lurched to a halt and soldiers emerged from the sides to unload the contents. Sitting up, he stumbled off the cart and winced as pain shot up his bruised sides. Exill looked around while gathering himself and spotted the woman who had mistaken him for her son, being led to a collection of tents. Breathing shallowly while struggling to keep up, he followed the woman and accompanying official through a bustling crowd of active soldiers. Over the hubbub of shouted orders he could barely overhear the conversation between the two up ahead. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I hate to be rude, but we are pressed for time. Do you have combat related or production jobs useful to the war effort?¡± The Official asked as they approached the secure entryway leading to a collection of tents. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m a farmer and a cook... could you tell me what time you will restart the search for survivors in Lindtree?¡± the woman interjected with her own questions as the man was about to speak. ¡°On sunrise, you have my word. Kindly allow me to check your Card and I will point you to the correct camp.¡± The Official glanced at the faintly luminescent Card floating on the woman¡¯s palm then pointed her to an entrance on the right. Turning on his heel, he was startled by the sight of the bedraggled youth. ¡°Lindtree survivor?¡± the man asked. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Exill managed to croak. He was caught off guard by the sight of the ghostly status screen on the woman¡¯s palm, and hurriedly raised his own hand in front of the impatient official. ¡®How do I do this?¡¯ he panicked while trying to invoke the Card by spamming all the usual tropes. Exhausting all the options that came to mind, he was about to give up when he tried whispering the unfamiliar name the woman had called him earlier, ¡°Exill¡­¡± A dim light flared up an inch above his upturned palm, and he could see what looked like a luminescent screen the size of a baseball card. With great effort he lifted his arm higher for the official to examine, and was surprised to see sections expand intuitively as he mentally focused on tabs that caught his eye.
Name Exill
Hometown Lindtree Village
Race Human
Age 17
1st Job [Farmer]
2nd Job [ ]
His main job was Farmer, and his secondary job was blank, unassigned. The uniformed man nodded as if something was self-explanatory: ¡°I see you¡¯ve recently turned 17, explains why you don¡¯t have a secondary job yet. No problem, just follow that woman earlier to the right.¡± Before Exill could thank him, or even ask why it was obvious he didn¡¯t have a secondary job, the harried man had spun on his heel and made his way to the cart which was halfway unloaded by now. Turning towards the direction the official had pointed him, Exill had to stabilise himself as a sense of vertigo overwhelmed him. The ground tremored again. Soldiers in the distance could be heard cheering as the tremors grew closer, and even the personnel unloading the carts paused, looking back to identify the cause of the uproar. A gargantuan construct came round the hill, the agonized wail of raw stone grinding against each other as the war machine rumbled into view. It was four storeys tall, squat, humanoid in shape, its heavy knuckled fists barely clearing the ground. A squad of green robed men and archers could be seen bustling on the battlements where its head and shoulders should be. Exill strained his ears, focusing on the conversation beside him over the cheering din of the soldiers. ¡°What in Spirit¡¯s name is that?¡± A young guard asked his grizzled companion, eyes wide with wonder at the wailing colossus. ¡°That be reinforcements son, must have redeployed some of the War Colossi protectin¡¯ the mountains up north.¡± The veteran beside him explained, tapping his heart twice as he was reminded of the monstrosities they guarded against. The titanic construct disappeared from view and Exill came to his senses, displaying his Card to the young guard guarding the gates. After a cursory glance, he was waved through to the hastily erected camp. Circles of rag-tag tents were set up around several campfires and the smell of cooking wafted through the air. A sigh escaped Exill¡¯s lips as he made his way to a bubbling cauldron attended by two middle-aged women who appeared to be struggling over control of the ladle. Chapter 3 ¡°Take your dirty mitts off the ladle, you going to ruin me soup!¡± ¡°Did you just assume my job proficiency? I¡¯ll let you know I¡¯ve been cooking for the better part of twenty years and everyone in the village agrees that me pudding, is to die for!¡± ¡°Are you from Hillsmead? Hmph, no wonder! I heard not a single woman in that village has [Cook] as their main job. There¡¯s a difference between twenty years cookin¡¯ as a primary job and that of a secondary job! I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the men of your village ate pig slop and mistook it for fine dining!¡± The two exploded into expletives as bystanders tried to hold the women apart. Exill approached the group warily as he limped towards the cauldron, not entirely sure what they were arguing about. The group quietened down as they noticed the nearing figure who was obviously in a bad state. A middle-aged man jogged up to Exill and lent his shoulder. ¡°Easy there lad, you¡¯re safe now. Where are you from, Hillsmead..? Draughton..? Lindtree?¡± Finally nodding when the man mentioned Lindtree, his voice croaked as he struggled to answer. ¡°Martha you mad woman, stop yer fighting and grab a bowl for the lad. His throat so dry he barely be speakin!¡± the man admonished the woman in charge of the ladle and quickly helped seat Exill down near the fire. He grabbed the bowl offered by Martha and put it on Exill¡¯s lap as he sat down next to the boy. A delicious scent wafted up to Exill¡¯s nose as he looked down at the creamy red broth, filled with what appeared to be a mixture of barley and oats. Suddenly realizing how hungry he was, he began to dig in. Under the keen observation of the group he devoured the meal, and the man next to him passed a warm mug of brew just as Exill finished the last drop. ¡°So¡­ how was it at Lindtree?¡± ¡°Were there many survivors?¡± ¡°My cousin lived there, do you know Tollen? Did you see him?¡± Prompted by the barrage of questions, Exill experienced nausea as visions flashed before his eyes: he witnessed a quiet village surrounding a large Linden tree, budding with pale golden flowers. A young boy with a toothy grin. The corpses of those who would not yield. He could only shake his head to dispel these images. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I only saw one other survivor, Lindtree is¡­ just ashes now.¡± The group quietened down. Many simply stared into their bowls with dull eyes or expressions of sadness. All of them had lost something dear to them in the last few days, most had escaped with only the clothes on their backs. A muted discussion sprang up amongst a group of men. ¡°I heard the Afrye made a landing at Seaford, and that they captured the port city of Osvig in the south. ¡°The Spirit bless us, our kingdom¡¯s army is split across three fronts!¡± ¡°No wonder they pushed so deep into our eastern border. A battle hasn¡¯t been fought near Hillsmead in centuries!¡± The mutterings died down and Exill directed his attention to the surroundings. From the small hill that the refugee camp was perched on, he could view far into the east. He could see the dim embers of Lindtree village far away, as well as distant flashes of light over the horizon where conflict raged deep into the night. An indescribable feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed him. In his memories he had died twice. The sensation of slow asphyxiation, smothered agonisingly under a collapsing table still gnawed away at a corner of his mind. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It was said that in times of war there are two types of prayers offered to a deity, one uttered seeking salvation and an unspoken one to tear your enemies into bloody shreds. As the vast expanse of the fiery battlefield reflected in his glistening emerald eyes, a feeling of remorse swept over him - because he didn¡¯t know what salvation looked like. From the snippets of conversations gathered over the fire, Exill pieced together the story of what had happened. The Afrye had launched a surprise offensive a week ago, pushing past Lindtree village which was near the border, deeper into the Kingdom. They were finally repelled after reaching Hillsmead, and the majority of the survivors were residents of that village. The kindly middle-aged man next to Exill took out a small wooden pot and opened it, revealing a foul-smelling red paste and motioned him with an upward swing of his hand. ¡°Raise your shirt me lad, ye¡¯ got red on yer.¡± Exill lifted his shirt to reveal a shallow gash on his ribs, as well as extensive bruising. The flickering fire reflected the surprised faces as they tutted over his wounds. The man tested his ribs by applying pressure to them gently, causing him to take a sharp intake of breath. The gash was then cleaned, dried, and covered with the pungent red poultice, before it was wrapped with a fresh strip of linen. ¡°I don¡¯t think yer ribs are busted by the look of things but best take a good rest, you must be tired and there¡¯s spare bedding over yonder.¡± Exill stood up with the man¡¯s help and thanked him as he tottered over to the enticing bed of straw. ¡°Sleep well boy.¡± The man gruffly wished him goodnight and returned to the group of survivors gathered around the fire. Exill lay back for several minutes, catching snippets of their conversation amidst the continuous clash of combat that could be heard far away. Now seemed as good a time as any. Sub vocalising his name, he once again summoned the Card and was greeted with a status screen whose sections expanded intuitively as he mentally focused on tabs that caught his eye; ¡®They call it a Card, and it seems like they use it as some sort of identification.¡¯ He mused while scanning over the relevant sections and graphs.
Name Exill
Hometown Lindtree Village
Race Human
Age 17
1st Job [Farmer]
2nd Job [ ]
¡®I wonder what happens when I tap on this unassigned secondary job slot.¡¯ True to his thoughts, the screen changed, and he was greeted with a list of potential candidates for selection:
Unassigned Jobs: [Forager], [Crafter], [Hunter], [Cook], [Planeswalker]
One was not like the others! Focusing on [Planeswalker], a more detailed explanation popped up:
Job Planeswalker
Level 1
Description ¡®You forcibly entered this plane. You are unwelcome and the World rejects you.¡¯
Active Skill: [Rule Break]: The World dares to weigh you down with artificial chains. Why should you submit..? Warning: skill usage will increase rejection and you will suffer tribulations. Rejection: 5/100
Exill''s felt his stomach drop as he read the ominous description. ''What does it mean for the World to reject me?'' Chapter 4 Exill woke up to a hubbub of noise as the refugee camp turned to life the next morning. Two soldiers flanked an official cradling a plumed helmet. Raising his hand, he motioned the people gathered before him to quieten down. ¡°You will immediately gather your belongings and make way to the western checkpoint. Bring only your essentials because you will be carrying them in a five-day journey to the Capital. The caravan leaves at midday. You must leave before then or you will be left to fend for yourselves.¡± The volume rose as the refugees raised their objections, asking what would happen to the ongoing searches for survivors. The Official waved their protestations away after dropping that bombshell and swiftly retreated, leaving the guards to clean up his mess. Violent outbursts erupted throughout the crowd as some started wailing, their hopes of reuniting with their loved ones swiftly gone up in smoke. As Exill limped towards the gathered throng of people he could overhear multiple conversations. ¡°It goin¡¯ to take longer than five days to Ark in the condition we in¡­¡± ¡°I heard fields be infested with wolves and grasshounds, what, with all them corpses around.¡± ¡°How we goin¡¯ to defend ourselves?¡± A sympathetic young guard raised his voice in an attempt to convey hope to the ragtag assembly, ¡°If safety is what you are worried about, you are in good hands; I overheard the Commander say you¡¯ll be escorted by a group of soldiers. Now quickly pack up and get goin¡¯!¡± The young guard¡¯s companion nudged him and spoke in a hoarse voice that carried through the crowds, ¡°You shoulda told ¡®em to sharpen stakes, it be better to have at hand than not!¡± The smell of fear and urgency in the camp was palpable as refugees looked around for suitable staves they could sharpen, asking to borrow knives as they slowly began to arm themselves. Exill furtively looked around for things to carry as he had no belongings to speak of. Seeing this, a man with one arm in a bloodied sling approached him holding two sharpened staves. His tunic was stained in blood and filth, and there was a hint of concern in his stern, dark eyes as he extended the weapons. ¡°Hold this and let¡¯s head out, the sun is nearly above us.¡± Exill gratefully took the weapon and followed the injured man as refugees steadily filed out of the temporary camp. They soon reached a convoy of three carts drawn by mules. Two of them were loaded with injured soldiers, some of them groaning in pain. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Form up and get ready to move out! Elderly and injured in the spare cart, six maximum. Let¡¯s get a move on people!¡± There were surprised whispers as the group of 40 refugees looked upon carts filled with injured soldiers. These wounded soldiers were going to be their escorts? How could they possibly protect them? They were surely doomed, the wolves would tear them apart! Many were convinced they were walking to their graves. A trek to Ark was dangerous even in the best of times. Not only did they have to contend with beasts, in these times of unrest strange things arose from their slumber¡­ but the alternative of staying on a battlefield was worse. The refugees gradually formed an orderly caravan and set out just as the sun reached its zenith. Only the squeaking axles and muted conversation could be heard as they travelled along the well-worn road. Distant laughter could be heard as children chased each other, clinging to the wagons, and treating the entire ordeal as an adventure. ¡°You ever been outside Lindtree village?¡± The injured man asked as he checked the unstrung bow on his back. There were bags under his eyes brought on by painful sleepless nights. Yet in spite of the week-old stubble and bloodstained tunic, he was ruggedly handsome, and there was a flicker of warmth in his dark eyes behind the outwardly stern demeanour. ¡°No, this is my first time¡­ Thank you for the spear.¡± ¡°No worries, my name is Verill by the way, hunter/forager by trade.¡± ¡°My name is Exill, I¡¯m a¡­ farmer.¡± ¡°How old are you if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± Verill raised his eyebrows at the fact the boy had only one job. ¡°Twen-¡­ seventeen¡± Exill corrected himself at the last moment. Verill nodded as if that explained everything and continued, ¡°You must have recently turned 17, that explains why you have assigned only one job. Did you discuss your future job selection with your parents?¡± Exill shook his head, feeling nauseated from the memories that weren¡¯t his own, visions of a middle-aged man and a woman with mirthful green eyes. He absorbed this new knowledge that Verill had shared. ¡®So, you can¡¯t assign jobs in the System until you turn 17, that¡¯s important to know.¡¯ he thought. Verill sighed as he empathised with Exill¡¯s predicament. He himself had taken six months to choose his first job, and his second job was assigned a year later, only after the incessant nagging from his late father. ¡°It isn¡¯t easy for us commoners to switch jobs once they¡¯re assigned. Normally I would tell you to take things slow, but looking at our situation now¡­¡± Verill ended his sentence with a shrug. The two continued to walk in silence as Exill thought things over. This world seemed a dangerous place. As a former 29-year-old engineer, he didn¡¯t know the first thing about self-defence. Riding a bicycle was the most exercise he had ever done. These dark thoughts seemed incongruent under the bright midday sun amid the breath-taking scenery of the gently rolling hills to the left. However, Exill could not help but overhear people muttering about dangers to look out for on the road. He suspected that when night fell and the shadows loomed closer, he would want some way to protect himself. ¡°How can I learn to wield this?¡± Exill gestured at the spear in his hand and Verill¡¯s normally stern face softened into a smile, ¡°It''s easy, I¡¯ll show you when we take our next break.¡± Chapter 5 - Mist Standing still, Exill kept his feet shoulder width apart facing Verill. The makeshift spear held tightly in both hands as the wounded Hunter stood tall, adjusting the sling cradling his arm. Once he was happy, Verill pulled the spear out of the damp grass and pointed it at Exill. ¡°You learn spear skills once you become a [Spearman], which is a Tier 2 job. To get there, you need anywhere from two to seven years of experience as a [Warrior]. Today, I will help you unlock this most basic job. Attack and defend against me!¡± With that, Verill deliberately telegraphed a lunge while moving to attack Exill. Exill nervously sidestepped the strike and tentatively poked back at Verill. The opponent tucked his spear under his arm and easily pirouetted away while slapping Exill¡¯s shoulder with the haft of his spear. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the spear is essentially a stave. The whole thing is a weapon. Don¡¯t focus on the pointy end.¡± Exill nodded and earnestly renewed his attacks once he was sure Verill could easily defend himself. Despite one arm in a sling, the man was skilled in countering his attacks. The two continued to duel, picking up speed as Exill grew more comfortable. Half an hour later, drenched in sweat and out of breath, he felt a sudden [Ping!] reverberate deep within his core. Exill raised a hand to motion the end of the duel and summoned the Card.
Job Warrior
Level 1
Description Melee Combat - Tier I
Passive Buff + attack speed (scales with level).
He confirmed [Warrior] had been attained. Angling the Card slightly away from Verill, he selected the primary job that was [Farmer], ¡®Verill mentioned earlier that it was difficult for commoners like us to switch jobs¡­ I wonder if it holds true for me.¡¯ With quivering intent, Exill attempted to unassign his [Farmer] job. Nothing happened. He tried again before a distant memory tugged at his attention. Something about his available jobs. His eyes were drawn to [Planeswalker] and the associated [Rule Break] skill:
Job Planeswalker
Level 1
Description ¡®You forcibly entered this plane. You are unwelcome and the World rejects you.¡¯
Active Skill: [Rule Break]: The World dares to weigh you down with artificial chains. Why should you submit..? Warning: skill usage will increase rejection and you will suffer tribulations. Rejection: 5/100
¡®I have a feeling this will work¡­ but what if it doesn¡¯t? I¡¯ll be stuck with an ominous sounding job for the rest of my life. How could I show my Card to others then?¡¯ he worried. With much trepidation, Exill assigned [Planeswalker] as his secondary job. Trying to unassign it shortly after, he panicked when nothing happened. A new prompt popped up.
Would you like the ability to unassign jobs?
[Yes - Rejection +5] [No]
¡®I don¡¯t have much choice in the matter¡­¡¯ Exill didn¡¯t even hesitate as he indicated [Yes]. A roll of thunder suddenly rang out in the cloudless sky and the refugees were startled to their feet while looking warily around for the source.
[The World has noticed your transgression. Rejection: 10/100]
Exill felt a surge of unease travel up his spine but pushed it aside as he tried to remove [Farmer] followed by [Planeswalker]. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡®It worked!¡¯ he celebrated. Testing the waters by assigning [Warrior] a few more times, it became clear that [Planeswalker] was no longer necessary to remove active jobs, and could now be switched at his convenience. However, Exill¡¯s excitement gave way to thought when he considered the ramifications of his newfound ability. ¡®Verill said people cannot change their jobs easily and they often inspect the cards of others. Would they notice any discrepancies about my Card?¡¯ He thought back to last night and struggled to remember the hazy details. ¡®Did I tell anyone else I was a [Farmer]?¡¯ He was startled out of his thoughts when Verill clapped his shoulders and glanced at the Card projected on his palm. Exill froze, inwardly panicking. ¡°Huh, I thought you told me your job was [Farmer]?¡± Exill¡¯s mind raced frantically for a feasible excuse, ¡°I worked in our family farm¡­ erm, my father pressured me to become a [Farmer] but I held back.¡± Verill studied him for an extra second then patted Exill on the back again, ¡°I must have misunderstood, nevertheless, good choice on picking [Warrior] as your main job, it will help you survive.¡± Exill let out a breath of relief that the Hunter hadn¡¯t questioned this disparity. According to the rules of this world what he had achieved was technically impossible, so it was understandable that his mentor chose to doubt his memory over his eyes. Still, it wasn¡¯t a mistake that could be made twice, and he followed Verill to the resting refugee group a short distance away. The caravan had warily settled down after failing to find the source of the rumbling noise. The lead cart driver remained standing, sullenly examining a brass compass like device whose dials were spinning. Noticing his curiosity, Verill explained, ¡°That should be the lead cart driver, they¡¯re usually Navigators by trade. He¡¯s probably checking if that thunder earlier was an Aberration.¡± Exill nodded while passing the frowning Navigator, sighing with relief as he sat down with the main group. His body was still bruised and battered, and Verill didn¡¯t appear to be faring any better as he adjusted his sling while grimacing, ¡°Can you open the pouch under my sling and take out my medicine?¡± Reaching under the sling, Exill opened the small wooden pot. He was greeted with the familiar sight of the foul-smelling red paste. Carefully, he applied the poultice to Verill¡¯s wound on his forearm, causing him to wince. There was significant swelling, and it was obvious that the radius had fractured and set in place by a splint. Sensing his questioning glance Verill explained, ¡°The army healers thankfully set the bone and cast a light healing spell to hold it in place. I know it looks bad, but it should heal up straight as long as I keep it clean.¡± Verill then motioned Exill to lift his shirt, ¡°Let¡¯s have a look at your ribs.¡± He then helped Exill to clean the oozing gash and reapply the stinging poultice, finishing it off with a fresh strip of linen. Wiping his stained fingers on the grass, he was about to comment on the smell when they were interrupted by the Navigator shouting hoarsely, ¡°Aberration! Gather round and stick together. Do not move!¡± Exill followed the turning heads around him to look in the direction of the forest that bordered the road. An ominous grey cloud was visible over the treetops, and it was advancing on them. When it approached closer, his eyes were drawn to the gently rolling clouds, its amorphous vapour hinting of the horrors within. ¡°Party, join my cohort now!¡± Verill startled him by grasping his hand in a clammy handshake. Exill was confused. He did not understand what the Hunter meant¡­ but Verill gripped his hand tighter till it hurt, the whites of his eyes clearly visible. A prompt appeared in his mind¡¯s eye.
Join Party?
[Yes] [No]
The selection was affirmed, and he was greeted with the spatial awareness of three other people including Verill. It could only be described as knowing intuitively where your hands and feet are despite not looking at them. He could feel their location on top of sensing their surface emotions. Panic and fear suffused their connection as the otherworldly Mist swept over them, blanketing their senses. Exill couldn¡¯t see his hands and only muffled sounds reached his ears. Minutes passed in total isolation, hints of movement always on the periphery of his vision. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but sensed one of their members hesitantly stand up. Exill vaguely remembered an old man sitting next to him, what seemed a lifetime ago. The elderly man¡¯s emotions flickered from fear¡­ to hope? before it was suddenly extinguished, inexplicably gone. Exill could only sense two other members in his party. Shivering for what felt like an eternity, the Mist gradually receded like a quiescent yet turbulent nightmare. The traumatized group of refugees struggled to their feet, looking up in a daze at the warm mid-afternoon sun. Exill tried to ignore the empty depressions on the grass where they had comfortably rested just moments earlier. Chapter 6 Five people had been taken by the Mist, mostly the old and infirm. A short service was held by the Navigator, consigning their souls to the World¡¯s embrace. The phenomenon had begun and ended so swiftly; the victims disappearance so complete, that Exill started¡­ no, wanted to believe it hadn¡¯t been real. The caravan of refugees continued to trudge along the road. To their left was an expansive plain of tall, wild grass, gently sloping down as far as the eye could see. A shallow ditch ran adjacent to the road on their right, a basic safety measure against beasts and brigands who could leap out of the dark forest. In these times of unrest, they amounted to little more than a nuisance to the true horrors that had slowly begun to manifest. Verill motioned to catch Exill¡¯s attention and quickly leapt over the ditch, easily crossing the gap with his long legs. Some turned to look at him in vague interest before returning their focus to the trek ahead. Exill nervously crossed the ditch, struggling slightly since he was shorter, and traced the Hunter¡¯s footsteps into the forest. The woods were dark, cool, and quiet, the sound from the road muffled and he had to strain to even hear the squealing axles of the carts. Verill motioned Exill to follow him and they proceeded along the difficult undergrowth while taking care to follow the road. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­ dangerous?¡± Exill asked in hushed tones. ¡°It¡¯s no more dangerous than travelling by road if you stay vigilant. Stick with me.¡± Verill pointed out strange herbs that grew on certain trees as well as mushrooms hidden under the foliage. Exill took care to assign [Forager] as his second job and harvested materials in the Hunter''s stead. He slowly began to relax as the dark forest became more familiar. Checking his Card, Exill was pleased to find [Forager] had rose a level.
Job Forager
Level 2
Description Production - Tier 1
Passive Buff +10% quality of harvested materials (scales with level).
¡°What level is your [Forager]?¡± Exill asked, while digging up the roots of a nearby plant. Verill looked back, confusion evident by his expression, ¡°Level? How would I know that? If you are asking about my competency I¡¯ve been foraging for six years. That should put me in the low-mid level of mastery.¡± Exill bit his tongue at his mistake. So people cannot see their levels and instead measure their skill by length of time practiced. It explained why the women were arguing about their cooking skills last night! He needed to be more careful to avoid suspicion. ¡°I heard [Forager] raises the quality of ingredients harvested¡­¡± Verill grunted, then tapped the side of his eyes, ¡°For sure, but your eyes grow more discerning with experience. It is natural you get better at spotting herbs.¡± After a while, he continued, ¡°My old man used to swear he would pick an herb, only to find two leaves perfectly overlapping each other, or a place he had foraged would quickly grow back in just a few days. The World works in mysterious ways.¡± Verill tapped his left breast twice at the mention of the World Spirit. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Exill ruminated on his new findings. Normal people could not see skill descriptions. It also appeared that new skills and perks were unlocked as the job levelled up. He was lost in thought when Verill motioned him to stop. Before them stood an ordinary tree, and mounted on its trunk was an indescribable visage of knotted wood. Exill felt the hairs on his arm rise. There was something appalling and revulsive about the tree. With feet frozen in place, his eyes were forcibly drawn to the strangely textured deformity gracing the surface of the smooth bark. Verill gripped his arm and whispered in his ear, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it is still asleep, lets return.¡± They crossed the ditch and walked double time for an hour to catch up with the rear of the caravan. Exill kept looking over his shoulders for the withered monstrosity... waking up and stalking them under the cover of the forest. He watchfully eyed the tree line as they travelled. They were sorely in need of rest as they helped the group set up camp. The refugees lined the carts like a wall that stood between them and the forest. A campfire was erected and the group huddle around the flames, their faces miserable and tired. A few men were carving stakes to place around their camp and Exill reluctantly helped despite how tired he was. He remembered to assign [Crafter] as his primary job and whittled into the late evening.
Job Crafter
Level 2
Description Production - Tier 1
Passive Buff +10% crafting speed (scales with level).
He was so tired he failed to notice [Crafter] had gone up a level. Slowly nodding off to sleep, he had an uneasy dream of twisted visages formed of unnatural wood. *** The next morning, a stiff and tired Exill fell into step alongside Verill. His mentor and guide exuded a cool easy-going confidence with his long strides, and appeared to be lost in thought. Exill tried to clear his own muddy thoughts by thinking of questions to ask the Hunter. With danger around every corner only knowledge could provide him strength. ¡°How do you become a [Healer]?¡± Verill shot him a receptive smile, the bags under his eyes clearly visible, ¡°It is not easy becoming a [Healer]. You need aptitude. Talented people can apparently say the word ¡®heal¡¯ and cast the spell ¨C automatically earning their job.¡± His dark eyes twinkled with hidden mirth as he glanced at Exill, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a shot?¡± With some trepidation, Exill outstretched his hand and said, ¡°[Heal]!¡± Nothing happened. The refugees who had been eavesdropping, grinned at Exill and someone even patted his back, ¡°Ah, if only life were that easy m¡¯boy!¡± they exclaimed. Exill¡¯s face reddened in embarrassment, which only prompted those around him chuckle as they reflected on their own hopeful incantation of [Heal] when they had turned 17. ¡°Do not lose hope, I hear there are enchanted items that can raise your aptitude and nobles often use this to get magic related jobs for their children.¡± Verill tried to assuage him. Exill nodded, allowing his embarrassment to subside before asking his next question, ¡°You said a healer set your bone. Why didn¡¯t they heal it all the way?¡± Verill hesitated for a bit because even he didn¡¯t understand the mysteries behind magic. He simply answered what common folk took to be the truth, ¡°There is a limit, I think¡­ There must be a fair exchange of life. The healer works by sacrificing part of their vitality, or that of their patient. It can be dangerous for either party. A balance must be struck.¡± ¡°What other magic related jobs are there?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ the most common starting jobs are [Healer], [Wizard] and [Priest].¡± Exill committed this to memory. He was determined to use magic in this new life! Verill companionably jostled Exill¡¯s mousey brown hair as an older brother would. He recognised the glint of determination in his eye. Who would not love to cast magic in this world? A healer was a respectable job and guaranteed a stable income well into your twilight years. He tried to console Exill by adding, ¡°You might not become a healer right now, but I can teach you the next best thing - how to craft basic medicine. You can have this old poultice pot I no longer use.¡± Exill was overcome with gratitude as he accepted the wooden pot. Chapter 7 - Bridge Apart from the tattered clothes on his back, Exill had received two possessions from Verill so far. The Hunter was sitting across from him, a serious expression on his face as he prepared tools necessary to herbalists with his one functioning arm. Exill worked up his courage and finally asked the question that had been plaguing him. ¡°Why go to such lengths for me?¡± Verill stopped what he was doing and looked up, confusion evident as the eyebrows knitted together on his rugged face. The Hunter didn¡¯t recognise the question at first, that is, until he saw Exill¡¯s earnest expression. A darkness crossed his eyes before it resolved into a bittersweet smile. ¡°Can¡¯t a stranger look out for his little brother?¡± Exill suspected there was more to it than that but held his tongue. He sat in awkward silence as his mentor continued to prepare the equipment. ¡°Alright, it''s ready. Please take out the herbs you picked yesterday.¡± Exill took herbs out of the grass pouch and sorted them by category. Verill proceeded to guide him in crafting a basic poultice, grinding, and combining two ingredients together. The resulting foul-smelling paste was scraped into a wooden pot. As Exill closed the lid he felt a resonant [Ping!] deep in his core. Excitedly opening the Card, he confirmed that a new job had been acquired.
Job Herbalist
Level 1
Description Production - Tier 1
Passive Buff +10% efficacy for crafted medicinal items (scales with level).
¡®With this, I might not be able to cast healing magic, but I should be able to recover from minor injuries!¡¯ Verill saw Exill¡¯s excitement and knew he had succeeded, ¡°Did you get [Herbalist]? It is a respectable second job. When you get to Ark you should grab a portable pestle and mortar like this one.¡± Verill held up the small granite basin. Exill agreed and decided to put the new poultice to the test. He wrinkled his nose while opening the wooden pot and tentatively started treating his wound. It looked a lot better, and the swelling had subsided from the angry glossy red to a lesser pink. Looking up, he saw Verill was doing the same. The swelling on his forearm had subsided somewhat and the gash had mended over. The two helped themselves to a portion of boiled oats for lunch while the caravan continued to rest. They had accentuated the meal with a fistful of herbs and mushrooms picked the day before, giving it a rich earthy aroma ¨C to the grunt of approval of many refugees. ¡°We should reach river Arn by nightfall if we make good speed and the World willing.¡± The lead Navigator said in a clear voice. Exill and many others overheard the Navigator discussing the remaining distance with his colleagues. Sidling closer, he glimpsed a worn map showing a complex landmass surrounded by water. He wasn¡¯t familiar with their unit for distance, but it appeared to be based on how far a mule cart could travel in a day. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Pulling an educated guess, it was about 25 miles a day, meaning the total distance between their point of origin and the capital was around 175 miles. This was the distance between London and Manchester, or Philadelphia and Washington DC. ¡®All this effort to cross a distance that could easily be covered in four hours on the expressway¡­¡¯ he thought belatedly. Hearing the news that they could reach the river by nightfall, the other villagers packed up camp quickly in the hopes of having a good wash before going to bed. The caravan made good speed and in high spirits. They could soon see the river in the distance. It flowed through the forest from their right, down to wide open plains below, snaking lazily and catching the red glint of the setting sun. As the caravan approached the river the Navigator exclaimed, ¡°We will cross the river and make camp on the far banks!¡± The refugees gained a burst of second wind as the end was nearly in sight. They could finally wash and refill their water reserves! ¡°Why are some people throwing coins into the river?¡± Exill asked his companion as they began to cross the bridge. The bridge was of ancient construction, crafted from a grey rock that had been worn smooth over the ages. It spanned a fast-flowing river 20m (60ft) wide. Two crystalline monuments stood on either end, glowing softly with inscriptions. ¡°Is this your first time crossing a bridge?¡± Verill smiled light-heartedly at the boy¡¯s unworldly youth before continuing, ¡°It is a spiritual place, a point of transition. I guess some pray for better fortune, while others pray for something to return to. Everyone¡¯s bridge is different¡­¡± he shrugged. ¡®I hope we arrive at Ark safe and sound.¡¯ Exill didn¡¯t have any coins to throw in the river, but made the wish, nevertheless. Once over the bridge, the cart drivers expertly manoeuvred their charges so that it formed an impromptu barricade in the direction of the forest. With the river to their rear, it was a highly defensible position. People dropped their baggage and happily waded out to the shallow waters, washing their hair, and beating the dirt off their wet clothes. Exill took care to clean around the wound in his ribs and set to cleaning his clothes. He tried to avoid looking around as scantily clad women and men determinedly washed their garments on the rocky riverbank. ¡°Let me wash your clothes for you.¡± He helped untie Verill¡¯s sling, then carefully lifted the stained tunic over the splinted arm. Returning to the river, he rinsed and wrung dry the bloodied tunic as best as he could. ¡°Thanks.¡± Verill was grateful as Exill lowered the still damp clothes over his broad shoulders. Someone had set up a fishing line on the bridge and two campfires were quickly set ablaze, driving the encroaching darkness away. As night fell, the refugees gathered closely around the fire as their wet clothes clung to their bodies. They were cold but full of smiles as they rubbed their clothes dry. A large fish with shiny blue scales was caught on one of the lines. It was quickly gutted, scaled, and added to the oat stew that was happily bubbling over the fire. Exill was very pleased with the stew. Although he hadn¡¯t been a big fan of seafood in his previous life, the freshly caught fish was tender and delicious. Clean, and with his hunger sated, Exill reapplied his poultice and covered it with a freshly washed and dry strip of linen. As he pulled his shirt back on, he heard a rip as the slit near his ribs suddenly widened. Hearing this, a kindly looking woman sauntered over and offered a spare needle and length of string. Exill gladly accepted the tool. After some thought he assigned his first job as [Crafter], something the old Exill had undoubtedly unlocked in his early life. Carefully threading the needle, he started to close the split that threatened to propagate across the shirt. When he was done, he was satisfied with the work. It wasn¡¯t neat but it would hold. There was a hint of disappointment that there was no [Ping!] that denoted a new skill had been acquired. He had overheard from the women while journeying that [Tailor] was a Tier 2 progression of the [Crafter] skill. It appeared to be a popular topic, discussing how it increased the quality and durability of their needlework. They would often compare stitches, discussing how many years of experience they had. One elderly seamstress who had travelled the entire distance by cart so far was said to have [Tailor] as her primary job. The women all agreed that her needlework was legendary in spite of her declining eyesight. Despite being let down by the absence of the resonant feeling, Exill checked the Card and found a curious sight. The new job [Tailor] was there¡­ but it was greyed out and couldn¡¯t be assigned. Inspecting it closely, he read the following description:
[Requirements: Crafter lvl 20]
Chapter 8 - Tower In the chill twilight of the next morning, a gentle breeze rippled across the slow-moving river current, disturbing the reflection cast by first morning light. The crystalline monuments guarding the ends of the bridge added their own ghostly glow to Exill¡¯s face. If anyone were to see him now, they would say he had an unsettling gaze. Those emerald eyes spoke of profound experience beyond his years, belying his otherwise youthful features. Perhaps it was true that the eyes are windows to one¡¯s soul, because within him swirled a combined 45 years of memory and emotions. He quickly turned away to dry his face, disturbed by his own reflection. To distract the turmoil in his mind, he half-heartedly brushed his unruly brown hair with wet hands, trying to subdue what refused to be tamed. Up ahead, the Navigator could be heard motivating the refugees gathered near the carts, ¡°Look, just one more day of travel and we cross county lines. You good folk will be able to rest in the safety of the military supply depot. Solid food and a soft bed, what do you say?¡± Looking forward to a night of safety, the refugees quickly packed up the camp, refilled their water stores and made way on the road. As the caravan crawled west, the plains of wild grass to their left slowly gave way to cultivated fields of wheat and barley. Up ahead and to their left, columns of thin snaking smoke could be seen indicating civilization. ¡°That should be Brieshire, my cousin lives there.¡± A middle-aged man quipped as he longingly stared at the settlement. ¡°I heard they make some mighty fine ale around here.¡± another added. A collective smacking of lips could be heard as the men wistfully thought of relaxing in a pub with a pint of good brew. The thought was alien yet familiar to them. Forced to trek over miles of dangerous road it was tempting to rest their feet, just for a while and taste civilization. ¡°Don¡¯t be having thoughts of running off to Brieshire good folks! Refugees ain¡¯t welcome there!¡± The Navigator could be heard as he shouted back to the group. He had been caravanning for decades and knew how to read a crowd. There was much grumbling to be heard but no one broke ranks to approach the village in the distance. As mid-afternoon arrived, the caravan passed under the shadow of a desolate tower. One side of the heavy stone wall had crumbled, exposing the empty staircase leading upwards to nowhere. Frowning heavily, the Navigator paused to check the map. He had planned to take a break here, but this landmark wasn¡¯t featured anywhere on the map. The nearest military outpost was half a day¡¯s travel away. There was a sense that something was very wrong¡­ he flipped the brass casing covering the accumulator and channelled mana into it, causing the large dial in the centre to spin rapidly. Eventually, it quivered to a stop, pointing towards the ominous tower. Acting calm so as to not frighten the refugees, he raised his arms and pointed further ahead, ¡°There is a nice spot over yonder to make camp!¡± The group groaned but continued on. However, two children stealthily peeled off from the caravan to explore the decaying monument, convinced in their childlike minds that they were adventurers. As they approached, a mysterious aura whispered to them of a magnificent view at the top. The Navigator, perhaps drawn by intuition as a father himself, glanced back, spotting the two children entering the tower too late, ¡°Stop them! Do not let them enter the Tower!¡± Hearing the alarm in his voice, the mothers of the children called for the boys to return, their voices growing desperate as they heard no response. After a few heart stopping minutes, a child thankfully reemerged from the doorway, looking back in fear before running to his mother¡¯s bosom. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°He climbed alone. I didn¡¯t want to go.¡± The pale boy¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Hey! Help me hold her down, she¡¯s gone mad she has!¡± The remaining mother was restrained by others in the caravan. She was kicking and screaming, furious at the people holding her back. Only a few minutes had passed since the boy¡¯s entry. ¡°He¡¯s still in there! I can bring him back! Let me go you filthy scoundrels, it¡¯s your fault if he doesn¡¯t return!¡± she howled. Exill looked to his side in surprise as Verill began to lower his bags on the dirt road, glaring at the Tower with stern eyes. The scene outside the Tower was pandemonium as a primal fear began to creep into the people''s hearts. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of going in there are you?¡± Exill grasped at the Hunter¡¯s good arm, somehow knowing Verill wouldn¡¯t return if he stepped into the crumbling doorway. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t the only one who had noticed the Hunter¡¯s intent, and others had gathered around to dissuade him from the foolish endeavour. ¡°Hey you! Don¡¯t even think of entering the Tower if you value your life. Please, someone restrain that woman and get a move on!¡± The Navigator pointed to Verill with a warning look, before turning away to hasten the cart forward. It was Exill¡¯s look of panic that finally broke Verill¡¯s intent. His companion released a pent-up sigh, picking up his belongings one-by-one. The refugees hurried away from the shadow of the nameless Tower. Setting up camp half an hour away. Even as they rested, their eyes were drawn to its eerie presence, far away. Feeling discomfort grow further by the minute, the Navigator hastily razed camp, ordering them to continue on, and no one complained. They would later realize the next day, too late, that the missing child¡¯s mother had disappeared. They all knew where she had returned to, and no one volunteered to retrieve her. The caravan continued on. As the sky started to darken they could see the military depot up ahead. Something felt wrong as the refugees saw too many tendrils of smoke climbing up into dusk¡¯s reddening skies. Hearing the worried whispers around him, Exill felt his morale drop further. Shortly, they heard hoof beats as three riders approached from the garrison up ahead. Their horses were slathered in sweat, and each of the riders were wounded in some way, bearing dents on their armour. They pulled their agitated mounts to a whinnying stop, seemingly relieved to find that it was only a group of refugees. ¡°Halt! The garrison is under attack! You are not allowed to approach any further!¡± Over the rising collective groans of the refugees, the Navigator and a wounded soldier disembarked from their cart and approached the horsemen on foot. They appeared to exchange a few heated words before one of the horsemen barked orders, turning around, and galloping back to the depot. After much conjecture and whispering, it was revealed that the military depot had been attacked by bandits earlier in the day. There were many wounded and supplies were lost. There was nothing to spare for the refugees. The people felt their spirits crumble. Much wailing could be heard as refugees and wounded soldiers alike bemoaned the World Spirit. To forsake them in their time of need was too cruel. Slowly, some semblance of order was restored, and a rudimentary camp was set up just off the road. The refugees, Exill included, had pushed themselves hard to reach here with the hope of sleeping safe, and this latest adversity had sucked the wind out of their sails, causing them to falter as they set up camp. After an hour of half-hearted preparation, the people were about to fall to sleep when they heard the howl of wolves behind them, echoed by more howls in the forest across the road. A chill ran down Exill¡¯s back. ¡®Truly, could this day get any worse?¡¯ he thought with a sinking heart. There was a hubbub of noise as the caravan roused to their tired feet. Some cried out in fear while others loudly prayed to the Spirit. Most simply swore at their bad luck. ¡°Raise your lazy asses and reinforce the stockade, start whittling those stakes!¡± ¡°Protect the women and children, keep them between the fire and carts!¡± Exill hastily assigned [Warrior] as his primary job and [Crafter] as his second and started whittling stakes. Even the wounded soldiers got up and took turns standing guard. Hours passed and the sharpened barricade was suitably reinforced. People were beginning to relax when they heard a low throaty growl behind the cart. ¡°May the Spirit protect us!¡± Many exclaimed as a pack of wolves circled the caravan, moving in total coordination as they stalked their prey from the boundary of perfect darkness. They were surrounded. Chapter 9 The caravan suffered a tense standoff as wolves patiently circled the periphery. Exill was exhausted but couldn¡¯t stop shaking as adrenaline surged through his body. He wasn¡¯t the only one. Everyone was tired and ready to drop, they didn¡¯t have the energy to stand hours on end against an unyielding predator. Verill rubbed shoulders with Exill, spear braced with one hand. A tired whisper floated over to him. ¡°Hey, form a party with me.¡± Fumbling with his spear, Exill hastily accepted Verill¡¯s handshake. A prompt appeared in his mind,
Would you like to form a party?
[Yes] [No]
Exill confirmed the selection and was greeted with a familiar sensation. He didn¡¯t need to look to know where Verill was. He could also feel the surface emotion from him, a fatigued, steely resolve. ¡®If I could feel his emotions, he should be able to feel mine in return¡­¡¯ He was taken aback by the sudden revelation. What kind of cowardly emotions would Verill sense from him? Reinforcing himself through the Hunter¡¯s courage, Exill tried to emulate his steely resolve, succeeding to some extent. A hint of warm pride suffused through their link as Verill recognised his effort. Despite how tired he was, Exill drew strength from the indirect encouragement. He was quickly shaken out of his thoughts as a voice sternly called out, ¡°Alright lads, this looks like it will take a while. When you feel a tap on your shoulder, slowly retreat backwards, and take a rest for an hour. We will rotate duties.¡± Exill waited for what seemed to be forever, but no one tapped his shoulder. He resigned himself to his duties and faced off against the wolves. *** It was in the early hours of the morning. Exill was on the frontlines after having rotated twice throughout the night. Nothing had happened in all that time, with the wolves keeping their distance and the reflected light of their eyes the only chilling reminder they were there, observing. To keep himself awake, he experimented with the new party system, surprised to find that if he concentrated, Verill¡¯s Card could be viewed in his mind¡¯s eye. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Name Verill
Hometown Draughton Village
Race Human [Vitality+]
Age 24
1st Job [Hunter] lvl 38
2nd Job [Forager] lvl 27
It was surprising to find that partying with a human imparted minor racial bonus to Vitality [HP] for all members. Furthermore, he was thrilled to find that party member¡¯s jobs could be reassigned remotely, which he quickly undid in case Verill noticed. Exill was lost in careless thought when the first wolf leapt into attack. ¡°Attaaack!¡± Someone to his flank yelled. Defenders around the periphery were caught off guard as the wolves charged without warning. Exill was frozen in shock to find a vicious snarling wolf manoeuvring between the stakes to attack him! He instinctively lunged forward, managing to graze the shoulder of the wolf, causing it to yelp away in pain. Verill could be sensed to his left, repeatedly lunging with one arm to keep his opponent at bay. Only a few seconds had passed but he felt relief as others leapt up from their rest schedule and joined the ranks, bolstering the defensive line. They managed to pressure the wolves away and the two sides entered an uneasy deadlock. No one knew exactly how long this stalemate held, but it was broken when horns could be heard from the military depot and the sound of beating hooves in the distance. The wolves hesitated before turning tail, fleeing deep into the forest. Exill, Verill and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. The area around them wasn¡¯t safe but their limbs were too weak from adrenaline fuelled strain for hours on end. ¡°You did well, little brother.¡± Verill clapped him weakly on the back, his arm feeble from wielding the spear single handedly. Exill grunted in response, collapsing on his rear due to exhaustion. He stared at the patch of dirt near his feet dumbly. They had survived another night. Chapter 10 It wasn¡¯t until midday that the caravan roused from their stupor and razed camp. The group trudged down the road and passed the military depot to their left. Edgy eyed soldiers observed the passing refugees from a distance, weapons tightly clenched in their hands. The depot was currently exposed, one of the timber gates had been lifted off the hinges to be repaired and there were obvious gaps burnt into the stockade wall. A lightly armed scout pulled his whinnying horse alongside the caravan, curious to learn what road conditions were like to the front lines. He tapped his heart twice at the mention of Eldritch Aberrations, face turning pale at the details of their encounter. The wounded soldiers escorting the refugees exchanged a few more words before the scout quickly peeled off and headed to the east. Rumours trickled down as the people in front shared what they overheard down the line. ¡°The depot was also hit by wolves last night¡­¡± ¡°Aberrations, bandits, now wolves, Spirit have mercy on us!¡± ¡°I heard their healer died to the wolves and they¡¯ve evacuated the severely wounded to Ark.¡± The last bit of news hit the injured soldiers especially hard. Most of these men had lost limbs or suffered complex fractures that would take months to heal. Some of them were showing signs of delirium as infection set in. ¡°Can we do anything to help them?¡± Exill asked while looking at Verill. ¡°There is a dried root that can help fight infection, I¡¯ll show you what to look out for along the way.¡± The Hunter wrapped his arm around Exill¡¯s shoulder, admiring the boy¡¯s initiative to help others. *** The caravan set up camp early as evening approached. They prioritised setting up stakes in temporary barricades to defend against wolves, having learnt their lesson from the night before. Verill was demonstrating how to dry the harvested roots over a fire after they had been boiled to remove toxins. Exill took care to assign [Herbalist] as his primary job before the finishing touches were applied. He then portioned the yellow/white powder onto large leaves before folding them up neatly. The two approached a small campfire where the injured soldiers gathered separately, sitting lifelessly with dull eyes. They didn¡¯t have much to look forward to apart from surviving the current predicament. Depending on how long the war dragged on, their limbs would be restored at the Army¡¯s cost, or discharged as a disabled veteran from the service altogether. Neither were promising prospects. Despite what one might think about professional soldiers, a lot of them weren¡¯t eager to return to the battlefield, having witnessed all its¡¯ horrors. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The first thing he noticed was the stench of meat gone bad, a sign that something was seriously wrong. A heavyset man was sweating and deliriously rambling as he tossed and turned. His left leg was a tattered mess of splints, and oozing pus stained the dirt around him. It had been shattered as an allied horseman rode over him. Exill looked on in dismay. This was the fourth night of their journey, and he hadn¡¯t realised how bad things were for the injured in the carts. ¡®This man might not last the night if I don¡¯t do something.¡¯ He thought. Exill quickly fed the struggling man a portion of the powdered root as Verill and fellow soldiers helped pin him down. With visible disgust, the man¡¯s trousers were peeled away to better inspect the legs. It was obviously beyond saving. ¡°I think the man¡¯s leg has to be amputated just above the knee.¡± He conferred with Verill. The Hunter frowned. It was not unheard of to amputate limbs as a measure of last resort. Healers were expensive and difficult to find in the countryside. Most magical practitioners preferred to gradually regrow limbs instead of painstakingly reassembling complex fractures that might never mend straight. Some straight up refused to heal broken hands or fingers unless they had been cleanly cut off. Verill nodded before heading out to the wider group in search of tools to perform the amputation. Exill went around asking if anyone had experience in surgery. Some few raised their hands that they had cut off fingers, yet quickly backtracked when they were brought to the injured soldier and saw the state of his legs, ¡°Spirit guide his soul, he is already walkin¡¯ the last bridge, my boy¡­¡± one of them said. Exill racked his brains, desperately trying to remember anything useful from the medical dramas he had watched. Even the barber surgeon memes he saw could help! ¡®I¡¯m going to have to step up and do this¡­¡¯ Verill returned with the tools to see a determined glint in Exill¡¯s eyes, his fists painfully curled up. Their eyes met and he nodded encouragingly. They were still party members and could sense each other¡¯s surface emotions, one of fear mixed with iron will. ¡°Can you get some men to hold him down? I also need a belt, alcohol, pot of boiling water and clean towels.¡± Exill was surprisingly calm while listing what he needed. They quickly got to work and soon the delirious man¡¯s leg was clean, tourniquet applied, and three men piled on top of him, smothering his protests. Exill¡¯s hand shook as he prepared to make his first incision. ¡®I have to do this fast and precisely. The man doesn¡¯t have much time.¡¯ He thought, heart racing. The dagger plunged into the man¡¯s lower thigh to quickly slice around the knee and the flesh was peeled back to reveal the thigh bone. Even with the tourniquet, Exill was quickly soaked in blood. He used a carpenter¡¯s saw that had been cleaned to the best of his ability to cleave through the bone, trying to clean up the jagged edges with the tools at hand. ¡°I¡¯m nearly finished, just a bit more!¡± he wheezed. Exill closed the flesh flap over the bone and prepared the fishing needle to sew it all together. He found it very slippery and difficult. Verill lent a hand and helped hold the flaps together as Exill sewed the wound shut to the best of his ability. The difficult part was done! He carefully cleaned the stump and smeared the smelly red poultice over it, before wrapping it in clean linen. Everyone sighed in relief. The sight of the operation caused even the hardest of men to clench their teeth with unease. Exill cleaned his trembling bloodied hands and wiped the sweat off his face and neck. He was drenched. He had done his very best and now¡­ it was up to the World¡¯s Will. Chapter 11 The soldier survived the night. Refugees greeted the fifth day of their journey much like the ones before, wearied, and tired. However, a seed of hope had been planted the night before by a young lad, barely seventeen, who pulled off a feat many thought impossible. After their journey of losses and misfortune, Exill¡¯s actions became a sorely needed victory. The amputee was still at deaths door, but as long as he drew breath, whispers abounded within the caravan that the young lad had been blessed by the Spirit. ¡°Bloody fine job you did last night.¡± a gruff man patted his shoulder. ¡°Where in the World did you learn to do that?¡± another asked. Soldiers came up to shake Exill¡¯s hand and thanked him for his work. More important than that, he sensed pride bleed through his party connection with Verill. Feeling happy for perhaps the first time since entering the world, he silently prayed that the soldier would survive as he fell in line with the departing caravan. *** The refugees made good speed that day. The people were buoyed as road traffic increased and the density of settlements became evident. They encountered more traffic on the road, scouts and merchants who carried information on how the war was progressing in the east and southern fronts. ¡°We need to get you a clinic when we reach Ark.¡± Verill commented out of the blue, walking steadily beside him. Exill didn¡¯t know how to reply to that statement. In fact, he had been so busy living in the now, stressed with survival, that he hadn¡¯t given the future any thought. ¡®Do I want to be a healer?¡¯ he wondered. Sure, healing people was satisfying, but that was only after the fact. Even now, remembering the amputation he had done last night made him want to throw up part of his breakfast. ¡°How about you. What do you want to do when you reach Ark?¡± Exill changed the topic. ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯m not fortunate as you. It would be very difficult for a hunter/forager like me to make a living in Ark. No, if there was a way, it would be by joining the Mercenary Guild and hunting in the Labyrinth.¡± There was a flicker in Verill¡¯s eyes as he mentioned the Guild. ¡°Labyrinth?¡± Exill asked, confused. Verill tousled the boy¡¯s hair affectionately, reminded again how little he had experienced of the vast world, ¡°They say it is a Tower visible from all parts of the city. You enter to fight monsters and harvest their parts, and turning it into the Guild. My Pa used to have friends who were Mercs, said it paid really well for only a few hours work a day.¡± Exill continued walking, lost in thought. He wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to face any monsters after his brief combat against the wolves. Distracted, his eyes caught movement to the south among the overgrown fields. A flock of birds cawed in outrage as they suddenly took to the air and a tumult of yelps could be heard approaching them. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Grass hounds!¡± The Navigator abruptly yanked his reigns, pulling the cart to a stop and stood up. Upon hearing this, Exill and Verill dropped their heavy luggage, mostly composed of water and sprinted towards the carts that had halted in a long line. Their drivers had been caught off guard and didn¡¯t have the opportunity to circle them in an improvised barricade. They arrived at the rearmost cart not a moment too soon before a pack of dozen hounds leapt out of the tall grass upon the refugees. On initial glance, they resembled the hyenas of Earth from their hunched appearance, sporting mottled olive/brown hides and gaping pink maws. Several slow men and women were pinned down and ripped apart by the ferocious dogs. The remaining refugees raised their spears in a bristling defensive formation, startled by the sudden ambush and the sight of their fallen comrades. The mules were still hitched to their carts and the drivers were doing all they could to calm the panicking animals and stop them kicking free. As quickly as they had appeared, the hounds dragged off the four fallen refugees into the tall grass and the sound of crackling bones rang out from the dense underbrush. ¡°Mama!¡± a girl could be heard crying within the tense formation, ¡°They are already lost! I can¡¯t hold the damn mules any longer. We must flee!¡± the Navigator yelled, motioning the other drivers to follow his lead. The caravan reformed in a tight formation as the carts began to jolt forward. Exill looked back one last time at the shaking brush as he jogged to keep pace with the others. *** That evening the traumatized group of survivors were muted as they set up camp. Most, but not all of the refugees gathered around the campfire to hold an impromptu ceremony for those deceased. It was led by an elder of Hillsmead who held the hands of the sniffling girl who had lost her mother. ¡°Today we are gathered in memory of those that have departed the Last Bridge, and into the infinite silence that lies beyond. Their dream is over¡­ and may the Spirit guide them safely to the next one.¡± Turning away after the prayer, Exill went to check up on the soldier he had treated the night before. The man appeared more lucid than before but was struggling to remain awake. Exill may have saved one life, and that was still a very tenuous assumption¡­ but four more had been cut brutally short today. ¡®It could have been me if I had run any slower.¡¯ He thought glumly. Exill helped set up the stakes forming the barricade and finally sat back to enjoy some rest. He opened his Card and inspected the progress made in his jobs. [Crafter] was lvl 3 and [Forager] was lvl 2. [Tailor] was still greyed out but an unfamiliar skill greeted his eyes. This job was also greyed out and appeared to be a Tier 2 progression of the [Herbalist] job. The requirements were displayed below:
[Witchdoctor]
¡®Required: [Herbalist] lvl 20, [Tailor] lvl 5, [Carpenter] lvl 5.¡¯
[Tailor] and [Carpenter] were both Tier 2 progressions of the [Crafter] skill and could be obtained after lvl 20. ¡®I wonder why anyone would bother remaining a [Crafter] for any longer than necessary. While the bonus to crafting speed is nice, there must be a point of diminishing returns.¡¯ Exill expressed his thoughts and doubts to Verill who sighed before replying. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know Exill. The elders like to chastise the young¡¯uns that a good foundation must be established. They believe a strong low-level job leads to a stronger progression down the line.¡± He hesitated before adding, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of master carpenters who demand apprentices stick to their [Crafter] job for at least 10 years before progressing. There might be a method to their madness considering they are masters of their craft, huh?¡± The two sat in companionable silence as each reflected on their own jobs and path of progression. Chapter 12 - Ark The last two days of the Caravan passed by in a blur. Thankfully they encountered no more attacks during that time. As they approached the capital, they encountered more patrols, and the roads were much safer. The refugees were beginning to run low on food. Penny pinching clerks had provisioned them for a five-day journey that had ended up taking seven days. Thankfully, the group had foraged along the way and although they were hungry and weak, no one was starving. They approached the outer perimeter walls of Ark late in the evening. There was a collective sigh that reverberated through the group as they passed the safety of the stockades. Many staggered, robbed of their strength in quiet relief as they crossed the boundary. The refugees had numbered forty before embarking on this journey. Less than thirty had made it. From a distance, it was obvious the city of Ark had two tiers. There was a sprawling outskirt of slums where the buildings grew more refined as they pressed against the stone battlements of the Inner City. Even from here, Exill could see the Labyrinth Tower Verill had described, lit up gently like a beacon in the darkening sky. For many of those in the caravan, this was their first sight of Ark, the mega capital of the Kingdom of Fayth. They stared up in awe at the scale of this bastion of humanity. While others were admiring the view, Exill¡¯s attention was drawn to the beastmen and elves among the outer city population. ¡®This was a true fantasy world!¡¯ he realised belatedly. ¡°First time seeing other races?¡± Verill noticed his awe and grinned. Exill nodded, still awestruck by this discovery. Then a thought crossed his mind. He carefully prodded, ¡°Are the other races¡­ you know¡­ looked down upon?¡± Verill looked taken aback and mildly offended by the question, ¡°We are all children of the Spirit, Exill, the races are an expression of the World¡¯s Will. What is there to hate and discriminate against?¡± Verill continued in a lecturing tone, ¡°You may not understand coming from a farming background but there are great benefits to partying with other races. For one, you share racial bonuses. Just having a dwarf in you party increases the strength of all members, increasing their physical damage output. You can¡¯t get the same effect from an all-Human party.¡± Exill nodded while absorbing this new information and was glad he hadn¡¯t brought up that he received racial bonuses from his companion while they were partied. ¡°You should join the Mercenary guild if you have the inclination, I know I will. Once you start working with many types of people it will broaden your horizons. You will learn far more than I could teach you.¡± Verill squeezed his shoulder. Once they entered the city proper, he caught glimpses of a dense warren of slums just behind the main road. Beggars and diseased orphans lined the side streets, holding out bowls while pleading for spare Denars. The fact that they would seek alms from refugees such as himself spoke of the level of poverty in the utmost outskirts. Exill had to look away several times as he spotted pitiful bodies encased in flies. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Verill caught his horrified glance and merely pursed his lips. ¡°It is what it is.¡± He whispered to his charge. The muted conversation around them wrapped up as they reached the imposing crenelated gates of the inner city. The injured soldiers on the carts had been waved through with only a cursory inspection. The rest of the refugees were held up as the guard began to shout, while pointing at a wooden notice on the wall. ¡°Entry for non-residents costs 60 Denars! Refugees must report to the refugee camp in the southern quarter. You will be denied entry into the Inner City!¡± The bedraggled group of refugees grumbled as they were turned away from the gates and made their way to the southern city outskirts. The camp was of old construction, evident from the aged, in some places decaying logs of the stockade wall. It wasn¡¯t readily apparent what its former purpose was, but it had become a sprawling complex of temporary shelters and tents. This would be the place of their confinement, for the foreseeable future¡­ ¡°Where do you hail from?¡± The clerk processing their internment asked the representative of their group. Meanwhile a fight had broken out in the middle of the line as a group of men and women demanded to be let free, ¡°I have a family in Ark, I refuse to stay in this camp!¡± they shouted angrily. The clerk quickly motioned some guards to settle the refugees before shouting in a clear voice, ¡°Welcome to Ark, I understand you are all refugees from the eastern front. The city is currently filled to capacity. We ask that you remain calm and stay in your camp. If you have family in Ark who can vouch for you and provide accommodations, you will be provided the opportunity to do so. Please form an orderly queue for processing.¡± Upon hearing this, the angry people settled down and an orderly queue began to form. Processing was quick as the clerk glanced at the Cards to confirm people¡¯s details. He wrote their name, job, and hometown on a long scroll of parchment. Before Exill approached the front of the queue he quickly reassigned his first job as Warrior and left the second blank. ¡°Camp A, militia recruit¡± The Clerk announced after glancing at his Card. This was repeated for Verill who was processed after him. The two were directed to the barracks and was assigned a shared room for four people. They were given fresh straw bedding and a new change of clothes. Exill and Verill excitedly washed their bodies and changed into clean clothes before following a throng of people to the mess hall for dinner. Queueing in line, they were delighted to receive a wooden bowl filled generously with steaming oatmeal. There were no seats in the large hall, only wooden logs laid lengthwise, and all of them were occupied. Verill gestured to a nearby wall, and they squatted against it, blowing air to cool their meal down. ¡°Living the dream, aren¡¯t we?¡± Verill joked, looking down at the bowl with a strange expression. Who were they kidding¡­ All around them were tearful refugees, glad that they made it to Ark, glad they were safe and clean, and more importantly, glad that their nightmarish ordeal was over. Verill let out a soft sigh, a rare smile on his normally stern face. He knew he was bad at making jokes and from the look on Exill¡¯s face, he hadn¡¯t understood it either. ¡°Whenever life gets you down, remember this moment¡­ no matter how bad things get, things can only go up from here.¡± Verill whispered, his glistening eyes betraying emotion. Exill felt hot tears drip into his bowl, suddenly reminded of his death, what he had left behind, and the cruel fatalities he had witnessed. He couldn¡¯t help but feel resentment at the fact he had been reborn into a world of indescribable horrors and mindless beasts. He sincerely hoped things would improve from here. Chapter 13 Life at the camp was dull, mundane, and tiresome. Not that he was complaining, of course. All these things were vastly preferable to the harrowing trial Exill had faced, but he felt irritated that he was now a recruit militia, forcibly drafted into the army. This meant he had to wake up early each morning and undergo basic training and exercises, followed by theory classes in the afternoon. As a lot of the recruits were young men from remote villages; theory classes covered the basics of their stats, the benefits of partying and the various buffs granted by other races. He learned quite a few important things and could summarize the following: There were eight core stats governing a person¡¯s ability,
Stat Description
Strength Increased physical damage
Intelligence Increased magic damage
Speed Increased attack and movement speed
Vitality Health or HP of a person
Magic Pool of mana or MP
Damage Resist Increased physical damage resistance
Magic Resist Increased magical damage resistance
Luck Favour by the World Spirit
Stats could be affected by racial bonuses of the party composition, but were more heavily influenced by the individual¡¯s jobs. Once someone trained their profession for about two years, they would unlock perks that granted minor bonuses to stats. For example, it was generally known that training as a [Warrior] for two years granted a minor boost to strength on top of the attack speed increase. The lecturers assured the sceptical trainees that it was an established fact. ¡°Trust me on this,¡± the Instructor began, ¡°when you reach the two-year mark of your training, assuming you ugly lot even survive that far; you will experience a sudden surge of strength, and this has all been extensively documented and researched.¡± Exill had garnered other insights on how his Card behaved differently from others. While his stats were displayed as horizontal bar graphs, whose x-axis unit had yet to be determined, others did not have access to this information. Instead, a person¡¯s natural capacity for strength and magic was measured indirectly through trials. On their first day, they had been instructed to channel mana into their palm and cast [Fire] at a target. Only one of them had passed, and even then, they had complained of a splitting headache for several hours. ¡°Those are symptoms of mana abuse,¡± the Instructor had reassured the trainee, ¡°looks like your magic is higher than the average recruit, but not enough to warrant a transfer to the mage corps, especially with your second job as a [Farmer].¡± Lastly, Exill had speculated that two years of training translated to reaching lvl 20 in a job. He intuited this by extrapolating Verill¡¯s stats while partied with him. Verill was a lvl 38 [Hunter] and had been one for the past seven years. Exill just had to make mental adjustments for the fact it got progressively harder to level up. ¡°What are you drawing?¡± Verill approached him one day, curious about the strange parabolas and notations scrawled across the dirt floor. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Exill looked up in surprise at his companion who was leaning against the barrack walls, massaging the tightened muscles on his rehabilitating forearm. The Hunter had made a remarkable recovery over the past few weeks and no longer required a sling. Although he was far from fully healed, the Hunter diligently attended morning archery practice, being careful not to strain his arm too much. ¡°Ah! I was just bored and doodling.¡± Exill hastily rubbed the exponential graph he was modelling to match experience gain to levels. ¡°If you¡¯re bored, you should come with me to the waste yard, you can find things to salvage and sell.¡± There was a brazen smile on Verill¡¯s lips. ¡°Isn¡¯t that outside the camp?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got your back little brother, trust me on this. We¡¯ll need money once the war is over and this is one of the few ways us poor recruits can earn Denars.¡± Verill squeezed Exill¡¯s shoulders as he was led to a boarded-up section of the stockade wall in a quiet corner of camp. A wooden panel was easily shifted aside to reveal a small crawl hole where one could readily enter and leave at any time. He followed Verill outside the city limits to a large grey pit that was now filled with junk. The waste yard was formerly a quarry used to supply some of the granite that made up the imposing inner walls of the city. It now lay abandoned, home to heaps of junk submerged in pools of stagnant water. ¡°Oi, this is my turf!¡± a scrawny kid shouted up at them, a wicker basket slung over his thin bony shoulders. ¡°Ignore them. They¡¯re orphans. They talk loudly, but are all bark and no bite.¡± Verill reassured him as they approached the pit from the other side. Indeed, the large junkyard was dotted with hungry desperate youths, wading through the muck to find items to sell for their next meal. The Hunter taught him what to look out for. Things he would have easily dismissed such as rusted hinges from smashed shutters were deemed salvageable. Exill levered a broken latch off a shattered door and felt a deep resonance in his core. [Ping!] Summoning his card, Exill confirmed a new job had been obtained.
Job Scavenger
Level 1
Description Production - Tier 1
Passive Buff +10% recovery of materials from items disassembled. (scales with level).
After a few hours of this, they returned to the refugee camp with their meagre haul. Instead of going back to their barracks, Verill took a left turn towards Camp B, the subdivision housing armament manufacturers. Verill suddenly paused outside a workshop, from which the sound of clanging iron and roaring flames could be heard. He turned to Exill, hesitating as he imparted some advice. ¡°This guy¡­ is a piece of work. Let me do the talking this time and follow my lead.¡± The Hunter concealed his features behind a stern, impassive fa?ade before entering the workshop. The two of them stood at the entryway, waiting as a bearded dwarf finished hammering an incandescent arrowhead into shape before quenching it in oil with a loud hiss. His red tunic was stained with sweat and clung to massive shoulders. The dwarf lifted the goggles to rest against his red cap and studied the pair before him. ¡°You Scav¡¯s?¡± his voice was like burnt umber, spat with derision. Verill didn¡¯t answer as he lowered their scrap metal haul on the counter, which the dwarf quickly sifted through, quietly muttering under his breath, ¡°I can give you three denars for this.¡± The dwarf licked his chapped lips. ¡°Four and we have a deal.¡± Verill countered. The dwarf swore at Verill¡¯s ancestors as he rummaged in his coin pouch for four small copper pieces, slamming them down on the counter. The Hunter coolly collected the coins and led Exill outside, heaving a sigh of relief. ¡°His name is Ham; you would do well to counter 50% above the initial offer. Here is your share.¡± Verill handed him two denars despite Exill¡¯s protestations. He had barely contributed to the search but was nevertheless grateful for the Hunter¡¯s generosity. It was the first time he could rub two coins together since entering this world, and the novelty delighted him. ¡°You seem awfully happy for two denars.¡± Verill teased him playfully as they returned to the barracks. Chapter 14 ¡°Here, I got you some of this.¡± Verill nervously glanced behind him while entering the barracks and quickly shoved something hard and warm under his tunic. ¡°Haah?¡± Exill¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim from the searing warmth. ¡°Shh¡­ if others figure it out, they¡¯ll want some of it too.¡± The Hunter whispered conspiratorially. Peeking under his tunic, Exill found a hard crusted bun, fresh and still warm from the oven. Laughing at the wonderment in his eyes, Verill explained the source of their good fortune, ¡°There¡¯s a girl in Camp C who took a liking to yours truly. You wouldn¡¯t believe how difficult it was to smuggle back in here.¡± Exill paused as he absorbed this new information, but hunger quickly took priority over his curiosity. Tearing the crusted loaf apart, the soft white texture contrasted sharply against the burnt, almost bitter outer layer. After weeks of eating gruel, it was a heavenly treat. ¡°Who is this girl, and what does she want from you?¡± Exill finally asked, picking at the crumbs on his tunic. ¡°I¡¯ll be damned if I know.¡± Verill shrugged before continuing, ¡°She knows I am in Camp A and likely to be deployed soon, maybe she took pity on a poor soldier.¡± Exill stared with soulless eyes at his rugged, good-looking friend, wondering if he was really that dense or putting on a humble fa?ade. Considering the scarcity of baked goods, smuggling someone bread was tantamount to a marriage proposal for a woman working in the camp. ¡°Did you hear any news on when we will be deployed?¡± the younger man asked. Everything was hushed up about the progress of the war, but even the dimmest of lightbulbs could guess how events were developing ¨C simply from the fact that their training regimen had been accelerated from five months to four. What few whispers were uttered indicated it was a meat grinder out there, with whole battalions lost in the field of battle. It didn¡¯t bode well for Exill, who was scheduled as a melee fighter for the frontlines, unlike Verill. ¡°No¡­¡± the Hunter eventually replied, and he tried to reassure his younger brother by wrapping a reassuring arm around his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it too much, I¡¯ll continue to look out for you.¡± ¡°Look out for your bread maiden instead, she is a keeper if I¡¯ve seen one.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Verill pursed his lips, but they both knew how difficult such a promise would be. *** A month had passed since their induction into the militia and Exill had made a few friends around his age, but found he couldn¡¯t connect with their youthful demeanour and mindset. Their instructors had announced that the bootcamp will run for another two months, another hint that the war was going badly. This would culminate in a final assessment that would determine which Army division they would be deployed to. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡®I don¡¯t want to go to war.¡¯ He found himself thinking, often dreading, in fact. A pit in his stomach would form at the thought of leaving this hard-earned sanctuary behind. It wasn¡¯t because he was bad at fighting. On the contrary he had grasped the basics of stances, and which spear movements flowed into another faster than many of the other recruits. Hard calluses had begun to form on his palms, the result of weeks of blistering training. His hands were constantly bandaged and poulticed, red, and raw from the day¡¯s training. What really scared him was that he had no choice in the matter. It was the despair of helplessness. He was destined for the front lines, a meat grinder if he ever saw one, and the alternative ¨C desertion ¨C meant death. Perhaps pressured by the nearing deployment, Verill had begun to tentatively court the maiden in Camp C and spent most of his evenings by the riverbanks, awkwardly holding each other¡¯s hand as they talked amongst the cool reeds. Exill didn¡¯t begrudge their romance at all, not when she provided a steady supply of freshly baked bread. Verill had convinced the easily swayed lass that Exill was his younger brother, and she took caution to supply an extra share for him as well. However, he found himself spending more of his time alone, or in the junk yards, trying to earn some extra coin. 20 Denars had been saved from selling scavenged materials. It was difficult to make comparisons because he was unfamiliar with the economy of this world, but he equated the 20 Denars to roughly ¡ê/$20 in his mind. That late evening, Exill was returning to camp with an especially meagre haul, heading towards the Dwarf¡¯s workshop in Camp B. Master Smith Ham was an interesting personality. He was an entrepreneur who ran a smithy in the city outskirts. When war had broken out with the Afrye Tribal Federation, he was one of the first to finance and open a workshop in the refugee camp, seeking to exploit the cheap labour from the desperate migrants and produce vital necessities for the war effort. Knocking at the workshop¡¯s door, he promptly entered, not waiting for a response. ¡°Hmph, what do you want, boy?¡± Master Ham was a stocky dwarf who came up to Exill¡¯s shoulder in height. The forge goggle were raised, perched on the red leather cap he usually wore to protect his balding hair. His brown beard was slightly singed as he hammered away on an arrowhead. ¡°The usual, bits of iron and wood suitable for shafts.¡± Ham gave a cursory look over Exill¡¯s haul and slid two Denars to the boy. Unlike their usual transaction, Exill didn¡¯t immediately reach for the coins and instead loitered as he watched Ham continue to hammer away. Veins began to visibly pop on sweating dwarf¡¯s face as anger overtook him. ¡°Two Dees ain¡¯t enough for you boy!? You¡¯ve got some guts after all I had done for yer!¡± Ham exploded as he spat into the flames in disgust. Exill raised his palms to placate the angry dwarf, ¡°It¡¯s not like that; I want to work more. I want to earn more.¡± He tried to impress his earnestness on the busy man. Ham glared at the boy with a menacing side eye, ¡°I got plenty of workers who can whittle shafts and fletch. Unless you can forge arrow heads yer can kindly shove off.¡± Exill was at a loss. He did not have the [Blacksmith] job unlocked. Taking a leap of faith, he held up his Card for Ham to inspect, ¡°As you can see, I do not have a second job assigned. If you could teach me today, I will immediately assign it as my profession.¡± Strategically speaking, his proposal put him in a corner. When asked about what it took to change someone¡¯s job, people had many responses and theories. What was common in these answers was that a) it could be done at the Cathedral, b) it cost a lot of money, c) the waitlist for commoners was several years long. By assigning a job now into the empty job slot meant he was committed to blacksmithing, and although he had a few ideas on how to alter it down the line ¨C it did not come without risks. The Dwarf paused hammering for a moment to inspect the lad¡¯s Card, grunting quietly in disapproval. ¡°It sounds like you want something from me for a change. I can teach yer, but it will cost yer.¡± Ham grinned, an evil glint in his eye. Chapter 15 Exill inwardly cursed as he handed over 20 Denars to the greedy dwarf while Ham giggled accepting the entirety of the boy¡¯s savings. ¡°Very, very wise choice boy! You need guts like that to become a proper [Blacksmith]! Come ¡®ere and I¡¯ll show you how to forge an arrowhead.¡± Ham proceeded to guide Exill over the next half hour until he felt a resonant [Ping!] in his core. Exill summoned the Card and assigned the newly attained [Blacksmith] as his second profession.
Job Blacksmith
Level 1
Description Production - Tier 1
Passive Buff +10% quality of forged item (scales with level).
He was surprised to find that [Crafter lvl 20] was not a prerequisite and Ham explained, ¡°I can understand yer confusion but [Blacksmith] is a long complex progression unlike other Production professions. Yer see, unlike inferior jobs like [Tailor] and [Carpenter], [Blacksmith] can progress to [Expert Blacksmith] after eight years. Some might reach the Expert level in two years but mark me words boy, those fools rarely get far. Add another twenty years under me guidance and even you might become a [Master Blacksmith]!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference between [Expert] and [Master Blacksmith]?¡± ¡°Items crafted by an [Expert] can hold one enchantment at most, two if yer a [Master].¡± ¡°Which of them are you?¡± Exill asked. ¡°I¡¯m a [Master Blacksmith] of course! Me second job is [Vendor]. It took me five years to train under the famous¡­¡± Ham practically preened as he listed his various accomplishments. Exill acted suitably impressed before pressing the dwarf for further instructions. ¡°Alright boy. I can pay one Denar for every four arrowheads.¡± When the dwarf saw the boy begin to object, he waved a burnt finger to cut the complaint short, ¡°Nuh huh! Before you complain, I will specially lend you my enchanted [Blacksmith Apron] or [Blacksmith Gloves]. Using either of these items while forging will decrease the amount of training required by half!¡± Exill held his tongue at this strange offer. ¡®An item that increased EXP gain?¡¯ he wondered¡­ This could be incredibly valuable! ¡°What would it take to borrow both?¡± he asked. The dwarf guffawed at the boy¡¯s audacity, ¡°It don¡¯t work like that boy! Having two items don¡¯t mean you train four times as fast! Why, if that were the case I would be decked out in training gear!¡± Exill outwardly nodded as his mind raced. ¡®I know that the rules of this world don¡¯t wholly apply to me. It is highly likely that I could benefit from stacking EXP gain. I just need the opportunity to test it.¡¯ Ham led him to the side and pointed to where two items hung on the wall, gesturing with pride. One was a tattered leather glove with an iron band covering the knuckles, from which faint glowing runes could be seen across its rough pitted surface. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The leather apron was in even worse shape, there was an iron plate the length of his finger affixed on the chest, similarly glowing with runes. The plate had a crack running through a quarter of its width and the runes gently flickered around this damage. ¡°The very best equipment for my favoured disciple!¡± ¡°Wow master, this is amazing. How much would it cost to buy it off you?¡± Exill was unduly worried his sarcasm would leak through. ¡°Hmph! These kinds of items are not readily available! I will sell them to you for 60 Denars each. You won¡¯t find a better deal!¡± ¡°I will work hard to earn them master.¡± Exill bowed to the dwarf who had a greedy twinkle in his eye. He knew he was getting ripped off, but it was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t find elsewhere. He equipped the apron, and surreptitiously slid on the gloves while Ham was distracted by the forge. Exill switched his primary job to [Peddler] and used [Appraise] on the items. [Peddler] had been unlocked last week when he sold his first batch of scavenged materials.
Job Peddler
Level 3
Description Production - Tier 1
Active Skill [Appraise] Identify the value of an item, ability to appraise higher priced items scales with level.
True to his expectations, the tattered items each held a single enchantment - [EXP Plus] and they both appeared to be providing passive buffs in his screen. He crafted eight arrowheads over the next three hours and [Blacksmith] rose to lvl 3. Exill was ecstatic at the speed of growth and his footsteps were a little lighter when he returned to barracks with only four Denars in his pouch. *** Over the next month, Exill continued to train and earn money. As his proficiency rose, he got faster at smithing, and even the quality of his goods had significantly improved to the delight of Ham. Soon, he was able to afford the two training items at 60 Denars each to the endless derision of the greedy dwarf. At that exact moment, Ham was discussing the quotas for the next month shipment with an Army clerk when Exill breezed into the workshop to begin his evening shift. ¡°Hahahaha, here is me favourite apprentice! This is the lad I told yer about. The one who believes yer can train faster by equipping multiple training items!¡± Ham happily gestured at Exill as he signed receipts held up by the clerk. ¡°He¡¯s dense as an ingot, but a very hard worker. The best I tell yer!¡± Ham happily slapped Exill¡¯s back as he prepared to work for the day. After he had purchased the EXP items, Exill had negotiated a pay increase to one Denar per three arrowheads and was regularly pulling in five Denars a day. Exploiting the dwarf¡¯s good mood, he brought up a sensitive topic. ¡°Master, you must have heard by now that they are deploying the militia to the eastern front next month.¡± This caused Ham to lower his hammer. After a long pause, he pensively asked, ¡°¡­ do you want to be deployed?¡± Concern shrouded the dwarf¡¯s sweaty forehead. He had grown fond of the boy. He was a good worker, didn¡¯t complain, and accepted his teasing graciously. It brightened up his day when he bragged about the dumb apprentice who bought two ratty training gear on their last legs! ¡°¡­ I feel I have more to learn under your tutelage master.¡± Exill was sitting on the fence with regards to his pending deployment. He was afraid of going to war. A glimpse of life on the battlefield had convinced him it would end up brutally short. On the other hand, it felt like he was betraying Verill. He didn¡¯t want to think about sending his only friend, someone he considered a brother, alone, to an uncertain fate. While this turmoil was racing through his mind, Ham had a very different look on his face, it was one of cold calculation. The dwarf was mentally weighing the value of the kid, versus what it would cost to bribe Exill¡¯s reassignment to Camp B. ¡°Let me think on it.¡± Ham eventually replied. Chapter 16 Exill¡¯s emerald eyes were intense as he swung the spear to deflect an incoming thrust from his opponent. The [Blacksmith Apron] was worn under his gambeson and the [Blacksmith Gloves] was equipped on his fist. He had discovered that the [EXP Plus] enchantment of the two items were not uniquely confined to blacksmithing. He now wore them at all times, training multiple skills at an unforeseen rate. By this point, he had been at the bootcamp for three months and [Warrior] was already level 8! The timing of their deployment had been confirmed and less than a week remained until they were assigned to the reserves. Completing the manoeuvre, he countered the attack with a strike from his haft. His opponent doubled over in pain and the referee called an end to the bout. As Exill was pulling off his padded helmet the Instructor came up to him and clapped him on the back. ¡°Fantastic footwork there Exill, you are the most promising trainee of the batch!¡± Exill smiled and accepted the compliment with a small bow. ¡°It is all thanks to you Sir, thank you for guiding me these past few months.¡± The instructor harrumphed, ¡°Rest well tonight for the assessment tomorrow¡­ I know of your transfer¡­ but try to do your best.¡± Patting him on the back again, the instructor sauntered off. Exill finished pulling off his padded gear and tucked the apron under his arms as he proudly gloated to the mess hall for dinner. *** The final assessment for Camp A was held the next day. The results would decide which division trainees would be assigned to. Exill knew the assessment would have no bearing on his position, he was going to transfer to Camp B in a few days anyway. Despite that, he was trying his best to not let down his team, those he had been training with for the past three months. The four of them were currently enclosed in a small open-air arena, brick alcoves dotted the side walls, from which their instructors mercilessly judged the trainees with narrowed eyes. Six iron barred cages on the opposite side opened as one, releasing their frothing horrors at the raw recruits. Exill sweated nervously as he braced his spear against the lunging plague rats. He took a half-step back as he sensed a party member to the left give ground against an especially ferocious attack. The cohort of four spearmen moved in unison, holding their line formation against six opposing lesser beasts. The plague rats were the size of a large dog, their foamy spittle and grey matted fur the only unique characteristic of their breed. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. His partner to the left stepped back again as she received another flurry of attacks. However, one of her counters had pierced the front leg of the rat and it was momentarily pushed off balance. Exill sensed this opportunity and turned to his left to strike at the rat¡¯s exposed side. His spear effortlessly pierced the grey matted fur and deep into its chest, killing the beast. Before Exill could even celebrate, a rat leapt at his overextended side and pushed him to the ground! Exill could only hold the ravening beast back with the shaft of his spear as foaming spittle flecked on his face and chest. The formation of the spearmen broke, and the rats quickly overwhelmed the trainees from all sides, biting and gnashing in wild frustration. ¡°End exercise.¡± a disappointed voice rang out. Four armoured guards stepped out of their alcoves to effortlessly pressure the rats away from the fallen recruits, ruthlessly spearing them if they refused to move back into their cages. A healer rushed forward to ensure there were no grievous injuries, and the cohort were led away to the changing rooms. Their Instructor was waiting for them there, clay tablet in hand and mouth twisted in displeasure. ¡°You three passed, though Nara, you need to stop giving so much ground to the enemy under pressure. Since you are smaller than the others, it is natural the enemy would focus on you. Use your lower stance to hold firm. A hundred squats for you.¡± The Instructor looked into the faces of the trio as he pointed at Exill. ¡°This is a teachable moment for all of you... you are only as strong as the weakest member of your party. Hold formation at all costs. Your job as spearmen is to hold and wear the enemy down together, not kill them! Exill here was only thinking of himself, not as a team, and his selfish action put all of you in danger.¡± The Instructor snapped his hinged tablet shut and dismissed the cohort, before stepping out to assess the next batch of trainees. Exill¡¯s former party avoided his eyes as they unstrapped their gear and limped in the direction of the mess hall. He felt like shit. Exill sat there in silence as he thought back on his actions, tearing himself apart, his own worst critic. Dull eyed, he finally unstrapped his gear and winced as he stretched his tense muscles. He held up his palm to check the Card before heading off to the mess hall, hoping to inspect his Vitality stat for any changes. ¡®The bar looks full, and I don¡¯t think I am poisoned¡­¡¯ He was about to dismiss it when he noticed something strange, ¡®My [Warrior] rose to lvl 9, but why did my [Blacksmith] level also increase?¡¯ The only thing he had done recently was killing the plague rat. Did killing monsters provide EXP across all assigned jobs? This new revelation served to distract Exill from the failed assessment. He had been testing various ways to increase his [Planeswalker] level. Barring any methods of travelling between ¡®planes¡¯, he just couldn¡¯t figure out a method to raise it. This¡­ promised to change everything. Chapter 17 With the Final Assessment over, trainees could be seen all over the campgrounds, visibly relaxed the next day. Many had smiles on their faces as they excitedly recounted the strategies they had employed. Exill was in no such mood and avoided these groups. Instead, he picked up a bowl of gruel and made way to a group of boys his age, avidly discussing the latest gossip with bright eyes. ¡°Did you see that girl at Camp B?¡± ¡°You mean Bella? I glimpsed down her shift while she was washing clothes last night!¡± ¡°No way!¡± They were busy jostling each other as they continued to rate every mundane interaction they had with a girl. Exill was soon joined by Verill, and they squatted companionably against the wall while sipping their gruel. ¡°How are you holding up? I heard what happened yesterday. Couldn¡¯t find you afterwards.¡± The Hunter, now promoted to Ranger, had his brows knitted in concern. Exill sighed. He didn¡¯t want to talk about yesterday¡¯s assignment, ¡°I¡¯m alright, I just needed some time alone¡­ I went to Ham¡¯s forge to clear my mind.¡± Verill understood the need to be alone, but an involuntary contempt crept up on lips, ¡°¡­Is it worth working for that greedy bastard? You know he is exploiting you right?¡± Exill just nodded while smiling. The urge to tell Verill he was transferring to Camp B gnawed away at him. There wasn¡¯t much time left and it got harder as their goodbyes drew near. He could handle the scorn that would undoubtedly be in his friend¡¯s eyes when informed of the cowardly transfer. It was understandable, Exill would have similarly been disappointed if they had traded places. What Exill couldn¡¯t handle was if he saw hurt betrayal instead. Time was running short, and he had to confess soon. He sighed before finally committing to his confession, ¡°¡­I am getting transferred to Camp B tomorrow.¡± Verill stopped sipping on his gruel and unwittingly lowered the bowl. He couldn¡¯t hide it as several emotions flashed across his face, before settling on a big smile as he clapped Exill on the shoulder. ¡°Congratulations, that greedy bastard got you out!¡± There was a hint of admiration in his eyes until little by little, he grew sober, ¡°You made the right choice. You don¡¯t belong on the battlefield. I felt that when you saved the soldier¡¯s leg and I still believe it now. You were meant to save lives, being true to yourself and honest with others is a virtue, not a crime.¡± Exill struggled to keep his emotions in check as his eyes grew blurry. He had spotted the unmistakeable hurt that had flitted across his friend¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡­¡± Verill cut him off by clapping his shoulder several times, harder than before, ¡°No, no. I¡¯m going to be fine little brother. I¡¯m a Ranger now. I¡¯ll be stationed miles away from the front, safely raining death on the enemy using your arrows. We would have been split up anyway. War is on three fronts you know; I would have worried about you in the battlefield¡­ it is better this way.¡± Exill was at a loss for words, what could he possibly say in response to that? ¡°Don¡¯t make that face. I¡¯ll write to you often. Let you know I¡¯m okay.¡± Verill finished off the last of his gruel and stood up, stretching as he did so, ¡°Ahh. You know what would be good right about now? Some nice cold brew¡­¡± He knew Verill had only brought it up to distract him, but it had the intended effect. He had money, he knew ways to get out of camp unseen, this could actually happen. A small grin was permitted to appear on his face. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Meet me behind the lavatories after dinner.¡± *** It was just starting to grow dark when two shapes emerged from under the palisade wall of the refugee camp. They looked around warily before sprinting off into the shadows of a nearby alleyway. Exill stopped to catch his breath and dust off his clothes, checking his coin pouch in the process, ¡°I think the camp guards frequent the tavern around here so let¡¯s head deeper into the city, we don¡¯t want to be recognised.¡± Verill nodded and followed Exill in the direction of the Inner City, the scarlet sky clearly framing the Labyrinth Tower from even this distance. They soon found themselves in front a tavern, raucous laughter pouring out from within. ¡°Let¡¯s keep a low profile and look around before sitting down, just leave if we spot anyone we recognise.¡± Verill warned, and with beating hearts, the two entered the bright, lively interior of the tavern. It was a small establishment by Earth standards and there were only six tables, each capable of seating four. It was half empty despite the rowdy clatter they heard outside. All that noise was coming from a single table, a family celebrating the 17th birthday of their daughter. The two sighed in relief, a grin of apprehension painting both their faces. They recognised no-one here, and they sat at a table from which they could easily observe the door. ¡°Would you handsome lads like something to drink?¡± A lively barmaid, not much older than Exill approached the table, her strawberry blonde hair framing a pretty face with freckles. He was curious what they served for alcohol in this other world. ¡°What do you have?¡± he asked. The barmaid looked up while counting off what they had in stock in one hand, ¡°We have your mead, dark glimmer ale, barley wine and pale ale.¡± Verill ordered a pint of mead, while Exill chose half a pint of dark glimmer ale. The black creamy brew cost two Denars, twice that of the mead. It stung his coin purse, but he simply had to try out this otherworldly alcohol. He gave Verill the first sip, who nodded in appreciation, his perpetual frown loosening up for the first time in months. ¡°It¡¯s good, I taste a hint of earthensprout.¡± Exill himself had a taste and it easily slid down his throat, a hint of earthy aroma grounding a smooth yet subtle bitter flavour. It was certainly worth two Denars, so he swiftly motioned the barmaid to bring another half-pint for Verill. ¡°What happened to the bread maiden, shouldn¡¯t you be spending your last night with her?¡± Exill eventually asked, as he felt the alcohol loosen his tongue. ¡°It¡­ didn¡¯t work out. Besides, how could I turn down a brilliant night out with my miserable brother. Don¡¯t let the assessment get you down. It is normal to fail from time to time.¡± Verill clinked his half-empty glass. Exill frowned. Even in his half-addled state, something didn¡¯t add up. Just a couple nights ago, he had waved at them while returning from the quarry, the two lovebirds were sitting together on the riverbank holding hands as usual. ¡°Did she dump you?¡± he pressed the stern-faced Ranger. ¡°No¡­¡± he slowly lowered the glass, ¡°If you have to know, she wanted me to run away with her¡­ I¡¯ve heard what they do to deserters Exill, I don¡¯t want to look over my shoulders for the rest of my life, always on the run.¡± Verill exhaled heavily, ¡°I told her it wasn¡¯t going to work.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The sigh escaping his lips was all the sound he could make. He had been happy for Verill; the cheerful rosy-cheeked maiden had looked dazzlingly bright in the Ranger¡¯s arms. She had successfully won over both their hearts through smuggling bread on the regular ¨C which was a serious offense. Having never dated anyone in his life, the fairer sex seemed like a faraway dream. It was not like he wasn¡¯t interested, they just appeared so¡­ difficult. It was like they operated under a different set of rules. The two poured their hearts out for the rest of the night, reflecting on the cruel twists of fate. Supporting each other, they staggered out the pub and made their way in the general direction of the camp. However they both stopped and held breath, with Verill quickly pushing him into the shadows as a masked man appeared around the corner, dragging what was clearly a half-decomposed corpse into a nearby alleyway. ¡°What was that? Shouldn¡¯t we report it?¡± Exill whispered as they hurriedly swerved their way back to camp. Verill checked the coast was clear, then proceeded at a slower pace. ¡°It costs money to dispose of the dead. That corpse was likely a beggar, and the masked man a nearby shopkeeper or homeowner. It is probable the man didn¡¯t want to pay the graveyard fee, and made it someone else¡¯s problem instead.¡± What the Ranger failed to mention was that the act of transferring the remains to somewhere other than a graveyard was highly illegal, exactly because of situations like these. However the two refugees were not exactly in a situation to report the crime. They were not supposed to be outside the Camp after all. Feeling the pleasant buzz quickly fade away, the two eventually reached the wooden wall of the refugee camp and crawled through the breach in the earthworks. Carefully, silently, they stumbled into their bunks. Chapter 18 Reassignment to Camp B was today. Exill struggled to get up, his tongue felt like dry sandpaper, and the effects of the most atrocious hangover heaved his empty stomach. He dry retched a couple times before looking over at Verill, who wasn¡¯t faring any better. He patted his pockets looking for his coin pouch, blinking blearily as slow panic began to set in. Thankfully he hadn¡¯t lost it, but it was significantly lighter. ¡®I have no regrets.¡¯ Exill closed his emerald eyes. Last night was the last time he could spend freely with Verill. He hadn¡¯t realised it at the time, but both of them needed a pick-me-up, perhaps more so for Verill. The Ranger had simultaneously lost his woman and closest friend, and was leaving to face an uncertain future. Collecting his belongings, he embraced the similarly hungover Verill one last time, savouring the warmth of their friendship. ¡°You take care of yourself.¡± Exill whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m too good-looking to die.¡± Verill joked back. Reluctantly, Exill looked over his shoulders one last time before dragging leaden feet to his new quarters. He felt his brows knit together in a frown as he recognised the stubborn figure pacing in front of his barracks. ¡°Where were you me lad! You worried me sick when you didn¡¯t come to the forge yesterday! You¡¯re late and we have much work to do!¡± The dwarf dragged hungover Exill to the forge while he explained the increased quota and how many arrowheads were expected to be made each day. Exill reluctantly donned his apron and gloves and began hammering away at the heated metal, wincing as the clang of iron threatened to split his skull. The blazing forge was painful for his parched throat, so he frequently took breaks in defiance of the Dwarf¡¯s watchful glare. Come mid-afternoon, a lone trumpet resonated through the air, signifying the end of combat classes for militia recruits. Except, classes had been dismissed several days ago. This sound marked the end of their training. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out.¡± Exill told the Dwarf. ¡°Hmph. Don¡¯t take too long.¡± He waded through the gathered crowds to witness a column of newly minted soldiers filing out of camp. They were equipped with the best gear produced within these very walls and looked resplendent in them. However, the column soon withdrew from view, and he returned to workshop, feeling an empty hole in his heart where his friend used to be. *** Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Exill received a letter from Verill informing him that he had been assigned to the southeastern front near Seaford where he was safe, there was minimal danger as the two sides were deadlocked. Exill wrote a reply bemoaning the worsening rations and the bastard dwarf with his unreasonable quotas. Training boots that had the [EXP Plus] enchantment had also been acquired during this time. They were brass toe-capped leather boots in decent condition, inconspicuous unlike the Blacksmith¡¯s Apron. This allowed him to wear it at all times. They had cost 300 Denars for the pair and though he had initially winced at the cost, it was a bargain deal, considering a newer pair could cost twice that much. The intermediate goal was to acquire more training gear. Compressing the time required to train and improve jobs was a worthwhile investment. Not that he could fully exploit it due to the attention it would garner; he estimated it would take two more months of work at the current rate of 8x EXP before [Expert Blacksmith] could be obtained. Speaking of which, he stopped hammering at the arrowhead for a moment to grab Ham¡¯s attention. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Master¡­ would I be able to earn more if I progressed to [Expert Blacksmith]?¡± Ham stopped counting his coins for a moment, a look of puzzlement crossing his face. It took even the best [Blacksmith] a minimum of two years before they were offered the option to progress, and the Dwarf wondered for a moment if all the training gear the lad had equipped had taken effect. Several other apprentices looked up from their work, amused that the transferred newcomer dared ask such a question. ¡°Did the Will bless yer with the option to progress?¡± ¡°No, nothing like that.¡± Exill replied hastily to which Ham continued to glare at him. ¡°Boy, I hope to the Spirit what ye say is true, because otherwise I would kick yer out myself.¡± Ham spat disgustedly to one side and swept his hand in the direction of the other apprentices who had all stopped their work. ¡°Yer think these lads hadn¡¯t progressed to [Expert Blacksmith] because they couldn¡¯t? Be thinking yer somehow above them, wearing all that training gear?¡± Ham snorted in derision, ¡°Let me give yer one piece of advice. Craftsmen value strong fundamentals. I wasn¡¯t joking when I said yer be a [Blacksmith] under me for the next eight years.¡± He swept his hand in the direction of the inner city. ¡°Ask anyone else, even that damn Markor wouldn¡¯t accept an [Expert Blacksmith] who hasn¡¯t spent six years as a [Blacksmith]. It shows yer lack the fundamentals lad, it would be a disgrace to all the craftsmen who spilt their hot sweat and tears, slowly mastering their craft.¡± He puffed out his cheeks in mockery, ¡°Bah! See if anyone would buy a sword crafted by a lad who barely left his mother¡¯s teat, no matter if the Card states he be a [Master Blacksmith]!¡± The others in the workshop laughed alongside the owner, throwing cold looks at the newcomer who didn¡¯t know his place. Tradition and hierarchy was highly valued in their culture and the fact that Exill had tried to run, before he could even walk didn¡¯t sit exactly well with them. Exill lowered his head in contrition, regretting he ever asked the question. It was bad enough that the other apprentices called him a ¡®coward¡¯ for transferring out of Camp A. It was obvious his innocent query had won him no favours. ¡®It¡¯s alright. The war will not last forever and I need to be prepared to leave this camp when that happens.¡¯ He thought grimly, but a change of plans seemed necessary if blacksmithing wasn¡¯t as viable a job as he first thought. Exill didn¡¯t doubt the Master Smith¡¯s words. Although he had glossed over it at the time, it perfectly matched what Verill had said about Tier II progressions of [Crafter]. There was little point in marketing himself as a prodigy if no one would buy his wares. He had thought his knowledge in mechanical engineering would give him an edge, but working under Ham opened his eyes on just how little he knew about material science, or smithing for that matter. Sure, he was familiar with bronze, iron and steel and the variations of their alloys¡­ but mithril or adamantine? The best way to temper them? Some of the things he had learnt about these materials defied logic, and there was no earthly equivalent. *** The following days were spent revising plans and gathering information in general. The refugees who had visited Ark before, back when the Kingdom was at peace were a valuable source of intel. He had gathered details on the various ongoings of Ark, the cost of registering at the Mercenary Guild, and even the day-to-day cost of staying and eating at an Inn. One of the more interesting facts he had learned was the existence of the Royal Library. Talking with Verill and the others, it had readily become apparent that books were a scarce and treasured resources in this world. That might be why the Library required a 1,000 Denar entry deposit for residents. Ark was an expensive city to live in, many times more what it would cost a villager to live out in the countryside. This was balanced by one crucial detail that still blew his mind to this day. The Labyrinth Tower of Ark! Even from outside the city walls he could see a tiered circular monolith reminiscent of the Tower of Babel, reaching for the heavens. It was said that the Labyrinth itself was a simple mound in the dirt with a dimensional portal that split up adventurers unless they were in a party. There was a complex theory that the Tower acted as a seal to compress and limit further expansion of the dungeon. Exill would need to save up a minimum of 120 Denars to transition into a part-time Mercenary to exploit the Labyrinth. Yet he still needed to purchase more gear! ¡®I managed to secretly craft a spearhead of my own, I can attach it to a stave at any time once I leave this place. I just need some armour to protect my torso and legs.¡¯ He was in the process of bribing a leatherworker in Camp C to craft him a set of protective armour. The individual had estimated it would take a few more weeks to collect the scraps necessary to craft it. 80 Denars had already been set aside for the purchase. It was a fantastic deal for the scrap armour set, considering a full leather set could easily cost ten times that amount! Sighing, he continued pounding at the red-hot incandescent metal against the anvil. He was looking forward to the end of the war. He was tired of gruel and oatmeal, but more importantly, prayed Verill would return safe and sound. Chapter 19 - Armistice
Excerpt from ¡®A Treatise on Modern Divination¡¯ ¡®¡­ another example of the crucial role that Diviners and Oracles play in modern geopolitics was the third war between the Kingdom of Fayth and the Afrye Tribal Federation. Many overlook this conflict because of its short nature and negligible shift in borders. What many don¡¯t understand was that behind the scenes, powerful actors, both at home and abroad were desperately suing for peace. Powerful Oracles, and many of their lesser professions1 felt a severe disturbance in the World¡¯s Will shortly after engagement of hostilities. This in itself was not unusual, but what set it apart was a progressive scaling of tremors that could be sensed heading directly to Ark, home of the world¡¯s most extensive labyrinth. Faced with this growing evidence and uncertainty of the threat, the international community forced the warring nations into a hasty armistice.¡¯ 1 e.g. Diviners such as Madame Tussay,
Six months into the war, rumours abounded that peace was just around the corner. The southern port city of Osvig had been recaptured by the Kingdom of Fayth. The war had been reduced to two fronts and there was talk of a ceasefire in place. Rumours abounded that the Kingdom would cede the small port town of Seaford in the southeast in exchange for an armistice. ¡®This was big if true!¡¯ The only person that looked glum was Ham. He had spent his life savings and obtained outside financing to set up and equip the camp workshop. It was a good investment at the time, after all, financiers had predicted the war would rage on for many years. Ham¡¯s heart ached at the thought of the war ending so soon, he had only recently begun to break even. His lucrative contracts! Exill ignored the sulking dwarf and continued hammering at the iron ingot. ¡®I have my scrap leather armour and saved up 200 Denars. I am ready to leave anytime!¡¯ He was similarly pleased with the progress of his jobs. ¡®I¡¯m now an [Expert Blacksmith]!¡¯
Job Expert Blacksmith
Level 1
Description Production - Tier II
Active Skill [Enchantment 1-slot] the equipment you craft can now hold a single enchantment
Last night, he had hit lvl 20 in [Blacksmith] and obtained a minor strength bonus, accompanied by the following message:
Would you like to upgrade Blacksmith?
[Yes] [No]
He had hit [Yes]¡¯ to find that his primary job had been upgraded to [Expert Blacksmith]. Curious, he had examined his job list to find its¡¯ precursor, [Blacksmith lvl 20] was still there, passively providing perk benefits, and available to be assigned. Theoretically, he could now craft items that could hold a single enchantment. Exill had quizzed Ham and many others in the camp, but nobody could definitively explain how an enchantment was placed. Ham had waved away his ignorance mumbling something about ¡®soul shards¡¯ and ¡®soul stones.¡¯ This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Progress had been made on other fronts as well. [Peddler] had been successfully upgraded to the Tier 2 [Vendor] as he ¡®sold¡¯ arrowheads to Ham each night. This new job allowed him to fetch the price range of items intuitively.
Job Vendor
Level 1
Description Production - Tier II
Active Skill [Price-Range] determine the lowest and maximum price of a given item within a certain range (range increases with level)
Actually¡­ that last point gave him considerable mental damage. The [Price-Range] skill was telling him that an unfletched arrowhead was worth around 0.8-1.2 Denar in the current war economy. He was being paid a miniscule fraction for his labour even if you subtracted the cost of ingredients! Exill swallowed his frustration. He hated being taken advantage of, especially when that money was hard earned. Now all that was soon to be left behind. If the rumours were to believed, he would escape Ham¡¯s exploitative grasp and be free to leave the refugee camp soon. Having annealed the iron spearhead he had been working on, Exill reached for his rough grinding file, only to find it slip away from his grasp. He crouched down to pick it up, only for it to skid away on the floor as if greased. It was at that moment that he became aware of the disdainful snickers across the workshop. Several apprentices glanced over their shoulders with barely concealed grins, holding their breath to see what he would do next with the lubricated file. It had begun with harmless pranks, a little hazing here and there. However, as rumours spread that he bribed his way to a transfer ¨C all the other apprentices had banded together to ostracize him. It hurt to be shunned, but in a corner of his mind, he wondered if he somehow didn¡¯t deserve it ¨C every time he remembered the pained look that had crossed Verill¡¯s face. There was just one thing left to do. He swiftly wiped down the file with a rag and took a break to summon his Card. Unassigning [Blacksmith] he put [Planeswalker] in its place. What he was about to do next required the skill [Rule Break] and to tap the empty space beneath the two job slots on his Card. This was the only new feature he had discovered after hours of mindlessly swiping and tapping at the interface in his free time.
Increase available job slots?
[Yes - Rejection +2] [No]
Exill frowned as he looked at his Card. He was facing a dilemma he had no clear answers to. The last time Rejection had been increased; he had suffered no consequences. What this ¡®tribulation¡¯ meant; he had no idea. If the best the World could do was an ominous rumble of thunder, wouldn¡¯t it be alright to raise it just a little? ¡®If it reaches a hundred would I be ejected from this world? Would I just die?¡¯ Exill was on the cusp of raising multiple jobs simultaneously and his plan required more active job slots. He was semi-determined to add five additional slots for a total 20/100 rejection. ¡®Surely, it would be alright if I keep it under 25%?¡¯ Yet he couldn¡¯t bring himself to commit to his decision. The problem lay with the personality that served him so well as an engineer in the previous world, and it boiled down to cautious cowardice. Decisions would be postponed until unknown parameters were better defined, an admirable trait for someone of his profession. However, the depths he was treading were uncharted, and he had sinking feeling they would remain that way until he stepped forward, risking life and limb. Perhaps it was Verill¡¯s calming encouragement, or the horrors he had encountered in this world. Exill was unhappy with who he was and who he used to be. In some respects, this second chance at life presented a new leaf, an opportunity to reinvent himself. Firming his resolve, he tapped the Card five times in quick succession before he could change his mind.
[The World has noticed your transgression. Rejection: 20/100]
Goosebumps rippled across his flesh as he felt an impending sense of doom. Then the vault of heaven tore itself open to unleash a mighty fury on the lone transgressor. Chapter 20 The world was enveloped in white as divine lightning struck the workshop. The blaze of retribution was aimed at Exill¡¯s head; however it was diverted at the last moment through the anvil as it grounded itself. The accompanying shockwave threw him off his feet against the stacked tool shelf, crumpling it beyond repair. He came to a moment later and was greeted by the smell of ozone mixed with blistering smoke. Staggering to his feet, he saw a small fire had spread around the anvil and a barrel of arrow shafts had been set ablaze. Dazed and confused, Exill limped out of the smoking workshop and was quickly followed by Ham and a few other apprentices. A crowd had formed outside as people gawked in fear at the spreading fire. ¡°Someone fetch water!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ham¡¯s workshop?¡± ¡°I swear I felt it on me mother¡¯s grave! The divine anger! It was the World Spirit!¡± The crowd¡¯s volume rose at the mention of the Spirit, and many tapped above their hearts twice to fend off bad luck. ¡°That greedy dwarf had it coming! No doubt the Spirit be angry how he exploited them people.¡± A red-faced craftsman exclaimed. Many nodded in agreement. Everyone had been swindled by Ham at one point or another during the past six months. They saw this as a comeuppance, a punishment imparted by the Will of the World. Coincidentally, many renewed their resolve to lead a more honest life. Ham had collapsed on his knees, tendrils of acrid smoke still drifting from his singed beard. Blood trickled down his ears and he could only hear the muffled jabs of those around him. The Dwarf¡¯s glistening eyes reflected the fire that now consumed his life¡¯s work. There was no way he could ever recover from this. Exill stood behind the Master Smith, similarly captivated by the blazing glory surrounding the workshop, but for different reasons. He felt guilt, anxiety, and a growing dread. ¡°It was you!¡± A haggard woman shoved her way through the crowd and clawed at his vest, the whites of her eyes clearly visible. ¡°You brought divine retribution! You are the outcast! Burn for your sins, Heretic!¡± The crowd around them were captivated by the brilliant blaze, but a few turned to glance at the commotion behind them. Their gazes turned dark as the words of the frantic woman registered in their minds, and their eyes flitted from the old woman, to Exill, to Ham. There was a reason arsonists remained at the scene of their crime, and Exill belatedly realised that he needed to flee, somewhere far away. He pushed past the haggard woman and slipped between the buildings. ¡®Is invoking tribulation heresy? How did she know it was me?¡¯ Exill¡¯s heart threatened to burst as he stopped to catch breath, still winded from inhaling smoke. There was one more reason to be afraid now. Initially his only concern was that Ham would enslave him for burning down the workshop. The Dwarf often joked to apprentices that any mistakes would be paid off with labour, and failing that, they would be sold off to slavery. But this was the first time he had heard the topic of heresy, or for that matter, people who could sense he was the object of tribulation. It was one more reason not to ever increase his Rejection ever again, and he solemnly made a vow to that effect. The only redeeming factor was that woman looked a little crazy, and he had never spotted her around Camp B before, meaning she was likely from Camp C where they prepared meals and preserved rations. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Having caught his breath, he fearfully fled to the safety of his quarters, and curled up in bed. Every second of every moment was spent in terror, dreading the appearance of guards to drag him off. After a few hours had passed there was a trumpet peal, signalling general announcement and roll call. With trepidation, he dragged his feet to the Mess hall where other displaced workers were gathered. They were milling around gossiping, now that they no longer had any work. The Smithy that had burned down earlier today was a critical part of the supply chain feeding a network of smaller workshops in Camp B. No arrowheads meant no more fletching. No spearheads meant there was nothing to attach to the end of staves. ¡°Did that Dwarf¡¯s Smithy really burn down?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was a freak lightning strike, but many are saying it was punishment for swindling so many people.¡± Exill was somewhat relieved to hear some of the gossip in the room. The consensus appeared to be that it wasn¡¯t arson, but a freak incident. Clerks and camp coordinators could be seen milling around in panic as they wondered how they would reach quotas now. A tired looking official entered the mess and motioned people to quieten down. ¡°Attention please! Most of you are aware of the accident that occurred at Ham¡¯s smithy today. You will return to your barracks and assemble here midday tomorrow for your next assignments.¡± Exill finished the watery gruel in his bowl and stood up. He was lost in thought as he joined the queue to exit the building, only now coming to terms over what had happened. ¡®I nearly died today¡­ I nearly died twice. If the crowd hadn¡¯t been convinced that Ham was the subject of punishment¡­ I would have been lynched.¡¯ Emerging out the mess hall into the late afternoon sky, he felt a fraction of his earlier tension melt away. The guilt remained, yet the fear of persecution had been allayed by what many had described as nature¡¯s justice. ¡®What now?¡¯ he sighed while looking around at the groups of workers milling about. The small courtyard outside the Mess hall was filled with many familiar faces, but none he could call a friend. Everyone who matched that description had been deployed from Camp A three months ago. In fact, it was an open secret that he had been reassigned from the militia training camp at the behest of Ham. Although they didn¡¯t openly ridicule him, he had heard many mocking whispers of his cowardice while eating alone. Rubbing the dry flakes of blood from his ears, he wandered morosely to the Healer¡¯s light blue tent occupying a corner of the massive refugee complex. The ringing in his ears had subsided somewhat, but his experience in workplace safety engrained in him the dangers of permanent hearing damage. It cost 40 Denars, approximately five days of wages to heal his ears. The blue robed Healer had tapped the side of his head to mend the damaged eardrums in an instant. Clarity had been restored and the ringing subsided. She had made it look too effortless and Exill found himself a little envious at the ease with which she earned money. Out of curiosity, he summoned the Card to check his Vitality stat. The stat held no numerical value and was simply denoted by a red bar that had temporarily decreased by a miniscule amount. ¡®So this is what is meant by consuming vitality to heal someone¡¯ he thought, gaining a clearer understanding of [Heal¡¯s] limitation while he made his way to the barracks. *** The next day, all the apprentice blacksmiths were assembled in the courtyard in front of the Mess hall, totalling nine people. The Camp official raised his voice to address those gathered before him. ¡°You all know what happened yesterday¡­ but the work must continue. You will be assigned new placements at smithies around Ark.¡± The official pointed to the two oldest apprentices, ¡°Based on seniority, you two will be assigned placements in the Inner City, with temporary resident permits and sleeping quarters.¡± The other seven apprentices, Exill included, looked at their seniors with intense jealousy. ¡°The rest of you lot will be placed in the outskirts. You will be given a permit to exit the camp in the morning, but you must return here before nightfall.¡± The Official then worked down the line of apprentices, assigning them new masters and confirming they had memorized the address of the smithy. ¡°Exill of Lindtree, step forward.¡± The Official called out, and nodded as he saw a mousey haired adolescent with intelligent green eyes move forward. ¡°You will be working with Master Ham. Outskirts, Eastern Marketplace, look for an Anvil sign.¡± Exill looked at the official, his mouth open in disbelief. The other apprentices glanced at him, both pity and relief evident on their faces. ¡°Outskirts, Eastern Marketplace, look for an Anvil sign.¡± the Official repeated the address again to confirm Exill understood. Chapter 21 Exill groaned and slid out of his bunk the next morning. If the World had a Will, it surely took perverse pleasure in punishing him so. He really wasn¡¯t looking forward to meeting the dwarf. Ham had swindled him on multiple occasions, but the dwarf probably saved his life by transferring Exill to Camp B. ¡®His motives may not be pure, but he has always been looking out for me.¡¯ Exill felt a mixture of shame and guilt as he exited the camp. He didn¡¯t know how he would be able to look Ham in the eye and pretend he knew nothing of what caused the fire. He hugged the Inner-City wall until the East Gate came into view. This was his first time out and about during the day and even the side streets were crowded as people went about their day. Exill followed the throng of people as he was pushed and shouted at, the smell of stale sweat and cooked food overwhelming his senses. It was with great relief that he reached the market square and caught his breath at the fountain. Standing up on the stone rim of the water feature, he gained a better grasp his bearings and spotted an anvil sign adorning a small shop front painted in green in the distance. He worked his way through the crowd, tightly gripping his coin purse to avoid cutpurses. He stumbled into the store with a sigh of relief, his earlier trepidation of facing Ham all but forgotten. ¡°Exill me boy! You¡¯re late and them arrows won¡¯t make ¡®emselves.¡± The dwarf greeted Exill with his customary stinginess, but he could tell Ham¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t in it. The Master Blacksmith was still recovering from the massive loss of his investment. ¡°Now, I know we formerly agreed you would be paid one Denar for every three arrowheads¡­ but with the end of the war looming and what not, the best I can do is five arrowheads per Denar.¡± The greedy dwarf held up five fingers to emphasize this point, his eyes pleading. Exill glanced at an unfinished arrowhead on the workbench and activated his [Price Range] skill. It showed 0.8~1.2 Denars a piece. Suddenly he didn¡¯t feel so guilty burning down that workshop! Exill smothered his flaring anger and wove his next words carefully, ¡°I can appreciate your situation Master Ham and my condolences for your loss. I overheard from the other apprentices this morning that they will get paid a Denar for every two arrowheads¡­¡± The dwarf sputtered as his blood pressure spiked, ¡°Who told you that! Those blasted liars don¡¯t know a thing! Pfft, ¡®half a Denar¡¯ my hairy ass, I might as well pay me customers to take ¡®em off my cold dead hands!¡± ¡°If you say so Master, I¡¯m just glad to be here. You know the camp official tried to assign me to the smithy in the southern market? I told him no, I owe Master Ham everything and would only work for him!¡± Exill continued to lie through his teeth after a brief pause to swallow his rising nervousness, ¡°He said I could change my mind at any time, but I would rather die than let my Master down. I will make sure to thoroughly chasten the other apprentices for lying to me about the amount they earn.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Ham racked his brains as sweat rolled down the back of his neck. He was sure he had bribed the official to get Exill assigned to him! The lad was a gullible gold mine. The only thing that made him hesitate was he knew 0.5 Denar per head was on the low end of the pay scale. He knew some that paid up to 0.7 due to the shortage of workers! ¡°Erhem! You chose well apprentice, Blacksmith Markor is a sleazy scumbag, and you would have suffered at his smithy for sure¡­ I would make a bit of a loss but perhaps I can pay you, my most loyal apprentice half a Denar per arrowhead.¡± Exill bowed to Ham in fake gratitude, and some of his earlier guilt was slightly assuaged. *** The following days were hectic as Ham sought to squeeze every inch of production capacity from his singular workforce - Exill. It was an intense period of iron, sweat and fire as the young apprentice earned eleven Denars a day, not including the cost of lunch. ¡®Does this world not have meal allowances for workers?¡¯ The stingy dwarf charged him a Denar for half a bowl of vegetable soup each day. The only redeeming factor being that Ham was a surprisingly good cook, and that it was preferable to the weak gruel they would be served at camp each day. ¡°Exill me boy¡­ do the other apprentices ever mention me?¡± Ham asked one mid-afternoon, staring morosely at his flat tankard of ale. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Exill asked, as he waited for the spearhead to heat up again in the forge. ¡°No reason¡­ just thinkin¡¯ is all.¡± He played with his beard for a while before continuing, ¡°you don¡¯t know how good yer have it until it¡¯s long gone. Why are dreams so easily crushed?¡± the dwarf lamented. Exill awkwardly hammered away at spearhead as it slowly took shape, unable, and in some ways unwilling to respond to the dwarf¡¯s philosophy. ¡°Which spearhead are you on boy?¡± he asked, watching the sparks collide with dull eyes. ¡°This will be my fourth for the day.¡± ¡°That should do it then, go home when yer finished¡­ the quota¡¯s been halved.¡± Ham raised a hand of farewell, before climbing up the stairs to his living quarters. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Exill thought angrily as he quenched the spearhead in hissing oil. He returned it to the forge afterwards to temper the piece, reducing some of its brittleness, ¡®Halving my quota means halving my income.¡¯ Wrapping up for the day, Exill poked his head upstairs to bid farewell, only to hear Ham snoring from his room. The young man stepped out into the busy market square. ¡®What do I do now?¡¯ Exill was at a loss. For the first time in six months, he had free time to himself. The streets were visibly less congested and Exill took his time to familiarize with the bustling metropolis, carefully avoiding the uninviting side streets that were narrow, dark, and unpaved. There were stalls at every corner, selling food, common household goods, and even some pets. That last one caught his eye. Crouching down, he examined a blue iridescent larvae trapped in a glass jar. ¡°You have good eye my friend, that is dream moth. Pray everyday and release on twin moon ¨C bam ¨C dream come true! Only 49 Denars.¡± The stall vendor avidly said. Exill tried [Price-Range] and [Appraise] on the larvae to check how much the vendor was ripping him off, but was surprised to find the skill yielding no results. ¡®Does it not work on living beings?¡¯ he wondered, shaking his head softly at the Vendor¡¯s offer before turning away. Reluctantly, Exill returned to Camp B, finding most of the grounds deserted. A woman hurried past him towards the mess hall, and he followed suit, curious what this was all about. When he arrived, it was packed with softly whispering refugees. The sheer number of people gathered here raised the ambient temperature by several degrees. Shortly, a camp official stood up on a crate to address the crowd. ¡°As some of you may be aware, the Kingdom of Fayth signed an armistice agreement with the Tribal Federation this morning-¡± The Administrator continued on, detailing a revised schedule but Exill was no longer listening. The war was over. Chapter 22 - Inner City It had been a week since the general announcement went out declaring the end of the war. Exill waited in line as people excitedly discussed their next plans on what to do and where to go. He had been itching to leave the camp since the news spread, and it was only now that they were being released. For the past week he had been holed up in camp, not even let out to work as Ham refused to employ him, citing the loss of contracts. The situation was similar for other apprentices as the market for mass manufactured weapons collapsed. The question of where to go from here had been plaguing his mind even before Ham dismissed him. Blacksmithing and the stingy dwarf had been a marriage of convenience to unassign him from the meatgrinder that was the frontlines, and it was difficult to see where he could take things from here. First of all, you had to be an Expert Blacksmith or above, capable of crafting enchantable items to even think of earning a living wage. Exill was an Expert Blacksmith but who would believe or even commission an item from a 17 year old when it took the average apprentice seven years to progress to that point? What had become clear during his apprenticeship to Ham was that the culture of craftsmanship valued strong fundamental growth. Even if [Master Blacksmith] was somehow obtained, he would be laughed out by others as they would perceive he quickly skipped over the lower tier jobs, and lack a strong foundation. Secondly, as mentioned before, the market for weapons had collapsed with the end of the war. It not only affected the mass produced kind, but the custom-made expensive blades as well. No one was hiring apprentices and the majority of trainees in the workshop expressed concerns that they might return to their village to find work. The queue shuffled forward, bringing him closer to the exit and long-awaited freedom, nervously, he double checked his belongings. ¡®I have my money pouch with 180 Denars, a stave, and my three equipment enchanted with [EXP Plus] for a stacked x8 multiplier boost. I just need to grab the scrap leather armour and spearhead from the stash.¡¯ The canvas pack slung over his shoulder was half empty and held Verill¡¯s letters and various miscellany including a poultice pot and portions of dried herbs. Exill had snuck out the night before to put away the armour and spearhead in a hidden stash. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure if they would search his belongings when he was discharged but didn¡¯t want to take the chance of answering difficult questions. He was glad to have taken the precaution because a guard gave a cursory inspection of his pack and released him. ¡®Freedom!¡¯ Unable to contain his joy like the many refugees before him, he grinned as he skipped to the main street, before backtracking to a side alleyway where he had hidden his items under a grate. He shoved them into the now bulging pack and walked confidently up to the South Gate, guarding the way to the Inner City. ¡°60 Denars for non-residents. If you intend to stay longer than seven days, you must request a resident permit at the Magistrate¡¯s.¡± The guard accepted the payment, glancing at his Card before motioning him to move on. He was in the Inner City! Exill couldn¡¯t stop grinning as he walked with purpose up the well-maintained road. He had a clear view of the Labyrinth Tower, the one he had likened to the ¡®Tower of Babel¡¯. ¡®I need to keep my eyes peeled for the Mercenary Guild. I heard it¡¯s on the way to the Labyrinth and the banner should show two crossed swords.¡¯ Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Exill soon spotted the unassuming building up ahead. It was two storeys tall with a light sandstone fa?ade. The double doors were open, and people could be seen milling about as they checked noticeboards, arguing with their comrades on which request to pick up. He furtively entered and joined a queue that led to a busy looking clerk. ¡°See this? This be an owlbear feather, nearly took me head clean off! Anton here, remarkable shot, blew the bloody buggers¡¯ brains out.¡± As the line moved forward he continued to hear various tales of bravado as a few groups engaged in friendly one upmanship. ¡°Hi, I would like to post a bounty for thirty grass hounds, five Denars a head, Riverville. Damn dogs have been devastating the livestock!¡± The red-faced man in front of Exill slammed a pouch full of money on the desk as he made his request. ¡°That would be fine sir, please sign here. The notice will go up tomorrow morning and the fee is thirty Denars, fifty if you would like to turn it into a same day posting.¡± ¡°Hmph, thirty Dees would do.¡± ¡°Thank you for choosing the Mercenaries Guild, and I hope you have a safe trip home.¡± As the man in front huffed away, Exill nervously approached the counter. The clerk was sorting the silver and copper coins with long fingers that spoke of practiced ease. ¡°Hi, how can I help you?¡± the clerk asked in a professional tone. ¡°Um, I would like to register for membership.¡± The clerk expressed an apologetic smile, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry sir, we only process bounties and requests in the morning, please come back in the afternoon and my colleague Iris would be pleased to process your membership.¡± Exill thanked the clerk and awkwardly looked around a few noticeboards before entering the busy streets. This was an unexpected setback, and he had a few hours to burn. He had been planning to register and head directly to the Labyrinth. He shrugged, ¡®I guess I¡¯ll find some place to stay.¡¯ *** Exill exited the Inn with a frustrated look on his face. He had tried three places, but they were charging outrageous rates, easily triple what they charged in the outer city! Who would pay ten Denars for a shared room? He huffed angrily down the street until he saw a young boy who couldn¡¯t be older than nine begging from an alleyway. Struck with inspiration, he walked up to the boy, dropping a Denar into the beggar¡¯s bowl. ¡°Hi, can you tell me where the cheapest inn is?¡± Nodding vigorously, the boy raised his bowl further. Exill let out a sigh, but dropped another Denar into the bowl. The boy tentatively grabbed his hand and led him through a labyrinth of side alleyways. Exill tried to maintain his sense of direction by keeping an eye on the looming Labyrinth Tower from time to time. They eventually arrived at a rundown establishment. The whitewashed walls were peeling in places and the windows were caked with dirt. A lazy tendril of smoke rose from the pipe of the Innkeeper as he stood leaning by the entryway, eyes focused on something only he could see. The skinny man noticed Exill and nodded at the urchin, throwing him a piece of bread from an apron pocket. The kid quickly retreated and disappeared. ¡°How much did he charge for directions?¡± he asked through a lungful of smoke. Exill held up two fingers. ¡°Hmph. Sneaky brat. It¡¯s four Denars if you don¡¯t mind sleeping on the floor once we close the bar. seven Dees for a shared room, and twelve for a small one. Three extra per meal. All upfront.¡± It was nearly twice the cost of the outer city, but it was cheaper to pay the premium rates than pay the gate entry fee each time. Unfortunately, his [Price Range] skill was limited to goods and couldn¡¯t show prices for services, meaning he couldn¡¯t check if this was the cheapest place even if he wanted to. ¡°Shared room for four nights please, 28 Denars¡± Exill counted out two large copper coins and eight smaller pieces. The innkeeper nonchalantly pocketed the coins before returning a well-worn key. ¡°Your roommate is a merc. He snores when drunk¡± he said with a straight face. Blinking in confusion, Exill looked down at the wrought iron key in his palm. ¡®Isn¡¯t this something you should tell someone before they purchase the room?¡¯ He was immediately tempted to upgrade to a single room, but his coin pouch reminded him otherwise. ¡®Damn this guy is a good salesman!¡¯ He had nearly fallen for the upsell tactic. The innkeeper merely shrugged as if he could read Exill¡¯s mind, and returned to his pipe with a faraway look in his eyes. Chapter 23 Exill carefully navigated the claustrophobic warrens of the back streets, taking care to memorize the twists and turns while glancing at the Labyrinth Tower to maintain bearings. It would soon be midday, meaning it had only been a few hours since he entered the Inner City. Having said that, his wallet was much lighter, only 90 Denars were left. Returning to the Mercenary Guild, he found the same polite male clerk tirelessly processing a long queue of requests. A few minutes later, a woman with shoulder length black hair and kind grey eyes came out of the back office. She exuded a soft aura unique to older sisters of the gentle persuasion. Exill walked up to her before a queue could form and asked, ¡°Are you Iris? I would like to register for the guild please.¡± ¡°Certainly, can I see your Card?¡± even her voice had a soothing effect. Exill summoned his Card, having unassigned all his jobs except [Warrior] and [Blacksmith]. The woman quickly jotted down his name, age, and professions. ¡°This will do just fine; can I take your address?¡± she asked brightly. ¡°Ah¡­¡± he mumbled, realising too late that he didn¡¯t even know the name of the inn. ¡°Can I get back to you on that tomorrow?¡± ¡°You really have to come back and tell me okay? You don¡¯t want your big sis getting in trouble.¡± She teased him gently while filing away the clay tablet holding his records. Nodding assuredly, he wondered how old she was. ¡°Everything looks fine! That will be 80 Denars¡± she said. Exill visibly recoiled at the figure, having expected something closer to 30 Denars. As if understanding his discomfort, she continued with a kind smile while sliding a small, illustrated booklet to him. ¡°The 80 Denars is for the registration, but it mainly covers the cost of this field guide we issue to all members. It contains a list of monsters commonly encountered in Ark¡¯s Labyrinth and tips on how to handle them. This field guide is mandatory for all new members after it was found to drastically increase their survival rate.¡± She placed the book warmly in his hands, ¡°You will also need to show this at the entrance to enter the Labyrinth.¡± Grasping the fact that he had no choice in the matter, Exill nodded solemnly before emptying out the contents of his pouch, holding back a single large copper coin - his last ten Denars. Iris collected the coins and shot him a bright smile. ¡°Welcome to the Guild! As I mentioned before, membership grants you access to the Labyrinth. We charge you an annual membership fee of thirty Denars, but that is only a token amount. Most of our operational expenses come from the cut of proceeds of the monster parts you bring in¡­¡± Turning to a random page on the field guide, Iris pointed to the section detailing the harvestable components and their guide price. ¡°Which means, you are obligated to sell all parts to us. It is alright to set aside some for personal use, but you are not allowed to sell directly to market, that is against the law.¡± Her kind face turned serious for a moment to emphasize the next point, ¡°There are some monster parts we are not permitted to buy, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can sell those to the market either, okay?¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡®I wonder what parts they are not allowed to purchase?¡¯ Exill quietly wondered, but quickly nodded to her words. ¡°If you don¡¯t feel like delving into the Labyrinth, you can always pick up one of the requests on the noticeboard. I¡¯m usually here from midday to late evening. Try not to venture in alone, or take too many risks. Hope to see you again soon!¡± Exill returned her smile and walked over to a corner to sit down on a bench. Things had not turned out as he had expected. An old mercenary at the refugee camp had assured him that it shouldn¡¯t cost more than 30 Denars to sign up as a member. It had cost more than twice that amount! However it wasn¡¯t all bad news. He interestedly flicked through the short guide, familiarizing himself with the monsters of the lower strata. The guide had handy hints, describing which parts of the monsters were valuable and how to harvest them. Satisfied that he had everything necessary for the next step of the plan, he strolled out into the busy streets, following the general direction of the looming Tower. Soon, he emerged into a small square that surrounded Ark¡¯s most famous monument. Mighty buttresses jutted out to support the landmark Tower, providing shade to the mercenaries standing in line as the sun shifted towards the north. Exill joined the queue, steadily walking past the row of stalls catering to waiting mercenaries. He stood in line impatiently, the handbook clenched ready in one hand, a large copper coin in the other. Not just the old mercenary, but many other refugees who had visited Ark before the war had said it cost five Denars to enter the Labyrinth. This was the last money he had, and his mind was unwillingly fixated on the two Denars he had (so carelessly!) given away to the beggar earlier that day. ¡°Oi, they still waiving the entry fee?¡± a merc questioned behind him. ¡°Yeah, you know how it is. War may be over, but with every combat capable fighter still out in the fronts, King¡¯s gotta incentivize us to suppress it somehow.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ I guess our milk run is gonna be over once they return to Ark.¡± Perking up from the eavesdropped the conversation behind him, he returned the large copper coin to his pouch and salivated over all the delicious food that wasn¡¯t gruel that could now be afforded for dinner and breakfast. Once he reached the front of the queue, he raised his handbook and was quickly waved through the riveted double doors into the Tower¡¯s interior. The first thing he noticed was how cool and quiet it was. Next was how everything, including the sounds and lights were suddenly muted. It felt strange to speak above anything but hushed whispers, and it was obvious the other mercs felt the same, conferring quietly with their party members while making last minute checks on their gear. He was surprised to find the monumental tower was hollow, the upper stories supported by massive pillars interspersed throughout the ground floor. Light seeped in through cracks up above, and faint runes could be seen glowing around the room, yet strangely not casting any shadows. In the centre lay the Labyrinth proper. Compared to the sheer scale and ostentation of the Tower, it would have been impolite, yet accurate to describe it as an unassuming pile of dirt, barely the size of a burial mound. Exill was disappointed as he walked up to a small stone archway embedded into its side. It was large enough to only let one person through at a time, and the door, or portal was a shimmering black surface seeming to absorb all light. Exill tapped the surface with a finger, and it felt like it wasn¡¯t there. Glancing over his shoulder he could see a small queue had formed behind him as mercenaries impatiently waited for the newbie to pop his dungeon cherry. Scolded by their silent amusement, Exill held his breath and pushed forward into the inky darkness. Chapter 24 The cave Exill found himself in was dimly lit, the air humid and cloying. He couldn¡¯t identify any source of light, yet could see clearly, as if the walls themselves emitted a dim, uniform glow. Nervously, he checked the straps securing his scrap leather armour for the fifth time. ¡®Alright, the plan is to explore for a few hours at most and catch at least one monster.¡¯ Anyone who had remotely known him during the past six months would have been astounded by the sight of the Exill, well equipped, in one of the world¡¯s largest labyrinths. It was an open secret that he had been reassigned from Camp A to B to avoid deployment, despite being one of their most promising new recruits. Why would someone like that enter this dangerous place of their own volition? The first reason was that Exill now had seven active job slots, and the following had been assigned to them:
Job Level
Warrior 9
Hunter 1
Herbalist 3
Crafter 5
Blacksmith 20
Expert Blacksmith 2
Planeswalker 1
He was 90% certain that killing monsters provided EXP to all assigned jobs, this meant he could power level multiple jobs at an unprecedented rate. The second reason was that this was the only known way to gain EXP for jobs such as [Planeswalker]. The final reason was money. He had heard stories in camp that even novice mercenaries could pull in ten to twenty Denars a day, and that was factoring in the entrance cost of five Denars which was currently being waived! Even Exill was willing to set aside his cowardice¡­ for a price. He just had to be careful, alert, and take things gradually. Inching his way across the rocky cavern floor, he nervously reacted to the sound of loose rubble and echoing water. There was a foreboding crack in the opposite wall, wide and tall enough to let a person through. He approached it, and made his way through a narrow tunnel to be greeted by a steady buzzing noise. Stepping back to confirm his suspicions, he quickly flipped through the Mercenary Field Guide while keeping an eye at the end of the corridor. ¡®It sounds like there are flying monsters up ahead, and according to the Guide they could be acid bees, blaze flies, or mud flies.¡¯ He peeked around the corner to see four bloated flies the size of a basketball. They were covered in hairy black chitin and had large bulbous eyes. ¡®They must be mud flies¡­¡¯ he thought with disdain. Exill retreated back and sighed. He was glad they weren¡¯t acid bees or blaze flies. It would have been difficult to counter their acidic sting or flame magic, and he would have likely exited the labyrinth immediately. As it was, the mud fly¡¯s most dangerous characteristic was their needle like proboscis and greater numbers. Exill was reasonably certain he could hold them off in this narrow tunnel as long as he didn¡¯t let a single one slip behind him. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. His breathing turned heavy as he confirmed in the Field Guide that mud fly wings were commonly used in health potions, and their innards could be used as compost to grow rarer ingredients. All in all, he was looking at twenty Denars in profit! ¡®Am I chewing more than I can handle, right from the get-go? Didn¡¯t I promise I would take things slow?¡¯ Exill hesitated for a while, before the thought of two large copper coins slowly won him over. Greed truly was poison to man¡¯s soul. Before he could change his mind again, Exill got up on his feet and stood in the middle of the corridor, spear at the ready. He started making noises, steadily growing louder in the hopes of luring a curious fly on its lonesome. He could hear the buzzing growing louder, and a single fly turned the corner and started accelerating towards him. The iron tipped spear was held steady. He had learnt a valuable lesson from the combat assessment back in Camp A. It was better to wear down the opponents instead of going for the kill, not taking unnecessary risks. The fly angrily buzzed up and down in front of Exill, its full range of movement limited by the narrow tunnel. He just held his spear steady, always pointed at the centre of mass despite the fly¡¯s jerky movements. Eventually the fly accelerated, sharp proboscis extended, only to find itself swiftly impaled by its own momentum. ¡®That was the easiest five Denars I have ever made.¡¯ He thought gleefully. The fly was dragged behind him, careful not to tear the wings and the earlier strategy to lure them was repeated. This time all three flies rounded the corner. ¡®You can do this, just hold to centre mass, and let them impale themselves.¡¯ The first fly impaled itself mindlessly against Exill¡¯s spear. He immediately pushed back to free the tip of the spear and the disembowelled fly was flung backwards into the remaining two. The two flies dodged their weakly flailing companion, seemingly more cautious, displaying a disconcerting level of insect intelligence. The flies could only approach one at a time, making jerky movements up and down to fly around the tip of the deadly spear. Suddenly, one of them flew forward, impaling themselves. Before Exill could free the tip, the remaining fly buzzed angrily below its'' dying sibling and lunged at the surprised spearman. The needle like proboscis pierced easily through the scrap leather armour and into his thigh, followed by six hooked legs grasping his legs for support. The proboscis started throbbing as it immediately started draining his blood. Exill yelped in pain and brought the haft of his spear heavily onto the feeding fly, killing it instantly. The proboscis had snapped but red blood continued to pump out of its narrow aperture. Falling on his rear, he backed himself up against the cool tunnel wall. The leg plates were unstrapped with trembling hands, slippery with blood, and with a moment¡¯s hesitation, he yanked the shattered needle in one fluid movement. Propelled by the urgency of his bleeding leg, he tried to untie the twine around a tightly bound leaf, before giving up and impatiently biting through it, spilling some of the coagulating powder in the process. With shaking hands, he spilled the contents of the leaf on his thigh and wrapped it tight with linen to apply pressure. Only then did he allow himself to relax, and his breathing slowly returned to normal. ¡®It¡¯s only been thirty minutes since I entered the labyrinth and look how greed nearly killed me.¡¯ He thought wearily. Exill rested for ten more minutes then staggered up, careful not to put weight on his wounded leg. He limped over to each of the downed flies and snapped their wings off at the base, and gingerly put them into his ruck sack. The last fly had been reduced to a pulp when Exill struck it with the back of his spear, and it was a lost cause. He instead gathered what remained of the other three and tied them together using twine, before slinging both the ruck sack and bundle of chitin over his shoulder. His free hand leaned heavily on the spear as Exill successfully exited the labyrinth one hour after his intrepid entry. Mercs nodded at the pale faced youth as he crossed the hallowed grounds, the internals of the Tower looming overhead. This in itself was not an uncommon sight and no one lent a hand as they passed, respecting the determined look on the lad¡¯s face. As Exill reached the outside to the afternoon sun, he was quickly surrounded by street urchins. ¡°You look hurt big bro!¡± ¡°Woah, did you hunt ¡®em yourself?¡± ¡°We can carry you to Old Savta for five Denars, she¡¯s the best healer in Ark!¡± He shooed the kids away. Fat chance he would spend precious Denars on overpriced healers ever again! He gathered his breath and moved forward, one step at a time. Chapter 25 ¡°Did you hunt all these by yourself?¡± Iris exclaimed in surprise as Exill carefully lowered the wings and chitin balls onto the counter. ¡°Yep.¡± Her kind grey eyes clouded over in concern as she absorbed the state of his wounds. ¡°Why did you go alone? Will blessed that you even made it back alive! It¡¯s only been¡­ three hours since you signed up?¡± she held his hand, inspecting him closely as she continued. ¡°Please come here before you do anything reckless again, I¡¯ll introduce you to some good people.¡± Exill was strangely touched by Iris¡¯s expression of genuine concern. He had been attacked, swindled, and exploited so many times he had nearly lost faith in humanity. She stared at him with furrowed eyes, waiting for his promise to not do anything reckless again. He nodded. Only then did her smile return, and she quickly started processing the goods on the counter. ¡°That comes out to¡­ 17 Denars¡± she placed one large copper coin, and seven smaller pieces onto his outstretched palm, and squeezed his closed fist with both hands. ¡°Remember¡­ rest first and drop by before heading out to the labyrinth again.¡± Exill nodded, avoiding her eyes. If he hadn¡¯t lost so much blood earlier, he would be blushing from embarrassment. Apparently some of his emotions must have seeped through because as he turned around, Mercs were staring at him, many with knowing smirks adorning their lips. To them, Iris was the heart and soul of the guild. She was the one who had strongly championed the Field Guide¡¯s adoption, hoping to save just one more soul from a cruel premature death. Membership had fallen slightly but the numbers didn¡¯t lie, more Mercs were surviving beyond the six-month mark. The veterans of the guild had become accustomed to seeing men, both young and old, fall head over heels for her. It certainly was a strange predicament. These were hard men, doing a hard job. Yet they became weak and malleable under the woman¡¯s grey gentle eyes. Exill avoided their gaze and limped past a grizzled man who was making kissing noises at him. There were always some immature people like that, those who took perverse pleasure in ribbing the new recruits. Quickly, he stepped out into the busy street, face heated in embarrassment. The pain in his leg had subsided to a more manageable dull throb. It was time to rest, and he limped in the direction of the inn, taking a slight detour to visit one of Inner City¡¯s famed night markets. It was too early in the day for the market to be in full swing, but he was in luck. Out of the dozen or so shuttered stalls in this corner of the plaza, two remained open, and the appetising smell of grilled meat wafted in the gentle breeze. He grabbed a charred skewer of mystery meat and paid the Vendor two small copper coins, voraciously biting into it. It was the first morsel of meat he had tasted since coming to this world and the heavily seasoned, dubiously sourced grill melted in his mouth. The Vendor¡¯s sweaty face opened into a wide grin, revealing many missing teeth. ¡°Very tasty? Have two more, only three Denar!¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Exill had to literally tear himself away from the sweet temptation of the Vendor¡¯s offer and struggled his way to the inn. Regret was eating him up. ¡®When I get rich, I¡¯m going to eat all the mystery meat!¡¯ *** The innkeeper placed a large steaming bowl in front of Exill and pocketed three small copper coins. The bowl held a generous portion of clear white broth, a glimmer of gelatine shimmering on the surface. There were chunks of potatoes and even carrots in the soup. He devoured it, too hungry to really taste and enjoy the rich deep flavour. He flipped through his pocket guide and found an illustration depicting a snub-nosed lizard with a tail as long as its body. What he had just enjoyed was the ¡®Wheyr Tail Soup¡¯. Apparently the tail does not have much meat and was sold cheap on the market. It is repeatedly boiled in a large cauldron until the bones literally disintegrate, resulting in a white broth rich in calcium and fatty gelatine. Exill smacked his lips. He hoped to encounter some of them in the labyrinth. ¡°Can I get some hot water please?¡± The innkeeper nodded and poured fresh water into a second cauldron over the fire. This was decanted to a small washbasin as the water began to slowly steam. Exill carefully took the washbasin upstairs, struggling to turn the key with one hand, and entered his shared room for the very first time. It was a small room furnished with two beds against opposing walls. A thin sheet of see-through fabric resembling a curtain hung from the ceiling, dividing the space and offering a modicum of privacy. Both beds were messy, and the pillows had a faint lustre from all the hair grease it had accumulated over its lifetime. Exill sniffed, It was still better than the camp barracks. He chose a random bed and quickly undressed, then used a wet towel to wipe himself down. Peeling away the linen on his wounded thigh, he sighed, grateful it had stopped bleeding. He carefully cleaned around the edges and opened Verill¡¯s pot and was greeted with the familiar smelly red paste. He remembered the rugged face of the Ranger, his brows furrowed in a perpetual frown. The last time he had heard from Verill was a month ago, where Exill wrote of his intention to join Mercenaries Guild, and to seek him out there. Exill reminisced fondly, and with a hint of worry as he finished treating his wound. ¡®Big guy must be safe right?¡¯ He tentatively took out and reread the letters Verill had sent, which were written on scrap cloth and difficult to read. Sighing softly, he folded them away, then began to inspect the damaged scrap leather armour. Exill¡¯s pinkie barely fit through the hole in the thigh plate. He unfortunately didn¡¯t have the tools or materials to patch it, so it would have to stay. ¡®What is the likelihood I would be pierced in the same place?¡¯ he thought, before dismissing it as tempting fate. Packing all his belongings away, he was about to fall asleep when a hairy beast of a man, with greasy black locks stumbled into the room reeking of cheap booze. ¡°You¡¯ze in my bed.¡± He slurred. Exill stared at the hulking brute for a moment in shock, then limped over to the other bed, sliding his rucksack to the other side with his good foot. ¡°Good boooy.¡± The Merc drunkenly stumbled towards his bed, stepping on Exill¡¯s bag and slipped, flinging it against the wall while the Merc¡¯s head hit the edge of the bed frame. ¡°Bloooody¡­ cheese¡± He slurred before falling asleep on the floor, the small room reverberating from his baritone snores. There was a shallow gash on the Merc¡¯s forehead, and it bled profusely. ¡®I hope he dies. Then at least I might get some sleep.¡¯ The discordant thought jolted Exill awake. It was the first time he had callously wished someone dead, simply for his convenience. Groaning inwardly, he painfully sat back up and sprinkled what was left of his coagulant powder on the Merc¡¯s forehead. The cruel world had nearly worn him down in its Sisyphean embrace. He lay back, wide awake and deep in thought. ¡®Would I even recognise myself in another six months?¡¯ he wondered glumly, thinking of an alternate timeline where he had allowed the Merc to bleed out. Chapter 26 He awoke the next morning to find the Merc gone, a small patch of congealed blood the only evidence of what happened the night before. ¡®Let¡¯s have a look at my Vitality and levels.¡¯ He thought while summoning the Card. The vitality gauge was red and 90% full. Exill snorted in disagreement. If he had to assign a numeric value to his overall health it would have been closer to 70%. He hadn¡¯t tried putting weight on the leg yet, but was sure it would still hurt. Scrolling just a bit further down the Card, he found the Speed stat gauge was two thirds full and coloured yellow. ¡®That makes sense, I¡¯m hobbled and can barely walk, let alone run.¡¯ His eyes soon reached the bloated section listing his seven active jobs, grimacing as he struggled to recollect what level they had been previously. ¡®Was [Crafter] lvl 5 or lvl 6 before I entered the Labyrinth yesterday?¡¯ he wondered, before continuing his train of thought. ¡®I think I rose one to two levels across the board. The fact that [Blacksmith] is stuck at lvl 20 confirms the progressive increase in required EXP.
Job Level
Warrior 9+1
Hunter 1+2
Herbalist 3+1
Crafter 5+1
Blacksmith 20
Expert Blacksmith 2+1
Planeswalker 1+2
Exill had two more hypotheses to test regarding experience gain, but he wasn¡¯t entirely sure what would be the best way to experiment. Common wisdom dictated that proficiency of primary jobs increased faster than secondary jobs. He had heard anecdotes on this many, many times. However, the data in front of him was conflicted, both supporting and disproving what common people took to be the truth. [Hunter] and [Planeswalker] were placed on the second and seventh job slot respectively, yet both increasing from level 1 to level 3 suggesting the experience gain was shared equally despite the wide gap in placement. At the same time, [Warrior] had increased to lvl 10 faster than expected. He had attained lvl 9 three months ago after defeating the plague rat and hadn¡¯t trained it since. Exill needed to place [Warrior] in the seventh job slot to test his new hypothesis, swapping places with [Planeswalker]. If [Planeswalker] and [Hunter] continued to level up in lockstep, it would support the theory that primary and secondary jobs had no discernible meaning. Satisfied with this, Exill started counting the Denars in his coin pouch. There were two large copper coins and two smaller pieces, 22 Denars in total. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡®I need to write down my levels if I want to continue to experiment.¡¯ There were thirteen jobs unlocked as of yet and it would only continue to grow, making it difficult to keep track of their levels. As a famous scientist once said, ¡®the only difference between screwing around and science was writing it down¡¯. He glanced at his squished ruck sack, visualising Verill¡¯s letters and writing over them with his notes. He swiftly dismissed the thought. ¡®I¡¯ll find something else, besides, I need to stock up on some more bandages and milk root for the coagulant. I guess I¡¯ll go out shopping, rest, and reflect on my performance yesterday.¡¯ With that, Exill groaned and got out of bed. *** ¡°Five Denars¡± the vendor held up five fingers to avoid any confusion. Exill had been on his way to Ark¡¯s Central Market, the largest of its kind in the whole Kingdom. It was a long way to walk considering his injured leg. He was having second thoughts when just around the corner, a small square off the main road, populated with a few stalls came into view. One of them, as luck would have it, sold household goods. He inspected the plainly framed plank the size of a book. It was moderately heavy as it held a caked layer of fine clay. [Price Range] indicated the simple clay tablet was around three to five Denars. Theoretically, he could craft his own but didn¡¯t have the tools or materials at hand. ¡°Three Denars.¡± ¡°You might find that price in Outer City if you¡¯re lucky, friend¡­ here, five Denar is very good price.¡± ¡°Four Denars, final offer.¡± The vendor moaned and wrung his hand, complaining how he was stealing the bread out of his family¡¯s mouth. Similarly Exill was groaning inside as he didn¡¯t want to pay any more than three copper coins. The merchant eventually accepted Exill¡¯s large copper coin and returned six small ones as change. Grumbling at the state of his reduced funds, Exill scouted the small square, eyes on the lookout for a stall selling herbal ingredients. He spotted a toothless old woman sitting on the ground in front of an alleyway with a small selection of herbs laid out on a wooden plank. Exill crouched down to inspect the goods, wincing as his thigh flared up in pain. He picked up a pale white root the size of two fingers. ¡°How much for this Grandma?¡± the old lady opened her toothless mouth as if to speak before holding up just two fingers. It was a fair price; he could probably refine this into three small portions. ¡°I¡¯ll take it, do you happen to sell a small pestle and mortar or know anywhere that sells one?¡± the old woman cupped her ear, straining to hear Exill¡¯s words over the market hubbub. Exill had to repeat himself twice before she finally nodded and started rummaging in the pack next to her. She took out a small shallow stone bowl the size of his palm and a short lumpy pestle. Both looked worn and old, heavy with use. She held up five fingers this time. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Exill placed seven denars on her palm and winced in pain as he stood back up. He was now going to head back, have a meal and rest. *** The next day, Exill was enjoying his Wheyr tail soup for his midday meal. Unlike before, he took his time to enjoy the rich broth and potatoes that melted in the mouth. ¡®Two Denars left... I¡¯ll grab some bread tomorrow and head to the Merc guild.¡¯ The leg hadn¡¯t healed yet, but he was confident he would be able to hold his own in the Labyrinth tomorrow as long as it wasn¡¯t strained. The shared room cost seven Denars a night and meals cost three. The ruthless fact was that Exill couldn¡¯t afford to sit out and fully heal. He needed to be bringing in at least ten Denars a day. He thought back to his first foray into the Labyrinth. A few conclusions had been made after reflecting on the events of that day. ¡®It¡¯s ridiculously easy to make money there. I was stupid and shouldn¡¯t have fought four mudflies simultaneously. Things could have gone a lot worse¡¯ he pursed his lips. The key conclusion was that Iris was right. It was dangerous to go alone. If he had just one more person behind him that day, preferably with a spear, that last mudfly wouldn¡¯t have slipped underneath and crippled him. Exill sighed, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. ¡°Splitting my earnings mean less for me, and more monsters to kill¡­¡± He just hoped his partner wouldn¡¯t leave him to die in the Labyrinth. Chapter 27 ¡°Are you feeling better? I¡¯m glad you took yesterday off as well; it looked like you lost a lot of blood.¡± Iris fussed over Exill, leaning forward over the counter to check the wound on his thigh. Exill involuntarily caught a good glimpse of her cleavage and could feel a familiar blush rising up his neck, so he quickly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve got my address this time, and you said something about a partner for the Labyrinth?¡± Iris finished writing down the obscure inn¡¯s address, seeming to recognise it, before raising a hand to motion a clean-shaven bald man with an eyepatch to come forward. His disinterested blue eyes connected with Exill, measuring him, before stepping forward to the counter. ¡°This is Grundle, I know he looks irritable but he¡¯s one of the kindest men I know, he is really strong! He promised to look after you today.¡± Exill glanced at Grundle and saw the faint hint of a blush threatening the man¡¯s stern face. Her excited praise must have triggered him. ¡®Ah, I bet Iris asked him for a favour and he couldn¡¯t turn her down. I mean, would I be able to?¡¯ This was fine with Exill. He doubted Grundle would leave his cold corpse in the Labyrinth and risk disappointing Iris. He could trust this man to guard his back, to some extent. He thanked Iris and stepped out of the guild, following the tall, well-built man. They didn¡¯t exchange a single word as they queued outside the Labyrinth. They shook hands to form the party, with Grundle as its lead, a quiet focus seeped through over their emotional connection. They crossed the hushed ground of the Inner Tower passing massive pillars that were as wide as his outstretched arms. Not awaiting on ceremony, Grundle wordlessly slipped through the inky black portal, swiftly followed by Exill. *** ¡°Four Goblins¡± Grundle held up four fingers to confirm their number and motioned Exill to an empty spot to his left. They were in a passageway, wide enough for two men to stand abreast. Grundle sheathed his scimitar and unclipped a spear from his back, holding it at the ready. He looked at Exill to confirm he was prepared, glancing at the tattered blacksmith apron the lad wore like a cape. The seasoned Merc found it strange¡­ but he had witnessed much stranger things. ¡°Harrrrumph!¡± Grundle cleared his throat with a shout to lure the goblins to them. Soon, four green skinned monsters the size of children entered the tunnel and charged down the passageway. They were equipped with daggers, and one held what appeared to be a short spear. Exill held his spear steady and braced against their charge. The lead goblin dodged Grundle¡¯s readied spear and slipped forward, yet Grundle swiftly drew back his spear with a half-step to and impaled the goblin with a clean lunge. Exill held his ground and kept the spear pointed centre mass, not giving an opportunity for his crafty opponent to slip forward. Exill stabbed forward and managed to gash the goblin¡¯s side, pushing it off balance. Yet Exill stepped back, refusing to overcommit. He had learnt this lesson the hard way. The wounded goblin snarled and leapt forward, impaling itself on his spear. It died with a surprised expression on its face. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. There were now only two left, and Grundle¡¯s opponent was the one with the short spear. The goblin was having a difficult time as his opponent had a significantly longer reach. The two sides were stuck in a stalemate until Exill successfully dispatched his opponent with a well-timed lunge. The two mercenaries coordinated together to corner the last remaining goblin and dispatched it, with Grundle dealing the fatal blow. Exill stood back as his partner collected the goblins weapons. He had studied the Field Guide during his rest and knew no parts of the goblin could be harvested, only their weapons were worth any money. Aside from that, there was a slight twinge in his thigh, but it didn¡¯t overly hinder movement. They moved forward to a split in the tunnels, Grundle tossed a coin, checking the results before moving down the left passageway. He eventually crept forward to the widened opening and peeked into the next cavern. ¡°Three harpies.¡± Grundle held up three fingers to confirm their number and moved aside for Exill to take a look as well. He looked up to see they were at the bottom of a large chasm; a crimson sky framed the silhouette of three feathered figures perched on a ledge. The harpies were roughly a meter tall and their sharp talons glinted wickedly from the shadows. ¡°Can¡¯t lure them into passageway. Hold here.¡± The seasoned Merc advised. Grundle confirmed Exill was ready before notifying the harpies of their presence with his signature shout, ¡°Harrrrumph!¡± The harpies were startled awake and started circling them, diving down to harass the pair who held their ground at the entryway. The tense standoff continued for fifteen minutes before Grundle whispered to Exill, ¡°advance with me. Need to bait.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± the rookie replied. Exill wasn¡¯t sure what ¡®bait¡¯ meant, but stuck close to Grundle as he started inching forward, exposing more of themselves to the harpies. He gave further instructions as they approached the chasms centre, ¡°I¡¯ll cover top and rear, you cover front and sides.¡± Exill was sweating nervously. He didn¡¯t feel comfortable trusting his back to someone he met an hour ago. Furthermore, the harpies were swooping on them with increasing agility, and he was having difficulty covering the 180-degree field of view. ¡°Got one!¡± a sudden shriek pierced out above Exill as his partner impaled the diving harpy. ¡°Back-to-back! Mark your target!¡± Exill obeyed and marked one of the two remaining harpies, following its trajectory with the tip of his spear. They were circled for the next few minutes, neither side fully committing to an attack. Exill was growing frustrated and decided to take a calculated risk. Deliberately stumbling forward, he lowered the spear as if he lost balance. The two harpies responded immediately to his fake-out and attacked, successfully impaling themselves on the two spears that were raised against them. ¡°That was risky, you need to communicate better.¡± Grundle chided him, a slight annoyance seeping through their emotional connection. ¡®Talk about a hypocrite!¡¯ Exill bit his tongue. He just nodded in understanding before approaching to field dress the downed prey. Larger flight feathers could be used as quills and the soft downier ones as stuffing. The field guide recommended cutting off the wings for simpler processing. Grundle glanced over his shoulders at the rookie, from whom a torrent of disgust cascaded over the mental connection as they hacked and cleaved at the harpy¡¯s shoulder joints. He clicked his tongue softly, trying to remember the first time he had butchered a prey. After the wings had been removed, Exill moved on to the talons. They were typically ground into a fine dust and combined with healing items, such as his smelly red paste, to soothe inflammation more effectively. It was commonly used by the elderly as a joint pain remedy. He wasn¡¯t entirely convinced of some of the claims made in the Field Guide. For instance the extract of the rock mole¡¯s gall bladder could be used to create a tonic for indigestion. ¡®How do people even figure this out?¡¯ he wondered silently. For the second time that day, he wished [Appraise] could identify more of the item¡¯s properties, instead of just their names and enchantments. Maybe it was just a matter of raising his [Peddler] level. ¡°Enough for today. Return¡± Grundle spoke, as his charge finished collecting the ingredients. Exill nodded, and eyed the seasoned Merc warily as they exited the Labyrinth, a dark shadow flitting across his emerald eyes. ¡®I wonder how he is going to divide up the loot¡­¡¯ Chapter 28 ¡°That comes out to¡­ 36 Denars.¡± Iris split the pile of coins equally in two and handed Exill his share first, before planting the remainder in Grundle¡¯s open palm. She gave a warning look to the seasoned Merc, communicating fully that the 50:50 split was fair. ¡°Kid did alright.¡± Grundle said, flashing a smile that oddly suited his face, as if to say he intended to fairly split it in the first place. In answer to this, Iris returned her warmest smile and wished the two an enjoyable day as they stepped away from the counter. Exill quickly pocketed his share before Grundle could change his mind, and turned to leave the Guild. ¡°Hey kid¡­¡± Grundle¡¯s voice was like a low rumble that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°Labyrinth tomorrow at noon¡± he finished, posing the question as a statement. Exill blinked, surprised that the seasoned Merc would want to partner with him again, but the hesitation was brief as he quickly nodded in response. Grundle laid a heavy palm on his shoulder as he exited the Guild first, and was swiftly swept away by the afternoon foot traffic. *** Back at the inn, he clambered straight upstairs to the shared room. In his hands, he held up a length of wood, avidly inspecting the grain structure. It was the bough of a young Ironwood Treant, costing eight denars for just over a meter long (four feet) length. It was incredibly hard wood, flexible too. He had been able to purchase this for a good deal because the war was over, and prices had collapsed for mass manufactured weapons and their raw components. The plan was to craft a short bow, maybe fletch around four arrow shafts from the offcuts. He would have liked to forge his own arrowheads but didn¡¯t have access to a smithy. They would have to be fire-hardened instead. A few feathers from the harpies he killed earlier would be plenty enough for four arrows. A four meter (thirteen feet) length of flax bowstring had also been purchased from the bargain bin for three Denars. It should be enough for the bow and one to two replacement strings in case it breaks. ¡®Those damn harpies were a menace, it would have been safer to shoot at them from the safety of the passageway, rather than exposing ourselves in the hopes of luring them.¡¯ Exill shook his head, he had been neglecting [Hunter] for too long. It provided a 10% boost to accuracy that scaled with the level and could be upgraded to [Ranger] at lvl 20. He had experienced firsthand that ranged weaponry had its place in the Labyrinth. It was not all narrow tunnels and close combat. A few drops of water were applied to the surface of the clay tablet to record the changes of his Card. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Job Level
Planeswalker 3+1
Hunter 3+1
Herbalist 4+1
Crafter 6+1
Peddler 24
Vendor 6+1
Warrior 10+1
Exill was fairly certain now that the order in job placement had no bearing on experience gained. The only anomaly was that [Warrior] appeared to be levelling up disproportionately fast. ¡®Is it rising faster because I¡¯m meleeing the enemies? In any case, I can put it to the test once I start ranging my opponents. It would confirm my hypothesis if [Hunter] begins to overtake [Planeswalker] in levels.¡¯ Satisfied with this new discovery, he inspected the seven assigned jobs again. [Blacksmith] and [Expert Blacksmith] had been unassigned the day before. There were also no plans to raise [Farmer], [Cook], [Scavenger], and [Forager] any time soon. His current priority was to increase combat capability. Next was [Crafter] lvl 20 and [Herbalist] lvl 20. The former would unlock the [Tailor] and [Carpenter] jobs, which would also need to be raised to lvl 5 to unlock [Witchdoctor]. Exill had a sneaking suspicion that [Witchdoctor] would be very good. He had discreetly asked around in the refugee camp, as well as their resident healer for information about it, but no one had heard of a Tier 2 [Herbalist] profession. Considering the cross disciplinary requirements, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised to be the first person to unlock the job! ¡®Anyway, I need to unlock [Witchdoctor] as soon as possible. Healing is lucrative and I need a way to reliably make money while I¡¯m recovering from an injury.¡¯ He nodded to himself. This would be prioritised in the near term, and he would seek to raise [Peddler] and [Vendor]¡¯s level in the longer term, hoping it would unlock more information during [Appraisal]. Satisfied with his progress, Exill carved his short bow deep into the night, sharpening the knife occasionally as it dulled against the hard wood. As night deepened, he stopped briefly to nod in greeting to his roommate Merc. The hairy dishevelled man acknowledged the greeting and looked down with interest at Exill¡¯s nearly finished bow. Picking up a completed arrow, he tutted a bit at the fire hardened tip, before returning it to its place. He then proceeded to strip completely naked, exposing his well carpeted rear, and slipped into the greasy sweat-soaked sheets. He could only shake his head in disbelief while the Merc began to snore gently, ¡®how could anyone live like that!?¡¯ he wondered silently. They hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word since their bloody first encounter and it suited him just fine. At least, the man appeared to be drinking less, and as a result his snoring had become more bearable. Exill applied the finishing touches to his bow, hoping it would stand up to the test tomorrow. Chapter 29 Two months passed by in a blur. Exill continued to dive into the Labyrinth with Grundle, taking on a varied combat approach thanks to his new bow. All the while, their coordination increased as they regularly started taking home 20~30 Denars each. Sometimes one of them would get hurt, knocking them out of commission for a couple days. The other would then venture into the Labyrinth solo, taking care to not get similarly injured. Exill was especially proud of having managed to save up 600 Denars, an emergency fund to tide him over for a month or two. It may not be much, but the psychological benefit was remarkable. From personal experience, he knew how difficult it was for someone to plan for the future if they were barely getting by, surviving day-to-day. This gave him the breathing room to take risks and to grow. Two weeks ago, he had successfully raised the level of [Warrior] and [Hunter] to lvl 20, unlocking their progressions [Spearman] and [Ranger]. It had unlocked some powerful perks:
Job Warrior
Level 23
Description Melee Combat - Tier I
Passive Buff +10% attack speed (scales with level). Minor Strength Bonus
Job Hunter
Level 22
Description Melee Combat - Tier I
Passive Buff +10% attack speed (scales with level). Minor speed bonus
Job Spearman
Level 5
Description Melee Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff +10% attack damage (scales with level).
Job Ranger
Level 5
Description Ranged Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff +10% attack speed (scales with level).
Inspecting the four jobs, Exill shook his head in exasperation. He was no closer to solving this particular mystery. Jobs like [Warrior] and [Ranger] had similar perks that increased attack speed, but it wasn¡¯t readily apparent if the effects stacked. Worse still, he had spent the past two weeks devising elaborate experiments that failed to yield any answers. ¡®I¡¯m fairly certain that the strength bonus imparted by [Warrior] and [Blacksmith] add up because I remember feeling stronger when both jobs reached level 20¡­¡¯ yet Exill continued to shake his head, ¡®¡­ but that doesn¡¯t mean that intangibles such as attack speed similarly stack, and if they do so in an additive or multiplicative fashion. How do I measure a 10% increase in swing speed without precision instruments!?¡¯ As a former engineer, it was painful that he couldn¡¯t measure, let alone calculate the optimum method of advancement. It was especially relevant now because he had four combat skills and only seven job slots. ¡®How am I supposed to prioritise the assignment of jobs when I have so little information!?¡¯ Stolen novel; please report. [Planeswalker] and the seductive ¡®Would you like to increase job slots?¡¯ option tempted him from a corner of his mind. ¡°No.¡± He promised himself he wouldn¡¯t. Never again. Tearing his eyes away from the alluring, yet dangerous skill, he focused on the original task. Today was a special day because [Witchdoctor] had finally been unlocked. He was eager to find what skills or bonuses the long awaited unlock revealed.
Job Witchdoctor
Level 1
Description Production - Tier II
Active Skill: [Treatment] -10% chance of infection (scales with level)
Exill¡¯s mouth twisted in a moue of discontent, he had been secretly hoping for an overpowered magic skill that scaled proportionally to its difficult in attainment. At first glance -10% infection seemed fine but on closer inspection¡­ it just raised further questions. ¡®When it says the bonus scales with the level, does it mean 100% elimination of infection at level 100? Does it scale linearly? Is level 100 even the maximum job level?¡¯ he sighed¡­ when faced with too many questions it was important to take a step back. Exill remembered his mentor before taking the Large Hadron Collider posting. The old man had often warned of tunnel vision, and not seeing the forest for the trees. Exill relaxed and allowed his mind to wander, searching for inspiration. His train of thoughts flowed from his mentor to his engineering career. The various obstacles that had been overcome, how it had been both challenging, and rewarding. Moreover, his heart swelled in pride for his contributions towards discovering the Higgs Boson. He was proud of human ingenuity and the spirit of experimentation. ¡®I wonder if there is an Engineer job.¡¯ Exill was suddenly struck out of reverie. He rummaged under his bed and impatiently wetted the clay surface. With trembling hands, he wrote the following:
¡®1+1=2¡¯
Nothing happened. Exill lowered his stylus in disappointment. He tried again, this time with something harder and started solving a differential equation.
¡®f(x) = dy / dx¡­¡¯
He felt a [Ping!] resonance deep in his core and excitedly opened the Card to find a new job.
Job Mathematician
Level 1
Description Arcane- Tier I
Passive Buff: minor bonus to intelligence [INT]
Exill pumped his fists in the air, ecstatic! If there was [Mathematician], there would likely be [Engineer] as well! He assigned the new job to an active slot and started writing even more equations.
¡®e = mc2¡¯, ¡®T = F x r x sin(¦È)¡¯,
The stylus quivered in disappointment¡­ there had been no further resonations. Exill had pinned high hopes on the torque equation when Einstein¡¯s law of relativity failed to yield any results. Nevertheless, he opened his Card and was surprised to find a new job on the available list, albeit greyed out and inactive.
[Scientist] requires [Mathematician] lvl 20.
He scoffed. It was absurd the system walled off [Scientist] behind [Mathematician] when all you needed to be a man of science was testing your hypotheses, something he had repeatedly been doing since arriving here. As a famous TV show once said, "The only difference between screwing around and science [was] writing it down." He felt incredibly cheated that it wasn¡¯t a Tier I job. Despite that, he was satisfied with the results. ¡®Are engineers not practical scientists?¡¯ Exill mused¡­ something good would surely be obtained when it was fully unlocked. The records on his clay tablet were also updated, showing that [Mathematician] had rose to lvl 3. This begged the difficult question, ¡®What now?¡¯ There were 19 unlocked jobs, four of them combat related and permanently assigned to active job slots. That only left three he could raise passively in the Labyrinth. Exill spent many hours lying in bed, staring up at the peeling plaster while planning his next steps. Disappointment lingered over [Witchdoctor¡¯s] lack of utility when a sudden thought entered his head. ¡®Did that intelligence bonus from [Mathematician] make me craftier?¡¯ he scoffed at the absurdity of the plan that was slowly taking shape in his head. This turned to tentative nodding as he assessed the pros and cons of executing such a devious scheme. Finally, he resolved himself, committed to the series of actions he would take tomorrow. Exill was startled by a sudden [Ping!] deep in his soul. He swiftly summoned his Card, eyes widening in recognition.
Job Conman
Level 1
Description Outlaw- Tier I
Active Skill: [Bluff]: your lies are 10% more believable (scales with level)
¡°World¡¯s Will be damned¡­¡± Chapter 30 - Free Will It was morning, and the main street leading to the South Gate was bustling with foot and wagon traffic as people hurried to work. Exill stood aside from the flow of people, and kept his eyes peeled for those who stood still, or like him, were fixated on the crowd. Soon, he spotted his quarry, a young boy, dishevelled and wearing rags emerged from a nearby alleyway, looking strangely familiar. He nonchalantly walked past the boy and threw a hand to catch the orphan''s arm, quietly slipping into the alleyway with the squirming catch. ¡°Calm down, I just need directions. Guide me to Old Savta and there¡¯s a shiny Denar in it for you¡± he whispered hurriedly. The mute boy stopped struggling, then slowly raised two fingers with a determined look. Exill suddenly recognised him and had the urge to lecture the scoundrel who had guided him to the Inn months earlier. ¡®I really needed those two Denars back then, sneaky kid!¡¯ he thought stingily, before placing a single Denar in the boy¡¯s outstretched hands. This time, it would be his turn to cheat him. [Conman] was confirmed to be active prior to starting this opportune experiment. ¡°One now. One when we arrive.¡± He assured the bright eyed lad. [Conman] rose to level 2 upon checking the Card behind the boy¡¯s back. A stab of guilt twisted inside for manipulating the boy, but to be honest, how difficult was it to guide someone for only a few minutes? Besides, in this cutthroat city where everyone was manipulating and exploiting each other to survive, a single Denar would hardly make a difference. Kindness was a weakness here, and he had realised in this world, and the previous one ¨C good people rarely achieved wealth, and he needed a lot of money fast. ¡®But why did I receive the experience when I hadn¡¯t completed the fraud?¡¯ Unlike the residents of this world, he could indirectly calculate experience gained from checking a job¡¯s advancing levels. Even an idiot could tell that a system that rewarded actions that hadn¡¯t been completed was ripe for exploitation. Exill¡¯s thoughts wandered to the theory of ¡®predestination¡¯ while following the kid through winding alleyways. In theology, predestination dictated that the fate of the individual soul had been determined by God upon inception. Basically, it meant that even if you lived like a saint, your deeds wouldn''t save you from eternal damnation if you were fated for hell. As a famous Bishop succinctly put it, ¡®we are free to do whatever we desire, but we are not free to determine our desires.¡¯ ¡®But I gained EXP when I lied¡­ what would happen if I were to give the boy another Denar on arrival, turning my lie to truth?¡¯ A cold shiver went down his back as a strong sense of revulsion consumed him. ¡®Why should I pay that sneaky brat another Denar, how hard is it guide someone!?¡¯ The two continued through alleyways, Exill¡¯s hatred growing stronger until he was surprised to find the boy had stopped, one hand outstretched for payment and the other pointing at a modest building on the main road. It was a two-storey building that stood out from the rest of the street thanks to the light blue painted fa?ade framed between dark aged timber supports. However, the destination wasn¡¯t what attracted his eyes. Cold sweat poured down Exill¡¯s face as he glared at the outstretched palm that demanded payment, seconds passing as the boy grew more tense and unsure. The distant roll of thunder could be heard when a trembling hand reached towards his coin pouch. It was as if the World itself was holding its breath, and an uneasiness gripped his heart, followed shortly by his breath abruptly fogging up in the sudden cold. With great effort, Exill redirected the irrational anger at the boy to the phenomenon that was trying to restrict his movements, his freedom of choice. [Ping!] He looked down in bewilderment at the small copper coin that now lay on the boy¡¯s hands. The boy was shivering, his lips blue, legs locked in fear. Exill himself fell to his knees and collapsed, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. This in turn shocked the boy into running away. Exill stared dumbly at the ground for slow minutes before gathering himself. For a brief blinding moment, he had seen the world in its true awful form, people, mere threads sliding past each other in a giant weave. They had flowed like shimmering silk against the giant golden tapestry of life. Exill shivered and tried to forget what he had just experienced. It was simply too perfect. There was only madness to be found there. He staggered to a nearby bench overlooking a pleasant fountain where kids splashed around while mothers washed their clothes, finding solace in their ordinariness. Summoning his Card, he intuitively looked up [Planeswalker]. It held a new skill.
Job Planeswalker
Level 8
Description Hidden - Tier I If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.¡®You forcibly entered this plane. You are unwelcome and the World rejects you.¡¯
Active Skill: [Rule Break]: The World dares to weigh you down with artificial chains. Why should you submit..? Warning: skill usage will increase rejection and you will suffer tribulations. Rejection: 25/100
Passive Buff: [Free Will]: the fabric of fate is torn; you can now see its loose threads
Exill¡¯s ¡®rejection¡¯ had increased again, this time by five points. ¡®Thank heavens I didn¡¯t experience a tribulation¡­ or did I?¡¯ Patting his hands all over his body, he was relieved to find it was all there, and his Vitality stat was red and full. Maybe he had dodged a bullet, nevertheless, he looked around apprehensively for these ¡®loose threads of fate¡¯ he could now supposedly see. Nothing out of the ordinary leapt at him, and Exill slowly sat back on the bench gathering himself in the morning sunlight. It was strangely pleasant. ¡®I¡¯m still going to visit Old Savta, I just need to collect myself¡­ The next moment will be crucial, and I need my full faculties to bear.¡¯ He absolved himself while relaxing under the sun¡¯s rays. The name ¡®Old Savta¡¯ had been mentioned many times outside the Labyrinth, where ruffians would offer to carry wounded mercs to the famed healer for only five Denars. He had sneered at their unwelcome service each time, but over a while, something had changed. Rumour had it that she had been looking for another apprentice for several years now, indicating a high level of standards, something that could not be easily overcome. However [Conman] obtained last night offered the missing piece to the future he wanted to transition into. One may ask, ¡®Isn¡¯t it enough to be a Mercenary to earn a decent living?¡¯ The answer to which was a resounding ¡®Maybe¡¯. There were so many variables and risks involved in earning an income from the Labyrinth. Sure, you could earn hundreds of Denars on a good run, but one tiny mistake could mean you were injured and out of commission for several days, or worse, dead. With the acquisition of [Witchdoctor], there was a chance for him to obtain a stable source of income. Back at the refugee camp when his eardrums had been damaged, it had cost 40 Denars and a few seconds to heal, the equivalent of two risky delves into the Labyrinth. The experience had left a deep impact and he was determined to break into this lucrative field. This time, he would be moving up in the world. *** A young man with captivating green eyes and tousled brown hair sauntered over to the counter, his serious expression looking out of place in someone so obviously young. ¡°Can I help you¡­ sir?¡± Savta¡¯s apprentice hesitated, the visitor looked healthy, and it didn¡¯t feel like he was here to settle a treatment debt. Maybe he just wanted to buy some of her grandmother¡¯s famed salves. ¡°Please take me to Old Savta, I would like to share an amazing discovery involving the Spirit.¡± The elf woman tapped her heart twice at the mention of the World¡¯s Will. She paused for a moment, conflicted on bringing yet another stranger making a bold claim to her grandmother. However she was not good with confrontations, that was Savta¡¯s specialty, so she guided Exill to the examination room in the back. There, seated on a stool, was an old woman with faded blonde hair methodically grinding away on her pestle and mortar. There was a stately calm in her posture and eyes as she looked up from her task. She raised a dignified eyebrow to her granddaughter and apprentice, questioning who this strange young man was. ¡°This man claims to have heard the World¡¯s Will and came to see you master.¡± the elf woman curtsied while introducing the guest. Savta unconsciously tapped her heart twice at the mention of the Spirit, but her eyes held a suspicious gaze while examining the stranger. Exill took a deep breath, the gamble he was about to make hinged on all the will-blessed folklore heard back at Camp. What pushed him to this gambit was the stories of the innumerable apprentices the famed healer had turned away, highlighting her impossible standards. ¡°Greetings, Healer Savta. I came to find you after the World¡¯s Will bestowed me with a strange job, one that had been previously unheard of. All I know is that it whispered in my ear, I must use this power to heal people. Thus I came to find you, famed healer of Ark in search of guidance.¡± Savta tapped her heart again as Exill spoke of whispers of the Spirit, but was still not entirely convinced. This boy had a silver tongue and smelt like the many people who visited her weekly seeking apprenticeship, all of whom she had turned down. ¡°What is this Will blessed job you speak of, child?¡± she asked cautiously. Exill raised his palm upwards, shielding it briefly before holding the Card up to the master and apprentice. ¡°[Witchdoctor], a first of its kind profession¡± he declared. Savta scanned through the child¡¯s Card her eyes widening in surprise, his primary job was [Warrior] and the second was [Witchdoctor] just as he had claimed. Exill lowered his palm, covering it briefly, then letting it fall to his side. ¡°As you can see, I obtained this blessing while hunting in the Labyrinth. A golden wisp floated down to me, and I felt a bell reverberating through my very essence. Before it departed, it told me to use my new powers to heal¡­ and that its powers are related to the life force¡­ and longevity.¡± Exill scrutinised the old woman¡¯s response without appearing to do so. For the people in this world, job and skill descriptions weren¡¯t accessible. This had resulted in the audacious plan to fabricate a claim difficult to disprove. The last part especially, about longevity had been carefully constructed to appeal to Old Savta. [Conman] had been assigned as his third job after allowing the dignified Healer to inspect his Card. Lastly, the sleight of hand had been practiced all night and he was confident she didn¡¯t suspect anything. Old Savta appeared to lower her guard, handing the pestle and mortar to her apprentice and stood up. ¡°Follow me upstairs and bring a cup of tea for our guest Luna.¡± Chapter 31 - Savta (floorplan) Sweat poured down his back as he sipped tea from a green floral teacup. The old woman in front of him was inscrutable and studied him openly, a faint smile playing across her lips. ¡°All that talk of the World¡¯s Will was bullshit, am I correct, child?¡± Exill spluttered as tea spilled down his shirt, he stammered, faking outrage. ¡°Bull *cough* shit? Healer Savta, your words are harsh and severely mistaken! The Spirit descended upon me and whispered directly into my soul!¡± The old lady laughed, the weathered lines around her eyes wrinkling in genuine mirth. She calmed after a while and continued, shaking her head: ¡°I like you child. You may fool the common man with stories about the ¡®Will descending upon them¡¯, but if I had a denar for every time I heard such a story¡­ anyway, it was the last word that gave you away.¡± She snorted, slightly outraged, ¡°I may be old but I¡¯m not senile. Did you think I would leap at the chance to ¡®enhance my longevity¡¯, as you not so subtly put it? Boy, your lies need to be more grounded to be believable.¡± Exill was at a loss for words. ¡®That, was the part she didn¡¯t believe?!¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m not saying ¡®No¡¯ either. Depending on the skills you demonstrate today I may have a use for you. Your true goal was to seek partnership with me am I right? Well, leveraging reputations, two can play that game. I¡¯m sure the masses will eat your performance up.¡± Exill remained silent, refusing to admit the lie. The old woman studied him before asking the question she really wanted to know, ¡°so¡­ tell me what you are capable of as a [Witchdoctor].¡± *** Exill spent the next two hours summarizing his past, focusing on the amputation he performed and the various medicines that had been refined. Savta left her armchair twice during this time to go downstairs and treat the patients that had piled up. ¡°That must have been a challenging operation. I remember treating a retired soldier with an unusually clean stump, I asked, ¡®who did this?¡¯ and he replied it was a child. I didn¡¯t believe it at the time, but it must have been you.¡± She sighed; her eyes lost in thought, ¡°apart from that, there are many gaps in your foundation. Your knowledge of herblore can barely be described as adequate. I would have to invest time and energy, something I¡¯m severely short on¡­¡± Exill opened his mouth to speak but she stopped him with a raised finger. ¡°How about this. I outsource all my surgeries. Complex fractures, especially in the hands and feet are easier to amputate and grow anew than painfully stitch together. Patients usually go to a butcher to get this done. I want you to head the new surgery department, 50% of patient fees. I¡¯ll also allow you to learn from my apprentice. You will be on call from mid-afternoon to evenings. If you insist on exploring the Labyrinth you must do so in the morning when injuries are at their lowest.¡± She stared hard at Exill, waiting for a response. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡®This is¡­ actually fair?¡¯ he felt he could push for 70% of patient fees but was willing to forgo the point. Especially if she could provide all the medicine and equipment that would be needed. He bowed his head and spoke: ¡°I gratefully accept your offer, Master Savta.¡± ¡°Hmph! Do not call me that, I am not your master. ¡®Savta¡¯ will do.¡± She led him downstairs and introduced the elf woman who was both her apprentice and granddaughter. The maiden before them was collected and reserved, her guileless sapphire blue eyes examined him, then quickly turned away to her Master. There was a quiet innocence about her, unique to those who had a protected upbringing. ¡°Luna, this is Exill, he will be in charge of the surgery department from now on. We will need to convert the old treatment room for this purpose, and I need you to work with him to obtain the necessary tools.¡± Old Savta then turned to Exill, ¡°This is Luna, my granddaughter, and my apprentice. Help her clean the old treatment room and buy the equipment you need. She will be the one to teach you, do not force her. Only if she is willing and has the time.¡± Exill stared at the human Healer, and back at the elf woman with pointed ears who couldn¡¯t have been older than 20 years old. There was a vague resemblance between them beyond their blonde hair, but it was difficult to pinpoint with such an age gap. Luna pre-emptively answered his question with a small sigh. ¡°My grandfather was an elf. I am quarter human. It is lengthy to explain¡­ so we maintain master-apprentice relations in public to avoid questions.¡± Exill nodded and followed her to the old treatment room. It was a small dusty space, longer than it was wide. Shelving ran along one wall and held various tins and jars of what he suspected to be herbalist ingredients. Other than that, it was sparsely furnished. There was a stool on the far side, under a tall arched window that let in a lot of natural light. ¡°We¡¯ll have to remove the shelving, I can see us putting an operating table under that window, and a recovery bed near the door.¡± Luna nodded, glancing at Exill. She had so many questions for this serious boy whose confidence spoke louder than his years. Aside from this, there were odd things about him, like why did he wear a scruffy blacksmith¡¯s apron backwards like a cape? Did he intend to operate with those tattered gloves that barely held together? ¡°Do you need clothes as well Exill? We have a few spare aprons under the counter¡­¡± she kindly suggested. Luna bit her lip when she saw him blush, suddenly looking self-conscious. She could have been more delicate with the poor boy; he was clearly short on funds. She was about to apologise when Nana Savta peered round the door and saved them both. ¡°Where are you staying child? We have a spare room in the attic.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯m staying at the Sundry Inn, near the southeast market.¡± ¡°I know the place. It is a good fifteen minutes away. You should stay here if you want to be on call. Can¡¯t use messengers every time there is an emergency.¡± Savta harrumphed as she walked away, she had noticed the blush and awkward silence between the two. She didn¡¯t know what to make of it, and instead called in her next patient. ¡®Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have invited him to live here¡­ he better not harm Luna¡¯s sweet heart¡­¡¯ The two apprentices continued to clean the room well into the evening, scrubbing the floors and disassembling the shelves. They worked in awkward silence, Luna because she recognised the suspicious glint in Nana¡¯s eyes and Exill¡­ well, his mind was preoccupied with the departmental shopping list he had to compile.
Savta''s Clinic Chapter 32 The next morning, a small leaf pouch of coagulating powder was placed on the Merc¡¯s bed. They hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word during after that first night of their lengthy cohabitation, but a strange, silent camaraderie had built up between them. ¡®Big guy better take care of himself.¡¯ Exill felt strangely sentimental about leaving the poor excuse for a human. He didn¡¯t understand why he had become so protective over the hulking Merc. It could possibly be the little things he had witnessed along the way, such as how the man was drinking less, and how he appeared to be washing his clothes once a week. When you¡¯re staring at rock bottom, any attempt to rebuild your life looks titanic in scale. It frankly motivated Exill to strive for success, more than anything else in his current life. He climbed down the stairs and out into the streets to see the Innkeeper smoking a pipe with the usual vacant look in his eyes. ¡°Thank you for allowing me to stay here these past two months.¡± The weathered Innkeeper pocketed Exill¡¯s key in his apron and nodded, a slight smile on his lips. He blew out a puff of smoke. ¡°You¡¯re welcome at the Sundry Inn anytime, kid.¡± Exill nodded and turned away in the direction of the Guild, doubtful he would ever return. It was an awful place little better than the refugee camp. But for a brief while, it had been his home. *** ¡°I would like to update my address; can you change it to Savta¡¯s Clinic in the northwest district?¡± A quizzical look clouded Iris¡¯s face as she quickly inspected him for obvious injuries. Before he knew it, she had gripped his hands tightly, ¡°Are you alright? You¡¯re not hurt are you?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m fine, I¡¯ll be working at her clinic in charge of the new surgery department, speaking of which, I would like to update my job records.¡± Exill summoned his Card to show the [Witchdoctor] profession. Iris quickly wrote all this down, her kind grey eyes widening in surprise. ¡®Working for old Savta? A wholly different secondary job?¡¯ she wondered then voiced the question in her mind, ¡°How¡­?¡± she began to ask, but was interrupted when Exill lowered the summoned Card behind the counter. Carefully, he raised his voice so that it would carry throughout the Guild hall: ¡°I was exploring the Labyrinth when a golden wisp descended from the chasm above. I felt a strange resonance and the sound of a bell chime. It whispered directly into my soul that my true path did not lie in [Blacksmith]. My new powers should be used to heal, and that its strength lay in the life-force¡­ I went to find Old Savta for guidance as no one had heard of [Witchdoctor] before, and she immediately made me the head of the department after witnessing my skill.¡± Exill tried to awkwardly pry his hands away as Iris gripped them with glistening eyes. The mercs around the room were staring daggers at him at this unprecedented level of skinship. ¡°You were blessed by the Spirit. Oh, I couldn¡¯t be happier for you!¡± Whispers erupted around the room and even the clerk next to Iris stopped processing requests because they were captivated by the story and what it implied. ¡°Excuse me mercenary Exill, but aren¡¯t you 17 years old, and wasn¡¯t your secondary job [Blacksmith]?¡± the male clerk asked. The volume in the room grew louder, a few vocally rejecting the outlandish claim as impossible, while Iris nodded fiercely saying she had witnessed and recorded it just a few months ago. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Most obviously accepted his statement as fact, already familiar with the stories of the Will descending to bless chosen individuals. Others expressed dismissal of his claims, claiming he must have bribed the Church to bypass the lengthy waitlist to change jobs. However the sceptics were silenced when a baronet pointed out that even well-connected nobles had a difficult time switching their jobs. Exill waited patiently for the speculation to die down before adding his finishing touch. ¡°If you hurt yourself in the Labyrinth, come find me at Old Savta¡¯s clinic. I promise to do my utmost to treat my fellow mercenary brothers and sisters!¡± he then added to Iris privately, ¡°please tell Grundle I won¡¯t be able to join him for the next few days, and even then, I would only be exploring in the mornings. You know how he isn¡¯t a morning person.¡± Waving goodbye to the proudly beaming heart and soul of the mercenary Guild, Exill headed in the direction of the Clinic. He glanced at his Card to find [Conman] was already level 4. ¡®That couldn¡¯t have gone smoother!¡¯ Exill was ecstatic about how his performance went down. Rumours of this new Spirit blessed miracle healer would undoubtedly circulate around the taverns tonight. It would cement his reputation and guarantee a steady stream of clients¡­ and Denars. He shook his head, quelling the greed. Dreams about money could come later. He needed to focus on ensuring he could open for business tomorrow. *** Back at the Clinic, Luna sat facing Exill attentively, pressing the gathered strands of her blonde hair between her full lips. Her intelligent sapphire eyes glimmered as she listened to his next question. ¡°What are some ways to dull pain and immobilize the patient?¡± Exill asked, flicking through the Mercenary Field Guide. ¡°We have some powdered bliss root to dull pain¡­ but it is difficult to get hold of because it is a controlled substance.¡± Luna replied. Exill held up his Guide, pointing to an illustration of a large segmented worm. He had been studying it all night looking for hints and clues. ¡°What about this Land Wyrm? The guide warns to avoid the tentacles in its mouth as it can quickly paralyze trapped foes. Could something like this be used?¡± Luna stared at him in horror. ¡°Are you serious? Do you know how dangerous that is? How would you control the dose? If you judge the patients resistance wrong you could quickly paralyze their heart ¨C leading to a swift death!¡± Exill raised a placating hand to calm Luna down. It was fortunate he was bouncing ideas off the apprentice. He wasn¡¯t sure how Old Savta would have reacted in her place. ¡°Ok, I¡¯m so sorry. That was a dumb idea¡­ but¡­ would it be possible to enchant a small blade that it inflicts a small amount of paralysis?¡± Luna opened her mouth to retort, then stopped to think, ¡°¡­it would solve the dosage problem¡­ and if you had multiple such knives, you could increase their enchantment to deal with patients who have higher resistance.¡± Exill sighed in relief. This could actually work. He quickly threw out another idea, ¡°how about sleep enchantments? Would patients wake up while operating if they were both paralyzed and asleep?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know. I will have to ask Nana,¡± Luna frowned; her delicate features composed in thought. She also didn¡¯t know much about enchantments but could guess that it would get expensive, very quickly to acquire so many custom enchanted equipment. ¡°So you want several enchanted daggers, a heated rod to stem bleeding, and something that could put the patient to sleep?¡± seeing Exill nod, she continued with an alternate solution, ¡°although Nana didn¡¯t specify a budget, is there any way you can bring the requirements down?¡± Standing up, Exill paced around the room deep in thought. ¡®If we are talking about a minimum viable product, what I really need is a tool to cauterize and paralyze¡­¡¯ feeling inspiration hit him he suggested the following, ¡°how about we get a single knife that can both paralyze and cauterize, is it possible to activate only one or both enchantments?¡± Luna nodded slowly, although she had never personally used an item with two active enchantments, she had heard it was possible. ¡°I think so, you can double check with the Enchanters. Did you have a specific blade in mind?¡± ¡°Yes, I have designs for the blades here.¡± Exill turned his clay tablet to show her a small drawing of scalpel crammed at the bottom of a large shopping list. He had given the design much thought and abandoned the modern scalpel with disposable blade, in favour of a sleek curved blade forged in a single piece. It would be easier to craft, maintain and disinfect. ¡°If you can draw it on this parchment, we can give it to the Blacksmith.¡± Exill grinned, it was now time for his favourite part ¨C spending other people¡¯s money. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping.¡± Chapter 33 Nana shooed the two away, telling them not to take long and asked Luna to buy some apple pie from the market on the way back. Exill held up his clay tablet for Luna to inspect while she let loose her golden hair, picking stray strands from her lips as she leaned over to study his shopping list. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the Blacksmith first, then the Enchanters.¡± Exill followed Luna through the afternoon rush, struggling to keep up with the elf who slipped effortlessly through the crowd. They eventually arrived at a smithy, belching black smoke from a tall chimney in a quiet corner of the market. The doors and windows were open, and a wall of hazy heat poured visibly out into the street. A heavyset man with curly mutton chops could be seen behind the counter, wiping sweat from his brows with a sandwich in hand. ¡°If it isn¡¯t precious Luna my girl, how is that grumpy hag holding up?¡± The Blacksmith greeted her as they entered the sweltering heat, his eyes twinkling in genuine fondness. ¡°Master Savta is fine, how are you faring Master Beyrn? Are you drinking enough water?¡± The frazzled giant of a man held up a tankard of beer laced with condensation; his lips pursed in glee ¡°I splurged and had this little mug enchanted with ice, so aye, I¡¯m staying hydrated. Now, how can I help you this fine day?¡± Luna crossed her arms angrily. ¡°Beer is not water Master Beyrn¡­ I don¡¯t know why I even bother! I¡¯m here to make a request, we need to make a rush order for this knife.¡± Master Beyrn studied the parchment. ¡°Is this to scale? This says mithril... hmm¡­ should be simple enough. Come back in three hours for the blade, I¡¯ll waive the cost of the rush job for brightening up my day with your gorgeous smile.¡± Luna quickly exited the smithy, her face red from the heat and embarrassment. She collected herself and pointed down the street. ¡°You can come collect the blade later, and the Enchanter is that building next door. Let¡¯s go to the Carpenter next.¡± Exill kept a straight face as he nodded and tried to keep up as she huffed away. Master Beyrn teasing Luna, and her embarrassed response awakened something strange deep within him. ¡®Is this what it feels like for veterans in the Guild when they tease newbies for blushing in front of Iris?¡¯ *** Exill and Luna stood to the side of the workbench while a beastfolk man held up a wood saw for the two of them to inspect. His moist ridged nose was plastered with sawdust, and one tufted ear flickered with obvious passion. ¡°Well, this here is the one I use for cutting the boughs of elder Ironwood Treants. You can see the mithril teeth are far finer than your standard wood saw.¡± The Carpenter explained. Exill inspected the bluish blade, but his eyes were attracted to a similar model hung on the wall, but with faintly glowing runes. The Carpenter noticed his curious gaze, laughing while shaking his finger. ¡°I saw you eyeing up Martha, she is my personal saw and not for sale. Dual enchanted for speed and damage, slices through like butter my beauty.¡± He tapped the saw held in Exill¡¯s hand, ¡°This will be plenty good for cutting bone if you don¡¯t mind it being second hand. Crafted by a [Master Blacksmith] if I remember rightly. Give her a try, you can always return it if you ain¡¯t happy.¡± Exill thanked the Carpenter then put the mithril bonesaw and set of files into the rucksack. His eyes sparkled as he watched Luna pay the Carpenter eight silver coins (800 Denars) for the goods. When the two exited the store, Luna tucked her hair behind her ear and gestured to a tavern further down the road, ¡°You should be able to get Dwarven Spirit there, tell them it will be payment on delivery. I need to head back to get that apple pie and check on Nana. Come back once you drop the blade off at the Enchanter!¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. With a quick smile, she melted off into the crowd. Exill was surprised to find he was sad to let her go. Her lively inquisitive nature was infectious, and he genuinely had fun shopping with her. The sight of her dropping hundreds of denars on his equipment without hesitation made Exill¡¯s heart beat faster than usual. ¡®Is this love?¡¯ ¡®Ah, what am I thinking, the sight of her spending all that money must have blinded me¡­¡¯ he sighed. The time spent in abject poverty at the refugee camp had twisted him beyond recognition. He hadn¡¯t been like this back on Earth. Exill sombrely asked for the delivery of a small cask of Dwarven Spirit, emphasizing payment on delivery. He then wandered around the market and eventually settled on a bench overlooking the central fountain with two skewers of mystery meat in hand. After the full three hours had passed, he found himself back in front of the Smithy. ¡°Ah, you are that lad from earlier. Where is Luna?¡± Master Beyrn looked behind Exill, visibly disappointed. ¡°She had to return early to help Master Savta, but promised to drop by on a surprise inspection to ensure you are taking your fluids.¡± Master Beyrn grinned widely as he handed a wrapped bundle containing the scalpel. ¡°She is a cute lass, very easy to tease that one. Please check the goods and if you¡¯re happy.¡± Exill inspected the well-balanced scalpel. The bluish tinge of mithril reflecting the light of the forge, it felt sleek and deadly in his hand. ¡°Now, you can purchase this whetstone for when you need to sharpen it, or you can drop it off for my apprentice to handle. Speaking of apprentices, I overheard one of them talking about a Spirit blessed [Witchdoctor] starting at Savta¡¯s clinic. Might that be you?¡± Exill nodded in reply. ¡°Well, take care of that old hag and her precious apprentice. They¡¯re good folks, I¡¯ll see you around healer.¡± Exill bowed and exited the Smithy, He didn¡¯t need Master Beyrn telling him to know that Luna and Old Savta were good people. Shaking his head, he entered the Enchanter¡¯s next door. The indoors were dimly lit in spite of the bright afternoon sun and the air reeked of sulphur and reagents. Behind the counter was a young man with his back turned, organizing a display of jars spanning the entire span of one wall. He turned around in surprise at the sound of Exill entering the store and greeted him in a low voice. ¡°How can I help you? My master is in the back applying the finishing touches to a project. He should be out shortly.¡± Exill unwrapped the freshly forged scalpel and placed it on the counter for the Apprentice to examine. ¡°Hi, I would like to enchant this blade to weakly paralyze a patient and cauterize cuts at the same time. I need this delivered to Savta¡¯s Clinic as soon as possible.¡± The Apprentice reacted to Savta¡¯s name and glanced at Exill while inspecting the scalpel. ¡°This is Master Beyrn¡¯s handiwork am I correct? Then we can fit two enchantments on the blade if we use Rock Serpent bile to etch the runes.¡± ¡°I actually had a question about that, how does dual enchantment work? The Apprentice raised a finger while kneeling behind the counter to bring up a velvet lined box containing the most exquisite dagger. It was engraved with a complex pattern of runes interconnected to each other like a circuit. ¡°If you are not familiar with dual enchantments, I instead recommend you go with two blades with single enchantments each. Dual enchanted items requires fine manipulation to channel mana down one or both pathways, it is not an easy skill to master. Take this dagger for example, it has water and fire enchantments, please try activating just a single enchantment.¡± The Apprentice handed the knife to Exill and gave a crash course on how to channel mana down one of the two pathways terminating near the grip. Till now, Exill had never used his mana before but with some concentration and the Apprentice¡¯s gentle coaching, felt a sluggish flowing sensation within his arm. Narrowing his eyes in focus, he directed that flow down the uppermost circuit of the grip. Heat began to emanate from the blade. ¡°I did it!¡± ¡°Indeed, and if you activated the water enchantment simultaneously, the blade would release a pressurised burst of steam out the tip, but please don¡¯t do that inside. Would you still like to go with the dual enchantment?¡± the apprentice gingerly took the dagger back, and placed it to the side to cool down. ¡°Yes please.¡± ¡°Thank you for your patronage. I¡¯ll have it delivered to you tomorrow morning.¡± Exiting the Enchanter¡¯s to the late afternoon sun, he reflected on what he had learnt over their brief exchange. Enchantment was an¡­ enchanting profession and he was incredibly curious about the process. Exill only held himself back from begging the Apprentice to observe the process because there was still a lot to do. He returned to the Clinic to find Old Savta leaning against the counter of the waiting room, a sly smile curving up the edges of her mouth. ¡°Good, you¡¯re back. Did you enjoy your date with my precious granddaughter?¡± Chapter 34 Exill sat awkwardly in the armchair as Luna rushed out of the kitchen holding a hot pan of apple pie wrapped in a thin towel. She perched on her dining chair and looked down on Exill, sunk deep into the armchair temporarily pushed up against the table. Shifting to the edge of the table, Exill blushed at his uncomfortable situation. Old Savta had suggested he move the armchair over to the dining table for dinner, but his elbow barely cleared the top of the table. ¡°You can stop squirming; I¡¯ll order another dining chair for you, child.¡± ¡°It feels like I have a little brother.¡± Luna grinned as she helped him to a portion of steaming pie. She reached out to pat Exill¡¯s hair, thoroughly humiliating him in the process. The serious faced boy was entertaining to watch, struggling to eat as the table came up to his chest. ¡°I¡¯m not little, we¡¯re the same height¡­ how old are you anyway?¡± he asked indignantly. ¡°I¡¯m 20, turning 21 soon. Why do you want to know?¡± Luna cocked her head, a spoonful of pie halted before her lips. Exill was struggling to think up an answer when Savta interjected with a meaningful look at him. ¡°I think what the boy meant was that you appear to be of marriageable age, yet you show little interest in men. When will you let Nana hold your child, dear?¡± Luna¡¯s apple pie caught in her throat, and she started choking. Exill simply wanted to die and be swallowed by the armchair. Nana looked incredibly pleased with herself. Uncomfortable with the growing silence, Exill quickly finished off the dessert and stood up. ¡°Thank you Savta, that was delightful, how much do I owe you for the meal?¡± Savta raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his question. ¡°Well¡­ if you are so determined to pay for what was freely given¡­ you can help Luna clean up and prepare dishes in the future.¡± Exill was touched by her generosity and simultaneously ashamed of how Ham¡¯s apprenticeship had turned him cynical to people¡¯s charity. He gratefully cleared away the empty dishes to clean them in the sink. Exill was too consumed in thought to notice Luna had come up behind him. Her elbows grazed his back as she wiped dry the dishes with a clean towel. ¡°Did you enjoy your dinner? The apple pie was lovely wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it was good¡­¡± Exill replied, distracted by her accidental touch. To tell the truth, he had been consumed by how much the meal would cost, to properly enjoy the subtle sweetness of the pie. ¡°I actually preferred the slow cooked roast with gravy, do you normally do all the cooking?¡± Luna smoothed her skirt at the unexpected compliment, ¡°I normally do all the housework and cooking. Nana has a heart problem and ever since we had a large scare two years ago, I¡¯ve taken over as many duties as possible.¡± For a brief moment, Exill was tempted to ask what had happened to her parents but dismissed the thought. He still wasn¡¯t familiar with the Kingdom¡¯s culture, but it was a fair bet that probing into the personal matters of workplace colleagues was not appropriate. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Let¡¯s figure out a way to split some of your duties like we¡¯re doing now. It¡¯s the least I can do since I will be living here as well.¡± he said instead. Looking to his left, he saw Old Savta had moved to an armchair with a cup of tea and rug draped over her knees. She had a better view of the kitchen from there and surreptitiously threw glances at them. Their awkward silence, and stiff body language brought up bittersweet memories of her own youth. ¡®Hmph, it appears they at least have some chemistry,¡¯ she pursed her lips in thought. Savta considered herself a shrewd woman, and a good judge of moral character. Through her brief interactions with the young Witchdoctor, she was impressed by his initiative and compassion as evidenced by how he helped the wounded soldier with the infected leg. She could overlook his meagre attempt to defraud her with promises of longevity, and in a way, it demonstrated the child¡¯s ambition. All this to say she considered Exill a suitable marriage partner for Luna. She did not have long for this world, and didn¡¯t want to leave her precious granddaughter alone in this cutthroat city. By virtue of being the heir of this clinic, Luna had many suitors whose desires were less than noble, and the last thing Savta wanted was for Luna to be locked in a loveless partnership centred around the business. She patiently observed the two putting away the dishes in awkward silence. ¡°If you will follow me, I¡¯ll show you to your room.¡± Luna tugged at his sleeve to grab his attention. ¡°Please lead the way,¡± he flashed a smile and followed her up a narrow ladder into the attic space above. Luna took out her wand and the tip started to glow warmly, illuminating the surprisingly large area. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s a bit messy, but we had to move the jars in the old treatment room up here.¡± She apologetically gestured to a pile of crates in the corner, then walked over to a cotton padded mattress on the floor, ¡°I¡¯ve aired your mattress and dusted it thoroughly. I hope you don¡¯t mind using one of Nana¡¯s blankets¡­¡± Exill waved her concerns away, ¡°This is fantastic Luna, thank you so much for preparing this. It is much better than the inn I was staying at!¡± ¡°Alright, then¡­ I¡¯ll leave you to it! There¡¯s a lantern next to the bed, be careful to turn it off before sleeping.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Exill tucked himself into bed and struggled to go to sleep, too excited about the equipment that would be delivered tomorrow¡­ *** Later that night, he was abruptly woken up by Luna¡¯s anxious hand on his shoulder. ¡°Exill, wake up!¡± she whispered. The dim glow of her wand illuminated the elf, still in her nightshift and visibly scared. ¡°Luna? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Shhh¡­ I heard a window break downstairs, and heavy footsteps. I think someone broke in. Please protect Nana!¡± Exill was instantly awake and reached for his spear. ¡°Guide me down the ladder. I¡¯ll make sure no one comes up from the ground floor. Shout for help from the windows¡­ oh, and party with me.¡± ¡°Haaah!?¡± Luna exclaimed as Exill gripped her hand.
Form Party?
[Yes] [No]
He felt a thread of worry mixed with embarrassment flowing through their connection. This quickly turned to extreme embarrassment as she felt Exill¡¯s amusement seep through in response. They climbed down from the attic together, and he took position at the top of the stairs, spear held at the ready. Three¡­ no four sets of footsteps could be heard downstairs. There was no way to tell how many of them were armed and dangerous, and for the first time in his life, Exill wondered if he would have to kill a person. A door creaked open, and someone approached the bottom of the stairs. Chapter 35 ¡°Help! Help! Thieves!¡± Luna shouted from the windows. Exill stood tense. Seconds felt like minutes. Then he heard multiple footsteps and the sound of crunched glass. The dark interior of the clinic was tense, filled with sudden silence. He was startled as Old Savta stumbled out of her room in her shift with glowing wand raised at the ready. She squinted at the bare-chested lad who was defending the staircase. ¡°Exill? What in World¡¯s name are you doing child. Luna, get over here!¡± The three gathered in front of the landing while Luna explained the situation, trying not to look at Exill who was half dressed and still alert. ¡°Hmph, lead the way boy. I¡¯ll cover you with ice magic. Luna, stay behind me.¡± The three carefully went down the stairs. Nana inspected the safe behind the counter and found it secure. They moved through the hallway until they reached the main treatment room, the windows shattered and crates of Old Savta¡¯s remedies pilfered. ¡°Bah, it isn¡¯t as worse as I feared. Lock the rooms and let¡¯s head to bed, be careful not to step on glass. I¡¯ll deal with it in the morning.¡± With that, Savta went up to her room, muttering about the decrepit state of society. ¡°Um¡­ thank you Exill, I¡¯ll handle it from here¡­ how do I leave the party?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll watch you finish up. We can dismiss the party once everything is locked up.¡± Exill examined Luna¡¯s Card while she fumbled for the keys. She was a [Healer] lvl 38 and [Herbalist] lvl 27, providing a racial bonus to Intelligence for all party members. He could sense her frantic embarrassment leaking through.
Name Luna
Hometown Ark
Race Elf [Intelligence+]
Age 20
1st Job [Healer] lvl 38
2nd Job [Herbalist] lvl 27
It appeared she was unfamiliar with how the Party system worked and how surface emotions were shared among members. He could sense a spike in her shyness every time her eyes were drawn to his bare-chested form. Luna eventually managed to find the right key and they clambered up the stairs, softly illuminated by the dim glow emanating from the elf-maiden¡¯s wand. She hovered around the bottom of the attic ladder, unable to express the relief and worry that plagued her. ¡°It¡¯s over, they won¡¯t be coming back. Try and get some sleep if you can.¡± He dissolved their party cohort and began climbing up the ladder. ¡°Thanks¡­ I¡¯ll see you in the morning,¡± she whispered back to his retreating form. The two climbed into their respective beds, hearts still pounding from the earlier excitement. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. *** The next morning, Exill woke up later than usual and climbed down the attic ladder to find Savta had prepared a mug of murky brown liquid just for him. ¡°Ugh, this tastes awful¡± he grimaced as he took a sip of the fragrant liquid. ¡°We have a long day ahead, drink up child, it will keep you awake till evening.¡± Exill downed the bitter brew in one shot, a scowl adorning his face. Meanwhile, Old Savta was glancing at Luna, who was avoiding eye contact with both of them. ¡°Ah¡­ it saddens me that in her time of need, my own granddaughter would seek help from a man rather than her old Nana.¡± She smiled coyly at Luna, ¡°it is nice to have a strong, dependable man in the house, hmm?¡± Luna choked on her brew as she struggled to speak. ¡°Nana! *cough* I went to Exill because I was worried about you! He is¡­ just a little brother to me.¡± Savta¡¯s smile turned into a predatory grin and Exill could sense the old woman¡¯s inner sadistic Merc seeping out. Nana crooned, further spilling oil into the fire. ¡°Little brother you say? Well, that is questionable considering the lewd looks you were throwing at his half naked form¡­¡± ¡°Haah!? *cough* lewd?¡± poor Luna was wracked by coughs as she struggled to breathe. Meanwhile, Savta looked chastened as she massaged her granddaughters back. ¡®This sly old woman is simply too much!¡¯ Exill thought while glaring at Savta. Teasing the elf maiden was fine, to a certain extent, however he had a feeling this could all come back to haunt him. ¡°I¡¯ll be going out to the Magistrate''s office. I need to submit a report for the stolen goods and request a permanent residence permit for Exill. Be back in an hour or two.¡± Savta picked up her cane and quickly escaped. ¡®I couldn¡¯t imagine a more awkward situation for those two!¡¯ she grinned. *** The atmosphere was thick with embarrassment while the two cleared broken shards of glass in Savta¡¯s treatment room. Hearing a knock on the door, Luna rushed out with relief to receive the keg of Dwarven Spirit and the enchanted surgery tool. Exill finished boarding up the broken windowpanes and entered the adjoining surgery room to find Luna examining the scalpel. ¡°Could you hand me the blade? I would like to test it,¡± he said with barely concealed excitement. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Luna gingerly asked. ¡°I want to test it on my forearm to see the duration and extent of paralysis.¡± Exill was perplexed by her confusion, his hand still outstretched for the blade. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think it works that way. Like [Heal], most magic has no effect on the caster.¡± She said plainly. Exill blinked. He hadn¡¯t known that magic didn¡¯t affect the caster. Understanding his mistake, he abashedly rolled up the sleeves of his left arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t know, in that case, could you make a small incision on my forearm? If you have a sand timer, I would also like to check the duration of paralysis, oh, and this is how you activate just the single enchantment.¡± Exill demonstrated the pathway to channel mana into. Luna fetched a small timer from upstairs and with trembling hands, made a small cut on Exill¡¯s forearm. ¡®Fascinating!¡¯ he had felt a small pinprick, then numbness quickly spread up to his elbows. He couldn¡¯t feel or move his fingers and they fell limp like dead weight. Luna was quickly coaxed into a small incision on her forearm as well. Exill inspected his Card to find the blue bar under his Magic stat had decreased by a third. While he was preoccupied with the Card, Luna reached over and lightly touched his forearm, a glow suffusing the small cut she had made. It lightly tickled as the wound closed. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Nana to heal ¨C Haah!?¡± Exill had grabbed her pale forearm in return and was gently massaging Savta¡¯s poultice with one finger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it stings. We don¡¯t know when she will be back, and I don¡¯t want it to scab.¡± Luna snatched her arm back a bit too quickly. Nana had applied salves on her many times before, but his touch had felt strange and set her heart beating. The two waited in flustered silence, waiting for the results. ¡°So, the paralysis lasts for around thirty minutes. If the patient has higher magic resistance like you, it can reduce the affected area and time to twenty minutes or less.¡± He summarized the findings. The two beamed at each other, their earlier embarrassment outshone by the success of the experiment. Their joy was broken by an urgent knocking on the door. ¡°Healer Savta! We need your help quickly!¡± Luna opened the surgery room door to find two men, one supported by the other, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in their wake. Chapter 36 Exill dragged the patient to the surgery room with the help of the man¡¯s brother. The hurt man had been loading a cart when the spooked horse ran over his foot, crushing it to pieces. The poor man was huffing and screaming in agony as blood spurted from his boots. Exill was having second thoughts about his career choice. Time had worn away the shock of his first amputation and he had thought himself desensitized from field dressing monsters in the Labyrinth, hacking off their wings with practiced ease. The truth was that he was panicking. His hand unconsciously reached out to Luna to grasp hers to form a party. Thoughts of Verill crossed his mind, a steady presence at his greatest time of need. Luna was surprised. She felt Exill¡¯s panic subside into regretful resolve, which helped steady her as well. She quickly prepared all of the tools as Exill disinfected the scalpel. ¡°You will feel a slight sting, then all your pain should disappear. Please tell me when you feel the paralysis start to wear off.¡± Exill channelled mana into the blade and made a small cut near the ankle, beginning to peel the boot away once the paralysis set in. The patient sighed in relief as the pain subsided, still gripping the chair arms with white knuckled fists. ¡®Ah¡­ this looks bad¡¯ he grimaced. Exill had cut the boot off to find both the toes and metatarsals thoroughly crushed. He knew just enough about the human anatomy to be competently dangerous, mostly to the patient¡¯s detriment. ¡®I know the heel is made of many bones¡­ would it be better to cut away just the damaged section or amputate everything below the ankle?¡¯ The scalpel visibly trembled, poised over the bleeding foot. It was easier to think, now that the patient was no longer screaming and thrashing, so a plan to save as much of the foot slowly took shape. ¡°I¡¯ll try and save as much as I can. Please don¡¯t move or look down. Speak up if you start to feel pain.¡± Exill cut around the damaged flesh and used pliers to extract the crushed digits from the healthy portion. He was pleased to find the cauterising enchantment working as designed with minimal use of Mana. Luna handed him sutures made of silk. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Luna but can you hold the two pieces together? My hands are too slippery.¡± She grimaced while holding the two flaps of flesh against each other, their mental connection lending strength that was greater than the sum of its parts. Exill finished stitching the heel together and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°If you could apply some light healing to reinforce the stitches, that would be great. Could you please take over from here?¡± he requested. Luna wordlessly took over, applying the salve and bandages. A sense of utter exhaustion filtered through their mental connection, causing her to look up concernedly at the Witchdoctor who was sitting on a stool, wiping at his trembling bloodstained hands. ¡°Please apply this salve twice a day and keep the wound clean. Come back if the swelling doesn¡¯t subside or you experience fevers. May the Will assist you in a quick recovery.¡± She quickly sent the patient off. *** Nana returned to the clinic shortly after the patient had left, balancing a pan of mixed berry pie. She had been looking forward to teasing the two youngsters after giving them a brief reprieve. A trail of blood leading up to the front door caught her by surprise and she quickly rushed in, dropping the pan on the counter. The clinic was strangely quiet, and she peeked around the surgery room doorway and gasped in surprise. Her little Luna was crouched in front of Exill, wiping away the blood on his hands with a tender expression on her face. Savta lingered for a moment and watched the pair whispering together, before walking to her treatment room, dimly lit from the boarded-up windows. The incredible weight of her age made itself felt as she lowered herself gingerly onto the stool. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡®So this is what it feels like¡­¡¯ Her little angel had dealt with a medical emergency without any assistance from her. Even during the break-in last night, Luna had sought out the Witchdoctor first instead of her grandmother. It made Savta feel she was no longer needed, and it felt both liberating and desolate at the same time. Later that evening, everyone gathered around the table for dinner. ¡°¡­ and then I handed them two portions of bliss root and scheduled a check-up for next week.¡± Luna excitedly recounted the story of the medical marvel she had witnessed, the dessert hanging precariously on her spoon. ¡°That is great dear. It sounds like you two did a great job.¡± Savta¡¯s voice was like a sail on a breezeless day. ¡°Did everything go well at the office?¡± Exill looked at the old woman with concern, she appeared strangely deflated after her return from the Magistrates office. ¡°Yes, yes, they will investigate the theft and issue a full residence permit for you next week.¡± Nana sighed. Even Luna looked worried as she noticed her grandmother¡¯s lack of energy. ¡°Are you alright Nana? Should I fetch you a hot water bottle and your favourite tea?¡± ¡°That would be nice dear, yes please.¡± Once Luna had left her seat, Old Savta appeared to recover some semblance of herself and exerted the full force of her gaze on Exill. ¡°So¡­ child, tell me what your intentions are with my granddaughter.¡± ¡°Intentions? Ma¡¯am believe me, I do not intend to do anything to Luna. She is a sweet intelligent girl, but it goes no further than that.¡± Exill spluttered in surprise at the complete about-face. ¡°Is she not good enough for you?¡± Savta scrutinized the panicking boy with narrowing eyes. By this point Exill was struggling with himself, making incoherent noises. Thankfully he was saved by Luna¡¯s timely return. ¡°Here you go Nana, I hope you feel better.¡± Luna leaned over Savta to give her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, tucking the hot water bottle under the knitted rug draped over her lap. The old woman appeared to savour the sweet moment before glancing at Exill, warning him with her eyes that the discussion wasn¡¯t over. Exill excused himself to clear the table. Standing in front of the sink, he sneaked a look at the Card to find [Witchdoctor] had remained at level 1. ¡®What should I do with my training gloves and apron¡­¡¯ The Blacksmith¡¯s Gloves and apron had been taken off while operating on the patient. This was not ideal as it significantly cut the EXP gained. The months spent in the Labyrinth had taken their toll on both the gloves and the apron. By this point, they were literally held together by strands of leather. He was accustomed to wearing the apron as a cape, or tucked under his clothes, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to reject the fashion-conscious elf-maiden. She kept asking if he wouldn¡¯t like to switch to another apron, applying immense pressure through her judgement. ¡®Should I tell her it was my parents dying wish that I wear this apron and gloves? Or that the Spirit blessed them perhaps?¡¯ It was getting to the point that he was dreaming up elaborate backstories on why he had to wear it at all times. ¡®No¡­ now that I¡¯ll be rolling in silver I can afford to upgrade to less obtrusive gear. A bracelet, necklace and earring would be perfect.¡¯ His thoughts were distracted by a bump at his hips, and he looked around to see Luna swaying happily as she dried the dishes. ¡°Hey Luna, I¡¯ll finally ditch that apron you hate so much if you can guide me to where they sell cheap enchanted items¡­ and would it be alright to borrow 1,000 Denars?¡± He apprehensively asked the favour. Her sapphire eyes went round in surprise, and she shot the sweetest smile at him while nodding. It was unexpected that he was willing to abandon the ratty apron that he loved so much. Having said that, it was exactly what she wanted. Luna didn¡¯t have 1,000 denars on hand, but it could easily be borrowed from Nana. The two finished cleaning the dishes and Exill politely excused himself to the attic to avoid further encounters with Old Savta. Checking he had gone up, Luna started massaging Nana¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Nana¡­ I would like to go shopping tomorrow, can I take some money out from the safe?¡± Surprised at the unusual request, Savta opened one eye and tested the waters, ¡°Anything for you dear, tell Nana what you need, and I will buy it for you.¡± Luna hesitated and her massage slowed. ¡°Um¡­ it is actually something for Exill, I want to get him something.¡± She admitted haltingly. Old Savta heard a pop as her blood pressure skyrocketed. ¡®Good grief, that sly leech! How dare he treat my granddaughter like a money pouch!¡¯ If left to his own devices, he would undoubtedly string Luna along while borrowing more and more money. Savta quietly fumed. ¡°Nana, are you still awake?¡± She leaned over to check if her grandmother had fallen asleep. ¡°No dear, I was just lost in thought¡­ There is no need to borrow money from me child, I¡¯ll tell him over breakfast that I can advance him some payment.¡± Savta glanced up at her and smiled reassuringly. After a while she continued, a dark promise in her eyes, ¡°and please tell me if he ever talks of borrowing money from you again, my love.¡± Chapter 36.5 - Savtas Lesson Exill wasn¡¯t sure what he had done wrong this time, but the mood on the breakfast table was especially tense that morning. Everyone was seated around the table, having finished their meal, when the sharp older woman finally spoke up. ¡°Hmph, I hear you need to borrow money¡­¡± Savta began coldly. ¡®So that¡¯s what it was.¡¯ Exill winced. Savta¡¯s words were laced with venom as she continued on, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you approached Luna to borrow money, but you should come find me in the future¡­ I may be able to advance you some payment.¡± Exill glanced at Luna. He didn¡¯t know how much she had shared about his plans, but her usually friendly eyes were downcast, apologetic for bringing Nana¡¯s wrath down on him. He desperately tried to recover the situation but ended up stammering instead. ¡°Y-you are right ma¡¯am. I should have approached you first and will do so in the future. I just wanted to replace my apron and gloves with something nicer and functional but didn¡¯t want to impose on you.¡± Something clicked in Savta¡¯s head, and she suddenly understood why Luna had been so eager last night. ¡®He was getting rid of that disgusting apron and gloves!¡¯ Savta thought, causing her to dispel her earlier venom. Her composure turned unexpectedly warm, and she reached out to pat Exill¡¯s hand understandingly. ¡°You should have said that in the first place, instead of weaselling behind my back. If that is the case, you can borrow as much as you want, child.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure what had elicited such a reversal in her attitude, but he wasn¡¯t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, he quickly cleared away the plates and started washing them at the sink. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to go through that¡­¡± Luna winced while brushing past him to start drying the dishes. ¡°I asked her yesterday to borrow money, but she began asking too many questions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, It all worked out in the end.¡± He smiled back, wondering how much Savta was willing to advance him. While he was submerged in thought, Savta rose to her feet with a teacup in hand and called out to him whilst descending the stairs. ¡°Boy, come to the treatment room once you are finished. We can arrange your advance and have a little lesson while we are at it.¡± She appeared to be in a rather good mood, because her humming could be heard as she climbed down the stairs. Luna nudged him with her shoulder while reassuring him at the same time, ¡°I¡¯ll fetch you the copy of Herbalist Koncoctions, it¡¯s currently in my room.¡± ¡°Thanks, but I thought she said she wasn¡¯t going to give me any lessons¡­¡± Luna laughed softly at his confusion, ¡°She is always like that, you just have to catch her in a good mood.¡± They finished cleaning up, and as promised, Luna fetched the only copy of ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯ they had in the clinic. It was a red leather-bound tome with gold leaf trim, the words ¡®Third Edition¡¯ proudly emblazoned on the front. Exill carried the heavy tome downstairs and knocked before entering the treatment room. ¡°Good, you brought the book. Take a seat.¡± She gestured to the stool next to her, and when Exill sat down, slid a single gold coin across the pitted worktable surface. She continued in a generous tone, ¡°A thousand Denars is your advance. It should be plenty enough to replace that disgusting¡­ erhem, the apron you appear to be so fond of.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Thank you.¡± Exill was captivated by the sight of the small gold coin representing a thousand Denars, the most money he had ever held in his life. It was swiftly secured in his coin pouch, and he clasped both hands, waiting for the lesson to begin. ¡°What do you think a Healer does?¡± The Savta wetted her fingers and idly flipped through the tome, searching for an ideal place to start for a novice. ¡°¡­ Heal people?¡± Exill was instead tempted to say, ¡®scam people¡¯ remembering the time he had paid 40 Denars for the refugee camp healer to instantly mend his eardrums using his own vitality to fuel the change. The whole reason he had come here was because of the unique [Witchdoctor] job, and the promise of a stable high paying income. ¡°And what does it mean to heal someone, when given enough time, we can replace even lost limbs?¡± She lead on softly. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡± He had no idea where she was going with this. The old Healer sighed and stopped flipping through the pages, fixing him with a mild gaze. She gestured towards the shelf holding various ointments and salves as if they were clues, then asked again, ¡°If Healers are capable of completely healing injuries, why do they bother with all of this medicine?¡± Exill suddenly understood, and he spent the next minute deep in thought. Upon first glance, the existence of salves for burns didn¡¯t make sense when it could be healed completely with magic. Eventually, he provided an answer. ¡°Is it because there are some illnesses that magic can¡¯t cure?¡± When Savta raised her chin to continue on, he elaborated further, ¡°The existence of ointments suggests it is more efficient, perhaps in terms of mana and the patients vitality to heal them this way, than through brute magical force.¡± Savta grinned widely at his response, her lined face wrinkled in mirth. She sounded proud of herself, for identifying his potential when they first met. ¡°I knew you were a clever one¡­ and you are right. The art of healing is finding the balance between sacrificing the vitality of your patient, or yourself, and moreover it is an endurance exercise of mana application.¡± She paused for effect, ¡°How many patients do you think I will be able to see a day if I completely healed all their wounds?¡± Exill shrugged, and Savta continued on, ¡°I would be able to see three, four at most per day, and the patient would also feel weak for the next several days from a drained life-force.¡± She cocked her head to one side, ¡°I remember you said you were not capable of casting [Heal], but how many people in the world do you think are in a situation similar to yours?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe 80% are incapable of casting magic?¡± Exill unknowingly applied the Pareto principle as a wild guess. ¡°Not even close. One in two hundred are capable of casting magic naturally, while one in fifty require enchanted tools to achieve the same feat.¡± Savta held up her left hand, upon which was a plain silver ring. Appraise: [Magic Ring], Value: 800 Denars, Enchantment: +Magic ¡°Some who are capable of casting magic take the path of Priesthood, or of Wizardry. All this to say that Healers are scarce, their services constantly sought after. Do you now understand why [Herbalist] is so important in bridging this demand?¡± ¡°Yes, I understand¡­ would it be alright to try on your ring Master?¡± Exill was captivated by the opportunity to unlock some very valuable jobs, even if there was only a 2% chance to achieve it. ¡°I don¡¯t see how it will help. Even if you managed to cast [Heal] with the aid of this, all you will manage to do is expel the entirety of your mana in a single burst of healing, and be out of commission for the rest of the morning due to mana abuse.¡± She waggled the ring finger alluringly, ¡°You need to have the job assigned to finely control the output.¡± Putting the matter firmly behind her, she began to flick through the tome again and after a while asked him curtly, ¡°Do you know how to read and write?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good, I hear most villagers in the east are educated in the basics, but you can never take things like this for granted. The Priesthood do a fine job, but they can¡¯t be everywhere at once.¡± She idly chattered then pursed her lips when she found a suitable place to begin. ¡°This is an old tome, passed down from my grandmother so I expect you to take good care of it. Some of the information in the earlier chapters, especially about the preconditions of the various races is out of date. We can skip this and start at chapter three, on the properties of the common ingredients found in the central continent.¡± She flipped through a few pages, pointing to relevant tables, ¡°You can ask Luna if you have any questions and study in your own time.¡± She placed a woven bookmark on the relevant page and gingerly returned the tome to him. Turning away in her stool, she dismissed him. ¡°That is all for today. You have plenty to study and memorise. Return the book to Luna and you can run your errands.¡± Chapter 37 - Pawn shop ¡°How was the lesson?¡± Luna accepted the heavy book with a grunt. ¡°I learned a lot¡­ by the way, are you able to cast magic without any enchanted tools?¡± He asked, noticing she wasn¡¯t wearing any rings. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a natural.¡± She flicked her soft silk like hair back in mock condescension, all the while grinning warmly at him. ¡°Did she give you a lecture on how Healing is an endurance exercise as well?¡± ¡°Yes, among other things. I never really questioned why ointments were used before all this.¡± ¡°Mm, you have to be especially careful about consuming the life force to heal injuries on the elderly, it can often lead to other complications.¡± She returned the book to her room and came back out with a cape. Clasping it around her shoulders, she started walking towards the stairs, ¡°Did you get your advance? It¡¯s a bit windy today, but let¡¯s go to the pawn store to buy your items.¡± *** Exill was like a kid in a toy store while looking around at all the enchanted items. There were swords, armour, jewellery, anything he could possibly need! Luna smiled at his uncontained excitement and wandered over to the wand section. She had brought him to one of the few pawn stores in Inner City. Adventurers, Mercs, even Nobles would occasionally be pressed for funds and collateralise their most valuable items in exchange for a loan. Exill had advanced 1,000 Denars from his paycheck, for a total of 1.5k at hand. He circuited the shop floor, shortlisting the most promising items that [Appraise] revealed. They were:
Item Price Enchantment
Vampiric Spear 1400 VIT Absorb
Wizard Ring 1200 EXP Plus, Magic Plus
Training Bracelet 500 EXP Plus
Copper Necklace 500 EXP Plus
Copper Earring 400 EXP Plus
The [Wizard Ring] was the most attractive of them all. He lacked the Magic required to cast [Heal] and this could help overcome that. ¡®If only I could borrow 1,000 more Denars¡­¡¯ In any other instance, he would have purchased the [Wizard Ring] without a second thought. Except there was only a 2% chance he could unlock magic with the item, and its intricate design made the ring difficult to clean and disinfect. It would need to be removed during treatment and surgery, which defeated the purpose of obtaining it in the first place. ¡®I¡¯ve never tried to equipping two enchantments of the same kind like EXP Plus¡­ perhaps I am being optimistic that Magic Plus will also stack.¡¯ There was good reason to be hopeful because it increased his chances of obtaining magic from 2% to 100%. Pursing his lips, he examined the other rings on offer.
Item Price Enchantment
Training Ring 500 EXP Plus
Lucky Ring 500 Luck Plus
Magic Ring 700 Magic Plus
Scholar¡¯s Ring 700 Intelligence Plus
Shielded Ring 900 Magic Resist Plus
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Strangely enough, there were no accessories that offered boosts to strength, speed, vitality or even damage resistance ¨C which were arguably more valuable to someone who engaged in close quarters combat. Approaching the Clerk who was protected behind iron grills, he posed the following question: ¡°Excuse me, but do you not have any accessories that increase strength, speed, vitality or damage resistance?¡± The Clerk glanced up from the steel breastplate he was burnishing with a woollen cloth, and replied in an offhanded manner, ¡°There¡¯s no accessories that carry those enchantments, and even if there were, you won¡¯t find ¡®em here.¡± ¡°Why? You seem to carry rings that have every enhancements except for those.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no Enchanter so I can¡¯t explain why.¡± The Clerk sighed, then continued on when it appeared Exill wouldn¡¯t take that for an answer, ¡°I heard some enchantments take a lot of surface area to scribe, so maybe that¡¯s why they aren¡¯t available on rings, necklaces and the like.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± It was like his dreams of being overpowered was abruptly doused with cold water. In a small corner of his mind, he had dreamt of equipping ten Strength enhancing rings, with maybe a few Speed enhancing ones thrown on his toes as well. At one point, he hadn¡¯t ruled out the possibility of belly and nipple piercings as well ¨C if it could guarantee his survival in the Labyrinth. ¡°I will take the bracelet, necklace, and earrings displayed over there.¡± Exill reluctantly pointed to the items and purchased them. His total EXP multiplier would be x16 factoring in his well-worn boots¡­ x64 if he refused to throw out the ratty enchanted apron and gloves. ¡®I¡¯ll stash the Blacksmith¡¯s training gear and use them in the Labyrinth¡¯ he thought to himself. Luna was oblivious to the fashion terror she had unleashed. *** Back at the Clinic, Savta and Luna vaunted over Exill, dressed in a clean shirt, brown slacks, and white apron ¨C he looked like the model healer. ¡°Do you have to wear this earring and necklace, child?¡± Old Savta tutted while inspecting the cheap copper trinkets. Luna nodded in agreement with her grandmother, she didn¡¯t like them either. It didn¡¯t help that Exill refused to justify what their enchantments were, nor why they had been so expensive. ¡°Ahem¡­ yes, it is necessary.¡± He replied, refusing to elaborate further. If they discovered he had spent 1400 Denars on training items, they would likely think him mad. As it was, he would prefer to be judged lacking fashion sense. The two women continued to circle Exill, discussing the length of his hem and how much he was likely to further grow. A polite knocking on the door rang out to them. ¡°Luna, be a dear and bring the patient in.¡± Luna stepped out in the main hallway to find a flushed young woman with brown curls near the entryway. ¡°How can I help you?¡± the elf maiden asked politely. ¡°Is the Witchdoctor in? I¡¯m afraid I am injured and in need of his treatment.¡± The woman played with her curls, obviously on edge. Luna looked her up and down. Apart from the flushed face and a slight stain on her curvaceous breeches, she looked perfectly fine. ¡°I could show you to Master Savta, she is without a patient at the moment.¡± ¡°No!¡± The woman exclaimed, fanning her face as she blushed harder, ¡°I am hurt, and only the Will-blessed Witchdoctor can heal me!¡± No one in the Clinic knew at the time, but Exill¡¯s proclamation had spread fast throughout the lower levels of commoner society. His apprenticeship to Savta, and the fact that he had been blessed by the Will - just like the stories of old ¨C made him one of the most eligible bachelors of Ark. Anyone who married him would be guaranteed status and a stable source of income. Luna gave the suspicious woman a considerable side-eye but guided her to the surgery room. She returned to Nana and said, ¡°There is a strange woman in the room next door, she looks otherwise unhurt but insists only the Witchdoctor can heal her.¡± Exill was only too pleased to end the pageant and smiled while entering the surgery room. Luna stood around the open doorway, prepared to call for help if the patient started acting crazy. ¡®My second patient! I must leave a good impression, a model healer!¡¯ Exill sat on the stool facing the patient, his emerald eyes serious as he inspected her. First, he pressed a hand against her flushed forehead, checking her temperature for infection. The lady, who couldn¡¯t be much older than him flinched under his cool touch and blushed even harder. Her coquettish eyelashes would have been cute if her face wasn¡¯t so red. ¡°Where are you hurt my lady?¡± he asked while measuring her pulse. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, she instead pointed to her knee where there was a slight stain. Exill paused for a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to do. The breeches clung tight to the curves of her leg and wouldn¡¯t roll up, likewise, he couldn¡¯t imagine peeling the clothes from the waist down. He hesitated briefly before grabbing a pair of shears and made a cut all the way to the knee. ¡°Kyaah!¡± The woman peeked through her fingers, unable to face the handsome healer who was passionately ripping her clothes apart. Her heart threatened to burst! The Witchdoctor uncovered the knee and held her leg firm as she continued to squirm under his fierce touch. ¡®It¡¯s just a graze¡­¡¯ Exill stared at the scrape on her knee and understanding dawned when everything clicked together. The first impulse was to kick her out, but something made him stay his hand. ¡®If I¡¯m right¡­ I may be able to profit off this for just a little more work.¡¯ He moved his hands to her thigh and held her leg steady as he carefully wiped the scrape clean, attentively dabbing poultice on it and covered it in a bandage. He put on his most winning smile and helped her to her feet. ¡°Please be careful next time my lady. It was a pleasure to treat you and may the Will assist you in a quick recovery.¡± He then turned to Luna, who was staring at him with dark, hooded eyes, as if she couldn¡¯t recognise the person who stood in front of her. Exill motioned her to process the payment and swiftly walked away. Chapter 38 As the weeks passed, rumours of the most eligible bachelor in Ark grew only further. He had been blessed by the Spirit with a mysterious job that was said to manipulate a person¡¯s life force. Many agreed that he was a handsome youth with impeccable tableside manners, and his future prospects were blindingly bright. Exill was more than happy to treat his ¡®fan club¡¯. They were quickly proving to be a significant portion of his revenue. Regulars would often drop by, bemoaning their clumsiness while clutching their scrapes. All he had to do was administer light first aid with compassion. Treating a small scratch was vastly more preferable over amputating a bloody limb. Everything was going well, except Luna and Old Savta were treating him differently. ¡°How long are you going to continue prostituting yourself. Have you no shame as a healer?¡± Old Savta bitingly burst out during dinner, no longer able to contain her disdain. One of his ¡®Regulars¡¯ had come in today complaining of a bump in her bosom. Concerned it was cancer, he had pressed his fingers against her chest searching for a mass. All told, the bump in question had been her nipple. Savta was sure the rumour would spread and soon everyone in the fan club would complain of similar ailments. ¡°You are single handedly ruining the sanctity of our profession! You are ruining the good name of this clinic! I want you to leave if you¡¯re going to flirt with patients all day!¡± Luna nodded aggressively. Today had been beyond indecent. A blush threatened to overwhelm her as she remembered Exill standing behind the patient, gently pressing his fingers into the woman¡¯s chest with a faraway look in his eyes. Meanwhile, Exill was outraged they were trying to take away an important stream of revenue. But he had to admit his ¡®fan club¡¯ was becoming more risqu¨¦ and resourceful as time went by. He didn¡¯t doubt they would fake injuries in other¡­ more intimate areas. ¡°Fine! But I want to increase my share from 50% to 70%¡± ¡°Bah! Are you foolish child? After all I¡¯ve given you, you would steal the bread off Luna¡¯s plate?¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with Luna! I¡¯ve paid my debts to you and even repurchased the equipment you funded. I ask just a little compensation for the significant revenue stream I¡¯m about to abandon.¡± ¡°Hmph! 60%¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Old Savta chewed on her lips, unwilling to admit her loss. She made one final malicious jab at Exill, with Luna suffering collateral damage, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you find so enjoyable about massaging a stranger¡¯s bosom. Especially when you have such a fine pair in front of you.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Nana NO!¡± Old Savta cackled as the two youngsters excused themselves from the meal. Her precious granddaughter had grown increasingly withdrawn over the past weeks and it was good to see some colour return to her face. Savta¡¯s eyes turned calculatingly towards the lad¡¯s back as he washed dishes with Luna. ¡®Man-whores like him need to be tightly leashed.¡¯ *** ¡°Are you really going to stop treating your fan club?¡± Luna asked tentatively as she wiped moisture off a dish. ¡°Yeah¡­ they were getting hard to handle. I also didn¡¯t like how you and Savta acted around me. You know you haven¡¯t taught me a single new herbal recipe in the past week?¡± ¡°Who would want to teach such a¡­ m-man whore!¡± Luna exploded, slapping Exill with a dish towel to emphasize her words. Exill blinked. His eyebrows rose to their peak in surprise and kept on climbing. Hearing the usually shy girl calling him an expletive, and hitting him, awoke something strange within him. ¡®Man-whore? This doesn¡¯t sound like her vocabulary.¡¯ ¡°Have you been learning bad words from Nana?¡± Exill peered back at Savta who was still staring daggers at his back. ¡°No¡­ oh my gosh! I¡¯m sorry. I just overheard a patient call you that when they saw a ¡®fan¡¯ entering your room. It just made me really angry.¡± Luna¡¯s eyes were downcast, mortified by her outburst. Exill finished cleaning the dishes first. He was secretly glad about her earlier outburst because it expressed her honest feelings. They had grown close over the past few weeks, but an undercurrent of tension remained every time he treated a ¡®fan club¡¯ patient. It was only now that he had realised she was putting up with hurtful rumours about his practice. Playfully wiping his sudsy hands dry on the back of her blouse, he grinned at her mischievously, ¡°It¡¯s alright, thank you for watching out for me.¡± *** Exill was about to turn off the lights and go to sleep when he saw Luna climb up the ladder cradling a large tome in one hand. ¡°Were you about to go to sleep?¡± she asked, her hands hovering over the edge of the ladder. ¡°No, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I know I¡¯ve been ignoring you Exill, I couldn¡¯t sleep because of what you said earlier and wanted to teach you a few recipes.¡± She crouched down next to him and opened the tome to a page. The warm glow from the lamp lit her soft earnest features as she flipped through the tome. She tucked her hair behind one ear and gestured to a recipe useful for Enchanters. ¡°I know how your eyes light up whenever we talk about enchantments so I thought you would enjoy this¡­¡± Luna went on explaining how some ingredients could be substituted for others, but he couldn¡¯t hear a thing. Their proximity, intimacy, and even the lamp glow served to funnel all his attention to the woman sitting next to him. ¡°Hey dummy, are you listening?¡± Luna asked, suddenly conscious of the way he was strangely looking at her, causing her heart to flutter. Hearing no response, she continued, ¡°¡­I shouldn¡¯t have come here so late, maybe we should do this tomorrow.¡± She tried to get up, but he gripped her waist, pulling her back down and into him. ¡°Sorry, I was lost in thought; I promise to listen.¡± Exill didn¡¯t know why, but he didn¡¯t want her to leave. His heartbeat thundered audibly in both ears. Luna was similarly caught off guard as she felt herself press warmly against him. The sensation of his strong arms embracing her sent butterflies cascading through her stomach. Not trusting her voice, she broke eye contact first and gestured to a random page titled ¡®compost enrichment''. ¡°Please read this section and um... repeat what ingredients could be substituted.¡± The two lay side by side, propped up on their elbows as they distractedly studied the tome under the waning lantern light. Chapter 39 Exill woke first to find the lamp had extinguished itself and Luna resting her head again his arms. Her blonde hair was splayed out against the worn floorboards, and her soft lips were parted in gentle slumber. His heart trembled at the sight and threatened to overwhelm him. He closed the tome they had studied from, and as much as he wanted to let her sleep, gently shook her awake, ¡°Luna, it¡¯s morning and you need to return to your room.¡± ¡°Haah!?¡± she exclaimed, surprised to find Exill in her bed. ¡°Shh¡­ you need to return to your room before Savta wakes up!¡± he whispered urgently. Luna looked around in confusion then stumbled up, panicking at the sight of dawning sunlight through the rafters. She grabbed the tome and was climbing down the ladder when at that opportune moment, Nana stepped out of her room. Their gazes locked in disbelief, and no one said a word. A small malicious smile crept up Savta¡¯s lips as she absorbed her granddaughters dishevelled look and the tome in her hands. She opened her mouth to make a snide comment when Luna broke the silence first: ¡°Nana, No! Don¡¯t you dare say it! It is not what you think! I was teaching him herbal recipes when I fell asleep. If you bring this up ever again I swear! I¡­¡± Unable to make a credible threat, Luna stormed off into her room and slammed the door shut. Savta went about her normal morning routine, cackling as she thought up more inventive ways to torment them. Meanwhile, Exill tiptoed back to bed, wondering how he could leave the clinic without getting caught. *** Breakfast was quiet and subdued. No one wanted to talk, and Nana enjoyed the tense and worried glances the two younglings threw at each other. She was a master of the human psyche and knew that saying nothing, was sometimes scarier than saying anything at all. As they finished their meal and were about to get up, Savta finally struck. ¡°I forbid you from seeing Exill late at night.¡± Savta said sternly, a carefully crafted disappointed look on her face. Inwardly, she was overjoyed to see the shock on Luna¡¯s face. ¡®Oh, my poor granddaughter hadn¡¯t expected this at all!¡¯ ¡°We were just studying, there¡¯s no need to forbid anything.¡± Luna was obviously trying to contain her affront at being treated like a child. The old healer was a master of the human condition, and she knew how enticing the forbidden fruit was. She herself had married her elf husband despite her parents opposing it. Luna just needed a little push into leashing Exill before he did anything stupid with a patient. ¡°Hmph, it is not up for discussion, anyway Exill, you said you would be visiting the Guild and the Labyrinth? Take good care of yourself and come back safe.¡± Savta cleared her throat and made her way downstairs. The final bomb had been dropped and she didn¡¯t want to be near the fallout. ¡°You¡¯re going to the Labyrinth? Why are you putting yourself in harm¡¯s way, aren¡¯t you earning enough already?¡± Luna accosted him, her face twisted in worry. ¡°This¡­ is not about money. I need something from the Labyrinth and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m falling out of practice.¡± Exill picked up the armour bundle and spear that had been hidden around a corner. This had all been prepared the night before after informing Savta of his intentions¡­ because he wanted to avoid this exact confrontation that had occurred many times before. Luna¡¯s lips parted in silent surprise as she saw Exill retrieve the stashed equipment, and there was a moments pause as she took control of her emotions. ¡°Then come back safe¡­¡± Luna bade him farewell. It was possible she had realized that sending him off knowingly was preferable to finding out he had left without a word. Exill¡¯s eyes briefly widened as he was thrown off by her unexpected acceptance but nodded in response. He wasn¡¯t sure what had brought about her change of heart but was glad she wasn¡¯t holding him back. Feeling guilt prick at his heart, he turned back once to catch a glimpse of his worried friend, clutching at her heart. Setting out into the morning sunlight, his first destination was the Guild. There was a bounty to place on information leading to Verill. It had been nearly three months since the end of the war and most veterans had returned from the front. He had braced himself for the worst but needed closure, and that is how he found himself In the Guild, standing in line for the bounties and missions. ¡°Ah, Witchdoctor Exill, it is good to see you. Iris had been asking for you, but she is due in the afternoon.¡± Marco, the male guild clerk greeted him with a friendly smile. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Thanks Marco, but I¡¯m not here for guild business, I¡¯m here to place a bounty. I need information on a Verill of Draughton, male, age 24, a ranger in the second battalion last heard on the Seaford front.¡± ¡°My condolences. We have many such requests these days and have a robust channel in the military. I can process it for you for 500 Denars.¡± Exill inwardly grimaced but handed the clerk five silver coins. ¡°Would that be all? Would you like to leave a message for Iris?¡± ¡°No, I will see her in the afternoon, but have you seen Grundle around by any chance?¡± ¡°Your former partner? I¡¯ve seen him around with a rookie beastkin, but they¡¯re usually active in the afternoon.¡± Marco smiled apologetically at the hidden implications of this statement. ¡®Ah, I guess he¡¯s been assigned to someone else.¡¯ Exill thought after thanking Marco and leaving the Guild. This was to be expected as he had a full time job now. It wasn¡¯t as if the gruff mercenary could sit around, just waiting for him to return. The bad news was that he would be alone in future delves, and it would be that much riskier. Standing in line for the Labyrinth, he nodded to several familiar stall owners and was quickly waved through by the guards. He was surprised they were still not charging for entry, but apparently something had concerned the Oracle about the state of the Labyrinth, and the Military was keen to incentivize its suppression. This had led to an interesting behavioural change for most delvers. Before the war, when it cost five Denars for entry, mercenaries would delve harder and deeper to recoup some of these costs. Now, they were free to take shorter, more frequent delves that were less risky overall. He stood in the cool shade of the inner tower, the sound of quiet conversations echoing within. The scrap leather armour had seen better days at this point, and he needed to double check the straps. The outfit was completed with his trademark gloves and apron cape for a massive x64 bonus EXP. Doing the math, he discovered that twenty years¡¯ worth of experience could be condensed in under four months of training with this loadout. The plan was to level up the following jobs:
Profession Level
Warrior 23
Hunter 22
Spearman 5
Ranger 5
Planeswalker 8
Witchdoctor 8
Mathematician 12
Exill had run out of new equations to easily raise [Mathematician] and the others were self-explanatory. Happy with the preparations, he stepped into the inky black portal. He travelled through the first cavern and through a long passageway, finally peeking around the corner to spot a couple Bone Vultures pecking at the ground. ¡®There are only two of them.¡¯ He mentally made a note of their number, realising that although it was seemingly random at times, it trended slightly upwards depending on the number of people in your party and how deep you delved. It warranted further study, but supported the conclusion that it was unsafe to delve alone. These skeletal birds were difficult to take down and their bony talons could easily carve into unprotected flesh. Their bones contained dense undead energy and could be sold as is, or processed into bonemeal and sold for more. Exill licked his lips in anticipation. ¡®I can do this. Just like riding a bicycle.¡¯ He lowered his spear and unslung the bow, drawing it tight. The arrow was aimed at the head of the furthest bone vulture and let loose. Before the arrow even struck, he had switched to his spear and charged at the nearest bone vulture, impaling, and running it into the ground. Next, he withdrew his spear and the vulture¡¯s skull was crushed under a heavy stomp. Exhilarated, he turned to face the last remaining monster. Its skull was cracked from the arrow, and a malevolent red glow emanated from the eye sockets. The vulture flew at him, wings outstretched, and talons curved forward. Exill tried to dodge but stumbled as his foot caught on the ribs of first vulture. In an attempt to fend the monster off, he stretched out his arms, but it gripped hard, piercing through the armguards and drawing blood. He began to panic as he struggled to shake the bird off and it dug deeper into his arm. The spear was useless at this range and in a last desperate bid, he dropped the weapon and started punching the vulture, pummelling it into the ground until the red glow in its eyes subsided.
[Ping!]
Job Monk
Level 1
Description Melee Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff Increased Damage Resist (scales with level).
¡®Damnit, maybe I am out of practice¡­ how am I going to explain these wounds to Luna?¡¯ Exill staunched the bleeding in his forearm and looked down at what was left of his gloves. They had finally given up the ghost, lowering his potential experience gain from 64x to 32x. He collected the shattered bone fragments from the vultures and stumbled out of the Labyrinth. ¡®Damn! This is what I get for delving alone¡­ how am I going to conceal this from Luna?¡¯ he thought apprehensively. Chapter 40 Exill peeked into the Clinic, tousled hair framing his boyish face as he confirmed Luna wasn¡¯t around. It was still morning, and she usually did her shopping for dinner ingredients around this time. He sighed and carefully slid into the treatment room where Old Savta was organizing herbs on her workbench. She raised her eyebrow when she saw his dishevelled state. ¡°Back so soon, child?¡± ¡°I need a favour; can you treat my arms?¡± he asked hurriedly. Savta lowered her spectacles and peeled back the bandages to see two deep puncture wounds on the underside of his forearms. She tutted while inspecting the shallow gouges on the other side. ¡°Perhaps this will finally teach you to avoid the Labyrinth.¡± Savta said, as she let go of his arm and turned back to her task of organizing the herbs. Exill understood. She had no intention of healing him. Gritting his teeth, he left, cursing the sly old woman. However all was not lost. Just a couple days were needed for it to heal, and Luna wouldn¡¯t be any wiser. He cleaned himself as best he could and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Luna came in shortly after tying the knot of his clinic apron. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± She exclaimed, shooting him with one of her brightest smiles. ¡°In one piece!¡± He nervously replied, as she came up close to inspect him. A small scratch on his jaw caught her eye and she promptly healed it with magic. ¡°Be more careful okay? I saw that scratch, but I¡¯m glad you are back in one piece.¡± She picked up her dinner ingredients and went upstairs, her good mood evident. ¡®I might actually be able to pull this off¡­¡¯ Exill thought while preparing the surgery implements for the day. Whilst he was doing this, a sudden ruckus could be heard from the main entrance. He peeked out to see two street urchins dragging in a boy who had been severely beaten with a mangled hand. ¡°Old Savta, please help! Tommy was caught stealin¡¯ and he got a right beatin!¡± one of the urchins shouted. Savta rushed out of her room and the two of them inspected the boy. His face was bruised, and blood was gushing from his mouth. The hand had been crushed and fingers were bent in unnatural angles. ¡°Who did this!?¡± Savta asked, outraged then healed the cuts in the boy¡¯s mouth. ¡°It was the baker down at old street, he been warnin¡¯ there¡¯ll be a reckonin¡¯ and Tommy was just passin¡¯ by.¡± Savta just shook her head at the injustice as she got back up, her knees creaking. ¡°I¡¯ve done all I can Master Exill, I leave the rest to you¡­ try and save as many fingers as you can.¡± Exill nodded and carried the boy to his surgery room. He took out his scalpel, channelling mana into the paralyze enchantment and lightly nicked the boy¡¯s wrist to provide some relief. He inspected the hand and cursed the fact that there were no X-rays in this world. Some of the outer digits looked and felt fine¡­ but he could feel the splintered bones in the boy¡¯s palm. It would need to be opened up to see which fingers could be saved. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Haah! What happened, I heard shouting?¡± Luna rushed in to find the boy in poor shape on the patient table. ¡°He was accused of stealing and the baker crushed his hand. I think I can save the thumb at least.¡± Exill muttered bitterly. With the assistance of Luna, he carefully peeled the back of the boy¡¯s hand and shuddered. There were too many bone fragments. ¡°Here, can you see the index finger? If I hold these three bone fragments together could you set it?¡± Luna gulped, but focused her healing magic to a singular point and carefully melded the fractures, ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m afraid the rest will have to go.¡± Exill cut away the rest of the fingers and a large portion of the palm, leaving the boy with just a thumb and index finger. He sighed while scrubbing his hand, cuffs wet and stained because he couldn¡¯t roll up the sleeves lest Luna notice his injury. Luna applied the finishing touches and discharged the boy with a bag of food and medicine. Her gaze was painful as she bid him goodbye. ¡°May the Spirit assist you in a quick recovery¡­¡± she whispered. *** For dinner, Exill was treated to roasted vegetables and potatoes glazed in honey for dessert. Old Savta gave a meaningful gaze towards his wounded forearm, but otherwise didn¡¯t say a word. She had seen the work he had done to save they boy¡¯s hand and was willing to give him some rope. She was curious how long the deceit would last. ¡°Thank you, that was a delightful meal.¡± Exill excused himself and brought the plates to the kitchen. He quickly did the dishes, paranoid that Luna would notice he wasn¡¯t rolling up his sleeves and retreated to the attic before the two women had even finished their meal. Old Savta noticed the suspicious look in her granddaughter¡¯s eye and inwardly laughed, knowing the Witchdoctor¡¯s end was drawing near. Upstairs, Exill removed his wet shirt to dry on the rafters. The bandages were then peeled to apply fresh poultice, causing him to wince in pain. Then, there was nothing else but to turn in early for the night. He was secretly glad Old Savta had forbid Luna from entering the attic because it made it easier to conceal his wound. Sometime after the lamp had been turned off, his heart sank when he heard footsteps on the ladder. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he hissed at the dim silhouette. ¡°I-I¡¯m here to see you dummy¡­¡± Luna¡¯s voice waivered in uncertainty. ¡°You need to go back before Savta catches you!¡± he hissed back, afraid that his lie would be discovered. Meanwhile, Luna had thought Exill would be happy to see her and was disappointed in his reaction. This turned to wariness as she remembered him rushing upstairs after dinner. ¡°Exill, what are you hiding from me?¡± she demanded. ¡°Nothing! I¡¯m topless and you need to leave.¡± Luna was about to turn away when her woman¡¯s intuition tingled, causing her to raise the wand to illuminate the attic, blinding Exill in the process. ¡°I knew it! You got hurt!¡± she hissed, vindicated and angry. Her wand was extinguished and she lit Exill¡¯s lamp, exposing all his lies under its warm glow. He had turned meek, prepared for the ¡®I told you so¡¯s that were coming. Instead, he was surprised to find her anger focused on the wound as she gently peeled away the bandages and cast healing magic. ¡°You don¡¯t need to heal it all the way.¡± he suggested, wary of provoking her further. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak to me¡± she spat angrily back. Luna was angry Exill had got hurt. Moreover, she was angry that her friend felt he couldn¡¯t come to her for treatment. The punctures and grazes on his forearm were mended shut and she started looking around for more wounds on his body, only to find it was covered in scars. Exill shivered when her fingers grazed his chest. They were suddenly aware how intimate they were and blushed as one, hearts pounding together. ¡°You need to tell me if you get hurt okay? Otherwise I¡¯ll end up even more furious.¡± Luna tried to maintain an even tone as her fingers hovered over his chest. Exill nodded in response, unable to trust his voice. Luna hesitated, before turning away from his bare form and back down the ladder. ¡°Good night¡± she whispered back. Chapter 41 ¡°Is there anything you would like to say to me, child?¡± Savta raise a slender eyebrow towards her granddaughter. Judging from the lack of volume around Exill¡¯s sleeve, the bandages had been removed, making it apparent that Luna had discovered his deceit. ¡°No, why do you ask?¡± Luna¡¯s bright blue eyes revealed nothing as she prepared for Nana¡¯s interrogation. Savta stared at her for a long second, both impressed and saddened by the girl¡¯s cunning. The precious guileless child she had taken in a decade ago was nowhere to be found and it hurt her frail heart. In the meantime, Exill was sweating buckets, fully aware that both women knew of his deceit. He waited for the old healer¡¯s retribution to fall. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s my eyes growing old, or it¡¯s the news that Exill will no longer treat his ¡®fan club¡¯, you appear happier today than before.¡± Savta let Luna¡¯s deception slide, but not without a parting shot. Pleased with colour creeping up the maiden¡¯s ear, she continued on, ¡°Today¡¯s the second Thursday of the month and that means I¡¯ll be off to the Guild this evening. I¡¯m also meeting an old acquaintance, so you need only make dinner for two.¡± ¡°Okay Nana¡± she turned to Exill, ¡°would you like to help me decide today¡¯s menu and shop for dinner together, or will you be entering the Labyrinth again today?¡± Luna asked, concealing the anxiety in her eyes. ¡°I¡­ no, we can shop for dinner after this¡± he replied. Old Savta smirked as the two cleaned dishes at the sink. Something had happened last night for sure, and her granddaughter had taken the first step to leashing that ¡®man-whore¡¯ and his troublesome tendencies. It was enough to make any grandmother proud. ¡°So, what would you like to eat?¡± Luna asked while drying the bowls, suddenly conscious of his broad back beside her. Under his tunic was a criss-cross of scars that only she had been privy to last night and her hands itched to heal their imperfections. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, anything would do.¡± Exill replied. He was more focused on the day¡¯s task and when it would be more appropriate to start exploring the Labyrinth again. ¡°You always say that!¡± Luna poked him with an elbow, ¡°We don¡¯t have to worry about what Nana likes and dislikes, we can eat anything you dummy!¡± she didn¡¯t outright say it, but implied that meat was on the menu, her grandmother being a vegetarian. ¡°Then¡­ could we try some steak?¡± he asked, realisation dawning on his face before quickly backing away, ¡°no, it¡¯s going to be expensive.¡± ¡°There are some cuts of meat that are cheaper than others if it concerns you, but it¡¯s my treat you dummy. You¡¯re still growing you know?¡± she nudged her shoulder against him playfully. She was relatively tall for a woman, and it had not escaped her notice that Exill had grown in the past month to a point where he was slightly taller than her. ¡°Sure, it can be a late birthday present¡± he smiled easily, looking forward to the treat. ¡°Are you already 18? When did that happen?¡± she asked, shocked that it had passed without any ceremony. Exill merely shrugged in response, as far as he was aware, the seventeenth birthday was the main celebration marking the turning point of an adult in this world. ¡°A couple of days ago?¡± he eventually said, and was struck by nauseating visions of a party held back in Lindtree village, with parents and friends he recognised from fleeting visions and emotions. Emerging from the daze, he blinked slowly to clear the visions, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, shall we head out to the markets now?¡± he added, trying to conceal the heartache that wasn¡¯t his own. *** That evening, Savta eyed her granddaughter carefully before leaving the clinic to meet her acquaintance. ¡°I¡¯ll return in three hours, make sure not to get in any trouble while I¡¯m gone.¡± she warned sternly, addressing both Exill and Luna. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°We won¡¯t get in any trouble Nana; you worry too much! It will just be dinner and a study session.¡± ¡°Hmph, well then, take care of yourselves¡± Savta donned a wide brimmed hat and stepped out into the evening streets. For the first time, they had the whole house to themselves, and it was a novel sensation. ¡°Let me cook the steak, and you can prepare the sides¡± Exill rolled up his sleeves and heated up the pan to a searing temperature. [Cook] had been assigned as an active job in preparation for this moment. He had noticed the meat wasn¡¯t in its freshest state and took care to season it properly with a collection of herbs and salt pilfered from Savta¡¯s stores.
Job Cook
Level 4
Description Production - Tier I
Passive Buff +10% flavour (scales with level).
¡°Mm~¡± Back at the table, Luna closed her eyes and pointed her chin up in the air as she savoured his meat. It had been a long time she had tasted something so flavourful. Exill grinned in enjoyment as well, cutting up another slice to enjoy. After dinner they washed the dishes, and as Luna wiped the moisture off the last knife and fork, she felt Exill wipe his hand on the back of her blouse. ¡°Hey! I told you it tickles!¡± she slapped him with the dish towel which he promptly caught, wiping the suds off his well-defined forearms. ¡°It¡¯s payback for poking me with your elbows, you always do that knowing I can¡¯t retaliate while washing the dishes¡± he grinned ruefully. ¡°It¡¯s not good to tease your older sister like that, I¡¯m the senior apprentice here and you should heed my words! Anyway, bring your chair around and I¡¯ll fetch the book.¡± Luna went to her room and returned with ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯, third edition. It was a red leather-bound tome with gold leaf trim, its pages yellowed with age. She sat next to Exill in the dining room and spread the book open. ¡°Do you remember the recipe substitutions I taught you the day before?¡± she asked, fully expecting him not to remember. ¡°Yes, they were-¡± he listed the substitutions available for crafting both the healing potion and mana potion, as well as several compost recipes he had accidentally memorized. ¡°Huh, you¡¯re pretty smart for a big dummy. Since you are so intelligent, tell me this, how did you expect to fool me into hiding your arm injury until it fully healed? She asked, trying and failing to pinch his arm because there was no fat. In the end, she settled on pinching his cheek. ¡°Ow! I told you I¡¯m sorry. Can we get on with the lesson?¡± he rubbed his arm. Even though she had failed to pinch through his tensed muscles it still hurt. ¡°Fine, I want you to read these sections on anti-inflammatory ingredients and tell me which ones can be combined together to boost its effectiveness.¡± She turned the book towards him, and leaned on her hand as she watched him read and take notes on his clay tablet. His hands moved swiftly, taking notes with practiced ease and she found himself studying his face. If she wasn¡¯t his senior apprentice, she would have described him as classically handsome, but the feature that most stood out to her was his gaze. His emerald eyes had a captivating effect. They communicated a maturity beyond his years, emphasising its sincerity and focus. ¡°Is this correct?¡± Exill asked again, turning the clay tablet for her to examine. She had been staring at him with a vacant expression all this time and it had unnerved him, thinking she still hadn¡¯t forgiven him for lying to her. ¡°Haah!?¡± She realised she had been staring at him, and quickly turned to the tablet to hide the flush creeping up her pointed ears. Thankfully she was saved by the sound of the front door closing, her Nana returning from the Guild meeting. Old Savta climbed the stairs, her weary joints aching with pain and examined the two seated beside each other. ¡°Continue on,¡± she dismissed their stares, as she retired to her room for the night. ¡°How old is your grandmother?¡± Exill asked, noticing Luna¡¯s brow knitted in concern. He had observed her growing frailty and had grown concerned himself. ¡°She is 62 years old¡± Luna replied, silently echoing his same thoughts. She hadn¡¯t seen Nana in such a tired state before and she wanted to check up on her. ¡°All your answers were correct and this should be enough for today, goodnight Exill, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± She closed the tome and went to check on Old Savta. Chapter 42 That night, Luna visited the attic again. ¡°Did you check on your grandmother? Is she alright?¡± he asked as she sat down by his side on the bed roll. To his dismay, she nudged aside a towel that was slightly stiff to the touch. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s growing old and was just tired¡­ move over a bit and give me your pillow¡± she whispered, nudging him aside. Luna then slid under the covers and lay on her belly, resting her chin on his pillow as she stared into the lantern flame. Turned to his side and propped up on his elbows, Exill examined her profile, illuminated by the warm glow of the flickering lantern. She was beautiful in every sense of the word. ¡°Take off your top¡± she said after several minutes had passed. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Luna repeated herself, her face going red, ¡°take off your top, I want to check up on you. I saw some deep scars last night.¡± ¡°Yeah, those are old and healed¡± he replied, confused by her intent. One of the things he had learned early on from Savta was that scar tissue, while flawed, was considered a healthy part of the body. No matter how much mana was poured into it, blemishes would remain flawed. ¡°Even if I can¡¯t fix the scars, I can try to heal the underlying damage, you dummy.¡± Luna insisted, growing redder each time until Exill acquiesced, taking off his tunic. He felt a chill as her hands caressed his back, channelling healing magic. The skin writhed as new muscle fibres formed under the scarred surface. She did this for a few minutes until Exill turned around to grip her arm in concern. ¡°That is enough for today. Save your vitality for the patients,¡± he pleaded, causing her to pout in return. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll use some of your vitality to heal then. Do you have any injuries that still hurt and ache?¡± she saw him hesitate. ¡°It¡¯s one of my first injuries, my thigh was pierced by a mud fly and the leg has never been the same since¡± he explained while rolling up the pajama legs but found they wouldn¡¯t go so high up. ¡°You¡¯ll need to take it off.¡± Luna breathed. She had seen men in their underwear a hundred times while working at the clinic, yet this felt different, almost wrong. Unconsciously, she glanced back at the ladder to check Nana wasn¡¯t there. Luna swallowed at the sight of him peeling down his trousers, exposing his loose underwear and muscular defined thighs. Heart pounding, she gathered herself and leaned over the puckered scar, channelling [Heal] into the old wound. He could feel her soft touch, and the tips of her hair brushing against his thigh. Her caress and attention aroused him, making it uncomfortable. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for today¡± he said in an embarrassed whisper. ¡°Just give me a minute, this one is really bad.¡± ¡°I really think you should go.¡± Exill insisted, and this time, he pushed her away by the shoulders. Luna grew angry. She was still far from completely healing the underlying muscle and didn¡¯t appreciate the disruption. ¡°What is your problem?¡± she began to ask, before catching a glimpse of the tent shrouding his underwear. ¡®Oh¡­¡¯ she thought, a little belatedly. Luna covered her eyes with her fingers as Exill quickly covered himself. It was not as if she hadn¡¯t seen the physiological response before while treating patients, but right now, here, isolated in this dimly attic¡­ the atmosphere was completely different. Finally, she stepped back and wordlessly descended the ladder, her brain completely fried, unable to wish him goodnight. As she slipped into bed, heart still pounding in her ear, she made a sudden realization. The sensation of his bare toned skin, combined with the firmness of the muscles and the texture of the scars awoke something strange within her. It felt like she was both exploring and getting to know Exill in a way no one else had before. It was exciting that a simple touch could arouse and elicit such an extreme response. Whenever something like this happened in the Clinic, she had concealed her distaste and carefully moved on. However this time, it had felt strangely empowering. She stared at the ceiling deep into the night, trying to organise these complex feelings. *** The next morning, Old Savta sensed something had shifted. Noises had been heard late last night, and now the kids couldn¡¯t even look at each other without turning beet red! She actioned one of her cunning plans prepared long ago. ¡°Aah, I feel like having sweet rolls today¡­ Luna will you be a dear and fetch some from that baker at the eastern marketplace? Exill, you should follow her. The outer wall isn¡¯t as safe as it used to be¡­ she¡¯s been mugged before.¡± ¡°Nana! I¡¯ll be fine on my own¡­ and that was a long time ago, I¡¯ll avoid the side streets.¡± ¡®That she-devil...¡¯ Exill thought, speaking up after suffering Nana¡¯s scornful gaze, ¡°It¡¯s no problem Luna, let¡¯s go after this.¡± Luna fetched her wicker basket, and they exited the clinic to the morning rays. The cobblestones clacked underfoot as they walked together towards the bustling East Gate. Exill flashed his red token to the guards, indicating his residency in the city. Now that he was a registered citizen, he would have to pay taxes, but one of the perks was exemption from the entry tolls. The streets became more packed as they entered the Outer City and the flowing crowd threatened to both split them apart and press them together. Exill felt delicate fingers intertwine themselves around his and he held tight, forging a path towards the marketplace. He grew wary as they approached the square for he recognised the place, having worked at Ham¡¯s Smithy for around a week. ¡°Oh please, no¡± he muttered under his breath, realising the sweet roll baker was two stores down from Ham. He really didn¡¯t want to encounter the dwarf, and was tense and alert as Luna made her purchase. As she was paying, the worst thing he could imagine happened. The dwarf exited the Smithy and their gaze met, his eyes lighting up in recognition and greed. ¡°Exill, is that you me boy?¡± he exclaimed. ¡®Gods no! I just know he is going to extort me for money!¡¯ Exill grabbed Luna¡¯s surprised hand and the bag of sweet rolls, then raced down a side street. ¡°Haah!? What¡¯s happening?¡± He glanced back to answer her but instead caught a glimpse of a stubby figure chasing after them. He turned right at the next junction and exited the streets into a small square. He looked around in panic searching for a way out, before diving into a large covered tent, dragging the poor elf maiden in with him. Chapter 43 - Diviner The Diviner looked up in surprise at the abrupt entrance of her two customers. They were pitched over, huffing as they caught their breath. The Fortune Teller settled down. She happened upon clients this way surprisingly often, it was a perk of working from a covered tent in the outer city. ¡°Y-you can let go now¡­¡± Luna gasped, her face red from exertion and embarrassment. Exill let go as he realised he was still gripping her hand. ¡°What fortune would you like read? Your future? Compatibility with your partner? I can answer all for ten Denars¡­¡± The Diviner spoke up before the couple had a chance to catch their breath. She needed to make the sale now before they had ideas of leaving. ¡°We don¡¯t ne-¡± ¡°Future please.¡± Exill looked at Luna in shock. He couldn¡¯t believe she would pay ten Denars to hear from a swindler. Of all people, he should know! Meanwhile, the Diviner grinned inwardly; they had nearly escaped her hook but now they were firmly in her grasp. The Fortune Teller summoned her Card and held it forward for them to inspect. Her profession was [Diviner] and [Cook] and she was 48 years old. Exill surmised this gesture was to stave of claims of fraud. ¡°Now, channel mana into these bones for me, child.¡± The woman took out a handful of worn ivory bones, and the runes etched across their surface began to glow when Luna touched the surface. The Diviner fuelled it further with her own mana and the runes glowed bright blue, then let them slip through her fingers onto the worn table surface below. They flickered in sequence over a period of seconds before growing dim. The Diviner sighed, relating her findings, ¡°You are truly blessed my Child. You are much loved by the World and those around you. Your kindness is both your weakness and strength. You will achieve much in your profession. As for your private life¡­ hmm¡­ unfortunately, you don¡¯t appear to have much luck with men. I see a bad influence looming over you as it chips you away piece by piece. You must learn to let go at times, even if it means abandoning a part of yourself.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A suffocating silence fell within the tent when the Diviner declared the Truth as she had seen it. Seeing the young girl¡¯s worried look she added in a comforting tone, ¡°There is nothing so bad in which there is not something good. Especially where the Will is involved¡­¡± she said, attempting to convey to the elf maiden that there could be a silver lining to her fortune. Exill¡¯s impression of the woman rose markedly, and he felt a tug of curiosity. Forecasting the future was an incredible skill, and he wondered how he could obtain the job. ¡°I would like my fortune read too.¡± Then he channelled mana into the divination tools as Luna had done, and watched them glow brightly before slipping through the woman¡¯s fingers. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The shawled woman sighed after watching the runes flash impossibly fast and dissipate in under a second. She gathered up the bones and put them in a pouch, frowning all the while. Then, she began to speak, haltingly at first, before simply returning his 10 Denars. ¡°I cannot read your future.¡± Exill did not believe it for a second, he had seen a hint of recognition in her eyes. She had seen something, and he needed to know what. Firmly, the copper coin was pushed back into the old woman¡¯s palm. ¡°Tell me the truth.¡± The Diviner finally locked eyes with him, her eyes narrowed in accusation. ¡°Why does the World hate you so much?¡± *** The two emerged from the tent. Luna was shaken by the revelation of her future, and she threw a suspicious look at Exill. ¡®Why would one who was blessed by the Spirit, be hated by it?¡¯ An unknown fear grasped her heart. Did she really know this stranger that was Exill? They had just spent over a month together but really¡­ she knew nothing of his past. Exill sensed her suspicion and the distance growing between them but said nothing. It was¡­ regrettable, but perhaps it was for the best. The Diviner had confirmed what had been yammering at the back of his mind ever since he entered this world. It was obvious that the ¡®bad influence¡¯ looming over Luna was him, and that he would only bring pain by remaining near her. Taken by itself, he would have easily laughed over it and called the Diviner a hack. But the way she had sensed his state of rejection had dispelled those thoughts. The two returned in sombre silence to the Clinic. Chapter 43.5 ¡°Boy, I need you to go to Milo¡¯s clinic and help him with a case there. His clinic is on the main road of the Eastern Market, you can¡¯t miss it.¡± Savta called out from behind the counter. Exill stepped out of the treatment room to find her dismissing an errand boy while pocketing several silver coins into her pouch. ¡°Right now? What is it about?¡± ¡°That snivelling healer snagged himself a rich merchant, but botched the removal of a rotten tooth. Go there and show him how it¡¯s done at Savta¡¯s Clinic, and remember, you need to scrape away all the decay before it can be healed.¡± Sullenly, Exill gathered his gear. He hated dentistry with a passion. It also didn¡¯t help that Savta was loaning him out to other clinics and making him run errands all the time. Her attitude had changed ever since Luna returned from the Diviner two weeks ago. Perhaps sensing the growing distance between the two, Savta¡¯s handling of him had become almost dismissive and exploitative. It was raining lightly outside so he turned to fetch his cloak, when his eyes met with Luna¡¯s. The blonde elf-maiden hastily turned away and climbed the stairs, refusing to even bid him goodbye. ¡®Ah¡­ this sucks.¡¯ He thought bitterly, and raised the cloak¡¯s hood as he stepped outside. The pattering rain was gentle, and similarly cowled figures could be seen hurrying around the street. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that it was a dentist errand, he would have felt relief from stepping outside the stifling clinic. Soon, he arrived at the Eastern Market, and spotted the light blue painted fa?ade of a healer¡¯s clinic up ahead. He knocked at the door, then entered upon hearing no reply. ¡°It took you long enough to get here. Any longer and the bliss root would have begun to wear off.¡± A sullen looking male elf stepped out of a well-appointed treatment room. The edges of his mouth downturned in a permanent scowl and his forehead featured a prominent widow¡¯s peak, swept back in a tight ponytail. ¡°I came as fast as I could, do you want me to begin immediately?¡± ¡°Of course! I didn¡¯t pay that hag top Denars for you to lounge around, now get in there and make it right!¡± Milo shoved the hapless Witchdoctor into the treatment room and closed the door behind him. Inside the room, a turgid man languished on a reclining chair, heavily under the effect of bliss root. His pupils were dilated, and drool dripped from the side of his mouth onto the bejewelled hand resting on his chest. ¡°Excuse me. I¡¯m from Savta¡¯s Clinic, and I¡¯ll be removing your teeth today.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Huh? I t-thought I was at Milo¡¯s¡­¡± Exill hushed the man and pried his mouth open, and was immediately hit with the stench of decay. Savta had cautioned him previously about paralysing someone¡¯s face and he was glad that the merchant was still heavily under the effect of bliss root. Near the back of the man¡¯s mouth was a black stump littered with chipped enamel fragments, and Exill gagged as he caught a whiff of the rot. ¡°So how long have you been in the merchanting business?¡± he asked casually, beginning to scrape away the rot for a clearer look. ¡°Nu-wenny nu yaars,¡± the turgid man mumbled. ¡°That is a long time, what wares do you sell?¡± The merchant mumbled some unintelligible gibberish, and Exill nodded sagely while reaching for the elongated pliers. For a brief moment, he gained insight into dentists and their desire to speak with patients who couldn¡¯t respond properly. With a clean yank, he pulled out the root of the molar, then finished by suturing the gaping hole. It took fifteen minutes in all, and heaved a sigh of relief while washing his hands and tools in the sink. ¡°Done already?¡± Milo sauntered in and examined his handiwork. ¡°Yes, it was a full extraction, and you can begin regrowth once the swelling subsides.¡± It took only a few days to regrow teeth, but attempting [Heal] now would only waste mana and vitality on reducing the swelling. Healer philosophy dictated it was wise to help the body in its natural healing as opposed to brute recovery. ¡°Good.¡± Milo stepped back and examined Exill with a clinical eye. ¡°So how is it working for that despicable old hag? She¡¯s insufferable in the Guild meetings, always lording it over us healers stationed in the outer city. It¡¯s surprising she deigns to share her precious will-blessed ¡®recruit¡¯ with the rest of us plebians.¡± The Healer¡¯s tone was acrimonious and sour in its delivery. ¡°Savta is¡­ eccentric, but she has my best interest in heart.¡± Milo barked sharply in an involuntary laugh, the corners of his mouth climbing in a sardonic grin. He placed a friendly hand on the back of the young witchdoctor, and led him to the empty reception room. ¡°She only has her best interest in heart, with her ¡®precious¡¯ granddaughter a distant second.¡± Milo patted him while opening the front door, ¡°Take today for example, I paid 200 Denars for your services. How much of that are getting? Sometimes you can earn much more forging your own path as a specialist contractor with will-blessed skills such as yours.¡± Milo tapped his temple with a finger. Exill stumbled out as Milo abruptly slammed the door in his face, and he slowly made the trek back to the clinic. ¡®Would it be alright to leave? I still owe Savta so much no matter what that dour healer says.¡¯ He also mulled over how much there was yet to learn about concoctions and strategies to magical healing. However he couldn¡¯t deny that the atmosphere in the clinic had become stifling upon the return from the Diviner, and Savta had become increasingly dismissive of him. Speaking of the devil, he walked up the front stairs of the Clinic to find her stepping out, flipping the ¡®Closed¡¯ sign out front. She noticed Exill and moved aside, keeping the door open. ¡°You¡¯re back sooner than I thought. I¡¯m going out on Guild business and should be back in a couple hours. I left your share of today¡¯s commissions in the tin under the counter.¡± The old healer donned a wicker hat and briskly strode away, and was soon lost in the evening crowds. Exill remembered the words of the Milo, and checked under the counter to find 100 Denars nestled within. He wanted to believe that Savta had made a mistake. They had renegotiated his share to 60% after all. However a seed of discontent was planted in his troubled heart. Chapter 44 - Envy The following week marked a subdued moment for the Clinic. Luna still didn¡¯t visit him in the attic, and they maintained a professional relationship during clinic hours. There was a hidden tension between them, like a taut bowstring aimed constantly at his vital point - and it was wreaking havoc on his anxiety. Sometimes, he would turn around to catch her staring at him with pursed lips, and the sudden sense of rejection would cause him to break out in cold sweat. The Diviner had effectively struck two lethal blows to their relationship. The first was the implication that he would bring suffering to Luna, and the other was the fact that he wasn¡¯t blessed by the World Spirit. If Savta were to hear of this, it would lead to his immediate expulsion from the Clinic. To offset this, Exill spent his free time in the morning outdoors, delving into the Labyrinth alone, regardless of the risk of receiving injuries without someone to watch his back. Iris had confirmed that Grundle had a new partner now, and although she was concerned about his safety, couldn¡¯t recommend anyone else to accompany him in the mornings. This was not to say there weren¡¯t any good developments; for instance he had begun to focus on raising the level of [Monk] at the expense of [Witchdoctor]. The new combat skill was amazing and provided increased damage resistance that scaled with his level. He was deep in the process of integrating punches and kicks with his spear arts. However, even that positive failed to spark meaningful joy. Glancing at Luna that morning, he sighed and poked morosely at his breakfast. ¡®I know she was shocked by the revelation, but it still hurts to see her treating me like a stranger.¡¯ Old Savta eyed the two and inwardly lamented as well. They had been like this ever since their return from the bakery. It wasn¡¯t clear what had brought about these changes, but Luna smiled less and no longer reacted to her teasing and prodding. While it had been her idea to bring Exill into the Clinic, she was having second thoughts about his impact on her granddaughter and was on the verge of cutting him loose. She now turned to the Witchdoctor to relay the news that had been delivered that morning: ¡°Boy, I received a request from Diallo last night. He wants you to treat two slaves that were caught escaping. Both of them have broken legs.¡± Exill closed his eyes. He had been there once before and it had been a sobering experience. Human misery truly knew no bounds, whichever plane of existence you were in. Old Savta nodded her head, empathising with Exill¡¯s aversion. Slavery was a despicable profession. ¡°Diallo has a dedicated healer since the last incident. Luna can stay here¡± the old woman instructed. Luna sighed in relief, but her eyes flickered guiltily towards Exill who sat opposite her. She tried to avoid the slave market because it left her depressed for days, as it similarly did for him. Last night, she had tried to visit him in the attic. She had stood at the foot of the ladder, willing her feet to take the next step up¡­ but couldn¡¯t do it. An invisible wall had sprung between them. It pained her to work with him day-to-day. No longer did he joke or tease her, his professional smile only directed towards patients. ¡®Is it possible for someone to change their entire behaviour at the snap of a finger? Was the previous Exill even real or was that a fa?ade?¡¯ She went down the stairs with the Witchdoctor and helped him pack his equipment and medicine in the travel bag. ¡°¡­ come back safe.¡± Exill turned back, his emerald eyes caught wide in surprise. Then the light in his eyes grew dim and he just nodded and set out. He walked for some time and came to a walled compound where he displayed his Card to the guards. This was the slave market, and he was loathe to be here. People of all ages and races were held in cages, no better than animals, all hope abandoned to them. They were purchased by the dozen and usually served as indentured servants or field hands. Some mercenaries were known to purchase slaves and they were nearly always looked down upon, except for Trey and Maxine. Those two were married and Trey was a free man now. There were many merchants in this walled compound, and Exill turned the corner to enter a small brick building that was the office of Diallo the slave merchant. A middle-aged man in a simple tunic sat at his desk while stroking his beard. He was bald and well built, his scar lined face devoid of emotion. He looked up as Exill approached. ¡°It¡¯s you. They are next door.¡± Exill waited for a second to make sure he had been dismissed, caught off guard by the man¡¯s bluntness. However, Diallo had already lost interest and had diverted his gaze to studying the tablets before him. Exill left the office to enter a dim warehouse on the right that stunk of piss and blood. He tried to avoid looking at the cages too carefully, and instead walked forward to where a healer was crouching over a large pallet. Two beastfolk, one male and female were chained to the pallet, limbs outstretched. Exill could see each had broken a leg near the shins. He sighed, hoping they were clean breaks. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A portly man dressed in fineries who had been examining nearby cages with a frilly handkerchief pressed to his nose turned around in surprise. ¡°Morning Witchdoctor, I¡¯m Healer Perg. You can just call me by name. We haven¡¯t had the pleasure before.¡± ¡°Thank you Perg, just call me Exill. Any information on how this happened?¡± ¡°Remarkable thing really, they escaped late in the evening and ran through the streets and made it to the Inner Wall. The gates were guarded of course, so they broke into a tower and leapt off the wall! The Spirit bless them that they survived.¡± Exill grunted in reply. Looking at their condition, he wasn¡¯t sure they were blessed at all. Squatting down, he pointed to a few locations on their bodies, ¡°It looks like the main damage is in their shins. I¡¯ll be making an incision along here near the worst parts and we can assemble the bones by sight. I¡¯ll need fifteen minutes to prepare, you can take some fresh air.¡± The rotund man gratefully nodded and after Perg left, Exill crouched down and channelled mana through the paralyzing enchantment of the scalpel to relieve both of them from pain. A mixture of relief, regret and hopelessness crossed the slave¡¯s faces as the paralysis set in. Using a razor, he shaved around the swollen sites and generously disinfected the area with dwarven spirit. ¡°Here, take a sip.¡± He poured some of the spirit into their open mouths. The guard standing to the side tutted under his breath, clearly disapproving of his wasteful act of compassion. ¡®Has it already been nearly a year since I came here?¡¯ he mused silently. Looking at the flicking ears of the beastfolk, he was reminded of the pet cat he had left behind. Before emigrating to Switzerland, he would cycle home from the market carrying daily groceries and some treats. On the way, he would encounter feral cats, flea ridden and battered, often missing their tails. Stopping his bicycle, he would often wonder, ¡®Would it be alright to give them a piece of this delicious snack? Would it be cruel, or humane to give them a taste of something they would never experience in their short, vicious lives?¡¯ At the time, he had concluded it was alright to share a little kindness, especially if you had some to spare, but right now, looking at the chained beastfolk¡­ he didn¡¯t know what kindness looked like. ¡°Sorry I was late; an interesting specimen held me up. A vampire of all beings!¡± Perg approached him from behind. Exill nodded as he took position over the male first. Then, he began to make his first incision. *** Sometime later, Exill cleaned his trembling hands at the trough just inside the warehouse. All his mana had been consumed and the side effects of mana abuse was making itself felt, a nasty pervasive headache made worse by the stench surrounding him. ¡®I hope there are no more patients when I return to the Clinic¡¯ he grimly thought. Turning around, he spared one last look at the warehouse filled with dozens of rows of cages. He was about to leave when a tantalising golden light flickered at the edge of his vision. Apprehensively, he navigated the row of dimly lit cages, following the source of this ethereal tendril of light. Eventually, he stood in front of a rusty cage. Curious about the phenomenon, Exill took a step to the left and the golden thread also shifted to point at him. Some distance away, a worker could be seen throwing bread into the row of cages. He waited as they passed by, but the shimmering thread resolutely held its place in the air. Stepping forward to peer into the shaded darkness, the intrepid Witchdoctor observed a fair skinned woman with amber eyes staring off into the distance. For a brief moment, their gazes met, and he realised her eyes were in fact illuminated with an ember that was on the verge of being stamped out. Her hair was the colour of dull crimson, and there was a melancholic beauty to her features that tugged at his heartstrings. Having witnessed his fair share of misery, Exill was nonetheless spellbound by the obvious pain and torment she must have undergone. He had noticed the worker hadn¡¯t thrown any bread into the cell, so he approached the pockmarked lady who had progressed further down the row. ¡°Excuse me, is there a reason why you didn¡¯t feed that red haired woman?¡± ¡°Oh, you mean the vampire? Nah, she only feeds on blood. Disgusting if you ask me.¡± She spat on the grimy floor to emphasize the last point. Exill walked back to the cell, and stood there for long minutes lost in thought. The ethereal golden thread tying them together warranted further study. It was likely that she was a loose thread of fate, as mentioned in the description of the skill [Free Will].
Job Planeswalker (lvl 12)
Passive Buff: [Free Will]: the fabric of Fate is torn; you can now see its loose threads
¡®Why is it pointing at me though?¡¯ he was puzzled by the strange phenomenon and reluctantly turned away. Old Savta would not stand for him bringing home a slave, so there was little point in indulging this sudden irrational desire to rescue the woman. Exiting the fetid warehouse, he nevertheless stepped into Diallo¡¯s office and approached the slave trader whose furrowed brows indicated he didn¡¯t appreciate the distraction, ¡°Did you finish healing those slaves? Talk to Ivar my assistant about payment.¡± He grunted in a low voice. ¡°The slaves are fine. I want to know more about the vampire you keep on row C.¡± He ignored Diallo¡¯s robust dismissal and forged ahead. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± The Slave Merchant¡¯s voice softened, and stroked his goatee while eyeing Exill up and down. The distaste in the boy¡¯s eyes had been obvious from their very first meeting. He hadn¡¯t expected the famed Witchdoctor to seek out a slave. ¡°Anything. She is unresponsive and wouldn¡¯t answer my questions.¡± Diallo pursed his lips, and something flickered in his dark soulless eyes, ¡°There isn¡¯t much I can tell you. She feeds on blood and has jobs related to combat.¡± ¡°What are her jobs and what is her proficiency in them?¡± Exill concealed his excitement. If she could fight, she could assist him in the Labyrinth and cover his back. Now that Grundle his former partner had moved on; it would help smooth the transition away from Savta¡¯s clinic. Diallo snorted, ¡°I can¡¯t answer that, but I will tell you this; a lot of people have expressed interest in the Vampire. Even that portly Healer dropped by a minute ago to ask her price. She is 15,000 Denars and you can take it or leave it.¡± Exill¡¯s heart pounded at the decision laying before him. Even though there was only 2,000 Denars to his name, there was a strange compulsion propelling him forward. Perhaps it was the thread of fate tying them together, but he had to save her. ¡°I will think on it.¡± He reluctantly replied. Chapter 45 ¡°Savta, I need you to advance me 13,000 Denars.¡± The old Healer¡¯s eyes bulged when she heard the amount. You could buy a small house in the outskirts with that kind of money. Hoping it wasn¡¯t what she feared, she carefully probed him with a question, ¡°That¡­ is a lot of money, what is the reason, child?¡± ¡°It¡¯s personal¡­¡± ¡°You will have to do better than that to advance half a year of your commission!¡± Exill hesitated, he knew Savta¡¯s stance on slaves. She would never advance money for the purpose of purchasing them. In the end he chose to lie: ¡°I have accrued a gambling debt.¡± ¡°I warned you before not to take me for a fool. Gambling? Bah! All you do is train, work, and sleep. You¡¯re trying to buy a slave. Did you lose your fucking mind, boy?¡± Savta bellowed, her face twisted in anger and disappointment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I will be purchasing her. With or without your help.¡± She prodded the boy¡¯s chest with her bony finger, wanting to slap some sense into him, ¡°Her? Now I truly know you¡¯ve lost your mind. Chasing after a slave¡¯s skirt when there¡¯s a perfectly fine girl next to you!¡± Savta scoffed at the audacity of the boy, ¡°Let¡¯s assume for a moment that you put yourself into crippling debt¡­ how do you even plan to pay it back without my help?¡± Exill heard the cold logic in her words and for a brief moment, he hesitated. ¡®Why am I going to such lengths to save this woman I barely know?¡¯ Followed by, ¡®Can I even afford the 13,000 Denar loan?¡¯ Filled with sudden doubt, he didn¡¯t even hear the old Healer¡¯s lecture about how irrational he was being. Instead, he tried to pinpoint the source of this sudden urge to save this vampire he barely knew¡­ ¡®Is it because of the thread of fate?¡¯ It felt like he was on the verge of identifying it. Savta approached him, breaking his concentration with spittle flying in his face, ¡°¡­ and mark my words boy, the moment you buy that slave, you are no longer welcome in this Clinic.¡± Without warning, all his doubts and reservations melted away. Instead, he felt strangely relieved from the confrontation. As much as he was grateful for the experiences gained here, living in fear of being kicked out was no way to live. Exill went up to the attic to collect his belongings. He stood there in the dark for who knows how long, second guessing his resolve. It was as if a strange compulsion was propelling him forward to make this decision and he was no longer in control. It was not too late to step away from the precipice and enjoy the quiet life, but the Diviner¡¯s accusing whisper continued to haunt his mind.
¡°You are a bad influence that would bring her pain¡­¡± ¡°Why are you hated by the World?¡±
The Diviner¡¯s prophecy had shaken him out of this sweet dream, a reminder that he was a corpse living in a foreign world. It had caused his alienation from Luna, who stared at him as if she no longer recognised him. It was only a matter of time until Savta found out, and he would be kicked out in disgrace. A seductive thought caressed his mind¡­ it whispered he should seize control of his life by going through with the purchase, and leave the Clinic of his own volition. He had felt like this once in his previous life, when he had quit a consultant job after losing a family member, burned out from the demanding work. An experienced therapist would have told him to step back, not to make life changing decisions. If Exill only had a little more introspection, he would have questioned why he suddenly felt he didn¡¯t deserve nice things. ¡®Should I say goodbye to Luna?¡¯ ¡®What was there to say, and would she understand?¡¯ he dismissed the bitter thought. Grabbing his meagre belongings, he stepped out into the afternoon sun and gave one last look to the place he had called home for the past several months. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. *** Exill appraised the parchment out of curiosity.
[Notarised Contract] 180 Denars
It was an interesting item that could only be created by someone with the [Notary] job. The contract before him was simple. It detailed his 2000 Denar deposit, followed by a 13,000 Denar repayment plan spread out over the next ten months. To obtain this leveraged agreement he had made a number of concessions, such as providing healing services to Diallo at a discount and forfeiture of both the Vampire and deposit should he miss even a single payment. The Vampire¡¯s name was Envy. Channelling mana through the parchment, he confirmed the contract. There was no going back on his word now. The slave merchant beckoned a worker to bring forward the Vampire, then held both their hands as he channelled mana through them. Exill felt a deep resonance in his core. ¡°It¡¯s done. She will be compelled to follow your orders.¡± Diallo said, then hesitated before looking Exill in the eyes, ¡°This will be a lesson to you kid, never buy a slave without doing a background check.¡± This was the longest sentence he had ever heard from Diallo, a man who treated words as if it was a precious commodity. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Ask her.¡± Exill frowned. ¡®Fine, keep your secrets¡¯ he thought. She was his now. He didn¡¯t know how to feel about owning another person but there was no going back now. Envy was weak and vacant eyed, her hair tangled and without lustre. Grimacing at her stench, he knelt down and propped her up with his shoulders. However he was struck with a last minute doubt. ¡°She can walk in the sunlight¡­ right?¡± Diallo shot him a puzzled look. The grizzled man was not entirely sure what walking and sunlight had to do with a vampire. ¡°Of course.¡± He replied, and with that, sent the two away. The distance to Sundry Inn would normally have taken twenty minutes, but with the Vampire in his arms it took closer to twice that amount. He avoided the main streets so as not to be disturbed. Soon, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the Innkeeper, watching the sun set with pipe in hand. ¡°Welcome back. It¡¯s four Denars if you don¡¯t mind sleeping on the floor once we close the bar. seven Dee¡¯s for a shared room, and twelve for a small one. Three extra per meal. All upfront.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to be back¡± he lied through his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll take the small room for five days and please prepare one meal. I will keep a running tab.¡± Exill handed the Innkeeper a hundred Denars in the form of a silver coin, then carried Envy up into the small room on the first floor, a couple steps down the hallway from his previous shared room. Inside, there was a double bed against one wall and a stool with a desk against the other. It appeared to be the same size as the shared one. He looked around hesitantly not wanting to soil the bed¡­ eventually placing Envy on the stool. She was filthy. His belongings were thrown haphazardly into a corner, and he stretched his sore back, then went downstairs to approach the Innkeeper standing outside the doorway with a lit pipe as usual. ¡°I would like a meal, and please heat up some hot water.¡± Wolfing down the creamy vegetable soup, he dipped chunks of bread into it. He hadn¡¯t had anything since breakfast and was incredibly hungry. Being careful not to spill the large washbasin, he climbed the stairs to find Envy was still where he had left her. ¡°Can you wash yourself?¡± Envy slowly turned her head towards him, her amber eyes hollow and devoid of emotion. Looking into her unresponsive face, Exill inwardly swore, ¡®Can she even speak?¡¯ He knelt in front of her for five minutes, trying to elicit a response. Resigning himself to the task, he began stripping her rags off. They were destined for the trash anyway, threadbare and soiled beyond redemption. A wet towel was used to wipe the dirt away. All the while, he noted her malnourished state, her ribs sticking out. The only clean clothes on hand was a spare tunic. He threw it on her, and was glad it reached down to cover her buttocks. Guiding her to the floor, he lay her down next to the washbasin and carefully wiped her face clean before washing her scalp and hair. He went downstairs with the washbasin to throw out the murky water. Exill returned to find Envy still laying on the floor as he had left her, wet scarlet hair splayed out on the hardwood floor, a vacant expression on her face. To his dismay, he saw the tunic had ridden up, displaying her emaciated hips. She was thoroughly broken and despair started creep in to Exill¡¯s thoughts. ¡®How do you feed a vampire?¡¯ Bewildered, he crouched down and tried to get her to bite on his forearm, but her parched lips remained unresponsive. When that didn¡¯t work, he took out his scalpel and made a small cut and brought the bleeding forearm to her lips. A few drops fell into her open mouth. An instantaneous change could be seen, her breathing grew heavy, eyes dilated, and finally she gripped his arm and bit, her hips gyrating in pleasure. Exill summoned his Card and patiently waited until his vitality dropped to 80% then weaned her off. She weakly clung to his arm, eager to drink more. ¡°Shh¡­ it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll give you more tomorrow.¡± Feeling a bit woozy, he dragged her into bed and threw the blanket over both of them. He lay on his back in stupor as the realization set in of what he had committed to. ¡®Good grief¡­ what have I done¡­¡¯ Chapter 46 The next morning, he was glad to see some colour had returned to Envy¡¯s face. Struggling quite a bit, he managed to form a party by gripping her hand in a handshake while repeating the word ¡°Party¡± to grasp her attention. An endless hunger filtered through their connection.
Name Envy (Slave)
Hometown Mistburgh
Race Vampire [Strength+]
Age 24
1st Job [Warrior] lvl 28
2nd Job [Murderer] lvl 16
Exill frowned, ¡®Who in their right mind would take Murderer as their second job, and raise it to level 16? Is it possible to regret my decision even more?¡¯ In the end, he concluded it was likely that Envy had never been in her right mind. 10% of his vitality had been recovered during the night and he fed her again, carefully observing the steady rise in her own vitality. It was a 1:1 exchange rate. Her full health should be recovered in a week assuming he feed her 10% a day and there was minimal decay. On the second day, she was at 50% vitality and had recovered to the point she could answer in monosyllables. ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± ¡°¡­mn.¡± ¡°Do you need to go to the toilet?¡± ¡°¡­mn¡± ¡°Would you like to eat?¡± ¡°¡­yes.¡± One of his chief concerns was that she would wet the bed. He didn¡¯t know how much fluid she had taken in but¡­ did vampires even go to the toilet? He knew nothing about them or how to take care of one, just the fact that they fed on the ¡®blood of the untainted¡¯. What also stood out was her recovery speed, it was remarkable. Her ribs no longer stuck to her side, and the pallor of her skin had improved. On the third day, much to his embarrassment, his spare pyjamas wouldn¡¯t slide up past her thighs. ¡®I should shop clothes for her once she¡¯s fully recuperated¡¯ he thought, adding another expense to his growing list. Talking of shopping lists, he had ventured out to Central Market that morning to purchase ingredients for a recovery tonic commonly prescribed to mercenaries who had suffered extreme blood loss. Judging from the ingredients calling for finely powdered iron oxide, or simply ¡®rust¡¯, as it was referenced in the recipe, he had high hopes that it would help stave off the eventual anaemia. By the fifth day, she was able to hold conversations with him, though it was mostly a one-sided affair. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Labyrinth, and I¡¯ll be back in a few hours¡± He informed her that morning, determined to shore up his deteriorating finances. However, he returned a mere quarter of an hour later, feeling woozy and nauseous from the effects of feeding the Vampire every day. Envy sat there unmoving with an indecipherable expression, as he shrugged off his equipment and crawled back to bed. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. After a full week had passed, her vitality finally hit 100%. Her hair had regained some of its lustre, her cheeks no longer sallow and sunken. A sparkle of intelligence hid behind her reserved amber eyes. The tunic that had been draped over her hunched shoulders now sat tight against her body, filled by her voluptuous chest. ¡°We need to get you clothes¡­¡± he said, turning away to fetch his cloak. Her growth spurt had become evident on the third day and the purchase had been put off until she had fully recovered. Without a stable source of income and a large debt hanging over his head, every Denar had to be saved. Exill tied a belt around her tunic and covered her shoulders with a long cloak. At first glance, she looked presentable, which meant piss all considering his sense of fashion was non-existent. ¡°We should get you a comb as well.¡± He tried to brush her scarlet hair with his fingers, but encountered a tangle at every inch. Envy glared at him with narrowed eyes until he stopped yanking at her hair. Looking away from her intimidating stare, he led her outside, through the claustrophobic alleyways until they joined the main road leading to the South Gate. ¡°Hold this,¡± he passed her a green token. Unlike the red citizen¡¯s token in his possession, it marked her as a slave of an Ark resident, granting free passage through the gates. Soon, they approached the fabric market in the Outer City where a significant number of stalls catered to selling used clothes. This was one of the places he had discovered on his way back to the refugee camp after the day¡¯s work at Ham¡¯s smithy. ¡°Here is 80 Denars, find clothes that fit and meet me at the fountain at midday. I have business to take care of.¡± He left, glancing back before she was lost in the crowds. The last glimpse of Envy was of her staring dumbly at the bundle of coins in her palm. Releasing a pent-up breath, he headed to the clinic run by Perg, the healer he had met at Diallo¡¯s warehouse. Sometime later, he was ushered into an elaborately furnished sitting room. The portly Healer was sitting in the corner, a teacup expertly balanced on top of his crossed knee. A jaunty smile crossed his lips as he recognised Exill from the week before. ¡°A pleasure to see you, to what do I owe this pleasure?¡± ¡°Pleasures all mine, but I¡¯m here for business,¡± the Witchdoctor began, causing Perg to lean forward in his seat with interest, ¡°We¡¯ve worked together several times, and you know what I am capable of. Instead of sending clients to the butchers down the road, I want you to refer them to me, in exchange for a 30% referral fee. ¡°My, my¡­ so it is true! You¡¯ve split your ways from that nasty hag. You know they set a search out for you, famed healer of Ark suddenly disappearing for a week ¨C big news.¡± ¡®Huh, someone would place a bounty on me? I should check the Guild later.¡¯ Exill thought as he vaguely listened to Perg listing recent events in high society. ¡°¡­ as for your proposal, consider it done. I regard us as friends after all. Please leave your forwarding address with my assistant.¡± Exill shook his hands, and just as he was about to leave, he turned, asking a question that had been plaguing his mind the past week, ¡°Perg. What do you know about vampires?¡± ¡°Are you talking about that beauty at Diallo¡¯s? I heard she¡¯s sold. Nasty business that. I was interested in her as well¡­ until I read the background check. Did you know she killed her former master? Heaven forbid I made such a purchase!¡± Exill inwardly swore for the 20th time that week. ¡°¡­ but anyway, yes, they are quite fickle. Can only be fed on the blood of virgins, which is a rarity nowadays am I right? What, with the state of society as it is, heaven forbid. The difficulty lies in the fact that the stronger the vampire is, the stronger their donor needs to be ¨C and I hear she is a mighty strong one! Imagine trying to source a veteran warrior who is also a virgin, like picking stars from the sky!¡± Exill inwardly swore for the 21st time that week. He had been thoroughly swindled by Diallo, no one in their right mind would have purchased Envy, little wonder she was in such a state. ¡°Thank you so much Perg, I hope to see you again soon.¡± He let out a large sigh on entering the street and wandered towards the market fountain, ¡®Let¡¯s hope she won¡¯t be the death of me.¡¯ Chapter 47 - Clothes Envy was at a complete loss. Her heart and mind was racing with possibilities as she stared at the eight large copper coins in her palm. It was the most money she had ever held. Suddenly aware of how exposed she was, she hid her palm and drew the cloak tighter around her. The rules of the streets were painfully clear on how quickly weakness incited violence. Envy walked around the market, seeming to inspect clothes as the Master had ordered. Behind this fa?ade, her brain went into overdrive. Somewhere out there, Exill was observing her from the shadows, judging her actions and ready to intercept should she try to escape. Taking a deep breath, she forced the encroaching paranoia aside and centred herself, forcibly converting her fear into anger, a vicious smile forming on her lips, ¡®I can kill him at any time. I¡¯ve done it before.¡¯ Her confidence may have been restored but she was still bewildered by his command - having never purchased clothes of her own before. She unobtrusively observed the women passing by, most of them were wearing a modest blouse and skirt. ¡®How am I supposed to choose clothes?¡¯ she questioned, flipping through the articles of repaired clothing half-heartedly. They all looked the same. She eventually settled on a pair of mundane linen tunics and brown breeches. The tunic because she was already wearing one, and the breeches because her Master owned one. She pinched her thighs. Envy remembered her Master, red faced and silently swearing, trying to fit his pajamas on her ¨C and failing. Speaking of which, she hadn¡¯t failed to notice her body was more... full, maybe even taller. She hadn¡¯t felt this aware and present since - The train of thoughts was immediately shut down. There was only so much use in beating yourself when others were more than willing to do it for you. She paid the stall owner 60 Denars and asked the woman to cover her with an awning as she changed into the used clothes under the cover of her cloak. ¡°Oh deary me, I see the breeches are a bit tight around your thighs. It¡¯s because you¡¯re a tall lass and this is the largest size we have; you need to go to the Tailors if you want a better fit.¡± The Vendor fussed over the trousers. It became a bit more comfortable after she loosened some cordage around the sides. Surrounded by lewd gazes checking out her figure, Envy waited by the fountain. She didn¡¯t mind the attention but drew the cloak tighter, aware that further interest could attract trouble. *** Exill arrived at the fountain, half expecting the Vampire to have run off. ¡®That might not be so bad considering what I learnt today...¡¯ he thought glumly. The debt to Diallo would need to be repaid, but it was easier to think of it as a lesson on fate. Up ahead, Exill finally spotted her a little distance from the fountain, her eyes wary and alert. She looked... lithe in her form fitting clothes, like a predator at ease amongst prey. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Their eyes met as he approached and he slowed down, expecting the Vampire to fall in beside him. He held out his palm. Envy hesitated before placing five denars, which he quickly palmed into his coin pouch. ¡®Sly girl... did she think I wouldn¡¯t notice when I have [Appraisal]?¡¯ he mused, knowing she was withholding fifteen Denars for herself. In spite of this, he strangely chose to overlook her indiscretion. After all, she would need money to buy conveniences such as combs and whatever else vampires needed. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Guild. You can follow me or head back to the Inn, it¡¯s your choice¡± Envy replied by entwining one arm around his, making her intentions to follow him clear. ¡®What is this succubus planning!?¡¯ he was repulsed and immediately on guard by the sudden display of affection. Healer Perg¡¯s comment about how she had murdered her previous master flashed discordantly through his mind, yet it couldn¡¯t conceal the tips of ears growing red in embarrassment from the physical contact. Meanwhile, Envy grinned inwardly at his visible discomfort. She was familiar with men and their desires. It was only a matter of time until she wrapped him around her fingers, and she smiled warmly while pressing his tense arms tighter to her chest. *** With Envy latched to his arm, he opened the door to the Guild. Many who had become passing acquaintances to Exill were taken aback by this sudden development and display of affection, from an astounding beauty no less. He approached the counter, increasingly regretting the choice of bringing the Vampire along. He could see Iris¡¯s welcoming smile falter under Envy¡¯s challenging glare. ¡°Exill! It¡¯s nice t-to see you?¡± Iris was obviously suppressed by the way she wasn¡¯t fussing over his wellbeing. He saw the unspoken question in her confused grey eyes ¨C ¡®who is this woman on your arms?¡¯ she wanted to know. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too Iris, I dropped by because I heard there was a search out for me.¡± ¡°Yes, it was a...¡± she turned her head to her fellow clerk, and Marco raised five fingers in response, ¡°500 denar bounty posted yesterday by Savta¡¯s clinic.¡± Exill¡¯s eyebrows rose in astonishment, but it quickly turned into a greed laced smile, ¡°I would like to turn myself in and claim the bounty. I am staying at the Sundry Inn.¡± Iris turned to her fellow clerk Marco for help, but he just shrugged in response. This was equally unprecedented for him. ¡°Um... okay... It should be fine if I report to the client your new address. Here is the reward for your bounty¡± she slid five silver coins forward, which Envy promptly snatched away. Exill swore inwardly for the 25th time that week. He was starting to suspect this woman was manipulative and greedy! With a weak smile on his face, he bid the clerk goodbye, ¡°Thank you Iris, I have to run now but I¡¯ll drop by in the near future.¡± They exited the Guild, and he slipped down a secluded alleyway in the direction of the Inn. If he was correct, they would need to prepare for the arrival of visitors¡­ but there was a slightly more urgent matter to attend to first. ¡°Envy.¡± he stopped, raising an upraised palm demandingly with barely suppressed rage. The Vampire¡¯s eyes flashed amber-red, studying his expression. Then after a brief pause, dropped the silver coins, one-by-one, clinking into his outstretched palm. She inwardly revised her plans to wrap him around her finger. From the state of their accommodations, she had accurately guessed he was stingy, but it appeared he valued money more than women. ¡®There are other ways to manipulate greedy little virgins...¡¯ she smiled while pulling his arm against her breasts. Envy was confident about her ability to dominate men through their many desires. ¡®He will learn to submit or die.¡¯ Chapter 48 ¡°Exill? He looked up from his meal to find Luna, flushed and out of breath at the Inn¡¯s entryway. Moving his bowl of soup aside, he gestured to the bench on the other side. Luna sat down, still breathing heavily as she looked around at the dilapidated interior. ¡°What are you doing here? Nana wouldn¡¯t explain. There are many patients looking for you!¡± Luna asked, her face full of confusion and betrayal ¡°Is it because I¡¯ve been acting distant? I¡¯m sorry, but please come back for the patients if not for me, they need you.¡± Exill felt a tug at his heartstrings. He had been confident he could cut Luna away cleanly and spare her the pain... it was akin to an amputation of sorts. However, he had not been expecting the self-blame. He was struggling to find the right words when a voice behind him made his blood run cold. ¡°Master no longer needs you. He only desires me.¡± Envy walked down the stairs; her smouldering amber gaze tinged with red focused on the timid elf-maiden. Exill glared back at her, but slowly turned away. He had asked Envy to stay in the room, but perhaps this was for the best. Luna stared at the intimidating beauty in shock, then turned to him, absorbing the resigned expression on his face. She whispered, teary eyed, ¡°Will you not return, even for the patients?¡± ¡°Do you think Savta would permit a slave owner to work in her clinic?¡± ¡°But... why, what changed? Why give up all that you had to be¡­ here?¡± her eyes flickered towards Envy who was now standing behind Exill, one hand resting possessively on his shoulder. Searching deep within himself, he offered her a fragment of truth as he saw it, ¡°People don¡¯t change Luna; they reveal who they really are... It is my priorities that have shifted.¡± Luna nodded, barely holding back her tears, ¡°I understand, but the patients still need you. I¡¯ll talk to Nana so that you can return.¡± Before he could respond, she stood up and left, leaving Exill inwardly swearing for the last time that day. *** Back in their room, Exill sat cross legged on the floor and opened a woven pouch bulging with fragments of bone. After the earlier incident with Luna he was in a mournful mood and wanted to clamber back into bed, but pushed on because of the urgency of their finances. ¡°Have you hunted in the Labyrinth before?¡± Exill asked, as he channelled mana through the rune throwing bones before letting them slip through his fingers. The Night Market vendor had assured him the battered divination tools were still functional when he had purchased them yesterday. ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s been... over a year.¡± Exill nodded while frowning, he could sense... flickering thoughts and impressions as the mana dissipated from the bones. It was no use, again. ¡°What is your preferred weapon?¡± ¡°Sword and shield.¡± Exill flinched, it was one of the most expensive weapon sets to equip... but it had good compatibility with his bow and spear. The throwing bones were returned to their pouch, he would practice again later. ¡°Let¡¯s head out,¡± he grunted wearily while rising to his feet. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The two travelled to the Central Market, the largest of its kind in Ark. The broad square was used as a parade ground on special occasions, but day-to-day, it was a patchwork amalgamation of hundreds of colourful stalls selling everything you could imagine. Exill weaved through the morning crowds, heading in the direction where they sold weapons. They passed rows of stalls selling impressive armaments. Envy made to stop as a particular sword caught her eye, but Exill kept walking. Scowling, she followed until he stood in front a dinghy military surplus store looking especially proud of himself. ¡°You can find the best deals here. I heard they source their range from decommissioned battalions. Sturdy, reliable stuff.¡± Envy looked at the barrels of chipped blades in distaste. Entrusting her life to this rubbish didn¡¯t sit well with her. As a last resort, she tried charming him. ¡°I saw something nicer on the way here. I might get hurt wielding one of these.¡± She hugged his arm, pressing her curves against him. Exill pulled away while frowning, his gaze serious as he addressed her concerns, ¡°We can¡¯t afford to splurge on top shelf equipment. If we don¡¯t make the next payment to Diallo you will be seized and returned to his warehouse to be sold again. A good sword cannot save us from that fate.¡± The Vampire¡¯s eyes flashed at the mention of Diallo. The slave merchant had left her to starve till she was unresponsive. She let go of his arm, a corner of her mouth downturned in a slight grimace. ¡°Tch. Stingy virgin.¡± ¡®Excuse me?¡¯ he blinked. Envy looked down her nose at him with a hint of challenge, begging him to prove her wrong. Exill decided it was better to pretend he didn¡¯t hear the statement and instead turned his attention to the barrels before him. He had hoped to find something good amongst the barrels of rubbish but neither of them had such luck. After some time, Exill excused himself, saying there was something he needed to buy, and left Envy to the arduous task of sorting trash from lesser trash. Later, he returned, stuffing a roll of parchment into his satchel. ¡°Did you find anything usable?¡± he asked. Envy pointed to a well-worn shortsword that needed some sharpening and an iron buckler with most of the leather straps intact. It all came out to 300 denars. ¡°I¡¯ve got a small whetstone in my rucksack. Let¡¯s head to the Labyrinth to give the weapons a trial run.¡± The pair left Central Market and stood in line for the Labyrinth, shuffling forward until they reached the guards. ¡°The woman needs a Field Guide to go through.¡± Exill motioned her to summon the Card and green token to demonstrate she was his slave. The Guard inspected her Card, his eyes seeming to hover over a few details before waving them through. ¡°I¡¯m letting you through this time, but grab a Field Guide next time you come here.¡± The Guard warned him in a bored tone then turned to whisper to his fellow companion. Exill could overhear them conversing behind him, ¡°Did you see her second job?¡± ¡°I told you. The beautiful ones are the craziest.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I wouldn¡¯t mind getting murdered by that!¡± Exill grit his teeth as he walked away from the guards into the hallowed grounds of the Tower. They were bullies pure and simple, finding problems where none existed. When he obtained the Green token from the Magistrate¡¯s ¨C he was assured it awarded similar privileges as its master, and there were legal precedents to that effect. In some ways it was a double edged sword. Although the master and slave were considered as one in the eyes of the law, he would equally be held liable for the slave¡¯s action, ranging from homicide to theft. Thankfully, the clerk at the Magistrate¡¯s had assured him there was an effective ceiling on damages. The master had the option of turning over the offending slave to the authorities as a functional equivalent of limited liability. ¡®I don¡¯t want to pick a fight with the Royal Guard over this, but better yet, it would have been great if I could change Envy¡¯s second job.¡¯ He was more than capable of changing party member¡¯s assigned jobs, but too many people and background reports knew her second job as [Murderer]. If it was changed now without going through the official channels ¨C it would raise several eyebrows. ¡®I heard the Church does it in exchange for donations, and that the waitlist for commoners is several years long. I need to investigate an acceptable alternative.¡¯ He added another item, among hundreds to his to-do list. The temperature dropped several degrees as they drew further into the interstitial space between Labyrinth and outside. Envy felt his shiver, drawing his arm closer and breathed enticingly into his ear, ¡°Would you lay down your life for a night with me?¡± Exill suddenly reflected on all the times he had teased Luna. It was not fun being on the receiving end and he kept silent as he adjusted the scrap leather armour on the Vampire. There were gaps in the coverage around her thighs and chest... but it would have to do. ¡°This is as good as it gets.¡± He slapped her backplate, and after forming the party, entered the inky blackness of the dungeon portal. Chapter 49 ¡°Three Harpies.¡± Exill¡¯s whisper echoed softly as he unslung his bow and lightly nocked an arrow. Envy nodded and moved up to take position by the passage entryway, shield raised at the ready. Exill let loose and saw the arrow thump softly into the outline of the first harpy. The next arrow was immediately nocked and drawn with practiced ease, but the projectile only managed to pierce the wing of the second harpy who had leapt from the ledge. ¡®I¡¯m still not good enough to hit them once they are alert.¡¯ Exill exhaled in frustration as he slung his bow, picking up the spear, ¡°Let¡¯s pressure the fallen one, please watch my back.¡± They advanced warily across the floor of chasm, the last remaining harpy shrieking as it harassed them. Exill approached the wounded beast who had broken its wing in the fall. It flopped around in both anger and pain, and was dispatched from a distance with a clean thrust. The remaining harpy continued to screech, harassing them but refusing to commit. ¡°She¡¯s a clever one, lets collect the bodies and move on.¡± They harvested the two downed monsters while covering each other and crossed the floor of the chasm into the next passageway. Exill was in front scouting, for he made less noise than his armoured companion. ¡°Two Spriggans.¡± ¡®Looks like we¡¯ll have to sharpen her sword again...¡¯ Exill thought whilst observing the two monsters that resembled stick insects with long angular branches for limbs. They were smaller than Treents, but their bark was still tough and easily dulled weapons made of lesser metals. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the one on the left.¡± He leapt out and charged at the bewildered spriggan. Its torso contorted away from his lunge and counterattacked by whipping him with its long limbs. Their strikes would sting and leave welts against unarmoured foes, but it was not lethal. Perhaps it was thanks to [Monk¡¯s] increased damage resistance, but he was able to shrug off most of their strikes. The trick to taking them down was to split their heartwood, resembling a tough knot of wood in their chest. He had achieved it once before by impaling it deeply then twisting the spear to split its heart. Exill was repeatedly whipped as the lithe monster dodged his attacks. A feint was performed to the left then lunged, finally impaling the mass of writhing branches. Splitting the heartwood, Exill turned around to see Envy observing him with a condescending smile. Her opponent had been dispatched with the first strike. She didn¡¯t need to say a word to express her opinion of him, the cold, ruthless eyes conveying it all. However, none of her disdain filtered over the Party¡¯s emotional connection. Strangely enough, he hadn¡¯t felt an ounce of emotion from her since they entered the Labyrinth, not even a hint of exhilaration during combat. ¡®I know the Party is active since I can sense her direction, but how cold-blooded do you have to be, to not leak a hint of satisfaction after dispatching a monster?¡¯ He warily glanced back as he field dressed the Spriggan by chopping off its smaller branches. They would only snag against the passage walls on the way back and were worthless. ¡°Let¡¯s head back, today was just a warmup exercise.¡± Envy carelessly shrugged in response, and they returned to the portal room, wary of the remaining harpy while crossing the chasm, but it had either disappeared or thoroughly concealed itself. Dismissing the party, they entered the afternoon sunlight and the two made their way to the Guild. *** Exill placed the Harpy wings, talons and spriggan boughs on the guild counter. Iris inspected them and subsequently slid 52 Denars across the heavily scored worktop. ¡°That would be 24 Denars for the harpies and 28 for the spriggans.¡± ¡°Thank you Iris, how is Grundle by the way?¡± ¡°Ah! I paired him up with another young recruit. They are a good team!¡± Iris had a lot of questions to ask Exill, but the pressure exerted by the Vampire made her strangely reluctant to approach him. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to know, please send him my regards, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Exill palmed the coins into his pouch before Envy could touch it. The pair returned home to the Inn and Exill ate dinner downstairs while Envy sharpened and maintained her new sword. He tentatively tasted the spicy grillock stew. It was a type of fish that was commonly found in the freshwater streams near Ark around this time of year. He had expected it to smell and taste fishy but was pleasantly surprised by the light flavour that complemented the spiciness. After the Wheyr tail soup, this had to be his next favourite dish from the Innkeeper, he had a suspicion that one of the man¡¯s jobs was [Cook]. ¡°Thank you, that was excellent.¡± The Innkeeper merely raised the back of his hand through the doorway in acknowledgement from outside. Exill climbed up to the room with a large basin of heated water to see Envy sitting at the end of the bed, having finished maintaining her weapon. ¡°I¡¯m hungry too.¡± ¡°Soon, you can wash first.¡± He lowered the basin on the floor and took a short walk around the Inn, returning to the room after a period of time. He found Envy sat cross-legged on the bed, patting her hair dry with a towel. ¡°Erhem...¡± Exill cleared his throat to indicate it was her turn to leave, but she glared at him for a few seconds followed by a condescendingly mocking tone, ¡°Why? Does my virgin master need some privacy to scrub his little dick?¡± Exill blinked. The woman didn¡¯t need to like him, but he had expected a modicum of civility considering the fate she had been rescued from. Not to mention the incredible debt and litres of blood that had been sacrificed to nurse her back to health. A slow flush of outrage began to creep up his neck, and he stammered the first thing that came to mind. ¡°I need you to leave... or I won¡¯t feed you today!¡± ¡°Tch, a coward and a weak virgin.¡± Envy threw her towel in distaste and shouldered past him, slamming the door behind her. Exill wiped himself down quickly, still shaking with embarrassment and anger. ¡®What is up with that woman?¡¯ The behaviours he had seen so far were difficult to organize and interpret. ¡®She tries to seduce and manipulate me. Intimidates and drives away those close to me. Finally, mocks and derides me. What is she hoping to achieve?¡¯ Exill stared at her with a calculating gaze when she returned. Unfortunately it was time to feed her, whether he liked it or not. Rolling up the sleeves of one forearm, he knelt on the floor, arm extended out. Envy similarly kneeled in front of him but hesitated in front of the proffered limb. ¡°The blood tastes better when it¡¯s closer to the heart.¡± She lied. It was technically true, but the difference in taste was marginal. Simply put, she didn¡¯t want him looking down at her with those inscrutable green eyes while she lapped at his vitality. It made her self-conscious and vulnerable. It felt like¡­ he was doing her a favour, and that she should be grateful for it. Thankful to the man who owned her. ¡°So what do you want?¡± Exill asked warily, wondering if this was finally the moment she would kill him. Envy ignored his question and looked yearningly at the bed then lead him to the stool. He had forbidden her from feeding on the bed after she had let a few drops of blood fall, staining the mattress. A humiliating blush rose when she remembered the stern lecture and afternoon spent washing the sheets. Envy pushed him down on the stool and straddled him, quickly unbuttoning his tunic. ¡°W-what are-¡± ¡°Stay still.¡± She whispered while lifting his clothes off and bit lightly into his neck. Now she was the one on top and in control. ¡®I don¡¯t have to look into those unsettling eyes of his,¡¯ the satisfied thought swept through her. She squirmed lightly while feeding, her body pressing against his. Exill initially panicked when she latched onto his neck, but the press of her body and heavy breathing gradually woke something within him. Envy inwardly grinned as she felt something hard press up against her. ¡®All men are the same, and this one is no different.¡¯ After a few minutes, Envy sated herself and sealed the wound on his neck with a satisfied kiss. She couldn¡¯t help herself and threw one last jab at the man who owned her. ¡°Master just needs to say the order to... help with his release.¡± She whispered enticingly while sliding her hand slowly down towards the thing pressing against her. ¡°Why do you hate me so much?¡± Envy stopped. ¡°Even as you touch me, I can sense your distaste...¡± Exill furrowed his brows, ¡°Why would you put yourself through that, and what have I done to earn your anger?¡± Her initial shock turned into outrage that blossomed in her fiery eyes as she pushed him back, ¡°Hate? A slave to her master? Sure, you may act nicer than the previous ones, but you are no different from the rest of them because you control me.¡± She emphasised the last three words by poking at his temple, trying to drill it into his brain. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, she spat on his face, with a mixture of disgust and disdain. Exill calmly wiped the stringy spit away from his cheek and asked deliberately, his young face unfittingly serious, ¡°Then what do you want? What do you dream of doing?¡± She stared at him in disbelief and began to laugh hysterically at the thought that a mad man had purchased her, ¡°Slaves aren¡¯t allowed to have dreams!¡± she hissed. She paced the room, but her outrage was far from over, ¡°You asked me what I want, and I want this to stop. I want this nightmare to end.¡± She bit the last words off with a haunted look on her face. Several breaths passed as Exill absorbed her statement, his gaze fixed on something only he could see. Rising to his feet, he walked towards the equipment dumped haphazardly in a corner of the room. Seeing Exill approach his spear, Envy leapt for her sword. ¡°Stop.¡± He channelled mana into the command and the Vampire ceased all movement, sword trembling in her hand as she tried to resist the order. Chapter 50 - Contract [Job Chart] She was a slave who had managed to kill her Master, which should have been impossible given the mana imbued orders emplaced by her previous owner. If it was anyone else in this situation, he would have almost admired the ingenuity it must have taken to break free of those shackles. Compounding the difficulty was her background check. He honestly didn¡¯t know what to make of it. Having examined the copy purchased by Healer Perg - the chronology was fragmented and incomplete, owing to the haphazard nature of this world¡¯s record keeping. She had been imprisoned for petty thievery at the age of 17, but subsequent records indicated she had been sold into slavery for murdering a guard partway through her sentence. Since then, she had exchanged hands four times over the past seven years. To Exill, the safest, most rational choice was to admit an impulsive, self-destructive purchase had been made, then absorb the 2000 Denar loss and return Envy to the Slave Trader. It would be an object lesson on the foolishness of his belief that he could save a life. Savta was unlikely to take him back, though he could still try. But why couldn¡¯t he do it? Why didn¡¯t he feel relieved from finding a way out? The cold truth was the slave warehouse was intimately familiar to him, in all its maleficent splendour. To return a living person to that state, no matter their background didn¡¯t sit well with him. He may be soft and kind-hearted, but there had to be a better way. This left him with the question, ¡®How do you motivate someone who is hostile to you?¡¯ The answer he arrived at was to promise something they desired, something valuable enough to incentivize his safety. He took his eyes off the sword wielding Vampire for a second, and reached down into his rucksack to withdraw a small sheaf of parchment purchased earlier that day. ¡°You know, we often make enemies of people who aren¡¯t enemies... finding that even if we win, we have still lost.¡± He held up the [Notarized Contract] in front of her and made the following declaration: ¡°I am willing to guarantee your freedom in exchange for your help. Assist me in all my endeavours, and at the end of its term, we can both walk away alive.¡± Envy drew in a ragged breath and finally lowered her sword. His words had caught her off guard and her pupils flickered as she made rapid calculations, ¡°Why would you offer to free me when you can easily manipulate me with your commands?¡± Exill shrugged, ¡°I know what you did to your former Master. Call me idealistic, but I would rather work with you than against you.¡± ¡°So, you will save up another 15,000 Denars on top of your 13,000 debt to pay for my freedom?¡± Envy asked sceptically. She didn¡¯t permit her heart to dream, because if this whole performance turned out to be a sick joke, she was afraid she would never recover from it. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes, yes¡­ though it might take some time.¡± Exill maintained a straight face whilst wincing inwardly. He was aware that you had to pay a Slave Trader to free someone, but not that the price of freedom was the slave¡¯s purchase price. This essentially doubled the amount of money required. ¡°How long will that take?¡± Exill sighed and reached for the clay tablet, wetting its surface as he made some calculations, ¡°Our living expenses are 450 Denars a month, assuming we live frugally. If we earn enough from the Labyrinth, and I take the odd healing job we can earn around 2000 Denars a month. That means... you should be free in twenty to twenty four months.¡± Envy¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise, much to Exill¡¯s amusement because he had never expected that the scheming succubus was capable of expressing such an emotion. ¡®I can be free in under two years. Then I can search for...¡¯ but she didn¡¯t allow her thoughts to derail. Planning that far ahead into the future could not end well, that was something she had learnt the hard way. After some thought, she made her demands. ¡°¡®Should be free in twenty four months¡¯ isn¡¯t good enough, I want you to guarantee my freedom in two years, whatever it takes.¡± Her eyes were resolute. She would rather kill him than be forcibly bound to another broken promise. Exill hesitated... his two-year estimate was on the conservative side and had a lot of padding built in, but he didn¡¯t want to stake his word on what was essentially napkin math. The job [Slave Trader] could be obtained to minimize his exposure to this risk. It was currently greyed out, requiring Level 20 Vendor and had been unlocked the moment he had purchased Envy. This meant he could free her without the need for middle-men, but that came with its own host of challenges. After some time, he looked up from his thoughts to find Envy glaring at him, suspicion and disappointment evident in her eyes. ¡®Ah... would anything less suffice in gaining her trust?¡¯ What she had gone through was anyone¡¯s guess, but if their positions had been reversed he would have demanded the very same assurances. If he declined her now, there would be no credibility to their partnership. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Okay, but the moment you commit a crime, and I¡¯m held accountable as your master - the deal is off.¡± Exill reluctantly accepted, he just needed the [Slave Trader] job before the two years were up to free her at no extra cost. Reaching out for a pen, he began to write the contract when the doubtful murderess stopped him again. He had accepted her terms too easily. ¡°You will not attempt to kill me or give me orders that may lead to my death.¡± She hastily added, afraid he would kill her the moment she was of no use to him. ¡°That goes without saying, and similar conditions will apply to you as well.¡± he responded in turn. Space was tight on the single sheet of parchment, but he wrote the additional terms and held it up for the mistrustful Vampire to inspect. She still glared at him, unwilling to believe there wasn¡¯t an exploitable loophole, but to her surprise the contract appeared solid. Aside from guaranteeing her freedom after two years, it demanded her full cooperation in all his endeavours, with lock tight clauses safeguarding the mutual security of both parties. What stood out was a non-disclosure agreement combined with a non-disparagement clause that prevented Envy from divulging secrets obtained in/directly to the detriment of her owner for all eternity. Exill wasn¡¯t sure how the NDA would work in this World. To this end, he added a tiny reciprocity clause that applied these restrictions to Envy¡¯s secrets as well ¨C after all, it was the only way to determine how much protection it afforded him. A desolate seed of hope was planted in her heart when they channelled mana through the parchment, binding themselves with the World as their witness. The contract was handed over to her to keep. It was a mere formality at this point. ¡°I hope this means your days of acting maliciously are over.¡± Exill sighed, hoping that his efforts hadn¡¯t been in vain. Envy pondered on it, obviously enjoying the optimistic light in his eyes. She relished teasing this earnest young man. For her, the way his serious face turned red from embarrassment was too delightful to give up. ¡°Maybe. If you can fix that stingy virgin behaviour of yours.¡± ¡°Argh! Why are you even using that word as an insult? How would you even survive if I couldn¡¯t feed you?¡± She smiled, perhaps her first genuine smile since she had been enslaved. Reaching out, she tentatively tousled his brown hair, ¡°That is why you will remain my stingy virgin.¡± Exill¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her candid smile and turned away to focus on his clay tablet in sullen silence. It appeared her relentless teasing was here to stay. He turned his focus to the napkin math that estimated her freedom in two years and his mind raced with possibilities and implications. Slowly, he wiped away the crude calculations. ¡®What¡¯s done, is done.¡¯ He tried not to dwell too much on things that could go wrong. *** For the rest of the evening, they sat in companionable stillness, occupied in their own thoughts. The earlier tension in the room had all but dissipated. After several hours, Exill looked up and asked the Vampire something that he had been wanting to test for a long while. ¡°Can I ask you a few questions? It shouldn¡¯t take longer than a minute.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± There was a guarded look on Envy¡¯s face, apprehensive of the type of questions her new contractor would ask. Exill readied his clay tablet, eager to test the efficacy of a skill he had obtained months ago. [Conman]¡¯s active skill [Bluff] ¨C something that made lies more believable - had been unassigned from his active job slot for the first part of the test. ¡°I would like you to answer the following questions with a number ranging from one to five, where 1 is very unlikely and 5 is very plausible.¡± Four questions were asked, and Envy¡¯s tepid responses were recorded.
Question Answer
I was blessed by the World Spirit 4
I am 29 years old 1
The cost to enter the Labyrinth is normally five Denars 5
The war with the Afrye Tribal Federation is over 5
¡°Great, for the next part I would like you to answer in the same way, again, 1 is very unlikely and 5 is very plausible.¡± Exill activated [Conman] this time and asked the same questions as before with a slight twist.
Question [Bluff Activated] Answer
I was not blessed by the World Spirit 3
I am 18 years old 2
The cost to enter the Labyrinth has always been free 1
The war with the Afrye Tribal Federation rages on in secret 3
Examining the results for a minute, he came to several tentative conclusions. Although his questions were crude and there were many holes in his methodology, two things immediately leapt out at him. First was that [Bluff] had no effect on what the listener knew to be false. This was evident from how Envy had replied ¡®Very Unlikely¡¯ to the question ¡®The cost to enter the Labyrinth has always been free.¡¯ Second was that [Bluff] worked best when there was an element of uncertainty. On the first part of the test, Envy was certain that the war was over with the Afrye. However, when he posed an alternate theory that the ¡®war raged on in secret¡¯ with [Bluff] activated, her belief had been shaken. Lastly, and this was a personal observation, he found it interesting that Envy didn¡¯t fully believe he had been blessed by the World Spirit to obtain [Witchdoctor]. She was shrewd and intelligent, and her scepticism increased his respect towards her. ¡°So, is that all?¡± she asked, surprised at the direction of his questions. ¡°Yes, that is all. Thank you.¡± ¡°Then what was the answer to those questions?¡± Envy couldn¡¯t fully conceal the burning curiosity in her amber eyes. She couldn¡¯t gauge if the questions had been designed to test her intellect or that it hid a more insidious purpose. Enjoying how the tables had turned, Exill grasped the opportunity to tease her for once. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know?¡± he replied smugly. [Job Tree in post-chapter author note] Chapter 51 A few days later, Exill was eating breakfast when a messenger from Diallo arrived requesting his immediate presence. A slave had a broken a few fingers while their cage was being moved. He quickly finished the meal and went back upstairs to grab his surgery tools. Envy looked up at him as she sat cross-legged on the floor, sharpening her sword in preparation for their morning delve. ¡°Change of plans, Diallo just called. I¡¯ll meet you in front of the Labyrinth in an hour.¡± Envy merely nodded and went back to honing her sword. Exill rushed to the slave market so that he could be over with this as soon as possible. One of the terms of the Envy loan deal had been that Exill would be on call at discounted rates. This would be offset against the 1300 Denars he was expected to repay each month for the next ten months. It was a minor blessing that he wasn¡¯t charged monthly interest, and had been reticent (understandably) to ask Diallo if such a concept existed in this World. He took a breath of fresh air before entering Diallo¡¯s warehouse, steeling himself. It never got easier. In the distance, Perg, the portly healer could be seen walking down the cages, looking for interesting specimens. ¡°Ah! Delightful to see you here Exill, always a pleasure to work with Ark¡¯s premier witchdoctor!¡± ¡°Likewise Perg, where is the patient?¡± They walked a short distance to find a well-muscled man chained to a chair, cradling his bloodied hand. The first thing he did was channel mana through the paralyzing runes of the scalpel and relieve the man¡¯s pain. He inspected the hand. The index and middle finger was swollen. ¡°Shame really, man was supposed to be sold as a field hand today. I heard the buyer pulled back. I¡¯m afraid those two fingers really need to go my friend.¡± Exill nodded, he suspected it as well but wanted to try a new technique, nonetheless. His confidence as a surgeon and familiarity with the structure of the hand had grown remarkably these past few months. ¡°Let me try something.¡± He used a razor to cut the thick hairs growing on the back of his fingers before scrubbing it thoroughly in dwarven spirit. Exill split the back of the finger down the middle to inspect the bones by sight. Thankfully, the breaks were relatively clean, and he held the splintered shards together while Perg fused them with a highly focal [heal]. ¡°Thanks Perg, I can take things from here.¡± He said, as the last fragments were knit together. ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s no trouble at all you know.¡± The middle-aged healer assured him while holding a handkerchief to his nose. ¡°It¡¯s fine, this will only take a couple minutes.¡± The Witchdoctor replied. He didn¡¯t want to hold anyone in this decrepit place any longer than necessary, and Perg nodded graciously then turned to leave. True to his word and only a few minutes later, Exill sighed as he finished suturing up the fingers with practiced ease. He was running late, and Envy was guaranteed to throw him some attitude. He was hastily leaving towards the dimly lit entrance when a small hand shot from a nearby cage to grasp at his clothes. ¡°Please healer! Let me be your servant!¡± A young woman, the left side of her face hideously disfigured by burn scars desperately clawed at him as drool dripped down from the hole in her cheek. Exill instinctively stepped back in revulsion, before guilt overcame him. As much as he wanted to help, he was in no position to adopt additional slaves. He shook his head in response to her pleading eyes. ¡°I cannot help you.¡± The claw was unhooked from his tunic, and he hurried away as she desperately cried out to him. The girl had seen him treat the beastfolk with kindness and perform miracles on what many workers had whispered were lost causes. Her days had been spent daydreaming. The lucid dreams would become more elaborate over time as he not only purchased her, but fully healed her as well. The refusal and look of disgust drove her mad and she screeched in torment at the quickly retreating figure. Exill was white faced as he ran away from the warehouse, haunted by her screams. *** ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± He met Envy in the hallowed grounds of the inner Tower and hurriedly checked the straps on her armour. The Vampire had been waiting for twenty minutes and was about to make a snide comment on his lateness, but held back when she saw his pale face. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Can you fight?¡± She didn¡¯t voice the unspoken question. She was all too familiar with what went on in the slave warehouse. Envy was relieved to see Exill take a deep breathe before nodding, his pained eyes gaining focus. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They had no problems clearing the first cavern filled with slimes, but in the second one, they encountered a group of three gnolls. Their gnashing tusk filled jaws spewed specks of spittle, waving their rudimentary spears and axes in pure aggression. Envy glanced worriedly at her new contractor. Although he had performed fine against the slimes, gnolls were unpredictable in their viciousness and could seriously wound an unwary opponent. However Exill was unperturbed, appeared eager even, and he motioned her to stand formation in the previous cavern. He then threw a rock at the wandering gnolls and shouted, before hastily withdrawing to her position. The gnolls yipped and gibbered as they charged into their bristling formation, and was swiftly cut down by their combined armaments. In spite of the speed with which they were dispatched, a stray counterstrike from a spear lightly nicked Exill¡¯s forearm. Envy crouched to harvest the ichor from the fallen gnolls while her wounded master turned away to clean his injury. The extracts from the ichor could be used to enforce lesser berserk enchantments or to create stamina potions that had an invigorating effect. She quickly finished the task and eyed the vulnerable back of the Witchdoctor, applying the finishing touches to his bandaged arm. ¡®It would take just a casual thrust.¡¯ She thought idly. The young man placed too much faith on the power of notarized contracts to bind actions, and she found his trust incredibly na?ve. If being bound by your words with the Spirit as its witness was all encompassing and powerful, she would never have been betrayed in the first place, nor provided with the opportunity to kill her previous master. There were always small loopholes that could be exploited, and just needed to figure out what it was. She was more experienced than most in pushing the envelope of what was permissible. ¡®But why do I feel that this time¡­ things might be different?¡¯ the doubtful thought stayed her murderous hand. The two wrapped up hunting in the Labyrinth after only an hour, then dragged the harvested parts to the Guild. Iris processed it all for 34 Denars, fussing concernedly over Exill¡¯s bandaged forearm. Back at the Inn, Exill dragged himself to the stool and let out a sigh. From now on, he would have to stand by for any messengers from the network of healers he had contracted to. Aside from Perg, he had reached out to two other clinics in the Outer City, offering his services for tasks often outsourced to butchers. This was how he spent most of his afternoons and evenings these days, on standby for urgent operations. It was dull and tedious. He idly summoned his Card and started recording the level gains for the day on the clay tablet. ¡°You were 18?¡± Envy had snuck up behind him and inspected his card. Her eyes were thoughtful. ¡®Damn! How much did she see? I was too careless...¡¯ his heart stopped for a brief moment. If she had witnessed the number of jobs he had assigned, it could quickly turn into a disaster. Exill had realised very early on that his powers were unnatural, and it was understood that when people didn¡¯t understand something ¨C they feared it. A smile tugged at the corner of Envy¡¯s lips, enjoying the worried look on his face. Such an opportunity to tease couldn¡¯t be wasted, ¡°No wonder you are still a virgin, after all, you are a cute little boy.¡± She squeezed his cheek, turning it red. He slapped her hand away and stood up, outraged she had snuck up on him and was now treating him like a little kid, ¡°What is your problem, what made you think it¡¯s alright to sneak up on someone and infringe their privacy?¡± There was more acid in his voice than intended, perhaps due to the worry his secrets had been revealed. This in turn caused Envy to step forward, inches away from his face. The Vampire was just a bit taller than Exill and she emphasized this as she glowered down at him, her earlier smile all but evaporated, ¡°Why don¡¯t you order me to respect your privacy?¡± Exill sighed. In spite of the deal they had struck, Envy would suddenly lash out at him from time to time. He had hoped to have earned her trust, but her wariness ran deep, the wound left to fester too long. Still, her attitude was markedly better than before, apart from the incessant teasing about how he was a cheapskate virgin. ¡®I bet she would somehow weave the fact I am six years younger into her repertoire,¡¯ he thought dejectedly. To de-escalate the situation, he tiredly raised both arms in surrender then lowered himself back on the stool, picking up the clay tablet to continue his work. He expressed disappointment much as a parent would towards a child acting out. Envy returned to the bed and sat cross legged, knowing she had lashed out again. No matter how hard she tried, something would trigger an aggressive response. Perhaps her heart refused to fully trust him. There were many strange things about the Witchdoctor, like his murky background or the incredible display of strength despite his young age. Up till now, she had believed he was closer to her age because of the mature aura he exuded. This was just another example of how little she knew about the man who had promised her everything. The Vampire inwardly blushed as she remembered all the lewd acts she had done to someone so young, no older than her brother... That train of thought was abruptly cut off before it could go any further and the room descended into a state of uneasy silence. However the discomfort was entirely of Envy¡¯s making and she continued to sit there on the bed, while Exill scribbled notes in a strange, coded form. Apart from maintaining her equipment and exercising, there was nothing for her to do. She let out a quiet sigh. In that small room, sound travelled easily and Exill looked up from the clay tablet, catching her in a rare vulnerable moment that made him pause in thought. He had been too preoccupied with tasks to empathise how she might feel, cooped up in a small room all day. In a way, she was still confined in a cage of his own making, exchanging Diallo¡¯s iron cell for this small decrepit room. Berating himself, Exill brooded on what she could do until a suggestion formed in his mind. What he was about to propose was not without risk, ¡°Take my field guide and hunt in the Labyrinth. You can keep what you earn. There is no need for you to be stuck in here with me.¡± Envy stared at him impassively then packed up her belongings and snatched up the mercenary field guide off the desk, stepping out of the room. Caught in her receding footsteps were Exill¡¯s worries, wondering if he had made the right decision. Isolated in that dank, dilapidated room, he cocked his head and returned to studying his clay tablet. It would be another long afternoon of waiting for emergency summons, and for the first time in a long while, the muted embrace of loneliness enveloped him. Chapter 52 The next morning, they delved into the Labyrinth again. ¡°Paraleech, four of them.¡± Exill reported back to Envy. They cautiously looked around the corner to observe the monsters attached to the ceiling, lying dormant. Their flesh was an overripe translucent grey, quivering as they dangled from the ceilings. Rows of sharp teeth could be glimpsed behind the drool trickling down their gaping maws. Flipping through the pages of the handbook, Exill double checked the entry on the monsters. Their flesh was resistant to blunt and to a lesser extent, puncture damage. Their venom sacs could be harvested as an ingredient for paralysing poison and enchantments. ¡°Let me handle it, I¡¯ll slice up those uncut dicks.¡± Envy viciously stepped forward and waited for Exill to take the first shot with the bow. Clad in scrap leather armour, the Vampire struck an imposing pose with sword and shield held at the ready. She looked every inch the lithe and lethal predator, the tight straps securing the armour plates only accentuating her curves. He winced at the inappropriate comparison. There was no room for distraction in the field of combat and he was determined to remind her that even metaphors had a time and place. Nocking an arrow to his bow, he let loose, only to see the projectile fail to fully penetrate the Paraleech. It fell to the floor, and the clattering arrow shaft awoke the remaining three and they began to crawl towards the two mercenaries with surprising speed. Standing in the passageway, Envy fended the monsters off with a buckler, swinging her sword to keep them at bay. Exill was eyeing the ceiling and their left flank, and managed to impale a Paraleech through the mouth as it leapt at them from the ceiling. ¡°One down,¡± Envy reported, stepping back from the steadily deflating carcass of the beast she had been facing. It was covered in cuts from which a milky fluid was leaking. Before long, the mercenaries had safely dispatched the remaining two and were crouched down with the unenviable task of removing the venom sacs from the moist corpses. ¡°Let¡¯s go back¡± Exill suggested, wiping the mucus off his sleeves with a grimace. Today had been a good haul, and they exited the Labyrinth to the hallowed grounds under the vaulted ceilings of the Tower. Disbanding the Party, they returned to the Guild, hauling the corpses of several monsters crammed in nets over their shoulders. ¡°It looks like you had a good haul, you¡¯re not hurt anywhere are you?¡± Iris¡¯s kind eyes examined him, ignoring the assortment of ingredients arrayed on the counter. ¡°A few scrapes but I¡¯m fine.¡± Exill assured the guild clerk as he extricated his palm from her familiar grip. Iris reluctantly let him go and eyed the impassive Vampire at his side warily, then began the task of tallying up the rewards. ¡°That will be 46 denars.¡± She pushed two stacks of coins, splitting the rewards equally in two. Before Envy could reach for her share, Exill quickly slid all the coins into his coin pouch, leaving both women flabbergasted by his greed. Noticing too late what it looked like, he hurriedly explained: ¡°The money we earn in the morning goes toward funding her freedom,¡± he said, mostly for Iris¡¯s benefit. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t know that!¡± The guild clerk was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t realised Envy was a slave since the Vampire had never registered with the Guild. Her voice grew quieter as she continued on, ¡°Are you¡­ dating? Is this like Trey and Maxine?¡± She paused for a moment, noting their confused expressions, ¡°Oh! You wouldn¡¯t know about them since they work in the evenings.¡± Everyone in the Guild had heard of Trey and Maxine. Trey was a former slave who had been purchased by Maxine, a blonde bombshell of a berserker wielding a greatsword. Some found it romantic, while others joked the freeman was still a slave to her whims. As always, the truth lay somewhere in-between. Stolen story; please report. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them.¡± Exill admitted. He couldn¡¯t deny hoping for something more when Envy was first rescued, but upon actually getting to know her¡­ things had grown complicated. Glancing to his left, he noticed derision creeping up the corner of Envy¡¯s lips. ¡®Of course she would feel that way.¡¯ He thought, but didn¡¯t understand the disappointment seeping in his heart. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Iris gripped his hand apologetically, and he assured her all was fine as they stepped away from the counter. He didn¡¯t know how he felt about being mistaken for a couple, but judging from Envy¡¯s earlier expression, she found it insulting. ¡°Are you going to go hunt alone?¡± Exill halted before the double doors of the Guild and turned awkwardly to his companion, eager to put the misunderstanding behind them. It was well past noon, and he needed to return to the Inn and standby for emergency summons from partnered clinics. Envy nodded once in affirmation, refusing to look him in the eye. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later then¡­ take care of yourself,¡± he replied, and they went their separate ways. Later that evening, Exill returned from Perg¡¯s Clinic to find Envy struggling to unbuckle her armour. One hand had been hastily wrapped in a bandage and was stained red with blood. For a brief moment, he felt panic give way to anger as he rushed to her side. With shaking hands, he hurriedly unbuckled the straps securing the worn scrap leather armour. As if sensing the simmering anger behind his actions, the Vampire became meek while he sat her down and unwrapped the bandage hastily wrapped around the blood soaked hand. Glancing at the discarded forearm guard on the floor and pattern of the wound, she had deflected a slash at the last moment that had grazed the back of her sword hand. Thankfully it wasn¡¯t deep and only required a few stitches. ¡°You know what you did was dumb right? What¡¯s the point of specifying in our contract that I can¡¯t harm you if you go out alone and take stupid risks? I¡¯m going to have a chat with Iris tomorrow about setting you up with a partner while I¡¯m on duty.¡± Exill had no right to lecture her, after all, he had made the same mistake when he first entered the Labyrinth. His thigh had been punctured by a mud fly and he had received the same reprimand from Iris. Still, it felt good that he wasn¡¯t on the receiving end for once. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Envy still refused to meet his gaze, but a flicker of eye movement was all he needed to inspect the shield hand that was covered in scrapes. This was the first time he had examined her hand up close and noted the hard calluses on her palm, as well as painfully dry cracked skin around the fingers. After treating the wounds, he tossed her a small, battered iron tin. ¡°This is a balm for dry skin, take care of your fingers. If I don¡¯t find you using it, I¡¯ll massage them into your hands myself!¡± he added in a condescending tone. Turning away from the chastened Vampire, he released a pent-up breath. Now that the latest crisis was over, he could finally focus on the task he had been called away from. He had been trimming his hair earlier that evening when the emergency summons came, causing him to rush out before finishing the task. Examining himself in the burnished brass plate, he squinted at the hazy reflection while holding a blade to a lock of hair. His hair had grown too long and needed a trim, something Luna had been more than happy to do for him while back at Savta¡¯s clinic. He felt a hand wrap around his wrist, disarming the blade from his grasp. Exill looked back in surprise at the Vampire who had crept up on him, the sharp blade held menacingly in her good hand. ¡°I can cut it for you, tell me how you want it done.¡± Envy clinically examined his hair from the front and back, noticing the mismatch in length. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you holding a blade that close to my head. Besides, your sword hand is wounded.¡± He shirked away from her grasp. ¡°I¡¯m ambidextrous. If you keep struggling, I might really skin you, simply to teach a lesson. Just show me how short you want it cut.¡± In the space of a few minutes, their roles were reversed, and Exill was put under her firm grip as she made small adjustments to the cuts that had already been made. ¡°I¡¯ll be cutting your hair from now on.¡± She held his chin and drew closer, turning his face left and right to examine her handiwork with clinical detachment. Her amber eyes were gleaming with satisfaction of a job well done. ¡°F-fine.¡± He pulled away from her grip, flustered that her face was inches away from his. Up this close, it was difficult to ignore that the knife wielding woman was alluringly beautiful. She let him slip away, noting his aversion and clasped the short blade back onto the table. Cutting his hair had brought up bittersweet memories where she had done the same for her younger brother. Still, it was the least she could do after he treated her hand. Returning to her side of the bed, she sat cross-legged and massaged the hand cream onto the cracked surface of her palm, and the evening slowly descended to night. Chapter 53 - Flu Exill dispatched the last bone vulture with a brutal crunch under his heavy boot. Panting lightly, he looked around to see Envy was already crouched down gathering the larger bonemeal fragments into a woven bag. It had been three days since she had injured her hand and although it was healing up nicely, she was far from peak condition. ¡°Let¡¯s go back¡± he suppressed a shiver, collecting the last of the bone shards. There was a rebellious look in Envy¡¯s eyes as she looked down at the Witchdoctor with thinly veiled contempt, ¡°This is only the second cavern, I know you¡¯re weak and feeble, but you should be able to handle more than this.¡± Exill closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. In that short exchange, his blood pressure had spiked, and the beginnings of a throbbing headache made itself felt. For a brief moment, he was tempted to tell the Vampire to go on alone and do everyone a favour by not coming back. However, upon witnessing her flashing amber-red eyes, moderated his voice in a reasonable tone: ¡°I¡¯m feeling lightheaded, and you haven¡¯t recovered either. Let¡¯s go back to the Guild and check if Iris hasn¡¯t found a suitable partner who could assist you while I¡¯m on call.¡± At the mention that he wasn¡¯t feeling so well, the spite in her eyes was replaced with guarded concern. There was good reason to be worried because if he was ill, she would likely have to forgo some of her meals until he recovered. They hastily exited the Labyrinth into the quiet interior of the Tower. The muffled sound of wind and rain could be heard even within the muted confines of the hallowed grounds. ¡®Damn rain is still pouring¡¯ he thought bitterly, wishing that foldable umbrellas existed in this world. He had thought himself lucky for avoiding most of the rain in the morning, but looking up at the dark brewing clouds, there were no signs it would clear up anytime soon. ¡°Use my shield.¡± Envy offered her iron buckler, but he quickly refused. Although he appreciated the sentiment, its small size would barely cover his shoulders, providing negligible protection against the torrential downpour. They hurried out into the pouring rain, eyes narrowed into slits while they crossed the small plaza in front of the Tower. All the vendors had packed up for the day except for a lone dwarf called Samson who manned the charcoal grill stand every day no matter the weather. ¡°Take care of yourself Samson, this looks like a bad one!¡± he yelled at the dwarf as they rushed past. Once, on a similar night like this he had asked the stalwart vendor why he would keep the stall open when any sane individual would call it a night. The Dwarf¡¯s ruddy features had lit up and he explained that ¡®on nights like these, people come seeking shelter under the warmth of the stall. It is just like any other day in terms of sales¡¯. Acknowledging the Vendor¡¯s greetings, they hurried up the main street, taking care not to slip on slick cobblestones under foot. It would have been faster to take a shortcut through a side street, and although the alleyways were less exposed to the elements, they were unpaved, making it difficult to slog through the muddy puddles. Before long, the plain sandstone exterior of the Guild came into view, the crossed sword banners hanging outside drenched in rain. Swinging the guild door open, Exill swept the damp hair from his eyes and walked up to the counter feeling miserable and cold. Iris the Guild clerk must have similarly been caught in the rain because she stood behind the counter, patting her damp hair with a towel. ¡°Awful weather.¡± He made light conversation while lowering the dripping bags of harvested bonemeal and ingredients onto the counter. They were the only people in the Guild and the large hall was strangely silent from the absence of arguing and boisterous mercenaries. ¡°It is terrible,¡± Iris lowered the damp towel and wrapped her warm hands around his, there was a concerned look in her kind grey eyes as she noted the pallor of his skin, ¡°You don¡¯t look well Exill, you should hurry home and rest. Even if you are a Healer, you are not immune to the cold.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll be doing just that. Could I turn this batch in, and did you find anyone who could partner up with Envy in the afternoons?¡± Iris opened the woven bags of bonemeal, and shook her head silently at their state, ¡°I can give you half price for this, they would need to be dried and processed. I think everything should come out to¡­ 28 denars.¡± She slid the coins across the counter apologetically then answered the second part of his question while throwing the Vampire a careful glance. On one hand, Iris was glad to welcome another woman into the Guild as there were so few of them. On the other hand, Envy scared the shit out of her. ¡°There isn¡¯t anyone I can recommend right now. You know Grundle, the nice bald man you used to Party with. Well, he is with another new recruit right now and they want to get their teamwork down before adding any new members to their roster ¨C so it might be some time before I can find a suitable partner for her.¡± Exill nodded. He had guessed as much. Thanking Iris and extricating his hands from her warm grip, he returned to the entryway and shivered slightly looking out into the pouring rain. Envy stood beside him, smelling of wet leather. He looked down to find the bandages wrapped around her hand wet and stained with dirt. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. We need to change your bandages anyway.¡± On returning to the Inn, he poured a bucket of water into the washbasin hanging over the flickering hearth and basked in its warmth while the water slowly heated up. He climbed the stairs and entered the room to find Envy had removed most of the straps to her scrap leather armour, leaving little to the imagination as her wet tunic clung tightly to her bosom. The room descended into an uneasy silence, and they turned their backs to each other to strip down and wipe away the accumulated grime, turning occasionally to rinse the washcloth in the shared washbasin. As much as he resented the cynical Vampire who enjoyed undermining his authority at every turn, he couldn¡¯t help but steal glances at the captivating form of her slender back and the soft contours of her hips. He quickly changed clothes and climbed into bed, feeling flushed and unwell. If his temperature were to be taken now it would have indicated he had a fever. The best that could be done was to take anti-inflammatories and hope [Herbalist] level 27 was enough to raise the efficacy of the medicine. After hanging the clothes and armour out to dry, Envy stood over the fitfully sleeping Witchdoctor with a troubled look in her eye. Vampires were hardy beings and as long as they had access to blood, they were immune from common ailments. Memories of her human father were vague, and she could not recollect if he had ever been ill, nor what had been done to nurse him back to health. All she could remember of her father was a warm presence and the comforting scent of leather and sandalwood. Envy climbed down the stairs and approached the Innkeeper who was standing under the eaves of the building, observing the pattering raindrops with a lit pipe in hand. She had never interacted with the eccentric man and approached him warily. ¡°How can I help?¡± the Innkeeper recovered his composure. He had been caught off guard by the Vampire silently entering his peripheral vision amidst the tumultuous rainfall. ¡°I need food for the Witchdoctor. Also, if there are any summons from clinics, turn them away and inform them he is unwell.¡± The two stared at each other for a moment, sensing a quiet kinship. The Innkeeper eventually nodded and took a long drag from his pipe, turning his gaze back out to the rain. ¡°I¡¯ll tell them if they come, come back in half an hour and I¡¯ll have your food ready.¡± Envy awkwardly fingered the three denars, unsure if it was appropriate to pay before or after a meal. Exill usually ate alone, and she wasn¡¯t familiar with the customs at the Inn. She eventually settled on leaving the three copper coins at the counter and refilled the washbasin while she was at it. Sometime later, she nudged Exill awake and offered the bowl of creamy broth to the bewildered Witchdoctor. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± he said, levering himself into a sitting position and accepting the bowl. He was disoriented from the flu and was touched by her considerate gesture. It was almost enough to forgive her for all the troubles she had put him through. He didn¡¯t have an appetite, but consumed the meal anyway until a twisted thought entered his delirious mind. ¡°Why are you suddenly so nice to me, do you want to feed on my blood that badly?¡± His voice was tinged with hidden resentment that surprised even him as the words left his mouth. Envy glared at him in response, then gathered her belongings and stormed downstairs. She would rather spend the evening in the company of the quiet Innkeeper than spend another minute with this ungrateful fool. *** Exill fully recovered the following day, and abashedly apologised to Envy for doubting her goodwill. Her hand made a full recovery thanks to his daily administrations and the weeks passed, resulting in Exill successfully making his first payment to Diallo with 400 denars to spare. One afternoon, he was standing in line, unloading the morning¡¯s haul at the Guild when a snippet of conversation behind him was overheard. ¡°...Savta... shame... clinic.¡± Chapter 54 - Funeral Nana had passed away several nights ago, and the once cosy home felt chillingly hollow. Savta had long suffered from a heart problem, but you wouldn¡¯t have known from interacting with the wily old woman. Luna sat still at the breakfast table. Her food lay untouched, cold for the past few hours. She had tried to drown herself in busywork, to take the edge off her mind. It didn¡¯t help that everything she touched reminded her of Nana, causing unbidden tears to roll down her cheeks. For the past minute, someone had persistently knocked at the door despite multiple attempts to ignore it. The clinic was closed and there were no scheduled deliveries for the day. After the fourth knock, she thundered down towards the front entrance prepared to give this persistent wastrel an earful. ¡®Does this person have no shame? You better be on the verge of death!¡¯ She yanked open the door to find Exill, half turned away as if to leave. He was startled and with a few false starts, finally spoke. ¡°¡­I heard the news, I¡¯m so sorry Luna.¡± Biting her lower lip, she flung herself at him and Exill felt her delicate body wracked by sobs. The Witchdoctor had sprinted here after asking the mercenary to repeat the news, abandoning Envy, and their goods back at the Guild. He now cradled Luna in his strong arms as he shuffled awkwardly through the once familiar entryway and nudged the door closed. ¡°Have you been eating?¡± Exill inspected her at arm¡¯s length once she calmed down, noticing she had lost weight. They climbed up the stairs to the living room, where he noticed her breakfast lay untouched. A small lump in his throat formed when he saw Savta¡¯s favourite armchair, her knee blanket folded neatly on one side. Luna followed his tear-filled gaze and wept silently, holding his hand. ¡°How did she die?¡± ¡°While she slept... four nights ago...¡± she hesitated before continuing, ¡°You know I fought with Nana till the end over you. Our last conversation, she was so adamant, and I was so angry!¡± Her face was sallow and tormented with guilt. His heart echoed her pain. To think he was the cause of all this, his friend¡¯s pain was like a serrated edge brushing against his conscience. ¡°Do you need help with the clinic?... wait no, forget-¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t go, please stay.¡± Her gentle sapphire eyes were pleading as she clutched at his tunic. Exill paused, wracked by guilt over the wedge he had driven between Luna and Savta during their final days, yet reluctant to leave the grieving maiden alone. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what the right thing to do was. ¡°Alright, but first let¡¯s get a meal in you.¡± Donning an apron in the kitchen, he equipped [Chef] as one of his active jobs and reheated the breakfast sausages. While he was there, he made a fluffy omelette, just the way she liked it. Bringing the warmed plate to the table, he accompanied her as she ate, distracting her with stories of the patients he had treated. They stayed in the clinic till evening, first treating a woman who had accidentally scalded a hand with hot oil, and a mercenary suffering from light puncture wounds. Before he knew it, it had begun to grow dark outside. Exill wiped his hand with the dish towel as they finished cleaning up their dinner plates. ¡°I should head back.¡± He looked out the window into the darkening skies. ¡°Could you¡­ stay the night?¡± He hesitated, unwilling to meet her tearful gaze. As much as he enjoyed their reunion, it pained him to return here. Their familiar routine was a painful reminder of how much he missed this warm place. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Awaiting him back at the Sundry Inn was a malicious Vampire and mold-ridden room. The time he had spent waiting for emergency summons from across the city had been agonizingly bland and tedious. However, he had a duty to uphold, and a hungry demon to feed. ¡°Not tonight. I promise to return tomorrow, I¡¯ll make you lunch again.¡± ¡°Is it because of that slave?¡± she asked, a small pout forming on her lips. ¡°No, I came here in a hurry, I was supposed to be waiting on call for other clinics. I shouldn¡¯t have stayed here so long.¡± Reluctantly standing up, he gathered the equipment leaning by the doorway. Looking over his shoulder one last time, he quickly left, leaving Luna standing on the porch. The brief flicker of warmth in the elf maiden''s heart was swiftly extinguished at the sight of his receding figure. She closed the door softly, once again alone in this cold and empty home. Exill rushed to the Inn. ¡°Innkeeper! Were there any messages while I was away?¡± he asked, out of breath. The Innkeeper looked away from the skies for a moment in recollection, a tendril of smoke lazily rising from his pipe. ¡°Half an hour ago, foot something, Milo¡¯s clinic,¡± he eventually replied. Exill swore and hurried over to Milo¡¯s clinic in the eastern marketplace, some distance away from Ham¡¯s Smithy. The plaster in between the timber frames of the building had been painted a light shade of blue, making it easy to recognise from a distance. He knocked once before allowing himself in, and was greeted by the Healer, a sour expression on his perpetually scowling face. ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± The elf healer was a short man with a dark widow¡¯s peak tied in a ponytail. Milo was a renowned cynic among healer circles and was a serial complainer who was prone to sending profanity laced letters to everyone who remotely wronged him, perceived or otherwise. Exill didn¡¯t comment as he followed the owner of the establishment into the treatment room. There, he was introduced to a blacksmith who sat pale faced from the pain in his foot. The man had drunkenly dropped a hammer on his boot and Milo the healer suspected it was broken. Exill examined the swollen foot, but after flexing the digits a few times, his experienced gaze told him nothing was broken. ¡°I¡¯ll need to remove the toenail that is embedded in your flesh, but I don¡¯t believe you have broken any bones. Please return if the swelling doesn¡¯t subside in two days.¡± He relieved the Blacksmith from pain by channelling mana through the paralyzing enchantment of the scalpel and removed the toenail, suturing up the gash that remained. After the patient had been discharged, he reluctantly lingered, understanding what he was about to propose would likely incense the healer ¨C as usual. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I was late Milo. I need you to forward emergencies to Savta¡¯s clinic for a few days.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting I refer my patients to a competitor? Are you mad?¡± Milo¡¯s face reddened in anger. ¡°Just for a while, you know Savta passed away and they¡¯re short on hands.¡± ¡°Exill, I like you and admire your work, but this is too much! Let me know when you are no longer associated with that place.¡± Milo guided him to the entrance and shut the door firmly, leaving Exill wandering back to the Inn, thoroughly exhausted. ¡®I doubt Perg, or the other healers would respond much differently. I should tell them I¡¯m on a short break instead.¡¯ He thought glumly. Helping Luna out for just a couple of days until she was back on her feet had suddenly become a logistical nightmare. Not to mention it would put pressure on his debt repayment plan. Mind laden with uncertainties about bills, he homed back to the Inn and opened the room door; startling Envy who had been waiting all afternoon, evening, and night. Anger flared in her amber-red eyes as she glared at him from where she sat cross-legged on the bed. ¡°Where have you been all day?¡± Exill ignored her and collapsed on the mattress, dead tired and with too many worries in his mind. He rolled up one sleeve of his tunic with great effort, partially dozing off. ¡®Does he expect me to lie down and suckle on his arm?¡¯ she was both offended and touched that he would try to feed her while barely conscious. One look and it was evident he had a rough day. Envy reluctantly removed his boots to make him more comfortable then settled on her stomach, propped up on her elbows. She wrapped her soft lips around the underside of his forearm and her crimson hair cascaded down, brushing against his skin. ¡°Mm, that tickles¡± He smiled, half asleep. Exill turned to his side while pulling the still feeding Envy into him, spooning her from behind. Meanwhile, the flustered Vampire was still latched to the arm, frozen in shock by the sudden embrace and worried the sheets were about to be bloodied. The Witchdoctor had once berated her and said, ¡°Even bedbugs don¡¯t leave a mess like this.¡± when she accidentally spilt a few drops of his blood on the bed. As a meticulous creature of hygiene, there was no greater insult, and it was a humiliating experience she was eager not to repeat. Held tightly in his arms, she fed in uncomfortable silence, unable to move lest she disturbed his sleep. Chapter 55 Exill awoke the next morning feeling incredibly groggy and tired. He summoned the Card to find his vitality below 90%. ¡®That gluttonous leech... how much did she feed last night? At this rate, I won¡¯t be able to hunt in the Labyrinth today.¡¯ A discussion about personal boundaries and limits appeared necessary. He couldn¡¯t remember anything from the night before. Beyond entering the room, he had no recollection of climbing into bed or even taking off his boots. He sat up, attracting the gaze of Envy who had barely slept that night. ¡°Do whatever you want today. I need to visit a few clinics and... help a friend.¡± he said, tying the laces of his boot. ¡°Where did you go yesterday?¡± ¡°Savta¡¯s clinic.¡± ¡°That... elf girl who came here?¡± Exill nodded carefully. He didn¡¯t know how to interpret her expression just then. ¡°I¡¯ll be coming with you.¡± ¡°No!¡± he exclaimed, startling both of them with his sudden outburst. In a much quieter tone he continued, ¡°Sorry, I have a lot to deal with right now, and so does she. Another time.¡± ¡°Are you ordering me not to come?¡± Envy examined him with an inscrutable gaze. ¡°Do I need to?¡± he shot back, mildly annoyed by her pestering. He was in no mood to entertain one of her mind games. They were left at an impasse as Exill quickly packed his equipment and left the Inn. Visiting the various clinics he had contracted to, he personally apologised for a sudden leave of absence that was expected to run for a couple days. ¡°No problem old fellow! I hope you get a well-deserved rest and feel free to drop by at any time!¡± Exill thanked Perg, and finally headed to the slave market to notify Diallo¡¯s assistant of the temporary change in address back to Savta¡¯s clinic. He didn¡¯t expect the Slave Trader to summon him during the brief stay with Luna, but the contractual terms stated otherwise. ¡°Good, You¡¯re here.¡± Exill turned around to find Diallo standing behind him. The Slave Trader looked him up and down, ¡°Do you have your equipment? Good, row C, human female.¡± Diallo gestured his Assistant to guide the Witchdoctor there. Inwardly swearing, Exill followed the hunched man into the warehouse. ''What stinking luck to be here at the wrong time.¡¯ He passed by a familiar face in one of the cages. The girl with the horrible burns was drooling out of the holes in her cheek, her eyes vacant. He quickly walked past before she recognised him. The Assistant gestured to a woman laying prone on her knees, her belly distended and in obvious pain. Slow realization dawned on him. ¡®I¡¯m not an expert but... is she pregnant?¡¯ he stared at the hunched assistant with incredulous eyes. ¡®Did Diallo expect me to deliver a baby?¡¯ The Assistant looked suitably apologetic and haltingly explained, ¡°Witchdoctor sir... we don¡¯t employ midwives here... they either give birth or die. This woman is likely to die.¡± Exill blinked. ¡®I¡¯m not only expected to deliver a baby, but he wants me to perform a C-section?!¡¯ he thought in disbelief. However the groaning woman quickly returned him to his senses ¡°Send a messenger to Savta¡¯s clinic and tell Luna I need her here. Bring warm water and towels. Also inform Diallo that if she survives I¡¯ll be charging him 300 denars!¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°W-would that be before... or a-after your contract discount?¡± the Assistant stammered. ¡°After! and open up this cage, she won¡¯t be going anywhere soon!¡± he snapped, brought on edge by the gargantuan task ahead of him. However, his worries were soon washed away as Luna arrived with her equipment, looking reluctantly around the dim fetid warehouse as she approached. ¡°Why did you call me here Exill?¡± There was a haunted look in her tired eyes. She had barely woken up when a messenger had clamoured at her door claiming the Witchdoctor needed help. She had always hated the slave markets and to be summoned here while grieving was insensitive at best. It appeared the messenger failed to inform her that the patient was pregnant, so he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly as he filled her in with the details. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to call you here but I needed your help... how do you deliver a baby that is late?¡± Luna questioned the Assistant on how long the woman had been in labour, then turned to provide her assessment, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Exill, but I agree with him. This woman will likely die.¡± Exill nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to need your help, I¡¯m going to try and cut out the baby.¡± He sounded confident but he was privately shaking in his britches. ¡®Do I just cut down until I reach the baby? Should the cuts be lateral or vertical?¡¯ A hundred questions raced through his head. Putting aside his reservations, he cleaned and scrubbed around the woman¡¯s belly with dwarven spirit and prepared to make the first incision, the scalpel glowing a dim red as mana channelled through both the paralyzing and fire enchantments. His hands trembled softly; the scalpel poised mere millimetres away from the woman¡¯s taut belly. ¡°What will happen to the baby if I paralyze the mother?¡± he asked, suddenly doubting what he was about to. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡± The runes on the scalpel dimmed as the channelled man dissipated into the air, wasted by his indecision. He racked his brains and came up with another analogy, ¡°Let me rephrase this. If a leech was feeding on your arm and I paralyzed you, would it be affected?¡± ¡°... No? Are you calling the baby a parasite?¡± Luna looked both confused and affronted by the strange comparison. Without bothering to answer, he channelled mana into the blade again and made the first cut. The blade sizzled as it cauterized the incision. The patient sighed in relief as the cramps from her contractions dissipated as paralysis set in. He didn¡¯t see the baby, so he made a deeper cut, and this time he saw a foot! ¡°Grab it!¡± He quickly set his scalpel aside and held the incision open as Luna dragged the baby out by the heel. It was limp, not breathing. While she worked on the baby, Exill panicked. His job was to close her up again, but the umbilical cord was in the way. He held the cord limply, mind blank as Luna washed and gently massaged the baby. ¡°Waaaagh!¡± They both sighed in relief. She set the wriggling baby aside and started working on the umbilical cord. ¡°Exill! You did well, I¡¯ll handle it from here.¡± Luna¡¯s face was flushed with excitement, her eyes bright and hair in disarray. She pressed her palms against the woman¡¯s lower belly and appeared to tug the umbilical gently, successfully peeling the placenta away from the uterine walls. As soon as the opening was clear, Exill leaped into action and started suturing up both incisions. Just like that, they had successfully delivered the baby. Luna channelled healing magic into the mother¡¯s womb after handing her the baby, and gave instructions to the hunched assistant who had stayed throughout the whole procedure. Exill reminded him as well of the 300 denars due. Buoyed by their success, she clung to his arm on the way back to the clinic, excited about what they had achieved, ¡°That was amazing! Do you know how many lives we can save?¡± ¡°You did all the work, I think I spent most of that time kneeling there with the umbilical on my hand.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t true! You called me for help, knowing your limits and seeking assistance takes courage. Although, I did notice you charged 300 Denars for the operation...¡± Luna teased him gently. Exill didn¡¯t respond to her teasing and remained silent as they walked along the cobblestoned street. Eventually he asked the question that had been haunting him, ¡°Say Luna, what will happen to that baby?¡± ¡°Will you go purchase him as well?¡± Luna watched him shake his head before continuing on, ¡°You can¡¯t shoulder the World¡¯s burden, no one can live like that. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand how you feel, but you need to learn to let it go and celebrate the small victories.¡± Exill nodded, yet he couldn¡¯t help but think their ¡®victory¡¯ was strangely hollow. It was compounded by the fact that Envy had overfed the night before, leaving him weak and listless. Crossing the entryway of Savta¡¯s clinic, he stumbled upstairs, collapsing on the visitor¡¯s armchair. ¡°You look tired... why don¡¯t you take a nap in my bed? I¡¯m sorry, but Nana threw away your mattress when you moved out.¡± Her kind eyes glistened momentarily at the mention of her grandmother. Yet, she stayed strong and guided the tired Witchdoctor to her bed. He fell asleep momentarily while she tidied up her belongings on the desk. It might have been the residual excitement from the successful delivery but seeing Exill lying vulnerable in her bed set her heart fluttering. ¡®... should I remove his shoes to make him more comfortable?¡¯ She unlaced his boots and pulled them off one by one, then stood there for a moment examining his prone form, thinking of ways to make his sleep more restful. Pressing hands to her reddening cheeks, she swiftly exited the room before she was tempted to remove any more articles of clothing. Chapter 56 - Loan ¡°Have you seen my boots?¡± Exill startled Luna when he woke up a few hours later. She had been sitting at the table, shiftlessly playing with a small piece of parchment under vacant troubled eyes. ¡°What is that?¡± he asked, approaching her on bare feet. ¡°It¡¯s a letter, a complaint from Healer Milo¡­ did you cut your contracts with the other clinics just to help me?¡± she asked him searchingly. Healer Milo¡¯s message was devoid of its usual profanities, but the writing was terse, as if he was barely holding himself back. Milo had expressed his condolences then launched into a tirade about how she was interfering in his business by poaching valuable services. ¡°No, I just told them I¡¯m taking a break. I¡¯ll return to duty once you get back on your feet.¡± He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. To think Exill would go to such lengths, her mind was a mess of guilt and the only thing holding her together was the reassuring warmth of his touch. ¡°How long will that be?¡± she eventually asked. Her gaze dropped to the letter, idly folding it several times. ¡°Isn¡¯t that something I should be asking you?¡± Exill smiled quizzically, confused by her question. To tell the truth, he had only planned to help for a few days, but didn¡¯t want to pressure her with this revelation. However, Luna changed the topic of their conversation again. ¡°Will you be staying the night, now that you won¡¯t be receiving emergency summons?¡± ¡°No... but even if I did, where would I sleep, in your bed?¡± Luna bit her lip, flustered by the tantalising imagery, but she pushed on, ¡°You can¡¯t stay because of that slave right? Can¡¯t you like... set her free?¡± Exill nodded, ¡°That¡¯s the plan, but we need to pay off the 13,000 debt, plus the 15,000 Denars it would cost to earn her freedom and we¡¯re working towards it.¡± She clapped her hands in apprehension, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Then let¡¯s set the slave free! I¡¯ll advance you the money and you can pay it back by working here.¡± He hesitated. It wasn¡¯t an outlandish suggestion. He could potentially earn the same amount here with no additional outlays. However... to exchange the 13,000 debt with a 28,000 loan from a close friend made him feel uneasy. His dealings with Diallo the slave trader were contractual and conducted at arm¡¯s length. It was a business relationship with no emotions involved. Money issues tended to sour personal attachments and he didn¡¯t want to borrow such a large sum in her time of grief, especially when she was most vulnerable. ¡®It would be like I was exploiting her.¡¯ Stolen novel; please report. Furthermore, although they had their occasional quarrels, he had grown quite attached to the murderess. To cut Envy loose now at such expense, especially when their teamwork was reaching new heights felt wrong somehow. He grew silent and withdrawn, deep in thought, ¡®How do I express this to her in a way she would understand?¡¯ Luna¡¯s expression hardened as Exill didn¡¯t immediately answer her proposal. It turned into a grim line when he eventually shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s take things slow, we can always revisit it later¡­¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t free her just yet?¡± Exill shook his head, gesturing with his hands that it wasn¡¯t so simple. ¡°I¡¯m saying this is all too sudden. Besides, how can you trust me not to run away with that amount of money, we still haven¡¯t addressed what happened at the Divin-¡± ¡°You came back in the end, didn¡¯t you?¡± Luna cut him off, staring him earnestly in the eyes while he tried to look away, ¡°You dummy, who cares what that old woman said when we can forge our own path?¡± In truth, she had cared. For a long while after that fateful incident, she had felt betrayed and alienated from someone she had come to rely on. To be despised by the World was borderline heresy, and the fact that he didn¡¯t even try to offer an excuse only made it worse. It had taken his departure to realise that although he may have lied about being blessed by the Spirit, after months spent months working and living together - she knew he was a kind compassionate soul whose skills were capable of changing lives. More than that, he was a close friend. Meanwhile, Exill found himself speechless, both touched and concerned by her naivete. ¡®Is it possible for anyone to be so benevolent?¡¯ It was difficult to express how much he regretted everything that had happened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I-¡± ¡°No.¡± she began to grow teary-eyed again, and brushed her nose to regain composure. Taking a deep breath, she offered a compromise. ¡°I don¡¯t like it¡­ but the slave can stay here, with us.¡± ¡°Are you seriously asking me to move back in with you?¡± Seeing Luna nod in response, he grew silent, deep in thought. With his independent contracts up in the air, the savings in rent and living cost would be greatly appreciated. The only unknown factor was Envy, and how she would react to this development. ¡°Let¡¯s assume we decide to stay here, where will we sleep?¡± he asked undecidedly. She tucked her hair behind one ear and looked at the two rooms next to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll move into Nana¡¯s room, you in my room, the slave can stay in the attic. I¡¯ll have a new mattress prepared by tomorrow.¡± ¡®Did I hear that right? That even the mattress would be prepared by tomorrow?¡¯ he thought, suffering minor whiplash from the sudden speed at which events were progressing. In spite of his reservations, he found himself being slowly swept along at her pace. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have a word with her tonight.¡± He finally submitted. Luna let out a breath that she hadn¡¯t realised had been holding in. Now that things were decided, there was a long list of things to do. The most difficult task would be to organize her grandmother¡¯s belongings, something she had been putting off. ¡°You don¡¯t have to rush into this, take today and tomorrow to decide. It¡¯s alright to change your mind.¡± He squeezed her shoulder again, recognising the pain in her eyes. ¡°No, I know what I want. This isn¡¯t an impulsive decision Exill, I¡¯ve long known grandmother was walking the Last Bridge, and in some ways, it is a relief to know she is finally at peace. My only regret is that we could have said goodbye on better terms.¡± Exill was surprised by her steely resolve, and for a brief moment, saw the resemblance of Savta¡¯s fiery spirit living on in the granddaughter¡¯s heart. He shook his head ruefully, missing the old witch more than ever. ¡°Alright, but first¡­¡± he looked around embarrassedly, ¡°Can you tell me where you left my boots?¡± Chapter 57 ¡°Do I even get a choice in the matter?¡± Envy confronted him with hands on her generous hips. Exill was channelling mana through the runic throwing bones for the third time that evening, and he replied offhandedly, ¡°Actually you do, you can continue to stay here and pay rent out of your own earnings. Honestly, I think it would be better that way.¡± He knew she was making good money, not just from exploring the Labyrinth, but by escorting the sons of rich merchants and nobles in what he dubbed ¨C guided safaris. Her indifferent, no-nonsense attitude had garnered some repeat clients. Having obtained Luna¡¯s permission to bring Envy along, the matter should have been straightforward. Although she no longer directed her murderous intent at him, the same couldn¡¯t be guaranteed about Luna. Their first face-to-face interaction downstairs in this very Inn had not been a great first introduction. The Vampire shot him a guarded look while calculating her finances. ¡®I¡¯ve saved up 300 Denars towards the sword I want, not to mention the buckler also needs upgrading¡­¡¯ Envy sullenly realized that independence quickly grew expensive. Instead, she decided to shift the blame, but also prod him for something she never understood. ¡°Tch. Why did you go through such lengths to buy me if you were going to be such a miserly virgin?¡± Exill snorted in response, distracted by the runic divination providing fragmented answers. The impression so far was that Fate was ambivalent about their move to Savta¡¯s clinic. Turning to Envy in open mockery, he blurted ¡°Did you look at yourself in a mirror? Not willing to spend your own money but happy to spend others? Why don¡¯t you ask one of those rich merchants you adventure with for a small home and living stipend?¡± ¡°You mean sell myself?¡± her voice dropped several degrees. Exill stopped tidying away the bones and rewound what he just said and came to a slow realization, ¡®Why did I say that, and why did it come out so bitter?¡¯ he thought. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I should not have said that.¡± Envy approached and leaned on him from behind while he was seated at the desk, her pointed elbows digging painfully into his shoulder. She was incredibly offended¡­ and also mildly amused, ¡°Are you actually¡­ jealous, that I hang out with strong, handsome rich men?¡± ¡°Wha-?¡± Envy cut him off as she began to pluck loose strands of his hair, ¡°How do you think I feel, watching my food wanting to move in with a horny elf maiden?¡± Exill was confused. This was a new development. Frankly, he didn¡¯t know how to feel about being described as ¡®her food¡¯. This only reinforced his worry that the two women would mix just as well as oil and water. ¡°What, you want me to promise I will remain a virgin?¡± he asked incredulously. ¡°No, don¡¯t flatter yourself.¡± She dismissed him easily. However, upon seeing the suspicion and doubt in his eyes, made a minor concession: ¡°And you don¡¯t have to worry about me harming your sweetheart¡­¡± she hesitated, as if admitting something distasteful, ¡°I am the slave of a guest, and I know my place¡­ I won¡¯t do anything to get you kicked out.¡± ¡®Does she really not want to spend money getting her own place?¡¯ he wondered incredulously. This was the first time he had seen contriteness in the prideful vampire. Perhaps he was moved by this, but he changed his mind against his better judgement. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll move in together tomorrow.¡± ¡°On one condition.¡± Envy raised a determined finger, ¡°I want you to stop treating me like an animal, and let me feed in bed. Stop acting like I¡¯m going to make a mess every time.¡± Inwardly grumbling, Exill quietly acquiesced. It was the one mistake she had made that he could possibly tease her about, but the fact she felt he was treating her like an animal changed his mind. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± Rolling up his sleeve, he left the stool and moved to bed. ¡®She better not make a mess on the last night of our stay.¡¯ Lowering himself onto the mattress, he lay back, left arm splayed to his side. She usually fed laying on her stomach propped up on her elbows, but today she had her back to him, resting her head against his firm biceps. It was more comfortable this way, and it had the added bonus that she didn¡¯t need to look him in the eyes. Envy lifted his forearm and bit in, squirming in quiet pleasure as his precious lifeblood trickled into her mouth. Looking at her vulnerable form from behind, she could almost be described as... normal. ¡®Oh, hell no.¡¯ He yanked back the unbidden hand that had risen to stroke Envy¡¯s crimson hair, gleaming enticingly in the lamplight. You needed a death wish to touch the Vampire without permission, and he had heard from Iris that already two mercenaries had broken their fingers after wandering hands ventured where they shouldn¡¯t. Exill suppressed a shiver, closing his eyes and tried to go to sleep. *** The two set out the next morning with all their belongings in tow. The Innkeeper silently nodded as he accepted the room key, slipping it into an apron pocket. Exill stood still for a moment, unsure how to say goodbye a second time. The Innkeeper had been more than generous, allowing him to run up a tab while he was low on funds. Noticing his awkwardness, the Innkeeper let out a slow breath of smoke and said the words on both their minds. ¡°No one comes to the Sundry Inn because they want to Witchdoctor, but you and your companion are always welcome back if you have nowhere else to go.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Exill suppressed the lump forming in the back of his throat. Seared vividly in his memory was the night he had dragged the emaciated Vampire to the Inn. It had been the lowest point in his life. The tangible sense of regret, and the feeling that he didn¡¯t deserve nice things... looking back on it all, it had felt like a train wreck in slow motion. ¡°I¡¯ll drop by again.¡± he lied. The rooms here were terrible and the clientele atrocious, the only redeeming factor was the food; yet it brought a strange comfort to know there was a place waiting for him, and for a brief moment, it had felt like home. He turned back one last time to see the Innkeeper, face half shadowed under the eaves of the morning ray, raise a hand in one last goodbye. They travelled by side streets, avoiding the main thoroughfares because it was busy and filled with pickpockets. Exill reflected on the irony that he felt safer in these claustrophobic alleyways, a far cry from when he first arrived at Ark. Soon, they approached Savta¡¯s clinic, the two-storey building stood out from the rest of the street thanks to the light blue painted fa?ade framed between dark aged timber supports. He knocked on the door twice, with Envy behind him wearing a rare apprehensive look. The door quickly opened, and a beaming Luna greeted him with a hug. ¡°You came!¡± The Healer detached her delicate frame from Exill and only then recognized Envy, her eyes losing some of their kind warmth, ¡°I believe we have met before, though we haven¡¯t been introduced. I¡¯m Luna, healer of Savta¡¯s clinic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Envy, his slave¡± she replied warily. They stood in awkward silence until Exill took the initiative to usher everyone inside. ¡°I¡¯ve already cleaned out my old room and moved into Nana¡¯s. The new mattress will be delivered in the afternoon, but I will need help taking it upstairs.¡± Exill nodded as he absorbed Luna¡¯s report. He pointed to the ladder leading up to the attic, smiling while tugging at Envy¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Your room is up that way and it¡¯s surprisingly spacious. You finally have your own bed!¡± ¡°Did the room in your Inn¡­ only have one bed?¡± Luna asked, troubled by what it implied. Envy saw an opportunity to put this horny elf in her place. She wrapped her arm around Exill¡¯s and drew him closer, staring down at the maiden as she matter-of-factly responded to the question. ¡°Yes, we slept together every night. He would sometimes stroke my hair¡­ and make me wash the sheets from all the¡­ bodily fluids I spilt.¡± Exill choked in disbelief. ¡°Blood! With the Spirit as my witness it was blood, heavens could you be more misleading, and when did I even stroke your hair?!¡± he spluttered, thoroughly ashamed. However, he saw Luna¡¯s confusion only deepen as she imagined why two people might spill blood while in bed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I forgot to tell you, Envy is a Vampire, and she can only feed on the blood of virgins who are stronger than her.¡± ¡°Again, don¡¯t flatter yourself. I can and currently do feed on those weaker than me. It just takes a lot more to fill me up. You have to get much stronger¡­ if you want to satisfy me.¡± Envy pinched his cheek, turning it red. Meanwhile, Luna was starting to experience a headache as she absorbed all this information, ¡°So you slept together in the same bed but haven¡¯t had se- I mean, you haven¡¯t done¡­ lewd things. You just fed her your blood?¡± Envy¡¯s gaze looked predatory as her amber eyes lit up with a tinge of red. She tightened her grip on Exill¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯ve felt something hard press against me while I was feeding¡­ but you are right, he was the perfect gentleman.¡± Luna blinked. Exill gritted his teeth as he led the she-demon downstairs. The way she manipulated the truth was too cunning! She had conveniently left out all the things she had done, painting him as some kind of horndog. ¡°She has left out some important details. We need to go to the Labyrinth and we¡¯re running late, I¡¯ll see you around lunch.¡± ¡°I look forward to hearing your¡­ explanations.¡± Luna said coldly as she closed the door on them. She was already regretting the decision to invite the Vampire to her home and workplace. Chapter 58 [In case you are reading this elsewhere, there is an Author''s Note above explaining the contract terms found in Chapter 50] ¡°Why did you have to go and antagonize her? You do realize we¡¯ll be living together for the foreseeable future, right?¡± Exill spat as they walked towards the Labyrinth. He too was regretting the decision to invite Envy. The way she insulted and altered his perceived image was in direct breach of the non-disparagement clause she had signed in her contract. Through his own experimentation, it had quickly become clear that there was a peculiar nuance to how the World Spirit enforced such a wide reaching clause. For instance, he had been perfectly able to describe Envy as a ¡®Malicious Demon¡¯ in an offhand remark to Iris and other mercenaries back at the Guild. Perhaps she didn¡¯t consider it an insult, or the people at the Guild already knew the fact. However, his throat quickly clammed up when he tried to call her ¡®lazy¡¯ in the presence of others. Their contract was working, it just wasn¡¯t working well, and it wasn¡¯t clear what he could do to fix it aside from turning Envy into a mute ¨C which he was seriously considering. Meanwhile, she clung to his arm, enjoying his obvious discomfort. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve had many Masters - but in some ways, you are the cruellest¡­ you are playing with a grieving girl¡¯s heart when you should leave it alone to heal. You know she likes you.¡± Exill didn¡¯t immediately respond, and felt the seductive truth in her words. It was as if he was battling within himself over what was right and wrong. He didn¡¯t want to admit that he liked Luna back. The reason he had left the clinic back then was because of the sense of alienation he had felt from her, combined with the cloying sense of paranoia that the World was out to get him. They still hadn¡¯t addressed the elephant in the room, on why he was hated by the World despite being blessed. More than that, he was disturbed by the Diviner¡¯s prophecy that he would only bring her pain. Yet here he was, moving back in with her. ¡®I really am the worst,¡¯ he thought belatedly. ¡°You feel you had a hand in killing her grandmother, don¡¯t you? Your attempt to help is misguided at best and destructive at its worst.¡± Envy taunted him, twisting her words painfully into his heart, ¡°It¡¯s ironic how the nice, well-meaning men end up hurting women the most.¡± They had reached the Inner Tower at this point and Exill was inspecting the straps of Envy¡¯s armour. Distracted by the thoughts racing through his mind, he had to check them several times. Patting her back to indicate everything was okay, he tentatively asked, ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± Envy turned and looked him in the eye, trying to gauge his sincerity. A slow smile eventually spread on her lips, her amber eyes turning crimson with passion. ¡°Since you are too much of a coward, leave it to your big sis. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Exill felt his initial aversion melt away under her persuasion, ¡°I swear if you get us kicked out, you will be responsible for the rent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly the kind of behaviour we need to show Luna. Nothing turns a woman off more than a stingy virgin.¡± She threw a demeaning smile at him then stepped into the inky black portal. They entered the Labyrinth with Exill scouting in the lead. The two had been doing this for over a month at this point and their teamwork was fluid. Exill approached the end of the first tunnel and felt his boots squelch into mud. ¡®Damn, I bet it¡¯s mud flies again, what a way to start the morning,¡¯ he grimaced. Hearing no buzzing noises, he carefully looked around the corner and was greeted by a swamp cavern devoid of life. Exill stood there for minutes until he saw a small boulder shift. He slowly moved back into the passageway, back to Envy. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°They¡¯re mud crabs. I can¡¯t get their numbers, could be two, maybe eight.¡± Envy nodded, she had encountered them six days ago while hunting solo and had quickly retreated after discovering there were four of them. ¡°We should lure them to the entry cavern, this passageway is too narrow for us to both fight and I don¡¯t want to fight knee deep in mud,¡± he suggested. ¡°Mn, I¡¯ll meet you in the entry cavern.¡± Exill set off back towards the swamp area and after preparing himself, started throwing rocks at random boulders in the mud. Five shapes rose from the mud and clattered towards him with deceptive speed. ¡®That¡¯s a lot of mud crabs!¡¯ Exill unstuck himself and waded up the narrow passageway until the ground turned firm, allowing him to sprint towards the entry cavern. Envy moved aside to let him pass and shield bashed the mud crab who quickly followed. ¡°Don¡¯t crush their legs! You need to cut them!¡± Exill shouted as he grabbed his spear and joined her side. ¡°What?¡± Envy shouted in return over the din of the shrieking mud crabs. Exill didn¡¯t reply as he was too busy thrusting into the carnage before him. The first mud crab was still alive but all the legs on one side had been crushed when it skittered sideways into Envy¡¯s shield. The second one had clambered over the first to find itself impaled by Exill¡¯s spear. A third crab tried to get the drop on them by climbing up the wall of the passageway. Envy slashed at the legs, causing it to drop and expose the soft underside which Exill promptly finished. ¡°Two left, 1v1¡± The two stepped back in unison from the passageway to allow the remaining crabs to charge out. Envy chopped the legs off of her opponent then flipped it over with a kick before stabbing it in the underbelly. Exill merely stood his ground, spear at the ready, and thrust into the mouth of the foaming crab. Hunting had become a lot easier since he achieved level 20 in both [Spearman] and [Ranger]. The two jobs had unlocked the skills [Weak Point] and [Steady Hands] respectively, allowing him to keep the spear poised at the enemy¡¯s weak point and held steady ¨C demonstrating a remarkable level of synergy.
Job Spearman
Level 20
Description Melee Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff +10% attack damage (scales with level).
Active Skill [Weak Point] Spearman lvl 20: Your spear is naturally drawn to the weakest point of an enemy¡¯s armour. Skill efficiency depends on caster¡¯s Strength versus opponent¡¯s Damage Resistance.
Job Ranger
Level 20
Description Ranged Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff +10% attack speed (scales with level).
Active Skill [Steady Hands] Ranger lvl 20: Your aim remains true even if you are suffering from physical and mental debuffs.
Envy tried not to be impressed as she walked over to the first mud crab that was still alive. Exill had grown by leaps and bounds over the past month and his movements and attacks were a lot less wasteful. ¡°What were you saying earlier about the legs?¡± she asked. ¡°Forget it, I was saying the legs are worth more if they aren¡¯t crushed into a meaty pulp.¡± He bitterly looked away from the one mud crab who had lost half its legs. The two field dressed the fallen monsters, removing their meaty legs and deciding to carry only two of the five bodies. Their shell were large and heavy. For all that, their value was relatively small because the shells and innards were ground into fertiliser. Exill had heard their innards could be used to enrich the broth of any stew but wasn¡¯t too keen to try it. ¡°Shall we return to the Guild and have another round?¡± Envy asked, as she lifted the heavy crab in her arms. Exill seemed distracted while he was studying his Card, which happened very often during their daily delves. ¡°Actually¡­ I just remembered I need to go somewhere; you are free to do whatever you want for the rest of the day.¡± Exill lifted his mud crab and winced as the mud on the shell smeared across the tunic. Even so, he was excited because he had heard the long awaited [Ping!] after killing the final crab. [Planeswalker] lvl 20 had unlocked two new jobs. Chapter 59 - Diviner II Exill left Envy at the guild and headed to a nearby square where there was a secluded bench. After looking around, he summoned the Card to inspect two new jobs he had acquired.
Job Dimensionist
Unlock Rejection +10
Description Unique - Tier II
Active Skill [Warp] Tear into the flesh of the World and travel to places you have been before. Range increases with level.
Job Chronomancer
Unlock Rejection +10
Description Unique - Tier II
Active Skill [Haste] Manipulate temporal energies at the expense of your vitality and mana. Drain efficiency scales with your level
Exill drooled at the new jobs that were now available. Unlike the progressions he had encountered up till now, it appeared that he needed to increase rejection to unlock and use these skills. Both jobs and their respective skills showed remarkable potential and he desired them greatly, but the question was where and when. Exill suspected he would be subject to tribulation, so he needed a safe, insulated place to obtain it. He practiced restraint. There were other things that demanded his immediate attention. [Witchdoctor] and [Mathematician] were both level 19, and would soon unlock new skills, perks or job progressions. These should be prioritized first. As for now¡­ he needed advice on the divination throwing bones that weren¡¯t providing coherent answers no matter what kind of questions he asked. Now that there were two new dangerous, yet incredibly powerful jobs to unlock, he found himself in need of guidance that no one could provide. He began walking towards the East Gate, in the direction of Ham¡¯s smithy. Exill avoided getting too close to his former mentor¡¯s smithy, instead, approaching it from the other side where the bakery stood, and followed a long alleyway until it split to a junction. He turned right and was soon greeted by the sight of a market square, and a familiar covered tent came into view. The Diviner was startled to see Exill lift the tent flaps and slide in with practiced ease. Months before, the green-eyed kid had grabbed his girlfriend and left the moment she had answered his question. In one corner of her mind, she was afraid he had come to tie up loose ends. There was a peculiar aura of decay emanating from the boy. ¡°I did not expect to see you again.¡± She greeted him with one hand gripping the dagger beneath the table. ¡°Likewise¡­¡± He reluctantly lowered himself onto a padded cushion. His previous encounter with the woman had kicked off a series of events that could only be described as a train wreck. It was only human nature to pin a bit of resentment on the bearer of bad news, and it made sense why Diviners were maligned in some circles. The two sat in tense silence for what felt like minutes until Exill slid ten Denars across the weathered table. He then loosened the pouch containing his runic throwing bones and placed it in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m having trouble reading my future and need advice. Please check my throwing bones are functional.¡± The Diviner just sat there looking at the proffered coin and ivory inscribed bones. A low chuckle escaped her lips as she accepted his tools. She channelled mana into Exill¡¯s throwing bones then dropped them, their runes flashing blue in sequence before dissipating. ¡°Kid, this isn¡¯t some kind of hobby. The bones are old but fine, so what is the advice you seek.¡± ¡°I cannot interpret any of the questions I ask the bones. Just vague images and impressions that last a fraction of a second.¡± ¡°That is normal. Have you tried asking it something mundane?... That is how we all start, something like the results of flipping a coin.¡± Exill nearly slapped his forehead in embarrassment, and he fished for a coin from his pouch. ¡°Stop.¡± The Diviner plucked Exill¡¯s coin out of his finger and flipped it instead, catching it midair in one fluid moment. ¡°If I had trouble reading your fate, how would a novice like you fare? Had you flipped this coin, the results would have been tied to your actions, influenced by your weave. Try and read the results now. Your fate still influenced its outcome¡­ but it should be readable now.¡± Exill channelled mana into his throwing bones until the runes glowed bright blue. He silently mouthed the question as the bones slipped through his fingers. They flashed in sequence as they hit the floor, incredibly fast but still readable. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Heads.¡± [Ping!] The Diviner opened her hands to reveal the face of the reigning King on a large copper coin. She pocketed both of his coins and returned her hand to the dagger under the table. ¡°I¡¯ll take this as a fee for your lesson. I hope you don¡¯t return.¡± He stood up, lifting the tent flaps to leave. However, a sudden thought made him hesitate and turn around, ¡°Tell me¡­ what you said about my companion that day, was it all true?¡± The shawled woman looked up at him with hooded eyes, her clammy hand gripping the dagger tight, ¡°You will bring her suffering and pain, boy, but as I told her then, ¡®There is nothing so bad in which there is not something good.¡¯ She will gain perspective and mature from it.¡± Furrowing his brows, Exill let the flap flutter behind him, leaving the woman heaving a sigh of relief as her fingers left the dagger. ¡®I¡¯ve already brought Luna pain by driving a wedge between her and Savta. Is that part of her prophecy now complete? Would it be alright to salvage our relationship?¡¯ Exill had no answers to those questions, and although he could now divine Luna¡¯s future more directly, he was afraid of the answers that would reveal. Looking up at the cloudless blue sky, he similarly cleared his mind, returning to the alleyway leading to Ham¡¯s smithy. Under the shadows cast by the nearby buildings, he summoned the Card to inspect the new job he had obtained.
Job Diviner
Level 1
Description Arcane - Tier I
Active Skill [Foresight] visions last 10% longer (scales with level)
Exill grimly unassigned [Planeswalker] lvl 20 and replaced it with [Diviner] as one of his seven core jobs. It would be important to level up, as even an incremental increase in the visions length influenced their clarity. He had also learnt it would be difficult to foresee events directly related to him and would thus need to explore its limits. It was only a theory at this point, but he suspected [Free Will] or the fact that he was a [Planeswalker] made reading his fortune difficult.
Active Jobs Tier Level Perk/Skill
Warrior 1 35 +Atk speed, STR bonus
Hunter 1 34 +Acc, SPD bonus
Spearman 2 21 +Atk damage, [Weak Point]
Ranger 2 21 +Atk speed, [Steady Hands]
Monk 2 15 +Damage Resist
Mathematician 1 19 INT bonus
Diviner 1 1 [Foresight]
*** ¡°Ah! You¡¯re back!¡± Luna swept her hair to the side as sweat trickled down her neck. She glanced behind Exill to check that the Vampire wasn¡¯t there and steadied the mattress against the wall. His doubting heart and the Diviner¡¯s warnings melted away at the sight of the bright eyed maiden tying her silken hair into a knot. ¡°Were you trying to carry this upstairs all alone? You could have hurt yourself.¡± Exill motioned her aside and easily carried it upstairs, continuing up the ladder to the attic where he placed it in its old spot. He descended the ladder to find Luna wiping at her sweat with a towel, still flustered from exertion. Her sapphire eyes sparkled as she gingerly poked his biceps and shoulder, visibly impressed. ¡°Wow, you made that look easy¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, would you like me to heat up some water for you as well? I ran into some mud crabs, and I need to rinse off.¡± Exill began to lift the mud smeared tunic over his head, revealing his well-built abs to the visible consternation of Luna. He stopped, realising that months spent with the indifferent Vampire had inured him of propriety. ¡°Ah¡­ sorry. Bad habits.¡± ¡°No! I mean yes, I will heat some water for you, why don¡¯t you get ready in your room?¡± Exill nodded, and closed the door behind him, taking off his boots and equipment. Meanwhile, Luna paced in front of the fire. ¡®Okay¡­ so I will walk in there holding the washbasin, acting natural. I will offer to clean his back. Afterwards, he will turn around and say, ¡°Let me wash you too¡±. Then he unbuttons my blouse, and then¡­¡¯ She covered her face with both hands, surprised by her vulgar mind, then fanned her face, waiting for her blood pressure to subside. She checked the temperature of the water and removed it from the fire. Calming herself, she balanced the washbasin on one arm as she knocked ¨C entering Exill¡¯s room. He sat there on a stool, back turned to the doorway in only his underwear. He glanced back to find Luna frozen in place, eyes fixed on his broad scarred back. ¡°Thanks, you can leave it by the door.¡± ¡°W-would you like me to help you¡­ wash your back?¡± she managed to stammer, barely above a whisper. ¡°No that¡¯s fine, I can handle it.¡± Luna¡¯s mind raced as precious seconds ticked by. ¡®Why wasn¡¯t it running like the simulations?¡¯ What could she do to get events back on track? Exill glanced back to find her still frozen in place, ¡°Sorry that must have been heavy, why don¡¯t you take a wash as well, your blouse is all wet.¡± Luna woke up from her daze to find him standing in front of her, his chiselled form caked in filthy, dirty mud, a smudge of the foul substance smeared across his exposed clavicle. For a brief moment, she was captivated by the look of concern in his mesmerising green eyes. Exill had come to fetch the washbasin himself. She replayed what he had just said. ¡°Will you help me wash?¡± she asked, realising too late that her brain had failed her. Chapter 60 - Jurisconsult Exill absorbed what she said, the warm washbasin separating their bodies. Luna released the sloshing container, finding to her embarrassment that the blouse was now soaked and clung to her bosom. ¡®Ah, this is bad,¡¯ they both thought to themselves. ¡°I think I¡¯ll need some more water,¡± he played for time as he gently nudged the maiden out and closed the door, ensuring it was locked. ¡®That could have escalated dangerously¡¯ he exhaled, feeling his heart rate slowly return to normal. He cleaned himself in record time and came out of the room, fresh and dressed. ¡°Is the water ready yet? I¡¯ll wash my clothes and boots outside, they¡¯re too messy.¡± He called out for her benefit. Escaping outside, the tension slowly began to ebb away. He sat on the edge of the stairs, cleaning his clothes and boots, then wringing them dry. The people passing by greeted him during all this and he tried to return each friendly ¡®hello¡¯. A decent amount of time had passed by this point and when Exill returned, he was relieved to find Luna upstairs in a clean blouse. The crisis had been averted. ¡°You came back early and I haven¡¯t gone to the market yet. What would you like to eat for dinner?¡± Luna asked nonchalantly, trying to bury the memory of asking Exill to wash her. He was equally glad that she broke the delicate silence that lay between them. ¡°Ah! I brought back a few mud crab legs; I hope you don¡¯t mind if we have some for dinner. I¡¯ve never tried it before.¡± ¡°Did you collect some of the innards?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid Envy has it and she likely sold it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll grab some greens to make the stock then.¡± Luna marked a few ingredients on her clay shopping list. The silence returned and stayed for a minute until Exill posed a question that had been on his mind since that morning, ¡°Say Luna, do you know anyone who specialises in contracts?¡± ¡°Are you talking about people with the [Notary] job?¡± ¡°No, not the people who produce and witness documents. Is there anyone who understands the principles of contracts and how they work?¡± ¡°Notaries advise on contracts too, but I think what you are looking for are [Jurisconsults]. It is a bit out of the way, but there is a market near the Magistrate¡¯s, and maybe we can go together?¡± Luna grabbed her woven shopping bag, ready to leave. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll meet you downstairs.¡± Exill gathered his effects and popped into the attic to search Envy¡¯s belongings. It was dim up here as usual, but he was familiar with the surroundings. She didn¡¯t own much, and he quickly found the inert contract nestled preciously between her sparse collection of clothes. There was a pang in his conscience as he noted the worn creases on the parchment, where it had been opened and folded multiple times. Snatching it up, he hurried downstairs to the lobby. ¡°All done?¡± Seeing Exill nod in response, Luna flipped the open sign of the Clinic and locked the door behind them. They walked along the bustling streets in companionable silence, pointing to each other the absence of familiar stalls amidst several new ones. Soon, they arrived at a junction where a small market could be seen to their left. ¡°That¡¯s the market, the Magistrate¡¯s is just up ahead, and you should see a row of houses lining the plaza. Their signage should be a set of scales embossed on top of a crown. Don¡¯t take too long and I¡¯ll see you back at the Clinic!¡± Luna smiled and cheerily waved him off. Exill¡¯s mood was buoyed by the maiden¡¯s smile, and he continued on until a large, paved square overlooked by the imposing Magistrate¡¯s came into view. He had been here several times before but was always impressed by the large central dome sheathed in gleaming copper plates that reflected the afternoon sun. Adjacent to the large institution was a row of unassuming houses with the gold embossed signage described by Luna earlier. Choosing the nearest one, Exill entered the building and was greeted by a clerk who spoke in hushed tones, ¡°Thank you for visiting the office of Spencer, Esq. is the Consult expecting you today?¡± ¡°No, I do not have an appointment, I¡­ need some advice on a notarized contract.¡± Exill handed over the contract for the Clerk to study, and the man scanned the document quickly with pursed lips. ¡°I see it¡¯s a slave contract, we specialise in commercial law, but the Consult has advised on matters that relate to slaves before. He happens to be available, and a thirty minute appointment costs 180 Denars. Would you like to go in and see him now?¡± The Clerk passed the contract back to him and stood attentively. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Exill hesitated only a few seconds as he inwardly winced at the price. If a mere thirty minute consultation cost the same as a [Notarized Contract], it was understandable why most businesses and commoners frequented the [Notary] and took the law into their own hands. He was led inside to a well-furnished sitting room and was given tea while the Consult was notified of his presence. Soon, a dignified man stepped into the room and greeted Exill, gesturing that the visitor should remain seated. Lowering himself onto the padded chair opposite the client, he adjusted his waistcoat and smiled warmly. ¡°Good afternoon, I am Spencer, the owner of this practice. My clerk advises me that you have a somewhat unique slave contract, so how can I help you mister¡­¡± ¡°You can call me Exill. I need your professional assessment of this contract and identify any weaknesses.¡± He slid Envy¡¯s contract over the lacquered table for the Jurisconsult to inspect. Spencer, Esq. attached a monocle to one eye and examined the contract with furrowed brows, his lips moving silently while scanning the document. He eventually let out a small sigh and began to speak in a mellow voice. ¡°I understand the gist of your intentions with this contract, but ideally this document should be split into six separate agreements. If I may be so bold, could I enquire about your profession or the Academy you graduated from? It is obvious you have some knowledge on agreements but lack the finer nuance of execution.¡± ¡°I am a Witchdoctor, and have no formal education.¡± The engineer with a master¡¯s degree admitted through gritted teeth. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Ah~ so you are him! Well that simplifies things. I am aware your time is limited so let me cover the basics, what do you know about [Notarized Contracts]?¡± Spencer wiped his monocle with a cotton handkerchief. ¡°I know it is produced by a [Notary] and that the World Spirit enforces the contract.¡± ¡°Therein lies the problem. Rule of law is a societal construct built on top of ever changing values, language, and terminology. It is constantly evolving. Trying to enforce that through a System as old as time is the height of hubris. That is why we must also rely on the courts for the finer execution of sensitive clauses. Excuse my blasphemy, but the World Spirit operates on its own set of modes and operandi, making it an unreliable arbiter of justice. Exill looked unconvinced and the expert pointed to some of the mistakes made. ¡°See this usage of the word ¡®divulge¡¯? It is the derivative word of ¡®divael¡¯ which means to ¡®profess your sins to the World Spirit.¡¯ Language has moved on since ancient times, but so much of our vocabulary is steeped in spiritual significance. Writing a good contract requires you to be as much a linguist as a historian. We like to joke that you know your contract is solid when it is written in ancient runes.¡± Spencer, Esq. chuckled at his own joke, then after a brief pause, explained the humour. ¡°The joke is that a contract written wholly in ancient runes wouldn''t work because you need both parties to understand runic sigils to agree to it.¡± Taking note of Exill¡¯s still doubtful gaze the Jurisconsult continued, ¡°This is not to say it doesn¡¯t work in the majority of cases, but your situation is hardly that. We will need to rely on the courts as well as multiple contracts to enforce this agreement. I¡¯ve dealt with a few cases similar to yours, but all of them cater to favoured concubines who are granted freedom after their master¡¯s death. The tricky part is you want to free them while you are alive.¡± ¡°So what do I need to do?¡± Exill asked, overwhelmed by all this information. ¡°I understand it may appear daunting, but I¡¯ll be with you every step of the way. We just need to overwrite this contract with another [Notarized Contract] crafted by a [Notary] with more years of experience. You and your slave will sign six contracts and an intermediary document binding it all together, and I will file the necessary enforcement paperwork with the Court.¡± This all sounded incredibly expensive, and Exill asked the dreaded question, ¡°How much will this all cost?¡± The Jurisconsult steepled his fingers, knowing that he was approaching the most sensitive part of closing a deal, the quoting phase. ¡°We at Spencer¡¯s normally charge 12% of contract value for our services, but as a new customer we have an introductory rate of 10%. There may be other incidentals and hourly charges along the way, but could you really put a price on knowing your safety is guaranteed and secure?¡± Exill mentally tallied up the costs so far. [Notarized Contracts] crafted by a higher proficiency [Notary] were around 300 Denars, multiply that by seven and it came out to 2,100 Denars. Ten percent of the 30k contract value was 3k Denars¡­ not to mention the hourly fees. He suspected the whole endeavour would cost over 6k Denars, close to half the cost of freeing Envy himself. ¡°Consult¡­ on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate the safety of myself with the current contract?¡± Spencer exhaled softly and fixed his gaze on a painting to Exill¡¯s right in concentration, ¡°I can¡¯t say without meeting the slave, but I would rate the contract in its current state a solid 6/10. If you engage our services we can raise that to 9.9/10.¡± ¡®Ah, so even a legal expert cannot fully guarantee my safety.¡¯ Exill thought bitterly when he rose to his feet. He shook hands with Spencer, assuring the Consult he would think upon the matter and excused himself, paying the clerk 180 Denars on his way out. He paused with one foot out the threshold and turned to ask a final question. ¡°Do most slave owners engage the services of a Jurisconsult?¡± The Clerk smiled surreptitiously and glanced back to check the owner was not eavesdropping. ¡°Our services are mainly targeted to the nobility. It brings peace of mind to situations where a slave might otherwise be... bound in chains.¡± Stepping out into the sunlit plaza, Exill gained new perspective on how the elite managed slaves in this world. Envy had four former masters, and they had undoubtedly engaged the services of a Jurisconsult to draft a contract. She would have been bound and gagged upon purchase, then provided a modicum of freedom only upon agreeing to the binding terms. The restrictions were so complete that one could only shake their head in amazement that Envy had managed to kill her previous master at all, what many would laud as an impossible feat. ¡®Little good all that precaution did him.¡¯ Exill grew even more curious about the condition of the previous owner¡¯s demise. Perhaps it was better that he had negotiated her freedom, as opposed to forcibly bending her to his will. This way, they could at least work with each other. Exill heaved a sigh of exasperation, ¡°What should I do about that damnable Vampire?¡± *** Earlier that afternoon, Envy had leapt the queue and stashed the mud crabs behind Iris¡¯s counter to the Guild clerk¡¯s consternation, then swiftly exited the Guild, tailing Exill. She observed him for a while sitting on a bench, smiling like a fool. Then she stalked him to the Eastern Market in the Outer City. Her suspicions had tingled further as he looked around surreptitiously before skulking down an alleyway. She nearly missed him entering the covered tent in a corner of the bustling market. She was now here, in front of the tent, after confirming Exill had returned to the Clinic. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and Envy was keen to unravel some of his secrets. ¡®Why did he look so ecstatic after looking at his Card? Why did he rush here of all places?¡¯ She lifted the tent flap with a hand resting on her sword hilt and slid in. The wary bloodlust emanating from the Vampire startled a middle-aged woman, who promptly scrambled for something under the table. Envy eyed the trembling woman dispassionately, judging her to be holding a knife. The Diviner cursed her luck as a menacing woman with the eyes of a killer stalked into the tent. ¡°W-what fortune would you like read? Your future? Compatibility with your partner? I can answer a-all for ten Denars¡­¡± Only a slight tremor gave away her nervousness as she recited the lines she had repeated a hundred times before. Envy looked up in interest, realizing she was a Diviner, her curiosity grew further. ¡°What fortune did the man before me seek, the one with green eyes.¡± The Diviner cursed the man who had been forsaken by the world for dragging her into this dangerous situation. She replied the truth: ¡°He didn¡¯t want a reading this time, he came for advice on the divination arts.¡± Envy was puzzled, it made sense he would ask for advice from a Diviner. He was always playing with those bones like a little child, appearing disappointed with the results each time. However, it didn¡¯t explain the ¡®why¡¯. ¡°You said ¡®this time¡¯, what did he want before?¡± The Diviner looked visibly distressed, and it was obvious she didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Envy transfixed the woman with the best murderous glare in her arsenal. ¡°H-he did come... with an elf... he asked for his fortune.¡± ¡°And what did you see?¡± The mumbling woman had visibly aged ten years from terror and despair, convinced that Envy wouldn¡¯t like the answer, ¡°I don¡¯t know... just that he is forsaken by the World...¡± Envy stood there for what seemed like minutes, absorbing this new information and trying to put it in context. After some hesitation, she tossed a large copper coin to the Diviner. ¡°Read my fortune.¡± The shawled woman hurriedly poured out the divination bones onto her palm and hesitantly reached out for Envy to touch them, afraid the Murderess would chop them off. Then, she fuelled the throwing bones further by injecting her own mana into the mix until they shone blindingly bright. The ivory fragments slipped through her fingers and flashed in sequence, quickly dissipating its charge. She finally looked up; the whites of her eyes visible as a terrible revelation hit. ¡°But you are supposed to be d-dead... h-how can this be?¡± Envy leapt forward and grabbed the woman by the neck, swatting the Diviner''s feeble dagger aside. She snarled, eyes ablaze. ¡°Tell me everything that you saw.¡± Chapter 61 - Duel Envy left the Diviner¡¯s tent, adjusting her mud stained armour as she did so. Walking in quiet contemplation, she flashed the gate guard her slave token, scowling at the iconography that someone owned her. Returning to the Guild, she tried to conceal her distress. The Diviner had told her the same thing as Exill. She was supposed to be dead, and the World had similarly forsaken her. They were of the same Fates. Looking back on events, she suspected Exill knew this already. If he had known she were to die in Diallo¡¯s cell, it provided a new perspective on why he had chosen her and been so generous in the offer to free her. A shiver ran down her back while remembering the terrible state she had been in. For too long, she had been afraid to ask Exill why he would go through such lengths to acquire then promptly release her. She did not believe in altruism, and the more he bestowed upon her ¨C in the form of freedom, money, and equipment ¨C the more she became afraid of its terrible reckoning and price. Knowing his intentions, it felt like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders, ¡®I now have an idea of what he wants, and our interests are aligned. One thing is for sure, I most likely owe him my pathetic life.¡¯ It was a distasteful thought, but a few things began to make sense, especially the terms of the [notarized contract] they had agreed to. The only thing he had wanted was her ¡®help in all his endeavours.¡¯ She had glossed over its meaning at the time, but it was no small request if they were going up against the Will of the World. Feeling swindled, she didn¡¯t notice the two well-equipped men saunter over to her across the guild hall. Sir Eumol, son of a noble and first member of Envy¡¯s unofficial fan club, placed a gauntleted hand on her shoulder. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Miss Cherry Pie. You kept us waiting long enough.¡± ¡°It appears she had a tussle with swamp beasts from her muddy attire. Presumably while protecting her cowardly master?¡± A second man dressed in black form-fitting robes appeared at her side. He was Vameki, son of a wealthy fur trader, and the second member of Envy¡¯s unofficial fan club. Envy swatted Sir Eumol¡¯s hand away, she intimately knew his type, and only viewed him as a walking coin purse. ¡°Pay up and let¡¯s head out.¡± The two men handed over their coins and fell in line, eyes glued to her swaying hips till they entered the inner sanctum of the Tower. They exchanged handshakes that lasted too long for her liking to establish the party. She could sense the barely controlled lust over their connection. ¡°What is my Rose worrying her pretty head about. You sense that as well Vameki?¡± ¡°Ah, you are right, her usual aloofness has a hint of distress. As expected of her future master, your ability to gauge a woman¡¯s mood is most distinguished.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried I might kill you and desecrate your corpse,¡± she replied, giving both of them a hard stare. ¡°You always say the sweetest things.¡± Sir Eumol caressed her buttocks, resulting in a flurry of action where Envy elbowed his sternum, followed by a knee to the crotch. A hint of jealousy floated over their connection from Vameki, while Sir Eumol¡¯s could only be described as pained pleasure. ¡°Filthy perverts. I¡¯ll cut off your hand if you try that again.¡± She spat in disgust then turned towards the portal. The first monster they encountered were a pack of five zombies. Their organs were used as enchantment material but were otherwise avoided by most mercenaries. Sir Eumol took his place beside Envy and prepared his gleaming tower shield and estoc. Vameki engaged hostilities by casting a wall of fire between them, forcing the zombies to walk through the flames to engage. They were swiftly burnt to a crisp and cut down by the trio. Envy collected what she could from the charred corpses while the two men provided unwanted advice, enjoying the view of her bent over form. She had to admit the pair were strong. They had the best training and equipment that money could buy. Sir Eumol sensed the hint of admiration and puffed out his chest. He felt his chance of rescuing Envy from her cowardly master was drawing near. ¡°Have you talked to that Witchdoctor of your desire to enter my services?¡± he pressured, for the third time that week. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Come now, I¡¯ve offered to upgrade your equipment! What good is there in serving a gutless wimp who sends his woman into the Labyrinth alone?¡± Sir Eumol raised a pleading hand while Vameki nodded off to one side. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, this is my choice, and I don¡¯t want your charity.¡± ¡°Then you leave me no choice, Vameki, the letter please.¡± Vameki handed Envy an envelope with the seal of a noble¡¯s crest. Sir Eumol continued with his explanation, ¡°As I said, your spineless master leaves me no choice. I officially challenge him to a duel; he will accept if he is a man or forever be scorned for his cowardice.¡± ¡°I will save both your time by refusing the challenge.¡± She let the envelope fall to the ground in obvious disdain. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is out of your hands my little Cherry. Do not worry your pretty head and deliver it to your master, it is his to decide. Tell him he can accept the challenge in the Royal Arena. Regardless, I¡¯m afraid this matter has left a sour taste in my mind, let us call our expedition short.¡± Envy sighed, but picked up the letter and exited the Labyrinth, heading home, unsure of how to relate the matter to Exill, to whom she was already heavily indebted. *** ¡°He has done a background check on you... right?¡± Exill was exasperated upon seeing Envy¡¯s shrug. Who in their right mind would covet a slave with such an illustrious owner killing record? He scanned through the letter again, then glanced at Luna for advice, ¡°How dangerous are duels, and what happens if I ignore this challenge?¡± ¡°There are a few deaths each year, but I understand the rules restrict murder, the purpose is to resolve disputes after all, not to kill each other. Since a Noble has challenged you, turning it down will lead to your disgrace. The Magistrate will quietly revoke your residence permit and you will find it difficult to enter the Inner City. Nobles and rich merchants alike would avoid your services.¡± ¡°Then what are the outcomes if I accept the challenge?¡± ¡°If you lose, you will be compelled to sell the slave to Sir Eumol for the price you purchased her. If you win, the dispute is settled with no option for retrial and he must pay you a token gesture of 1000 denars.¡± Exill grinned, ¡°It appears I win either way. You couldn¡¯t imagine how much trouble she has been.¡± Luna¡¯s eyes turned hopeful while Envy¡¯s became a deathly glare. There was a time and a place for jokes, and this was no laughing matter. Exill rummaged in his pouch for his newest divination tool, a silver blank-faced coin for divining simple ¡®yes or no¡¯ answers. He channelled mana into it and flipped the coin, catching it in midair. He unfurled his fingers to reveal a familiar glowing rune. ¡°Just how strong is this Sir Eumol?¡± he asked. Envy hesitated before replying. She had fought alongside both men. More importantly, she didn¡¯t want to risk her chance at freedom, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. He is 27 years old and already a mid-tier [Knight]. He has the best equipment and training that money can buy. Compared to that, you are only 18 with one year of experience as a [Warrior]. Ignore this challenge, being disgraced doesn¡¯t matter when we can move to another city and start again.¡± Luna gripped his hand tightly under the table. She did not want him to leave Ark. Exill knew the Vampire''s words made sense, but a slow rumble of indignation coursed through his chest at the thought of abandoning what he had built up, all for the whims of some petty noble. ¡°Let¡¯s assume we move to another city. What happens when another noble takes a liking to you, or covets something I own, do I run away again?¡± he asked spitefully. ¡°Yes... you don¡¯t seem to understand but we are like ants to them. You have neither the wealth nor power to oppose nobles.¡± Envy replied plainly. Exill briefly closed his eyes and pondered on the injustice of it all. Back on Earth, he had heard of civil forfeiture laws where police were empowered to steal from the poor and disadvantaged - even where no crime had been committed. Replace police with nobles and it was the same for this World, better actually, because at least here - you had to offer fair compensation for the things you stole. ¡°You can fight when you are stronger.¡± Envy added softly, pushing him over the edge. Exill grit his teeth and spoke slowly in a low voice, ¡°I will fight him and win.¡± He stood up from the table abruptly and entered his room, leaving Luna staring at his back with guarded eyes. The Elf secretly hoped he would lose this challenge and part ways with the Vampire. In the room, Exill collapsed on the bed, laying a towel under one arm. The worry gnawing at him was carefully concealed as he rolled up one sleeve of his tunic. There was good reason to be concerned, when questioned who would win in the duel, the divination coin had given the equivalent of landing on its edge ¨C as usual. Following his gut, he had chosen to accept the challenge. Exill estimated he had the equivalent of sixteen years of advantage in levelling thanks to his multiple training equipment yielding 16x EXP. For a brief time, his experience gain had peaked at 64x while the Blacksmith Gloves and Apron were still intact. A pang of grief hit him over the loss of the tattered apron. It had finally given up the ghost a couple months ago and his level would have been much higher with it. He was soon joined in the narrow bed by Envy in their new preferred feeding position where she used his arm as a pillow. ¡°How will you uphold the promise to free me if you lose?¡± she asked, staring at the far wall. ¡°I won¡¯t lose.¡± Exill had already prepared three plans in the unlikely scenario he would lose. The first was rather simple. He just needed to get stronger and challenge Sir Eumol to win Envy back before the two years were up. The second option had potential but still needed some adjustments. The option of last resort was to accept Luna¡¯s 28k Denar loan and free Envy before the date of the duel. Win or lose, he couldn¡¯t be compelled to hand over a person who was free. ¡°Did you wash your arm?¡± ¡°Yes, you saw me washing the dishes.¡± She sniffed in disdain, then wrapped her soft lips around his forearm. It never ceased to amaze him how vulnerable she was while feeding, lapping at his vitality. At times like this, it was difficult to believe she was the same person who had plagued his sanity this morning. Exill softly brushed her hair, the exact same thing he had been falsely accused of doing by this troublesome demon. He didn¡¯t know why he did it. It might have been a repressed response to all the problems she had caused, or it could be because he enjoyed getting hit. Who knows why men do dangerous things for so little gain? The response was swift and brutal in the form of an elbow to his side. Before she could get another strike in, he wrestled the arm down, suppressing her. ¡°Ouch! Okay I¡¯m sorry. I can see blood dripping down so let¡¯s stop.¡± He slowly released her but was rewarded with a final elbow to his side, but thankfully, it was weak. Exill felt a slight resonance in his core and intuitively knew that their Contract had been enforced. They were forbidden from harming each other, and the chains binding them had flared to life after the first strike. He had heard stories of men struck down by lightning for reneging on their deals. There were also tales of soldiers abruptly paralysed from the waist down while deserting the battlefield. Sure, these stories could be dramatized, but he suspected there was a terrible grain of truth in them. As the pain subsided away, moments turned to minutes, and he began to doze off, comforted by her warmth and worrying about the upcoming fight. Envy fed a little longer until she was sure he was asleep. Kissing the wound closed, she peeled away his restraining arm and turned to face him. Even while sleeping, his brows were furrowed in worry and his lips slowly parted, forming words that couldn¡¯t be heard. A wavering hand reached out to his forehead and with gentle strokes of her thumb, massaged the tension built up over his eyebrows. She was familiar with nightmares after all, and considered this a minor act of compassion. Envy quietly stood up and left the room, meeting the impassive gaze of Luna who hadn¡¯t moved from her seat. The Vampire broke eye contact first and climbed the ladder to the attic. Chapter 62 ¡®Did that leech overfeed again?¡¯ Exill woke up the next morning feeling incredibly groggy and summoned the Card to find his vitality around 90%. That gluttonous demon had drunk twice the amount of blood that was usually permitted, prompting the need for another discussion on boundaries. He grunted as he stood up, steadying himself on the wall as a wave of dizziness passed. Exiting the room, he looked to the left to find Luna humming as she sliced bread, and the remainder of last night¡¯s crab stew could be seen heating over a small fire. Her golden hair was up in a bun, revealing the slender lines of her neck. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± She looked up in surprise, her knife slipping and shallowly slicing her thumb. Exill reached for the nearby dish towel as blood welled up from the cut and lightly compressed it with a clean towel. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I startled you, it¡¯s just that¡­ you seemed to be enjoying yourself.¡± It was true. The slave had left for the Labyrinth early in the morning, leaving her and Exill all alone. She was looking forward to breakfast with just the two of them together. Luna realized he was lightly holding her hand in a familiar manner; an unbidden memory of Exill gently treating one of his ¡®fan club¡¯ suitors surfaced. However the comparison ended there, his hair was dishevelled and messy, and there was genuine concern in his eyes instead of the professional smile he displayed to all his patients. ¡°Ah. The stew,¡± Exill looked over his shoulder to find the stew in a rolling boil, he carefully nudged it to the side, away from the direct heat of the fire. His actions brought reprieve to the flustered Elf, and she examined him while holding her wrapped thumb to her chest. ¡°Did you sleep well? Your slave went out early in the morning saying something about you being in no condition to fight, are you feeling unwell?¡± Exill nodded. Envy probably realized her mistake and escaped early to avoid another one of his lectures, ¡°Yeah I¡¯m alright, why don¡¯t you sit down and I¡¯ll finish slicing the bread, then we can eat together.¡± He brought the still bubbling stew to the table and ladled it equally between them. The meal was one of the best he ever had, and the seasoning had seeped into the crab¡¯s tender meat overnight causing it to melt in his mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how good this is, you did a fantastic job on the stock,¡± he complimented the chef while dunking bread into the shallow broth. ¡°I know right? Still, it could be better, Nana always used to put a dash of the innards and it really deepens the flavour¡­¡± Luna suddenly remembered her grandma and took a few moments to blink her tears away. Exill pushed his dish aside and reached out to comfort her wounded hand, ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll go downstairs and bring up a clean bandage and salve. You can leave the dishes to me.¡± The rest of early morning was spent treating her thumb and cleaning up the dishes. Forbidden from getting her hand wet, Luna happily brushed his hair from behind while he scrubbed the cauldron in the sink. Exill elbowed her away playfully, conscious of her bosom pressing against his back, ¡°I can brush my own hair; you have your own things to do.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you brush your hair, have you grown taller by the way?¡± The two had been about the same height when they first met but his shoulders now came up to her chin. She stopped combing and embraced him warmly from behind, surprising Exill with the intimate gesture. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Thank you for coming back by the way. I missed this.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He relaxed and continued scrubbing at a burnt fleck that wouldn¡¯t come off. The two stood together in comfortable silence until he spoke up again, ¡°I¡¯ll be going to the Arena to accept the duel. I would also like to drop by the Royal Library since it¡¯s nearby. Can I borrow 1000 denars? I heard you need a deposit to read the books.¡± She squeezed him playfully from behind. Summoning courage whose source was unknown, she made a counterproposal, ¡°You want an advance on your wages? Only if you give your boss a k-kiss on the cheek.¡± Exill turned around and kissed her on the forehead, wiping his sudsy hands gleefully on her back. He grinned, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for an advance, just borrowing it temporarily, so you will have to settle for that, boss¡±. He followed the bewildered maiden down the stairs to the safe, where she fumbled with it three times before withdrawing the single gold coin. He pocketed it, as well as the challenge letter and prepared to leave the clinic. ¡°I¡¯ll return this in a few hours!¡± he waved and closed the door behind him while Luna touched her flushed cheeks wondering if this wasn¡¯t another one of her lewd dreams. ¡®Is this my first kiss?¡¯ she pressed a palm against her fluttering chest. *** Exill moved swiftly through the back alleyways, keeping the sun and Labyrinth Tower as a directional reference. He would have to walk nearly thirty minutes up north to reach the Arena. ¡®Did I do the wrong thing? A peck on the forehead barely qualifies as a kiss right?¡¯ He questioned if some imaginary boundary hadn¡¯t been crossed with his impulsive action. Still, he was more impressed with how the shy elf maiden had grown to such a point where she could make jokes like that. He still fondly remembered her cute ¡°Haah?!¡± when he first held her hand to form a Party in that first night when intruders had broken in. ¡®Actually, holding hands is probably a bit lewder than a kiss on the forehead,¡¯ he shook his head with mirth and before he knew it, the Arena could be glimpsed over the rooftops up ahead. It was four storeys tall and decorated with arches and columns, colourful banners adorning the plinths at each interval. He exited the alleyway into a bustling square, where betmakers and vendors sold their services and wares. ¡°Place your bets here! The great Teodor versus the exotic Kalaya, a contest of skill against brutal savagery¡­¡± ¡°Enhance your love life, Roleplays galore! Ladies love this replica of the mask worn by Untash the Barbarian!¡± Exill was curious as he passed the many stalls catering to couples. Apparently the Arena was a popular dating spot, and a lot of the vendors were happy to anticipate their needs, both real and imagined. He walked up to a series of tents butted against the arena walls. There were clerks selling tickets to various events held in the Arena. He examined a lurid hand painted poster titled, ¡®Forbidden Love: The Wolf and the Ranger¡¯. It depicted a wounded wolfman carrying an unconscious elf maiden in a state of undress. ¡°Huh, I guess they perform plays here as well.¡± He was about to ask the clerk for directions when another poster caught his eye. It was titled ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯. It depicted a chained woman collapsed in her nightshift, reaching out towards a handsome man with red hair looking indifferently down at her. This was too good to pass up, he knew Envy would hate it. ¡°I would like two afternoon tickets for ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯, and could you tell me where I can register for duels?¡± ¡°That would be twenty Denars, please arrive fifteen minutes before the first bell for the play, and contestant registrations are processed down to your right,¡± The clerk gestured to an unassuming side entrance in the Arena. Exill pocketed the tickets that were actually clay tokens with an elaborate mural and number stamped on them. ¡®Manufacturing paper would be such a lucrative side business,¡¯ he mused. As a former mechanical engineer, he had many such ideas. He often daydreamed about the requisite technologies, and how magic enchantments could enhance modern designs. His own paralyzing scalpel was an excellent example of the synergies capable. But as always, he was limited by time and capital. ¡®I¡¯ll start inventing once I become an [Enchanter],¡¯ he happily thought as he entered the Arena side entrance. After descending a flight of stairs, he was ushered into a waiting room and swiftly greeted by a clerk in charge of registrations. ¡°Mister Exill? Please step into my office.¡± The Clerk led him into a small room and sighed heavily while sitting down. Thumbing a sheaf of parchment from the pile on his left, he slid it over to the Witchdoctor, ¡°Please confirm that you were not unduly coerced and have sought alternative remedies before arriving at this form of dispute resolution.¡± Exill grimaced as he nodded at the Clerk¡¯s question. If being disgraced and facing expulsion from the Inner City wasn¡¯t coercion, he didn¡¯t know what was. Paying lip service to fairness and impartiality was the same whichever World you were in; the rich played by a different set of rules. Scanning the length of the [Notarized Contract], Exill frowned as he inspected the terms of the duel. Chapter 63 - Arena & Library You agree to the terms set out by Sir Eumol. Namely,
  1. Each party is responsible for treatment of their own injuries,
  2. Victory is considered if the opponent yields or is otherwise incapacitated by the other party,
  3. Witchdoctor Exill will sell his slave, Envy to Sir Eumol for the initial purchase price of 15,000 Denars upon his defeat,
  4. Witchdoctor Exill will be compensated a token sum of 1,000 Denars upon his victory and Sir Eumol will put the dispute permanently to rest,
  5. Death of either party nullifies the entire contact ¨C including Article 1.
Exill channelled mana through the [Notarized Contract] to agree to the terms. The duel would be held in the morning a week from now. He was happy to see that killing the opponent was severely disincentivized. From what he understood, in the event of his death - Eumol would not be able to purchase Envy, and the Knight would also have to compensate his family¡­ if he had one. ¡°Now, I just need to collect two locks of your hair, and it would be great if you could channel mana into them.¡± The Clerk passed scissors and a length of twine over to him. ¡°What do you need this for?¡± Exill asked as he cut the hair. ¡°It is standard registration procedure, and that will do just fine.¡± The Clerk filed away the bundle of hair and paperwork into a pigeonhole receptacle behind him. ¡°What would happen to my slave if I were to die?¡± he asked out of morbid curiosity. ¡°Just like any asset, the slave would be transferred to your next of kin or those specified in your will. If no such entity exists, the Kingdom will lay claim to all assets.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Exill thanked the Clerk and left the office. He headed towards the nearby Royal Library, an ostentatious three storey building next to the Arena. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts on who he could bequest Envy to in the event of his untimely death. He had no plans to die anytime soon, but neither did anyone who took out life insurance. It was best to be prepared for all scenarios. ¡®I should chase up the Guild for information on Verill. He is the only person I trust to fulfil my promises. Otherwise¡­ it would be Luna¡­ actually, no¡­ just no.¡¯ Exill had witnessed the cold stares the elf-maiden directed towards the Vampire. Leaving Envy in her care upon his hypothetical demise was a bad idea. He bitterly shook his head and crossed the courtyard to enter the large entryway of the Library protected by stone gryphon statues on either side. The entryway led to a reception area floored with polished sandstone tiles and dark wooden panelling along the lower half of the wall. Behind the counter stood an elegant middle-aged woman inspecting the bindings of worn books piled to her left. She looked up at the sound of the swinging double doors and shot him a warm professional smile. ¡°Welcome sir, would this be your first time at the Royal Library?¡± Exill nodded, and the matronly woman withdrew a velvet lined tray from under her desk and pushed it in front of him. ¡°A deposit of 1000 Denars will be returned to you when you leave. Although the Library is funded by the Royal family, we ask that patrons donate a small amount to maintain the vast collection of our archives. Please do not be offended if we search your belongings when you exit the premises.¡± ¡°¡­How much do people typically donate to the library?¡± he asked edgily. ¡°We only ask that patrons give what they can afford, we recognise that not everyone is blessed by wealth.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Exill carefully examined the Librarian¡¯s face as he first lowered a gold coin on the velvet tray, followed by two large copper coins. He was impressed with her professionalism as her expression didn¡¯t betray judgement. Exill thanked the Librarian and walked through the double French doors separating the lobby from the Library. A quiet hush fell on him as he crossed the doorway. Curiosity drove him to examine the doorframe, and spotted a rune inscribed metal plate affixed high above. ¡®Huh¡­ so it can be used like that?¡¯ he mulled over the utility of the silencing enchantment. Turning around, he was impressed by the vaulted ceilings and the long interior of the building, reaching far into the distance. Just ahead, a statue on a plinth depicted the first King of Fayth sombrely holding a sword pointed at his feet. The walls were lined with ornate bookshelves two storeys tall and there were interspersed alcoves with private seating and desks where patrons quietly examined their books. Spotting a well-worn ledger on a lectern in front of the King¡¯s statue, he walked over to examine it. His eyes widened in surprise to find it was a directory of jobs and the shelves they could be found on. ¡®What is a xylographer¡­ and what is a colporteur? I don¡¯t recognise half these job names!¡¯ Exill abruptly realised how extensive the World¡¯s system of job categorization was. There were easily hundreds of jobs with many subspecialisations. A lifetime wouldn¡¯t be enough to absorb all this information. Something caught his eyes in the ledger. It was titled [Job Acquisition] and it indicated the books could be found in Annex I. He walked up and down the hallway, examining the shelves until an unobtrusive door caught his eye. ¡®Annex I¡¯ was carved into the dark wood and Exill tried the door to find it was locked. He returned to the reception area to ask about this locked room. ¡°Excuse me, how can I gain entry to Annex I?¡± The Librarian raised an eyebrow at his question. It was rare for commoners to request access to the room since it was difficult for them to afford job transfers. ¡°Entry costs 1,000 denars and must be booked in advance. You will be permitted to inspect the ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯ for one hour.¡± The woman spent the next five minutes explaining the various restrictions while calmly inspecting the condition of books put under her care. Satisfied with the information, Exill thanked the Librarian and walked away. The key takeaway was that the room held a single large tome that was incredibly valuable to the Kingdom. Access was strictly controlled and limited to one hour a session. It purportedly held entries on how to obtain every single job in the World. ¡®Damn, I would like a copy! But no-one is allowed to take notes while in its presence.¡¯ Finding no obvious way to work around the restriction, he returned to the central lectern and looked up Diviners. Just by their proximity in the ledger he could guess what jobs were associated with which. For example, the next entry after Diviner was Oracle. He decided to also check it out. Exill spent the next hour reading an introductory guide to Divining, detailing the various tools and methods of the trade, while taking notes on the clay tablet. He was starting to grow tired when he heard a [Ping!] indicating a new job had been obtained.
Job Scribe
Level 1
Description Arcane - Tier I
Passive Buff Faster reading and writing (scales with level)
¡®Huh, I remember seeing [Scribe] in the directory, it stood out because it had a lot of sub directories associated with it.¡¯ Exill returned to the central lectern to investigate. The [Scribe] could progress to various writing related progressions such as [Teacher], [Notary], [Jurisconsult], [Librarian], and [Archivist]. He was familiar with the first three but investigated what unique skills the last two jobs provided. Investigating various books for the next hour, he came to several hypotheses. [Librarian] granted some kind of spatial awareness of a book¡¯s category and location, it functioned similarly to divination. [Archivist] was an obscure job, but anecdotes of notable archivists reciting books word-for-word suggested it had something to do with memorization. If the job provided a skill similar to photographic memory, it would be perfect to obtain this and read the Job Tome in Annex I. ¡®But how do you obtain [Archivist]?¡¯ It was a catch-22, where he needed access to the Job Tome to fully exploit the Job Tome. Feeling tired from his blood loss, as well as the mental exertion, he continued to study the books for several more hours, searching for hints on how [Archivist] could be obtained. Chapter 64 ¡°You can hold on to the 1000 Denars, consider it advance payment. You earned it.¡± Luna pushed the gold coin away with a gentle smile as she stood up from her stool. ¡°How was the Arena, it was your first time there right? Were there any good shows on?¡± she excitedly pestered Exill. It had been years since she last saw a show in the Arena, and that had been with Nana, may the World embrace her soul. She had toyed with the idea of going on a date with him when he brought the duel up last night, but it had seemed inappropriate at the time. ¡°There were a few, but all I remember was ¡®Forbidden Love: The Wolf and the Ranger¡¯ and ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯¡­ speaking of which, tomor-¡± ¡°Oh, Forbidden Love! I¡¯ve heard of it while shopping in the market. They say it¡¯s really sad and romantic¡­ d-do you think we can go watch it together, maybe after your duel?¡± Exill felt the two clay tickets to ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ burning a hole through his pocket. It was fortunate he had been interrupted before admitting that Envy would be watching a play with him tomorrow. ¡°Y-yeah¡­ that would be nice.¡± They spent the next hour restocking medicine when the next patient arrived. He was a tanner whose fingers had been caught in a winch system. Exill exhaled as he inspected what was left of the pinkie and the finger next to it. The Tanner had been relieved of pain but was covering his eyes in fear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but these two fingers have to go, we can arrange a treatment plan to regrow them once they have fully healed.¡± The Tanner simply nodded, not trusting his voice. Exill got to work cleaning up the edges, and sewed the stump closed. He handed the patient over to Luna for poultice and bandaging as he went to the washbasin to scrub his hands. Just like the day before, he checked his Card to see if the operation had raised his [Witchdoctor] to level 20¡­
[Witchdoctor] lvl 20 - NEW ACTIVE SKILL
[Mana Infuse] Mana infused poultices and potions are now more effective (scales with level)
Exill grinned. It was finally here, and it was something good! While Luna was discharging the patient, he picked up one of Savta¡¯s healing salves and channelled mana into it. It absorbed a fifth of his mana and when inspected with [Appraisal] it appeared as ¡®Infused Healing Poultice ¨C Price: ???¡¯ ¡®Ah, so items that are the first of its kind do not have a price. I guess that makes sense.¡¯ Exill toyed with the polished wooden container idly while thinking up ways to utilise this new power. Touching Luna¡¯s elbow to grasp her attention, he held the pot out to her, ¡°I know this is a weird request, but can you buy this poultice off me for fifteen Denars?¡± Luna looked quizzically at Exill. He often made strange requests like this. One evening he had listed a series of absurd statements and asked her which of them was most believable while checking his Card between each lie. She had quickly learned that it was better to entertain him than ask what he was up to. Reaching into her coin pouch, she handed him fifteen denars with a little flourish. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Thank you sir Witchdoctor, it is my greatest desire to own one of your concoctions.¡± Exill appraised the ¡®Infused Healing Poultice¡¯ in her hands, but the price still appeared as ¡®???¡¯. ¡®Damn, is the World capable of sensing a transaction is valid or not? How is that even possible? Actually¡­ it kind of makes sense. If the price had changed that easily, merchants would be able to manipulate the market price of commodities, and the [Price Range] skill would become useless.¡¯ A slight chill ran down his back at the thought of a sentient Will that judged what transactions were valid or not. ¡°Exill? Is there something special about this poultice?¡± From Luna¡¯s perspective, he had taken her fifteen denars in exchange for a simple poultice and stood there, glaring at it for a solid minute with furrowed brows. To her, it just looked like an ordinary item, one of many they produced and sold. Exill returned the fifteen denars to her and explained: ¡°I just obtained a new job skill for Witchdoctor. It allows me to infuse mana into poultices and potions and it increases their effect - sorry, I meant to say - I suspect it increases effectiveness by a small amount.¡± Exill had nearly forgotten that normal people didn¡¯t have access to skill descriptors. Despite this, he was immediately bombarded with a hug from Luna. ¡°That is amazing! I¡¯m touched you wanted me as your first customer!¡± ¡°Yes *cough*, I also think fifteen denars is a fair price for this premium product.¡± ¡°Then please infuse as much as you can!¡± *** Exill was chatting with Luna after dinner on the various types of potions and poultices, and which of them would best infuse with mana. He had managed to only infuse four of them before his magic ran out, but looking at his Card now, it was back to around half full. He turned around to see Envy had returned, covered in dirt climbing up the stairs. Only those who were familiar with her would have noticed the hint of sheepishness in her eyes. ¡°Well, well¡­ finally dragged yourself in for a meal?¡± he asked with a raised eyebrow. It was time they had another talk about boundaries and how much she was allowed to feed on a single day. Envy ignored him and started heating water over the fire to clean herself. Exill followed suit and decided if she was going to ignore him, she won¡¯t be getting a meal tonight, not that she deserved one in the first place! He continued his conversation with Luna over which concoctions were worth infusing with mana before finally turning in for the night an hour later. *Squeak* The door slowly opened, and he looked up to find Envy silhouetted by the dying embers of the kitchen fireplace. She closed the door behind her and climbed into bed, using his arm as a pillow. Exill held her back by the forehead just as she was about to bite down. ¡°Let¡¯s talk a bit before we feed.¡± ¡°About w-what?¡± ¡°About overfeeding the night before, where you¡¯ve been all day, and our plans for tomorrow.¡± He loosened his grip so that she could turn to answer his questions. ¡°You want to hear I¡¯m sorry? If we¡¯re going to talk about boundaries, you¡¯re the one at fault for touching my hair, who said you could do that?!¡± She emphasized her anger by striking his side painfully with an elbow. ¡°Your blood for your crimes is fair exchange. Today I hunted in the Labyrinth and will do so tomorrow.¡± Exill tightened his grip on her forehead as she tried to bite in again, ¡°Not so fast! I¡¯ll let you feed, but you can drink only half the normal amount, and you need to promise to go to the Arena with me after lunch and watch an event.¡± Envy paused; she didn¡¯t really care for spectating duels. If he thought it might prepare him for the fight with Sir Eumol, she would be happy to accompany him. Maybe he was embarrassed to go alone. ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll drain you dry if you touch me again.¡± Chapter 65 - Play ¡°Two clay guards!¡± No one knew if clay guards were truly sentient monsters or artificial constructs. They were rarely encountered in the lower levels of the Labyrinth but were highly valued by mercenaries. This is because they were the only monsters in the lower level to drop spirit shards, a core component of enchanting. Excitement and greed consumed both of them as they thought of the hundreds of Denars they could earn. However these were not easy targets. Without water magic it was difficult to soften them up, and even more difficult to destroy the shifting cores in their soft reforming bodies. ¡°Let¡¯s turn this into a competition, first to take one down wins.¡± Suggested Exill, already counting the silver coins these monsters represented. Envy cocked her head and blew a stray strand of hair that had escaped her bun, her eyes intrigued but cautious. She was confident in her ability to beat him. ¡°Fine, but when I win, you need to give me your share of the shards.¡± Exill had anticipated this, and deliberately hesitated while putting on a thoughtful mask. This rare opportunity to humiliate her couldn¡¯t be missed, ¡°¡­Sure, but if I win, I get your share and get to pat your head for the rest of the day.¡± As he waited for her acceptance, she simply checked the straps of her buckler and abruptly charged forward. Swearing inwardly, Exill prepared his spear and followed after her, activating [Weak Point] and [Steady Hands]. There was no way he could lose in this contest! He loosely held the spear until the last moment, sensing [Weak Point] guide the tip towards the Golem¡¯s core like a slow dowsing rod.
[Ping!]
Exill was awarded twice as he felled the clay guard with his initial charge. He didn¡¯t even need to check the Card to know [Mathematician] had reached level 20 and fully unlocked [Scientist]. He wore his best look of contempt as he observed Envy struggling with her opponent. She had taken a psychological hit from his swift takedown and was finding it difficult to recover. *Thwack* Exill¡¯s spear tip emerged from the second clay guard¡¯s midriff, and it promptly dissolved into a pile of mud. He stood behind the collapsing monster wearing the most insufferable grin. ¡°Let¡¯s head back now, good effort from you.¡± He led the mortified Vampire back to the entrance, remembering to give her a head pat and compliment for doing such a good job. They made their way back to the Guild and waited for Iris to start her shift. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you Exill, it feels like it¡¯s been such a long time since we last talked. Have you grown taller?¡± Iris¡¯s eyes were the usual warm grey, and she inspected him closely since he looked so different from when they last talked. Suddenly realising he was without a suffocating presence she asked, ¡°Where is that¡­ woman who always follows you?¡± ¡°Oh, she is resting over there, recovering from a lost bet.¡± He gestured to a bench near the back, where Envy could be seen staring up at the ceiling, limp and miserable. Iris couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of bet could crumble such an intimidating woman but didn¡¯t ask for clarification. She instead looked down at the haul splayed in front of her. ¡°You were in some luck, Congratulations!¡± She counted out over 300 Denars for the spirit shards and various monster parts he had acquired. Iris was genuinely pleased when a member of the Guild ran into good fortune. ¡°Thanks Iris¡­ by the way have you heard a response from my request tracking down a missing friend?¡± She glanced at her fellow clerk Marco who was otherwise engaged with a client. She shook her head, ¡°Marco would have told me if he heard, he knows I worry about you a lot. You are such a bad person Exill, you should visit more often instead of sending¡­ ¡®her¡¯ to do your errands. Do you know she grunts at me when I ask how you¡¯re doing?¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Exill felt guilty as he tried to pry his hand away from her concerned grip. All this handholding was simply too lewd, and he could feel heat rising to his ears. Besides, he was running late for the play at the Arena. ¡°I¡¯ll-come-visit-more-often-and-I¡¯m-so-sorry-but-I-got-to-go.¡± He barraged her with words and slipped out of the Guild with Envy in tow, leaving Iris with a disappointed look on her face as she greeted the next mercenary. ¡°Whose duel are we spectating?¡± Envy asked as they navigated the alleyways towards the Arena. She had recovered from her earlier loss and tried to look at the silver-lining. Exill had become incredibly strong and perhaps he had a fighting chance against Sir Eumol. She still considered his win a fluke. ¡°I would¡­ prefer to keep it a surprise. Just keep in mind you promised to go with me, no complaints.¡± Exill fingered the play tokens in his pouch nervously. It had been an impulsive purchase on the belief that the Vampire would hate it. Their relationship had progressed to a point where he would classify her as a ¡®frenemy¡¯ ¨C someone you loved to hate. After months of being bit, elbowed, and having his hair plucked, this supposed ¡®revenge¡¯ was understated in comparison. To draw a parallel, it was akin to an Englishman taking a Parisian to a WWII movie, then reminding them all the times the French needed saving against the Axis forces. The colonnades of the Arena soon came into view and Exill handed his numbered clay tickets to the clerk who let them pass. This was Envy¡¯s first time in the stadium just like him and they stopped to admire the view, moving aside to let others pass. The Arena was shaped like a giant bowl on the inside, with tiered seating overlooking an oval stage. Only the seating in the north side was used during plays, because it served to better illuminate the performers in the afternoon and evening before the sun set behind the northern mountain range. Envy took this all in, including the platform on a raised stage with curtains, and the numerous couples seated together. She felt her heart race unlike any time before as realisation sunk in. This wasn¡¯t a duel they were spectating, did Exill bring her to watch a play? He excitedly led her by the arm to a bench close to the stage. She was pulled along, self-conscious and mind blanking from confusion. Meanwhile, Exill was excited about watching his first fantasy vampire romance, one that was guaranteed to be trashy from the look of the posters. He knew Envy would hate it, and there was a possibility he could glean some useful information on vampires in general. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for attending this performance on this most auspicious day! It would be my pleasure to present to you a love story that transcends time and circumstance. Follow me on this journey to find out if the Master and Slave can overcome society¡¯s prejudice to fulfil their undying love. Let us begin!¡± Envy couldn¡¯t breathe when she heard it was a love story between a master and a slave, with a vampire no less. She glanced at Exill whose normally serious eyes were glittering in excitement, smiling as he mistook her embarrassment for indignation. As time went by, the two of them were drawn in by the epic. The noble Vampire¡¯s parents had laid down an ultimatum that he must abandon the slave or be outcast from their dignified household. In the current scene, a beautiful woman in a nightdress lay collapsed on the floor, begging her Vampire master and true love to abandon her and lead a happy life. ¡°My darling, I am too weak to fulfil your hunger. I am like this chain that holds you down. Do not abandon your life for me.¡± The red haired man turned from the window and dropped to his knees to lift her chin, a stern yet affectionate smile gracing his sharp features. He wiped her tears away with a finger, ¡°Even your tears nourish this faltering heart of mine. If you are a slave I will turn you free. If you are weak, I will turn you strong. Your blood is mine as my heart is yours.¡± Exill¡¯s toes curled as he cringed at the cheesy dialogue. He mentally adapted and filed away the line in a corner of his mind. It could be used to annoy Envy should she step out of line. The play eventually ended with the unlikely couple escaping from their parents grasp to become a renowned warrior duo. They were married by a sympathetic bishop and the play ended with them consummating their marriage, finally fulfilling the desires they had held back all along. ¡®That was¡­ surprisingly good.¡¯ Exill admitted as he exited the Arena with Envy in tow. He had expected something trashy judging from the posters but apart from some cheesy dialogue, it was admittedly wholesome. He picked up a woodblock print of the famous scene as a souvenir for twenty Denars. He glanced sideways at Envy. She had remained remarkably silent throughout the play. ¡®Is she suppressing her anger to strike back when I least expect it?¡¯ he wondered. She had been strangely subdued these last few days, no longer plucking his loose hair, or insinuating he was a weak virgin. He put it down to her feeling a rare sense of remorse for inconveniencing him with the duel. It could almost be described as¡­ pleasant. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be heading back to the Clinic, I¡¯ll see you later in the evening.¡± ¡°Mn.¡± They split off without another word. However, little did he know the strain on their relationship the events of this day would unfurl. Chapter 66 - Thank You
Job Scientist
Level 1
Description Arcane- Tier II
Active Skill [Measure] gauge distance, mass and elapsed time (accuracy of measurements scale with level)
Exill lay on his back as he examined the Card. It had been an eventful day, and he was tired yet eager to try out this new skill. He hung up the poster of ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ on the wall and measured its dimensions.
50 x 30 cm
He could intuit the size of any object, and with some practice, convert it to any unit of measurement. Plucking a strand of his brown hair, he examined it with the skill.
<1 x 14 cm
¡®Ah, so that¡¯s the limitation of the skill¡¯s accuracy. It cannot go down to the millimetre scale at my current level.¡¯ The potential that [Measure] held was incalculable. Used correctly, it would not only allow him to engineer modern equipment without precision instruments, but it could also empower him to peer into the inner workings of the mysterious System. Some might argue that the ability to measure the incremental gain in weapon swing speed, or effectiveness of certain skills was more valuable than any of the skills he had obtained so far. It would allow him to optimise his growth path through efficient allocation of resources. He was caught up in methods to calculate the margin of error, as well as measuring time and weight, when a noise interrupted him. *squeak* Exill looked up to see Envy framing the dimly lit doorway. The surreptitious use of [Measure] revealed her to be 1.7m (5.6ft) tall. He moved backwards to make room for her on the narrow bed and adjusted the towel under his arm. Surprisingly, she sat down on the edge of the bed, but otherwise didn''t attempt to feed. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Exill asked nervously. He couldn¡¯t see her face but tensed his body in case she launched a pre-emptive strike. Her uncharacteristic reaction after the play had confounded him. The only way he could describe her these past few days was the word ¡®subdued¡¯. ¡°Just¡­ thank you.¡± she whispered back. ¡°About what?¡± Exill had never been more confused in his life. Envy was supposed to die a wretched death in her cage until the Witchdoctor had rescued her. Up till now, she had lashed out at him, thinking he was another captor seeking to exploit her. Finding out that they were similarly forsaken by the World had changed her perspective on everything. Most importantly, his acceptance of Sir Eumol¡¯s challenge had moved her to the point where she caught herself thinking, ¡®just maybe¡­ I can trust him.¡¯ The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. But she didn¡¯t answer. How could she explain all this without revealing she stalked him sometimes? Instead, she slowly lay down on his arm and gently wrapped her lips around his forearm. Exill was again caught off guard by her unusual tenderness and forgot all about their bet in the morning, which granted him the ability to pat her head with the intention of humiliating her. On the contrary, he fell asleep enjoying her quiet warmth. *** The next morning he was surprised to find Envy still lying on his arm, her heavy thigh pressed on top of him. He panicked, checking if the towel was still in place. She had a nasty habit of biting him while sleeping. They had strictly slept on opposing sides of the bed back at the Inn because of this. Relieved to find no stray drops of blood, he checked his Card to confirm vitality was at 100%. ¡®Good, she didn¡¯t overfeed. But why didn¡¯t she go to her bed?¡¯ He tried to lift her leg while pulling his arm that felt like leaden weight from the lack of circulation. Envy grimaced at all this movement but otherwise remained fast asleep. ¡°Hey Envy, it¡¯s morning, wake up!¡± he whispered. ¡°Mn.¡± She expressed her sleepy refusal by clinging tighter and burying her face into his armpits. Exill¡¯s heart skipped a beat at this display that was so unlike her. Letting her sleep a bit longer, he secretly enjoyed the feeling of being embraced. *knock knock* ¡°Exill? Breakfast is ready¡­ are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll c-come out in a second!¡± Luna stood by the door, her woman¡¯s intuition telling her to open it. His voice sounded a pitch too high, a hint of panic evident from his stuttered speech. She trusted her gut and opened the door. Her blue eyes turned cold as glaciers as she absorbed the sight of them entangled together, a mess of limbs. She suspected the Slave had crept into his room late at night and overstayed her welcome like the lewd leech that she was. Luna closed the door firmly without another word. Exill came out a minute later, flushed and dishevelled, he sat at the table. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry I fell asle-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses Witchdoctor sir, as long as you stay under my roof you will keep your lustful slave under control and under no circumstances are you to sleep together!¡± Luna¡¯s voice steadily grew louder until it culminated in a shout. ¡®Did she just call me ¡°Witchdoctor sir¡± and Envy my ¡°lustful slave¡±?¡¯ Exill realised just how furious she was, and he was confused by this rare display of resentment. It was not as if anything could happen between the Vampire and him. ¡°Look Luna, I think you¡¯re misunderstanding someth-¡± ¡°There is nothing to misunderstand!¡± Luna abruptly cut him off and continued, ¡°If you stay in this house, you will follow my rules. I know you are here to help me, but we follow common decency around here!¡± Exill¡¯s jaws tightened at this wrongful treatment. He had only recently escaped from under the thumb of his malicious slave, only to be unfairly controlled by someone whom he considered a close friend. However the alternatives were worse. Luna was obviously not in the right state of mind, and he didn¡¯t want to storm out and find a new place to stay. Eventually, his stingy side prevailed. ¡°Fine, I will send her back after feeding.¡± ¡°You will send her back after feeding and come to my room to report that fact. You will also lock the door on your return to ensure no unwelcome visitors during the night.¡± Heaving a reluctant sigh, Exill agreed, ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ll find you tonight to report this fact.¡± Luna merely nodded, not trusting her voice, the hand holding her spoon was visibly trembling from the adrenaline high. She had never been this assertive before, and it felt¡­ quite good. Nana had always warned her to reign in this ¡®man-whore¡¯ that was Exill - that he needed a firm guiding hand. She felt the wisdom of her words now. Exill shivered as he felt Luna¡¯s normally kind gaze shift into something¡­ familiar yet different. He could sense a hint of Old Savta simply from her poise and her face was utterly inscrutable. He wolfed down breakfast and left the Clinic in a hurry, grabbing his bedraggled Vampire and equipment in the process. Chapter 67 - Wizard Ring Envy drowsily stepped out into the streets, holding her equipment in a bundle in front of her. She remembered dozing off after feeding, which was strange in itself, because her guard was rarely let down for that to happen. She stumbled a bit as the laces on her boots were untied. ¡°Are you feeling alright? You aren¡¯t usually this bed-headed in the morning, in fact you wake up before me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ I slept well.¡± she mumbled back. Exill frowned as he tried to tease the larger tangles out of her hair while she tied her boots. The Vampire was usually up and finished with her warmup by the time he woke up. There was a lot to do today, and he had a premonition Luna would be stepping out of the Clinic shortly to give him another earful. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry, I want to drop by the pawn store before we go to the Labyrinth.¡± The two rubbed sleep from their eyes as they navigated the back alleys of Ark. Soon, they arrived at the grandiose store and were welcomed in, greeted by the sight of various items on display. ¡®Oh yes, it hasn¡¯t sold yet!¡¯ Exill hurried to a glass cabinet where he had last spotted the item he came for, then relaxed to look around for other interesting equipment that could be of use to him and his companion.
Equipment Price Enchantment
[Vampiric Spear] 1400D VIT Absorb
[Wizard Ring] 1200D EXP Plus, Magic Plus
[Healer¡¯s Wand] 900D Magic Plus
[Weakening Shortsword] 800D Weaken
[Stalwart Buckler] 700D Damage Resistance+
Exill sidled over to Envy who was examining a shortsword that had a weakening enchantment. The price tag showed 800 Denars. ¡°How much have you saved up so far?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The Vampire glanced at him with apprehension painting her amber eyes. He had previously said that the money she earnt would be hers¡­ but she had been reneged on countless times to trust unbound words. Exill nodded, he had intended to offer her a small loan if she didn¡¯t have enough funds. Her sword had become noticeably thinner as the hard tempered edge had been worn away. It would only continue to accelerate from there. ¡°I¡¯ve got what I need, tell me if you need more time to decide.¡± Envy looked longingly at the sword for a few more seconds, before finally returning it to the stand. There were more important things to spend money on. Confused, but not willing to question her motives, Exill turned around and approached the counter. Laying down the gold coin he had earned as an advance on top of two silver coins, he purchased the [Wizard Ring]. There were only six days left until the duel and he was eager to boost his levels until the very last moment. The [Wizard Ring] would serve the dual purpose of boosting the EXP gain rate from 16x to 32x with a 2% chance to unlock magic. Exill remembered Savta¡¯s lesson, what seemed like an eternity ago, where she explained that one in fifty people could cast magic with the aid of enchanted tools. ¡®If this doesn¡¯t work, I can always grab another item to stack the enchantments like I¡¯m doing for EXP.¡¯ He mentally prepared himself for failure, knowing the chances of success on the first try was slim. They walked the short distance to the Labyrinth and soon entered the interstitial area under the Tower. Exill checked his Card while Envy was adjusting her leather armour. The blue bar that denoted his mana had increased by 50%! It just went to show how low his baseline starting mana had been, It used to be a quarter of the length of his Vitality bar but was now a third of its length. This gave him a bright idea. ¡°Hold on Envy, give me a minute.¡± He walked away from the waiting Vampire and temporarily assigned [Scientist] as an active job. Using [Measure], he examined the Card, but was quickly disappointed by the results. ¡®I forgot I couldn¡¯t measure anything below one centimetre yet.¡¯ Once again, he lamented the UI/UX designer of the Card for making the data so obtuse. One thing had changed though, he was able to see Envy¡¯s stats as a bar graph in his minds eye. Perhaps it was because [Planeswalker] had levelled sufficiently or it was thanks to the acquisition of [Scientist], either way, he hadn¡¯t checked his party member stats in a long time. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡®How are we still similar in strength?¡¯ he huffed. Either her starting base stats were significantly higher or there was something about Vampires that made them stronger. The only key difference he could spot was her higher magic resistance. Returning to Envy, he double checked her straps and indicated they were good to go. Before entering the portal, he asked the question burning in his mind, knowing full well she was likely to tease him for it. ¡°Are vampires naturally stronger than the other races?¡± ¡°No, you just need to wake up early and exercise like me.¡± She flicked him on the forehead and leapt into the abyss. ¡®I knew she was going to twist it into an insult!¡¯ Exill grit his teeth and followed after her. However the implication of her statement wasn''t lost on him. ¡®I¡¯ve been overly reliant on the System to increase my stats. Of course exercise and training are also viable methods of increasing my strength.¡¯ He took point and ventured into a grassy cavern and was immediately disappointed to discover five rats foraging amidst the dirt. They were the smaller cousin of plague rats, coming up to his knees, featuring a glossy brown coat. The Guild refused to purchase their meat and the only thing of questionable value was their hide ¨C and he was in no mood to skin five rats today. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about ruining their hide, let¡¯s just rush to the next cavern.¡± What he was suggesting was a massacre for the sake of experience and brevity. Nodding to his companion, they charged forward as one. The Witchdoctor aimed for the group of three while the Vampire sprinted towards the remainder. For enemies such as these, tactics didn¡¯t matter, a far cry from his spearman assessment back in Camp A. Exill charged forward and plunged his spear into the mouth of the first rat, killing it instantly. Loosening his grip to one hand, he pivoted to kick the jaw of the next lunging rat, causing it to step back in pain. This bought him precious few seconds to free his spear and poke the two scuttling monsters with lightning fast successive thrusts ¨C causing them to bleed and retreat. By this time, Envy had dispatched two of her own and quickly came over to dispatch one of the two Exill was facing. Just like that, they eliminated five rats in under a minute. ¡°I think we can salvage the hide of the first one I faced, how about you?¡± ¡°Mn, you told me to go all out.¡± Envy shrugged, gesturing to the lacerated foes behind her, their pelt all ruined. Sighing heavily, Exill crouched before his first kill and began the arduous process of disassembly. *** Luna was cleaning the breakfast dishes when she heard a knocking sound at the front door. She was still flustered from her morning clash with Exill, and the fact that he had left without doing the dishes, or bidding her goodbye further raised her temper. She huffed as she climbed downstairs, loose threads of pale golden hair clinging to her face as she wiped her sudsy hands on the apron. She yanked open the door to find Timeus the Weaver holding a crate of bandages and gauze. ¡®Oh, it¡¯s Tuesday.¡¯ She tried to grab the crate, but Timeus gently shooed her away with his coarse hands while balancing the crate through the doorway. ¡°You will get your delicate hands dirty ma¡¯am; I know my way to the storage cellar.¡± ¡°Why are you acting so strange, I¡¯m too young to be called ma¡¯am!¡± Timeus shot her a friendly grin as he easily heaved the crate on his broad shoulders and went down to the dark cellar. Luna followed him with her wand aglow when she heard a loud thump and saw him slip and fall down the last few stairs. She hurried downstairs to see him groaning in pain, the crate of linen intact on his knees. ¡°You big oaf! I always worried something like this would happen, come with me upstairs.¡± She struggled to lift the heavy crate off his lap and lit the way as Timeus limped back upstairs. Soon he was lying on his belly in the examination room. ¡°Where did you hurt yourself?¡± ¡°I think I pulled a muscle; it hurts when I move.¡± Luna lifted the wincing man¡¯s shirt and channelled healing magic, focusing it on his lower back muscles and spine. Timeus felt her soft palm on the small of his back and gave an involuntary shiver. He remembered the time he had scraped his knees when he was ten years old while playing with Luna. She had taken her grandmother¡¯s salve from a dress pocket and gently applied the ointment with her small fingers, taking care to blow on it as her Nana often did. The core memory was still vivid in his mind. After all, it was the moment he had fallen hopelessly in love with this gentle kind woman. ¡°Does that feel better now?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am ¨C I mean Luna, I feel good as new.¡± ¡°How is your papa doing, does he still have that nasty cough?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it won¡¯t go away, but at least he seems to be sleeping better now.¡± Luna frowned, the fact that it hadn¡¯t gone away since he was treated two months ago meant it was serious. The Weaver family wasn¡¯t rich, but she would have been happy to treat them for free as they had been childhood friends from a very young age. ¡°Bring your papa here next time you hear? I don¡¯t want you worrying about fees between friends.¡± ¡°Thank you Luna, it means a lot to me¡­ but are you doing alright? You seem unusually on edge¡­¡± Timeus had attended Old Savta¡¯s funeral and seen how distraught Luna had been. She appeared better for a while, but the maiden appeared strangely tense when he knocked on the door this morning. ¡°It¡¯s you, you big oaf. How can I relax when you¡¯re carelessly falling over and hurting yourself!¡± She exhaled, her expression growing complicated, ¡°It¡¯s also Exill, I-I don¡¯t even know anymore. One moment he can brighten my day effortlessly, while on others¡­ I just want to punch that smug man-whore¡¯s face!¡± Timeus blinked. They had always been comfortable around each other, but it was the first time he had heard such obscenities coming from her soft lips. On closer observation ¨C Luna had changed. She was no longer the kind gentle girl, there was an edge to her now. ¡°I heard... he is a playboy that fondles women and enjoys ripping their clothes off... that he also keeps a sex slave... why do you put up with such a man?¡± Timeus'' heart sank as her gaze softened in memory. How could he not recognise that look? Not when he felt the same way every time he laid eyes on her. He looked hastily away and searched for a reason to leave. ¡°Ah! I really am a big oaf. I need to deliver a shipment to the Tailor¡¯s down at fifth street. Thank you so much for healing my back and I promise to bring dad here on the morrow.¡± Excusing himself, Timeus quickly got up and left the Clinic. His heart ached too much to look back at the concerned maiden standing in her doorway. Watching her old friend leave with a sinking heart, Luna gently closed the door and climbed the stairs to finish the dishes. Chapter 68 - Healer Exill returned late in the afternoon, well past the usual time he came home. Together with Envy, they had ventured four caverns deep, first in the morning, then once again in the afternoon¨C creating a new personal record. Although he had been happy with the achievement, the Vampire burst his bubble by saying she had gone six caverns deep with Vameki and Sir Eumol. He had gained a lot of experience while training, but the truth was he was reluctant to face Luna after their earlier confrontation. He resented the fact that she tried to wield him, much like Savta had, but without the old woman¡¯s restraint. Climbing up the steps to the entrance wearily, Exill suddenly grew alert as he noticed the door was slightly ajar, and there were droplets of blood on the floor. He dumped his equipment near the doorway and hurried to the treatment room. He saw Luna bent over the raised leg of an old woman, alert with focus as she wrapped the last piece of gauze in place. He stood by sheepishly as his friend helped the woman stand and guided her outside, then she closed the front door with a tired look on her face. Luna stumbled up to Exill, wrapping her arms around him in a fatigued embrace. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be mad at you¡­ and I don¡¯t want you avoiding me, you big dummy.¡± She mumbled softly into his chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did you have a rough day? I should have returned sooner.¡± She nodded feebly, her tired chin digging into his chest. Exill hesitated, before making a decision. He lifted her up in a princess carry and climbed upstairs while she squeaked in embarrassment. Nudging the room door open with a foot, he lightly lowered her on the bed as she covered her face with both hands in shyness. ¡°You go rest for a bit, I¡¯ll mop up the entryway and the treatment room.¡± He went back downstairs to work while Luna¡¯s heart continued to thump painfully. She started to have regretful thoughts as her blood pressure returned to normal. ¡®Oh¡­ I should have asked him to stay¡­¡¯ As the tired maiden drifted off to sleep, Exill picked up the equipment he had dumped at the doorway and put them away, then got down to mopping the weathered floor. He was relaxing on the stool, finally glad to have his feet off the ground when a gentle knocking sound could be heard. Careful as not to wake Luna, he greeted the housewife who had scalded her hand seriously while cooking. This was the most common type of injury and he had observed Luna treat it countless times before. This was an opportunity to test his new skill. ¡°That looks painful ma¡¯am, Luna is otherwise engaged but I would be happy to treat you, please follow me.¡± He led her to the treatment room and examined her hand. The next step was a crucial part that Luna had drilled into him. Mana had to be projected outwards to utilise the patients vitality to heal, or it must be channelled inwardly to sacrifice the healer¡¯s own vitality. Exill carefully projected his mana outward. ¡°Heal.¡± [Ping!]
Job Healer
Level 1
Description Magic - Tier I
Active Skill [Focal Area] concentrate healing energy over a localised area (control ability scales with level)
The housewife felt suddenly drained, but the aches in her joints were soothed away, as well as the pain in her hand. Exill equipped [Healer] as his job and focused on the burn wound. That single cast had consumed over 80% of his mana. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. What set apart great healers from the mundane was their ability to target damage to the flesh with pinpoint accuracy and maximal efficiency. A normal ¡°Heal¡± consumed a massive amount of mana to dissipate healing energy over the entire body, inflicting a large drain on the patient¡¯s vitality. This time, Exill cast ¡®Heal¡¯ on just the hand using [Focal Area]. He poured just enough mana to shorten the recovery time by an order of magnitude and used only 10% mana in the process. Wrapping her hand in a gauze, he accepted payment and bid her farewell. ¡°Please keep an eye on it for swelling and come back if it doesn¡¯t fully heal in two days.¡± He punched the air as the door closed. It had taken a year to get to this point, but he finally did it. ¡®I¡¯m a real healer now!¡¯ Exill spent some more of the afternoon crafting healing salves and emergency kits that were sold at the front display of the Clinic. He ventured down to the cellar to find Luna had bought vegetables and some lean meat, presumably for a stew. ¡®She must have regretted her morning outburst, going out of her way to buy this meat.¡¯ The cut wasn¡¯t good by Earth standards, it was tough and sinewy, requiring a long period of slow cooking. However in this world, it was a rare treat. Mentally checking the time, Exill thought it would be best if he started now. Carrying the ingredients upstairs, he stoked the kitchen hearth and started washing the vegetables. ¡°Are you going to cook for me?¡± Exill was startled as he felt Luna wrap her arms around him. Playfully elbowing her away, he began to peel the vegetables while searching for a suitable apology, ¡°¡­I felt guilty for leaving you to do the dishes.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ and you didn¡¯t even say goodbye.¡± ¡°Stop feeling me up! It tickles and I¡¯m holding a knife.¡± Luna flushed as she let go. She hadn¡¯t realised her hands had been caressing his sides. Turning to the counter to start cutting the meat into cubes, she replied in a measured voice, ¡°It¡¯s payback for what you did in the morning.¡± They prepared the meal in companionable silence and covered the cauldron over a low fire. The two sat at the dining table and professed what they had been up to that day. ¡°Give me your hand¡­ no, the other one.¡± Exill held her soft hand and inspected the thumb. This was the one she had hurt the day before while slicing bread. It had nearly healed but he wanted to show off his newly acquired skill. Sacrificing his own vitality while channelling mana, he uttered the word, ¡°Heal.¡± Luna gasped in surprise while inspecting her thumb. She looked up to find Exill grinning with an intricate silver ring on his upraised finger. ¡°I can now heal you if you get hurt. Do you have any other cuts and bruises on your body?¡± Her heart thumped at the thought of Exill inspecting every inch of her body. Unfortunately, her health was in top shape. Luna¡¯s mind wandered instead to the memory of him inspecting that ¡®fan club¡¯ suitor¡¯s leg after a self-inflicted fall. ¡®No, that would be too shameless!¡¯ she didn¡¯t want to go to such lengths as deceiving him. Seeing the rosy maiden shake her head, he stood up and excused himself to inspect and maintain his equipment. Luna was still heady and distracted by lewd thoughts, so that when she stood up to check the fire and stew, her knee scraped against the table edge with a loud clatter. ¡°Ow!¡± Exill rushed out to find the elf cradling her knee in pain. He hadn¡¯t expected her to take up his offer to heal so soon! ¡°Are you alright? Let¡¯s have a look.¡± He crouched before her, unsure of where to begin. Peering down at his kneeling figure, she tentatively rolled up the hem of her dress, to the consternation of her loudly beating heart. There was a small scrape and a red mark that would undoubtedly turn into a bruise given time. Trying to ignore the allure of her soft pale thighs, Exill focused his vitality on the scrape and invoked, ¡°Heal.¡± The angry welt slowly faded away. Palm still cradling her calf, his fingertips brushed the top of her knee, setting both their hearts racing. The two didn¡¯t move as slow seconds passed by. With some reluctance, he stood up, wincing as he felt the early symptoms of mana abuse. ¡°Be more careful, dummy.¡± He affectionately patted her on the head and returned to honing the spearhead. Luna sat there, feeling the vestiges of his touch on her leg, as well as the reassuring pat on her head. Holding the hem of her dress for what seemed like minutes, she gained the wherewithal to check the fire and stew. Then, she had to lay down for a while. The two enjoyed a subdued dinner together and went off to do their own things. It wasn¡¯t until late at night that Luna heard him knocking on the door. ¡®Oh heavens! I forgot he had to report to me.¡¯ The maiden suddenly regretted her morning outburst. ¡°Come in.¡± She said in a measured voice, sitting up from the bed, and gingerly covering her nightshift with a blanket. Exill opened the door and stood at the entryway as he sheepishly reported his status. ¡°She¡¯s gone up to the attic and I¡¯ll be locking the door behind me now, good night.¡± ¡°Good night¡­¡± The door closed softly, and she soon heard a soft click from the other side of the wall. Luna returned to bed, not understanding the heavy feeling in her heart. Her earlier assertiveness in leashing this ¡®man-whore¡¯ gave way to a complex sensation of remorse. She saw within herself her overly controlling grandmother, and Luna wasn¡¯t sure she liked the metamorphosis shaping within her cocooning heart. Chapter 69 - Insult Exill frowned as the bright runes on his throwing bones dissipated on the bedroom floor. Ever since he had accepted the duel, the runes gave a brief impression of peril whenever he asked about the results. Just now, he had felt whispers of something else. His death. Fortunately, he had learnt from studying in the library that divination only dealt with probabilities, and there was a good chance this was a bad reading that would fade away the next day. There were five days left until the duel in the Arena and his combat stats were tantalizingly close to unlocking a new set of perks.
Active Jobs Tier Level Perk/Skill
Warrior 1 36 +Atk speed, STR bonus
Hunter 1 35 +Acc, SPD bonus
Spearman 2 23 +Atk damage, [Weak Point]
Ranger 2 23 +Atk speed, [Steady Hands]
Monk 2 17 +Damage Resist
Healer 1 2 [Focal Area]
Diviner 1 6 [Foresight]
Exill was fairly certain he could reach lvl 20 of Monk if he kicked training up a notch, potentially unlocking a new perk or skill on top of the amazing damage resist bonus it provided. He wasn¡¯t sure if Warrior and Hunter would reach lvl 40 before then, or even if it would unlock a new perk/skill. At the moment the only non-combat jobs he was training in the Labyrinth was [Diviner] and [Healer]. Worried about what the future entailed, he put away his divination tools and unlocked the bedroom door. ¡°Good morning Luna, that smells delicious.¡± There were dark circles under her eyes, and the elf maiden shot him a warm smile while lowering a large bowl of porridge on his side of the table. After struggling to sleep last night, she had simply reheated what was left over from the stew yesterday, adding a handful of barley, water and some salt. ¡°Will you be coming back late again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, I¡¯ll be back by mid-afternoon at the latest. I¡¯ll also pick up the scalpel from the Enchanter¡¯s on the way back.¡± Luna pouted at the thought that she would have to handle most of the clinic load until he arrived. More than that, she was worried whenever Exill entered the Labyrinth. After all, she had seen firsthand the scars inflicted on his body. As much as she disliked his slave, it provided some comfort to know that the lethal woman was watching his back. ¡°Be careful and don¡¯t push yourself¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be safe.¡± Exill grinned in response then climbed the ladder to fetch Envy. She was wiping sweat away from the exercises she did every morning. Her hair was tied up in a bun as usual and her tunic clung to the generous curves of her body from sweat. ¡°How long do you need to get ready?¡± ¡°Ten minutes.¡± She turned around to take off her tunic and Exill coughed as he took his cue to leave. He had seen her naked form before, but that was back when she was still infirm and recovering. He still couldn¡¯t grasp how she was nonchalant about some things while lashing out at others. Picking up his gear, he went downstairs and waited in the patient area of the lobby. Soon after, Luna could be heard hurrying down the stairs with a small bundle wrapped in cloth. ¡°Bless the Will you haven¡¯t left yet. Since you¡¯re returning late I packed you a sandwich. It¡¯s just cheese, bread, and lettuce if that¡¯s okay.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She sat next to him on the bench and tucked the bundle into his ruck sack. They talked about the new scalpel she would be receiving and how best to maintain it. The two had occasionally been called out to handle difficult births, owing to their recent success at Diallo¡¯s. Luna was keen to have her own blade in case he wasn¡¯t available. Their discussion ended abruptly when Envy climbed down the stairs, the two women exchanged a subtle glance before Luna bid him goodbye and excused herself. The two took to the streets and headed for the Labyrinth. *** ¡°Do you know if his sword holds any enchantments?¡± Exill asked as he checked over Envy¡¯s armour. He had decided he needed more information on Sir Eumol after the latest divination reading. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Is there any way you can find out?¡± He urgently pressed her, after all, it could be the pivotal clue to his victory. Envy paused as she thought about ways to obtain the information. She started to shake her head when an idea popped up, ¡°I¡¯m delving tomorrow with him and Vameki, you could join us.¡± ¡°Are you still giving him Labyrinth tours when our duel is in a few days?!¡± The Vampire shrugged. To her, money was money. Meanwhile, Exill was beside himself with anger at the thought that she was aiding the enemy. His life was on the line, and her freedom was at stake, but here she was just¡­ shrugging. He dumped his frustrations on her. ¡°If money is so important, why do you even bother delving into the Labyrinth!? You could easily earn five times what you¡¯re earning here, working nights at the red-light district, servicing rich men just like you¡¯re doing now. Heaven knows you don¡¯t care about people seeing you naked.¡± Exill bit his lip as he immediately regretted the words that had left his mouth. Envy¡¯s face was placid as she concealed her inner pain. She had sensed his raw surface emotions through their Party connection, one of loathing and jealousy, followed by regret. She reached out with one hand, gripping his in a handshake and dismissed their party. ¡°Fine words coming from a man-whore.¡± Then she turned around and headed into the Labyrinth alone. Exill stood still, sighing heavily. He had messed up. He knew that, but the anger remained. Some monsters would have to serve as his punching bag. *** It was late evening and Envy still hadn¡¯t come home. Exill rolled up his sleeves after dinner to do the washing and was immediately intercepted by Luna. She pointed accusingly at the large welt across his forearm. ¡°Did you hurt yourself again? I thought you promised you wouldn¡¯t be getting injured, now that you have that slave watching your back.¡± The young man brushed her aside and continued to pile dishes in the sink. ¡°She didn¡¯t watch my back today. In fact I made quite a mess of things this morning.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± she stood beside him while channelling [Heal] onto his forearm. ¡°Ah, well¡­ I found out she was still delving with the Noble. Then I got angry and said if she was so intent on prostituting herself, there were better ways to make money.¡± Exill sighed heavily as he admitted his mistake. Luna was perplexed. This was so unlike the compassionate Exill she knew. As much as she disliked the slave, she had admired the Witchdoctor¡¯s altruistic desire to free the Vampire. However to hear he had insulted the slave, and insinuated she might sell her body made her wonder if some other hidden factor was afoot. ¡°How can you understand what she went through and make light about selling her body? We don¡¯t know what her old master¡¯s forced her to do and this may be her last vestige of pride. I can¡¯t believe you even said those things¡­¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?! You¡¯ve met her, there is something about that woman that brings out the worst in me. I regret what I said, but I also don¡¯t understand her sometimes.¡± Exill huffed as he roughly scrubbed the dishes, taking out his anger and guilt on the innocent plates. Luna could only watch him as he suffered in inner turmoil, brushing her fingers against his back. Hours later, it was approaching midnight, and Envy still hadn¡¯t come. He got up from bed and reluctantly climbed the ladder to the attic. It was dark but he could see the outline of the mattress not far away. ¡°Are you sleeping?¡± Hearing no response, he crawled beside the mattress and placed his arm under her head, earning a swift elbow into his side. He shuffled closer as he hesitantly apologised for the incident earlier that day. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I said in the morning. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been through. I also don¡¯t understand how you¡¯re coping with the stress of what would happen if I lost. I shouldn¡¯t have taken my anger out on you.¡± Envy lay still for a long while, causing him to think she had fallen asleep until a question whispered back to him. ¡°Why were you afraid?¡± Exill let out a small laugh into the top of her hair. He often forgot that the Party¡¯s emotional connection went both ways, and she must have sensed his growing apprehension of the duel. She was so good at controlling her feelings that it felt like it wasn¡¯t there at times. ¡°I asked the divination bones this morning about the duel¡­ it whispered I may die.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s run away.¡± Envy turned around in his arms, and he felt her warm breath on his chest. He shook his head, then further clarified when he realized she couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°To where and to what end? I can¡¯t pay Diallo¡¯s debt from another city.¡± ¡°Then you can admit defeat when the duel begins. You won¡¯t die then.¡± ¡°And hand you over to Eumol without a fight? Have you forgotten our contract? No, I still have some cards to play, and we will go on. Fate is not set in stone for us.¡± Exill had studied Divination in the Library and an excerpt had embedded itself in his mind. The art of Divination dealt with probabilities, while Oracles dealt in certainties. There was a chance he could still win, he just needed to figure out how. They stayed that way for a while, consumed in their own thoughts. Envy eventually turned away and lightly latched onto his arm and fed. This left Exill to absentmindedly stroke her hair as he wondered what he could do to increase the chances of winning. Eventually, he reluctantly climbed down the ladder and knocked lightly on Luna¡¯s door. Hearing no response, he retired to his room and flipped the locking mechanism. Chapter 70 - Intel ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± The two entered the Labyrinth with three days remaining until the duel. Exill took point as he scouted ahead. ¡°Four skeletons, one archer.¡± Exill drew back behind Envy and allowed her to charge the enemy first, attracting the full attention of the enemy. After counting to two, he too joined the fray. Exill charged at the distracted skeleton archer and used the haft of his spear to crush its skull. He eased the pressure on Envy by sweeping the legs of the two rearmost skeletons, finishing one with the stomp of his boot. Once the battlefield was secure, they went around collecting the weapons of the skeletons. These could rarely be resold as is, but a skilled scavenger could break it down into useful components. The most valuable part of the skeletons was the grey lichen that grew in their skulls. Crumbling apart in the presence of sunlight, it was a crucial ingredient in concocting mana potions. Exill was pleased with the progress they were making. Back when they had started out, the two would have had to lure the skeletons into a narrow passageway and create a favourable two versus one scenario, picking them off one by one. Their strength and teamwork had grown to such a point, they could charge out and cause mayhem as long as there weren¡¯t too many of them. ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡± The pair took down two more groups of enemies in the Labyrinth before turning back to the Guild. It would soon be afternoon and Iris would begin her shift. Exill enjoyed the midday sun and the quiet back-alley streets as the sandstone exterior of the Guild came into view. ¡°Did you have a good hunt today?¡± Iris asked as she inspected the hard calluses on his palm. Exill was fazed by her ability to grab his hand *every* single time. The heart and soul of the Guild had eventually grown immune to Envy¡¯s pressure and was back to her old touchy-feely ways. Noticed a small cut on the back of Iris¡¯s hand, he cast [Heal] without a second thought. Her hands were always covered in little nicks as she transferred and weighed rough monster parts turned in by mercenaries. ¡°Please wear gloves when handling items from the Labyrinth. Your hand is as much as mess as mine.¡± Iris pursed her lips, and her kind grey eyes folded in mirth as she saw the young boy who had grown strong so fast, caring about the state of her hands. Her heart fluttered as Exill closely inspected both her palms in petty revenge. ¡°Well, I have you to heal them now. I must say, I didn¡¯t believe the rumours at first¡­ but you certainly seem familiar with fondling women.¡± Exill suddenly felt a dozen threatening gazes from mercenaries piercing the back of his neck. He swiftly let go of her hand and pushed the spoils of the Labyrinth over the counter. Iris tallied up the goods and slid 72 Denars across the rough countertop. ¡°Take care of yourself, and I¡¯ll be rooting for you in the duel!¡± He nodded and walked to the back of the Guild with Envy in tow. The Vampire could be heard murmuring under her breath, ¡°Tch¡­ man-whore.¡± Exill ignored her comment. They had about an hour to go until Envy¡¯s illustrious clients would arrive. ¡°Did you tell them yesterday I might be joining them? What did they say?¡± ¡°Mn. They called you a coward.¡± Exill tamped down his anger and directed it to the task ahead. He simply didn¡¯t understand why his reputation was in such tatters. He had thought his image had been rebuilt from a cowardly boy to an upstanding warrior-healer, but it couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. Someone was deliberately ruining his good standing. Time passed, and eventually two figures entered the Guild and approached the seated duo. ¡°I greet the master of this most illustrious Desert Rose.¡± ¡°Sir Eumol, Master Vameki, I will be joining you today in your expedition.¡± Exill greeted them formally and joined the party headed by the Knight. He immediately sensed their barely contained disdain over the mental connection. As the party of four exited the Guild, Sir Eumol casually commented over his shoulder at Exill, ¡°I understand you are quite the marksman, and that you support our Cherry Pie from the safety of the rear lines. You may rest assured we will not allow a single enemy to pass.¡± ¡°Your concern is¡­ greatly appreciated.¡± Exill replied with gritted teeth. It was best not to antagonise them before obtaining the information. He inspected their Cards with his mind¡¯s eye, then cast [Appraise] on their equipment.
Name Eumol Eckhart
Hometown Ark
Race Human [Vitality+]
Age 27
1st Job [Knight] lvl 39
2nd Job [Priest] lvl 45
Exill¡¯s mouth dropped when he saw the list of enchantments the knight was equipped with. Every single piece of his gear had two bonuses applied, all of them geared towards combat such as bonuses to strength, speed, and damage resist. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Equipment Price Enchantment
Holy amulet ?? D Blessing of the Spirit, Vitality+
Adamantine Tower Shield 2900 D Damage Resist, Status Resist
Adamantine Estoc 2700 D Strength+, Weaken
Adamantine Cuirass ?? D Magic Resist, Poise+
... ... ...
Some of the equipment was worth so much that his [Appraise] level was insufficient to fetch their price. Furthermore, he didn¡¯t know what bonuses and perks the Priest job provided, but Sir Eumol was a walking tank if he ever saw one. Exill felt a pit in his stomach. The difference in gear was not something he could easily overcome. The party entered the Labyrinth without any prior preparation and Sir Eumol and Envy took the lead. Exill hung back with Vameki the Wizard as the stony passageway widened to a large cavern, revealing their first group of enemies. The group of eight acid bees buzzed angrily around their diseased hive as the party emerged from the passageway. Sir Eumol and Envy took a defensive stance while Vameki started casting his magic. Exill loosed an arrow, immediately killing one the of the bees. A sudden gust of wind blew against the flying insects, causing their frantic charge to stall as they angrily buzzed to barely fly in place. This must have been the effect of Vameki¡¯s magic. It was Exill¡¯s first time fighting with a mage, and it was an eye-opening experience. Envy and Sir Eumol swiftly cut down the remaining insects as the bees were pushed against the wall by the continuous gust. Exill found it difficult to follow some of the Knight¡¯s actions and all his attacks were concise with no wasted movements. It was a brutal, direct battling style. Sir Eumol turned around, flicking the insect guts off his blade, a victorious smile adorning his handsome face. He had felt the admiration seeping from the cowardly master of this most exquisite Flame. Nodding at the rest of the group, they continued forward. By mid-afternoon they had defeated four more groups of enemies and were heading back to the entrance. Sir Eumol clapped Exill¡¯s shoulder and companionably brought him closer. ¡°It is not too late to forfeit the duel. You are a remarkable shot for your age but sadly you are not my match. I assure you our Fiery Blaze will be taken care of in good hands. She will be the most beloved of my concubines and will no longer have to fight to earn a living in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°I respect your candour Sir Eumol; however Envy is not someone I can easily abandon.¡± The handsome knight ruminated on the kid¡¯s words, before clapping his back once more, both amused and slightly impressed. Rumour had painted the lad as a coward, but he knew it took guts to face defeat and still head on. ¡°Haha, I can respect that! I will make sure you are fairly compensated.¡± Exill¡¯s heart dropped further as he left the Labyrinth, the spectre of defeat looming over him. The options available to him had become painstakingly clear, and he dismissed Envy, then headed to the gambling district, renowned for their whorehouses. However his destination was neither of these places, but a less frequented, yet well known office of the Moneylender¡¯s Guild. Ignoring the catcalls from scantily clad women lining the streets, he turned the corner and searched for the sign denoting a pile of coins imposed on a notarized contract. Soon, he found his destination in the form of an understated building nestled between two gambling dens. Shaking his head, and with heavy feet, he entered the doorway. ¡°Welcome to Sloan¡¯s Loans, are you here to make a repayment or to take out a new loan?¡± A cleanly dressed clerk who looked to be in his early twenties greeted Exill. ¡°New loan.¡± He replied simply, looking around at the minimalist interior. The Clerk nodded and ushered him to a back office, then prepared a large reference tome as well as a clean slate prior to sitting down: ¡°Before we begin, we are a licensed office of the Moneylender¡¯s Guild, and as such, our borrowing rates are capped at 48% APR. You will not find a better deal borrowing from unlicensed sharks!¡± The cheerful Clerk took a deep breath before continuing on with his rehearsed spiel. ¡°Receiving a quote takes just under a minute and requires you to submit your Card details. We may reach out to you in the future with better deals using the personal information you submit to us.¡± Exill didn¡¯t like the last part, nor the hefty interest rates, but he was in a bind. Invoking his Card for the Clerk to read, he also provided the address as Sundry Inn. He didn¡¯t want spam mail going to Savta¡¯s Clinic. The Clerk flipped through the pages of his tome and wrote down a series of numbers, however his pace crawled to a stop after a while, and he flipped back and forth between two pages. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry sir, but can I check your secondary job again? I can¡¯t seem to find the Denar value of ¡®Witchdoctor¡¯ in our Blue Book.¡± The Clerk apologized and continued to search for its entry. ¡°I doubt you would find Witchdoctor in your book, it¡¯s the first of its kind, and I obtained it when I was blessed by the Spirit.¡± ¡°Oh! In that case were you canonized by the Church?¡± the Clerk asked excitedly, but upon seeing Exill¡¯s confused look he continued as if delivering bad news, ¡°If that is not the case, I can only assign a loan based on your one years¡¯ experience as a [Warrior].¡± ¡°How do you assign the value of someone based on their job?¡± Exill asked, feeling slightly annoyed. ¡°Ah, it appears Sir is unaware¡­ our Blue Book records the value of slaves sold in Ark for the past ten years, categorized by their race, job, age and sex.¡± Exill blinked as he realised the collateral for a loan was himself, and he would likely be sold into slavery if he couldn¡¯t pay. On top of the high interest rates, he immediately dismissed this as an option, but was nevertheless curious about his supposed book value. ¡°How much am I worth?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± the Clerk nervously laughed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tell Sir that his book value is 4000 Denars. As you have no prior borrowing history, the most we can front is 50% of your valuation.¡± ¡®Am I worth that little?¡¯ Exill¡¯s dignity suffered a critical hit. In spite of suffering this insult, he thanked the Clerk and exited the office. He heaved a loud sigh and looked up at the clear skies. Surrounded by the decadence of drunk gamblers and whores, he meandered back to the Clinic, feeling what little hope he had slipping away. Chapter 71 - Epilogue Exill spent the next two days spending most of the morning and afternoon in the Labyrinth, much to the growing concern of Luna and Envy. The Healer had barely the time to spare, as word spread of her miraculous ability to deliver babies that were long overdue. She could only look concernedly over dinners as Exill was slowly consumed by inner turmoil. The impressions gained by the divination bones had become clearer with each passing day. Everything related to the duel resulted in his death, even if he immediately forfeited and abandoned the challenge. ¡®But why do the bones predict my death even when I accept Luna¡¯s loan?¡¯ This last revelation was the most perplexing one. The only ray of hope lay in fleeing Ark, but even there, the divination tools hinted of an insidious threat, whose glimpse caused cold shivers to run down his spine. The duel was tomorrow and [Monk] was stuck at level 19 and he was unlikely to reach level 20 today. It was unwise to exert himself on the eve of competition. There were two immediate options available to him. One was to accept Luna¡¯s loan and render the competition moot, or the trump card he was reluctant to activate. His pride refused to even consider fleeing Ark in disgrace. Exill unlocked his bedroom door, greeting Luna who appeared equally tired these last few days. She looked up as he approached, forcing a smile on her lips. ¡°Will you be staying home today? You should rest, otherwise you¡¯ll be too tired to fight tomorrow.¡± Exill pulled out the chair beside her and sat down, feeling sluggish and demoralised from enduring visions of his death. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be mostly resting today.¡± He sat silently for several more minutes, working up the courage to ask for help. However Luna beat him to the punch, as usual. ¡°Are you alright Exill?¡± She reached out to touch his forehead, measuring his temperature. ¡°Yeah¡­ actually no. Remember when you proposed to loan me money to free Envy ¨C is that offer still on the table?¡± He forced the reluctant words out of his mouth. Luna¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, then looked away while pinching her lips. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, after paying the inheritance tax, I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, forget I asked. I shouldn¡¯t have brought it up.¡± Exill made to stand up, but Luna quickly grabbed the edge of his sleeve. ¡°No! If you need it, I can take out a loan on the Clinic, we can go to the Moneylender¡¯s right now.¡± Exill bit his lower lip, touched that she would go to such lengths, but he shook his head to decline the offer. ¡°Yeah, maybe¡­ actually no. I just wanted to know if it was possible as a last resort, there are still a few things I can try in the meantime. You don¡¯t know how much your offer means to me.¡± He squeezed her shoulder in gratitude then moved to the ladder leading to the attic. Upstairs, he found Envy performing sit-ups and stood by until she finished her current set. He was captivated by the precision of her movements and generous athletic build ¨C making the wait slightly bearable. ¡°How long until you are ready?¡± ¡°Ten minutes¡­ aren¡¯t you resting today?¡± ¡°I have to try one last thing. It might be dangerous, and I want you there with me.¡± Envy nodded, hesitating slightly before turning her back to remove the sweat soaked tunic. She heard Exill climb back down the ladder. The Vampire had given up hope that Exill would defeat Sir Eumol in the duel. It was impossible to conceal his fear and despair, spilling over their emotional connection while delving in the Labyrinth. Things had only grown worse when she stalked Exill to the gambling district. After ensuring he had returned home, she had slipped into the Moneylender¡¯s office and interrogated the clerk, causing the grown man to piss himself in fright. What she had learnt didn¡¯t bode well for their future. She released a pent up sigh. Envy didn¡¯t know how she felt about all this. In a corner of her mind she always knew that it was too good to be true. She felt bitter¡­ that her dream of freedom had been crushed. She hated Exill for both building and dismantling that hope, but his death was not something she desired, especially after the lengths he had gone to save her. She prepared her gear and went down to the lobby, exchanging a concerned glance with Luna. Envy approached the Witchdoctor tying his laces near the door, and drew out a pale yellow parchment from her bag. She offered it up to him with both hands, as if it was the most precious thing to her in the world. ¡°I heard you could overwrite [notarized contracts] with another one¡­ one written by a more experienced Notary. We can change the terms to where you no longer have to guarantee my freedom.¡± Exill froze as he glanced up at Envy, gauging her sincerity. From the creased and worn state of the original contract ¨C anyone could tell that she treasured it greatly. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she checked it multiple times each night. Continuing to tie his laces, he murmured in a low voice: ¡°I know you can overwrite contracts if both parties are willing¡­ would you really do that for me?¡± Envy nudged the blank contract closer to him, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?.. Sir Eumol is handsome and rich, unlike you.¡± Despite the light-hearted delivery, her words stumbled slightly towards the end. Exill laughed, a single bark that was a harsh guttural sound. He had foreseen his agonising death a countless times, and this last-minute offer that conveniently solved everything was like a big fucking joke. To be absolved of his foolish promise was enticing. It was salvation, a bright ray of light amidst despair. It was that long awaited opportunity to wash his hands of her, this beautiful psychopathic murderer who had made his life so difficult. But why couldn¡¯t he do it? Why didn¡¯t he feel ecstatic from her words? ¡°Of all times, why... why now?¡± his eyes were pleading, begging her for a sane reason to accept the offer. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Envy shrugged tiredly and slumped beside him on the bench, eyes fixed on the seat opposite them. ¡°Remember you asked me what my dream was, what I really wanted?¡± She waited for his nod before continuing, ¡°I told you I wanted all this to end¡­ and although it isn¡¯t the ending I wanted, in some ways, it is better than the one I deserve.¡± He found himself stubbornly shaking his head, his whisper tinged with disbelief. ¡°I remember as if yesterday, you were threatening to kill me unless I guaranteed you freedom. What changed? Why give up now?¡± Envy wore an insufferable grin, but he could see from the vacant hollow in her eyes that she had abandoned all hope and given in to despair. ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe I want to save you for a change.¡± she replied simply. Exill was struck speechless. He glanced at the fresh parchment held in her hands. The solution to his nightmares was tantalisingly close. After what felt like an agonising eternity, he shook his head and offered a false compromise. ¡°Hold on to it¡­ for now. Let me try this one last thing for you. It might be dangerous, but it is our best chance at victory.¡± Before they left the Clinic, he dropped a plain envelope on the counter. If everything turned out well, he would be back in thirty minutes and retrieve it. If things didn¡¯t work out... well, the letter would be the least of his worries. They walked to the Labyrinth, the air slightly chill despite the bright morning sun. Exill checked over Envy¡¯s armour then delved into the inky black portal. Unlike the previous times they had trained there, he did not take point and instead summoned his Card, finger hovering over the [Chronomancer] job. It was the only choice really, [Haste] was the singular skill that could balance the playing field against the deadly Knight. He suspected that the Labyrinth was a pocket dimension and would be insulated from the lightning effects of the World¡¯s tribulation.
Job Chronomancer
Unlock Rejection +10
Description Unique - Tier II
Active Skill [Haste] Manipulate temporal energies at the expense of your vitality and mana. Drain efficiency scales with your level
He really didn¡¯t want to do this. Each time his rejection had risen - something terrible had happened, but he didn¡¯t see an alternative. Exill had yet to confirm his action, but the Vampire could sense the budding tension between them and shivered as her breath condensed in the air. The World appeared to hold its breath, on the tumultuous edge of a precipice.
Would you like to obtain [Chronomancer]?
[Yes - Rejection +10] [No]
Exill confirmed the selection.
[The World has noticed your transgression. Rejection: 40/100]
Nothing happened. Exill was about to rejoice when a vague rumbling could be felt beneath them. His eyes widened in realization and turned away towards the exit, glimpsing Envy faltering behind him. ¡°Run!¡± he channelled mana into the command. The ground beneath them shifted like a sinkhole before collapsing down, throwing them into a cavernous compound in a roar of tumbling rocks. They coughed amidst the rising dust and unsteadily clambered to their feet. The duo were greeted by two malevolent eyes that emerged from the looming shadows, revealing a hulking beast on four legs, three metres tall with two horns protruding from its forehead. Its face was covered in folds of black skin and drool pooled down its snarling jaw, muscles rippling under the surface of its shoulders. It was a Behemoth, found only in the lowest levels of a Labyrinth. Exill swore as he stumbled to his feet. He recognised the Behemoth from the field guide and knew he was no match. Glancing back, he saw the exit portal atop a slope of rubble, nearly within reach. In that brief moment that his head was turned, the Behemoth struck. Exill was knocked back as Envy took his place, facing the beast alone. She tried to dodge while deflecting the swipe, but its¡¯ claws sheared through the buckler, tearing both it and her arm to shreds. Undaunted by the blow, she raised her shortsword high and lunged at the Behemoth¡¯s right eye, blinding it. She was rewarded with a backhand slap that sent her flying into the cavern wall, limp. All this happened in three seconds. Exill regained his balance and absorbed the situation. The lithe monstrosity was turning to finish Envy off. There was no time to think. Activating Chronomancer¡¯s [Haste], he felt both his vitality and mana drain at an alarming rate. Charging forward with spear held up high, he finally activated Ranger¡¯s [Steady Hand] to keep his aim true. Spearman¡¯s [Weak Point] had failed to activate, perhaps due to the difference in the opponent¡¯s strength, but it didn¡¯t matter because the Field Guide only spoke of a single weakness. [Haste] failed him moments before it hit, draining him of mana and a quarter of his health¡­ but it was enough. The spear tip plunged deep into the Behemoth¡¯s eye socket in a plume of gore and viscera. The enraged Behemoth lashed out, a stray claw breaking his rib and knocking Exill to the floor. It started to pound the ground as it writhed in pain. Exill backed away on his elbows, panicking to avoid getting hit. However, the giant¡¯s palm connected with the ground at that inopportune moment, crushing both his legs to paste. He desperately clawed his torso up the slope, leaving a trail of flesh. The exit was just an arm¡¯s reach away. Struggling to catch his breath, he coughed, spitting blood. ¡®This is too hard.¡¯ The first and last Witchdoctor thought, as his head turned limply to the side. Through his tear-filled gaze he could see Envy laying prone on the floor, bits of leather scrap armour embedded in her flesh. ¡®What is the point.¡¯ His heart was heavy from the unrealized loss. Even if he survived, the duel was tomorrow. Even if he won, he wouldn¡¯t be able to pay Diallo¡¯s loan. He was crippled, without weapons, and a partner. His hubris had cost both their lives, and his mind was consumed with regrets as he faced his second death. *** Exill was rudely awoken by a strong hand tugging at his shoulder. He tried to order her to leave but only bloody foam escaped his lips. Envy frantically pulled her partner up the slope, leaving a trail of blood. The Behemoth had regained control and was sniffing around, searching for its prey. There wasn¡¯t much time. With a last spurt of herculean effort she pulled them through the portal, collapsing on the other side. She screamed hoarsely, both in desperate need and pain. Envy could sense Exill¡¯s regret slipping away over their mental connection. ¡°Help! Healer, Help!¡±
Epilogue Feeling unease at the way the slave had exchanged looks with her, Luna climbed down the stairs to wish Exill goodbye. However, the reception room was empty, they had already left. The Healer pressed her palm against the front door with a leaden sigh. She was about to climb up the stairs when the envelope on the counter caught her eye. Unfolding it, her eyes quickly scanned the contents, her heart rising to her throat. It was the last decree and testament of Exill of Lindtree, as witnessed by Healer Perg of Ark. The document was painfully short, it simply left all his worldly possessions to his dearest friend Luna, granddaughter of Savta. She ran out of the house in the direction of the Labyrinth, her slippers falling on the wayside. There was no time to spare. Intermission I ¡°I did not expect her to kill the Guard, sir. I¡¯ll quickly move to find someone else to replace him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, there are no shortage of corrupt men willing to look the other way. That sly weasel¡¯s demands were growing unreasonable anyway.¡± The two speakers turned the corner and approached the cell Envy was confined in, raising the lantern aloft to inspect the 17 year old girl. Her crimson hair was unkempt and shoulder length, and the arms wrapped around her legs were bruised from a recent struggle. ¡°Wake up sweetheart.¡± Samael the slave trader whispered through the bars. He was a young man with a wispy moustache and feminine lips, and although his voice was gentle, there was a calculating glint in his eyes. Envy raised her head, but otherwise stayed put, hugging her knees in the corner. ¡°Oh, poor girl, you poor beautiful girl...¡± Samael crooned in a soft lullaby, ¡°I¡¯m here to help, or at least send a message. Would you like to relay your situation to any friends or family?¡± Envy stared at the man warily. She didn¡¯t trust adults, but was desperate to get word out about her situation. Licking her dry lips, she began to speak, ¡°I have a brother...¡± Samael snapped his finger at the man beside him and snatched the lantern off the fumbling assistant¡¯s hand so he could start taking notes on a clay tablet. ¡°Where is he?¡± Samael led on. ¡°We used to live in...¡± Something caused Envy to hold her tongue. Perhaps it was the way the crouching man held his breath in anticipation, or the flicker of dark intent across his eyes. ¡°We used to often shelter behind the Butcher¡¯s in south street.¡± she lied. ¡°And what is his name?¡± ¡°Patience.¡± she lied again. Male vampires often had virtuous names, signifying their difficulty in finding strong life-bond partners. It was a feasible name that would pass muster. ¡°Huh, ain¡¯t that something?¡± Samael grinned sardonically up at his Assistant, sharing the joke that Envy''s parents obviously preferred one sibling over the other. Envy remained silent; she was familiar with the knowing grins of those who weren¡¯t familiar with their culture. Observers of vampire society often made two remarks that stood out to them: their obsession with chastity, and their naming sense. Hers was a strong name, worthy of a strong husband, indicating an intense desire and will to succeed. It was nothing to be ashamed about. ¡°Good, my Assistant will let your brother know about your situation. Now, come closer, let me check your Card and you can also take a sip of this.¡± Samael beckoned and slightly lifted a small cup while keeping his distance from the bars. Rumour had it that the pathetic Guard she had murdered had been found with a bone shiv in his neck. Although the girl looked emaciated and thin, Samael knew better than to judge a book by its cover. The scent of blood wafted through the air and Envy unfurled her lanky limbs to step forward. The dim outline of her Card flared to life on the palm of her hand. ¡°Tsk. Her primary job is [Warrior], but we may count our blessings the secondary is still blank.¡± Samael¡¯s tone shifted in disappointment as he handed the girl his cup. Everyone knew stronger vampires required more maintenance, thus combat jobs lowered their potential value. ¡°Should I arrange a dance instructor to drop by tomorrow?¡± the Assistant asked. ¡°No... leaving it blank carries higher value. Don¡¯t presume to know what the client wants, especially for rare and obscure merchandise.¡± Samael snapped back. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The Assistant nodded his head in respect and smeared out the latest entry. ¡°Great, we¡¯ll search for your brother and leave you to enjoy the blood. If you ever want to see him again, you will follow my instructions and leave your secondary job blank. Understood?¡± The slave trader smiled at Envy, then with a loud huff, rose to his feet. The gaunt Vampire returned to her corner of the cell and gulped greedily at the cup. Thankfully it was still warm and fresh, and she suppressed the guilt that it had been taken from unwilling donors. Too quickly, the cup ran dry, and the solitude of night returned. Eventually, her shoulders were wracked by quiet sobs as tears rolled down her sallow cheeks.
Author¡¯s notes Hello, this is Perdition Bridge. As this is the end of Book One, I wanted to introduce myself. Since this was my first attempt at writing a story, there were a lot of hardships and rewrites. My initial intention was to write a trashy romance loosely based on ¡®Slave Harem in the Labyrinth¡¯. Call me a degenerate but I really enjoyed it. However, something felt incomplete. I thought, if I was in MCs situation, I would have freed the slave companions I claim to love and trust. The basic premise of my story would be based on the proverb, ¡°If you love something set it free. If it comes back it¡¯s yours. If not, it was never meant to be.¡± Following on from there, I made a few other modifications: As the characters became more fleshed out and took a life of their own, I grew more ambitious. How could I take this story to the next level? Notable literary works carry a message right? Then what motifs do I want to explore in this story? I eventually settled on the following:
  1. Prejudice, and how our jobs define us.
When we introduce ourselves, one of the first questions people ask is, ¡°Where do you work?¡± There is no doubt our profession defines how people perceive us. Envy is a slave and has the [Murderer] job. What was your initial perception of her? Were you prejudiced in some way? I didn¡¯t design her to be an inherently ¡®bad person¡¯ you know, just abused, betrayed, and exploited to a point where a lesser mortal would have broken long ago. By deliberately limiting her point of view and backstory, I hoped to comment on how society view ex-convicts and rehabilitation. This connects neatly to the next point:
  1. The value of kindness and compassion
How do our intentions affect our choices? Does being compassionate make you stupid and weak? In Chapter 3, Exill questions the two types of prayers people make in times of conflict: to tear their enemies viciously apart and the other seeking salvation. What would salvation look like to Exill and Envy? One line in the story that really resonated with me was, ¡°Exill wasn¡¯t sure what kindness looked like¡± just before his encounter with Envy. I feel I fumbled a bit here because a lot of people described the MC as stupid and a simp, instead of well-intentioned in offering to free the Vampire. I¡¯ve rewritten Chapter 44 several times and would appreciate feedback on how I could have executed this better. This leads to the final motif:
  1. Redemption and Salvation
Do people deserve a second chance? We witness Exill who is afforded a second opportunity to salvage his relationship with Luna. We also see the misunderstood Vampire who has lost all faith in the world. These two take slightly different approaches to reciprocating trust and kindness ¨C leading to interesting results. Sometimes we reject the offer of salvation from others, whether out of principle, pride, or simply because we believe we don¡¯t deserve to be saved. There you have it. It began as a trashy romance that grew ambitious, perhaps beyond what a first-time author could handle. But ''was it worth it?'' as this commentator asks. I would argue ¡°No¡±, it wasn¡¯t worth it, but not for the reasons you may think. The basic framework of my story was designed to be like popcorn ¨C snappy, simple, and addictive. A protagonist the reader would happily self-insert into. Instead, I had to insert divisive moral dilemmas like a chef sprinkling different herbs & spices onto popcorn, assuring readers that it will ¡®all make sense in the end¡¯. The first drop in viewership and ratings happened with the introduction of Envy, then it got worse after Exill turned Luna¡¯s loan down. A final dip after the ''Insult'' chapter. What I created was a story that lacked mass appeal. I recently launched Patreon to subsidise the cost of advertising on Royal Road. I¡¯m so glad I chose to spend my first $50 to advertise, it brought a ton of new readers, advice and critiques ¨C invaluable to a new writer like me. Thank you for reading the first book of my first story, and I¡¯ll return shortly to continue Exill¡¯s saga. Chapter 72 - Book Two Plucking through Exill¡¯s coin pouch, Envy hesitantly withdrew 200 Denars in the form of two silver coins. She palmed it with her good hand, and headed outside where light raindrops were pattering against the cobblestones. Her feet reluctantly navigated the dense streets until she found herself outside the slave market under a turbulent grey sky. The first thing to hit you about the Slave Market was the smell. It was a cloying stench that clung to your clothes no matter how briefly you entered its premise. Next was the sounds. Long term employees and residents of the market would become accustomed to it, treating it like white noise. However the grunts and moans of pain reawakened an incredibly painful memory for her. ¡®What kind of fate is this?¡¯ She shook her head and walked straight to Diallo¡¯s compound, not permitting her eyes to wander towards the many vendors squawking their miserable wares. She swiftly entered the building next to the warehouse and ignored the Assistant who hurried to his feet in surprise. ¡°Excuse me Miss, you cannot go in there!¡± Diallo looked up from the budget report as his bodyguard rose to her feet. The furore outside his office only increased until a crimson haired beauty with murderous eyes barged into his office. She was dripping from the rain outside, and although she was unarmed, her dismissal of his bodyguard as a threat spoke volumes about her confidence. ¡°Stand down Sayleen, I know this one.¡± Diallo raised his palm to prevent his bodyguard from drawing her sword and allowed the Vampire to approach closer. ¡°Repayment?¡± Diallo leaned back, one hand lightly stroking his beard as he examined Envy. She had changed a lot in the past few months. The slave trader had thought himself astute when he sold the half-starved vampire for 15k Denars. ¡®It appears it wasn¡¯t exorbitant enough¡­¡¯ he brooded while appraising her figure with a clinical look. Aside from her missing left arm, he judged her to be worth 30¡­ no, 40k Denars. Similarly, Envy examined the man who had been her captor for four months. The man that would have been responsible for her death had Exill not whisked her away, putting everything he owned as collateral. She dumped the pouch of 1300 Denars on his table. ¡°This month¡¯s payment.¡± ¡°Received.¡± The two continued to stare at each other until Diallo, with too much work on his plate broke eye contact to examine his budget report. Envy suppressed her anguish as she exited the compound. She had used all the money she had saved up till now to make this payment. Throwing hard earnt money at the man who would have let her starve out of apathy had been excruciatingly painful. Exill only had 800 ¨C no, ¨C 600 Denars now. It had been over a week since the incident and the pangs of hunger made it difficult to concentrate. She couldn¡¯t even be in the same room as Exill without salivating, wanting to drain him dry. She walked back to the Clinic, her last tunic soaked from the light rain. With no money, weapon, or hand, there was nothing else she could do but wait. *** If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Exill woke up to the sight of a familiar ceiling. He turned his head to find the poster of ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ hanging on the wall, drawing a rare smile to his lips. He was alive. However, panic quickly set in. ¡®How long have I been asleep?¡¯ ¡®Is Envy okay?¡¯ ¡®What happened to the duel?¡¯ ¡®How am I going to pay Diallo, I only have 800 Denars and I need to buy weapons, arm-¡­¡¯ In one single moment of hubris he had nearly lost everything. He could have overwritten the contract with Envy and forfeited the duel, gone their separate ways. Except he couldn¡¯t. His eyes became blurry with tears of anguish. It became abundantly clear that the divination tools had predicted he couldn¡¯t walk away. They had known he would risk it all than forfeit. That was why it had predicted his death ¨C not in the Arena ¨C but in the Labyrinth. He had self-fulfilled his own prophecy. There had been many warning anecdotes in the books he had read about Divination. In one famous story, the Queen of an ancient kingdom witnessed the death of her husband, and sent multiple messages warning the campaigning King of an ambush. Her numerous messages were intercepted and decoded, leading to the eventual ambush of said King. At the time of reading, Exill thought it more of a commentary on keeping military secrets safe, analogous to Britain¡¯s WWII slogan, ¡®loose lips sink ships¡¯. Now¡­ he wasn¡¯t so sure. ¡°Those sly motherf**king bones got me good.¡± He whispered through gritted teeth. He swore not to touch the divination tools ever again. Drying tears of anguish on the sleeve of his tunic, he struggled to sit up, expecting pain to flare up in his ribs and legs¡­ but it felt fine. Lifting the blanket aside, he examined what was left of his legs. There were short stumps below his knee, his calves and feet were gone. Exill lifted his tunic to find his sides were immaculate. Luna must have given her all for him to make such a recovery. He inspected his Card. The Speed stat had halved, and the Vitality bar was full, but it felt a bit shorter than it originally did. Everything else was just as he remembered. *Creak* Luna stood in the doorway, shocked to find Exill sitting up. She looked incredibly tired and her lower lips quivered as she held back tears. He opened his arms, inviting her in, his own eyes glistening in emotion. As a healer, he knew Luna must have poured her own vitality and mana every day just to get him to this state. They embraced for long minutes in silence. His heart nearly breaking from the feeling of her protruding ribs under the blouse. The two finally drew apart, and both of them felt intense anger at the recklessness of the other. ¡°How could you leave your Will without telling me?¡± she roared. ¡°How could you drain yourself to such a state?¡± he responded. They stared heatedly at each other, but Luna¡¯s glare was fiercer than his, causing him to look away first. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, and thank you¡­ I¡¯m also hungry.¡± Luna angrily threw a pillow at him and stormed out to cook lunch. At that moment, Envy climbed down from the attic ladder having heard Exill¡¯s voice. She peered around the doorway, trying to keep her hunger at bay. ¡°Come in.¡± He greeted her with a hesitant smile. She was still here and that was good news, ¡°How long has it been? Have you fed? Roll up your sleeves and let me see that arm.¡± The questions poured out as he saw the poor state of his companion. The person who had singlehandedly reversed his Fate. Envy licked her lips as she attempted to answer in a hoarse voice. ¡°Two weeks and no.¡± Exill clasped her right hand to form a party. He immediately felt a pang of painful hunger over their connection. Her vitality was at 40%, little better than the time he had first dragged her to Sundry¡¯s Inn. Rolling up his sleeve, he offered his arm to her. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when to stop.¡± Hesitating as she glanced at what remained of his legs, she kneeled down by the bedside and sank her teeth into his forearm. He idly brushed the tangles in her hair as she fed. It pained him to see she was in worse state than the elf-maiden. ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡± His murmur went unheard as the Vampire¡¯s whole focus was directed to her meal. He let her feed until his vitality dropped to 90% and Luna called out that lunch was ready. The Healer knew what the slave was doing in the room. Afraid to enter lest she burst out in anger at the sight of the Vampire feeding on someone who had been at death¡¯s door just weeks ago. However, she couldn¡¯t deny that the slave''s condition had deteriorated to a critical state over the past week. Luna brought in a tray filled with bread and Wheyr Tail soup as Envy finished wiping her mouth. However Exill held her sleeve as she stood up to leave. ¡°Please stay and tell me what¡¯s been happening while I was out.¡± Chapter 73 Envy massaged the stump that was her left arm as she condensed what had happened while Exill was unconscious. ¡°I... sent a message to Sir Eumol. I told him you saved me. He postponed the duel until you regained consciousness, saying it would stain his honour to claim victory by default.¡± Exill paused upon hearing this bit of news. It was welcome, but he felt there was more to this story, and he set aside his bowl to reach for the Contract signed at the Arena.
1) Each party is responsible for treatment of their own injuries, 2) Victory is considered if the opponent yields or is otherwise incapacitated by the other party in the Arena, 3) Witchdoctor Exill will sell his slave, Envy to Sir Eumol for the initial purchase price of 15,000 Denars upon his defeat, 4) Witchdoctor Exill will be compensated a token sum of 1,000 Denars upon his victory and Sir Eumol will put the dispute permanently to rest, 5) Death of either party nullifies the entire contact ¨C including Article 1.¡±
¡®Claim victory by default my ass, of course he would reschedule! Article 2 of the contract claims he needs to defeat me in the Arena to claim Envy. There is nothing for him to gain if I¡¯m simply shunned and disgraced.¡¯ This explained why the Knight had been so eager to provide an extension. Exill nodded as he ate, motioning her to continue. ¡°I went to Diallo¡¯s several days ago... paid using what I saved up and a bit of your money.¡± He stopped eating as he absorbed what she said. It couldn¡¯t have been easy for Envy to face her captor, let alone paying them your hard earned cash. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry you had to go through that, and thank you, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± After some time, Luna quipped up, pouting that only the slave''s sacrifices had been acknowledged. ¡°What about thanking me? Do you know how many patients I turned down just to treat you?¡± Realizing his mistake, Exill reached out to hold her hand, his fondness apparent. ¡°This lifetime is too short to repay the debt I incurred on you. I can work on clinic duties starting tomorrow and you can take a break.¡± The Healer blushed at his words, but a note of concern remained in her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to rush into it¡­ I was just saying-¡± ¡°It¡¯s no problem, my vitality is full, and I might drive myself mad stuck in here with nothing to do.¡± *** Exill spent the next two days on clinic duty, providing Luna with much needed rest. She still dedicated some of her time to regrowing Exill¡¯s legs. The [Scientist] skill informed him each stump was growing back two centimetres per day, meaning it would take approximately three weeks to fully regrow. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. He was currently in Savta¡¯s treatment room, supporting himself with one hand on the armrest while examining a patient. He finished channelling mana into the joints of the old man sitting before him, then reached out to hand a balm containing anti-inflammatories and a hint of horse sedative. ¡°May the Will assist you in a quick recovery.¡± He said the formulaic words to the elder suffering from arthritis. The hunched man merely shook his head as he exited the treatment room. Shortly thereafter, a handsome man with a chiselled jaw entered the room. Unbuttoning his embroidered navy jacket the noble alighted on the stool, coming face-to-face with Exill. ¡°Sir Eumol?¡± He didn¡¯t recognise the Knight in his casual attire for a moment, he had only seen him once, bedecked in the priciest of equipment. ¡°My wife was shopping in the neighbourhood, and I thought I would drop by. Heard the famed Witchdoctor was conscious and practicing again.¡± Sir Eumol examined the stumps that were Exill¡¯s legs and grimaced, before continuing, ¡°Nasty business that. I heard you saved our beautiful Flame. My thanks to your sacrifice¡­ but let¡¯s not dawdle, how long do you need to recover?¡± ¡°Four weeks.¡± Exill lied. The more time he had to prepare the better. Sir Eumol merely nodded, eyes distracted and looking around the room as if in search of something. ¡°Good, we can finally settle this like men¡­ Is Envy around by any chance?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ you just missed her.¡± ¡°Unfortunate, well, time waits for no man. Tell her to leave a message, I would be happy to replace her lost equipment in exchange for some... training.¡± The brief pause wasn¡¯t lost on Exill, but he carefully controlled his emotions as he thanked the Noble for his consideration. He slammed the armrest in anger once Eumol left, his rich green eyes flickering in turmoil. How weak and poor did the man think he was, casually offering to replace equipment for ''training''? He suppressed his anger as the next patient entered the room. The opportunity to strike back would soon arrive. Later in the evening, Exill was lying in bed when Envy entered the room with a knock. She had recovered 50% of her vitality and some colour had returned to her pallid skin. He channelled the last of his mana into the stump of her left arm as she fed, healing her simultaneously. Her ability to heal was extraordinary, recording four centimetres on some days. It made him wonder if she could make an eventual recovery even without magic. He let go of her stunted arm as she stopped feeding. However she lingered for several more minutes. Exill was still fuming about the incident earlier that day, when the Vampire finally gave voice to the dilemma that had plagued her these past two weeks. ¡°What was the Behemoth doing at the entrance? I informed the Guild you descended deeper and fought an Iron Golem. Couldn¡¯t explain our injuries otherwise.¡± Exill hesitated, biting his lip, not knowing how much of the truth to reveal. She had earned his trust the moment she offered to nullify their contract, but even a simple explanation required the disclosure of many dangerous secrets. Their contract had a non-disclosure clause but his recent visit to the Jurisconsult had revealed how fallible - no - temperamental [Notarized Contracts] could be. Feeling her tense up as the silence grew, he decided to skirt as close to the truth as possible. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we would encounter a Behemoth. You and I both know it is madness to face a beast from the lower Labyrinth.¡± he simply stated. ¡°But you knew something would be there, I could sense your anticipation the moment I joined your cohort.¡± She wasn¡¯t willing to let it go. ¡°Yes¡­ I knew something was there, something that could give me the edge to defeat Eumol. If you told me a Behemoth would pop up as soon as we entered, I wouldn¡¯t have gone.¡± He was dangerously close to revealing his secrets. There was a long pause as Envy read between the lines of what he was saying and what had been left out. She was no stranger to secrets and valued it highly. ¡°Then¡­ did you find what you needed?¡± She struggled to contain the hope within her eyes. ¡°Most assuredly, my Scarlet Princess.¡± He drawled in the style of Eumol the Knight, earning a fist in the ribs. Exill didn¡¯t regret it, but he repeated the words to express his sincerity, a sinister smile playing on his lips. ¡°I can take him down now.¡± Chapter 74 - Waitress Side story: Envy - approximately one week after the events of the previous chapter. ¡°Day¡¯s wages start at twelve denars. When can you begin?¡± The gruff tavern owner leered over the vampire while polishing the glassware. It was early morning, and lunch service was still a few hours away in this dim and grungy watering hole. ¡°I can start right now.¡± A spark of hope ignited within her. This was the furthest she had gone in the past few days of job hunting. However, it was short lived, as the burly manager said the words she had come to dread. ¡°Show me your Card.¡± Invoking her name, the Murderer¡¯s Card flared to life on the palm of her hand. The tavern owner sneered as he read her name, then scanned further down the card until he froze, spotting her secondary job. He quickly turned away back to the glassware. ¡°I don¡¯t think you are a good fit.¡± Envy didn¡¯t try to plead or explain, and instead walked out without a word ¨C out into the bustling side streets of Inner Ark. The sun was shining cheerfully overhead, and people flurried by to their errands and jobs. This was the fifth tavern she had visited, and the area of her job search was growing wider and further away from Savta¡¯s clinic. She had already tried all the nearby gambling dens, warehouses, inns, and cleaners, but was turned away the moment they saw her second job. There was one job she hadn¡¯t explored. Something Exill had said in the heat of passion, and it still hurt to think even he thought of her that way. ¡®I¡¯d rather delve into the Labyrinth barehanded.¡¯ She thought between gritted teeth. Her ¡®clients¡¯ could offer all the money in the world, hell, Sir Eumol could promise her a master crafted adamantine shortsword for all she cared. Its value couldn¡¯t possibly compare to the last thing that was truly hers. Entrenched in thought, her feet led her through the familiar routes, to where the crossed sword banners of the Mercenary Guild hung from the sandstone exterior of the building. It was unwise to travel by alleyways while unarmed, even in the Inner City, and Envy berated herself for wandering so thoughtlessly. ¡®I wonder if I could borrow a weapon¡­¡¯ she mused briefly before dismissing the thought. Weapons were the lifeblood of any mercenary, and she wasn¡¯t close to anyone to ask for such a favour. In truth, everyone steered a clear path away from her, and that had served her just fine. Releasing a pent-up sigh, she turned away from the Guild and looked up towards the the Labyrinth tower in the distance. People, especially travellers journeying through Ark would point up to the titanic buttresses supporting the tiered structure ¨C awed by the magnitude of scale. However to her, a cold unsettling feeling like a knot in her stomach made itself felt whenever she looked at it. That sensation had only grown worse after encountering the Behemoth. Exill had been suspiciously coy in avoiding the subject, but she had let it go, buoyed by his confident promise that he could defeat Sir Eumol. Nonetheless, she couldn¡¯t ignore that sometimes¡­ she felt the same sensation from Exill as when she stood near the Tower. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Her train of thought was abruptly cut off as she realised she had ventured off into another side street. Her feet had unwittingly carried her through familiar alleyways, and up ahead, the peeling whitewashed walls of Sundry Inn became visible. The Innkeeper was lounging outside, leaning against the damp stained walls of the building and a lazy tendril of smoke rising from his pipe. His shadowed eyes sparkled in recognition of the vampire. It was worth a shot. Envy pushed herself forward and greeted the wiry man who appeared to be perpetually caught in a daydream. ¡°I want a job.¡± She simply stated. The middle-aged man paused mid-puff, caught off guard by her sudden demand. After a while, he exhaled smoothly, fixing her with soft, gentle eyes. ¡°This is a cheap inn. We can¡¯t pay well¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± The Innkeeper chuckled mirthfully, and his wizened fingers wrapped around the warm pipe as he steadily made up his mind. After a few minutes of silence had passed, he spoke again in a slow mellow voice. ¡°Wait inside, I¡¯ll walk you through lunch service.¡± At his acceptance, Envy felt a lump in her throat, and she quickly went inside as a surge of emotions overwhelmed her. She sat on the bench and examined the exposed joists above, quietly blinking back tears. Soon, the Innkeeper drifted in, and showed her the ropes by teaching her where the mugs were stored, and how to pour the perfect pint. Envy was still missing a few of her digits on the arm that had been shredded by the Behemoth, but that didn¡¯t prevent her from quickly picking up tasks. Soon, lunch service came around and several regulars filed in. ¡°Since when do you employ waitstaff Mahieu?¡± ¡°Who is this beautiful lass? It¡¯s good to see you are finally moving on.¡± This last comment drew a sharp look from the genial Innkeeper, and the speaker looked away, thoroughly rebuked. Apart from this, there were no other incidents and Envy spent most of mid-afternoon handwashing the bedsheets and setting them out to dry. When evening rolled around, a different crowd of rowdier men rolled in, a lot of them mercenaries. These patrons immediately recognised her, and did a double take in surprise. No, the troublesome customers were the warehouse workers, and they were incredibly taken by the glamorous beauty serving them alcohol. ¡°Hey sweetlips, where you off to in such a hurry?!¡± One of them grabbed her hips and planted her on his lap, ¡°Slow down and let¡¯s get to know each other a little, yeah?¡± Amidst the barely concealed sniggers, the table next to them filled with Mercs carefully looked away, sweating nervously. They were fully aware of the murderous Vampire¡¯s temper, and everyone had heard how she had sprained several stray wrists that ventured near her alluring curves. Fortunately, the Innkeeper hurried to her rescue, and pried her away from the unruly table, ignoring their pleadings. He pulled her aside and quietly spoke to her. ¡°You did enough today, go home early.¡± He slid her eight Denars and led her outside where the sky was painted red by the setting sun. Accepting her folded apron, he hesitated for a few seconds, glancing back at the rowdy tables shouting for more beer. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at eleven.¡± He smiled softly and rested his hand on her shoulder briefly, before turning away to address the thirsty patrons. Envy stood in the small courtyard for a moment longer, looking down at copper coins nestled within her palms. It had been an eventful day and she felt more drained than normal. Walking back towards the clinic following the main road, she arrived just as Luna flipped the ¡®closed¡¯ sign on the door. They stared coldly at each other until the elf-maiden hesitantly moved aside to let her pass. ¡°You¡¯re late, where have you been all day?¡± Exill poked his head around the corner of the treatment room, annoyed yet slightly curious where the Vampire had gone all day. ¡°A job.¡± She volunteered the bare minimum as usual, and her Master stared up at her, waiting for more information. Eventually, realising this was Envy he was facing, he stifled his curiosity. ¡°Take me to my room and you can tell me about your day later.¡± He reached out with both arms, waiting for her to carry him upstairs. Envy inwardly sighed, but bent down to pick him up with both arms. Exill¡¯s legs had yet to fully heal, and unless she carried him around the clinic, he had to crawl along the floor. Yet her patience was worn thin by his incessant desire to be carried everywhere, and she caught glimpses of him smiling impishly while ordering her around. That was one reason she had been so eager to leave the house and get a job, any job that would allow her to buy her gear back. She murmured a small prayer to the World Spirit as she tucked the recovering Witchdoctor into bed. Chapter 75 - Navigator Three weeks passed in the blink of an eye as Exill focused on his clinic duties. He trained skills that could be increased from the comfort of a chair and saw impressive gains over the period.
Job Level
Healer 6 >> 12
Witchdoctor 21 >> 23
Scientist 2 >> 6
Diviner 9 >> 12
Scribe 1 >> 7
He dearly regretted the loss of the sturdy training boots that had been crushed alongside his legs. The experience multiplier had fallen from 32x to 16x otherwise his level gains would have been more impressive. While Exill was inspecting the Card, Luna sat at the edge of his bed, injecting mana into the tips of his toes. She leaned tiredly against the bed post; dark circles visible under her blue eyes. ¡°I told you not to push-¡± ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± The healer cut him off as she stated the completion of his recovery. Luna had been burning the candle at both ends while Exill was unconscious. Now that he was helping with clinic duties, her rate of depletion had decreased, but not to the point where it allowed her to recover. Wriggling his toes, he confirmed their completeness, apart from the lack of toenails. The miracle of magic was before his eyes, and it made him giddy to think he could take his preparations to the next step. With some trepidation, he brought up a sensitive topic, ¡°Hey Luna, can you advance me-¡± ¡°No, I will not allow you to buy weapons, or train in the Labyrinth again.¡± Luna cut him off abruptly and her eyes were exhausted but pleading, ¡°Exill please! I did not spend the past weeks nursing you back to health, only to see you die. If you have any respect left for me, I want you to forfeit that duel and let the slave go.¡± She turned her head away in obvious distaste, ¡°You¡¯ve done enough for her, and besides, there are worse fates than living as the concubine of a noble.¡± Unclenching his fist, he let is frustration go. His friend didn¡¯t know the promise he had made, or the sacrifice that Envy was willing to go through, and was understandably upset that he was risking life and limb for a mere slave. ¡®Why are women so difficult?¡¯ he wondered bitterly, conflicted by a swirl of emotions. On one hand he understood she was just caring for him, but on the other, he didn¡¯t appreciate being controlled in this fashion. Complicating all this was his deep gratitude towards her for saving his life. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t bring it up anymore. Now, let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± Sweeping strands of golden hair from her clammy forehead, Exill lifted the delicate maiden in his arms. She was spent, and he resolved to better support her once the duel was over. Heart aching at how light she had become, he carried her to her room and let the healer sleep. Exill climbed up the attic to check on Envy. It was growing late, and she hadn¡¯t fed yet. ¡°Are you awake?¡± he called out in a low voice. ¡°¡­ Mm?¡± a feeble groan wafted out in response. He fumbled around for the lantern and turned it on at the lowest setting. The Vampire was laying on her back with the fully healed arm draped over her forehead. Her scarlet hair splayed out like a crimson halo. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Was it busy tonight?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± She grunted while turning away, mildly annoyed by his pestering. She was working afternoons and evenings as a waitress in Sundry Inn. It was draining work, especially for someone as socially outgoing and chatty as Envy. What didn¡¯t help was that the job paid only eight Denars a day. He lay by her side, idly playing with a length of her hair as she fed. There were two days left till the duel and he still needed a weapon. With only 600 Denars left there wasn¡¯t much he could do. Luna had forbidden him from entering the Labyrinth and refused to advance him any more money ¨C limiting his options severely. It was clear she wanted him to forfeit. Exill felt stifled by her restrictions yet couldn¡¯t help but empathise with her. Working within limitations, there were two options open to him. Crafting his own spear or purchasing from a military surplus store. With no desire to revisit Ham and his smithy, he resolved to visit Central Market the next morning. *** The next morning, Exill cursed as he squatted in front a dusty bin of knives, poking through their contents. This was the second military surplus vendor he had visited, and all the spears were either junk or the trader wanted more than its market value. He was poking around in the knives bin on the off chance that a loose spearhead made its way there by mistake. Sweeping long hair from his eyes, Exill stood up and stretched his cramped legs. Over the past month, his permanently tousled brown hair had grown to a point where it tickled his nose, but not long enough to tie back. Luna kept teasing how cute he would look with a bowl cut. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll just take this.¡± He settled for a standard leaf bladed spear with a shaft made of spriggan wood, much like the one he had lost to the Behemoth. Trying to haggle down the price, he asked to bundle a brass knuckle protector with the spear for 100 Denars. Satisfied with the purchase, he decided to stretch his legs, wandering over to the antiquities section nearby. There were always interesting oddities to be found here and was a good source of second-hand items. It was where he had picked up those cursed divination bones after all. He browsed the stalls holding his coin purse tight against pickpockets. The space between stalls was tight and he was frequently getting jostled by other customers. ¡®Oh, what is this?¡¯ Exill approached an oversized brass dial that was missing its cover. It looked familiar somehow. ¡°A keen eye young man! Are you interested in becoming a [Navigator] some day?¡± Exill picked the accumulator up, instantly remembering where he had last seen one, albeit in much better shape. The lead caravan driver of the refugee group had leaned heavily on this device to forewarn against Aberrations and track how far they had travelled that day. From what he understood, the world of Enui lacked a global magnetic field, much like the planet Mars back home. This made compasses useless, and meant [Navigators] used the accumulator as a multi-purpose navigational aid and portable sundial ¨C whose secondary purpose was to detect Aberrations. He glanced at the stall keeper for permission before channelling mana into the device, causing the smaller, pearlescent dial to spin lazily around several times before coming to rest, pointing to his left.
[Ping!]
¡°Oh, you know how to use it? It isn¡¯t broken if that¡¯s what you be worried about. You can clearly see it¡¯s pointing towards the Labyrinth. We¡¯ll be in big trouble if there are any Aberrations around here!¡± The wizened Vendor wheezed as he chuckled. He then flashed several fingers in sequence, ¡°Only 150 Denar for you, my friend.¡± The shrewd seller eagerly waited for an answer, but the young man stood transfixed, staring at the inert accumulator as if in shock. Suspecting he was about to do a runner, the stall keeper snatched the device back. Exill just turned away from the stall and walked to a quiet corner in the market to summon the Card, inspecting the new job he had attained. Its detection range wasn¡¯t impressive, amounting to a little less than the short width of a city block.
Job Navigator
Level 1
Description Arcane- Tier I
Active Skill [Sense] detect Aberrations within a 75m (250ft) radius. Increased sensitivity and range (scales with level)
What had stunned him earlier was the understanding achieved with [Scientist]¡¯s measuring ability. The dial had imperceptibly slowed down as it pointed to him, before it was inexorably drawn to the gravitational equivalent of a black hole that was the Labyrinth Tower a kilometre away. Chapter 76 - Gamble Luna picked at her dinner as she wondered how to address the ogre in the room. She reluctantly tried to channel the indomitable energy of her grandmother. ¡°Are you really not going to forfeit tomorrow?¡± Exill paused with a forkful of soursprout to his mouth. Lowering the utensil, he carefully looked up at her. She was frail and grumpy from lack of sleep; and sometimes at night, he would hear her bump against the wall when she woke from a nightmare. It didn¡¯t take a genius to guess what her dreams were about. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like Envy, but she saved my life. I will not give up on hers.¡± Trying to remain calm, Luna pressed on, ¡°Don¡¯t say that as if she is going to die; she is going to live with one of the richest nobles of Ark as his mistress. I¡¯m asking you to value your life. I did not spend a month sacrificing my vitality and turning down patients to see you throw it all away! Do you know how many people die in duels each year?¡± ¡°Four. Four out of several hundred combatants died last year. I asked around because I knew you would bring it up. He won¡¯t kill me because he can''t obtain Envy that way. At most I¡¯ll be injured somewhat.¡± ¡°So if you get hurt, do you expect me to heal you up again as if nothing happened?¡± she asked spitefully, twisting her words painfully like a knife. Exill looked down at his plate, unable to meet the Maiden¡¯s glistening eyes that were on the verge of tears. Shaking his head in resignation he offered the truth: ¡°Forfeiting her to Eumol is just as good as asking her to die.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do this Exill. I can¡¯t watch you get hurt tomorrow.¡± ¡°I understand, you can stay here. I should return within two hours and pick up the afternoon shift as if nothing happened.¡± Luna scoffed. The fool didn¡¯t realise it was the same line he had spouted the day he nearly died in the Labyrinth. The image of him lying dead, missing his legs had engrained itself in her mind. Her dreams were filled with nightmares where no matter how much she poured [Heal] into him ¨C the blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing. She dumped her half-eaten plate in the kitchen sink and retired to her room. Exill dejectedly finished his meal and did the washing up, climbing up to the attic to wait for Envy to finish her shift. She was tightlipped about her employer, but several clues indicated she was working in a tavern. For some twisted reason, poking the irritable murderer, turned waitress had the unintended effect of cheering him up. Right on schedule, she arrived half an hour later, looking utterly spent and miserable. He immediately felt a bond of camaraderie with her jaded form. Dealing with people, and emotions was hard work. The Vampire tiredly wiped herself down with a wet towel and crawled into bed, swiftly latching on to his arm to feed. He could smell smoke and the faint scent of her alcohol from her hair. "How was work today?" The murderess poked him warningly with an elbow to indicate she wasn''t to be disturbed. Exill grinned, and idly summoned his card to check the attainment he had gained this morning.
[Monk] lvl 20 - NEW ACTIVE SKILL
[Mana Channel - Physical] Empower your body with mana, strengthening your strikes.
Forbidden from entering the Labyrinth, Envy and Exill had trained in unarmed combat every morning. He could now channel a small amount of mana to his arms or legs, sheathing them in an invisible force that amplified both offence and defence. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to forfeit?¡± she finally asked, wiping her mouth. ¡°No, and you should bring all your Denars tomorrow and bet on me winning.¡± ¡°Tch¡­ easy for you to say when it¡¯s not your hard-earned cash.¡± He responded with a smile while lowering his sleeve, then quietly climbed down the ladder. The living room was dim, lit by the still glowing embers of the hearth. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on Luna¡¯s door before entering. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. She sat on the edge of her bed in a nightshift, looking ethereal as moonlight flooded into the room. The maiden patted the spot next to her, indicating for him to sit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about earlier. I know why you have to go¡­ lately, I feel I haven¡¯t been myself.¡± Luna apologized, a sombre smile on her lips. She then continued, a slight flush creeping on her cheek, ¡°Can I try that arm pillow thing? I haven¡¯t slept well lately.¡± ¡®She really has changed.¡¯ He thought, leaning against the doorway. There was no way the healer could have asked for such a favour when they first met. Exill paused. Considering all she had done for him, it was a minor request. He crossed the short distance between them and lay down, letting Luna snuggle in close. As she grew comfortable, her contented smile slowly relaxed, and eventually her lips parted as she fell into a deep sleep. *** Exill and Envy arrived at the Arena half an hour early the next morning. They pushed through the usual throng of people to reach a red-faced Bookmaker who was shouting the odds for the duels that morning.
¡°Place your bets at the House of Odds! Liroth the Blacksmith versus Meibur the Vendor ¨C 5:4 Sir Eumol the Knight versus Exill the Witchdoctor ¨C 7:1 ¡­¡±
Exill flagged the Bookie down and pointed towards the slate display showing his name, sliding across all 500 Denars of his money. ¡°All in on the Witchdoctor winning¡± he grinned. ¡°May the Will smile in favour of his victory!¡± The portly Bookmaker cheered him on in genuine mirth. In his line of work, it was important to indulge the fantasies of clients no matter the odds. He did a double-take while recording the client¡¯s name as shown on their Card, noticing they were betting on themselves. Then he slid a clay token towards Exill. ¡°Please return in the afternoon to collect your winnings sir, and may the Will smile in your favour in today¡¯s match!¡±
[Ping!]
Exill thanked the Bookie and felt a deep resonance within him as his fingers touched the clay token. It appeared he had obtained a new job but didn¡¯t want to be side tracked at this important juncture. ¡®It¡¯s probably something gambling related.¡¯ He stood aside for a few awkward seconds while waiting for Envy to make her bet, ¡°Go on, or were you planning to gift Sir Eumol that silver coin upon my defeat?¡± She glared at him for his tasteless joke and stepped forward, ¡°Same bet, a hundred Denars.¡± She slid one silver coin across. In some ways, it was the hardest earned coin she had ever spent, owing to the hellish difficulty of working at Sundry Inn that turned into a rowdy tavern in the evenings. ¡°Right you are madam, coming right up!¡± Once Envy had received her token, they turned to walk away¡­ but something made Exill pause. He approached the Bookmaker again, ¡°Excuse me, how do you determine the odds for the fights?¡± he asked the energetic man who was preparing to shout again. ¡°Bit late now once you¡¯ve made the bet!¡± he joked cheerfully but continued on, ¡°You submitted a sample of your hair when you accepted the duel correct? Well, a panel of Diviners from our Guild examine it and publish the odds. It is up to us individual members to adjust it to our liking. It¡¯s all licensed and above board you know!¡± The jovial man failed to mention that it was a bad matchup in his professional opinion. A spearman against a shielded Knight would lose nine times out of ten. This was because the shield was a perfect counter to the spear, where an opportune block would open the attacker wide open to a riposte. In fact, he had been greatly surprised that the odds reported by the Guild had been so favourable to the Witchdoctor, and had tinkered with it slightly before posting it on the board. Exill thanked the Bookmaker and walked away, impressed with the gambling system. It supported what he knew about Divining ¨C that it dealt with probabilities, as opposed to certainties. On top of this, there was an important lesson learned. Under no circumstances should he give out samples of his hair for strangers to practice divination on. Who knew what questions they would ask, and the implications of finding out he was forsaken by the world. As the two climbed the stairs to the contestant chambers, Envy could be heard muttering, loud enough for Exill to hear. Her bet had constituted twelve days of working as a waitress and she wasn¡¯t going to forgive him if he lost. ¡°I¡¯ll skin you myself if you lose this match.¡± She muttered menacingly. The two spent what felt like an eternity in their chambers; double, even triple checking the straps on Exill¡¯s scrap leather armour. The armour was in very poor condition. Only the leg plates and right forearm guard remained of the complete set, even then, the hide glue fixing the individual scrap plates were falling apart at the edges. Still, it was better than nothing. Finally, they were startled by an attendant knocking at their door announcing the Witchdoctor was up next. Envy left him for the stands while he followed the guide down a steep stairwell. They eventually reached the double doors leading to the arena floor, morning sunlight seeping in through the cracks. The attendant turned to Exill, motioning him for a handshake. Cautiously, Exill grasped the man¡¯s hand.
Would you like to form a party?
[Yes] [No]
Exill accepted, to which the attendant nodded and immediately dismissed the cohort. ¡°Can I ask what that was about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, all contestants are checked before combat to ensure they don¡¯t benefit from racial bonuses imparted by party members. I just confirmed you were not in a party.¡± Exill nodded. It seemed a sensible precaution. Then, the arena doors finally groaned as they began to swing open. Chapter 77 - Duel Exill emerged into the sunlight as the announcer shouted out the contestants names, as well as what was at stake. Only about 10% of the Arena seats were filled. Unless there were big names involved in a fight, only the aficionados and gamblers bothered to observe these low-level personal disputes. Taking all this in with a glance, he quickly spotted Envy near the front row, owing to her distinct scarlet hair. He nodded to her while confidently striding towards his opponent. Sir Eumol marched forward wearing his standard delving gear, looking every inch the heroic knight. Exill was annoyed to find him wearing a bright red cloak, no doubt coordinated to look good standing beside Envy. Exill grit his teeth as he [Appraised] the Knight¡¯s gear, trying to spot any changes. The gleaming tower shield was enchanted with [Damage Resist] and [Status Resist], while the estoc had [Strength] and [Weaken] enchantments. ¡°Are you still determined to see this to the end?¡± The Knight called out. He was vaguely aware that his object of interest had killed her previous master. However, if the pathetic shrimp somehow managed to tame her it should be effortless for a noble like him. Sir Eumol¡¯s respect for the kid rose as Exill nodded, resolve evident in his emerald eyes. The Knight couldn¡¯t blame him. It would take divine intervention to pry the flame that was Envy from his grip if their position had been reversed. Unfortunately for the Witchdoctor, Eumol might as well have been a rock dragon to the weakly runt. This was a bad matchup for the young man. Sword and shield was a natural counter to spearmen. Sure, the lad had some reach, but it took only a careful parry with a shield to leave the side wide open for a counter. The bout was heavily in favour of the Knight, and this was reflected in the bookmaker¡¯s odds. Facing each other, the contest began with clash of a gong. Sir Eumol went all out from the beginning, charging forward in a shield bash, sword arm ready for a follow-up lunge. Exill had expected this as the Vampire had indicated an all-out charge was how the Knight preferred to initiate most fights. The Witchdoctor waited for the right moment prior to activating the trump card [Haste] to sidestep the assault. This single move took less than one second in real-time and consumed nearly all his mana and a portion of vitality, but it was worth it. Activating [Weak Point] and [Steady Hand], the spear tip whistled into the joints of the Knight¡¯s knee from behind. Sir Eumol¡¯s charge was stopped short as the spearhead was ripped free from his knee, taking with it a chunk of ligament. The crowd grew silent as they saw the Knight limping, trying to maintain the shield between the slowly circling spearman. The silence turned to uproar as spectators asked each other what had happened to the Knight. Exill¡¯s movement had been too fast for their eyes to follow and had caught them off guard. Gamblers were both ecstatic and panicked as the odds had shifted against what had been a certain victory. Exill continued to circle the sweating Knight, forcing him to turn each time in great pain. However all was not good for the young spearman. [Haste] had suddenly drained so much from him that it took everything to maintain his balance. Sir Eumol on the other hand could no longer put weight on his left leg, leaving his offensive capability crippled. The best he could do now was keep the shield between them and hope for an opportune counter. The crowd booed as the minutes trickled by. The adversaries circled each other and the ground steadily growing slick with the noble''s blood. A steely glare from the unwavering boy hit deep into the Knight¡¯s heart. ¡®Damn kid doesn¡¯t care what the crowd thinks! He¡¯s not going to attack first.¡¯ The sinking realisation hit him like a brick. Sir Eumol winced as he turned to face the spearman, sweat trickling down his chiselled jaw. Against such a cautious opponent there was nothing he could do, and with each passing second he grew fainter from the lack of blood. There was only one feasible option left. Sir Eumol exhaled his frustrations away, before slowly sheathing the sword and lowering his shield. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I concede.¡± The Arena erupted as spectators exclaimed at the results. This was unprecedented! A lowly healer/warrior had defeated a Knight who was ten years his senior! Many gamblers were furious as they crushed their clay tokens under their feet, swearing at the Witchdoctor for ruining their bets. ¡°Tell me at least this. How did you avoid my charge?¡± Exill turned around amidst the deafening furore as he was about to leave, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you heard how I received my Witchdoctor job¡­ but it appears that I¡¯ve been blessed by the Spirit in more ways than one.¡± He exited the Arena and jogged up the stairs to find Envy, face flushed, and fists clenched tightly until they were white. ¡°You did it.¡± Her amber eyes sparkled in exhilaration. Exill beamed at her as he caught her in a tight embrace, still riding the high of victory. He felt the Vampire tense up in his arms and swiftly released her, not knowing what had come over him. ¡°I told you, now, let¡¯s collect our winnings.¡± He replied abashedly. A slight feeling of remorse tinged the corner of his heart as he walked towards the Arena offices. If he had gone to the Moneylender¡¯s and taken out a 2,000 Denar loan, he would be 12,000 Denar¡¯s richer after settling the principle amount. More could have been bet on himself winning. Seeing the spectacular upset of this duel, he doubted there would ever be such an opportunity to increase his money sevenfold in under a day. ¡®Actually, it could have gone either way... I had one shot, one opportunity with [Haste], and if that didn¡¯t work, I would have likely lost.¡¯ This last thought soothed some of the sting in his greedy little heart. Exill claimed his 1,000 Denar reward from the Arena clerk as well as the 3,500 Denars from the betmaker; of which 1,100 was promptly handed over to Envy who was already ecstatic from the 700 she had won. ¡°Here is what I owe you for making the payment to Diallo.¡± The Vampire was caught off guard at the sight of the gold and silver coin in her palm. She hadn¡¯t expected the stingy healer to uphold his word, and the sense of trust towards him grew ever slightly more. She shot him a rare smile, overjoyed by the victory and the options now available to her. ¡°Mn. I¡¯m never going to work as a waitress again.¡± Exill clicked his tongue as he thought it was a crying shame. It would have been entertaining to watch her repress that murderous nature while dealing with drunks. He left Envy to look around the stalls surrounding the Arena while he strode over to the Ticket Booth. There was a promise to Luna that required fulfilling. ¡°I would like two tickets for Forbidden Love.¡± The clerk apologetically smiled to Exill, then proceeded to point to a freshly painted display, ¡°I¡¯m afraid the company has shifted to a newer production... can I interest you in this instead?¡± Exill examined the new exhibit. It was titled ¡®Lost Memories: the Squire and the Maiden¡¯. The poster depicted an armoured man kneeling in front of a reluctant woman while fiery explosions erupted in the background. Exill grudgingly slid two large copper coins across. It wasn¡¯t exactly what Luna asked for, but it would have to do, ¡°I will take two tickets please.¡± He wasn¡¯t a big fan of war, or romance for that matter, but it was better than returning empty handed after such a victory, and for her sacrifice. He nodded as he accepted the two clay tokens slid across the stand. The two began walking in the direction of the Clinic in high spirits, the sword of Damocles no longer weighing heavily over their heads. Half an hour later, Exill opened the door of Savta¡¯s Clinic to find Luna pacing behind the counter. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± She rushed over to examine him, confused by the tattered state of his armour yet seeing no blood. ¡°Haha, I¡¯m fine, we won!¡± Exill jovially laughed as he hugged her in genuine joy. He led her upstairs as he continued talking, ¡°It was a one-sided affair, I¡¯ll tell you more about it over lunch.¡± Exill then boasted to a relieved Luna how he had bested the Knight with a single move over their simple meal, as well as how much they had earned from the bookie. ¡°Ah, by the way. I¡¯m sorry but ¡®Forbidden Love¡¯ is no longer playing in the Arena.¡± Exill informed her as he fingered the two tickets in his pocket, hoping she wouldn¡¯t mind going to see something else. Luna lowered her spoon in surprise, suddenly remembering the promise he had made over a month ago. It had completely slipped her mind, with everything that had occurred. ¡°Ah¡­¡± she pursed her lips in disappointment. Suddenly, her friend¡¯s victory didn¡¯t seem so grand, nor had anything really changed. After all, the slave would continue to live here. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Exill had let her down on so many occasions that every instance of heartbreak came rushing back. ¡°I guess you will be going back to the Labyrinth as well...¡± she added listlessly. He was confused by the sudden change in topic but leapt at the opportunity to change her mind, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got the money to buy better gear now. Defeating Eumol should prove how strong-¡± ¡°Exill...¡± Luna interrupted him, her voice breaking as her face grew visibly tired. She played with the ends of her hair as she searched for the right words. ¡°I can¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t watch you risk your life in the Labyrinth, nor can I play the third wheel any longer. I can¡¯t bear to see you get injured or lie in bed with your slave. I don¡¯t like the petty, jealous, controlling person I find myself becoming¡­¡± Exill sat in silence as he waited for the axe to fall. ¡°I want you to leave.¡± Chapter 78 - Ultimatum Exill took down the poster ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ from the wall and scanned the room one last time. In a single day his triumph in the Arena had been crushed to a pyrrhic victory. He had won¡­ but at what cost? Nodding at his companion who was waiting by the doorway, he climbed down the stairs one last time to find Luna fidgeting behind the counter. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll see you at the Inn.¡± He gestured to Envy. Exill fiddled with the play tickets in his pocket as Envy closed the door behind her. He opened his mouth, but Luna spoke first, refusing to look him in the eyes. ¡°You owe me nothing. Not for your treatment or the wages I advanced.¡± She held up her hand to stave off objections as she continued, ¡°I hope you will return when you put¡­ all this behind you.¡± She gestured at the front door, through which Envy had exited earlier. ¡°I like you, I really do, but not when I¡¯m hurting every single day. Especially not when I¡¯m having nightmares over you bleeding helplessly in the Tower! Unless you are ready to settle down, please don¡¯t even think of returning if you have any respect for me.¡±
"... I see a bad influence looming over you as it chips you away piece by piece. You must learn to let go at times, even if it means abandoning a part of yourself."
Exill remembered the Diviner¡¯s prophecy, and realised that here, now, events had come full circle. If Luna had laid down such an ultimatum a month ago, before all this ever happened ¨C he wondered if he might have gone along with it. However it had all come crashing down after the encounter with the accumulator, the tool used to detect Aberrations by Navigators. When its accusing needle imperceptibly slowed down as it pointed towards him, an intense feeling of alienation had overcome him. Perhaps¡­ he had already let go, long before she had made up her mind. He painfully gripped the play tokens as the distance between them grew to an untenable pause. He broke it with a bittersweet smile and reached for the door. ¡°I like you too Luna.¡± Then he left. Savta¡¯s granddaughter had expected him to come crawling back when faced with the ultimatum. A cruel part of her knew he would suffer in the outside world, with no safe haven to anchor in. However, with his parting admission, it felt like her whole world had come crashing down when he walked away. Her weak knees gave way under the strain, and she collapsed on the floor, sobbing when she discovered another gaping hole in her heart. The tears streamed down as the maiden found herself alone again. Exill dragged his feet with a heavy heart towards the Sundry Inn. After a dozen minutes of meandering through the alleyways, his eyes came to rest on the decrepit Inn with a cynical grin. It was a fitting sight for his aching heart. The whitewashed walls were peeling in places and the windows were caked with dirt. A lazy tendril of smoke rose from the pipe of the Innkeeper as he stood leaning by the entryway, eyes focused as usual on something only he could see. The wizened man lowered his pipe as he recognised the Witchdoctor approaching the Inn. ¡°Welcome back. It¡¯s four Denars if you don¡¯t mind sleeping on the floor once we close the bar. Seven Dee¡¯s for a shared room, and twelve for a small one. Three extra per meal. All upfront.¡± He said in a slow mellow voice. ¡°It¡¯s good to be back.¡± Exill lied again, ¡°I¡¯ll take the small room for one night.¡± The Innkeeper received twelve Denars and handed him a key with a sympathetic, yet welcoming look. The genial man understood what had happened from the few words spared by his former waitress. Exill entered the main hall to find Envy, sitting at the table with gear still attached to her back. ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s the same room.¡± he cocked his head towards the stairs. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Dumping his equipment in a corner of the room, he collapsed on the double bed, looking up at the peeling ceilings once more. Envy lowered her gear carefully and sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for him to speak first. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say anything?¡± he eventually asked, expecting a spiteful ¡®I told you so¡¯ at the very least. ¡°Do you think you made the right decision?¡± Exill paused, taken aback by her question. He thought back to how Luna had changed - undoubtedly from his bad influence. It was better to think that the two of them wanted different things, instead of being saddled with thoughts on what could have been. ¡°Lately, I feel every decision I¡¯ve made has been a bad one¡­¡± he smiled ruefully at the ceiling before continuing, ¡°Let¡¯s look for a new place tomorrow. It will be a fresh start. I think it will have to be in the outer city to fit our budget.¡± She responded by lowering her head into his outstretched arms and rolled back the sleeve of his tunic. As long as there was hope, she didn¡¯t care where she slept. *** Early next morning, the two ventured to the Southern Market in the outer city district. It was Exill¡¯s second time here and he had to search around for the notice board that normally advertised vacant properties. ¡°What about this one?¡± Envy pointed to a listing that advertised a two-bedroom property for 250 Denars a month. Exill shook his head, pointing to the address. ¡°You see this? That¡¯s the old refugee camp. I heard slumlords moved in once it was dismantled and the quality of the housing would be really poor.¡± The general rule of thumb was that properties were of better quality the closer they were to the Inner Wall. Of course the rent was also more expensive but there was a sweet spot somewhere in between. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t many residentials in the Southern district as it was better known for its industrial sector. ¡°Let¡¯s try the Eastern Market.¡± The two travelled by alleyways as the morning wore on, the main streets slowly becoming congested. Exill shoved his way to the front of the noticeboard, grinning at the empty property list that was several times the size of Southern Market.
Rentals Denars per month
Three bedroom 450
Two bedroom 300
One bedroom 200
Store 600
Store + Two bedroom 800
He picked out three two-bedroom properties to investigate and was about to turn around when something made him stop. The address of the store with two-bedrooms looked strangely familiar. ¡°Follow me, I need to check this.¡± The two moved to a less frequented corner of the market where Exill spotted the familiar green storefront of the small smithy owned by Ham. The anvil sign remained hanging above the doorway. It was still early morning, so he asked the Tailor next door about the property. ¡°Ah Ham, he was a grouchy one. Heard some investments turned sour and he fled to Port Osvig to start anew. Smithy¡¯s been empty for a few weeks now.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, I hope to be a good neighbour!¡± Leaving the surprised Tailor behind, Exill tracked down the owner of the property, who happened to run a wagon repair business nearby. He was about to enter when Envy gripped his arm, confusion in her eyes. ¡°I thought we were looking for a house. Why are we renting a smithy?¡± ¡°It is going to be our house, and we¡¯re going to run our business out of it as well.¡± This was an exciting moment for him, and all his plans had flown out the window the moment he recognised Ham¡¯s Smithy. Sure, the rent was twice that of renting a residence, but the benefits of running his own clinic was invaluable. No longer would he have to standby on call, or share commissions with other clinics. He could create his own brand. Exill entered the front yard where numerous coaches and wagons sat in various states of repair. A bald man with an eyepatch was sweating and cursing as he tore the rotting sideboards off a cart. ¡°Excuse me, would you be Caman the Wainwright?¡± ¡°Aye, what¡¯s it to you boy?¡± Exill examined the gruff Wainwright who appeared to be in his fifties. In a world where even lost limbs could be restored with enough time and money, the worn eyepatch over the man¡¯s eye made a statement of its own. ¡°I would like to rent the Smithy in the Eastern Market.¡± ¡°Hmph. What you going to sell lad?¡± ¡°Ointments and healing salves, I¡¯ll be operating a clinic.¡± Caman stopped tearing at the boards to examine the young man. He looked too poor to be a healer, but he couldn¡¯t be normal, not when he was accompanied by a vampire. Even in Ark, vampires were rare creatures, but Caman had met a few in his caravanning days and knew how to recognise them. ¡°Show me your Card boy.¡± A hint of recognition passed as the gruff man scanned Exill¡¯s Card. Stroking his greying beard, the man continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you¡­ heard how you were supposedly blessed by the Will. I thought you were working in the Inner City... besides, there¡¯s already a clinic in Eastern Market you know.¡± ¡°I know about Milo¡¯s clinic and I¡¯m a more capable healer than him. So, are you going to rent the store to me or not?¡± ¡°Hmph... rent is 800 Denars up front.¡± Chapter 79 - Smithy [Floorplan] ¡°This is fantastic!¡± Exill exclaimed as he wandered around the ground floor, the Smithy was just as he remembered it. Ham must have left in a hurry because the display stands, forge and anvil were still in their rightful places. Exill just needed to source some equipment and he could craft his own gear. ¡®I¡¯m going to leave the forge in the backroom alone. Instead, I¡¯ll partition the shop floor in half to create a small treatment room.¡¯ The area upstairs held a large but sparsely furnished living room. It connected to a well-equipped kitchen and two small bedrooms. He turned to Envy, energised by the potential before him, ¡°Can I leave you to clean the house? I need to drop by the Magistrate¡¯s, Guild and Diallo¡¯s to update our address and I¡¯ll bring our gear from the Inn.¡± ¡°Tch¡­ fine.¡± She scowled while running a finger across the dirty counter. Exill gleefully left the Vampire to do the arduous task of cleaning the place up. Soon, he arrived at the slave market and Diallo¡¯s compound, greeting the hunched assistant. ¡°Good morning, I would like to update our address to Witchdoctor¡¯s Clinic in the Eastern Market. Also, here is the 1300 Denars for this month¡¯s instalment.¡± ¡°Thank you, this is your third instalment, and you have 9100 Denars outstanding. If you could sit over there for a minute¡­ I know the Master wanted to discuss some pressing matter with you.¡± Exill cautiously took a seat, this didn¡¯t sound like good news. Shortly thereafter, Diallo entered the reception area, recognizing the Witchdoctor. ¡°Good, follow me.¡± The two entered the slave trader¡¯s private room where he promptly started pouring out glasses of dwarven spirit. The normally blunt man appeared strangely reluctant, hesitant even, as he opened his mouth several times as if to speak. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should tell you this¡­ I¡¯ve received an offer for your loan contract at twice its residual value.¡± Exill froze as he did some mental math. There was 9100 Denars remaining, and someone was willing to pay twice that for his contract. It couldn¡¯t be good news, and he couldn¡¯t wrap his head around what their purpose was. ¡°Who would buy it on such terms, and more importantly, are you planning to sell?¡± he asked cautiously. ¡°No, I can¡¯t say who it is and don¡¯t intend to sell. What troubles me is that they knew the terms of the loan, and I doubt you¡¯ve been sharing this information. I¡¯ve investigated all my staff and they came out clean.¡± Exill nodded, but one thing didn¡¯t make sense. No sane merchant would pass on an opportunity to double their money at no cost to themselves. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sell?¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Diallo gave him a mournful smile, a complex emotion flashing in the bottomless pits of his eyes, ¡°In my line of work¡­ you learn not to cross people who stand up against nobles, and win for that matter - all for the sake of a slave.¡± Exill paused, trying to imagine how Diallo came across such a life lesson. In the end he gave up, simply nodding his gratitude, ¡°Thank you, I appreciate it. She is not just a slave to me. Feel free to call if there are further developments.¡± He shook hands with the slave trader and left the market, complex theories whirling in his head. There were two key suspects that came to mind, but at that moment, he couldn¡¯t fathom why they would want to purchase a meaningless contract when it wouldn¡¯t do them any good. It was not as if either party could unilaterally change its notarized terms. The agreement with Diallo was deceptive in its simplicity. It simply stated that he had to make ten monthly instalments of 1,300 Denars as well as providing discounted healing services. In the event of a default, Exill had to return the slave to Diallo, and forfeit all payments made. ¡®¡­ I hope it isn¡¯t what I think it is.¡¯ He thought, pushing past the crowds. The slave trader giving him a heads up, and rebuffing the deal was greatly appreciated. However to truly put this matter to rest, he needed to come up with 9,100 Denars as soon as possible. Consumed in thought, the Magistrate¡¯s Courthouse soon came into view. It was a sprawling two storey building, decorated with arches and plinths, as well as a large copper dome at its centre. Inside, he admired the vaulted ceiling and elaborate wall panelling while waiting in line. Observing the hushed whispers of passing government officials, he soon moved to the front of the queue and approached the clerk responsible for permits. ¡°How can I help you?¡± ¡°I would like to change my address and register for a business permit.¡± The Clerk squinted at Exill¡¯s Card then entered a back room where rows of stacked clay tablets could be seen. He shortly emerged holding a mini tablet about the size of two baseball cards. ¡°The address has been updated, and what business will you be opening up sir?¡± ¡°Witchdoctor¡¯s Clinic in the Eastern Market.¡± ¡°That will be fine. The business permit is 100 Denars and is valid for twelve months. The fee for changing your address is ten Denars, for a total of 110.¡± Exill grumbled inwardly as he forked over the coins. In the space of a day his wealth had shrunk from 4500 down to 1200 Denars. It irked him that he was currently poorer than his slave. He trudged to the Guild in a miserable mood. Exill had saved the worst for last because Iris would undoubtedly hold his hand and fuss about his month-long recovery. After waiting in line for a while, the situation unravelled just like how he predicted. ¡°Exill! How could you not drop by during all this time!¡± Iris gripped both his hands tight as she leaned over the counter to check his legs, giving him another generous glimpse of her cleavage. ¡°I¡¯ve only recently recovered, actually I¡¯m here to change my-¡± ¡°You could have still sent a message! I heard you nearly died, then what¡¯s this about you healing people while you were crippled? What happened to your duel?¡± Exill peeled one hand away and peered back to find mercenaries queuing behind him impatiently. He sometimes wished Iris would be more professional in her conduct, this was a place of business after all! ¡°Ah. This might not be a good time. If you want to catch up, drop by Ham¡¯s Smithy in the Eastern Market. I¡¯m setting up my new clinic there.¡± Iris followed his gaze to see the fretful line behind him, forcing her to release his hand. She glared at him with unyielding grey eyes. ¡°Fine. Tomorrow morning.¡± Exill channelled mana into his divination coin as he exited the Guild. It had become a habit whenever he was lost in thought, and a glance told him it had landed on its edge again. He had a bad premonition of inviting Iris to the Clinic. ¡®I wonder if I need to serve her tea.¡¯ It was another worry, added to hundreds on his mind. Opening up a clinic was no small feat, and he was on a time crunch at that. Finding renovators and suppliers was relatively simple. It was sorting the good from the bad that took time ¨C something he didn¡¯t have much of. Frowning heavily, he made his way to Sundry Inn one last time to pick up their belongings. Chapter 80 - Wizard Exill entered the Smithy laden with equipment and goods when he was assaulted by a vile ammonia laced odour. ¡°What in Eld Tree¡¯s name is that!?¡± He climbed upstairs to find Envy unhappily ignoring a closed chamber pot. Putting two and two together, he exhaled, pinching his nose, ¡°Would it be too much trouble for you to empty this in a cess pool?¡± ¡°No¡­ you do it.¡± Her eyes turned crimson in affront. Exill didn¡¯t want to do it either. Just entering the house gave him a taste of what lay underneath that lid. He was tempted to throw the whole thing away but a decent pot like that cost twenty Denars at least. The Vampire had never emptied a chamber pot in her life and found the practice disgusting. ¡°You are the worst slave ever, what happened to assisting me in all my endeavours?¡± he asked sarcastically while covering his nose with a sleeve. Envy glared at him. A lesser mortal would have been cowed by her murderous gaze, but the Witchdoctor was somewhat immune to it by now¡­ to a small extent. Seeing it wasn¡¯t working, she added in a low voice, ¡°If you make me do this, I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡± He had no doubt she meant it. Racking his brain, he came up with a tenable solution. Lowering the encumbering gear to the floor he held up his index finger, just as Vameki the Wizard had, and channelled a small amount mana to its surface. ¡°Fire.¡± Nothing happened. ¡®What am I missing?¡¯ he thought back to the initial days of training at Camp A in the refugee camp. ¡®Maybe I need to think bigger.¡¯ Remembering the fireball one of the fellow recruits had cast, he exited the Smithy and circled round to the back where there was a pile of iron slag piled in a corner. Channelling all the mana at his disposal, he pointed his splayed palm at the pile of slag. ¡°Fire!¡±
[Ping!]
This time, a large incandescent orb of fire burst from his palm and exploded in a shower of sparks against the smelting byproduct, creating a small crater. Exill rushed forward to stamp out the embers and breathed heavily in relief. The unmistakeable resonance deep within his core had made itself felt. Inspecting his card, he was relieved to find a sixth of his mana still remained.
Job Wizard
Level 1
Description Magic- Tier I Active Skill: Ability to adjust strength of single spells
Passive Buff: Mana Channelling Efficiency ¨C the spells you cast consume slightly less mana (scales with level)
Reading the description behind [Wizard] a few things became readily apparent. The initial cast to gain the job required a massive amount of mana, but once you assigned the job, the output of spells could be adjusted. Furthermore, you gained a nice passive that increased the efficiency of spells cast, and he hoped the buff would apply to [Heal] as well. Exill returned upstairs and crouched down beside the chamber pot. Placing both palms against its glazed surface, he channelled mana outwards again, this time whispering, ¡°Ice.¡± A crackling noise could be heard as the contents of the pot froze. He lifted the lid to find scummy ice, frozen thick. Envy stared at Exill with veiled eyes. It was not unnatural to see proficient healers casting combat magic in a pinch, but they rarely fought in battles because of the prodigious mana drain such magic required. She suspected the Witchdoctor would upend that logic again. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Exill climbed down the stairs with a spring in his step, like a kid who had discovered a new toy. He left the Smithy in the direction of the local cesspit. ¡®If I told myself a year ago, the first magic I would cast is to freeze a chamber pot¡­ would I have believed myself?¡± His mood turned sour as he remembered the situation a year ago. It would have been great to celebrate the opening of his store with Verill. The stalwart figure had kept him alive and asked for nothing in return. He was annoyed at the Guild for taking their time investigating the Ranger''s whereabouts, but anecdotal evidence suggested the southern front of the conflict had been an utter fiasco. Whole battalions had been lost as soldiers were killed, captured, or deserted. As time passed, it became more likely Verill suffered one of these three fates. It wasn¡¯t until late evening that the house was restored to a liveable state. Exill hadn¡¯t eaten all day, so he returned holding two portions of sweet rolls from the local baker next door. As he sat at the dining table, ravenously devouring the bread, Envy asked the question that had been burning in her mind. She had overheard he used to be a Blacksmith before being blessed by the Will. ¡°I want new gear; can you make me one?¡± Fortunately for her, Exill had been pondering the same issue and had been mentally compiling a shopping list. ¡°I just need some smithing tools and materials, then I can craft any sword you want ¨C at a discount. I¡¯m not sure about shields and armour though, never made one before.¡± Envy narrowed her eyes at his strange emphasis. She could already sense him rummaging around her coin purse, ¡°How much of a discount?¡± ¡°200 Denars for the labour. Let¡¯s go shopping tomorrow at Central Market.¡± *** The two were about to leave for the Market next morning when they heard a polite knocking at the entrance. Exill opened the door to find Iris the Guild clerk standing in a soft blue dress. Her glossy dark hair braided in a bun and a hint of blush applied to her cheeks. ¡°Were you heading somewhere? Is this an inconvenient time?¡± Iris peered over his shoulder at Envy who was adjusting her ruck sack. Exill paused, then quickly ushered her in. He had forgotten the invitation and was caught on his back foot. ¡°Ah, yes¡­ but no. You came! Envy, why don¡¯t you go ahead, I¡¯ll join you later. Would you like some tea?¡± He unslung his pack and led her upstairs, stoking the fire and a kettle on the range. He eventually sat at the table, avoiding her accusing eyes. ¡°I¡¯m disappointed in you, do you normally invite women to your house and forget the fact?¡± ¡°Wha- no! I just¡­ didn¡¯t expect you to actually turn up.¡± He lied. In fact his mind was still preoccupied with smithing tools he intended to buy. Iris, owing to her kind nature gave him the benefit of doubt. ¡°Of course I would come! Are you going to show me around the place?¡± He led her through the store, explaining his vision of partitioning off the shop floor to create a treatment area, as well as obstacles around sourcing new signage and furniture. They eventually returned to the dining room to find the kettle was boiling. He poured her a cup of tea as she settled down. ¡°So you want to retain the forge. Is it related to the [Blacksmith] job you had before the Will blessed you?¡± She continued as Exill nodded in response, ¡°It¡¯s strange but it makes sense in your case. I think the idea of partitioning the shop front is good, but it needs to be done well to avoid sound leaking through. You wouldn¡¯t want patients in the waiting room overhearing others¡¯ ailments.¡± She flashed him a bright smile, ¡°I can recommend you to craftsmen who can help you with that and everything else, I think you¡¯ve even met some of them at the Guild. We have to help each other out am I right?¡± ¡®Ah. How can someone be so benevolent?¡¯ Exill thought as he stared at her kind grey eyes. Iris then leapt into the topic that had brought her here in the first place. She wanted to know about his injuries and what he had been up to for over a month. Exill entertained her as he repeatedly drew his hands away from her grasp. Yet no matter how many times they were freed, they somehow found their way back into her warm grip. ¡°You defeated Sir Eumol?¡± She exclaimed, tightly gripping his hand. Exill nodded, incredibly pleased with himself. ¡°That is incredible! You might be stronger than most members in our Guild despite only being 18 years old.¡± They discussed the ranking scale of the Guild, as well as the purported feats of some of its most illustrious members. Their conversation paused as Iris heard the market bell ring eleven times. ¡°Thank you Exill, I had a lovely time, but my shift starts soon. Drop by more often! I don¡¯t want to hear news about you from other people, and tell Envy that grunting doesn¡¯t constitute a response!¡± As Exill lead her down the stairs, she lightly dusted his shoulder, apparently unable to keep her hands to herself. This reminded him to stop mid-flight to grab her lingering hand, inspecting it for cuts and scrapes. He channelled healing magic into both hands. ¡°You know you have a bad habit of touching people? Anyway, thank you for being the first patient at the Witchdoctor¡¯s Clinic.¡± He performed a small bow. Iris¡¯s cheeks reddened slightly. Marco, the other Guild clerk was always on the case about her impulsive handholding. Meanwhile, Exill fumbled in his pocket and withdrew two clay tokens for the Arena play, placing them in her still open palm. He was deeply grateful to her for arranging suppliers and renovators, and it had taken a mountainous load off his shoulders. Besides, he was never interested in the play, and they represented a painful history he was eager to leave behind. ¡°Before I forget, here are two tickets to ¡®Lost Memories: the Squire and the Maiden¡¯, I hope you enjoy them or otherwise pass them on to someone who might.¡± Iris paused as she looked down at the unfamiliar tokens. It had been too long since she last saw a play. She gladly accepted the gift and descended the last few stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the craftsmen mercenaries to drop by with a quote and thanks; I¡¯ll use this well!¡± Waving the tickets cheerily, she walked out of the doorway. Chapter 81 - Iris Side Story: Iris She hurried to the Guild, occasionally taking side streets as people bustled on the main thoroughfares. The late morning sun provided a pleasant warmth as she replayed the earlier conversation with Exill, still clutching the play tickets to her chest. ¡®Who should I go to the play with?¡¯ All her old friends lived in Brieshire, and she had been so consumed with work that she hadn¡¯t the time to make any new friends here. On top of that, the nosy mercenaries at the Guild made dating incredibly difficult in spite of her apparent popularity. Iris was thoroughly consumed in thought as she paid for a cheese baked loaf that she usually ate for lunch. ¡°Are you giving these to me dear?¡± ¡°Haah?¡± She looked down to see that instead of paying for her bread, she had slid the two play tickets across to the genial Baker who was also known as a prolific gossip. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m sorry, here are your coins, please return the tickets.¡± The Baker slid the tokens back, her scuttlebutt eyes glimmering in delight. ¡°So who¡¯s the lucky lad you¡¯re watching this with? Is this a saucy romance?¡± Panicking, Iris ran away without a word, clutching her bread. The Baker cackled as she imagined the fallout that would occur, the boys in the Guild would not enjoy this! Iris panicked as she entered the Guild through a side entrance, quickly stripping off the dress to change into her uniform. Her mind racing because she was under no illusion how the men of the Guild would react. Rumours about her ¡®new boyfriend¡¯ would spread to everyone within the hour thanks to that gossiping Baker. ¡®If only her bread wasn¡¯t so delightful!¡¯ she fumed. Racking her brain, she came up with a solution while tearing into her cheesy loaf. ¡®I¡¯ll deny I have the tickets, then gift them to someone else, maybe Trey and Maxine.¡¯ Her heart dropped at the thought of giving the play tokens away, but she resolutely made up her mind. Satisfied with her plan, she fixed the braids in her hair before starting her shift at the counter. She processed many drop off¡¯s, occasionally scraping her hand as she shifted rough monster parts into a trolley. These would eventually be sorted and processed at the Guild warehouse complex in the outer city. Stolen story; please report. After signing up a bright-eyed member to the Guild, she was greeted by the sight of Mattan, colloquially known as ¡®Sundry¡¯s Cockroach¡¯. The hulking man dropped off several pounds of grey lichen from Skeletons, as well as three large Wheyr tails. He slicked back his greasy locks to examine Iris, who was busy weighing the lichen. ¡°What¡¯s this I hear about a boyfriend?¡± ¡°W-what? I don¡¯t have a boyfriend¡­¡± She stammered while double checking the weights on the scale. ¡°I heard he¡¯s the son of a noble, and that he¡¯s taking you out to see some raunchy play this evening.¡± Mattan¡¯s lips curled up in distaste. ¡°That is not true!¡± She exclaimed perhaps a bit too loudly. Mattan merely shrugged his large shoulders while collecting his earnings for the day. ¡°Well, as long as he treats you right it¡¯s okay. You know we care about you right?¡± Iris was touched when she saw many who had been eavesdropping nod their head in agreement. Nonetheless, she was furious that they would interfere with her love life so casually. Whenever someone remotely showed interest in her, some of the old hands would gather round and give them a stern talking to. She remembered one poor fellow who had returned to ask for his flowers back - something he had earlier gifted! Meanwhile, Mattan scratched his sweat soaked tunic before patting her hand, mistaking her pause for acceptance, ¡°We know you¡¯re worried about marriage, and the lads have agreed to no longer tease the guys who approach you. You know, we just wanted to get to know ¡®em is all.¡± Iris exhaled slowly, trying to return her blood pressure to normal and extricate her hands from Mattan¡¯s sticky palm. The heavyset Merc was a bit slow, and dirty, but he had a good heart. Mattan had turned over a new leaf and was drinking less and saving more, it all happened after Exill treated a nasty gash on his forehead one especially drunk night. In a city where most people struggle to survive, and kindness is in short supply - the newcomer¡¯s actions stood out. She had kept an eye out on the promising guild member since Mattan mumbled about some green-eyed kid treating his forehead. She put two-and-two together when Exill returned the next day to register his address as Sundry Inn. Of particular concern was when the promising recruit gave up his stable healing job in exchange for a slave, but rumour had it that he saved the Vampire from the verge of death and was working hard to free her. But then again, there were stories of him groping unmarried women and tearing their clothes apart. Talking of outlandish rumours, anyone who encountered Envy knew there was remote chance the murderous woman would submit to be his sex slave. Instead, there were whispers that he was a masochist who enjoyed submitting to her in elaborate roleplays. All this passed through her mind as Iris went about her day. She occasionally stopped her task to talk to guild members who she knew could assist Exill in renovating the Clinic, asking them to drop by tomorrow morning. Marco, the other clerk in charge of missions handed her a piece of honeyed flapjack during a quiet spell. ¡°So¡­ are you going to see the play tonight? I heard a lot of Mercs have suddenly expressed their interest in the fine arts this evening. You might run into some of them tonight.¡± Iris sighed as she bit into her flapjack, it was too delicious. The situation was growing out of hand, and she was worried what people might think if she handed the tickets to Trey and Maxine after all this furore. The famous mercenary couple were well known within then Guild, and they would be fully aware of the rumours by now. Her usually kind gaze was shrouded in worry as she ended her shift that evening. Chapter 82 - Mithril Shortsword Exill hurried to the Central Market in the Inner City not knowing the predicament Iris was facing back at the Guild. He wandered around the weapon stalls until he spotted a glimpse of his quarry¡¯s red hair, finding her comparing a large steel buckler against a similarly sized heater shield. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± Exill [Appraised] the steel buckler and hard leather cuirass that came out to 800 Denars. He nodded at her sensible choice. ¡°Good choice, I can fix your shield if it breaks. Have you thought about the material and design for your sword?¡± ¡°How much would it cost to make it out of mithril?¡± Exill paused as he took out his clay tablet and wrote the prices of various metals down for Envy to easily understand.
Ingot Price (Denar)
Bronze 80
Iron 100
Steel 150
Mithril 250
Adamant 450
¡°You see these prices here? This is per ingot. It also depends on the purity of the metal, but this is a rough guide price. A dagger will require one ingot, while a shortsword would require two. This means that a Mithril shortsword would cost around 530 in materials, accounting for the handle and leather strips.¡± Envy nodded, her scarlet eyes burning with desire. It looked like her mind was made up. Exill shopped around for basic smithing tools and purchased a mithril bar for himself to upgrade the spearhead. It all came out at 450 Denars, reducing his total funds to 750. He would need to work hard to pay for rent, Diallo¡¯s loan, and the store¡¯s renovation, which he estimated to total 3,000 Denars. Exill sighed several times as he walked home to the Smithy. He dearly hoped things would turn out alright because it would be incredibly awkward if he couldn¡¯t make next month¡¯s rent. He assigned both Blacksmith and Expert Blacksmith as his active jobs and set to work heating the forge as soon as he returned home. ¡°Envy, I¡¯m sorry I forgot, but can you grab a small cask of oil so I can quench the blade? The Tanner¡¯s should sell some cheap.¡± Exill forged late until the night, working a continuous twelve hours with short breaks to complete both Envy¡¯s shortsword and his mithril spear tip. [Appraising] the shortsword, he was surprised to find it had a market value of 950 Denars and held one empty slot for enchantment. It would be profitable for him if he could sell this. The only thing lacking was a blacksmith¡¯s touchmark, an imprint on the blade signifying the smithy of manufacture. He had handled one while working at Ham¡¯s Smithy and was familiar with the intricate runes signifying the dwarf¡¯s heritage. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Without that¡­ I guess this is the most that could be earned.¡± [Price-Range] unlike [Appraisal] provided a clearer picture of the mithril sword¡¯s value, but had the downside of consuming a lot more mana.
Mithril Shortsword Price (Denar)
High 1550
Median 950
Low 665
Unable to prove the sword¡¯s provenance, the best he could hope for was 665 denars in the open market, barely worth the cost of labour. There was a reason wares produced directly by Master Blacksmiths held such a premium. It was the only guaranteed way to gain an item that could hold two enchantments. Exill had been surprised to learn the ability to see empty enchantment slots was not common to everyone with [Appraise], and put it down to being a residual benefit from [Planeswalker]. If he could find a way to counterfeit blacksmith touchmarks ¨C there was definitely easy money to be made there. He reluctantly handed over the sword with both hands to the Vampire, whose scarlet eyes glittered in the light of the forge. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Mn, the balance isn¡¯t perfect, but it will do.¡± Envy disguised her excitement with nonchalance, she knew complimenting made him big-headed and insufferable. ¡°You should have told me where you wanted the centre of balance before I annealed it! Regardless, it¡¯s decent considering it is my first sword so pay up.¡± Exill¡¯s ego took a hit, but he adamantly held a sooty hand out for payment. Pocketing the labour fee of 200 Denars, he affixed the new spear tip at the end of his haft. Unlike the leaf shaped blade of the former tip, this one was barbed at the trailing edges to inflict maximal tearing damage. The flames of the forge were extinguished and Exill crawled into bed and promptly fell asleep. *** Exill groaned as the sound of knocking woke him up the next morning. A low murmur could be heard when the front door opened, and two sets of footsteps climbed the stairs. He swept hair from his forehead and tried to rub the sleep out of his bleary eyes. ¡°Good morning.¡± Iris stammered a nervous greeting as he came out of his room, ¡°I came to check up on a few things from our discussion yesterday.¡± Envy was leaning against the banister with a sweat soaked tunic and the new sword sheathed at her side. She had probably been practicing her form while he slept in. He gestured that he would be alright, and she climbed down the stairs to continue her exercise. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you so early today. I¡¯m sorry for my appearance.¡± He apologized for his dishevelled state. Iris examined the young man in front of her. There were dark circles under his eyes and his perpetually tousled hair was swept back revealing his forehead. One arm of the tunic was rolled up to reveal taut biceps that flexed with every gesture. Her mind blanked as the carefully rehearsed script fled her thoughts. ¡°I¡­ I talked to some of our members about your renovation plans, and they should be dropping by this morning to give you a quote.¡± ¡°That was fast, thank you very much.¡± He nodded appreciatively and waited for her to continue. She nervously glanced back down the stairs and approached him, holding the two tickets to the play aloft. It had caused her a great deal of grief yesterday and she was determined to put the matter to rest. ¡°Erm¡­ I wanted to ask you¡­¡± She hesitantly began, ¡°Do you think Envy would like to go watch the play with me?¡± Exill blinked. Dumbstruck by the imagery of the apathetic Vampire enjoying a cheesy romance. He carefully shrugged, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go ask her?¡± They climbed down the stairs where Iris repeated her question. ¡°Mn. I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow.¡± The two humans were equally astonished, but Iris recovered first. There weren¡¯t many women in the Guild, and she was eager to make a new friend who was close to her age. Besides, she secretly admired the Vampire and thought she was very, very cool. ¡°Ah! then I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. I¡¯ll head off now, sorry for bothering you so early in the day.¡± Exill waved her goodbye and sat down on the bench by the entryway, examining Envy¡¯s fluid sword arts as she continued her practice. Feeling his gaze on her, she eventually sheathed her sword, turning to face him. ¡°How does it feel to go on a date?¡± He mischievously asked, a sly smile creeping up the corner of his mouth. ¡°Tch.¡± Envy clicked her tongue in disgust, then climbed up the stairs to wipe herself down. Chapter 83 - Screamer The Carpenter arrived shortly after the Painter left. He was a lithe man dressed in grey overalls whose bushy brows fidgeted every time the Witchdoctor spoke. ¡°I would like to partition the shop floor into two around here, with a door that opens inward.¡± Exill gestured with his hands, bisecting the shop floor. ¡°Can do, can make it removable so that landlord have no problems with it when you move out. I hear from Iris you don¡¯t want sound leakin¡¯ through?¡± Exill narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling his coin pouch grow lighter, ¡°That would be best, how much extra would it cost?¡± The Carpenter pulled out a measuring rod and started writing down the dimensions on his clay tablet, ¡°Not much more, just pack her with hay and all. I reckon¡­ it should come out around 500 D¡¯s if you don¡¯t mind the wall bein¡¯ woven, and door salvaged.¡± It was a lot cheaper than he expected and Exill readily accepted, paying half the deposit up front. The Carpenter sniffed as he peeked inside the forge, ¡°I heard you were opening a clinic¡­ *sniff* peculiar layout this. Wall should be finished in two days, and I can begin tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Exill closed the door on the Carpenter and breathed a sigh of relief. It was all coming together¡­ slowly but surely. The Painter had asked for 200 D¡¯s to repaint the sign and store front from green to a pale blue, the colour most commonly used by healers. Iris had earlier helped him design a logo for the Clinic; a ¡®glowing hand¡¯ with the ¡®Eld Tree¡¯ emblazoned on the palm. The latter signified the spirit of the Will and represented the fact he had been blessed by the World. Checking the contents of his coin purse one more time, he raised an eyebrow to Envy patiently sitting on the stairs. They had arranged to enter the Labyrinth today to test out their new weapons. ¡°You ready to go?¡± She nodded, reaching for the rucksack and buckler on the counter. Exill picked up his own spear and backpack then they set off for the Labyrinth. It had been over a month since they last entered the shade of the Tower, and an involuntary shiver went down his spine as he remembered the Behemoth. Summoning the Card, he checked his active jobs one last time. For the time being he would be raising the five combat skills as well as the freshly obtained [Wizard] and [Chronomancer] jobs. [Wizard]¡¯s mana efficiency buff would greatly benefit both healing and time magic, while [Chronomancer] was his trump card. He could maintain the magic for one second in real-time before both mana and vitality were exhausted, and every extra millisecond would provide a decisive advantage. ¡°I want to try mixing magic into our combat. Please tell me how that Wizard would tackle each scenario.¡± Envy grunted in response. She had faced nearly every type of monster in the upper Labyrinth with Vameki and Sir Eumol. Remembering their strategy was easy. The two shook hands to form the party and entered the inky black portal. Exill and Envy entered the first chamber with weapons drawn, half expecting the cavern floor to collapse again and reveal a skulking Behemoth. After a few moments, Exill gave her an understanding look and took the lead to scout ahead. His footsteps sank into the mud as the passageway opened up and a pervasive buzzing sound could be heard. Peeking around the corner he saw five mud flies with their signature proboscis buzzing around the swampy area. He returned to Envy. ¡°Five mud flies¡­ how would your Party deal with this?¡± ¡°The Wizard would hold the passageway if it was wide enough or lure them to the previous chamber. He would cast wind so insects would need to fly at top speed to remain in place.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Exill summoned a small flame and flung it near the swamp, shouting at the top of his lungs. The flame exploded on contact with the ground into a shower of sparks and the sound of buzzing gradually increased. The two retreated to the previous cavern the moment the first mud fly rounded the corner. ¡°Wind magic now!¡± Envy shouted; her shield raised at the ready. Exill remembered Vameki¡¯s pose and pointed one arm down the passageway, channelling a steady release of mana through his fingertips. ¡°Wind!¡± A strong gale blew down the corridor, overwhelming the flies. He lowered the amount of mana being released until the flies began inching forward again. Trying to maintain a steady stream, he prepared the mithril spear with the other arm and activated [Steady Hand]. The spear unerringly pierced the head of the first fly that approached, the barbed tip dragging its corpse before it released. Exill would have never believed hunting could be so easy if he hadn¡¯t witnessed the teamwork of Vameki and Sir Eumol first hand. Summoning the Card after battle, he found that maintaining the wind for a minute had cost him a fifth of his mana reserves. Exhilarated by their easy victory, they harvested the corpse of the flies and stacked their bodies near the entryway portal. ¡®I guess dual casting doesn¡¯t work, and I can only cast one spell at a time.¡¯ Just before Envy finished the last mud fly, he had raised his other hand to fire a finger sized shard of ice at the buzzing insect. Despite having practiced this multiple times, the projectile failed to materialize, and instead destabilised the gust of wind he had been channelling. Exill scouted the next cavern and saw two Screamers skulking around. They were humanoid and walked on all four of their elongated limbs, the folds of their pallid white flesh moist and wrinkled. Bat like ears protruded from the side of their featureless face and razor teeth adorned their gaping mouth. ¡®Ah. True nightmare fuel.¡¯ Exill quietly returned to Envy and reported their numbers. ¡°We put our earplugs in as normal. The Wizard summoned a barrier of air that cut out most of the noise.¡± She withdrew a gelatinous sponge and pushed it into both ears, shivering slightly at the cold sensation. The Screamers were commonly avoided by delvers because they weren¡¯t pleasant enemies to face, even with ear protection. They put out bursts of high-pitched sound that disoriented and nauseated victims. They weren¡¯t especially fast or agile, but their bite force was rumoured to be among the highest in this level of the Labyrinth. Last but not least, removing the slimy residue left by the gelatinous earplugs was an unpleasant task. ¡°Let me practice first.¡± Exill channelled mana evenly into his surroundings. ¡°Air barrier.¡± A hazy barrier immediately formed around him. He motioned Envy to speak but her voice sounded muffled beyond the swirling vortex. The barrier grew larger to envelope both of them as he increased the rate of expended mana. Satisfied with its performance, he equipped the earplugs and advanced on the Screamers. ¡°Air barrier.¡± Exill and Envy stood still at the widening exit as the mute Screamers approached with mouths agape. He pierced the first one in the mouth while Envy cut the arms of the other and delivered a downward stroke on the head¡­ and just like that it was over. ¡®I could get used to this¡­¡¯ he admired the ease with which these fearsome monsters were dispatched. Referring to his field guide, Exill made a careful incision down the neck to extract the vocal cord. It was used as an enchanting material to imbue low-level wind magic to items and was quite valuable. The duo went on to hunt two more groups of monsters before returning to the surface. Exill checked his Card before adjusting the stack of mud flies slung over one shoulder. He was pleased to find [Wizard] and [Chronomancer] were progressing nicely. Happy with their haul, they went to turn it in at the Guild.
Job Level
Warrior 37
Hunter 35
Spearman 26
Ranger 24
Monk 20
Wizard 3
Chronomancer 4
Chapter 84 - Squire Play While the Carpenter was applying the finishing touches to the partition wall, Exill and Envy spent most of the next day hunting in the Labyrinth again. They returned late in the afternoon, and he was lying on the bed with one arm draped over his eyes - recovering from the symptoms of mana abuse. Summoning the Card, he checked his levels.
Job Level
Warrior 37
Hunter 35
Spearman 26+1
Ranger 24+1
Monk 20
Wizard 3+2
Chronomancer 4+2
¡®I wonder what kind of skill or buff I will unlock when Warrior reaches level 40?¡¯ His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door as Envy entered the room with a basin full of gently steaming water. She lowered it on the floor and stood there, drying her damp hair with a towel. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll wash up in a second. Are you heading out soon?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°Enjoy the play and tell me how it went.¡± Exill returned to draping his arm over his eyes, wishing the migraine would swiftly pass away. Envy observed him while patting her hair dry, then turned to examine the woodblock print poster of ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ hanging on the wall. ¡°Why did you give the tickets to Iris instead of me?¡± Exill paused, eyebrows climbing under the shade of his forearm. That was a loaded question¡­ he replied as truthfully as he could, ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would enjoy it¡­ would you have gone if I asked?¡± Envy turned to leave the room; replying in a noncommittal tone over her shoulder, ¡°Maybe, the last one I watched with you was alright.¡± Exill¡¯s heart involuntarily skipped a beat, and he sat up to the sound of her leaving the house. *** Tough looking mercs gossiped like old hens as they threw glances at Envy sitting in the back without her usual gear. They were eventually shooed away by Iris as she closed the Guild and locked the latch of the front door. ¡°Follow me to the back.¡± She led the Vampire to the back office where she changed from her uniform to a beige one piece. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Iris excitedly grabbed Envy¡¯s hand and left through the Guild side entrance, emerging onto the main street. ¡°I heard the male lead played the role of the villain in the previous production. Have you heard of Forbidden Love? The one with the Wolfman and the Elf? Well I heard¡­¡± Iris eagerly shared the information she had learned about the production as they walked down the main street. When they reached the Arena, she led Envy to a nearby stall where they sold chargrilled meat and vegetables on skewers. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m so famished! I¡¯ll treat you to some as well.¡± She smiled apologetically while raising three fingers towards the stall vendor. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t need food.¡± Iris blinked as she remembered she was in the presence of a Vampire, ¡°Ah, I forgot. Does that mean you don¡¯t need drinks either?¡± ¡°Sometimes, but not now.¡± Iris nodded, there was plenty of time to learn more about her new friend. She loaded up on skewers and pulled out a wooden cup to fill with beer. The Guild employee had done her research and prepared appropriately to enjoy the full experience. There was still a few hours of daylight left as they entered the Arena and took their assigned seats. ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± Iris whispered as she tightly held Envy¡¯s hand, sipping on the beer with the other. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for attending this performance on this most auspicious day! It would be my pleasure to present to you a love story that transcends time and circumstance. Follow me on this journey to find out if memories are what makes us, and if love can transcend identity. Let us begin!¡± The two women held their breath as the curtains withdrew, revealing a smoke filled scene of carnage as a group of men battled fiercely against each other. The scene slowed down as the protagonist was hit on the head by a shield, dramatically knocking him to the floor. ¡°Wow, so that is how they perform the effects!¡± Iris whispered excitedly while pointing to a black robed wizard channelling wind magic over a charcoal fire off stage. As time went by, the two of them were drawn in by the epic. The poor Squire¡¯s parents struggled to take care of their son who had lost his memories after the head injury. A woman in a simple white dress entered the stage, holding a basket of flowers. ¡°I think she is the love interest!¡± Iris whispered passionately as she gripped Envy¡¯s hand once again. The Maiden in the play was a childhood friend of the Squire, and frequently came by to place fresh flowers at his bedside. The two gradually fell in love as the Squire developed feelings for the Maiden. The stage entered a crescendo as the Maiden cried, trying to escape from the Squire¡¯s arms, ¡°You already have a women betrothed to you Sir Alfred. Please let me go.¡± The Squire gently wiped her tears away as he drew her close, whispering in her ear, ¡°My memories came back a long time ago, but my feelings for you haven¡¯t changed, only grown more precious with every moment with you. I loved you before and I love you now, let us elope my darling.¡± Iris held Envy¡¯s hand to her chest as a sigh escaped her lips. Their love was too precious! She wiped a tear from her glistening eyes, accidentally wetting her companion¡¯s hand. The Squire eventually became a full Knight and cancelled his engagement after successfully winning a daring duel in the national tournament. The play ended with the Knight happily kissing the Maiden as the Bishop announced their holy matrimony. The Arena erupted into a standing ovation as the cast members assembled for the final bow on stage. The two eventually left the Arena, with Iris leaning heavily on the Vampire as she clung to her arm. ¡°When will I meet my Sir Charming? Most of the people in the Guild are gruff old men and they scare away any suitors that show interest in me.¡± Iris squeezed her companion¡¯s arm, seeking comfort. Envy merely nodded at these words. She didn¡¯t need a man to live her life. The deal with Exill didn¡¯t count because it was a contractual relationship, where they were working towards a common goal. She led the sighing woman to a stall and picked up a woodblock print of the play as a souvenir for twenty Denars. It depicted the Squire holding on to the arms of the reluctant Maiden. ¡°I should get one too¡­¡± Iris reluctantly let go of Envy and picked one up for herself, holding it close to her heart, ¡°Thank you for coming tonight, I really loved it. Let¡¯s go again sometime soon!¡± The two walked companionably as the skies darkened around them. Envy escorted Iris to a dilapidated three storey building in the Southern District of the outer city, bidding her good night. She headed home after seeing the Guild employee safely off. Once inside, she slowly climbed up the stairs and lit the lantern in her room against the darkening sky. She tossed the recently acquired poster on the bed and examined it morosely with pursed lips. There had been a time when she had wondered, ¡®When will I meet prince charming¡¯ much like Iris did. However those days were long gone, banished when her chastity had been robbed from her. Leaving the poster in her room, she lightly knocked on Exill¡¯s door prior to entering, to find him dozing with a frown on his face. She reached down to smooth the wrinkles on his forehead caused by the frown. He was always worried about something or another. She rested her head on his firm arm, preparing to feed. ¡°Ah. You came back¡­ did you enjoy your evening?¡± Exill awoke at her touch and shifted back, giving Envy more space on the bed. ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°How about Iris, did she enjoy the play?¡± ¡°She clung to my hand throughout the play.¡± Exill chuckled. He could imagine her doing that. He hesitated, wondering how to phrase his apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t ask if you wanted to view it first. Would you like to go see another with me sometime?¡± ¡°I know you bought that ticket for that Elf. I promised to go with Iris again next time.¡± Exill leaned back as Envy latched on and began feeding on his arm. He felt strangely despondent by her answer, and he didn¡¯t know why. Chapter 85 - Timeus ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Exill set aside his empty breakfast bowl and reached out, palm facing upward. ¡°What do you want?¡± Envy replied with narrowed eyes, continuing to hone her dagger against a leather strop. ¡°Yeah, put that down and give me your hand, just trust me on this.¡± He beckoned impatiently with his fingers. Envy reluctantly placed her slender hand in his, and an intricate silver ring was slid on to her ring finger, then finding it too large, shifted over to the middle finger. He cupped her ring adorned hand with both hands and explained its purpose, ¡°This is a Wizard Ring, I want you to channel mana outwards and cast [Heal].¡± ¡°Heal.¡± Envy channelled mana as instructed but the magic failed to activate. ¡°Damn! Your starting mana must have been even lower than mine.¡± Exill released her hand dejectedly and looked far away in thought, ¡®It would have been great if I could train her to be a backup healer, I don¡¯t want to end up on Luna¡¯s doorstep if I¡¯m hurt badly.¡¯ He shook his head at the thought of such uncomfortable situation, ¡®It is a shame that most magic can¡¯t be cast on yourself.¡¯ ¡°Wait, follow me outside.¡± Exill grabbed her hand again and lead her out back towards the iron slag piled up against the wall. He had a solution, and pointed to the small crater nestled within the iron byproduct. ¡°Channel all your mana out of your palm and point it towards that crater while invoking the command [Fire].¡± He stood just to one side of her. If she could obtain [Wizard] and its associated skill [Channelling Efficiency], there was a chance she could obtain [Healer] later on. Envy was starting to grow tired of his games, and between furrowed brows, channelled mana as he instructed to quickly finish this ordeal. ¡°Fire.¡± Nothing happened. Exill plucked the intricate silver ring from her finger and muttered dejectedly as he returned to the Smithy. This was a major disappointment, and he needed a backup plan in case he was seriously injured, or generally needed help with clinic operations. Turning the corner, he encountered a burly man, balancing a crate of linen bandages and gauze on his broad shoulders. Timeus the Weaver turned his head in recognition of the Witchdoctor, and Exill could have been mistaken, but he swore there was a flash of indignance in the burly man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, I was experimenting out back. Is that the delivery I ordered?¡± Exill opened the door and moved aside as Timeus sidestepped into the Clinic. ¡°Yes, three quarters are bandages of various sizes, and the rest is gauze.¡± The Weaver¡¯s muscles bulged as he lowered the open-topped crate onto the counter. ¡°Thank you, it looks good. Here is the payment.¡± Exill brushed his hand against the crate contents in a quick inspection and passed several large copper coins towards the towering man. ¡°I¡¯ll be off then, send a messenger for your next delivery¡­ and I wish you the best of luck in your new business.¡± Timeus turned away to leave but stopped as the Witchdoctor called out to him. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Is she doing alright?¡± Timeus shook his head, the muscles in his neck bulging momentarily in anger. He turned around to face Exill, barely holding back his rage. ¡°No, she is not alright. She has yet to recover from nursing your ungrateful whoring ass back to health. I heard she put up a notice recruiting an apprentice because of the increased workload, but you wouldn¡¯t care about that would you?¡± Exill looked away first, unable to confront the open disdain from Luna¡¯s childhood friend. He had always considered the Weaver a genial giant of a man, but looking at him now, Exill understood it had all been out of consideration for the elf-maiden. ¡°If you have nothing more to say, I¡¯ll be off Witchdoctor sir.¡± Timeus turned away and heaved away into the crowds of the bustling market, pulling his creaky hand drawn cart to the next delivery. ¡°He hates you; you know.¡± Envy sauntered in with a sardonic grin, as if she had been listening to the conversation all along. ¡°Are you being serious? Actually, you have better things to worry about, because Luna is still technically the beneficiary of the estate upon my death.¡± He enjoyed the narrowed look of her eyes, ¡°Yes that¡¯s right, not so funny now is it?¡± He knew how much they disliked each other. ¡°You better change who you bequest me to. I¡¯ve killed my owner before, and the only thing staying my hands against you is our Contract. There is no such agreement with that elf.¡± Exill grinned smugly despite her intimidating spiel. He had spent enough time with the Vampire to know the edges of her amber eyes turned a flashing red when she meant to murder someone ¨C and he knew she was just blustering. ¡°Sure~ remember to tell me when you find someone I can pass you on to.¡± Knowing there were no alternatives, he beckoned her again, ¡°Now follow me, I need to teach you how to make ointments.¡± Exill¡¯s arms bulged as he lifted the crate of linen bandages and walked into the adjoining treatment room. Envy grimaced, but followed shortly after. ¡°I need you to grind the ingredients together until it turns into a smooth red paste, there should be no large clumps.¡± Exill dumped a handful of ingredients into the large mortar seemingly haphazardly, but Scientist¡¯s [Measure] was active as he accurately measured the weight of each ingredient in his hand. Envy sullenly ground away on the pestle and mortar as Exill arranged the bandages in the newly renovated wall cabinets. His mind was detached, wondering how Luna would fare with an apprentice assisting her. ¡°Wait, let me check on that.¡± Exill hurriedly turned around to find the Vampire portioning the lumpy paste into the pre-arranged pots. The ingredients were obviously not mixed together well, and he felt his blood pressure skyrocket at the sight of her self-satisfied look. It was obvious she had deliberately done a crappy job to weasel her way out of the task. ¡°Look how lumpy this is! How can you not follow simple instructions when you promised to assist me in all my endeavours?¡± Exasperated, he pointed outside in the direction of the Labyrinth, ¡°Is that what you want to do all day? Don¡¯t you want a respectable skill that would carry you to old age?¡± Envy¡¯s satisfied smirk was wiped out by his condescending question. There was a brief pause as hidden emotion flickered in her eyes. ¡°You think people like us can make it to retirement?¡± There was hidden scorn in the question, as if mocking her own words, ¡°Tell that to someone who isn¡¯t forsaken by the world.¡± Exill froze, at a loss for words. ¡®Why do I want to comfort her?¡¯ he looked away, unable to meet her challenge. Simultaneously, he recognised the chasm deep inside echoing the dark sentiment. Concealing the shiver running down his back, he instructed the Vampire in a sharp tone. ¡°Forget it. You can¡¯t cast magic or craft even the basic ointments anyway. I¡¯ll manage the clinic without you, but I want you to contribute towards the rent instead.¡± Exill resignedly shook his head as the glamorous woman fumed away to practice her forms. The only thing she lived for was exercise and stretching in preparation for their delves. There was still so much left to do, and he quickly needed to open the Clinic to start affording the rent of this place. ¡®Can I actually do this?¡¯ For the first time, he began to have doubts about his endeavour. Running a clinic alone was no easy task, as evidenced by Luna searching for an apprentice. To afford the 800 Denar rent on top of his existing 1300 Denar monthly debt burden he needed the business to succeed. ¡®I hope I haven¡¯t misjudged this.¡¯ He thought, while scraping the lumpy paste back into the mortar. Chapter 86 - Fan Club The next two days were busy as Exill ramped up preparations for the Clinic¡¯s launch. Various supplementary medicines had to be crafted and packaged for easy dispensing. At the current moment, the Clinic was technically open. A few hours had passed since its opening and the Witchdoctor was busy in the adjoining forge, heating a cauldron of anti-inflammatory root over coal. Despite the risk of cross contamination, he didn¡¯t want to haul the cauldron up into the kitchen because it was heavy, besides, it was easier to control the heat of the fire down here. The doorbell chimed, indicating a visitor had arrived. ¡°Ah, what brings you here Iris?¡± Exill peeked through the forge doorway and peeled off his heavy leather gloves to greet the Guild clerk. ¡°It was on my way to work; I wanted to congratulate your opening and give you this gift!¡± Her kind eyes sparkled as she held aloft a potted plant that looked like a miniaturized Eld Tree from his Clinic¡¯s logo. ¡°I thought you lived in the Southern District, wasn¡¯t it out of your way, and what is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not much of a detour, and this is a third generation sapling from a cutting taken from the Eld Tree itself. We have one in the Guild too don¡¯t you remember?¡± Exill had never seen the Eld Tree before and assumed the ubiquitous plant found in most businesses was a trend. ¡°Thank you so much. I¡¯ll display this on the counter and take good care of it. Would you like to stay for tea?¡± He took the potted plant and placed it on the counter, healing the scrapes on her hand while she was distracted. She stepped back in surprise at the tingling sensation and her eyes turned rueful. ¡°You are as bad as me at handhol-¡± She was interrupted by the chime of the doorbell, signifying the arrival of a new visitor, who looked around the narrow entryway in obvious distaste. She pushed past Iris and grabbed his sleeve, gazing up with a pout on her lips. Exill inwardly swore as he moved half a step away. ¡®May the spirit of the World have mercy on me¡­¡¯ ¡°Exill! If you had asked daddy nicely, he would have got you a nice place in the Inner City.¡± Lady Anna placed a hand on her ample hips as she felt him shift away. Her perfectly manicured hands and glossy auburn hair spoke of wealth. She was the second daughter of a rich herbalist distributor, and often got her way in things. ¡°Ah¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to come here. Didn¡¯t you say your father forbids you from leaving the Inner City?¡± Lady Anna threw a dirty look at Iris, measuring her wealth in a glance. She tightened her grip on the hapless Witchdoctor and dragged him to the treatment room. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Father doesn¡¯t know. Now come, my checkup is overdue.¡± She closed the door and unlaced the shawl covering her bare shoulders. The woman¡¯s breathing had grown heavy as she cornered Exill, both hands lightly resting on his chest. ¡°I want you to inspect every inch of my body. I haven¡¯t slept well since I heard that bitch Macy tricked you into fondling her bosom! How can you be so easily fooled?¡± Exill managed to turn around and lift the diminutive woman by the hips, causing her to squeak as she was seated on the patient¡¯s bed. It had the intended effect of creating some space between them and bringing her to eye level. ¡°Please Lady Anna, I¡¯m happy to give you a checkup but no more hurting yourself deliberately. Furthermore, please stop wearing tight clothes and begging me to tear it open! I will send you away if you do.¡± Anna inspected Exill¡¯s face, trying to gauge how sincere he was. Her breathing eventually slowed and the flush on her cheek crept away, ¡°Will you say the same to Macy if she comes in for an exam?¡± ¡°Macy is no longer welcome in my Clinic. She will not be permitted entry.¡± Anna pursed her lips and climbed down from the bed. As if only now realising where she was, her eyes absorbed the treatment room and the bare partition wall that had been hastily erected. ¡°That is fine then. I just wanted to be your first customer, who is that girl at the entryway?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ an employee of the Guild, a friend of Envy¡¯s¡± A dark look crossed her face at the mention of the unfamiliar name, ¡°I heard¡­ you purchased a slave vampire. Is she here, does she sleep with you?¡± ¡°It was an act of charity, nothing more. She assists me in the Labyrinth, and we sleep in our separate rooms.¡± She examined his face for signs of falsehood, before a bright smile steadily emerged from her lips. She embraced him tightly, her head resting on his chest, ¡°The rumours said you bought a sex slave, but I didn¡¯t believe it for a second, not my kind, untainted Witchdoctor. What the gossipers don¡¯t know is that you need virgin blood to feed vampires, am I not correct?¡± She took a silver hundred Denar coin from a pouch and placed it in his palm, closing it with both hands, ¡°I don¡¯t mind you having mistresses, but you must ask my permission first. Now, this is the fee for the checkup, and I must run before father figures out I left Inner City. I¡¯ll try and drop by often!¡± She reluctantly let go of his hand and rushed out, nearly knocking over Iris who was suspiciously close to the door. Lady Anna left the Clinic and was escorted quickly away by two nervous guards who were sweating profusely. Exill let out a sigh of relief then turned to Iris who studiously avoided his eyes, ¡°How much did you hear?¡± ¡°Um¡­ the door needs better sound insulation.¡± He turned to examine the threadbare door with furrowed brows. It would need some padding on the inner side to better muffle the transmission of sound. He idly played with the silver Denar at the thought of the dozens of other expenditures required. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we were interrupted earlier. Lady Anna is a¡­ personality that is difficult to ignore. Thank you again for the World Tree sapling, I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± ¡°No problem¡­ will I see you later today at the Guild?¡± Exill shook his head, there was far too much work to go delving today, ¡°I won¡¯t, but maybe Envy will.¡± He waved goodbye to Iris and closed the door behind her. The incident with Lady Anna had been resolved peacefully and he was glad for it. Nevertheless, he felt incredibly fatigued due to that single encounter, and he suspected that other members of his ¡®fan club¡¯ would shortly find their way here too. Chapter 87 - Milo The doorbell chimed, and Milo, one of two established healers in the Eastern District stood red faced in the entryway, a throbbing vein visible on his forehead, ¡°I had to see it to believe it! Exill, how could you do this to me? After everything I did for you!¡± Exill sighed. The Elf was a short man with a prominent widow¡¯s peak, his jet black hair tied in a ponytail and a perpetual scowl. He was a serial complainer, and was prone to sending profanity laced letters to everyone who remotely wronged him, perceived or otherwise. ¡°You are on the other side of the market. This district is large enough for the three of us.¡± Exill had learned to be curt with the Healer or there would be no end to his grumbling. Milo¡¯s hands trembled at his words before slamming them on the counter. ¡°There are proper channels and procedures to setting up a clinic! You did not consult with the Healer¡¯s Guild or give due notice. You are breaking the law and must immediately cease your operations, or you will hear from us!¡± ¡®Ah¡­ f**k.¡¯ Exill knew he had forgotten something. He had thought registering for a business license at the Magistrate¡¯s would suffice. Exill wasn¡¯t a member of the Healer¡¯s Guild so what could they realistically do to him? Apparently, Milo begged to differ and was of the opinion that the Witchdoctor had broken the law. ¡°When is the next Guild meeting?¡± ¡°It is today, every second Thursday you dimwit! I assure you I will elevate this issue to the highest committee!¡± Exill decided to tread cautiously and changed tack. He didn¡¯t want to be on the wrong end of the law, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Milo, I¡¯ll close up shop for the day and see you at the meeting. We¡¯ll proceed from there.¡± ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re breaking the law Exill, mark my words. You young¡¯uns think they can flout the rules, but the arm of the law is frighteningly long my boy!¡± Exill sighed as he closed the door, taking care to turn the sign to indicate the Clinic was closed. Deciding to take a nap until the Healer¡¯s Guild convened, he dragged his heavy feet up the stairs. *** Exill woke up in the evening to find Envy nestling into his bed. He moved his arm before the Vampire could latch on and asked her, a hint of panic in his voice. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Bell rang eight times a while ago.¡± Envy replied sullenly, she had been looking forward to the meal after an arduous day in the Labyrinth. ¡°You can eat later; I need to rush to the Healer¡¯s Guild meeting.¡± He hurried out and passed through the gates of the Inner City, flashing his resident token to the guard. He was heading towards the Central Market. The place was usually closed at this hour, but his destination was a long building of freestone that lined one side of it. The Guild Hall was a two-storey building with interior colonnades leading to arched rooms where the various Guilds of Ark could hold council. There were forty such private rooms in the building, some permanently assigned, and some shared between the smaller guilds. Exill climbed the stairs to the upper storey, searching for light that indicated a room was in use alongside the Healer¡¯s symbol on the door. ¡°You may take a seat, Witchdoctor Exill.¡± A stern woman with greying hair in a tight bun looked over her spectacles as he knocked and entered the room. Exill controlled his heavy breathing as he sat down at the only available seat ¨C next to Luna. ¡°The next item on the agenda is the matter concerning Witchdoctor Exill. Healer Milo, you may have the floor.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Milo stood up, glaring at Exill before clearing his throat, speaking lines that had been clearly rehearsed, ¡°My esteemed colleagues, I bring forward to you a case most troubling as it flouts Guild tradition established over hundreds of years. Witchdoctor Exill opened a clinic not 450 meters (0.3 miles) away from my own. He did not ask permission from the Guild or notify its members of this fact. Furthermore, his shop front is adorned in the light blue livery of the Healer¡¯s Guild as regulated by the Kingdom of Fayth. His shop sign makes a mockery of the World¡¯s Spirit by depicting the Eld Tree on the palm of the glowing healer¡¯s hand, another symbol that is regulated by the Kingdom.¡± There was a hubbub of noise as members discussed the details of the case with their neighbours. Perg could be seen lightly shaking his head in the direction of Exill. The stern woman at the head of the table motioned others to quiet down. ¡°The light blue livery and the glowing hand symbol are reserved for exclusive use by the Healer¡¯s Guild. Considerations will be made for your attempt to change the symbol, but it is not transformative enough. How do you plead?¡± Exill gritted his teeth, it looked like he had no choice in the matter. Who knew trademarks existed in this fantasy world? He quickly went into damage control, ¡°I thank the Council¡¯s judgement on the matter and will immediately repaint the storefront and take down the sign. I ask for leniency.¡± The head of the Guild examined Exill¡¯s contrite posture with stern eyes, glancing at Luna before passing judgement, ¡°Considering your past service, penitent nature, and free admission of guilt; the Guild fines you a hundred Denars. All in favour?¡± The vast majority of hands went up, Luna carefully abstained from the vote. The matronly head counted the votes before affirming the judgement, ¡°The motion passes. The next issue is regarding the operation of a clinic, unsanctioned by the Guild. Do you consider yourself a Healer, master Exill?¡± Luna brushed his knee with her fingertips; an imperceptible shake of her head told him to reply no. Exill hesitated before replying in a clear voice, ¡°No madam. I am not a Healer. I was blessed by the Spirit of the World with the title of ¡®Witchdoctor¡¯, the first, and probably last of its kind. My powers lie in the manipulation of the life force and is not exclusive to healing.¡± Various members of the Guild who had crossed paths with Exill nodded at his word. They had experienced firsthand the miracles he had wrought. The Guild head had a thoughtful look on her face as she perceived the various reactions around the room. Finally, she spoke, ¡°Would you be interested in joining our Guild?¡± ¡°Would the Guild approve of my clinic?¡± Exill countered with a question of his own. Looking around the room it was evident that his clinic would not be approved. Like all Guilds, they were protectionist by nature and were eager to maintain the status quo ¨C especially where a nuisance like Milo was involved. The Guild head also saw this and knew her gambit had failed. ¡°On the matter of the Clinic¡­ the Guild declines to pass judgement as Witchdoctor Exill does not hold the title of ¡®Healer¡¯ and is thus outside the purview of the Guild. Anyone with objections may directly inspect his Card.¡± Healer Milo shot up in outrage, his lips curled in grimace as a vein throbbed visibly on his forehead, ¡°This is preposterous! Witchdoctor or not he-¡± The Guild head cut him off sternly, her eyes cold, ¡°That is out of order Healer Milo. With no further issues on our agenda I call an end to this meeting.¡± The volume rose as people stood up to rush home, discussing the extraordinary case with their neighbours. The general consensus was that they were fine with the judgement. Exill was an anomaly created by the Will, a one-off that didn¡¯t threaten the authority of the Guild. Their status was safe and very few cared about Milo. Exill stood up to leave when he felt a hesitant tug at his sleeve. Luna motioned him to follow as she left the room and slipped into a vacant room further down the hallway. Exill quietly followed after her. ¡°I leave you alone for a week and you get yourself into trouble?¡± she looked tired, but concerned. ¡°Thanks for helping me out back there¡­ how are you doing?¡± Luna tried to hide the pain in her eyes. It physically hurt to see him again, especially after her confession¡­ and hearing his response that he liked her back. The Maiden weathered each day by consoling herself that she would never see him again. There was a curious comfort in unrequited love as long as the object of your desires wasn¡¯t in front of you. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ keeping busy. I¡¯m recruiting an apprentice, but it isn¡¯t easy.¡± Exill nodded as the seconds drew out between them, increasing the tension with words unsaid. Luna broke the silence first, her heart was thumping too hard, making her lightheaded, ¡°I¡­ need to go. Congratulations on your clinic and take care of yourself.¡± She turned to leave but stumbled as her foot caught on the door ledge. Her fall was arrested when strong arms wrapped around, steadying her. ¡®Ah¡­ this is bad.¡¯ Exill thought as he held her light form against the moonlight in the colonnades. Chapter 88 - Luna ¡°Haah!?¡± Luna squeaked as she felt Exill¡¯s firm arms wrapped around her. She struggled weakly until he lifted her to her feet and reluctantly let go. His heart was thumping loudly as he felt her soft warmth and examined her carefully by starlight. Luna still hadn¡¯t recovered her weight, and there were dark circles under her clear sapphire eyes. Her full lips were pursed in embarrassment under his scrutiny, and she smoothed her skirt to regain composure. ¡°Let me walk you home, I don¡¯t want you collapsing in the streets.¡± He held her unwilling arm as they climbed down the stairs and eventually let go as she shrugged him off. The markets were closed but people were passing by, throwing looks at the odd couple. Some colour and a measure of self-respect had returned to her face. ¡°Exill, you know how I feel about this. I know your intentions are good, but it doesn¡¯t matter. We are what we do and say, and I can¡¯t bear to be with someone who risks their life daily in the Labyrinth and owns a slave.¡± She breathed deeply then continued, ¡°Do you remember what you said when I came to find you at Sundry Inn those many months ago? You said people don¡¯t change, that it is their priorities that shift. Well, I want you to know that I was never your priority! You always put something else above and beyond me!¡± She huffed, peering into his face to see if he understood, ¡°Every day, I feel myself turning into this angry, bitter, controlling person because I like you¡­ and it simultaneously hurts to be with you. Do you understand now?¡± There was another silence as Exill stood still, unable to meet her tearful gaze. ¡°If you ever cared for me at all¡­ let me go, please don¡¯t make this hard.¡± With those last parting words, Luna tearfully turned away and left, disappearing amongst the sparse crowd of people. Exill watched her receding figure until he could no longer spot her golden hair. He stood in front of the stairs for a moment before he too, turned to head home. There was complex cocktail of emotions surging through him as he walked along the dimly lit streets of Inner City. The cobblestones clacked underfoot in rhythm to his thoughts. ¡®It is better this way, she deserves someone stable, someone who would prioritise her over distractions like promises to Envy or the Labyrinth.¡¯ In spite of all these excuses, the memory surfaced of the brass Accumulator¡¯s needle imperceptibly slowing as it pointed towards him. Exill tried to ease his aching heart, but it was no use. Eventually, he found himself sobbing in an alleyway as the unrealized loss of Luna finally hit him like a brick wall. He wanted to blame Fate, the Diviner, anyone else but him. However his own experience with Divining had revealed the self destructive nature of his inner heart. ¡®The Divination bones knew I wouldn¡¯t give up on the duel so it predicted my death in the Labyrinth. Similarly, the Diviner predicted I would consistently prioritise everything else over Luna.¡¯ The heavy realisation that his selfishness drove the Elf-maiden away was too difficult to bear, and he lamented the pain he had inflicted on her all this time. After some time, he collected himself and crossed the Eastern Gate, flashing his residence token to the guard. A derisive grin crossed his lips as a sudden thought intruded upon his mind. In the progression novels he was familiar with, the protagonist would pursue strength for the sake of it, and to protect those around them. However his own personal experience was the antithesis of all this. Much like healing, the laws of equivalent exchange ruled this world. To grow stronger meant to give up, or prioritise something else. He soon arrived home and lingered on the streets, staring at the two-storey building that represented his future. There was a distant expression on his face as he examined the infringing guildmarked light blue fa?ade. ¡®But I have become stronger.¡¯ By reflecting on the past and what he had lost, Exill had come to appreciate just how much he had struggled to be here. From a penniless wounded refugee to a healer with his own clinic, capable of defeating a mid-tier Knight, all in just over a year. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡®These are only minor setbacks¡­¡¯ Trying not to cry, the hopeful young man reached up on tiptoes to unhook the freshly painted sign hanging above the doorway. It represented his kindling dreams, but this too would have to be replaced, and he left it on the counter then trudged wearily up the stairs. The dim glow of a lantern framed the open doorway to his room, and he could see Envy hadn¡¯t moved from where he had left her, sleeping peacefully on the edge of his bed. He stood leaning against the doorway, examining his last remaining companion. ¡®I wonder where she will go once she¡¯s free.¡¯ Envy was not bound to him by choice, and although he never asked about her plans after the two years were up; there was little doubt she would move on and pursue her own goals in life. Their start may have been rocky, but she was a firm, if slightly antagonistic presence in his life. Someone he could trust to watch his back. He carefully slid in behind Envy, propping up her head briefly to provide an arm pillow, then extinguished the lantern. *** Exill awoke the next morning to the sound of the Market Tower ringing seven times. He tried to get up, only to find Envy¡¯s heavy thigh weighing him down and the ache of several bitemarks around his shoulder. She would usually be up around this time, stretching and warming up in preparation for the Labyrinth. ¡°Hey, wake up.¡± Groaning in annoyance, she burrowed her face deeper into his side, and he didn¡¯t have the heart to wake her up, for she was too precious in this rare, vulnerable form. Enjoying the feeling of being embraced, he too drifted off to sleep again, only to be woken a few hours later by a soft knocking at the entrance. ¡°Coming!¡± Exill shook the still slumbering Vampire off and stiffly climbed down the stairs to open the door. He was greeted by Iris who was worriedly looking up at his empty sign. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Good morning, and please come in¡­ I¡¯ll bring you up to speed on what happened over tea.¡± He led her up the stairs and stoked the fire in the range, preparing to heat the kettle. Iris settled down at the dining table and looked up in surprise to find Envy coming out of his room, her scarlet hair a tangled mess. ¡°Erm, did I interrupt something?¡± Iris asked, her eyes widened in surprise and a slight flush creeping up her ears. Exill popped his head out of the kitchen and paused, realizing the source of misunderstanding. He stumbled out a plausible answer: ¡°Oh! Envy slept in my room¡­ because we swapped rooms¡­ and she couldn¡¯t sleep¡­ because rats.¡± Iris stared at Exill with a deadpan expression. She didn¡¯t believe his excuses for a second, she was kind, not stupid ¨C people often muddled the two together. ¡°Yes¡­ rats are bad.¡± Relief washed over Exill¡¯s face as he returned to the kitchen, tapping the range as he waited for the water to boil. ¡°Why did you take your sign down?¡± Iris asked when he finally returned and poured her a cup of tea. He explained what had happened the night prior and how he needed to repaint the sign and shop front as well as pay a hundred Denar fine. Iris covered her mouth, shocked by his story. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry that happened, I just assumed you were a Guild member and knew the rules! I¡¯ll call the painter and we can try again.¡± Her hands impulsively fastened onto his, her eyes far away and caught in self-blame. Feeling mischievous, he channelled mana outwards to heal her hands, causing her to chirp in surprise. She contritely released his hand and wrapped them around the warm mug. ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault, and I would gladly accept your help in designing a new logo and colour scheme for the Clinic.¡± They butted heads over the clay tablet, going through several iterations until Iris finally approved his design. Instead of the guildmarked glowing open palm, it was transformed into two hands cupped around a sapling of the World Tree. Iris also confirmed it would be alright if the storefront was painted over with a shade of green to create a darker cyan colour. It had the added benefit of cutting the cost of multiple coats of paint. ¡®This might actually work¡­¡¯ Back on Earth, the colour ¡®blue¡¯ and ¡®green¡¯ was often colexified under a single umbrella term in many languages. This had become apparent when a refugee at the Camp had commented what a ¡®clear green sky¡¯ it was. Initially confused, and wondering if an inordinate amount of people were colourblind, it had quickly become apparent that was not the case, and that the terms were used interchangeably. All this to say that there would be minimal confusion between clients searching for a ¡®blue¡¯ clinic. He just needed to double check with the painter that the shade of blue-green wasn¡¯t guildmarked. Hearing the Market Tower ring eleven, the Guild employee stood to leave for work. Gathering her belongings, reached out one last time to grab Envy¡¯s hand. She had originally planned to see her this morning but ended up spending all that time with Exill instead. Before she left, Iris admired the silky scarlet hair that Envy had been combing and complemented her skin, ¡°You look so well-rested; did you sleep well last night?¡± ¡°Mn, but Exill kept touching me.¡± The Witchdoctor coughed up tea while Iris¡¯s jaw dropped in silent exclamation. This was simply too scandalous! ¡°She kept biting me, so I pushed her away! Dear heavens, I know you spare your words but seriously-¡± Iris excused herself amidst the tumult and left the store as Exill continued to berate the Vampire, who had a self-satisfied smirk on her face. This only caused him to be more furious and he swore up and down never to let her sleep in his bed again. Chapter 89 - Stillbirth Author''s Note: Warning: As the chapter title implies, this side story may not be appropriate for those who have suffered a recent loss. The lore on the slums and graveyards will be further elaborated in later chapters and the content below may be safely skipped over. Thank you for voting in the previous chapter. Looking at the results, I feel a little guilty, knowing I''ve reeled in so many of you into reading a trashy romance. While the world and lore were originally devised as a garnish to the main dish - it has taken a life of its own, and 25% of you will be glad to know that this is the quiet lull before the storm, and soon romance will take a backseat as adventure and danger awaits in the subsequent chapters as Patreons are well aware.
Early the next morning, the Painter arrived to repaint the store front and sign. Pino was a jovial mercenary in his mid-thirties and had mostly retired after marrying a successful seamstress. At the incessant nagging from his wife, he had hung up the mantle on delving and took up the odd commission jobs such as these. ¡°Mornin¡¯ Witchdoctor sir, heard about those Healer shenanigans from miss Iris.¡± Exill grunted in response. He had paid the 100 Denar fine yesterday and wasn¡¯t looking forward to paying the Painter again. On top of that, Milo the Healer had dropped by yesterday, threatening he would continue to escalate the issue within the Guild. Seeing the sour mood of his client, Pino the Painter lowered his tools on the counter and patted the young man¡¯s back, ¡°No need to be a grumpet! It should only take an hour at most to paint the front and thirty minutes for the sign. Tell you what, I¡¯ll only charge a hundred D¡¯s for my services today to help take the edge off, you being a repeat customer and all!¡± ¡°Deal, and I want you to confirm the final colour won¡¯t be guildmarked.¡± Exill took out a silver coin from his pouch and handed it to the winking Painter. Pino gave him a happy salute then began to whistle a merry tune while mixing the paint with its liquid binder. ¡°Ah~ you don¡¯t know how good mercenaries have it nowadays. Back in my day, it cost five Denars for entry and you really had to milk that run!¡± Pino grunted as he unfurled a canvas sheet in front of the clinic then continued with his monologue, ¡°I¡¯ve told my wife countless times that entry is free now, meaning I don¡¯t need to take many risks, but she don¡¯t understand, no siree¡­ Women, am I right?¡± The bright smile on the Painter¡¯s face became slightly subdued upon spotting the visible pain on the young man¡¯s face. He could somewhat guess what had happened to the Witchdoctor from his expression. There was a saying amongst the old hands, ¡®the second most common injury a Merc faces is a broken heart.¡¯ You either lived long enough to get married and settle down, or were lured back by the whispers of easy money in the abyss. There simply wasn¡¯t many ways uneducated folks could earn a living in Ark. Fortunately, they were both interrupted by a man dressed in rags who did a double take upon seeing the light blue fa?ade of the clinic. He was sweating and out of breath, and communicated through panted bursts. ¡°Healer sir, please come help my wife. Her labour, it¡¯s gone too long!¡± Exill nodded at the Painter to excuse himself and invited the distraught husband to the treatment room. It hadn¡¯t failed to escape his notice that the man had come from the direction of Milo¡¯s clinic, indicating he had consulted with the irritable healer before heading here. ¡°Has your wife given birth before? How long has she been in labour?¡± Exill had been on several such calls with Luna before, and knew the questions to ask. The time frames of prolonged labour could mean different things depending on whether the mother had delivered a baby before. ¡°No¡­ ¡®tis her first time Healer sir, and she been going at it for over a day.¡± Exill now understood why Milo had sent the desperate husband away. However he was facing a bit of a dilemma. It would be his first time doing a solo C-section, and although he was familiar with the principles by now, an extra pair of hands would really help. Glancing at the dirt smeared palms of the increasingly distressed father, he hurried upstairs to find Envy stretching her legs against the stair railings. ¡°I need an extra pair of hands and we need to go now.¡± Exill turned to leave, but did a full circle after it registered the Vampire¡¯s tunic was soaked in sweat, ¡°You don¡¯t have time to change so throw on my cloak and come downstairs.¡± As soon as Exill packed his callout bag, a cloaked and irritated Envy descended the stairs. The two hurriedly locked up the Clinic, with the Witchdoctor assuring Pino the Painter that he would be back soon. Following the distraught husband east towards the very outskirts of Ark, they came upon a ramshackle warren of huts, haphazardly stacked on top of each other to create a dense impenetrable maze. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Exill had to look away several times as he encountered half rotting corpses of beggars littering the stagnant blind alleys of the slums. Twice, he had to smack away the grasping hands seeking food. After what seemed an eternity, the husband finally led them into a one room house filled with acrid smoke from the unvented stove. ¡°Keep the damn door open!¡± Exill directed the husband as he coughed into his sleeve. He crouched down to examine the moaning wife who was pale with pain and exhaustion. Then he handed several towels to Envy and snapped off a series of instructions: ¡°I need you to warm up some water as fast as you can then join me beside the mother. I know you haven¡¯t done this before, but you just need to grab the baby and make sure it breathes, massage and clear the airways if it doesn¡¯t.¡± With that out of the way, he removed the [Wizard Ring] and scrubbed his hand and patient as best he could, then positioned the glowing red scalpel mere inches above the moaning woman¡¯s belly. ¡°Shh- it won¡¯t hurt a bit.¡± Ensuring Envy was on standby, he plunged the blade into flesh and in just a few seconds, dragged the limp newborn out by the ankle. ¡°What are you doing to my wife!?¡± The furious husband dragged Exill back by the shoulder, causing him to drop the searing scalpel in surprise. In a moment of clarity, the Witchdoctor realised he had been so focused on bringing Envy up to speed that he had failed to set expectations on the procedure with the patients. ¡®Damn, the first time I do this without Luna and I immediately mess up.¡¯ Thankfully, the newborn was already in Envy¡¯s crooked embrace, and the Vampire knelt there wide-eyed, watching him struggle with the father. Exill firmly elbowed the desperate husband in the stomach and dragged the breathless man next to his wife, holding him down while he struggled weakly. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to kill her you fool! Just hold your wife¡¯s hand while I sew her back up!¡± ¡®Can this get any worse?¡¯ Exill wiped down his hand as best he could, and for the first time in months, was glad that the first perk of [Witchdoctor] lowered infection rates. He had looked down on it when it first unlocked, thinking it useless in the face of proper sterilisation procedure, but right now, he hoped all 26 levels of it would be enough. On autopilot, he clamped the umbilical and massaged the placenta free, remembering to channel healing magic on the site of release so that the mother wouldn¡¯t bleed to death. When he had nearly sewn her back up, he realised too late that something crucial was missing. The baby wasn¡¯t screaming. ¡°I can¡¯t feel a pulse.¡± Envy finally admitted, who had been massaging the newborn all this time. Exill quickly finished up and joined her, and examined the baby together. For the third time that day, he swore inwardly. ¡®If only I had that Berserk pin!¡¯ he lamented quietly. The ¡®Berserk pin¡¯ was a 1200 Denar enchanted awl he had developed together with Luna. It had been an expensive experiment that had paid off spectacularly in reviving patients that were at death¡¯s door. Functioning a lot like an adrenaline shot, it had quickly become a valued component of their toolkit. Pursing his lips, he watched Envy perform mouth-to-mouth for several more minutes until he gently pried the newborn from her grip, then covered it with a towel. ¡°She¡¯s gone, departed before her first bridge.¡± He handed the pitiful parcel to the mother, and recited the symbolic words, ¡°May the Spirit safely guide her to the next dream.¡± It was a simple heartfelt prayer offered in good faith, and the grieving parents looked away as they embraced each other in pain. He cleaned up as best he could and packed his belongings, then stood outside the doorway with Envy to give the destitute couple some privacy. Envy looked worn and she tightened the cloak around her shoulders. ¡°Healer sir¡­¡± the husband eventually stepped out with the wrapped bundle and hesitantly stood in front of them. He pushed the deceased newborn into the Vampire¡¯s arm and turned to apologise to Exill, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have not the coin to pay you for saving my wife. I¡¯m sorry I assaulted you earlier and I promise to pay you back. Please take my girl and send her off. There is nothing I can do for her here.¡± ¡®Why do I do this to myself?¡¯ Exill breathed deeply. He had half expected this would happen the moment he stepped into the slums. It was a good indicator that the patients Milo turned away wouldn¡¯t be able to pay up. However he didn¡¯t show his distaste at being fooled out of his services. It had cost nothing but his time. After all¡­ it couldn¡¯t compare to the loss these two suffered today. ¡°Bring your wife to my clinic in three days¡¯ time, we will sort out an instalment plan.¡± Exill replied gruffly. It was unlikely they would be able to pay the full amount owed, but he had a reputation to uphold, and it also afforded an opportunity to check up on the wife¡¯s condition. With that, they left the slums back towards the Clinic. ¡°Let¡¯s drop by the graveyard.¡± The reason the grieving parents had been so desperate to push the pitiful bundle into Envy¡¯s arms was that they lacked the ten Denars it cost to leave a body at the graveyard for disposal. Dealing with the corpses of countless destitute beggars and orphans had become a societal issue, especially if you were a shop or homeowner in the Outer City. He had seen the Tailor next door shoo away a poor girl from his storefront at night, afraid she would die there come morning. If you were unlucky to have someone die at your doorstep, it was your responsibility to deal with it. Some resorted to relocating the bodies under the cover of night, making it someone else¡¯s problem. However that in itself was a punishable offense, and it was forbidden by law to transport corpses unless it was directly to the graveyard. Soon, they reached a small yard, the perimeter fenced off with wrought iron. The stench of decomposing corpses pervaded the sombre atmosphere. A hooded grave keeper limped along the grounds, piling bodies onto a nearby hand drawn cart. He turned around upon spotting the duo and leaned tiredly against the cartwheels, wheezing softly with one hand outstretched. Paying the hooded man a large copper coin, he waited as Envy gently lowered the swaddled bundle amidst a pile of entangled corpses. Some colour remained in the newborn¡¯s cheeks, and it contrasted sharply against pale pallor of the dead. These were the bodies of paupers, slaves and orphans that were gathered at various points in the Outer City - scheduled to be carted off where they would be incinerated outside the city limits. ¡®This is the best I can do.¡¯ He thought with a heavy heart. Burials were for the rich and nobles. Even then, the mausoleums were located far away from populated areas because of the weird phenomena they attracted. Besides¡­ who would remember this nameless child when countless others died each day? He tugged Envy¡¯s reluctant sleeve and slowly turned away. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Chapter 90 - Apprentice Two months passed by in a blur. There was a cadence to his life where a tenuous balance formed between earning money at the Clinic, and training in the Labyrinth. As business grew, it became harder to find the energy to delve in the Labyrinth, let alone craft new items in the forge as he had envisioned. He was earning 3500 Denars a month with rent and Diallo¡¯s loan totalling 2100 D¡¯s. It was a bit more than what he was earning as a partner at Savta¡¯s clinic, but he didn¡¯t need to pay rent back then. Here in the Outer City with poorer patients, it was a respectable sum to earn each month. Exill leaned back on the stool after packaging the last of his anti-inflammatory paste. ¡®I need an apprentice.¡¯ He often wondered how Luna was doing, and one of their last conversations had been about her fruitless search for an apprentice. If she found it so difficult, how hard would it be for him? A ¡®wanted¡¯ ad had been posted in the Market noticeboard several weeks ago but had yet to interview anyone. Meanwhile, Envy had been an unmitigated disaster in the Clinic. She would scare patients off and mix up medication, or simply overcharge customers. It was obvious she didn¡¯t want to be here. Last he heard, she was out there in the Labyrinth, teaming up with Grundle, his former bald-headed companion, and a fresh newbie wolfman who fawned over her day and night. ¡®I must be jealous they are out there having fun, while I am stuck here all alone¡­¡¯ A rare twinge of longing plucked at his heart. Aside from freeing up time to delve the Labyrinth, there were other benefits to acquiring an apprentice. There was a whole forge in the backroom, gathering dust simply because he didn¡¯t have the energy at the end of the day. To do any decent work, you needed at least four hours of uninterrupted time¡­ hours he couldn¡¯t spare. There were a lot of tools to manufacture and experiments to try. The front doorbell chimed at that moment, indicating a new patient had arrived. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± a tenebrous voice called out from the lobby. He walked out of the treatment room to find a lanky adolescent nervously fumbling with a pouch slung over one shoulder. The lad seemed relieved when his eyes met Exill. ¡°Hi, excuse me, I-I¡¯m here to interview for the apprentice position, could you lead me to your Master?¡± Exill opened his mouth to correct the boy but stopped. He instead motioned him into the treatment room, pulling up a stool for him to sit on. After pausing for a moment, the Witchdoctor revised his earlier decision. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t introduce myself earlier. I am Witchdoctor Exill, and this is my Clinic.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes widened at the unintentional faux pas, and looked at him anew, scrutinizing him. ¡°I¡¯m Welthan, 19 years old and Herbalist by trade. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t recognise you sir. Here is my Card.¡± Welthan was a human with Herbalist and Forager as his professions. Exill surmised the boy lived in the outskirts and made a living foraging ingredients from the nearby forest. He displayed his own Card for the boy to inspect. ¡°By golly, we¡¯re the same age! I¡¯m sorry Master Exill¡­ b-but¡­ I don¡¯t see how this is going to work out. I can¡¯t tell my ma and pa that I¡¯m apprenticed to someone my age, beggin¡¯ your pardon sir. When would I possibly inherit and take over your business?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Exill felt his heart drop at this news. So this was why Luna was having so much trouble finding apprentices. Unless they were men trying to climb into her pants, there was no reason for them to be subservient to her. After some thought, he took out a large copper coin and handed it to Welthan. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m sorry for wasting your time and may the Spirit of the World guide you safely in your travels.¡± He didn¡¯t know how customary it was in this world to pay interviewees a token amount for their time, but Welthan appeared more than grateful. The lanky boy bowed several times while he left the Clinic. ¡®I¡¯ll have to take that ¡®Wanted¡¯ notice down, or rumours might spread I¡¯m handing out coin for nothing.¡¯ Exill sighed as he collected his medicine bag and closed the store. He would take this opportunity to remove the Market Ad and drop by Diallo¡¯s to check up on a slave who had difficulty eating. Flipping the ¡®Open¡¯ sign on the Clinic door, he walked into the crowded bustling square as the mid-afternoon sun shone gently down. *** Diallo made some notes on a clay tablet as he handed the pouch for his assistant to count. ¡°That marks your fifth instalment. You¡¯re halfway there. Ivar, lead the Witchdoctor to that Herbalist in row C.¡± Exill¡¯s heart sunk at the mention of row C, and he followed the hunched assistant into the fetid warehouse. Waves of stench and groans assaulted his senses while he passed by countless cages. The reason for his reluctance was a particular young woman, covered in burn scars who would claw at him whenever he passed that row of cages. She would beg for him to take her as a slave, or otherwise sit there in a catatonic state while he tiptoed past. Thankfully it was the latter today, and she sat in the fouled cage with a faraway look in her eyes. ¡°Here is the Herbalist, he hasn¡¯t been eating for two days.¡± Exill motioned to the assistant and two guards, familiar with their procedure and how violent the slaves could turn at the drop of a pin. ¡°I¡¯ll need him out of the cage and restrained. Do you have something to keep his mouth open while I inspect?¡± The Assistant looked pleased as he had anticipated the request. He held up a face plate with a racking mechanism connected by leather straps. Exill stood motionless while the guards dragged the slave to a nearby anchor point where they chained his limbs. The Assistant inserted the leather straps into the patient¡¯s mouth and slowly twisted it open as the enslaved Herbalist screamed hoarsely in pain. Exill carefully shut the noise out. If this precaution wasn¡¯t taken, he would likely lose his fingers in the man¡¯s mouth. Once ready, a tiny amount of mana was channelled to his fingertip and summoned ¡®light¡¯, softly illuminating the slave¡¯s mouth. A putrid stench wafted up as he witnessed the state of the man¡¯s mouth. The gums were red and swollen and two jagged black stumps of his molars were visible. ¡®I hate this freaking job.¡¯ He hated dentistry with a passion. Even back on Earth he was afraid of dentists and the sound of whirring drills. It was a veritable nightmare in this primitive world. Exill had once asked Old Savta, ¡°Why can¡¯t you just regrow the teeth instead of extracting them?¡± She had explained, ¡°The rot must be removed. If you simply grow new teeth around it without extraction, the rot will remain and corrupt anew.¡± He had thought it an apt metaphor for society at the time but didn¡¯t find it so amusing now. Not when his target for extraction were black stumps that would be easily crushed under his pliers, making it impossible to pull out. ¡°Please calm down. You will feel a slight cut on your chin then the lower part of your face should grow numb. I need you to be quiet and make a noise only if you start to feel pain again.¡± Exill channelled the smallest amount of mana into the scalpel and made a light nick on the man¡¯s chin, causing the tongue to loll out. He was always careful when paralyzing the face because the literature wasn¡¯t clear what effects paralysis would have on the brain. He adjusted the head sideways to keep the airways clear. The Witchdoctor spent over forty minutes extracting the teeth and cleaning up after the surgery. Sweating heavily, he handed the awed assistant a satchel of pain and anti-inflammatory medication. ¡°Mix this with water and feed him twice a day, though you should only give him water today.¡± He turned to leave with a soft sigh. It would likely take the rest of the day for the stench to leave his clothes. Carefully carrying his bloodied tools, he strode towards the exit where there was a clean water trough. That was when a claw struck out, knocking his tools to the ground. The enchanted scalpel ricocheted off his boot and lay to rest against his assailant¡¯s cell. Chapter 91 - Tsarra ¡°Oh please, not today¡­¡± Exill staggered to his knees and snatched up the scalpel. It was potentially lethal in the wrong hands. He felt the young woman¡¯s claw tug at his tunic while rasping her usual demands with a peculiar lisp. ¡°P-please Healer! Take me with you!¡± Spit drooled down the gaping hole in her oozing cheek. Her eyes were unusually lucid in their earnest brightness, chiselling away at his resolve. He wordlessly unclasped her claw like appendage from his sleeve, then hurried to the water trough. He rinsed his hand and tools in a washbasin, ignoring the girl¡¯s wails resonating through the warehouse. Despite his best efforts, there was something about the despairing screams that set his teeth on edge. ¡®I¡¯ve already saved one damsel in distress and look where that got me!¡¯ Through a process of introspection, he had recognised his own self-destructive nature and had taken concrete steps to break its cycle. The most important part of that plan was to not get any more slaves. He rushed out of the slave compound into the bustling streets of Ark, eager to put as much distance between him and that damnable place. However under that bright, cloudless morning sky, an incongruent thought slipped through his head. ¡®Envy turned out alright in the end¡­ didn¡¯t she?¡¯ He shook his head hurriedly; how could he possibly forget all the teasing and uncertainty she put him through. Seriously, at one point he had been afraid for his life! Not to mention she was the reason behind Sir Eumol¡¯s challenge. ¡®It¡¯s a bit unfair to blame her for catching the eye of a noble.¡¯ Exill reluctantly retracted that last bit of blame, after all, she had been willing to rewrite her contract so that he wouldn¡¯t die. The Witchdoctor stood rooted on the sidewalk, frozen in indecision as pedestrians bumped past him. The problem was that he had a bleeding heart, unable to ignore people earnestly asking for his help. In the end, he reached into his pouch and withdrew the divination coin, channelling mana into it. He flipped it, and caught the whirring disc mid-air. The mana dissipated warmly in his closed fist, the glowing runes fading away ¨C sight unseen. It was said that when a person flipped a coin to decide on something, they would experience a remarkable moment of clarity revealing their innermost desires. That brief moment his hands clasped around the falling coin; he had fervently wished ¡®please let it be heads.¡¯ Cursing at himself, he marched back to slave market and barged into Diallo¡¯s office. ¡°Tell me about the young woman covered in burn scars in the middle of Row C.¡± he demanded of the slave trader. Diallo was unfazed and reached out with one hand to flip through a rack of clay tablets to his left. ¡°You mean the dwarf woman? She is 22 years old. It says farmer/forager by trade and that should equate to 1000 Denars.¡± Exill sighed inwardly in relief. At least she wasn¡¯t a murderer, but he had to be sure this time. ¡°Does she have a criminal record? Why was she sold into slavery?¡± Diallo swept his hand back across his bald head, confused by the Witchdoctor¡¯s interrogation over a run-of-the-mill slave. However, considering the trauma he must have undergone with that murderous vampire ¨C it was somewhat understandable. ¡°I sell slaves, not information. Go ask her yourself if you¡¯re that curious, but I will tell you this: she is unremarkable in every way aside from her injuries.¡± ¡°Then 500 Denars, her injury is extensive, and I¡¯ve seen her here for the past four months.¡± Diallo grimaced. It was worse than that. She had been here for the past four years, and his losses only grew while feeding her every day. ¡°1000 Denars... and I will throw in a blood potion recipe. It is shelf stable for a month and will help feed your vampire in a pinch.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡®A blood potion recipe?¡¯ Exill was intrigued and had never seen it referenced in the tomes back at Savta¡¯s clinic. Should he suffer a major accident like before, it could help tide Envy over while he recovered. However he clung firm to the price, ¡°500 Denars, I¡¯ve had no problems feeding Envy these past five months.¡± Diallo stared at Exill over his steepled fingers. He knew the lad was soft but there was a strange, hardened look in his eyes, making the slave trader reluctant to push the price. ¡°Fine, 700 Denars and the recipe. That is the lowest I will go and I¡¯m taking a loss here.¡± Exill paused, slowly unclenching his fists, he nodded at Diallo. ¡°Let¡¯s sign the contract now.¡± *** Her name was Tsarra. He led the stumbling slave through the meandering back alleyways, occasionally looking back over his shoulders to check she was keeping up. They eventually reached the towering inner walls of Ark and waited in line to pass through the East Gate, all the while examining the dwarf inconspicuously. She was around 150cm (5ft) tall and barely came up to his shoulders. His cloak was draped around her frail figure, and she trembled on bare feet, unused to walking such distances. Her long brown hair was tangled and matted, covering the oozing burns on one side of her face. Exill felt the stares of people disgusted by her stench, and he hurried through the gate. The guards barely glanced at Tsarra¡¯s temporary pass, then they went home via the quiet side streets. ¡®I need to do something about her clothes.¡¯ He thought, trying to ignore the sickly sweet scent of pus mixed with her foul rags. Exill led her to the smithy, reluctant to bring her to the sterile treatment room. He let her rest on the tool bench while heating water over the hot coals. Tsarra locked up in fear at the sight of the sparks, remembering the fire that had consumed her parents and siblings. ¡°When the water is at the right temperature you can wash yourself with this cloth. Just throw your rags into the fire, and here is fresh change of clothes.¡± Exill waited for her to respond but her gaze was locked onto the flames, the whites of her eyes clearly visible. ¡®Damn, how could I be so insensitive. Of course she is afraid of fire.¡¯ He led her to the treatment room instead, peeling off her borrowed cloak to find it was smeared with blood and pus. Tsarra looked at his mottled raiment in discomfort, uncertain of the punishment her new master would wreak. Exill sighed softly as he flung the cloak to the side. It was a shame but it would have to go. Trying not to let his disappointment show, he examined the burns covering her upper torso and face. He would need to clean and stabilize this, or her new clothes would be ruined the moment they were worn. They spent the next hour washing the filth away. Exill consumed 20% of his own vitality to heal and stabilize the worst of her weeping sores, covering the remainder in poultice and gauze. He was surprised to find that underneath all that layer of grime stood a pretty girl, albeit severely underweight. Long auburn hair covered one side of her face and timid jade like eyes stared back at him, a scar bisecting her pale lips on one side. The large hole in her cheek needed to be examined next, from which drool continued to flow out as she swallowed self-consciously. He tried to make her feel more comfortable. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide your burns here, let¡¯s tie your hair back for now or it will get wet.¡± With this, he wrapped a towel around her neck in an impromptu neckerchief. ¡°We¡¯ll eventually heal all your burns, but I need you to build up strength. That means you need to eat and sleep well. You can rest in this bed while I go shopping.¡± Tsarra nodded, not trusting her smoke damaged voice. She was embarrassed when her cheeks grew wet at the thought of food, soaking her neckerchief quickly. Exill noticed and pointed to the stacked towels on the shelf, then left the clinic. He returned half an hour later with a large chunk of wheyr tail, vegetables, and some sweet roll from the bakery next door. He remembered stories of concentration camp prisoners on Earth and how a sudden calorific increase would cause their death. He was an engineer, not a medical professional, and the best he could do in this world was gradually increase the amount of food she ate. Returning to the treatment room, he tore the sweet roll in half and tossed it to her. She quickly devoured it and watched with yearning eyes as he finished his half, making him feel guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but it is bad for you to suddenly eat so much in your condition.¡± Tsarra acknowledged him with sad eyes, and Exill started to feel discomfort from staying in the same room. He needed to prep and boil the Wheyr tail all night over a low fire if they wanted to eat it tomorrow. There was a lot of collagen and calcium in the milky white broth, and when cooked right, the meat between the tail bones would fall away, yielding a surprising amount of protein. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a rest and you should as well. My room is the rightmost door upstairs, knock if you need anything.¡± ¡®I should open a charity at this rate.¡¯ He silently mused while climbing the stairs, slightly dizzy from his vitality drain. After preparing the Wheyr tail soup, the tired young man lay down on his bed and took a little nap. However a few hours later, Exill woke with a start, sensing a threatening presence. He looked around to find Envy leaning on the doorway, arms crossed and a disdainful scowl on her beautiful face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we were doing so well for you to afford another slave.¡± Chapter 92 - Blood Potion Exill let his head fall back into the soft embrace of the pillow, and enjoyed the rich scent of Wheyr tail soup wafting in through the open doorway. He didn¡¯t want to deal with an angry Vampire right now... so he turned his back to her. ¡°She wasn¡¯t expensive. I bought her for 500 D¡¯s in a bundled deal with a blood potion recipe.¡± He lied by downplaying her price just a little. ¡°Besides, she can help me around in the clinic... I know how much you hate doing housework.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, and she is in no condition to do chores.¡± Envy countered. ¡°If an assistant is what you wanted there are any number of orphans who would beg for this opportunity.¡± Her hardened eyes watched Exill¡¯s indignation grow. ¡°If such people are out there, why didn¡¯t they respond to my...¡± His words trailed off. ¡®If they couldn¡¯t read, how would they know?¡¯ His biases had filtered out a part of the population, and its realization left him speechless. The edge of Envy¡¯s lips curled up in distaste. As someone who had survived off the streets, she was all too familiar with prejudice, but she had expected better from him. To Exill it was a flash of insight. Having spent so much time in Ark he had taken on a resident¡¯s way of thinking. Although he never shooed them away from his doorstep, his mentality had changed over time. Treating orphans like vermin, a nuisance, not even registering their presence. ¡®Why did I spend 700 Denars when I could have saved someone within arms reach?¡¯ Questioned on the value of one life over another, there were no easy answers. Eventually, he gave a halting reply: ¡°The kids ¨C orphans out there have a chance at a future, it is a remote possibility but it exists. However for this girl... there was nothing for her. She was forsaken.¡± He emphasized the last word like a curse, not mentioning that a part of him died, every time he shrugged off her desperate pleas. ¡°Has she been... abandoned by the World?¡± Envy asked cautiously, the fact she had interrogated the Diviner still hadn¡¯t been shared with him. Exill paused for a while, scoffing at her choice of words. Diallo admitted after the purchase that Tsarra had been interned there for four years. She wasn¡¯t a loose thread of Fate, but the World had abandoned her for all anyone cared. ¡°No¡­ she just wore me down.¡± Envy heaved a sigh of exasperation. She had assumed the Witchdoctor had spent several thousand Denars purchasing another slave when it could have gone to better use reducing his debt. However some anger dissipated upon hearing the price and knowing it was bundled with a valuable recipe. After a short time, she forgave him just a little. ¡°Then, what is the recipe?¡± ¡°Surprisingly simple. nine-parts my blood, one-part yours, one-part anti-coagulant sealed in an airtight container. It holds stable for a month. The ingredients are going to be delivered tomorrow.¡± Envy paused, then her voice dropped to a sardonic whisper: ¡°But why did it have to be a girl?¡± Exill¡¯s eyebrows rose while turning to glance at the Vampire. Her tone smacked of borderline jealousy just then, and he found the thought amusing ¨C for only a second. He quickly dispelled all doubts, ¡°Have you actually seen her? Half her body is covered in scarred tissue and weeping sores. There is a huge hole in her cheek. I didn¡¯t choose her to warm my bed.¡± He faced the wall again, effectively dismissing her. After a brief minute, Envy softly sat on the edge of his bed, her hand hovering over his head as if to brush back his tousled hair. She was sorry for her earlier outburst but didn¡¯t know how to apologise. He had been sleeping uneasily with a frown, looking pale and physically drained. Mistaking her presence as a desire to feed; he tried to control his annoyance, but it leaked out from his curt tone: ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I¡¯m not feeling well, you can feed tomorrow.¡± She sensed the irritation in his voice and stood up, slamming the door behind her. Regretting the fact she felt sorry for him at all. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Envy returned to her room and stood in front of the ¡®Lost Memories¡¯ poster, summoning happy memories to tamp down the anger. She was lashing out again, but she didn¡¯t understand why. Feeling frustrated, she curled up in bed, trying to fall asleep *** That night, storm clouds rolled into Ark, and the gentle patter of rain gradually rose to a crescendo as lightning hit the tall spires around the city. Tsarra lay shivering on the patient¡¯s bed, shadows fleeting past the frosted window while thunder roared shortly after. She had woken earlier to find a red haired woman glaring at her from the doorway, whose dispassionate eyes dissected her with ease. This woman had killed before, she was sure of it. Trembling lightly, she tried to sleep but the lightning illuminated threatening shadows in every corner of the room. Tsarra eventually crept out of the treatment room and climbed upstairs. She was greeted by the wafting scent of Wheyr tail soup and was drawn to the kitchen, where she stood for minutes, eyeing the gently simmering broth. There was meat in there somewhere¡­ she was sure of it. Startled by a sudden noise, the dwarf backed away from the enticing stockpot and tiptoed to her master¡¯s door, her small feet causing the floorboards to creak. She knocked several times and after a while, entered after hearing no response. She saw Exill lying on the bed, one arm outstretched to his side, briefly illuminated by flashes of lightning. Tsarra tried to reach the bed from memory in the dark, when she felt a sudden grip envelope her waist, dragging her into his arms. ¡°Hyaah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you can feed.¡± Exill mumbled into Tsarra¡¯s ear while gently stroked her auburn curls. She felt her bare toes curl in embarrassment as her heart thumped painfully to a rhythmic beat. His hand gradually slowed until it rested on her shoulder, providing a reassuring weight. Before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep despite the heavenly tribulation raging outside. *** Exill woke up to the sound of knocking at the front door. He groaned when he felt the weight of Envy resting on his arms, making it numb. It was likely the herbalist delivery, or Iris, in either case the Vampire could handle it in his stead. Hearing the front door open and two pairs of feet ascending the stairs, he suddenly realised the weight on his arms couldn¡¯t be Envy. Opening his eyes in shock, he found Tsarra nestled against him, sleeping softly. Extricating his arm, Exill closed the room door gently and raised a nervous hand of acknowledgement to Iris. ¡°Good morning Exill! Envy tells me you bought another slave, where is she?¡± Exill froze. The two women noticed his unnatural response and their women¡¯s intuition drew their gaze to his bedroom door. ¡°It isn¡¯t what you think. She came to me in the middle of the night. I thought she was Envy.¡± Iris peeked through her fingers at the blabbering Witchdoctor, trying to hide her embarrassment. He really was as lewd as the rumours suggested! She glanced at her friend to check if she was alright. She knew Envy occasionally shared the bed with Exill. Envy didn¡¯t appear perturbed while continuing to apply wax to her leather armour. Her fiery eyes felt strangely cold as she focused on a blemish near the shoulder strap. Iris tried to hold back her urge to grip Envy¡¯s hand to comfort her, and instead steered the conversation away: ¡°Did you hear Envy and her team took down two Clay Guards yesterday? That was quite the feat wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, an impressive achievement.¡± What Iris didn¡¯t know was that Exill had single handedly taken down two of the monsters a couple months ago. In the process, he had won the bet with Envy, a monumental achievement at the time. Exill excused himself when he felt the atmosphere grow tense. Grabbing a mug of tea, he snuck past the women, there would be some other way to occupy his time downstairs. After several minutes, Tsarra tentatively poked her head out of the room, and was greeted with the sight of two women staring back at her. She nearly slammed the door shut. The red haired woman was there, and she looked intimidating! After a minute, she heard a knock and a gentle voice calling out, ¡°Hi, you can come out. I¡¯m a friend of Exill and we won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Iris tenderly teased the diminutive dwarf out of the room and led her by hand to the table where the murderous woman studiously ignored them. The Guild employee wove her charm while pushing a mug of tea towards Tsarra and lit her up with kindly grey eyes. As a hand aficionado, Iris softly inspected the claw that had become of Tsarra¡¯s hand. The fingers had fused together as they healed, and the thumb was missing. The dwarf blushed while withdrawing her claw, hiding it under the table. Aside from the hole in her cheek, it was her next greatest source of shame and embarrassment. ¡°Did Exill say he would treat you? Did he say how long it would take?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ no.¡± Iris heard the rasp of her voice and caught a glimpse of the hole in her cheek through which air whistled softly as she spoke, lending it a subdued quality. The dwarf leaned back to avoid the hand that tried to touch the hair covering the most despicable part of her face. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry. I won¡¯t touch you there. Tell me, what is your name? I¡¯m Iris and I work at the-¡± Iris was interrupted by a knock at the front door but continued when she heard Exill receive the day¡¯s delivery. The two women continued to talk while Envy sat to the side, quietly maintaining her equipment. Eventually, Iris had to excuse herself when the Market Bell rang the eleventh hour. Envy took this opportunity to leave the house as well, leaving the overwhelmed dwarf suddenly on her own. Chapter 93 - Contract II ¡°Sorry I left you there, did you make friends with Iris?¡± Exill poked his head upstairs once the two women had left. ¡°Yes¡­ she is nice¡± Tsarra''s lilting lisp sounded strangely subdued. A gentle voice marred by the ravages of fire. ¡°Great, let¡¯s have lunch.¡± Exill was quietly pleased that Tsarra had joined their family. He had spent the past two months eating stall bought food because he couldn¡¯t justify cooking for a single person. ¡®Now I have a reason to level up cooking.¡¯ He thought, while stirring the milky white broth that had reduced greatly from the night before. Some more water was added, and filled the bowl halfway for Tsarra and himself. Although he was hungry, it wouldn¡¯t be seemly for him to have a full portion while they gradually increased the dwarf¡¯s intake. A dash of seasoning was thrown in, and he carried the bowls to the table where Tsarra was openly salivating. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard, but we¡¯ll have half a bowl now, and another in the evening. You can eat more tomorrow.¡± Exill tried to match her pace as she blew at the broth, trying to cool it so she could eat it faster. He didn¡¯t want to be caught on the receiving end of her timid eyes once she finished her portion. After they had finished, he examined the hole in her cheek. It was four centimetres (1.5¡±) wide, enough to fit three of his fingers, and was accompanied by another hole further back that was the remains of her ear. ¡®That hole in the cheek will cost me half my vitality to close up fully¡­ I wonder if it would be possible to regenerate just a thin patch of flesh to seal it temporarily.¡¯ ¡°Do not be alarmed, I¡¯m going to try and close the hole in your cheek, and it will tingle slightly.¡± He concentrated mana to the tip of his finger and carefully followed the circumference of the hole, taking care to move inwards as a thin layer of cheek cells regenerated. It took fifteen minutes to patch the hole, and now it looked like an angry red crater on one side of her face. ¡°Ah¡­ that is much better. Let¡¯s cover it with poultice and I think we should both rest.¡± Exill was pale faced when he checked the Card. His vitality was down to 75%, and Envy would need to be fed as well. He sent Tsarra downstairs and secretly poured another two bowls of Wheyr tail soup for himself before retiring to his room. That evening was spent boiling the glass potion vials and grinding the anticoagulant into a fine powder. The root of the Agulum plant was highly regulated in Ark and was used both as an ingredient for poison and for treating heart conditions. ¡®I guess there are a few benefits to having Lady Anna as a client.¡¯ He mused while unpacking the freshly delivered parcel. Lady Anna¡¯s father was a rich herbalist distributor, who had personally come to seek him out after hearing news that his daughter had repeatedly ventured out from the safe confines of Inner City. The protective father had signed a favourable supply contract in exchange for a guarantee that he would not lay a finger on his daughter, alongside advance notice on checkup visits. This allowed the doting man to prepare extra guards along the route Lady Anna travelled. The merchant understood the allure of forbidden love, and was eager to strike a deal with the intrepid Witchdoctor. Activating Scientist¡¯s [Measure] skill, he drained 50ml (1.7 oz) of blood into the vial. This was quickly followed by 5.5 grams of the powder, watching it dissolve while swirling it around. It now needed a bit of Envy¡¯s blood to complete. ¡®I wonder if Tsarra¡¯s blood can be used to feed in an emergency.¡¯ He mused softly, but quickly dismissed it. He may be unfamiliar with women, but knew that asking a damaged slave if she was a virgin was incredibly rude. ¡®I hope this is worth it¡­ the root alone costs five Denars for a single portion.¡¯ He was shaken out of his thoughts when the front doorbell rang, indicating Envy was home. He opened the door of the treatment room to motion the grimy vampire in. ¡°Good timing, I was just putting the finishing touches to the potion. I need a bit of your blood.¡± Envy reluctantly offered her arm, she was too tired, hungry, and battered to argue. He wiped her arm clean before dripping the required amount to the vial. Healing the cut, he activated Witchdoctor¡¯s [Mana Infuse] skill to increase the potency of the potion. [Appraise] confirmed his success as it valued the ¡®infused blood potion¡¯ at ?? Denars. ¡®Ah. I forgot to appraise it while it was a simple blood potion.¡¯ The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Exill scolded himself as he passed the potion to Envy, curious of its effect. She took a sniff, downing it in one shot. ¡°How was it, is it filling?¡± He asked apprehensively. The Vampire¡¯s feeding habits varied depending on how she was feeling on that particular day, but if successful, it could cut consumption by up to a quarter. ¡°It¡¯s alright¡­ and I don¡¯t want anymore.¡± She carefully didn¡¯t mention it was one of the worst things she ever tasted. The clean metallic flavour of Exill¡¯s blood was marred by a bitter aftertaste that lingered long after consumption. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll make three more batches and you can have them when you¡¯re hungry.¡± They were meant to be used in emergencies, but he didn¡¯t bemoan her having the occasional one due to their short shelf-life. Envy contained her resentment while climbing the stairs, and ignored the timid dwarf who sat at the table, shrinking away as she passed. Exill had thoughtfully left out the water he had boiled the vials in, and she used the still warm basin to wash her hair and wipe down the body. If this was any other day, she would have rested in Exill¡¯s arm and fed while he absent mindedly stroked her hair, but things had changed between them. Confused by the shift in circumstance and the jealousy sprouting in her heart, Envy curled into a ball and tried to sleep. *** The Clinic remained closed for the next two days as Exill triaged the worst of Tsarra¡¯s injuries while allowing himself to recover. He caved in and increased her daily allowance to two full bowls of soup and bread; her timid gentle eyes proving too difficult to refuse. ¡°Um, is there anything I can help you with master?¡± Tsarra asked over the dinner table. It had been a week since she joined his retinue, and although the scarring remained, her cheeks had filled out nicely. Sitting opposite him, she hid her claw under the table while looking up with adoring eyes. The Dwarf was ecstatic about her recovery and couldn¡¯t stop admiring her face in the water¡¯s reflection. ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it¡­ is there anything particular you want to do?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I would like to become a healer, like you.¡± ¡°Are you able to cast Heal?¡± Tsarra slowly shook her head, crestfallen, her shapely eyebrows pulled together in a frown. Exill observed the frail figure for a moment, remembering his own initial failure to cast ¡®Heal¡¯, and how it had pained him. Under the table, he slid the [Wizard Ring] off his pinkie, feeling the surplus mana absorbed into the intricate silver band. ¡®Ah¡­ I should be alright thanks to [Channel Efficiency] from level 11 Wizard.¡¯ It was a valuable item that both increased the mana pool and EXP gain. He slid the ring on and off in indecision, and yet the image of Verill flashed in front of his eyes, gifting him the poultice pot which he carried to this day. That small gesture of kindness symbolised everything to him. It was at a time where he owned nothing, and everything out there seemed determined to kill. It had felt like a life raft in this unending sea of cruelty and indifference. It was hope. ¡®Maybe... it''s my turn to give back.¡¯ Tsarra saw him reluctantly remove an intricate silver ring from his pinkie and reach out to put it on her hand. ¡°Hyah!?¡± She recoiled in embarrassment, but not before the adept Witchdoctor had slid the ring onto her index finger. A sudden surge of power coursed through her core. ¡°Try now. Project your mana outwards to use the patient¡¯s vitality to heal. There is a 2% chance of success, but if you make it, you will feel a slight headache. It shouldn¡¯t affect our vitality since I¡¯m already at full health.¡± Blushing and confused by the strange sensation, she focused mana in her palm and invoked ¡®Heal¡¯, suddenly feeling the onset of a migraine on top of a deep resonance in her core. Her eyes sparkled in wonder and admired the beautiful ring that had unlocked a path that had been barred from her. ¡°I¡­ think I did it!¡± Exill merely nodded while continuing to eat his soup. He had mixed feelings about giving up his ring, after all, his motives in purchasing her was not entirely altruistic. There was no guarantee she could have become a [Healer] but it made her that much more valuable as a future helper apprentice. More importantly, she could heal him should he ever injure himself in the Labyrinth. However, it didn¡¯t feel right to keep her a slave in perpetuity, especially when it cost only 700 Denars - her purchase price - to revoke the slave contract. ¡®What do I do after I free her?¡¯ Her two jobs were [Farmer] and [Forager], something he didn¡¯t particularly care for. It also meant she would be relegated to menial low-paying employment if he ever decided to move to another country, leaving her behind. People with jobs like her were dime a dozen, especially after the war. ¡®How long should I be responsible for her after she is free?¡¯ The only real alternative was to reveal his unnatural ability to change people¡¯s jobs, something not even Envy knew about. Unfortunately too many people knew about the vampire¡¯s second job to change it. Reassigning jobs via the normal route was a convoluted process. It involved a ¡®donation¡¯ to the Church, rumoured to be several thousand Denars, and praying to the original cutting of the Eld Tree in the presence of a Bishop. For commoners, the waitlist was several years long. He had poked around for a background check of Tsarra. The public records chronicled her birth from a small mining town to the northwest, but apart from that, there were no records of crimes committed, or her assigned jobs. ¡®That means I can change her job to [Healer] and [Herbalist] to better assist me in the Clinic.¡¯ There was a minor risk associated with this plan ¨C that there was a record in Diallo¡¯s office reporting her jobs as [Farmer] and [Forager]. Considering clay tablets were frequently reused, this was a minor concern. However if anyone chose to investigate, he could argue that Diallo maintained shoddy records, evidenced by his four years of neglect of Tsarra. Which reminded him, he needed to raise [Conman] by assigning it as an active job when he was training. Resolving his mind, he stood up abruptly, startling the timid woman. He rushed to his room and returned with a low level ¡®Notarized Contract¡¯. ¡°I want you to keep a secret of mine to the grave¡­ in exchange, I will give you freedom and a future.¡± Chapter 93.5 - Envys Nightmare ¡°There¡¯s no harm in smiling just a little when you¡¯re surrounded by your sisters, dear.¡± A woman in her early thirties, said to be one of the Lord¡¯s oldest mistresses gently brushed Envy¡¯s shoulder. The woman was adorned in the finest of silks, and was of medium height with a charming smile, but the most alluring aspect was her voice. She would read stories to the Lord at night, carrying him off to sleep in her tender embrace, and that allowed her to maintain the position of ¡®first among mistresses¡¯. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you bother. The stuck up leech thinks she''s better than us, just because the Lord showers her with gifts.¡± One of the other slaves commented. The delicate alabaster skinned woman hadn¡¯t been called upon for two months and was beginning to grow desperate ¨C for good reason. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a soursprout dear... I¡¯m sure the master will call for you this evening, or tomorrow at the latest.¡± A chubby woman with soft genial features comforted the delicate woman with a warm hug. Their master was a noble of considerable standing who owned a swathe of fertile farmland to the east of Ark. He was a man of varying tastes, keen to travel and explore, and never dwelling too long on a particular vice or interest. There were eight slaves currently housed in the dormitories attached to the mansion, it was a paradise as much as it was a gilded cage. Several armed guards stood on the other side of the entrance overlooking the vast communal area filled with baths, bookcases and readily available platters of fruit and baked goods. To most, it was a luxury they had never dreamt of and considered the cost of maintenance insignificant, compared to the comfort and benefits they could reap. That was why the delicate alabaster skinned woman, who hadn''t been called on for two months was so bitter about her predicament. There were only eight rooms in the complex and all were at capacity. If she wasn¡¯t called upon soon, there was a likelihood she would be resold... and there was no guarantee her new owner wouldn¡¯t be a sadistic pile of crap. As Masters go, their owner was the best a slave could possibly hope for. Strict, fair, detached, and most importantly ¨C frequently out on their travels. Even Envy was grateful for this, but not to the point of fawning over the man as some of the other slaves wont to do. She was shaken out of her thoughts when the double doors opened abruptly, slammed wide in unison by the guards standing on the other side. ¡°How have my girls been doing!¡± An energetic man in his mid-thirties powered into the common room and beamed positively at the gathered women. Throwing off his cloak, he approached the first mistress, and awarded her with a quick peck on the cheek. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later tonight dear. Right now, I¡¯m in the mood for something more¡­ delicate.¡± He gently caressed the older woman and moved further down the line. ¡°Envy! My gorgeous beauty, imagine how much brighter the world would be if you just smiled.¡± He brushed her crimson hair aside, ¡°And where is that ruby hairpin I gave you? I chose it because it matches your eyes, but it appears it wasn¡¯t to your taste.¡± Envy endured the hard glares from the first mistress and the other assembled slaves. To be gifted something precious by their Master was a benediction, a symbol of his favour. By rejecting it she had undermined the system and hierarchy upon which they operated. ¡°Not to worry, I¡¯ll give you something more fabulous next time.¡± The Lord winked at her, then turned away to lay his eyes on the delicate alabaster skinned woman who hadn¡¯t been called on for two months. He gestured with one hand for her to step forward. ¡°Oh¡­ my precious dear, don¡¯t cry! Did you think I forgot about you?¡± He quickly embraced the tearful woman who was overcome with emotion. Envy tried her utmost to keep the sneer from triggering her lips. There was nothing more pathetic, or pitiful, than a slave begging for their master¡¯s attention. Her amber-red eyes scanned the room, capturing the jealousy adorning the faces of those assembled. What was scariest of all was the awful brainwashing involved. ¡®I will never end up like them.¡¯ She silently swore to herself. *** Envy awoke with a snarl and swiftly looked around, comforted by the ¡®Lost Memories¡¯ poster hanging on the wall. It was not often she dreamt of her time at the Lord¡¯s mansion. It was a lesser nightmare compared to the horrors she had experienced, but something must have triggered memories of that place. It was still dark outside, and the hint of morning rays over the horizon pushed back the all-encompassing twilight. She went downstairs and checked the windows remained latched, and with hand hovering over the partitioned door, opened it with a measure a reluctance. Tsarra was sleeping peacefully on her side, cradling the disfigured claw with her intact hand. A sombre smile crossed the Vampire¡¯s lips. The dwarf was a nice girl, eager to please. There were many parallels that could be drawn between her and Luna, except Tsarra wasn¡¯t trying to constantly manipulate her master like that horny elf-maiden. That put the dwarf in her good books. Closing the door softly, she went to check on Exill. As expected, he had tossed and turned throughout the night and his tousled hair was slick with sweat. The beautiful murderess gently brushed his damp hair aside. ¡°Why do you make things so difficult for me?¡± she whispered accusingly to his vulnerable form. Envy had promised she would never end up like the female slaves in her past, putting down other slaves, and competing for their master¡¯s affection. In spite of this, whenever she saw him tenderly check on Tsarra, or share meals with her - an unfamiliar sprout of jealousy had taken root in her heart. Envy hated this person she was transforming into, and found herself lashing out, most frequently at the Witchdoctor ¨C who was the object of her torment. ¡®The man who had promised everything, and asked for so little in return.¡¯ Sighing softly, she stood up and closed the door. It was time for her morning workouts. There were much more productive ways to direct her anger, such as hunting monsters in the Labyrinth. And today... she looked forward to another bountiful harvest. Chapter 94 - Deroch Author''s Note: I''ve added renders of Iris and Tsarra up on Patreon so feel free to check them out.
Tsarra adjusted quickly to her new role as his assistant and proved her intelligence by growing in leaps and bounds. She was reluctant to deal with patients as some had shied away from her deformed claw of a hand. Exill was examining said deformity at this very moment, determined to proceed with a treatment plan. ¡®Should I cut it off and start anew or try and save it?¡¯ He had learnt from Old Savta that burn scars, like most bodily imperfections were difficult to completely heal. They were considered a flawed but healthy part of your body and wouldn¡¯t change no matter how much mana you channelled into them. The only solution was to peel back the affected layer of skin and grow it back anew, a long and painful process. Following this logic, if he tried to save Tsarra¡¯s hand, he would need to incrementally peel the skin to restore it to its original state. He relayed all this information to the apprentice. It was a practical lesson of sorts, both informing and gaining her input. ¡°Cut it off.¡± She said without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Are you sure? It would take under a month to regrow.¡± ¡°I hate it, and I hate hiding it. I want¡­ to start fresh.¡± Exill was touched by her bravery. He saw the fear in her pale green eyes that mirrored his own. Cutting someone, especially a person you had grown close to was not an easy task. It was nothing like the impartiality of treating a patient. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s do it.¡± He reached for the dwarven spirit and disinfected her wrist, causing her to wince when it stung against her dry cracked skin. Feeling his hands shake in apprehension, he took a swig from the bottle to calm his nerves, then passed it over to Tsarra to do the same while wiping his lips. He slowly applied the tourniquet, giving her ample opportunity to change her mind, but all too soon, the scalpel was poised over her forearm ¨C it¡¯s paralyzing runes blazing with power. She gave a slight nod. Exhaling loudly, he got to work. The whole process took twenty minutes from start to finish. Although Tsarra looked away at the beginning, she forced herself to watch the procedure, biting her chapped lips as she tried to glean even an ounce of knowledge from the process. He finished wrapping the bandage around the stump, both exhausted and relieved that it was over. ¡°We¡¯ll give it a couple days to heal, then we can start to regrow it. You did well, go rest in my room for now.¡± Exill watched her unsteadily leave the treatment room and sat for a while staring at the disfigured claw that lay curled in a pool of blood. It would have to be disposed of, something he hated doing, almost as much as visiting the slave market. Grunting loudly, he picked up the deformed hand and left the Clinic, walking down a side alleyway leading northward. He eventually reached a small graveyard, the perimeter fenced off with wrought iron. It was as if the world had grown a little darker, and the stench of decomposing corpses pervaded the sombre atmosphere. Paying the hooded grave keeper five Denars, he tossed the pitiful claw into a pile of corpses in a quiet corner of the yard. He tried not to look too closely at their emaciated forms haphazardly arranged in various states of decomposition. The Witchdoctor quickly turned away from the sobering sight of Ark¡¯s underbelly. He returned to the Clinic and was about to enter the treatment room when an unassuming man stepped silently out of the room containing the forge. He was of indeterminate age, with a gaunt lined face, dressed in red priest robes and permeating a disquieting aura. His most distinctive feature was a subdued smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his frosty eyes. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for alarming you. I was looking around for the owner when I found the clinic empty. Such a¡­ strange configuration for a place of healing.¡± The man looked behind him at the dimly lit forge. ¡°How can I assist you?¡± Exill hastily gathered himself and motioned him to the treatment room. The insipid man followed, but remained standing at the doorway. He appeared fascinated with the partition wall and its temporary nature. He finally spoke, enunciating each word precisely: ¡°I am here to investigate your claim that you have been blessed by the World Spirit.¡± ¡°What would you like to know?¡± Exill felt cold sweat nervously roll down his back and his voice wavered just a little. The man responded with the same uncanny grin, ¡°We know everything, Witchdoctor. The time you spent in the refugee camp, how you won against a noble knight against all odds. Even the fact that you were valued at 4,000 Denars by the Moneylender¡¯s Guild¡­ the list goes on.¡± The man took a deep breath and his eyes lowered to the congealed pool of blood where Tsarra¡¯s amputated hand had lain half an hour ago. He waved a hand casually, as if dismissing the air of a minor nuisance, ¡°All this is merely a formality, an invitation to our church to take part in ceremony.¡± He then handed Exill a pristine white card embossed with the name ¡®Inquisitor Deroch¡¯. ¡°Please come to the Cathedral tomorrow morning at ten. We will be waiting for you.¡± The Inquisitor stepped back from the doorway of the treatment room and appeared to walk away. Exill stood transfixed for a few moments, staring at the card as if it was a poisonous snake. Exiting into the lobby, he found it empty. The man had disappeared without the front door ringing a chime. He quickly searched the whole house but found no-one else, Tsarra was sleeping soundly in his bed. ¡®What have I got myself into¡­¡¯ Trying to contain his panic, he decided to consult the only reliable source he knew. *** Iris was closing up the Guild, chasing out stragglers when Exill entered the hall looking strangely pale. She approached him, reaching for his hand to check if he was okay, ¡°Are you alright, can I help you with anything?¡± ¡°I have a few questions, but it can wait. Please finish up, we can talk while walking you home.¡± She felt his hand tremble prior to letting go. Worried about his state, she swiftly locked the door and swept the floor, entering the back office to change into her casual clothes. She smoothed her green skirt as she stepped out, concern in her kind eyes while examining Exill. ¡°I¡¯m ready, let¡¯s go.¡± They walked through the South Gate and only then did Exill start firing his questions: ¡°What do you know about the Church?¡± ¡°Ah! Did they reach out to you about your encounter with the Spirit? They just record the circumstances of your bestowal and consult with the Oracle on your blessing.¡± ¡°Yes, they did¡­ Have you heard of the Inquisition?¡± Iris stumbled a bit when she heard the Inquisitions name, and she glanced around quickly to make sure no one was listening, ¡°Hush. They are known to be fair, but people don¡¯t like mentioning them.¡± She brushed her hair aside, ¡°I heard their members are at the same level as a [Bishop], and that they sometimes investigate blessings¡­¡± Exill sighed upon realizing they had stopped. Iris¡¯s home was precariously perched on the top floor of the dilapidated building. Sensing his reluctance she asked, ¡°If you still have questions, would you like to stay for tea?¡± ¡°Sure¡­ thank you.¡± They climbed the external stairs up to a walkway that connected to two units on the roof. Iris unlocked her door to reveal a mid-sized studio apartment. Her clothes hung haphazardly from the ceiling beams and dirty clothes were strewn across the floor and bed. A small table and two chairs stood in a corner. ¡°Sorry it¡¯s a mess! You are actually my first visitor here. When I first moved into this place I thought I would bring so many friends over but¡­¡± She hurriedly removed clothes from a chair that hadn¡¯t seen use in years. Exill found his frayed nerves soothed, seeing her fallible nature helped distract from his own concerns. Once she had settled down and they each had cup of hot brew in front of them, he continued the questions. ¡°What do you know of the [Oracle]?¡± ¡°Not much, I heard she is newly appointed? You know they are closely attuned to the World Spirit right? You could say she is at the same level as the [Archbishop].¡± ¡°Returning to the Inquisition, how do they investigate miracles?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what your concern is, shouldn¡¯t you be happy?¡± Iris pointed to him, ¡°It¡¯s a great honour to be acknowledged by the Church as a genuine miracle.¡± She really didn¡¯t know much else about their procedures, just that they investigated, and verified some cases. People drunkenly lied about being blessed, or encountering the Spirit in their dreams all the time. However that couldn¡¯t apply to Exill because she had witnessed his job change. Exill paused. He liked Iris, but he wasn¡¯t sure how far he could trust her¡­ however, he needed to know what the worst outcome would look like. ¡°How do they deal with heresy?¡±
Author''s note: If you are reading this from other sources, there is a section below detailing the significant rewrites I''ve made regarding Heresy in the earlier chapters. Chapter 95 - To Flee? Iris looked at Exill in shock, suddenly understanding his nervousness and line of questioning. ¡®Did he falsify his miracle? No, but his Witchdoctor job is genuine.¡¯ Her mind raced with possibilities before finally choosing to withhold judgement and answer his question truthfully. ¡°It depends on the severity of the crime. Most people who lie are fined and publicly ridiculed, but some are exiled or even executed.¡± ¡°Then what does it mean to be hated by the World?¡± He hesitantly asked. Iris tried not to laugh and covered her mouth, ¡°It¡¯s a bunch of old wives tales. I know Diviners like to spout that all the time, but it doesn¡¯t really mean anything.¡± Exill let out a soft sigh, it wasn¡¯t as bad as he feared. Some of the earlier tension dissipated as he spun the mug around in both hands. ¡°Thank you, I just wanted to know what would happen if they came to the wrong conclusion over the investigation.¡± Iris laughed into her steaming mug, relieved that he was just being cautious, ¡°Oh you don¡¯t have to worry about them getting it wrong! Oracles are the final arbiter of blessings. They commune with the Spirit and are different from Diviners - they don¡¯t see probabilities, only certainties.¡± Exill returned her laugh with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡®How could I have forgotten that?¡¯ It was one of the first things he learnt in the Library while studying Diviners. If the Oracle knew he had lied about the blessing, it would likely result in a slap on the wrist. Where things got tricky was explaining how he replaced [Blacksmith] with [Witchdoctor], and there was a high chance that it would be interpreted as Heresy. He suddenly felt trapped and had the urge to flee. ¡®How far can I run away if I fled right this moment?¡¯ he thought in rising panic. ¡®Should I risk unlocking ¡®Dimensionist¡¯ to learn [Warp]?¡¯ His mind raced with possibilities as he smiled and nodded along to Iris reciting miracles that had been verified by the church. However there wasn¡¯t much time to waste. Quickly finishing the cup he rose, startling her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I need to head back, I have an early appointment with the church tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah, sure¡­ Come by anytime Exill.¡± Iris was disappointed that her first visitor had to leave so soon, but she stood at the doorway and saw him hurry down the stairs. Exill nearly sprinted home, his heart gripped by ice. Fumbling with the latch, he ran up the stairs into his bedroom, rummaging around in his rucksack. The runic throwing bones lay untouched at the bottom of the bag. His eyebrows twitched while reconsidering his plans. ¡®They¡¯re the reason I nearly killed myself in the Labyrinth¡­ as Iris said, Diviners deal with probabilities, not certainties.¡¯ The divination bones were like a crutch, a brutal addiction that he had been trying to kick like a bad habit. However, after a long moment of indecision, he channelled mana through trembling hands and asked the burning question, allowing the glowing bones to slip through his fingers. The runes flashed too fast to see, their message a blur as the mana immediately dissipated. Frowning deeply, he tried again. ¡®Why do they say nothing is wrong?¡¯ He sat on the edge of his bed for precious minutes growing steadily paranoid, wondering how the divining tools were planning to kill him this time. ¡®If the bones¡­ or perhaps the Spirit wanted to kill me¡­ this would be the perfect opportunity. To lull me into a false sense of security.¡¯ The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. But something didn¡¯t make sense. Having met Inquisitor Deroch, he was under no illusion that if the unsettling man wished it, he would be dead this very moment. The urge to flee far away from Ark consumed his soul, but he was faced with the same dilemma as before with the Arena duel. ¡®What do I do with Envy?¡¯ Bound by his contract to guarantee freedom at the end of two years, he was in a tricky situation. There was no way he could make payments to Diallo after fleeing the city. The terms of the notarized contract with the slave trader simply stated, ¡®Exill of Lindtree must return the slave when he is unable to make the monthly instalments.¡¯ There were no specified penalties, or what would happen should he fail to abide by the contract. In some ways this made the implications even scarier, and he was reminded of the snippets overheard during meals back at the refugee camp. The most prevalent of these was the anecdotes of soldiers abruptly paralysed from the waist down while deserting the battlefield or disobeying orders. Sure, these stories could be dramatized, but he suspected there was a terrible grain of truth in them. ¡®I really need to prioritise paying off Diallo¡¯s loan. I can¡¯t even run away properly.¡¯ He thought bitterly to himself. After a long period of introspection, Exill grunted as he stood up, putting weight on his tired knees. Sometimes, it felt like he was bearing the brunt of the world¡¯s misfortunes and it reflected on the condition of his scarred body. He entered the living room and stood outside Envy¡¯s door, hand hovering over its surface before knocking twice. He heard no answer. Climbing down the stairs, he saw light peeking out from under the treatment room¡¯s door. Knocking again, he entered to find Tsarra carefully grinding dried roots into a powder with one hand. There was a guilty look in her gentle jade eyes. ¡°You should be resting, not working.¡± Hearing his chiding tone, Tsarra played with the bandages on her stump, smoothing them down in embarrassment. She couldn¡¯t tell him that the throbbing pain made it difficult to sleep. She just nodded, putting the pestle to one side. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take the bliss root to relieve pain, you know you aren¡¯t saving me any money that way.¡± Exill sighed while grabbing the leaf sachet of powder that had been set aside for her. The Dwarf was timid and conservative to a fault, trying to save him money at every corner. She had even begun reusing her old poultice to save a few Denars! He knelt in front of her, placing the sachet in her remaining palm. ¡°Take this and go to bed, we need to be up early to visit Diallo tomorrow.¡± After a moment of indecision, he added: ¡°You¡¯re finally going to be free.¡± *** The next morning, Exill embraced the slightly chilly morning air, striding with purpose towards the Inner City. Tsarra hurried to keep up, her breath slightly frosting in the air. Dark circles hung under his eyes and a throbbing pain assaulted his temples, the early symptoms of mana abuse. He had spent all night asking variations of the same question, getting the same answer each time from the runic bones. He stopped at the gate to display the red citizen token, while Tsarra displayed her own. The dwarf¡¯s token was coloured green, and indicated she was a registered slave of an Ark resident, exempting her from the entry fee. Envy carried a similar one. Exill hadn¡¯t freed Tsarra immediately because he knew Envy would throw a fit. She was right of course; he had an obligation to free her first before doing anything else. However the latest threat to his wellbeing threw all the carefully laid plans out the window. In spite of this, he didn¡¯t plan on leaving loose ends. Not when it cost only 700 Denars to resolve. ¡°Remember, if I return safe, you cannot let Envy find out you are free. She will kill me.¡± Tsarra was both exhilarated and confused by his instructions. She was finally going to be free! ¡°Um, if you return safe?¡± ¡°You know my power to reassign jobs... It is unnatural and I fear the Inquisition is after me. If I don¡¯t return before midday, you should make your way to Savta¡¯s Clinic and ask Luna for an apprenticeship. She is a close friend of mine.¡± Tsarra abruptly stopped in the middle of the deserted alleyway, shocked as she absorbed this news. Exill slowed down, waiting impatiently for her to catch up. They needed to go to the Magistrate¡¯s after this to establish her temporary residence, there wasn¡¯t a lot of time remaining. ¡°Why would the Church go after you for helping people?¡± she nearly shouted, confused by the injustice. Exill turned away, a pained look crossing his face. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated. Let¡¯s just say the Spirit doesn¡¯t like me.¡± Tsarra was about to disparage the all-encompassing Spirit when a chill ran down her spine, the familiar fetid stench and groans wafting through the air. She clung to Exill¡¯s arm tightly, her feet refusing to move. ¡°It¡¯s alright, just this once and you won¡¯t have to ever return.¡± Exill squeezed her shoulder and hurried into Diallo¡¯s compound. Chapter 96 - Inner Sanctum Diallo blinked. Over his many years as a slave trader, he could count on one hand the number of times a living owner had willingly asked to release their slaves. It was just that rare. Slaves were considered investments and assets, the property of their master. Unless their owner made special provisions in their will to free a favoured servant - usually their mistress ¨C they would be passed on to the next heir. ¡°You want to free the Dwarf.¡± Diallo didn¡¯t repeat words, he didn¡¯t need to, but this bore repeating. He had heard of slaves being released, only to find them carving away the face of their former master in a fit of psychotic rage. ¡°I want to free Tsarra, here is the 700 Denars, her purchase price.¡± Only the person who initiated the binding could break it. That, or another slave trader with more years of experience. This restriction was the reason such a high price was charged for the service. It was similar in principle to notarized contracts. Diallo leaned forward on his desk and spread out both hands, palm upward. He motioned for them to approach. Exill placed his hand in Diallo¡¯s, while Tsarra, shivering slightly also placed hers. The Slave Trader channelled mana into both their hands. There was panic in the timid Maiden¡¯s eyes, remembering the familiar sensation of subjugation. An electric current incrementally coursed up her arm and into her core. When Diallo felt it was enough, he uttered the mana-laced command. ¡°[Break].¡± Exill and Tsarra felt a shiver climb up their arms, culminating in a deep resonance between them. The Dwarf summoned her Card with glistening eyes to find after four long years, she was finally free. ¡°Thank you.¡± Exill said, while shuffling the teary-eyed woman out of Diallo¡¯s office. He was similarly touched but time was pressing. The slave market bell rang nine times, startling him further. ¡°We need to go.¡± He grabbed Tsarra¡¯s intact hand, causing her to squeak in surprise. They raced through the alleyways and emerged in a large paved square overlooked by the imposing Magistrate¡¯s. The main dome shone dully as its copper surface reflected the overcast sky. They hurried through the imposing double doors guarded by a pair of knights and stood in line at a fortunately short queue. While they waited in line, Tsarra admired the vaulted ceiling, elaborate wall panelling and even the artwork that hung on the walls, expressing their quiet eloquence. People talked in hushed tones while going about their business. She nervously fidgeted with the intricate silver ring Exill had loaned her. ¡°How can I help you sir and madam?¡± ¡°I would like to update her record; she should be listed under my name as a slave.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The Clerk scrutinized both their Cards, frowning slightly. He was struggling to remember the process for transferring a slave while the owner was still living. ¡°Let me talk to my manager, I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± Exill inwardly swore as the minutes ticked by. These bureaucrats were insufferable in sticking to their procedures. Precious time passed before the apologetic clerk re-emerged holding a red token between his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the wait, it¡¯s all done and here is your temporary residence permit.¡± Smiling softly down at Tsarra, the Clerk continued: ¡°Please return your green token¡­ and congratulations on your freedom.¡± Tsarra struggled not to cry while pressing the green token into the genial Clerk''s palm, replacing it with the red. Not even in her darkest days had she dared to hope for this moment. Exill led the blubbering woman to the side, pressing 200 Denars into her palm. ¡°Congratulations, and I know how much this moment means to you, but I¡¯m sorry and I need to rush. You need to tell Envy what happened if I don¡¯t return. I know she is scary, but you have to pass this message to her ¨C ¡®Meet me in Brieshire two days from now¡¯. After that, go to Savta¡¯s Clinic and find Luna, tell her I sent you.¡± Exill squeezed her hand tightly before turning away. Staying up all night, he had managed to come up with a rudimentary plan to escape in the worst case scenario. He had tried his best given the short time available. Now it was time to face the music and hope for the best. *** He stood still, hesitant in front of the Cathedral, standing majestic under the grey overcast sky. Buttresses supported the burgeoning arches of the gothic building, framing exquisite windows crafted from stained glass. A tall spire stood alone at the rear of the massive complex, housing the church bells that rang out for miles around the city. It was the regional headquarters of the religion catering to the World Spirit. The church bells began to ring as he passed through the imposing studded doors. Exill approached a priest who stood beside the donation box and flashed the white card given by Inquisitor Deroch. The Priest¡¯s eyes opened wide in recognition, and he wordlessly gestured for a young boy, who couldn¡¯t be older than twelve, to approach from a nearby alcove. ¡°Escort this esteemed guest to the Inner Sanctum.¡± Exill followed the boy down a side passageway, twisting and turning while drawing deeper into the depths of the complex, like the intestines of some gargantuan beast. They emerged into a large corridor, at the end of which stood a heavy studded door guarded by a single man. ¡®So that is a Paladin.¡¯ The man wore an unadorned breastplate over his crimson priest robes, and a tower shield lay resting against the wall, within a moments reach. The Paladin¡¯s eyes never left the approaching duo while Exill drew near, his hand resting gently on the pommel of his sword. Despite his relaxed stance, the Witchdoctor suspected he was capable of immediate violence, should it be required. He vaguely remembered Iris¡¯s lecture yesterday how Paladins were the elite of the military arm of the church. Exill raised Inquisitor Deroch¡¯s card for the stern man to inspect, and he glared at it for several seconds, reluctantly waving him in. However the Paladin grabbed the lapel of the young boy following after the Witchdoctor. ¡°You¡¯ll wait here with me, boy.¡± Exill stepped through the archway into a quiet cloister surrounding a small garden. The overcast sky was visible through the branches of what Exill suspected was an original cutting of the Eld Tree. It loomed over the entire garden, its leafless branches casting stifling shadows across the whole courtyard. Inquisitor Deroch stepped out silently from behind a large pillar on the colonnade, hands clasped behind his back and frosty eyes glittering in amusement. The disquieting man approached him, the edges of his thin mouth turned upwards in a subdued smile. ¡°Witchdoctor, I¡¯m so glad you could make it. Come, let us pay our respects.¡± Exill¡¯s heart thundered while following the Inquisitor to a bench under the eaves of the Eld Tree. There sat a young woman of unworldly beauty, loose threads of platinum hair falling across her black blindfold. Her full lips pursed as she recognized the Inquisitor¡¯s voice, when her blind gaze suddenly snapped in the direction of the Witchdoctor. Exill felt his heart stop as he halted beside Deroch. The incorporeal golden thread of Fate wafted in the air, unerringly pointing at him. Chapter 97 - Oracle Alya The Inquisitor turned to Exill while gesturing to the seated woman in front of them. ¡°This is Oracle Alya, you may address her as your eminence. She will be the final judge of the World¡¯s Blessing and approve its entry into Canon. You may kneel before her.¡± Exill felt like someone walked over his grave, stumbling as he came to kneel in front of the Oracle. Even with the blindfold, her face unerringly smiled towards him. Her voice rang clear and mellow. ¡°So you are the Witchdoctor. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you¡­ you have been causing a lot of trouble to some very powerful people¡­ but I must thank you for what you have done.¡± Exill licked his lips while staring at the thread of fate connecting them. It was just like the one he had seen on Envy, though it had disappeared when she became his slave. ¡°I thank your Eminence for her kind words.¡± He managed to blurt out. The Oracle turned her face towards Deroch, she bit her lip before making the request. ¡°Could you excuse us for just a moment? I would like to share a few words with the Witchdoctor privately.¡± The Inquisitor shook his head impassively while replying in an even tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry your Eminence. He is an acclaimed warrior capable of taking down a knight. I cannot leave the two of you alone.¡± As her designated protector, he had no choice on the matter. A moue of discontent marred her heavenly features as the Oracle silently accepted his words. Once again her wishes had been made irrelevant, and she lamented the blindness caused by her exposure to Fate¡¯s weave, rendering her so helpless. However the Inquisitor was not done, he pressured her further. ¡°My report has been submitted, I beg your Eminence to cast final judgement on his blessing.¡± Deroch¡¯s steely eyes flickered down towards the kneeling man, his hand resting firmly on the shoulder like a restraining vise. Alya turned to Exill, a hesitant expression on her perfect face. Her assistant had read out the report this morning and understood the suspicion coating the Inquisitor¡¯s weathered voice. A lot of the evidence was circumstantial such as the timing and location of World Tremors, but taken as a whole it warranted further study. She knew the truth of course; the World had whispered it long ago. She gripped the hem of her robe, feeling indecision on how her actions would influence the Weave. The oft repeated saying that Oracles were certain of the future held true. But in her experience, the journey mattered as much as the end result, and even she was not all knowing. In the end, she went against her better judgement and pronounced words that contained an indescribable power of their own. ¡°He has been blessed by the Spirit of the World, and his deeds shall be entered into Canon.¡± Exill was physically rocked by the power in her words, and would have fallen if he wasn¡¯t being gripped by the Inquisitor. Turning his questioning face up to the blind woman, he mouthed the burning question in his mind. ¡®Why?¡¯ But the Oracle enigmatically smiled down at him, tightly grasping the secret between them. ¡°He may now pray before the Eld Tree.¡± Inquisitor Deroch roughly dragged Exill to his feet. There was a strange reluctance on his face as he led the Witchdoctor to kneel in front of the trunk of the World Spirit. ¡°You may express your gratitude, and make it quick.¡± Exill knelt in the cool shade of the tree for what felt like minutes, still stunned by what had happened. He eventually came to his senses and formulated a brief prayer. ¡®I thank the Spirit and promise to use this opportunity to lead a good life.¡¯ He prayed feebly, showing the markings of a reformed man.
[Ping!]
A deep resonance was felt in the core of his being. He stood up on shaky legs and nodded to the Inquisitor, not trusting his voice. Deroch shadowed him from behind all the way to the exit. A sibilant whisper that was more like a threat drifted over to him, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did to manipulate the Oracle, but this isn¡¯t the end, Witchdoctor.¡± Exill glanced back one last time before leaving the courtyard, the Oracle continuing to watch him from her seat, her face quietly composed. He finally allowed a sigh of relief when the altar boy led him out of the church. *** Tsarra embraced him tightly when he staggered into the Clinic. The close call with death and the sleepless night had finally caught up with him. In spite of his drooping eyelids, he led the Dwarf to the treatment room where he checked on her amputated wrist, noting the remarkable reduction in swelling. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell Envy anything about what happened this morning, right?¡± He asked somewhat casually while applying fresh poultice. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t see her. Is everything alright?¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Yeah, it was nothing, all just a big misunderstanding. Anyway, I¡¯m going to go rest for a bit so call me if there are any patients you can¡¯t handle.¡± He was about to close the door when Tsarra hesitantly called out. ¡°Does that mean I can stay here?¡± Exill turned tiredly to face her, confusion painted across his weary face, ¡®What is she talking about?¡¯ he wondered. Then, he remembered she was free, no longer bound to him. The countless warnings from strangers about his intent to free Envy flashed through his head. Strangely, he had never felt wary about freeing Tsarra. ¡°I need help to run the Clinic¡­¡± he began, but stopped, afraid of pressuring the free woman. Their notarized contract guaranteed freedom in exchange for keeping his secrets, nothing more, and it was still in effect. His intent must have been felt because Tsarra immediately embraced him in gratitude. He awkwardly patted her back until she peeled away and continued to work. Closing the door to the treatment room, he wearily climbed the stairs, into the relative comfort of his room. He heaved a sigh of relief when his head hit the goose down pillow. It was safe¡­ for now. A few carefully placed questions on the way back revealed that Canonization offered minor protections to the blessed individual, alongside a place in the Church hierarchy. Although his blessing hadn¡¯t officially been finalized, the wheels had been set in motion the moment the Oracle made the declaration. The Inquisitor would have to nullify the appointment to bring any charges against him, but that was a feeble defence against such a determined opponent. ¡®I need to leave Ark as soon as possible. The Oracle knows my blessing is a lie, and the Inquisitor suspects this as well. Why she covered for me ¨C I do not know, but it is wishful thinking to hope this house of cards will never fall.¡¯ The only threads tying him here in the city was Envy, and the friends he had made along the way. He dozed off while making plans to earn a lot of money to fund his transition away from Ark, far away from the eyes of the Inquisition. Exill woke up in the evening to a refreshing touch on his forehead. He opened his eyes to find a strikingly beautiful woman withdrawing her hand while seated next to him on the bed. If it was anyone else, they might have relished the thought of being woken in such a fashion, but he knew better than to expect anything else from the dispassionate vampire. ¡°Have we run out of blood potions already?¡± ¡°No, there are two left.¡± She pursed her lips a little. Exill blinked blearily as his brain slowly booted up. For a brief moment he suspected the Vampire had discovered that Tsarra was free and was here to kill him. Then he accepted the more reasonable theory that she was here to drink blood. They had spent so much time together that he was able to interpret her little tells. Though she hid her emotions well, there was no hiding the little squirms of pleasure she was prone to while feeding. It was obvious she didn¡¯t like the blood potions. Feeling guilty about freeing Tsarra, he rolled up his sleeve and invited her to lay beside him. Envy stared at him for a moment, hesitating slightly. She had come to check on him after he left early in the morning without a word. Prior to entering his room, the Witchdoctor had been mumbling in his sleep, as if in a nightmare. She was familiar with nightmares and considered it a mercy to wake others from it. The Vampire swept her scarlet hair back and lay on his familiar arm, eventually wrapping her soft lips around his Labyrinth scarred forearm. ¡°Did you have a good haul today?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°Did Iris drop by again in the morning?¡± Envy poked him warningly in the side with an elbow. He continued to pester her with mundane questions while she fed. Fully aware she couldn¡¯t answer, and that it mildly annoyed her but drew comfort from the ritual. It provided a measure of insight why dentists were so talkative to their patients. He summoned his Card to scroll through the long list of available jobs. There were more than thirty of them at this point and he found himself ignoring those that had little utility, for example he had gained Gambler prior to his duel with Sir Eumol.
Job Gambler
Level 1
Description Outcast- Tier I
Active Skill [Intuit Odds] estimate the chance of success for any given action with increasing accuracy on higher levels.
More interesting was the job he had earned while praying to the Eld Tree.
Job Priest
Level 1
Description Magic - Tier I
Passive Buff Bonus strength to blessings (scales with level)
He knew paupers would often go to church instead of healers for their benedictions. These blessings were purported to increase the rate of natural healing, though he didn¡¯t know how it compared to mana based healing. Priests were also asked to dispel curses both perceived and otherwise from Labyrinth delvers and general populace alike. ¡®I should study what kind of magic they use because it sounds useful.¡¯ His plans to study in the Library had been suspended due to lack of time and funds ¨C which should improve once Tsarra grasped more of the basics. Speaking of which, now that he had the manufacturing facilities, he really wanted to flex some engineering muscles. It was fate and convenience that drove him to become a healer, but his true expertise lay elsewhere. However, Exill doubted the situation would improve anytime soon. There were too many threats, responsibilities, and commitments before he could enjoy luxuries such as inventing. While he let out a frustrated sigh, Envy finished feeding and sat up in quiet satisfaction. Exill followed her into the living room where Tsarra was setting the table with an assortment of bread and cheese. Seeing her struggle to slice the bread with one hand, he rushed in to help. ¡°I¡¯ll slice that for you. Can you grab an extra plate for me? I¡¯m also very hungry.¡± They all sat together at the small table, while Envy oiled the new leather greaves she had bought to replace the scrap leather armour. Exill felt a rare moment of happiness as he studied the leather workmanship of her gear, all the while cutting more bread and cheese for Tsarra to enjoy. He wished this moment would last before he was forced to leave. Chapter 98 - Bola Side Story: Tsarra Tsarra marvelled while flexing the digits of her right hand. They perfectly mirrored the left, albeit without the calluses. It had been a month since that frightful morning where she waited for Exill¡¯s return from the Inquisition. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± In a rare show of affection, she threw her arms around the Witchdoctor while precariously seated on the examination bed. He braced her dangling form for a moment before pushing her back down. ¡°We still have a way to go. I¡¯m thinking of removing the scars around your face and regrowing your ear.¡± Exill said as he brushed her auburn hair aside, examining the entirety of the face including her gentle jade eyes. The right side of her face was no longer red and sensitive to the touch, but there were signs of ridges and scarring where the skin felt stiff. There was a small circular area of healthy skin around her cheek where the hole used to be. ¡°Haah!¡± The surprised sound escaped her lips when Exill lifted her chin to examine the scar bisecting the right side of her mouth. His fingertips brushed against her soft lips, causing a shiver to run down her spine. ¡°We¡¯ll start tomorrow on the lips and work our way back to the ear, how does that sound?¡± Tsarra nodded. Her voice was no longer raspy, but it had a husky ring to it. She remained reluctant to speak and after the recovery of her hand it had become the next great source of shame. The Witchdoctor turned around and began loading a shopping bag with various ointments that had been infused with mana. Their pots were painted with the signature dark cyan colouring of the Clinic. ¡°Good, give my regards to Bola and stay safe. I¡¯ll see you in the evening.¡± Tsarra nodded again while accepting the shopping bag and stepped out into the mid-afternoon sun. She clung tightly to her coin purse and the valuable ointments as she was swept along with the crowd towards the East Gate. The Dwarf had been pickpocketed the first time on her errand and had caught a stern lecture from Exill. A warm sense of pride suffused her when she was waved through by the guard. The red token signifying her status as a resident of Ark was both a source of pride and worry. She worried that someday Envy would spot it and cause great trouble for Exill, perhaps even murdering him in a fit of rage. Tsarra had heard rumours, confirmed by the Labyrinth guards, that one of the Vampire¡¯s jobs was ¡®Murderer¡¯. She suppressed a shiver while walking along the cobblestone walkway of the Inner City. The streets were no longer packed, and the risk of pickpockets were lower in this central area. Soon, she emerged into a small square that surrounded the Labyrinth Tower Mighty buttresses jutted out to support the landmark Tower, providing shade to the mercenaries standing in line as the sun shifted towards the north. Tsarra walked towards the line of stalls catering to the queue. ¡°Um, hi Vendor Bola¡­ Master Exill sends his regards.¡± A wiry woman, tanned from years of working in the outdoors grinned while greeting the timid dwarf. The former mercenary had retired, in a way, after falling in love with a mousy shoemaker who had swept her off her feet. Now she ran a stall selling odds and ends, mostly leather repair and maintenance kits. ¡°How is that rascal doing? Still keepin¡¯ both his legs have he?¡± ¡°Um, yes he¡¯s tired but fine.¡± Tsarra had been frightened when she first heard the extent of Exill¡¯s injuries at the hands of an Iron Golem. It was another reason she didn¡¯t like the Vampire because he supposedly got hurt while protecting her. ¡°Good, good¡­ well, I¡¯ll be out of your hair then. Take good care of my stall and if you have any trouble ask Samson yonder for help. He¡¯s always asking when you are next set to manage the stall.¡± Bola winked at the blushing Dwarf, her blue eyes twinkling mirthfully. There was nothing sweeter than young love. Exill had made the arrangement for Tsarra to man the stall twice a week, a couple weeks ago. He had seen it as an opportunity for the timid dwarf to make some friends, earn some pocket money, and shift his premium goods. Tsarra had vehemently refused to accept payment for her work in the Clinic, so he had asked the persuasive Bola to pay her instead. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Here are your wages for this week, thirty Denars as promised. Why don¡¯t you take that young man out for a date at the Arena, I heard there is a saucy comedy that got the whole city heated up!¡± Bola cackled loudly when the shy maiden turned a brighter shade of red. She gave her a light slap on the rear before cheerfully heading home towards her husband¡¯s workshop. Tsarra faithfully counted the pots while refilling the display stand, ensuring that the new batches went behind the old. Then she sat on a crate, watching mercs file by and overhearing their chatter and gossip. ¡°H-hey, did you have lunch?¡± A shadow crossed Tsarra¡¯s face as a timid voice called out to her. ¡°Um. Hi Samson, I did, but thank you.¡± She accepted the charcoal skewer from the Dwarf vendor¡¯s shaking hands. Samson was in his mid-twenties who ran a grill stand two stalls down. He was a pleasant lad with ruddy cheeks and cute dimples that lit up whenever he smiled, which was often while in the presence of Tsarra. ¡°Say¡­ if I wanted to go watch a play with you, would I have to ask your master for permission first?¡± She choked and spluttered when a piece of vegetable got caught in her throat. She imagined Samson entering the Clinic, cap in hand while asking Exill for permission to take her out on a date. ¡°No!¡± She exclaimed, envisaging the shrewd grin her master would make. He would never let her live it down, just like the pickpocket incident or that time she spilled the chamber pot near the reception area. It still made her toes curl in embarrassment. ¡°Ah, I suppose not, you must be busy after all¡­ um, excuse me, I think I see someone by my stall.¡± Samson hurried away, crestfallen by rejection, but perhaps it was better this way. She knew he had a crush on her, it would have been obvious had she been blind. Tsarra just¡­ didn¡¯t feel ready for romance yet, not when a bright future had opened up just in front of her. She swung her legs seated on the crate, a vacant expression while tallying all the things she ever dreamed of doing. She was shaken out of her reverie when an emaciated street urchin reached out for one of Exill¡¯s merchandise. ¡°Miss¡­ could you spare a pot of poultice? My sister is hurt, and I heard the Witchdoctor¡¯s medicine is the best in Ark.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Tsarra exclaimed when she saw the boy¡¯s hand hovering over the large cyan pot. Bola and Exill had warned her of this exact scenario and not to listen to their pitiful stories. Her panic subsided as the boy made no move to flee with the goods, and instead stared at her with beseeching eyes. ¡°You can take this smaller pot of poultice instead¡­ and bring your sister here next Tuesday if she doesn¡¯t improve. Also, have the rest of this skewer.¡± She placed the half-pot priced at eight Denars into the boy¡¯s outstretched hands, as well as the skewer she had barely touched. Watching the boy race away, she reluctantly withdrew eight Denars from her personal coin pouch and deposited it in the stall¡¯s lockbox. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m in a position to help people now.¡± She whispered to herself. The experienced vendors flanking her stall tutted while witnessing this act of charity. Of course, they understood why she did it, but that path only invited misery and resentment when more would arrive to exploit her goodwill. In spite of the drama, the rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. Vendor Bola returned in the evening accompanied by her husband. She looked happy and well rested as she chased Tsarra away to close the stall herself. ¡°Doesn¡¯t a pretty gal like you have a date to look forward to? Go on, shoo!¡± The Dwarf backed away, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, when she bumped into someone behind her. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m sor-¡± She stopped to look up into the detached amber eyes of Envy, the Vampire rumoured to have killed her former master. There was grime streaked across her face and armour, and a large net was slung over the shoulder filled with valuable monster parts. Her two companions, a gruff looking human male and a young wolfman sidled up behind the Vampire. ¡°Hmph. Friend of yours? We¡¯ll drop these off at the Guild for you.¡± Grundle held an arm out for her netting. ¡°Bye! see you tomorrow same time big sis.¡± The wolfman jovially shouted. Envy released the net when Grundle gripped it, causing the gruff man to snorted in exertion when his load doubled. The two mercs nodded as they went south towards the Guild. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The Vampire gave the timid dwarf-maiden a once-over, her eyes briefly hovering over the intricate silver ring on one hand. After that, she turned towards the east and entered a side passageway to avoid the crowded streets. Tsarra panicked, feet frozen in place, before she chased after the indomitable Valkyrie. ¡®This is bad¡­ she is going to find out I¡¯m no longer a slave! I need to follow close behind her at the gates and show the guard my red token¡­ she won¡¯t look back¡­ she¡¯s not looking back even now!¡¯ Her thoughts were broken when Envy looked back, her expression unkind as always. ¡°Keep up.¡± Tsarra¡¯s hand trembled while standing in line to exit the gate. The queue to leave the inner city moved quickly as the guards often just waved people through. She stuck close to the Vampire in the hopes she wouldn¡¯t look back. ¡°Wait there young lady, show me your token again.¡± Tsarra¡¯s heart froze when the guard singled her out. She hastily flashed her token again, but a line of suspicion grew on the Guard¡¯s forehead. ¡°Please step aside for further inspection.¡± Envy turned around to wait for the dwarf as she was inspected by the guard, her token and Card closely examined. She spotted a flash of red exchange hands before it was nervously pocketed by the apprentice healer. She wordlessly turned around and walked towards the Clinic, not waiting for Tsarra to catch up. Chapter 99 - Tsundere Exill was setting the dinner table when he looked up to smile at his two favourite women climbing up the stairs together. ¡°You¡¯re back early Envy, I¡¯ve just started heating the water so it might take a while. As for you, let¡¯s dig in, I¡¯m hungry!¡± Tsarra sat down with a relieved sigh at the table, nervously fidgeting with her ring. She was fairly certain the Vampire had not seen her red citizen¡¯s token. The succulent aroma of fowl mushroom soup wafted in the air, and she made tiny squirms of delight every time the dunked bread entered her mouth. It was too delightful! Exill smiled warmly while enjoying the meal with her by flickering candlelight. ¡°Wait a second, we¡¯ve got dessert.¡± He held up a finger when the insatiable Maiden finished before him, as usual. Standing up, he walked over to the open window in the kitchen to bring back a fluffy egg tart, sweetly glazed with honey. He spoke in hushed reverence. ¡°This is a little treat to celebrate the recovery of your hand. You¡¯ve been studying and working hard so let¡¯s have a little celebration.¡± His hands shook slightly while dividing the tart in two. This was as much a treat for him as it was for Tsarra. The two closed their eyes in ecstasy when the first forkful of sweet delight entered their mouths. ¡°Did you receive your weekly paycheck from Bola today?¡± ¡°Um¡­ yes.¡± ¡°I heard from Bola that you were itching to go see the new comedy at the Arena, any plans on who you¡¯re going to bring, or will you watch it alone?¡± ¡°Um¡­ no.¡± Tsarra grew increasingly flustered when Exill¡¯s questions became more specific and centred around the grill stall owner Samson. She didn¡¯t know what lies Bola had told him, but it was quickly growing out of hand. She quickly excused herself to do the dishes. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s no reason to be embarrassed! In fact I have a little gift for you, it¡¯s a shame to blow your week¡¯s wages on a single date, so¡­ here it is.¡± Exill patted her head while slipping two clay tokens into her apron pocket. She froze in place, her hands immersed in dish water as slow indignance began to ignite within her. ¡°Master Exill, I am five years older than you, and I would appreciate it if you stopped treating me like a child.¡± The Witchdoctor froze in surprise as he stopped drying the dishes for a moment. He bit his tongue, trying to contain the smile that threatened to overwhelm him. Exill didn¡¯t want to ruin the first time the Dwarf-maiden had stood up for herself. ¡®But she is so adorable even while angry!¡¯ ¡°I apologise, it appears I crossed a boundary. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± They continued to clean up after the meal in awkward silence, until Tsarra excused herself to study downstairs. Exill took the warm basin of water off the stove and knocked prior to entering Envy¡¯s room. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She had her back to him in a state of undress, topless, her hair cascading down like a crimson waterfall. Exill lowered the washbasin and made to leave when Envy stopped him. ¡°When were you going to tell me Tsarra is free?¡± Exill slowly turned his head to face the Vampire who stood confronting him, arms crossed while her pitiless eyes dressed him down. He tried to ignore her ample bosom as his mind raced, even activating [Haste] to buy precious seconds. ¡®When did she find out? Am I going to die?¡¯ he thought to himself. ¡°I had no intention of telling you, of course I wanted to free you first.¡± In the end, he resorted to the truth, and Envy examined him for a while before slowly approaching, her body pressing against his. She whispered sensuously into his ear. ¡°It appears you¡¯ve forgotten something crucial because I¡¯ve been so nice to you, going so far as saving your life¡­¡± she circled behind him, her footsteps barely audible, ¡°I¡¯ve murdered my previous master and can do so again. Remember that next time you go splurging money on dinner parties, gifting her expensive rings, and trying to crawl into the pants of that innocent girl - when you should be working hard to free me as promised.¡± She sniffed his terrified scent before turning around to wet the bath towel, effectively dismissing him. Exill closed the door behind him, both confused, and strangely aroused. ¡®Where did she get the impression I¡¯m into Tsarra, and was that a hint of¡­ jealousy?¡¯ He shook his head while picking up the rune throwing bones to consult their guidance. The divination tools were like a bad habit. After all, it had nearly got him killed to a Behemoth. However, it didn¡¯t seem so bad when applied to low stake advice such as this. Half an hour later, Envy opened his door abruptly while drying her still wet hair. Her thin tank top clung tightly as she casually sat on the edge of his bed. It hadn¡¯t been that long since she had threatened his life, and it surprised him that she was in the mood to feed when blood potions were readily available. He warily moved back to make room for her. The damp hair felt unpleasantly cold against his tunic as she lay down¡­ and after a few minutes of silence, wrapped her lips around his forearm. The fact that she was acting like nothing had happened made slow indignation reverberate like a quietly waking dragon. ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate you threatening me. I thought we were beyond that, especially after all we¡¯ve been through.¡± Exill angrily patted her wet hair with a towel as his outrage grew stronger. Like a fool, he had believed there was a measure of trust between them, a silent camaraderie beyond what a contract could enforce. It was the main reason he had never followed up on the Jurisconsult ¨C if you ignored the estimated 6,000 Denar cost. He pouted while continuing his tirade, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to crawl into Tsarra¡¯s pants¡­ what kind of logic is that anyway!? Why would I free her when I could have better manipulated her as a slave if that was my motive?¡± While his reputation was questionable¡­ he had believed Envy knew him better than anyone else in this world. Envy slowly detached from his arm and yanked the towel angrily from his grip. She hadn¡¯t been able to properly feed because he was too rough in drying her hair. In truth, she had come to apologise for her earlier actions, but had changed tack when the silence grew to an untenable pause. In the meantime, her master continued venting, caught up in the unfairness of the accusations. ¡°I mean¡­ if I didn¡¯t know any better¡­ I would say you are acting jealous right now.¡± The beautiful, yet murderous woman swiftly elbowed him in the side, then turned to face him, eyebrows furrowed and inches away from his face. ¡°You think I am jealous¡­ of her?¡± Exill gulped as he stared into her passionate eyes, noticing her soft lips stained in his blood, and the warm breath against his chin. It felt like slow minutes crawled by until the fire in her eyes faded back to embers. Eventually, she turned away to latch back on to his arm, but before doing so, a barely audible whisper drifted back to him. ¡°Stop flirting with vulnerable women¡­¡± Chapter 100 - Pergs Request The next morning, Exill was applying the last burst of healing magic to Tsarra when he suddenly felt lighter, the impending migraine caused by mana fatigue abruptly washed away like a cleansing tide. He had often experienced a shortage of mana since he gave the Wizard¡¯s Ring to his apprentice over a month ago. The Ring had the dual enchantment of increasing the mana pool on top of doubling the EXP gain rate and the Dwarf would not have been able to activate [Heal] without it. Its loss would have been felt more sharply had his Wizard job¡¯s level 11 [Mana Efficiency] not been in effect. The scar bisecting Tsarra¡¯s lips had been healed through the painstaking task of cutting away the scar tissue, followed by a prodigious amount of [Heal]. Right now, she was laying prone on the examination table with the lower half of her face paralyzed for another good fifteen minutes. Her eyes followed him as he swivelled away, summoning his Card.
Job Healer
Level 20
Description Magic - Tier I
Active Skill [Focal Area] concentrate healing energy over a localised area (control ability scales with level)
Passive Buff [Lvl 20 Unlock] MAG bonus
Healer had reached level 20 and unlocked a new buff that increased his total mana reserves. ¡®Yes, my mana bar has increased!¡¯ He was celebrating the feat when a polite knock resounded on the front door. Exill brushed Tsarra¡¯s hair then stood up, ¡°You rest here, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He opened the front door to find Perg the Healer, who looked incredibly pleased to see him. ¡°Master Exill! Has it been nearly two months since we last saw each other? That Guild business was truly unfortunate, You should have seen Healer Milo throw a fit when his motion for retrial was dismissed! Ah, but it all worked out in the end am I right?¡± The portly healer positively beamed while looking around the homely entrance of the Clinic. ¡°Could you perhaps treat this old gossip to a cup of tea? My throat is awfully parched nowadays, what, with all the talking I do! Speaking of which, I¡¯m offended that you never come visit anymore! I thought we were good frie-¡± Perg nattered on as Exill led him upstairs to the living room and poured him a lukewarm cup of tea that had been made that morning. ¡°Perfect drinking temperature this, you know how to treat your guests right! Anyway, down to business¡­ well strictly speaking it¡¯s unofficial Guild business. Exill my man, the Guild is in a bit of a pickle lately, have you heard what¡¯s been going on at Virigo?¡± Exill shook his head while giving time for Perg to catch his breath, ¡°I know it¡¯s two days travel west of here, but that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Good, good. You are absolutely correct; it is mid-tier resort and trading town of 3000 residents about a day¡¯s travel away by fast coach. I heard it has the most stunning views for miles around! Anyway, I digress. Their one and only healer, Spirit rest her soul, passed away a month ago and the situation is getting rather sticky for the Guild.¡± ¡°Did she not have an apprentice?¡± Exill asked as Perg took a long sip of tea. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if she still did, poor man was drafted in the war and perished along with his battalion is what I heard. Anyway, Virigo¡­ it¡¯s in a bit of a mess because no one in the Guild wants to relocate there, including me, guilty as charged!¡± Perg beamed while spreading his arms in surrender before continuing on, ¡°These positions have a tendency to become permanent you see, so the members agreed yesterday, unofficially of course¡­ that it would be awfully charitable if the Witchdoctor could fill our place. Only for a week, maybe two at most, while we drum up a suitable replacement!¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°What would be in it for me? My clinic will stand empty.¡± Perg held up a finger as if he had waited for this exact moment. ¡°That is exactly my point! You will be compensated 1500 D¡¯s by the Guild for this assignment on top of any earnings you happen to make in Virigo, of course you must charge the standard Guild rates for your services. I heard you have a cute little apprentice and I¡¯m sure she can hold the fort long enough until your return, am I right? Not to mention, you will be doing the Guild a huge favour, and we¡¯re likely to reciprocate in the future.¡± Perg took a deep breath while awaiting eagerly for the Witchdoctor¡¯s response, his eyes twinkling with glee. Exill took a moment to think, trying not to be pressured by the eagerness of his guest. ¡®Tsarra should be able to treat most injuries that come this way, now that both her hands are functional¡­ and it sounds like I can briefly double my income, meaning I could settle my debts faster.¡¯ ¡°When do you need your answer by?¡± ¡°Today, right now my dear chap. We need a replacement out by tomorrow morning! If I can¡¯t get an answer out of you, we all agreed a random apprentice would be selected as a stopgap. This matter has really dragged on too long!¡± Exill winced as the pressure ramped up. He flipped his divination coin out of habit, and just as expected, it had landed on its edge. Sighing loudly, he made his decision. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go, but only for ten days. I expect the Guild to cover the transport fees on top of my 1500 D¡¯s.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, no it shouldn¡¯t¡­ I¡¯ll inform the others straight away. Well, I must be leaving now. You have done me, and the Guild a great favour by accepting this, I¡¯m proud to call you a close friend!¡± With that, the portly healer stood up and went to the front door, he turned around at the last moment for he had forgotten a crucial detail. ¡°May the Spirit strike my confounded brain! I nearly forgot to tell you the most important part! We¡¯ll have a carriage waiting for you at the western perimeter gate, be there before nine!¡± Exill closed the front door and went to the treatment room to check on Tsarra, only to find her sitting up and alert. ¡°Did you hear all that?¡± The Dwarf nodded, suddenly nervous of the responsibility that had befallen her. Exill noticed the stiffness in her shoulder and laid a reassuring hand. ¡°Just do your best, I believe in you. If you find you cannot handle something, refer the patients to Milo¡¯s clinic. I¡¯ll send a message to Bola that you cannot manage her stall for a week or two until I return.¡± ¡°What about Envy¡­ will you take her too?¡± Tsarra didn¡¯t know how she felt about the Vampire. The woman was scary, but it would be equally scary to be left behind in this large clinic, all alone. ¡°Thank you for reminding me, I need to make two weeks¡¯ worth of blood potions. She¡¯ll stay here and keep you and the clinic safe in my absence.¡± With that established, Exill hurriedly made the necessary arrangements. ¡®Fourteen doses of blood potions¡­¡¯ He quietly struggled over the projected requirements on his clay tablet. It was well above the one pint (470ml) recommendation for a full blood donation. Even though he regularly drank recovery tonics fortified with iron, it felt unwise to draw so much blood in one go. ¡®I¡¯m sure she can ration it somehow if I make a few less.¡¯ He thought glumly, knowing how much she disliked its bitter aftertaste. Talking of which, the mechanics around blood potion didn¡¯t quite add up. Each dose required 50ml of his blood, but it drained far less than 10% of vitality when fed normally. Later that evening, Envy returned home to find all the preparations had been made for Exill¡¯s departure. She frowned, unhappy about being excluded from the decision-making process. She dragged him to her room, still covered in grime from the Labyrinth. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this. If you must go, take me with you.¡± Her amber eyes turned crimson with urgency. Exill was taken aback by her strange insistence. He looked at her quizzically, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like blood potions but-¡± Envy cut him off with a swift motion of her hand, ¡°Remember Diallo turned down the mystery buyer of our contract? It has been bothering me ever since. People have been tailing me these last few days.¡± Exill felt a shiver run down his spine while absorbing this newest revelation. He had thought long and hard on why someone would pay twice the residual value of their contract for ownership of the Vampire, when it would be worthless once he paid back the loan. Exill had come to the chilling conclusion that the mystery buyer didn¡¯t want the loan to be paid back at all. He was sure Envy had come to a similar inference. ¡®And the easiest way to trigger a default would be to cripple¡­ or kill me.¡¯ ¡°You are probably overthinking this, but there is an easy way to find out. I checked earlier this morning after Perg left and there wasn¡¯t a hint of danger when I took the readings.¡± Exill left the room and returned with the pouch of runic throwing bones. He channelled mana into them, questioning the safety of this trip to Virigo. He concentrated as the shards of glowing ivory slipped through his fingers, before flashing in sequence, dissipating their mana. He glared at the bones then tried again, this time questioning his safety were he to remain in Ark. The bones fizzled in sequence as their answers evaporated into the aether. ¡°What did it say?¡± A note of concern entered her voice while examining his grim expression. Exill merely shook his head and replied, a hint of defeat in his voice. ¡°The answers have changed¡­¡± Chapter 101 - Brel Cart ¡°How can the answers change, what did you ask of it?¡± Envy paced across the room, watching Exill repeat the same motion with the rune inscribed bones. ¡°Divination sees probabilities, not certainties¡­ something must have changed since I asked the question this morning¡­ and the only thing that springs to mind is you, arguing that you would follow me to Virigo.¡± Exill elaborated further, still confused by what had changed, and what it meant. ¡°I asked the danger of me going to Virigo versus staying in Ark. There is no difference between the two. Both paths are hazardous.¡± Suddenly, what had been a light excursion to the countryside, a way to earn extra money had become a lot more ominous. There was a hidden danger out there and nowhere was safe. ¡®If that is the case, is it better to stay here, or leave?¡¯ It was a troubling dilemma. Envy bit her lip, her mind racing, then proposed the path of least uncertainty. ¡°Let¡¯s stay here, I can suspend my delves and we can turtle up in the clinic until we pay our debts.¡± Reluctantly, Exill shook his head. He had considered that idea but rejected it because there were other ways to make them default aside from killing him. ¡°If they can¡¯t get to us, they will attack our ability to pay back the loan. Like setting this clinic on fire for example.¡± Shaking his head, he gestured outside, ¡°No, we should go to Virigo and put some distance between us and our opponents, then pay back the debt as soon as possible. Only then will we be safe. The only question left is what to do about Tsarra¡­¡± Envy motioned to the door that was still slightly ajar. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask her, instead of deciding everything yourself?¡± Exill opened the door to find Tsarra standing there, a determined expression on her face. ¡°How much did you overhear?¡± He asked, perhaps a little too coldly. ¡°Enough to tell you I will be going with you. I¡¯m the only one who can heal you if you get hurt.¡± Exill sighed when he saw the resolute features, her lips pursed in fierce determination. He couldn¡¯t leave her here alone, or risk involving Luna in the conspiracy by sending her there. As much as he disliked it, this was the only answer. He nodded in quiet acquiescence to her demands, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll need to wake up early to pack extra provisions.¡± Exill followed Tsarra down the stairs, finally giving Envy the opportunity to bathe alone. Leaning tiredly on the counter, he reached his hand out to Tsarra. ¡°Form a party with me.¡± Exill felt a cocktail of emotions filter through their connection when she accepted his request, one of quiet courage, fear, and shame. He switched her second profession from [Herbalist] lvl 5 to [Wizard] lvl 1 then swiftly dissolved the party, noting her growing embarrassment. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I switched your second job to Wizard. You may need to defend yourself out there and this is the best way to do it. I¡¯ll swap it back once we¡¯re safe. Remember never to show your Card to others during this expedition because it is not your registered job.¡± ¡°Um, will you teach me how to fight?¡± Exill silently considered delegating this task to Envy, then quickly dismissed it. She was a terrible teacher, prone to monosyllabic feedback. ¡°You can count on me.¡± *** The three companions woke up early the next day to buy provisions before the streets became crowded. They walked briskly via side alleyways to the western perimeter gate. Exill had passed through a similar one only a year and a half ago as a penniless refugee. The perimeter walls were in better shape than they had been before the war. Signs of hasty repair work could be seen where new woodwork had been placed to shore up the earthen ramparts. Outside, a shallow ditch filled with all kinds of filth stunk up the vicinity, buzzing the area with flies. Off to the side in a dusty staging area, Exill spotted a brel drawn cart waiting amidst several freight caravans. ¡®Fast carriage my ass. It looks like the Guild arranged the bare minimum.¡¯ If mules were the poor man¡¯s horse, then brels were for the destitute. A common fixture in the poorer areas of Ark, they were renowned for their bad temperament and corrosive faeces, resulting in their entry ban in the Inner City. These duck billed pack animals resembled bulky storks, equipped with powerful reverse jointed legs, and lifespans half that of mules. Approaching closer, he saw the cart was already occupied by three passengers. A priest, mercenary, and a civilian. Exill hailed the cart driver, a hunched figure with black straggly hair and protruding eyes. ¡°You be the Witchdoctor, are ye?¡± ¡°Yes, and I have two other passengers with me.¡± The cart driver extended a greedy palm towards him, ¡°That¡¯ll be an extra 40 Denars then. I only received payment from the Guild for ye.¡± Handing the driver four large copper coins, Exill bit back a curse at the unexpected expense. Then he helped the girls up and boarded himself. Exhaling softly, he examined the other travellers while introducing himself, eyes widening in recognition at the mercenary. ¡°I am Witchdoctor Exill, and these two are my companions Envy and Tsarra. We are travelling to Virigo to be their provisional healer.¡± He warily eyed the Priest, after all, he hadn¡¯t forgotten his encounter with the Church. The Priest who appeared to be in his mid-fifties smiled in genuine warmth. ¡°Blessings to the Will-blessed, I am Father Jonas, and this is my escort, Mattan. Do not be deceived by his appearance for he is a kindly soul. We are also on our way to Virigo to provide aid where we can.¡± The hulking mercenary with greasy locks grinned at Exill, revealing several missing teeth amidst his unkempt beard, ¡°We¡¯ll be sleeping together like the good ole days.¡± He said in a deep gravelly voice. It took a moment for everyone to absorb this statement, shocked by the implication. ¡°We were¡­ roommates at an Inn.¡± Exill hastily clarified when he saw Tsarra¡¯s eyes grow wide, but it was too late. A seed of doubt had been planted in her mind. To her, it perfectly explained why he remained celibate despite often sleeping together with the seductive beauty that was Envy. ¡°I am Coran, a member of Virigo town council. I came here to negotiate with the Healer¡¯s Guild. It is with great pleasure I welcome a Spirit Blessed healer to our humble town, and I hope you will enjoy, and perhaps extend your stay with us.¡± The well-dressed man gave him a small bow, lips pursed in anticipation. The cart suddenly jerked forward when the cart driver whipped the brel into motion. The straggly haired man laughed maniacally at the passengers. ¡°And I am Great Koopra, I will deliver ye to Virigo!¡± Chapter 102 - Magic Training The next five hours passed uneventfully. In spite of their proximity to Ark, Koopra, their navigator was always on edge. He would unclasp the spinning accumulator like a bad habit whenever strange movement was detected amongst the tree line, putting everyone on edge. This wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, and Exill didn¡¯t mind. They were in danger and vastly preferred alertness over someone more relaxed. Though he inwardly winced every time the Navigator complained something felt wrong with the accumulator. It was a stark reminder of the time that the dial in the second-hand device had imperceptibly pointed to him. ¡°We¡¯ll be stopping by Harrow¡¯s Grove soon, time to stretchy legs and eat ye food!¡± Koopra exclaimed, and shortly after, they came upon a small clearing surrounded by dense woodland. There were several permanent fire pits and a small lean-to that housed firewood and protected it from the elements. Father Jonas and Merc Mattan volunteered to replenish the firewood, while Exill and company foraged for mushrooms growing in the shade. Though they had said that, in actuality, it was a crash course on magic for Tsarra. ¡°I¡¯ve given some thought on how you could contribute to a fight, especially in an ambush. Since we don¡¯t have much time, I would like you to focus on three spells, two of which we will practice here today.¡± Raising one finger, he captured the attention of the bright eyed Dwarf, ¡°Let¡¯s cover the basics. As a Wizard, you can adjust the strength of a single spell by adjusting the flow of mana.¡± ¡°See this.¡± Summoning a small flame from his index finger, he waved his other hand through the flickering fire several times to no effect, ¡°Fire fuelled by mana alone cannot harm the caster and accompanying party members. It would be a different story if I set the leaves alight because then, it would no longer be fuelled by mana alone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the same principle why we can¡¯t heal ourselves! Does this mean I won¡¯t be able to heal you if I am a party member?¡± Tsarra asked, as always she was clever and thinking two steps ahead. ¡°That¡­ is not entirely true.¡± Exill fumbled, because he distinctly remembered healing Envy while partied in the Labyrinth. ¡°I think there are different rules based on the category of the magic, but I don¡¯t fully understand the limits of what is applicable or not.¡± He swiftly moved to the next topic. ¡°Take note of how difficult and strenuous it becomes to fuel the fire the further away it is.¡± A floating orb of flame moved back and forth, growing steadily smaller as the distance grew between them. ¡°As a Wizard, you can control only one spell at a time.¡± Furrowing his brows, he tried to summon a gust of wind, which resulted in the floating orb of fire fizzling out. After covering the basic theory, Exill channelled mana to his index finger and pointed it at a tree invoking [Ice]. A thin sliver of diamond crackled to form at his fingertip, then was propelled like a bolt where it shattered against the aged bark. ¡°This will be your basic offense¡­ it doesn¡¯t have much penetrating power unless you pour more mana into it. Before that, I would like you to practice [Gust] which should protect us from projectiles.¡± This was followed by another demonstration where a soft gust of wind blew through them, rustling the surrounding leaves until it slowly turned into a swirling vortex as Exill slowly curled his hand inward. ¡°You see how I began with a simple gust that turned into a whirlwind by manipulating the flow of mana?¡± He smiled at Tsarra mirroring his hand motion and continued on, ¡°Last but not least is [Wall of Fire], which should be placed to cover our rear. I will be responsible for this until you master the other two. With all this kindling¡­ I don¡¯t think this isn¡¯t the best place to demonstrate.¡± Exill kicked the loose leaves around the grove. Envy stood watch as Tsarra practiced channelling mana in the form of magic. Apart from closing her eyes just before firing an ice bolt, she was a quick learner. Once he was sure she had grabbed the gist of it, Exill drew his short bow to take down a wild dove and squirrel nearby, it would make a hearty addition come dinner time. The trio returned to a small cauldron over a fire, the water and oats steaming as it began to boil. Exill quickly cut up chunks of mushrooms to throw in the mix. He took firm control of the ladle because he suspected that the highest-level cook in their group was him.
Job Cook
Level 14
Description Production- Tier I
Passive Buff Added flavour (scales with level)
The reception to his cooking was incredible, ¡°Mm~ This is very good!¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What did you add to bring out this flavour?¡± Exill had tried to increase Cook¡¯s level back at Savta¡¯s Clinic, but perhaps it was because Luna did most of the work, the job never rose above level 5. It was thanks to the arrival of Tsarra, and her appreciation for even the failures that increased his confidence and drove the recent level gains. Exill gave a small bow to the Dwarf as she looked at him with joyful eyes. Only she could guess the secret of his talent. While they were happily feasting, Envy sat alone a distance away, skinning and prepping the animals they had hunted earlier. While not capable of appreciating their flavour, she was adept at field dressing monsters from years of experience in the Labyrinth under one of her former owners. The passengers boarded the cart after lunch, and Exill helped to load the small cauldron on the back with the carcasses that Envy had just processed. Projecting a small amount of mana inside, he chilled the meat using ice magic so that it would stay fresh until dinner. Councilman Coran observed this and raised an eyebrow, carefully glancing at Father Jonas while speaking to Exill. ¡°Witchdoctor sir, while I do look forward to sharing in the bounty of your harvest come nightfall, perhaps it would be best to store and cook the meat separately, in consideration of Father Jonas.¡± The Priest interjected before Exill could speak, a genial smile on his lips. ¡°Thank you Councilman, but I am not as pedantic as some of my brethren at the Church. While the priesthood do not seek out the living flesh, I do not reject the gift that the World has bestowed upon us when it is offered in good faith.¡± Father Jonas tapped his heart twice and continued, ¡°From the surprised look on the Witchdoctor¡¯s face it is apparent he did not know of our customs.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding Father Jonas, I will take this lesson to heart.¡± Exill gave a small bow to the Priest, embarrassed that his lack of knowledge had caused such a blunder. The passengers settled down to light conversation, and Exill slowly felt his suspicion of the Priest melt away. His first interaction with the Church and the Inquisition hadn¡¯t yielded the best first impression, but Father Jonas was a temperate man. His gentle nature combined with a vast pool of knowledge made for interesting conversation, helping the time pass on their journey. Exill pointed to a small monument with unknown script that lay at intervals on the roadside. Looking at it too closely raised the hackles of his neck. ¡°Excuse me Father, do you know what those markers are?¡± The priest glanced behind him at the passing monument then answered the question, ¡°Those are Waystones. Ancient even before the founding of our Kingdom. They are found on some historical travel routes and the Church speculates that it keeps the Aberrations at bay. We know this because some of the script engraved on its surface can be found in the Tower above Ark¡¯s Labyrinth.¡± Exill thanked the Priest and fell deep into thought. ¡®Perhaps the purpose of the Labyrinth Tower is not only to contain its growth, but to protect the city against the malignant Aberrations that plague the countryside.¡¯ Following this line of thought, he asked a follow up question, thinking back to the traumatic encounter with the Mist. ¡°What exactly is an Aberration? I¡¯ve encountered a few and they were¡­ terrifying. How do the people outside Ark even survive with such a threat looming over them?¡± The Priest sighed heavily, not knowing where to begin on such an expansive and contentious topic. ¡°They are¡­ cancerous entities that have been rejected by the Spirit of the World, and one of our duties as members of the Clergy is to protect the people from their reach. No one knows exactly who or what they are, only a select few Diviners and our Oracle know where they might form or strike next. As for your second question on how the world outside Ark survives¡­¡± Father Jonas¡¯s lined face broke out into a mournful smile, ¡°Well, we simply endure! Major towns like Virigo house an enclave of priests who consecrate the nearby villages in the hopes of driving this madness away. There is evidence that Aberrations are drawn to pain and suffering, which is why I have been dispatched to the town as reinforcements until a Healer stabilises the situation there.¡± The Priest gave a meaningful nod to Exill, emphasising his importance in keeping Virigo safe ¨C both physically and spiritually. The middle-aged man took a deep breath before continuing, a questioning look in his eyes. ¡°Please entertain this old man¡¯s curiosity. Although it hasn¡¯t been finalized, I have heard you consulted with our Oracle. Tell me about the Blessing you witnessed in the Labyrinth.¡± Exill surreptitiously checked ¡®Conman¡¯ was active prior to reciting his rehearsed script, that had steadily become embellished with each retelling. The other members of their group and even Koopra turned around, eager for his story. ¡°Well, I was delving in the Labyrinth like usual when I encountered an open-air chasm, the crimson sky visible up above. This area contained no monsters, and I was wary, on guard, when from up above a golden glow descended from the heavens¡­¡± Father Jonas stared at him while fumbling with his amulet, completely enraptured. ¡°I pointed my spear at the entity, fearful for my life, when a wave of such gentle and all-encompassing love washed over me, wiping all my worries away. It did not speak with me directly¡­ but I gained the impression there was a greater purpose I had to fulfil, and that my new powers lay in healing and the manipulation of the life force.¡± ¡°Truly remarkable¡­ one can only dream of such an encounter¡­¡± Father Jonas whispered, visualising the Witchdoctor¡¯s experience in his mind¡¯s eye. Chapter 103 - Prayer Six hours later, the group alighted from the cart and walked with stiff limbs to the well-established camping ground where a small brook bubbled quietly, providing a welcome source of fresh water to the travellers. The sun was setting behind the distant mountain ranges in the north and the crew worked quickly to set up camp and get the fire started. As the cauldron began to heat up, Exill added a spoonful of lard then gently browned the meat. Next went in the potatoes and vegetables, as well as seasoning and fresh herbs before it was doused in cold water and allowed to boil. They all sat around the fire, marvelling at the rich scent wafting in front of them. Exill tore the hard crust loaf in half, handing it to Tsarra, her eyes gleaming in anticipation for the meal. The outdoors held a special ambiance, the fresh air contrasting with the pollution and filth that clogged Ark¡¯s streets. There was no way it could not be delicious. In what felt like an eternity, their stew was finally ready to eat, and Father Jonas held a hand to his heart, invoking a quiet prayer. ¡°I thank the Spirit of the World for this meal we share in your grace. I gratefully accept the life that was given to prepare this food, to fuel our bodies forward by your eternal Will. Please bless this simple feast before us.¡± The group collectively tapped the spot above their hearts and eagerly dug in, savouring the rich flavour of the broth. After the meal, Mattan was responsible for cleaning up, and Exill made a mental note to check the handiwork of the greasy mercenary before they broke camp next morning. ¡°Gather round, pick ye straws for night watch duty.¡± Koopra waved a fogged-up hourglass and several blades of grass that had been trimmed to various lengths. Everyone except the Navigator drew a straw, their length denoting the order of their rotation. Exill was on third watch, followed by Tsarra then Envy. The Witchdoctor unrolled his padded mat, stopping to observe the Priest who ambled around the camp periphery, consecrating the earth with water from a slender vial. Exill approached Father Jonas as he completed the first rites, eager to [Appraise] the vial.
Item Value
Blessed Water 12 Denars
¡°Excuse me Father, how does one create Blessed Water?¡± The Priest smiled, motioning Exill to following him to the brook, from which he refilled the vial of water. Clasping the vial tight to his chest, he recited a prayer. ¡°May the Spirit consecrate this vessel in my presence with its blessing. Let all who are thirsty find comfort from the river of living water that carries your Will.¡± Exill carved the prayer into his head, unsure if it was entirely necessary but not willing to take the chance. Holding his hand out towards the vial, he asked. ¡°May I hold the vial? If it is alright with you I would like to try using my skill that empowers potions with mana, strengthening their effect.¡± Father Jonas hesitatingly offered the vial to the Witchdoctor. There was no clear guidance in the Church on tampering with [Blessed Water] and besides, he was curious what the Spirit-blessed wielder of the skill could achieve. Exill accepted the vial and channelled mana into the water.
Item Value
Infused Blessed Water ?? Denars
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! A dim glow started to emanate from the vial and the Priest quickly tapped his heart twice at this wondrous phenomenon. Uncorking the glass with trembling hands, he took a small sip, a joyful expression spreading across his lined face as the warmth spread within him. ¡°Simply amazing¡­ it is as if the water has been blessed by a Bishop! You are truly blessed by the Spirit my young friend.¡± When the Priest returned to camp alone, Exill crouched down to refill his flask, quickly reciting the prayer committed to memory while clasping it to his chest. However it was no use, and [Appraise] quickly revealed it was a mundane flask of water. After several more attempts, he reluctantly returned to camp, disappointed by the results. ¡®Priest is assigned as an active job, and I repeated Father Jonas¡¯s words verbatim¡­ what am I missing?¡¯ He approached the Priest, who had finally put the vial away and was unrolling the bed on a flat piece of ground. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you again Father, but I tried to bless my flask of water and I don¡¯t think it worked.¡± ¡°Hahaha, if only it were so easy!¡± The genial man shook his head mirthfully, ¡°Simply intoning the words of prayer won¡¯t work. You need to channel your belief in the Spirit and let it flow through you into the water.¡± Father Jonas emphasised this by gathering his hands above the heart, forming a circle with his fingers. He patted Exill on the back, glad that the young lad shared his religious fervour. ¡®How are you supposed to channel your belief?¡¯ Mulling over the enigma, he returned to his bedroll to find it flanked on both sides by Envy and Tsarra, the latter of whom was already fast asleep. Exill rolled up his sleeve and lay down, extending the arm in the Vampire¡¯s direction. Envy sniffed his unwashed forearm, glancing back in disapproval before latching on. *** ¡°Wake up kid, it¡¯s your watch.¡± Exill was rudely awoken by the fetid breath of Mattan who was crouching above him, hourglass in hand. He tried to get up, only to find Envy¡¯s heavy thigh slung across the waist and Tsarra hugging his arm from the other side. ¡°Tch¡­ lucky bastard.¡± Mattan shook his greasy head, leaving the hourglass behind and returning to his bedroll. Exill eventually extricated himself and sat by the fire, throwing fresh wood to fuel its warmth, the spear and bow easily within arm¡¯s reach. ¡®I guess I should work on her gift.¡¯ Using a stick of charcoal, he traced Tsarra¡¯s name on the frame of the clay tablet. He hadn¡¯t been able to teach her much in the way of theory, instead focusing on practical sessions, and hoped to change all that during their brief stay in Virigo. The crackling fire and scraping of wood was the only sound that could be heard for the next hour. Breathing in the fresh night air, he looked up at the bright stars overhead, humbled by the vastness of scale and reminded of the world left behind. Sunk in thoughts of what this solar system would look like, he almost missed the dim pillar of light that flashed to their west. In an instant, he stood alert, spear at the ready. A few tense seconds passed and Exill was about to dismiss the phenomenon when the treetops beyond the clearing swayed as a wave of wind approached from where the light had shone. The wind spread across the tall grass before quietly washing over him, a seething poison of unease oozing into his bones. Goosebumps rose on his flesh as every fibre of his being screamed of encroaching danger. He rushed to the sleeping Navigator, shaking him awake. ¡°Mm¡­ what is it?¡± ¡°I saw a pillar of light to the west; I think it¡¯s an Aberration.¡± Koopra snapped awake and swept the straggly hair from his eyes. He hurriedly reached for the accumulator, channelling mana into its brass housing. The smaller dial spun around lazily then settled down, failing to point towards a source. ¡°How far away were it?¡± Exill paused as he did some mental calculations. It took under nine seconds for the wind to approach his position, suggesting the source was three kilometres (1.9 miles) away. Koopra visibly relaxed his hunched shoulders when he heard the estimate. ¡°Stay on lookout and wake me if it gets close. We be close to the road and the Priest is with us, it should avoid consecrated ground.¡± The Navigator was paranoid to a fault, but out here, against the unknown, standing your ground was safer than fleeing off into the dark. A lot of lesser Navigators eventually grew afraid of the dark, retiring, or taking on other jobs because they were fearful of sleeping outside the safety of towns and cities. In Koopra¡¯s world view, it was best not to worry if there was nothing you could do about it. What neither of them knew was that the nightmare fast approaching them was no ordinary abomination. Chapter 104 - Aberration Exill spent the rest of his watch standing alert, the goosebumps and unease never subsiding. He felt something was watching from the shadows, stealthily circling the treeline. And yet, everyone, even the brel slept on in peace until the trickling hourglass indicated it was Tsarra¡¯s turn to stand watch. Unfortunately, he could not trust the timid Maiden to stand guard, not with the threat of danger so immediate yet deafening in its silence. Flipping the hourglass over, he continued to stay vigilant. Despite this, Tsarra woke up and stumbled over, the fire reflecting off her tangled hair and tired jade eyes. ¡°How long have you been on watch, is it not my turn yet?¡± ¡°Yes, you can go back to sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when it¡¯s your turn.¡± The shy Maiden hesitated, reading the stiffness in his shoulder and the sense of unease permeating from him. She nervously looked around at the uninviting darkness. ¡°Um¡­ I need to pee.¡± Exill froze, unsure on how to proceed. He asked her tersely, ¡°Can¡¯t you wait?¡± ¡°Um¡­ no, and you¡¯re starting to scare me.¡± ¡°Then relieve yourself next to the brel.¡± He whispered, eyes scanning the surroundings. For a brief moment he thought he saw movement. ¡°Really?¡± Exill was on edge, and about to make a cutting remark about how she had relieved herself in a cage back at Diallo¡¯s warehouse ¨C when he held himself back before the hurtful words could leave his mouth. Instead, he gripped her hand whilst speaking softly, ¡°Follow me.¡± He reluctantly led the embarrassed dwarf away, but still within the periphery of the campfire. Their shadows writhed absurdly against the treeline, concealing the horrors lying patiently in wait. When they crossed the boundary of the blessed earth, Tsarra clung to him tightly and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise in alarm. A sickly palpitating beat could be felt just behind the trees. Gripping the spear tightly he motioned Tsarra behind him. ¡°Go now, quickly.¡± He hissed. Cold sweat trickled down his back, and he nearly turned around in surprise when the sound of trickling water sprouted behind him. It eventually subsided and he felt her grip his tunic again. They slowly retreated back to the warm safety of the campfire, then lead the mortified woman to her bedroll. Back on hallowed ground, and illuminated by light, Exill felt relieved. ¡®Maybe this is all in my head, and I¡¯m jumping at shadows.¡¯ He thought lightly while patting her dishevelled head as she crouched to lay down. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you up when it¡¯s your turn on watch, tinkle princess. Now go to sleep¡± He whispered a light-hearted joke to diffuse some of the tension. Tsarra turned her back to him on the mat, the tips of her ears scarlet red. The danger in the periphery momentarily forgotten, Exill berated himself for teasing the cute girl, then softly tread back to the curled figure of the Navigator. He pried the brass housing of the accumulator from the dozing man¡¯s hand and channelled mana into it. Under his nervous gaze, the secondary dial spun around wildly before steadily tracking an unseen object beyond the treeline. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Oh hell no¡­¡± The sense of impending horror returned in full force. Tamping down the rising panic in his heart, Exill considered waking up Koopra, then promptly dismissed the idea. Surrounded by deep darkness, there was nowhere they could flee to. It was just like the time he was surrounded by wolves while fleeing to Ark. ¡®Calm down¡­ there must be a reason the Aberration hasn¡¯t attacked us yet¡­¡¯ Exill racked his brains for something, anything he could do, and came to an epiphany. ¡®The Priest!¡¯ Exill hurried to where Father Jonas slept, an arms breadth away from the greasy Mattan. He gently shook the Priest, holding a finger to his lips when the tired man startled awake. ¡°Exill? Is it my watch already?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry but we¡¯re in a predicament¡­ there is an Aberration circling us right now.¡± Exill described the pillar of light he had witnessed earlier, followed by the palpitating beat he heard outside the sanctified ground. Finally, he channelled mana into the accumulator, his hand shaking as the dial tracked movement beyond the treeline. ¡°This is highly irregular. It shouldn¡¯t be able to approach so close to the road unless¡­¡± The Priest¡¯s whisper faded to silence; his bushy eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He fumbled in his robe and drew out the glowing vial of infused blessed water. ¡°You did well to come to me, only I can drive this abomination away. Thanks to your mana infusion, our chance of success is greatly increased. I must ask you to cover me while I perform the second rites.¡± Exill helped the middle-aged man to his feet, causing the Priest¡¯s knees to creak in pain. He then followed him to the edges of the blessed ground where their shadows thrashed wildly on the ground as if driven to madness by the flickering campfire. Father Jonas unstopped the glowing vial with trembling hands and let it slowly drip onto the ground, walking forward while reciting the World¡¯s Prayer in a steady voice. Sensing movement beyond the treeline, Exill cast [Haste] to drag the Priest back when a lumpy tentacle whipped out to where the old man had stood a second earlier. It slammed down on the ground with a muffled ¡®whump¡¯, its sticky greyish flesh deflating and writhing off into the darkness. Realising the Witchdoctor was about to raise the call for alarm, the Priest gripped his arm, urging in a hushed whisper. ¡°Do not wake them up, you will only put them in danger¡­ I believe the abomination may be attracted to sound.¡± The two stood frozen for seconds until Father Jonas continued on with his blessing rites in a muted tone. Exill caught glimpses of a cancerous grey mass of tentacles following them as they completed the circuit. The Priest looked drained when he wiped sweat from his furrowed brows, backing away towards the campfire. ¡°You should get some rest now, the blessed water of a Bishop should keep even a low-tier abomination at bay¡­ and if it doesn¡¯t¡­¡± Father Jonas slicked back his damp hair and fumbled with the empty vial, ¡°Well, we never stood a chance, and we will be accepted into the World¡¯s embrace.¡± Following his own advice, the old man stumbled to his mattress and attempted to fall into fitful slumber, a nightmare filled with slippery, grasping appendages. Exill stood there for several minutes then reluctantly returned the brass accumulator to the sleeping Navigator¡¯s hand. By now, weariness was beginning to set in, and he woke Envy up. ¡°It¡¯s the Dwarf¡¯s turn, then me¡­ you fool.¡± The irritated Vampire swatted his hand away. ¡°I know, but I sense danger and I trust you to stand watch over me.¡± With reproachful eyes, she stood up and followed him to the campfire. He told her what he witnessed with the priest, and she steadily grew more alert, buckling the sword to her hips and keeping the shield within reach. ¡°How long did you stand watch?¡± ¡°Three hours.¡± He replied, feeling incredibly fatigued. Envy gave him a considerate look, pushing him softly towards the bedroll. ¡°Go to bed. I¡¯ll handle it from here.¡± Exill stumbled to bed and immediately fell asleep the moment he lay down. *** He was startled awake three hours later when Envy snuggled into his side, whispering reassuring words as she adjusted his arm pillow to her liking. ¡°Nothing happened¡­ Father Jonas is on watch now and he is confident the Aberration has moved on.¡± Exill breathed a sigh of relief while feeling her comforting warmth. He sleepily kissed the back of her head in gratitude, thankful for the unknown weight that had been lifted from his chest. Meanwhile, Envy lay wide awake, questioning the soft sensation behind her head, as well as the arm loosely draped over her hips. She wasn¡¯t happy with this overt familiarity, but forgave him just this once. Chapter 105 - Virigo Dawn arrived quietly, with soft birdsong dissipating the stillness of twilight. Tsarra pinned Exill with an accusatory glare while attempting to disentangle him from the slumbering Murderess. Envy swatted her hand away, all the while digging her face deeper into his side to avoid the approaching daylight. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me for my shift?¡± She asked angrily, feeling betrayed that Exill didn¡¯t trust her with the task. He was treating her like a kid once again. ¡°Tsarra¡­ you were too scared to pee alone, let alone stand watch last night.¡± He replied blearily, too tired to protect her feelings. He had woken up twice in the past hour as Envy nibbled at his arm and hadn¡¯t received a good night¡¯s rest. Sitting up, he gestured to a slight impression on the ground to the south, where the tentacle had attempted to grab the Priest. ¡°You see that over there? We were attacked by an Aberration last night. That is why I covered your shift.¡± Tsarra stared at the site of the attack, paling slightly, identifying the globules of grey slime splattered imperceptibly around the impact point. Her jade eyes turned hard as Exill absentmindedly teased the tangles out of Envy¡¯s crimson hair with his fingers. ¡°So you asked Envy instead of me. What would it take for you to trust me with a shift like that?¡± Confused by her line of questioning, and not understanding why she would want to take on such a duty, he swept his hair back in frustration. ¡°Ask me again once you¡¯re not afraid of the dark.¡± Realising too late the sharpness of his rebuke, he ruefully glanced at the timid woman who was angrily at a loss for words, the tips of her ears bright red. Taking a more measured approach he continued. ¡°Even if you were fearless and powerful, I would not put you in such danger. There are greater fates in store for you. Remember that you wanted to be a healer and your hands are meant to heal, not kill.¡± Exill unknowingly repeated Ranger Verill¡¯s words that had been said to him over a year ago, not realising the irony of its recurrence. If he had been more introspective, Exill would have drawn the parallels between Verill¡¯s actions and his. He knelt down to roll up his sleeping mat, then approached the brook where the Priest crouched down to refill the vial of Blessed Water. There were dark circles under Father Jonas¡¯s eyes as he faithfully recited the prayers of consecration. ¡°You did well to warn me last night. It was an abomination most foul¡­ but it thankfully fled when I performed the second rites with your enhanced infusion.¡± Exill reached out to freshly infuse the vial held in the Priest¡¯s hand with mana, turning it into its upgraded variant. ¡°Thank you Father Jonas. I don¡¯t want to imagine what would have happened had you not been here¡­ could I trouble you to bless my flask as well?¡± The Priest smiled tiredly while repeating the prayers of consecration on his flask. ¡°Well, let¡¯s keep this incident between us then. No need to alarm the others.¡± Exill nodded as they returned to the swiftly razed camp, helping to lift the cauldron up. Remembering Mattan had washed it after supper, he inspected it to find it was miraculously spotless. ¡®Huh¡­ so he is capable of cleaning.¡¯ ¡°We should arrive at Virigo in five to six hours. So ye better relieve yourself ¡®cos we ain¡¯t stopping.¡± Koopra exclaimed to the others while clambering up to the driver¡¯s seat. After securing the load, Exill gave Tsarra a significant look as he was the last to climb on board, sitting next to Envy. She studiously ignored him while fidgeting with her silver ring, still hurt from his earlier rebuke. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Noting everyone was on board, the Navigator cracked his whip, The cart jolting forward as the brel picked up a leisurely pace. They traversed the road uneventfully for several long hours, until up ahead, thin streams of vapour could be seen trailing the sky. ¡°That should be Virigo, I must trouble you to join us for supper if you are willing. I have a comely daughter, just turned seventeen who is incredibly interested in the healer¡¯s trade. It is my wish that you would provide some guidance to the promising girl.¡± Councilman Coran squeezed Exill¡¯s knee while offering the thinly veiled invite, his eyes pressuring him to agree. Simultaneously, a sharp pain stung his back as Envy dug her fingers in, warning him otherwise. ¡°I¡­ have to prepare the clinic for tomorrow, so perhaps some other day would be more appropriate.¡± The pain in his back faded away, expressing its disapproval that he had not turned down the invitation outright. The Councilman threw a charismatic smile at the Witchdoctor, undeterred by the denial. ¡°Understandable, perhaps some other night. You are also invited to our private hot spring to wash away the grime from our long travels. It is rumoured to contain restorative properties!¡± Exill merely smiled while nodding, neither committing nor declining the offer. Soon, the cart crested a hill to reveal a breathtaking scenery. The town of Virigo lay beyond, hundreds of houses crowded around an inactive volcano, from the caldera of which poured steaming hot water into the terraced bathhouses below using a system of aqueducts. Worthy of its reputation as a resort town, the buildings were bright, bustling, and cheerful¡­ quite unlike the dreary claustrophobic streets of Ark. Even the people that could be seen in the distance wore colourful dyed clothes. ¡°We should be safe now¡­¡± Father Jonas gave him a meaningful look and subtly pointed to the Waystones passing by. An enclave of the Church was stationed here, and any Aberration would have a difficult time penetrating the barriers they maintained. ¡°Welcome to Virigo! Yonder southwest is the river town of Holmsburn, you can grab a fast boat all the way to ye port city of Savig.¡± Koopra announced while gesturing in the distance with a bony finger. The Navigator would likely pick up passengers in this mountain resort town and head on next to Holmsburn. Exill noticed a dangerous gleam in the Vampire¡¯s eyes at the mention of Port Savig, it was evident she had some history there. After that, the dirt road turned to paved cobblestone when the cart entered the town proper, turning left into a large dusty yard where various vehicles and beasts of burden were hitched. Exill hopped off the cart first, helping Tsarra alight as Envy ignored his proffered hand. ¡°Ask for Great Koopra when you wish to return! I promise best safety and satisfaction!¡± Waving farewell at the cheerful spindly man, Exill turned to follow Councilman Coran to the clinic that sat on the southern outskirts of the resort town. The immaculately dressed man took up a conversational tone, gesturing to nearby landmarks as they circled the town. ¡°We haven¡¯t touched the Clinic since the former Healer died. She was an eccentric who enjoyed collecting herbs from the nearby forest, which is why she didn¡¯t live closer to town. One day she just vanished, poof! And a week had gone by before anyone was dispatched to Ark for a replacement healer.¡± Coran pulled out an iron key when they approached a homely cottage with circular windows overlooking a small vegetable patch. An apple tree grew behind the building, laden heavily with delicious green fruit. There were traces of herbs that had been left to dry out front, that had eventually disintegrated after repeated exposure to rain. ¡°It might be a bit dusty in there, I¡¯ll send my daughter over to give you a helping hand.¡± The Councilman winked at Exill as he turned the key to reveal a well-lit interior filled with cabinets and shelves of ingredients. Motes of dust drifted lazily in the sunlight while they poked around the Clinic. There were three rooms surrounding a central living area that also served as a reception hall. Two rooms were the personal space of the master and apprentice, while the remaining one was for patients. One notable difference from his own clinic was the lack of a treatment bed, instead, an elaborate wooden recliner stood in the centre of the treatment room. ¡°Well, I must be off, I¡¯ll make sure to send my daughter here with a welcome bundle to get you all comfortable.¡± Exill accepted the house key as Coran cheerfully walked away, waving while doing so. The Witchdoctor stepped out to pluck two blades of grass, one shorter than the other, then shuffled them around, before holding it up to the two women. ¡°Looks like we have a shortage of beds. You two can pick straws on who gets to sleep on the floor.¡± Chapter 106 - Dyna Tsarra and Envy shot him a dark look and eyed each other warily, neither willing to back down on principle. The Dwarf longed to have her own private room, no matter how short their stay, and was willing to stand up to the intimidating Vampire for this perk. Envy went first and ended up picking the short straw, and immediately crushed the blade of grass in her fist. She glared at Exill for putting her in this situation and slowly scanned the place. The only other private area was the treatment room, but it was cramped from all the shelving and the wooden recliner had been bolted to the floor. That left only the large central living area as a place to unpack. However she had a better idea, and took her bedroll to the master bedroom and unfurled it in a corner, challenging him to comment on it. ¡°If we¡¯re going to share rooms, why don¡¯t you move to-¡± Exill cut himself off at the last moment, noticing Tsarra¡¯s widening eyes. It was the first time she had a space truly her own, and he had been on the verge of ruining it. ¡°Forget it, as long as you stay on the floor it will be fine.¡± Sleeping with a vampire was like being trapped in the room with a mosquito - it was impossible to get a good night¡¯s sleep. Leaving the women to sort out their belongings, he ventured out, searching for a nearby well from which to draw fresh water. Looking around at the neighbouring buildings, it became clear that the Clinic sat on the outer ring road that circled Virigo. A crescent shaped lane circled the Healer¡¯s house and a cluster of adjacent buildings. They were all cottages of a similar design, but a squat two storey building stood strangely alone on the periphery near the treeline, its whitewashed walls stained with damp and mildew. An unsettling feeling washed over him, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. It felt as if the house was staring back at him, if that was even possible. Fighting back the curiosity to investigate, he returned to the Clinic sometime later with two sloshing buckets to find all the windows open, and Tsarra beating the dust off the sheets with a paddle. They were nearly done mopping the floor when a cheerful girl skipped into the yard holding a wicker basket and cradling a large loaf of bread. ¡®That must be the Councilman¡¯s daughter.¡¯ He thought inwardly. She waved to Exill, her long midnight hair flowing as she hurried up to the front door. Her pale cheeks were flush from excitement and red lips parted while pausing to catch breath. She openly examined the travel stained young man, admiring his well-built shoulders, rolled-up tunic and the taut forearms that spoke of quiet strength. Her obsidian eyes sparkled while tentatively reaching out to shift the matted hair aside to expose his forehead, a smile of satisfaction forming when she looked into his emerald eyes that spoke of experience beyond his years. Envy and Tsarra stopped to glare at this girl who dared to act so familiar without an introduction. The fresh newcomer slid her arm into his, and guided him gently to the kitchen. A faint crackling sound could be heard from the Vampire¡¯s broom as she tightened her grip. ¡°Let¡¯s get you washed up; I can¡¯t have my future husband looking so mucky! I¡¯m Dyna by the way, and I¡¯ll cook you a delicious meal after we get you out of these dusty clothes.¡± Dyna placed her basket of foodstuff on the counter then grabbed a washbasin to fill with steaming water from the cauldron. She confidently marched into his room, kicking Envy¡¯s sleeping mat aside, and gestured for the Witchdoctor to come in. Exill watched this audacious girl with mouth agape. Even Macy - a former member of his fan club who had fooled him into giving a chest exam - had more propriety than this vixen. ¡°I can wash myself just fine.¡± He dragged the foxy girl out of his room, locking the door behind him. In the span of a few seconds, her cheerful grin faded away while turning to face Envy and Tsarra, her shadowy eyes measuring them as if they were roadblocks, a nuisance to overcome. Then, as if nothing had happened, Dyna hummed tunelessly while arranging the contents of the wicker basket on the kitchen counter, beginning to prep and peel the vegetables. The Witchdoctor¡¯s companions gave an imperceptible nod to each other, it was imperative they work together to get rid of this psychopathic imposter. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Exill emerged a while later holding his dirty clothes, looking suitably refreshed. Dyna hurried over to him, fussing as she rolled up his sleeves. ¡°We can¡¯t have you hiding these bad boys!¡± Dyna¡¯s eyes widened when his forearms were exposed. Her breathing turned heavy while lightly tracing the scars and puncture wounds on his arm, then hastily snatched his dirty clothes away. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest dear, and I¡¯ll prepare you a delicious meal and wash your-¡± Exill cut her off and gestured for Envy to drop her mop, while snatching his dirty clothes back from the overly familiar girl. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll be the one cooking and washing my clothes. If you are keen to help, you can mop the floor while Envy freshens up.¡± He gently pushed the girl towards the mop, then turned to the kitchen counter, frowning at the unfamiliar ingredients in front of him. They were classical ingredients for a stew, including various vegetables and a fatty cut of meat. What stood out was a container of green spices, that could only be described as something between cumin and the blend of curry spices he was familiar with back on Earth. ¡®This is so close to being complete, I would love to experiment with spices to create the perfect fusion of the curry.¡¯ He reluctantly asked Dyna about the seasonings, to which she replied with a coquettish smile, moving effortlessly to his side, while leaving the mop in a corner. ¡°That is Jamba, a local spice and delicacy. We put three quarters of the spice and mix it with this to create a spicy stew we call Jambalas. Come, let¡¯s make it together!¡± Exill reluctantly followed her lead as she deftly trimmed the fat, which was used to fry the vegetables and meat. She deglazed the cauldron with a splash of spirit, taking a swig of it herself before pouring a cupful in his unwilling mouth. Tsarra took her turn to wash as they waited for the jambalas to simmer further. While they sat tight, Exill was surprised to find Dyna fussing over the state of his hands, and even casting ¡®heal¡¯ to mend his cuts and scrapes. [Appraise] revealed she had no enchanted items granting extra mana, leading to the begrudging acceptance that she was naturally talented. Growing curious, he asked about her status. ¡°What have you chosen as your jobs?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only chosen Healer as my primary job... I¡¯m waiting for my husband to tell me what he needs for the second. It could be cooking, foraging or even herbalist if need be. We¡¯ll be the perfect team!¡± It was as if Dyna had prepared for this exact exchange the moment she had healed him. Exill felt his guard rise, sensing the calculating intellect beneath her cheery facade. Their discussion was cut short when Tsarra came out of her room, humming as she admired the smell wafting from the cauldron. ¡°We should add our spices now, correct?¡± Exill was glad for the distraction and added the proportioned mix, with a measure of flour to thicken the stock. A short while later, the jambalas was finished. He ladled three portions then sat down at the table, ready to eat. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t have Cook as one of your jobs?¡± Dyna asked suspiciously while dunking bread into the verdant green jambalas, it was nearly as good as the food her mother prepared. ¡°No, I¡¯m a Witchdoctor and Warrior.¡± Dyna¡¯s obsidian eyes sparkled at the mention of [Warrior] and she inspected the scars on his forearm, eager to learn about the opponents he had faced. ¡°You have been in the Labyrinth, right? Please tell me what it is like!¡± Exill dunked some more bread into the curry like stew, admiring the spiciness that crept up on him. ¡®Where to start on such a sweeping topic as the Labyrinth?¡¯ As someone who had barely spent two years in this other world, the depth of his knowledge was shallow at best. ¡°Have you been to Ark before?¡± ¡°Yes! I visited two years ago with my father on a business trip.¡± That made things a little easier for Exill, ¡°Then you have witnessed the landmark tower, in addition to basic knowledge that you need Guild handbooks to enter?¡± When the wide-eyed girl nodded, he continued. ¡°Perhaps it would be best to describe what it¡¯s like inside the Tower¡­ before you even enter the deceptively humble entrance to the Labyrinth. First, you would notice how cool and quiet it is. It feels strange to speak above anything but hushed whispers. Ivory pillars as wide as my arms outstretched soar up high to support the tiers above. More than that, there is a sense of calm and peace, which I have only experienced elsewhere in the inner sanctum of Ark¡¯s Cathedral.¡± Dyna had a faraway look while she imagined what it would look like. Slowly, she picked up the nugget of information added at the end, ¡°You¡¯ve been inside the inner sanctum? Did you meet the Oracle? Did you see the Eld Tree?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, and no. From what I can gather, the one in Ark¡¯s Cathedral is grown from a cutting of the Eld Tree. It is not the original one.¡± The young maiden looked disappointed, ¡°We have one at home as well¡­ tell me more about the monsters in the Labyrinth and how you fought them.¡± Exill spent the next half hour summarizing his encounters with the various beasts, including common tactics to deal with them. Tsarra found herself drawn in as well, curious about the dangers he had faced before she had joined. Dyna winced when she heard his description of the Screamers, with their pale wrinkled skin and elongated limbs. After some thought she asked, ¡°Do you think the Labyrinth came first, or did it pop up someday in the centre of Ark?¡± Exill sat still for a while, and treated her question seriously. The fact that he couldn¡¯t even posit an answer went to show how little he knew about the history of Ark, let alone this World. ¡°I don¡¯t know, do Labyrinths just appear?¡± he tentatively asked. Chapter 107 - Chased Out Dyna nodded enthusiastically, ¡°Yes! There is one near Virigo further south. Grandma said it appeared fifty years ago and warned me never to go near. I heard there is a military base built on top of it.¡± This felt like important information, and supported Exill¡¯s growing belief that Labyrinth¡¯s were associated with Aberrations, and indirectly - himself. He was curious how the one in Virigo differed from Ark¡¯s Labyrinth, so pressed her further. ¡°Is there a Mercenary Guild here in Virigo? Do they allow Mercenaries to delve inside?¡± ¡°There is a small branch¡­ but they only take requests there. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone venturing towards the military base.¡± That was disappointing to hear, but not entirely unexpected after hearing a military base had been built on top of the Labyrinth¡­ ¡°I see, in answer to your earlier question on what came first ¨C I honestly don¡¯t know.¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°From the runes inscribed on the Tower, I suspect that Ark as we know it wouldn¡¯t have been around when the Labyrinth first appeared.¡± Mentally filing all this information away, he moved the dirty dishes to the sink. Dyna lowered an apron over his head and reached around to tie the knot behind his back, pressing her body against him. Tsarra glowered at the shameless girl while nudging past to take position with a drying towel. Building up the courage to confront, or at least send the girl home, she spoke up with a timid suggestion. ¡°Um... thank you for your help, but you should go home before it gets dark.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only late afternoon though? Besides, I brought my nightwear for a sleep over!¡± Dyna picked out a thin black nightgown from the bottom of the wicker basket, holding it up to her shoulders. It was definitely translucent. Before Tsarra could lose her temper, Envy snapped first, angrily snatching the wicker basket and the vixen by the nape of her neck. She coursed through the living room, Dyna in tow, throwing her unceremoniously outside and slamming the door shut. Dyna frantically knocked at the door, then came round to circular window, demanding to be let in. Her eyebrows rose in surprise when she saw Envy buckle on a sword and make way for the door. The young maiden swiftly turned to run away, wicker basket in hand. Throwing the vixen out had done little to soothe Envy¡¯s considerable frustration, and she turned her considerable attention to him¡­ ¡°If you ever let that sly fox enter this house again, I will personally castrate you, leaving you to die a pathetic lonely virgin.¡± Exill froze, hands still immersed in dish water, wondering why her anger was suddenly directed at him. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t do any-¡± Envy approached his vulnerable form, hand loosely gripping the pommel of her sword. She frowned at him like a beautiful, crimson Valkyrie, her soft lips pursed in disappointment. ¡°Exactly¡­ you did nothing. Girls like that need to be shut down hard and early. Even Tsarra has more guts than you, she asked that bitch to leave. Politely.¡± Exill sighed softly. It was two against one, and although he felt unfairly targeted, the resentment was swept away when Envy leaned threateningly close, her amber eyes tinged crimson and whispering so only he could hear. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°As penance, you will give the bed to me.¡± ¡®Ah, clever girl¡­ so that was her true objective all along.¡¯ Now he understood why the false outrage had been redirected at him. The long journey had tired him out and for a moment, it was ever so tempting to back down and let the assertive woman just have her way. ¡°She can have my bed.¡± Tsarra interjected, snapping him out of his thoughts. ¡°No, it is your first time having your own room.¡± He quickly dismissed her offer then turned to Envy, ¡°Nice try, but you are going to have to sleep in the living room.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Disappointed that her gambit had failed, Envy slunk away to unpack her belongings and dragged the bedroll out into the common area. She knew it was childish, petulant even. Yet whenever she pushed Exill into a concession no ordinary Master would make, it brought strange relief to her. Theirs was an implicit relationship balanced between an owner and a slave. It was like placing her finger on the scale, and testing it still worked, that he still saw her as an equal. Exill finished washing up, and also began unpacking his bags, prioritising the rune throwing bones secured in a small pouch. Channelling mana into them, he posed a silent question about their safety, before releasing them onto the table below. They runes flashed impossibly fast, and he had difficulty interpreting even a fraction of the message, but a fragment was all that was required. ¡®I guess that Aberration last night was not the end of our troubles¡­¡¯ he thought with thinning lips. ¡°We should stick together for the time being. I sense the danger has diminished but it still remains. No one should leave the house alone after dark.¡± Seeing everyone acknowledge his warning, they began to inventory the old healer¡¯s stock of basic herbal remedies, finding it sufficiently stocked. He dragged Tsarra to the side where there was a shelf containing two tomes of herbal remedies and magical treatment theories. ¡°I¡¯ve been a terrible mentor to you, only giving hands on experience instead of the theoretical underpinnings. You should take this opportunity to study from these tomes. I¡¯m sorry I don¡¯t have a single book at home, but here is a little gift.¡± He took out a small clay tablet, identical to his own. Exill had carved her name on the frame and stylus while standing watch the night before, prior to the Aberration¡¯s emergence. Tsarra¡¯s gentle eyes glittered with emotion as she struggled to hold back tears. Exill stood awkwardly while she dabbed at her eyes, similarly embarrassed that an item worth four Denars could elicit such a response. ¡°Um¡­ can you teach me how to write? I mean, my mother taught me how to read but I don¡¯t know how to draw the shapes well¡­¡± He barely held himself back from pinching her rosy cheeks that had become flushed from embarrassment. Remembering she was technically five years older than him, he had to stop treating the diminutive woman like a child. ¡°Sure.¡± It was a simple request, and some of the prepped ingredients on the table were swept aside for their studies. ¡°This is how you write ¡®A¡¯¡­¡± They spent the rest of the evening practicing until she could write confidently, her handwriting much neater than his own. When they got up to retire for the night, she embraced him tightly in gratitude, before drawing away, pressing the tablet to her plump bosom. Only then did he realise how much her body had filled out in the past two months, the dress clinging tight near her hips and chest. She was no longer the emaciated slave he had brought in many months ago and the clothes no longer hung off her bony shoulders like drapes. ¡°We should visit the market tomorrow and see if we can get some better fitting clothes. Don¡¯t worry about funds, I¡¯ll be buying.¡± Tsarra looked down at her faded green dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Iris had often offered to take her shopping, but she had demurred every time through lack of funds. In the end, it felt like another debt added towards her mentor. ¡°Um, okay. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow then.¡± Wishing each other goodnight, Exill approached the doorway to the master room and saw Envy splayed out on his bed already fast asleep. ¡®That cunning leech...¡¯ He snorted in amusement. Sometimes, you just had to step back and admire the craftiness of others. Frankly he didn¡¯t have the heart to wake her up, just to kick her out of the room. She had stood guard against the Aberration in the camping grounds and dusted the clinic from top to bottom. She deserved a good night¡¯s sleep. ¡®I was looking forward to some alone time¡­ but perhaps this is for the best.¡¯ He reluctantly unfurled the bedroll in the living area. If Envy had been sleeping on the floor there wouldn¡¯t have been any privacy for him in the room anyway. Confirming all the windows and doors were closed, he finally lay down to rest. Chapter 108 - Towel ¡°Why is my towel so crusty?¡± Envy picked up the scrunched-up towel she normally used to wipe sweat after her morning workout. Sniffing it, her eyes widened in recognition, then disgust, throwing it at Exill¡¯s still sleeping face. ¡°You think it is funny ruining someone¡¯s towel? Did you get off on the thought I would wipe my face with this?¡± Confused by the outburst, Exill sat up on the mat, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His mind slowly connected the dots, recognizing Envy¡¯s workout towel in front of him. He quickly fumbled out an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I thought it was mine.¡± The Vampire had initially felt apologetic when she saw her eponymous master sleeping on the bedroll, but it had quickly turned to disgust when she saw what had been done to her towel, no doubt in revenge for taking his bed. She instead wiped herself down with Tsarra¡¯s washcloth. ¡°You will buy me two new towels. Oh, and you will not touch anything in my room.¡± She clicked her tongue, turning away and wondering what she had done to encounter so many perverted people in her life. It was times like this that she had truly been forsaken by the World. Meanwhile, Exill hurriedly folded up the bedroll into a corner, chastened and embarrassed. ¡®At least Tsarra is still asleep and didn¡¯t see this¡­ she would have been disappointed in me.¡¯ Shielding his eyes from the morning rays, he stepped out into the dewy lawn and washed the towel using water from the rain barrel. The air was crisp, and the birdsong helped alleviate some of his mood. Returning to the Clinic, he found Envy already strapping on her boots, preparing to go out. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going out to buy my towels.¡± Still slightly flustered he countered, ¡°We should wait for Tsarra, I promised we would get her new clothes at the market.¡± Envy¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise, her voice was slow and measured while stating the facts. ¡°We are in danger, trying to pay our debts back. Yet here you are buying clay tablets and new clothes on top of her precious silver ring and freedom. Your treasured apprentice¡­ why didn¡¯t you mess up her towel instead?¡± Sensing the bitterness in her words, Exill retorted, ¡°I told you it was a mistake! Besides, I bought your clothes and hand crafted the mithril-¡± ¡°You made me pay for the mithril sword!¡± Her amber eyes flashed crimson in affront. ¡°Ah¡­ so I did.¡± The Witchdoctor suddenly fell silent and realized just how differently he had been treating Envy. Unlike his gentle and somewhat timid apprentice, he knew Envy was wholly capable of thriving without his assistance. Perhaps that was why he never went out of his way to gift her anything, unlike with Tsarra. Crouching down to tie his laces, he reluctantly apologised, ¡°You are right¡­ let¡¯s go out, just the two of us.¡± A note was left on the table for Tsarra when she awoke, and the front door was securely locked. The two ventured towards the steaming caldera towering above them and asked passerby¡¯s for directions to the market, Exill slowly built up the courage to talk to Envy. It had been too long since they had walked together since Tsarra¡¯s arrival. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about the towel. I just grabbed the first one and didn¡¯t know you had unpacked in my room already.¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Mn. It¡¯s my room now.¡± The Murderess wasn¡¯t the type of woman who would let an opportunity slip away. Exill felt exasperated by her insistence, but knew better than to argue a lost cause. Instead, he mumbled out a half-hearted apology: ¡°You know¡­ I think I¡¯ve been treating you differently because¡­ well, how strong you are. Apart from the starting equipment, I never felt the need to provide you anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t need anything, apart from the freedom you promised in the Contract.¡± She immediately responded, but he could see some of the tension in her shoulders relax. ¡®Are you saying you don¡¯t even need my blood?¡¯ Exill light-heartedly prodded her. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± She glanced at him sharply before continuing, ¡°The reason I starved when you were knocked out by the Behemoth was because I had to use all my money to pay Diallo¡¯s instalment.¡± Exill had so many questions regarding this, such as ¡®how much would you pay someone for their blood,¡¯ or ¡®would it even sate your hunger when it¡¯s dependent on the donor¡¯s strength¡¯. However all these questions only served to stroke his ego, and highlight how reliant she was on him. It was hardly appropriate, considering they were currently out to replace towels he had ruined. The traffic on the streets steadily grew until they emerged into a medium sized square packed with stalls and vendors. They toured the market together and quickly picked up two fresh towels and some extra socks for both of them. Envy hugged the bundle of red-dyed towels to her chest, but not before waving one of them in front of his face in a lecturing tone: ¡°You see this? These are mine, and don¡¯t you ever think of messing them up.¡± ¡°Fine, I get it! Keep your voice down¡­¡± He quickly looked around, afraid that his reputation would be ruined in this resort town so soon after arrival. Afterwards, Exill was checking the prices of used clothes in a nearby stall, when he saw Envy pick up a comfortable black dress that barely covered her knees. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like dresses?¡± She looked askance at him, surprised he remembered such a detail. To tell the truth, her morning walks to the Guild with Iris had opened her eyes to the world of fashion. She was eager to try something different from the plain linen tunic and brown breeches she always wore. ¡°Can¡¯t a person change?¡± She held it up against her body, pleased with the fit. ¡°I can wear it at home.¡± She flicked away his hand that offered to pay, and instead purchased it with her own money. They continued to wander around, taking in the sights amidst the refreshing morning air, and Exill searched for jamba spices and ingredients for their next meal. Sensing Envy stop momentarily to show rare interest in an item, he slowly backtracked to unobtrusively investigate what had caught her eye. It was an accessory stall, with a tiered display of silver and gold rings and bracelets of various designs. Approaching closer he cast [Haste] followed by Gambler¡¯s [Intuit Odds] and Scientist¡¯s [Measure] to identify the trajectory of her eyes. With reasonable certainty he narrowed the selection down to a silver bracelet with an embedded firestone gem. [Appraise] revealed it was worth 400 Denars and had the [Luck+] enchantment. Like the countless chastened men in history who had offended their women, he spontaneously picked it up. Asking the vendor the price, he fully intended to put it back down if she quoted over 400 Denar¡¯s. The wizened old lady grinned while peering at the two of them. ¡°My aren¡¯t you a cute couple! I normally sell this for 400, but for you, I can let it go for 350.¡± Flustered by her comment, but sensing a good deal when he saw one, he forked over the 350 Denars to the old woman. Afraid his trembling fingers would betray him; the bracelet was quickly slipped onto Envy¡¯s wrist without any ceremony. Then, he spoke words only she could hear in the bustling marketplace. ¡°The gem matches your eyes¡­ and I hope this [Luck+] enchantment brings you better fortune in this life, than the one you left behind.¡± It was simple, yet heartfelt; an implicit nod to their binding promise. He couldn¡¯t fathom what she had gone through to end up so jaded and mistrustful, but he recognised her attempts to change. He truly wished the best for her, and this gesture had nothing to do with the towel he had amorously ruined the night before. The Vendor let out a satisfied sigh as she witnessed what she thought was a proposal between two couples. She wagged her finger avidly in Exill¡¯s direction. ¡°This handsome fellow is right. That engagement bracelet holds the [Luck+] enchantment and is said to bring fortune to lovers like yourself. Thank you for bringing such an endearing sight to my eyes¡­¡± The two of them froze, Envy especially so. As the sudden recipient of a proposal, she didn¡¯t know how to respond or even react. Withdrawing her hand through his shocked fingers, she turned away and started walking, desperate to hide her frayed nerves. Exill followed after her, trying to understand what he had just done. Chapter 109 - Not a Proposal The two walked back, exchanging nary a word. Soon, the Clinic could be seen in the distance, and Exill knew he had to clear the misunderstanding before it really set in. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was a proposal.¡± He blurted out, feeling the stifling tension build up between them. Envy paused to look back at him, hugging the bundle of towels to her chest. Was there a hint of regret in her clear amber eyes? But her words were decisive and cutting as usual. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have accepted it if it was a proposal.¡± It couldn¡¯t have been a stronger denial. He couldn¡¯t understand the pinprick of disappointment felt just then. In spite of this, their misunderstanding was resolved, and Exill opened the front door to find Tsarra sitting at the table looking tired while cradling a cup of tea. ¡°Rough night? I¡¯m sorry but we will have to buy your clothes tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Um¡­ okay.¡± She had woken up late to find the Clinic empty, and had a brief panic attack until reading her mentor¡¯s hastily scrawled note. In the meantime, Exill was busy performing last minute preparations for their opening. ¡°Did you study all night? I need you on top of your game Tsarra. We are going to be bombarded with hurt people and I need you to triage and ask lower priority patients to return tomorrow.¡± Seeing a queue starting to form outside the clinic despite it being only nine in the morning, he opened the door to greet his first visitor. The patients were processed one after the other, a lot of the cases were straightforward, such as persistent infections, burns and partially healed fractures but a few proved difficult to handle. One was a rich merchant who needed three of his teeth removed. Exill gave him pain medication and asked to return tomorrow evening as the procedure would take long and cause a mess. The second issue was a belligerent man who claimed he had subscribed to a treatment plan for regrowing a hand that had been fully paid upfront. He was waving the stump angrily in his face at this very moment. ¡°Look, Master Witchdoctor. I paid 1200 Denars to regrow me hand and she disappeared, run off with me money! As her replacement, I ask you to honour the agreement¡­ do you know how long I had to save for a sum like that?¡± It was a princely sum for a simple townsman, but Exill felt the man was trying to pull the wool over his eyes. Back in Ark, such a treatment plan would be agreed beforehand and paid in instalments over a two-month period. Unless you were dealing with the very rich, it was nearly unheard of to be paid upfront. ¡°Again, Master Hunter. I ask you to get the Sheriff involved to settle with her estate, I am merely a temporary replacement.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to talk to the Sheriff when I lost me receipt! Check the Clinic records!¡± Exill sighed as he reached back to flip through the clay tablets containing treatment records, but couldn¡¯t find Hunter Bartol in any of them. Neither of them had evidence that money had exchanged hands. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He reluctantly stood up and sidled past the glaring Hunter, opening the door of the treatment room. A throng of awaiting people greeted his eyes. Motioning Envy over to him, he turned to the aggrieved Hunter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but there are no records of your patient history. I must ask you to leave and take the issue up with the Sheriff.¡± ¡°You damn thieving scoundrel!¡± The burly Hunter grabbed Exill by his throat with one hand and pushed him against the doorframe, overcome with fury. Envy arrived in time to knock the breath out of him with a pommel strike to the solar plexus, and peeled the offending hand from his throat. Dragging the wheezing Hunter out by his hair, she threatened the man with hissed sincerity. ¡°If you show your ugly face here again, be prepared to lose your other hand.¡± Exill felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the indomitable Valkyrie, but massaged his sore throat and motioned the next startled patient to come through. Envy was doing a fantastic job keeping complaints to a minimum and stifling the impatient crowd. Tsarra was also performing admirably, triaging the most urgent cases while steadily moving up the queue. Time went by fast as he saw the next patient after another, only taking a short break to eat some bread and cheese. There were two more patients who needed their limbs regrown, but thankfully, they were on the patient register. These people too had paid upfront, and proved a headache for him. Their treatment could not be denied, and in spite of this, he would need to claim against the estate of the deceased Healer for a fraction of the treatment fee. Not being a member of the Healer¡¯s Guild made the difficulty of this filing process hard to gauge. He wasn¡¯t sure if it would be challenged by the permanent replacement that would come to fill his shoes. Regardless, this proved to be a sore point for him, as it consumed a lot of mana for indeterminate pay. Before they knew it, evening arrived and Exill sent off his last client. He staggered over to Tsarra while she tallied their earnings for the day. ¡°How much did we earn?¡± ¡°600 Denars! That should be around¡­ 450 after taxes!¡± Both pleased and unhappy at the same time, he patted her head, proud of how she had performed today. Things had gone smoothly thanks to Tsarra walking down the queue to inspect patients, arranging a time or date for them to return. ¡®Argh. They take too much in taxes simply because I¡¯m not a resident here!¡¯ Exill suspected it was a ploy by the town council to convince him to settle roots. Looking around at the generous people and beautiful countryside, it was starting to take effect on him. ¡°It could be nice to live here¡­¡± ¡°Did you say something?¡± Tsarra asked. ¡°Oh! just thinking aloud, nothing really.¡± Over the course of the day their neighbours had dropped by to greet and thank them, leaving small baskets of preserves and foodstuff behind. The two sat down to enjoy the meal that had thankfully been provided. They were both too tired and hungry to cook and quickly devoured soup and pie while it was still cold. ¡°Let¡¯s rest early today, it looked like you didn¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep. We can study tomorrow.¡± ¡°Um... okay.¡± Tsarra was still eager to read the Healer¡¯s reference tomes, since they had no books back home. She hesitated for a moment then gave him a quick hug, hurrying to her bedroom with the clay tablet tucked under one arm. Struggling to stay awake, he checked the windows and doors were latched before turning into his... no, Envy¡¯s bedroom. The Vampire had worked hard to intimidate troublesome patients, and maintain order throughout the day. He found her sitting on the edge of her bed, quietly admiring the bracelet on her wrist. She had changed into the black dress that effortlessly clung to her figure, contrasting against her pale skin. Her shapely legs were a welcome change to the long breeches that she normally preferred. ¡°It suits you well.¡± He said while laying down behind her, rolling up the sleeve of his tunic. She loosened her hair, allowing it to fall like a scarlet waterfall as she lay down and adjusted his arms for comfort. By the time she had finished feeding, Exill was already deep in slumber. She watched him for a while, stroking his forehead in an attempt to relax the frown that had formed above his brows. She swung one leg over his hips possessively, and buried her head into his side. Chapter 110 - House by the Well A polite knock at the front door woke Exill up the next morning. Judging by the sunlight, it was eight in the morning, around the time Envy usually wrapped up her morning exercises. He looked askance to find her snuggled into his side, an angry scowl marring her beautiful features when the incessant knocking continued. Looking down to lift her heavy leg off his hips, he was struck by the sight of what lay below. Her black dress had rose up, fully exposing pale thighs and much of her underwear. Feeling something else rise up, he quickly clambered out of bed and closed the room door behind him. To his left, Tsarra had also been dragged out of bed by the constant knocking and was halfway to the front door. Turning to see he was also awake, she stood aside, and allowed him to open the door. Councilman Coran stood under the eaves of the cottage with light morning rain pattered down on the lawn. His daughter Dyna clung close behind, on the lookout for the murderous vampire. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you so early in morning, but it didn¡¯t seem right to visit yesterday after closing hours, not to mention reports of people disappearing come night fall. Would it be alright if I came in?¡± Vividly remembering Envy¡¯s threat of castration, he reluctantly invited both of them inside; only because he couldn¡¯t think of a polite way to leave only the sly vixen outside, alone in the morning rain. ¡°How can I help you Councilman? Exill asked as the guests seated themselves at the table. ¡°Please, call me Coran¡­ well, the matter pertains to my daughter. I understand she may have been a bit¡­ direct in her dealings with your mistresses. She has come here to apologise for her actions and asks for a second chance to learn under your tutelage.¡± Prompted by a noise behind him, Exill looked over his shoulder to see Envy standing in the doorway, arms crossed and an unkind look on her face. At the same time, Tsarra was abashedly playing with her ring under the table, not knowing how she felt about being mistaken for a mistress. The well-dressed man nudged his cowering daughter forward, prompting her to speak. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry for offending your mistresses¡­I would like another opportunity to work and learn under your generous wings.¡± Exill decided to be diplomatic in his refusal, ¡°While she does show potential as a Healer, I¡¯m afraid we are far too busy dealing with the barrage of patients to teach her anything. I accept her apology, but I must respectfully decline.¡± ¡°That is understandable¡­ however from my daughter¡¯s perspective, you must understand that opportunities like this rarely come by in a small town like this.¡± Councilman Coran shared a knowing look with him, ¡°It would mean a lot to claim she was under the tutelage of a will-blessed individual like yourself, no matter how brief. Perhaps I can also convince the other council members to provide a¡­ tax relief for the generous services you are providing to Virigo.¡± Sensing Envy walk up behind him, digging her fingertips into his shoulders, Exill knew the decision was out of his hands. He decided to pass this ticking time bomb to the next person. ¡°What do you think I should do Tsarra?¡± She shot him a betrayed look, surprised by the sudden responsibility thrust upon her shoulders. Knowing Dyna was a wily girl, she didn¡¯t want her anywhere near her mentor but was too polite to express her wishes. ¡°I think it will be alright.¡± Envy said, startling everyone seated on the table. She had a predatory grin while looking down at the intrepid girl before her. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I¡¯m glad we have come to an understanding.¡± The Councilman rose to his feet, patting his daughter¡¯s head while turning to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t forget my invitation to our family¡¯s hot springs! Even the King himself comes here to relax several times a year.¡± With those words, Coran excused himself, donning a wide brimmed hat to protect against light drizzle. Exill closed the door, as an intense atmosphere befell the overcast interior of the clinic. Envy broke the silence first by listing the terms of Dyna¡¯s internship. ¡°You will arrive here half an hour prior to opening and leave an hour after closing. At the cost of your offending limbs, you will not lay a finger on the Witchdoctor. The purpose of your stay is to learn, and if I catch you flirting even a little, you will be asked to leave immediately. Have I made myself clear?¡± Dyna pouted but reluctantly nodded to the terms. It was not like she had a choice in the matter. As the Dwarf and the chastened Vixen began to prepare for the day¡¯s operation, Envy led Exill to the side, whispering so only he could hear. ¡°I thought the threat of castration from your ¡®mistress¡¯ would be enough to deter you from inviting that sly fox in. Did my warning sound like a joke to you?¡± Her normally amber eyes flashed crimson with passion. He was tempted to respond with a lecture on matters of polite society, like not leaving your guests out in the rain. However a more pressing question formed on his lips. ¡°Why did you accept?¡± He had fully expected her to chase Dyna out. ¡°I told you people change, and besides¡­ the more money we earn, the faster you can set me free.¡± She then turned away back to her room, to change into her more practical day clothes. Shaking his head at the added responsibility, he walked over to Tsarra to check over a few details. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to go to the market tomorrow, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t wake up earlier.¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s okay, I also slept in.¡± The Dwarf demurred while organizing the patient¡¯s records. ¡°So, the only major surgery scheduled today is that merchant in the evening, and another two for limb regrowth right?¡± Seeing Tsarra nod in reply, he continued with the instructions for the day. ¡°Great, keep up the fantastic work you have been doing. Dyna should shadow you this morning and answer any questions she may have about how you triage patients. After gauging her ability, use her to heal simple injuries that don¡¯t consume that much mana.¡± Walking over to the pouting girl who was mopping the floor, he repeated the instructions given to his apprentice. ¡°In the afternoon, you will join me in the treatment room and observe, and even assist me with healing.¡± Dyna¡¯s eyes brightened at the prospect of spending time with him alone. Checking to see Envy was still changing in her room she lowered her voice while making an odd request. ¡°Would it be alright for you to roll up your sleeves¡­ just a little?¡± Releasing a pent-up sigh, Exill ignored her and went outside to draw water from the well. Already, three patients had lined up outside despite the morning rain and they greeted him warmly. ¡°The Clinic isn¡¯t open for a while yet, but please wait inside, out of the rain.¡± Exill ushered them to benches near the entrance and resumed his task of fetching water. The light rain felt refreshing as he followed the branching lane towards the well. A shiver ran down his back when the squat two-storey building came into view again. It felt out of place among the cluster of cottages and the feeling that he was being watched grew stronger than ever. Leaving the buckets near the well, he gave in to curiosity and approached to investigate. The crumbling whitewash revealed a rheumy underlayer on the decrepit building, and the mouldering, tightly sealed shutters offered no hints on what lay inside. Sensing movement, his eyes snapped up to the single window upstairs where a curtain hung, swinging restlessly inside. A slow creak emanated from the entryway as the door cracked open, offering an indistinct glimpse into the morbid interior. ¡°Oh hell no¡­ I¡¯m not stepping into that.¡± He didn¡¯t need an accumulator to realize he was just a few steps away from an Aberration. There was a familiar discordant sensation that raised his hackles on a primal level. Backing away from the enticing whispers emanating from inside, Exill quickly ran to the buckets and hurried back to the Clinic. ¡°Are you alright? You look strangely pale.¡± Resenting her short stature, Tsarra reached up to brush his clammy cheeks, checking the temperature on his forehead. It would be terrible if he somehow caught a cold after getting wet in the rain. ¡°Do not go near the well.¡± He said, addressing the women who had gathered around in consternation. ¡°Why, what happened?¡± Tsarra asked, wondering if he had been struck by some fever. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous¡­ look, I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m not sick. There¡¯s something out there in that two-storey building and you shouldn¡¯t go near it.¡± Chapter 111 - Do You Believe Me? Exill felt frustrated that the women didn¡¯t seem to understand the danger that lay a short distance away. They had been sleeping during the attack of the cancerous tentacled abomination, not bearing witness to its mind-numbing horror. He had learnt to trust his instincts and they were screaming at him that the house by the well was a dangerous Aberration. ¡°Dyna, your father mentioned earlier that people were disappearing at night. I think the house I saw has something to do with it.¡± Describing the appearance and location of the house, he tried to impress on her the danger it posed. ¡°Can you quickly go report this to your father? I know this is your first day at work, but this is urgent. He needs to arrange the town guard and priests to investigate it.¡± ¡°Okay, you can count on me!¡± Dyna flashed him a confident smile, handing her mop to Tsarra before hurrying out into the rain. Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned to the seated patients inside. The open layout of the cottage offered no privacy to its residents and the contents of their discussion had been overheard despite best efforts to control the volume of his voice. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about, we¡¯ll be opening in ten minutes so please sit tight.¡± Reassuring them, he turned to pour a bucket of water into the cauldron over the fire. Warm water would continuously be drawn throughout the day to wash away wounds and boil herbal ingredients. Feeling his sanity slowly returning, he nodded at Tsarra to send in the first patient. The morning wore on uneventfully, and Dyna eventually returned to assist Tsarra with triage. She assured him that her father had taken his words seriously and sent word to the town commander and head priest on the location of the Aberration. Comforted by the serious response, he called for a thirty minute break in the afternoon, giving them all a chance to relax. ¡°Pass my regards to your mother, this jam is delicious.¡± Exill slathered more butter and apple jam on the bread, marvelling at the sweetness. Dyna had returned with a wicker basket of goods to eat for lunch, kindly packed by her mother. ¡°It is apple season right now, and our cupboard is full of them! I¡¯ll bring you some of her apple pie tomorrow.¡± The beaming girl hastily withdrew her hand, realising too late she had been stroking his forearm. Dyna looked over her shoulders to check Envy hadn¡¯t witnessed her slip up. It was then that a sudden consternation broke out towards the entryway. Envy, who had been vigilantly standing guard moved the waiting patients aside to let a red robed priest through. Exill stood up to greet Father Jonas, eager to hear the news he would bring. ¡°Did you find the building? Was it an Aberration?¡± ¡°Let this old man catch his breath first, I¡¯ve been on my foot all morning¡­¡± The Priest complained when Exill pulled out a seat for him. Seeing the old man eyeing the simple meal in front of them, he brought a dish over, inviting him to eat. ¡°Thank you, I didn¡¯t have a chance to eat breakfast. The town commander ordered a full search of the outskirts and I feel I¡¯ve circled the town twice! Ah, where are my manners?¡± The Priest lowered his half-eaten bread to say a quick prayer, thanking the World Spirit for the meal. Exill waited impatiently as the recovering man buttered his second slice of bread. ¡°Well¡­ we were issued instructions based on your report, meaning three priests and a squad of militia were hastily dispatched to the location you described. Unfortunately, but perhaps fortunately for us, the Aberration you described was no longer there by the time we arrived.¡± The Priest¡¯s bushy eyebrows slanted downwards with this implication that the two-storey building could disappear at will. Sighing in exasperation, he wrapped up the story, ¡°Then as I said earlier, the town commander ordered a full search, and we circled the town twice to no avail.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Father Jonas munched on the bread wearily, looking down at his plate. Exill tapped the side of his table nervously, deep in thought with a frown on his face. ¡°You believe me don¡¯t you?¡± He asked, struggling to accept that a house that size could simply disappear. ¡°Of course I believe you my child! We faced an abomination together. There are also records in the church of this decrepit building you speak of, but the most recent eyewitness report is thirty years old¡­¡± Father Jonas splayed his fingers up in the air, expressing his frustration. ¡°There were some who didn¡¯t believe your claims, but they are firmly in the minority. Any insular community has detractors who don¡¯t believe the word of outsiders. The sad fact is that cases like this are all too common outside Ark, you must know, hailing from a small village yourself.¡± The Priest looked at Exill with sympathetic eyes, he had heard of the devastation the war had wrought on the villages in the eastern border. Unsteadily rising to his feet, Father Jonas took a last bite out of the bread, then turned to the entrance. ¡°Well¡­ I should be off if I don¡¯t want to miss the afternoon prayers. I¡¯ll try to drop by sometime in the morning once I¡¯ve recovered from this ordeal. Perhaps we will have better luck searching for that cursed Aberration together.¡± He patted Exill on the shoulder with a heavy palm and sluggishly pushed past the queuing patients outside. Seeing their thirty minute break was nearly over, Exill cleared the table and led Dyna to the treatment room under the watchful eye of the Vampire. ¡°That was unfortunate news¡­ you should take care to run far away if you encounter the building I described. Anyway, let¡¯s begin our lesson.¡± The first patient of the afternoon had been burned badly near the knee and his leg was covered in pale blisters filled with oozing fluid. He drew Dyna closer, demonstrating how to heal such wounds. ¡°You can see from the lack of swelling that it¡¯s not infected. Our goal as healers is not to heal it completely. That would consume too much mana and put a strain on the patient¡¯s vitality. No, we channel a steady stream of mana, restoring a thin layer of tissue under the blister. Then, with the aid of ointments, we accelerate the recovery process to a week instead of months.¡± Guiding her palm over the blisters, he provided feedback by sight on whether she was using too much mana or not. ¡°Good, channel it just under the surface of the skin¡­ a light touch there. With practice you will get a better feel of how much mana you should inject.¡± Exill failed to mention how Scientist¡¯s skill [Measure] allowed him to measure his mana output to a frightening accuracy. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t sense the mana of others and had to judge visually how Dyna was doing. The afternoon wore on, and he was pleased with the progress she had made in controlling the flow of mana. She was a natural at it, and her obsidian eyes burned with quiet intensity while absorbing his every word. ¡°Do you enjoy this work?¡± Exill asked, as they waited for the next patient. ¡°It¡¯s more difficult than I thought... I didn¡¯t understand what was so hard about being a healer when I could pour mana to heal wounds instantly. This is like long distance running. You need to be strategic with how much mana you use, and where.¡± The Witchdoctor was impressed with her intelligence. In a short time, she had successfully condensed the crux of their profession into a simple analogy. Healing was like a marathon. If Exill tried to completely heal his patients, he would at most be able to attend to one or two a day. To treat dozens of people, you needed to be focused and selective. ¡°I remember you haven¡¯t assigned a second job yet. Have you thought about what you would like to do?¡± ¡°No, father says I must let my husband decide, or my value as a wife would fall.¡± Dyna said with a curious lack of emotion, as if she was reciting something that had repeatedly been drilled into her. Exill was lost for words for a moment, both saddened and taken aback that young women were treated this way. He tried to remember his alter-ego¡¯s childhood memories to check if boy¡¯s were equally pressured by their parents to take certain jobs. However it was to no avail. ¡°If your husband gave you permission to freely choose any job you wanted, what would it be?¡± Before he could hear her answer, the next patient came in. Exill inwardly sighed, realizing it was the merchant who needed three teeth extracting. As always, he hated dental work. Gesturing the man to take a seat the Witchdoctor got to work, ¡°Gather round Dyna, this is a specialized tool of mine that both cuts and paralyzes the patient. Try not to faint.¡± Chapter 112 - Uneasy Dreams ¡°My hands are slippery; can you please rethread this needle?¡± Dyna grimaced, struggling to contain her vomit while accepting the bloodied fishhook needle with trembling pale hands. After some time, she returned it with a fresh thread of silk through the eyelet. ¡°Good, now¡­ I¡¯ll be sewing up the gum, and with a bit of healing magic it shouldn¡¯t even leave a scar. As I said earlier, dental work requires precision tools Healers rarely own. When even the roots have rotten, you need to scrape the infection away from the bone, which is difficult to do in such a tight space.¡± Finishing the suture, Exill channelled mana into the angry red flesh, fusing just the surface of the cut. ¡°That¡¯s all done. Please come back in three days to remove the stitches and apply this ointment before you go to bed.¡± The Clinic was finally silent after the last patient was sent out, only the crackling of the fireplace could be heard when the four of them took the weight off their feet by the table. ¡°Thank you everyone, now let¡¯s study from the books while the soup is heating up.¡± There was a collective groan from Dyna and Tsarra when he fetched the tome on herbalist recipes and clay tablets. They were given a crash course on ingredient substitution, using the very basic healing poultice as an example. The girls struggled to focus, both tired and hungry, so he abandoned the lesson early to eat. While they ate, some semblance of spirit was restored, and he began to see a few smiles around the table. ¡°Have you ever treated male genitalia?¡± Dyna turned to Tsarra, innocently posing her inquiry. Their initial topic of discussion had been about persistent rashes brought on by allergic reactions. Exill felt soup snort up his nostrils when the question caught him off guard, and the Dwarf¡¯s reaction was very much the same. ¡°Hyah?!¡± ¡°I mean, how are we expected to treat something we have never seen before?¡± The sly vixen eyed the Murderess warily, knowing she was toeing the line. That was why unfortunately, she had to get Tsarra on board¨C for educational purposes of course. ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t appropriate for the dinner table, and I expected better from someone of your upbringing.¡± Exill shut the conversation down fast, having a good idea of what Dyna was really after. ¡°If you really are that curious, you can check the reference tome after clinic hours.¡± ¡°But-¡± Envy only had to shift in her seat to shut the girl up. Dyna looked down at her empty bowl, her obsidian eyes downcast as they admitted failure. Trying to salvage what was left of a good evening, Exill patted both his apprentices heads, shaking them out of their reverie when he collected their empty bowls. ¡°You guys will have no problem meeting the right man to show you the real deal, seeing how talented and pretty you both are. Dyna, you should head home before it gets dark. Tsarra and I can handle the washing up.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The young girl¡¯s protestations died on her lips as Envy stood up. She wasn¡¯t even trying to be intimidating but the councilman¡¯s daughter was utterly cowed by the Vampire¡¯s presence. She reluctantly walked to the entryway, looking over her shoulder at Tsarra and Exill who were companionably working together at the sink. She paused to swallow, staring at his taut forearms, tantalisingly glistening from the swirling dishwater. A light tap on the shoulder brought her down to earth. ¡°The door is that way.¡± Envy warned her. Dyna flicked her midnight hair back, annoyed that she had to leave just as it was getting interesting. She gave the Vampire a grudging look, then stepped out into the streets, painted red by the setting sun. Exill watched the young vixen leave and let out a sigh of relief. She was a handful, but he had to admit the young girl was a fast learner. Thanks to her, his mana drain hadn¡¯t been so excessive. He leaned to the side to brush his shoulder against Tsarra and catch her attention. ¡°I promise we can go clothes shopping tomorrow.¡± This was his third time making the arrangement, and to ensure it happened, they agreed to turn in early for the night. Wiping his hands dry with the dish rag, he entered Envy¡¯s room to find her already lying down, changed into her black dress. Nudging in behind her, he groaned while collapsing onto the soft mattress. Today had been a rough day, with the scare from the Aberration in the morning followed by a hefty patient load. ¡°Thank you for your work today, I didn¡¯t hear a peep of complaint from the patients.¡± Exill said, when Envy lifted her head to rest against his biceps so that she could feed. ¡°Mn.¡± She intoned, mildly annoyed he chose this time to engage in conversation. ¡°Are you worried about Grundle and that newbie struggling in the Labyrinth without you?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± This was accompanied with a light elbow strike to his side, trying to get the point across that she wasn¡¯t interested in conversing while eating. ¡°Ouch! Okay¡­ no more questions.¡± A while later, she closed the puncture with a kiss and turned to face him, her lips dyed a deeper shade of red. ¡°The newbie¡¯s name is Feroy, and they will do just fine without me. Any other questions?¡± Exill faltered when he was about to ask the next question. After talking to Dyna about how she had no agency in the decision to select her second job, it had opened his eyes on how little he knew about the customs and traditions of this new world. ¡°Tell me about your second job, [Murderer].¡± The question he had been too afraid to ask finally left his mouth. She stared at him, almost expecting the Witchdoctor to compel her to tell the story with an order. Something her previous master had done when she told that swine the same brief. It had taken all her guile to avoid mentioning her brother, knowing the sick bastard would find new innovative ways to torment her. ¡°You can have the short story. I killed a man then assigned it shortly afterwards. You can hear the long version once you set me free.¡± ¡°I hope that day comes soon.¡± Exill whispered back. She stared back, momentarily at a loss for words. ''Why does he do this to me?¡¯ The bitter thought invaded her mind. It was the familiar bloom of hope impaling her heart with its well-known cruelty. It was so painful - that just for a moment - her amber eyes flared crimson in anger. Knowing she was about to snap again, she sat up and gestured towards the door, ¡°I¡¯m full, you should go to your bed.¡± Hesitating only briefly, Exill let out a ¡°Good night.¡± with a smile and scooched off the bed. After having spent so much time with the Vampire, he understood that this form of dismissal was just a coping mechanism. She didn¡¯t want to lash out and hurt him. Double checking all the doors and windows were locked and curtains drawn, he unfolded the sleeping mat and finally lay down to sleep. However, it was an uneasy dream, filled with visions of slowly digesting bodies and the yammering of tormented souls. Were he to wake up and look outside, he would have seen the decrepit house of his nightmares, its moist doors slightly ajar and beckoning. Chapter 113 - Return to the Well ¡°Wake up Tsarra.¡± ¡°Hah!?¡± She was shaken out of her nightmare, and for a moment she couldn¡¯t breathe ¨C her lungs filled with memories of acrid smoke. She could vividly remember her skin sizzling from the fiery inferno, and the collapsing beams that smothered her cornered family. ¡°Get ready and come out, we have a long day ahead of us!¡± Tsarra wiped down her cold sweat and quickly changed into the too tight dress that was growing smaller every day. Exill¡¯s comment about her clothes had opened her eyes, and she suddenly understood the meaning behind the salacious looks of the patients she treated. It was¡­ strange to think that only a few months prior, she had considered herself hideous, an oozing pustular monstrosity. Needless to say, she had compared herself to Envy, graceful in her effortless beauty. It also didn¡¯t help, knowing her value as a slave didn¡¯t match even 5% of the Vampire¡¯s sale price. Now that her cup size had increased two sizes from AA to B, the dress no longer hung from the shoulders, accentuating her curves. Quickly brushing her long auburn hair, she rushed out to find Envy performing her warmup exercises. ¡°He¡¯s outside.¡± The Vampire said, breathing heavily from exertion. Tsarra thanked her and went outside to find Exill washing his face from the rain barrel. His permanently tousled brown hair was swept back and the front of the tunic was wet from the water dripping down his chiselled jawline. Compared to her effeminate jade eyes, she always admired the intensity and depth of his emerald gaze. Realizing she was staring at him, Tsarra quickly washed her face, then reached up on her tiptoes to flatten a stubborn curl on the back of her mentor¡¯s head. ¡°You seem to be sleeping in a lot more, now that you have your own room.¡± Exill commented while setting off down the road towards the market. ¡°Um¡­ it¡¯s nice.¡± She replied simply, not wanting to mention the sudden bad dreams that plagued her each night. ¡°If you had accepted your wages like a normal person we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation in the first place, and you would be buying your own clothes.¡± Hearing him grumble only made her smile, causing her dimples to flash in affection. ¡°You can pay me once you settle your debt and big sis is free. I don¡¯t need anything else until then.¡± ¡°Since when do you call Envy ¡®big sis¡¯?¡± He asked with raised eyebrow. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯ve never said it to her face, but isn¡¯t she two years older than me?¡± Exill shrugged. He just knew that the two women were biologically older than him, but the fact slipped his mind so often as he also lost track of his real age. ¡®Did I die when I was 29 years old¡­ and does that make me 30 or 47 years old?¡¯ He inwardly shrugged. It made little difference to his current predicament. After walking the streets for some time, the two arrived at Virigo central market. He picked out three sets of clothes, two of which were dresses. One was modest grey, and the other was a pale jade colour that matched the colour of her eyes. They visited several accessory vendors, picking out a ribbon of a darker shade of green to tie her hair back. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Eventually, he saw her stop in front of a familiar stall and found himself facing the astonished vendor. ¡°You shameless scoundrel! Are you here to propose to her as well?¡± the Vendor shouted, recognising his distinct features. Exill quickly grabbed Tsarra¡¯s arm before the Vendor could get a word in and left the market in the direction of the Clinic. ¡°Um, hey! I was looking at that. What did she mean by proposing to a girl?¡± She asked between breaths. ¡°I think she mistook me for someone else, we should hurry home.¡± Tsarra¡¯s intuition told her otherwise, but she held her tongue as they briskly walked home. When they arrived, she focused on Envy¡¯s hand, and noticed a silver band around her left wrist. ¡®Did she always have that?¡¯ The Dwarf racked her brains trying to remember, but she had always looked away from the Vampire out of intimidation and struggled to recall such a specific detail. In spite of that, if someone had asked Tsarra to recollect what her Master wore, she would have been able to describe the cheap copper necklace, bracelet, and earring he always sported, together with his favourite clothes. Tsarra organised her new belongings and worriedly watched Exill and Envy equip armour and weapons as if in preparation for a delve. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Envy asked, her hand resting on the pommel of her shortsword. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡± Although it was only a short trip to the well, he was relieved to have a fully armed Envy by his side. She exuded calm and professional competence, qualities that only a select few Mercs had. Tsarra made to follow, but Exill pushed her back. ¡°Stay here and guard the Clinic. Take this time to change into your new clothes as well. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡± He patted her head affectionately and took the spear offered by Envy, then the two swiftly went down the side lane. Tsarra watched helplessly from the doorway, wondering what it would take for her mentor to rely on her just a little more. She had practised shooting ice bolts and channelling a vortex of wind in their back yard and had grown quite proficient. It was apparently not enough. Meanwhile, apprehension grew when the armed duo rounded the corner, revealing the well in the centre of the cottage cluster. However, the object of his nightmares wasn¡¯t there, and he cautiously approached the site where the squat two storey building had stood just yesterday morning. ¡°It was here¡­¡± He gestured vacantly to the immaculate greenery around him. Envy didn¡¯t respond while maintaining her guard, ready for an attack. A minute later, Exill abandoned the search and they steadily retreated to the well, where he drew two buckets of water. They returned to the Clinic and was greeted by Tsarra, who had been waiting anxiously for their return. Feeling both relieved and apprehensive, a sigh escaped his lips when they entered inside. ¡®If that Aberration can move¡­ I don¡¯t know where it will next pop up. I need to be on my guard.¡¯ With the looming threat over, the preparations for the clinic¡¯s opening went smoothly, and thanks to the arrival of Dyna they had fifteen minutes to spare until the first patient. ¡°Dyna, I would like you to spend the morning with me, then help Tsarra triage in the afternoon. I want the both of you to conserve your vitality and mana so that you have energy to study in the evening.¡± Stepping into the treatment room with the young vixen in tow, he chose to ask her a few questions while waiting for the first patient. ¡°Did you think about the question I asked you yesterday?¡± ¡°Do you mean the areas that persistent rashes can form?¡± she asked slyly. ¡°N-no!¡± he coughed, ¡°I meant the one where if your husband permitted you to choose freely, what would you assign as your second job.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡­ I think I would choose to be a [Wizard]. I would adventure with my husband, taking down monsters, healing his injuries and relaxing in the Arena afterwards while watching a play.¡± Dyna had a faraway look in her eyes while remembering the vivid descriptions of the beasts Exill had faced in the Labyrinth. She released a heavy sigh. ¡°As I said yesterday, I¡¯m sure you will find the perfect man who will do all those things.¡± he reassured her. Dyna gave him a sceptical look, too much of a realist to succumb to hope. Exill recognised her expression, for it mirrored the one Envy often made. His heart broke a little at the realization that this young girl lived in a gilded cage, as much a slave to an external force as the Vampire. Their discussion was interrupted again when the first patient of the day came in. Chapter 114 - Priests Request After an eventful day, they closed the Clinic and all four of them gathered around the table. Exill opened the ¡®Healing Magical Theory¡¯ tome to a page detailing the physical differences of the various races and their common ailments. ¡°I want you to take notes on this section while I¡¯m cooking, and I¡¯ll quiz you during supper. At this point in time you don¡¯t have to memorize the differences of various organs or race specific glands. Just focus on the general diseases they are susceptible to.¡± The book they were studying from was about a hundred years out of date, compared to the later revision he had studied in Savta¡¯s clinic. It was still a veritable tome of knowledge, and found himself reminded of queer facts he had memorised together with Luna. With that, Exill left the girls and started working in the kitchen. Inspired by the jamba spice and the shrimp like creatures that thrived in the cooler depths of the volcanic caldera above them ¨C he was determined to cook this fantasy world¡¯s equivalent of the Spanish paella. He fried the rice in lard before adding spices, tomato, and volcano shrimp. Once that was ready, he poured in the leftovers of yesterday¡¯s stock, and this was left to simmer over a low fire while preparing the next dish. This one was comparatively simple, and only required eggs, salt, and water to create a fluffy, steamed omelette. While this was going on, Dyna sneaked glances at Exill, admiring his rolled-up sleeve and the way his forearms grew taut while whisking the eggs. She ardently desired to be next to him in the kitchen instead of studying theory. Her concentration was broken when Tsarra, who had been questioning the revelation at the market all day, finally broke and asked a shocking question. ¡°Did he propose to you?¡± Envy raised her eyes from the hole she was patching in Exill¡¯s tunic. Holding the firestone bracelet aloft for the Dwarf to examine, she replied in kind. ¡°What do you think?¡± Tsarra felt her stomach perform a somersault, and excitedly grasped the Vampire¡¯s arm to better inspect the bracelet. She beamed happily at Envy, knowing from casual observance just how much the two of them cared for each other despite their outwardly rough demeanour. However with the congratulations came an emotion far more insidious. The pressure of abandonment, that her mentor and saviour would disappear one day was an ever present concern in her mind. ¡®Would he take me with him when I¡¯m such a burden?¡¯ The answer she feared was that unlike the Vampire, it would be a resounding ¡®no¡¯. She fidgeted with her own ring, understanding it was merely an enchanted tool that had been loaned to her. Envy withdrew her braceleted hand and returned to her sewing, ignoring the desire burning in Dyna¡¯s obsidian eyes. ¡°How did he propose to you?¡± she asked, stubbornly refusing to believe the Vampire¡¯s words while biting her lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t special¡­ apparently it is enchanted with [Luck+] and he promised me a better fortune in this life, when he slipped it on my wrist.¡± She tauntingly raised the embedded firestone up to her amber eyes that flashed a crimson red. ¡°It was cute how his hand trembled, saying it matched my eyes.¡± Dyna gritted her teeth in jealousy. ¡®How could a slave receive a proposal when he wouldn¡¯t spare me a glance!¡¯ She asked a follow up question, dreading the answer, ¡°The ring that Tsarra wears¡­ did he propose to her too?¡± The shy Dwarf opened her mouth to deny the allegations, but was quickly silenced by Envy. ¡°If you are asking if it¡¯s enchanted, it is. I hear it is much more valuable than mine¡­¡± The deceitful Vampire smiled while happily leaning into the misunderstanding. Dyna abruptly stood up and walked to the entrance, her posture screaming of humiliation. With great effort she turned to Exill and cordially explained the situation. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Witchdoctor sir, I¡¯m afraid I am feeling under the weather. I doubt I will be able to return tomorrow, and you have my sincere apologies.¡± She closed the door behind her and hurried away before Exill could even get a word in. He noticed Tsarra appearing guilty, while Envy wore a smug look. He filled two bowls with Virigo paella and fluffy egg omelette, carrying it to the table. ¡°What did you say to drive her away?¡± He pointedly asked Envy, who was the likely culprit. ¡°She was nosy about my past, so I told her what she wanted to hear.¡± Envy didn¡¯t even look up while continuing to reinforce the stitches on his tunic. ¡°Never mind, let us enjoy our meal.¡± He dismissed the incident for now, mentally filing a note to ask Tsarra later what had happened. It was difficult to get a straight answer from the slippery Murderess. Letting out a quiet sigh, he dug into the carefully prepared meal, discovering to his delight just how delicious it was. They spent a quiet evening of study and taking notes, quizzing each other on the peculiarities afflicting each race. Exill occasionally looked up to find Envy glancing at him, listening along to his lectures. ¡°What are you doing with Tsarra¡¯s old dress?¡± He asked during a break, noticing she had patched all his old clothes. ¡°I¡¯m just undoing the stitches for now. Iris taught me old clothes can be recycled to reinforce and accessorise new clothes.¡± She easily replied. It appeared she already had plans because Envy was studying the pastel green dress that Tsarra was currently wearing. Exill suppressed a smile and breathed out his nose in quiet amusement. At times like this, you could squint, and almost forget she was a cold blooded murderess who had eviscerated her previous master. It just went to show how little he knew about her, seeing how she could still surprise him with little things like this. Turning to the tome spread between them, he continued to study alongside Tsarra. *** Dyna didn¡¯t turn up to work the next day, or the day after that. Dark circles had begun to form under Tsarra¡¯s gentle eyes from lack of sleep, brought on by the worsening nightmares, but she handled the patients with quiet competency. Her warm dimpled smiles had grown smaller, and fewer in between. It was after the sixth evening of their arrival, having wrapped up clinic activities when an urgent knock resounded against the front door. Exill had been washing the dishes after dinner, the rolled sleeves of his tunic drenched from the swirling dishwater. Envy stood beside him drying the dishes with muted efficiency, while Tsarra sat at the dining table, reviewing the notes she had earlier made. Drying his glistening hands, he tiredly approached the door and was greeted by Father Jonas who looked just as tired as him. Weary bags hung under his eyes, yet despite this, a determined energy flowed through the old man. ¡°Spirit forgive me for disturbing you so late.¡± Father Jonas brusquely began, ¡°A child from our orphanage disappeared over an hour ago, not far from here. The militia has called off the search and you are the only one I can count on.¡± Caught off guard by the sudden call for help, Exill froze, and the Priest continued to explain the situation in a jumbled panic, ¡°The Commander said the men need to rest, and the boy¡¯s name is Mio, only ten years old and under the care of the Church.¡± At a sudden loss for words, the desperate Priest beseechingly asked again. ¡°I know he is out there, and time is of the essence!¡± Exill lingered in his acceptance. His mana and vitality had been drained from the day¡¯s activities, and he just wanted to lie down and rest. Perhaps he had taken too long to respond, because disappointment soon clouded the Priest¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m af-¡± Exill began, but was cut off by the kindly Priest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my child. It was wrong of me to seek help at this hour. You look tired and should rest.¡± Father Jonas forgave him and turned away from the door, nearly slipping on the half-step. Exill watched the devoted Priest amble away in search of the missing orphan and he felt shittier every second. ¡®Did he not unquestioningly assist me when I asked for help?¡¯ The shame coursed through him at the thought of the old man searching alone in the darkness. ¡®I¡¯ll help for thirty minutes and convince him to abandon the search.¡¯ What made Exill attach the oil lantern to his belt was not the desire the help. There was a premonition¡­ a feeling that come tomorrow, news of the Priest¡¯s disappearance would spread around town. And when that reckoning arrived, Exill knew he would be stricken with a terrible guilt - for the sin of wanting to rest when someone earnestly called for help. Hefting the spear that stood ready behind the door, he held up a hand to stop Envy who had likewise been about to arm herself. ¡°I won¡¯t be going far. You should stay here and protect the Clinic.¡± He raised his chin in the direction of Tsarra, implying wordlessly that she should stay by her side. Not giving her a chance to protest, he firmly closed the door behind him and channelled mana into a small flame to light the oil lantern that hung on his belt. It had been a while since he had come out during the night, and unlike Ark, the streets of this resort town were dimly lit, especially in this outer orbital road. Intending to keep the route short, he chased after the receding figure, and the two men were swiftly swallowed by the night. Chapter 115 - Priests Requiem They walked down a familiar lane that branched out from the main road. To his right, he could see the dimly lit Clinic surrounded by a row of small cottages. The only sound around them was the slow creaking of trees as they walked along the soft dirt path. ¡°We have been searching day and night ever since you raised the alarm, following reports of people who have disappeared.¡± The Priest¡¯s hands shook from anxiety while relating the relevant facts, ¡°The 10 year old boy¡¯s name is Mio, an orphan under the protection of the Church. He has black hair and a red tunic, and was last seen near your Clinic.¡± Clenching his hands in frustration, the Priest swept a low overhanging branch aside, ¡°The town commander called off the search an hour ago, saying his men needed rest. I wouldn¡¯t have sought you out otherwise.¡± Exill merely nodded to the Priest¡¯s words, his ears straining nervously for any strange noise. Out here, surrounded by darkness, he was beginning to regret his decision to help. Every instinct screamed of the danger beyond, made worse by the threatening shadows cast by his lantern. Before long, they arrived at the well, located on the very outskirts of the town. ¡°This is the place, and the two-storey building I saw was over there, by the tree line.¡± Exill gestured behind him, having confirmed with substantial relief that there were only trees in that direction. However, the Priest¡¯s eyes had widened at his gesture, the whites of his eyes visible in the flickering lamplight. Feeling a sense of dread overwhelm him, Exill slowly turned to face the ominous building that had crept up on him, its windows tightly barred from within as if to contain some festering infestation. ¡®It wasn¡¯t there a second ago!¡¯ Feeling the heightened danger ahead of them, Exill gripped the Priest¡¯s arm and stepped back. Unlike his encounter during daytime, in darkness¡¯ embrace, the house oozed malicious intent, even from this distance. ¡°We should run! We are no match for that thing!¡± As the words left his mouth, the worm-eaten front door slyly cracked open, revealing a distorted darkness within. A soft light illuminated the floor above, from which a crying child could be seen pounding at the window in terrified urgency. ¡®As if I¡¯m going to fall for the oldest trick in the-¡¯ Exill¡¯s thoughts were cut off by the hoarse cry from Father Jonas. ¡°Mio!¡± Father Jonas escaped from his grip and rushed towards the tantalising maw of the Aberration. Halfway to the door, the Priest faltered in his steps, torn between rushing into the obvious trap and returning with more reinforcements. However the kindly Father could not ignore the desperate sound of hammering fists, and he licked his dry lips while leaving his last wish. ¡°Inform the Milita¡­ tell them there is hope.¡± Then the dauntless Priest stepped into the waiting maws of the Aberration. Stunned by this display of bravery and stupidity, Exill stood there for long seconds, indecision straining at him. There was no guarantee the Aberration would remain when he returned with back up, and there was a premonition that if he turned his gaze away, the house would simply disappear. Watching the tearful boy continue to batter his fists against the window, Exill made the worst decision of his second life. ¡®I¡¯ll unlock Dimensionist and [Warp] out if all else fails¡­¡¯ It was a terrible last gambit, and he knew it. Warping somewhere without practice, not knowing its limitations or how much mana the spell consumed sounded like a recipe for disaster. Yet his feet moved of their own accord, spear held ready, despite knowing its limitations in tight quarters. Once he stepped over the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him, rejoicing at the success of their wicked deceit. Turning back, he confirmed - as he had suspected - that the door had disappeared, leaving a creamy plastered wall that was warm and moist to the touch. Exill checked the level of oil remaining in the lantern, but it was unnecessary because a soft diffuse glow illuminated the walls, that grew feverishly brighter as he advanced down the hallway. Strange cancerous protrusions grew out of corners, and many legged parasites the size of his finger skittered to and fro between their pustular openings. After exploring for a couple minutes, it became clear that the ¡®house¡¯ was larger on the inside through some dimensional trickery. Doorways led to gangrenous cavities, empty except for their soft inviting radiance. The walls began to get sticky with mucous and an ungainly drumbeat throbbed beneath the floorboards as Exill dove deeper. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. It was getting more and more difficult to describe the interior as a building, instead of the innards of some giant monstrosity. Doorways became fleshy sphincters containing both human and animal remains. Exill stopped in front of one opening, spotting the mummified corpse of a person with long brown hair and pale blue robes typically worn by healers. Kneeling beside her, he found an unadorned silver bracelet with the [Luck+] enchantment on the floor, having fallen from her desiccated wrists. 900 Denars was also found in her coin pouch along with a scrap of parchment addressed to Hunter Bartol for the sum of 1200 Denars. ¡®This must be the hunter who raised a ruckus on the first day. It appears she was doing some healing off the books or didn¡¯t get the chance to update the records.¡¯ Exill suspected it was the former, because a small percentage of proceeds were donated to the Guild each year to maintain membership. He stood for a moment looking down at the remains of his predecessor, curious to put a face to someone who had become so intimately familiar in their absence. Living in her dwelling and place of business, he had picked up a few hints about her personality, such as the well organised patient records and even a bottle of hard alcohol hidden behind the bed. He knew she had taken the death of her apprentice hard, and now, looking down at the enchanted bracelet and understanding its meaning, a feeling of affinity prevented him from simply walking away. Remembering the Enui belief that life was a bridge of dreams from one infinite darkness to another, he remained crouched and offered a simple prayer so that her soul could move on. ¡°Your dream is over¡­ and may the Spirit guide you safely to the next one.¡± Pocketing the enchanted bracelet and coin pouch, he gave one last look before continuing on. By this point, the floor had become ridged with bony protrusions that were slippery under his feet. The air was overripe with the smell of decay, and he had to try hard not to gag. Exill nearly passed another cavity covered by a translucent membrane, had he not spotted the red robe sticking out amongst the enveloping pink flesh. With a grimace, he stuck his arm into the wall and dragged Father Jonas out. The Priest was limp and covered in congealed jelly. Exill administered CPR, hoping he was not too late. After what felt like minutes, the middle-aged man coughed and threw up a vile syrupy liquid that slid down his stubbled chin. He wheezed some more before hacking up some more bile, finally speaking haltingly in a raspy voice. ¡°You came for me¡­ may the Spirit bless you. I found the boy¡­ but it was a trap.¡± As the Priest continued to cough, Exill was deep in thought, wondering if he should unlock Dimensionist and [Warp] out right now. It would have been the sensible choice, but it came with its own downsides, such as explaining to the conscious Priest how he wielded such ridiculous magic. ¡®I should have warped out while he was unconscious¡­¡¯ he realised too late. Sensing the wrongness all around them, he tentatively asked for another way out of this pressing situation. ¡°Is there a way to take this down from the inside?¡± The dazed Priest shook his head vehemently, afraid to put the young man further into peril. ¡°No! It is too dangerous!¡± He coughed some more, but saw the determination in Exill¡¯s furrowed brows. Praying to the Spirit for forgiveness, he slowly recited what he knew about their foe, ¡°You must strike at the heart of the Aberration with a weapon blessed by the World Spirit, attacks from mundane weapons cannot harm them¡­ I¡¯m afraid this is the best I can do for you.¡± Father Jonas fumbled in his robe for a half empty vial that emitted a pale glow. Pouring the blessed waters onto the blade of Exill¡¯s spear, he chanted a litany of prayers, broken only by short gasps for air. The tip of the blue mithril spear now emitted a soft glow and [Appraise] revealed its new status:
Equipment Price Enchantment
Blessed Mithril Spear 1400 Denars +Spirit Damage, 3/3 uses
Helping the Priest sit up against the wall, he glanced down the hallway. The ungainly drumbeat was pulsating louder than ever, and he felt he was closer to the heart of the abomination. The sheer perversion of the place was like a grating shriek that triggered every survival instinct in his arsenal. ¡°Stay here¡­¡± Exill patted the shoulder of the feeble Priest, ¡°and if I don¡¯t come back¡­ well, let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that.¡± he remarked. Father Jonas tightly gripped his hand in contrition, sorry for dragging the young man with a promising future into such a mess. As for the spear wielding young man, [Appraise] had given him hope of taking the monstrosity down. The trick was to take it down in under three hits. Clasping Father Jonas¡¯s hand one last time, he stood up and warily walked down the passageway. It eventually opened up to a large cavern where a radiant egg sac hung from the ceiling, suspended by webbing and thick tubing. A familiar man with a bow slung on his back turned around to face Exill, his stern, rugged features relaxing in recognition of his friend. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again Exill.¡± said Verill with a warm smile. Chapter 116 - Infested Edifice ¡®He isn¡¯t real, this is a trap.¡¯ Exill repeated to himself while facing his long-lost friend and brother. As if reading his thoughts, Verill¡¯s eyes glittered with unshed tears, his smile turning bittersweet. Opening his mouth as if to speak, he faltered for a moment, admitting his situation. ¡°You are right¡­ I am dead. Damn, they flanked and wiped us out, killing everyone who wouldn¡¯t immediately submit to enslavement.¡± The Ranger looked down at the gaping hole in the midsection of his leather armour, the red stained tunic visible underneath, dripping with blood. ¡°For me, even enslavement wasn¡¯t a choice.¡± He confessed with sadness in his eyes. ¡°I had so much left to say to you¡­¡± His friend wavered while taking a slow step forward, struggling to remember his last thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much I regret not seeing the successful Healer you have become.¡± Exill stepped back when Verill approached, trying to ignore the hurt expression on the advancing man''s face. ¡°Why did you go to such lengths to help me?¡± He asked the question to make sure it was really his friend, the tip of his spear trembling as it pointed at the Wraith. ¡°Can¡¯t a stranger look out for his little brother?¡± Verill repeated what he had said, over a year ago with a rueful smile. ¡°No¡­ it wasn¡¯t an act of charity. I simply saw my younger brother within you¡­ do you remember how scared and disoriented you were?¡± The Ranger shook his head, reflecting on their harrowing escape to Ark. ¡°We were all scared, but I drew courage and strength to advance thanks to you. I saw my family in that Mist you know¡­ I almost followed them, until I remembered that would mean leaving you behind, terrified, and alone. We saved each other that day. You owe me nothing.¡± Slow seconds dragged by as the two retreated in unison across the putrid cavern floor. ¡°... Are you really dead?¡± Exill finally asked with a wavering voice, no longer able to contain his tears. Verill nodded, struggling too, as thin rivulets flowed down the stern face. There was a brief pause as Exill¡¯s spear pressed against his chest. ¡°I came to say goodbye¡± the Wraith whispered. In the face of the anguish that gripped his heart, Exill activated [Weak Point] and [Steady Hand] and watched the glowing spear pierce the advancing Ranger¡¯s breastplate and plunge into his chest. The sound of snapping bones could be heard when the spear embedded itself, followed by a wet sucking noise. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Exill wept as Verill fell to his knees, a hand still outstretched as if to reach for one last touch. He stepped back, pulling the spear out, letting his friend collapse to the side. Amidst the guilt enveloping his mind, the throbbing sensation from the egg sac escalated, and Exill heard skittering noises emanating from the passageways around him. [Appraise] revealed there were two out of three uses left on the Blessed Spear. There was no time to grieve, only righteous anger for desecrating the memory of his friend. Feeling the situation begin to unravel, he set aside his guilt, channelling fury into the bloodied spear. He stepped forward to throw the javelin with all his might into the egg sac high above. The glowing spearhead impaled the target with a grisly thunk. The rhythmic beating ceased immediately, and the membrane slowly split open, releasing a torrential afterbirth. A writhing mass of foetal limbs fell down from above, along with the spear. Exill leapt forward to yank the waving haft out before dealing the finishing blow. The thrashing miscarriage quickly withered and melted into the floor, the decay spreading quickly throughout the cavern. Spotting a shiny shard of glittering metal, he picked it up and pocketed it, having no time for second thoughts. The sound of skittering insect feet escalated around him. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. To his rear, the corpse of Verill was no longer visible, but instead, Father Jonas staggered out of the passageway. ¡°Quick! Do you still have the flask of blessed water on you?¡± The Priest croaked in a weak voice. Exill unhitched the flask from his belt and uncorked it, finding the blessed water still glowing inside. He passed it to the Priest who immediately sprinkled it around them in a wide circle, wheezing wearily while chanting rites of protection. Before the ritual could be completed, a wave of skittering insects rippled down the passageways and started circling the two survivors. Exill tried his best to fend them off but a huge slobbering beetle slipped past his defences, who then nipped and tore at his leg with its cadaverous mandible. Fortunately, Father Jonas completed the circle in time and collapsed on his rear. The insects chittered angrily as chunks of flesh fell from the ceiling, unable to cross the spirit barrier etched into the syrupy flesh of the cavern floor. Time became meaningless in the face of the chaotic decay surrounding them. Exill limped back, wounded from the leg bite, and worried that one of the larger abominations would leap over the barrier. The night sky was the first thing to become visible of the outside, tiny pinpricks of familiar light dotting the empyrean heavens. Minutes passed and soon, even the walls dissolved into a black tarry substance. Exposed to the fresh air, the insects began to lose their vigour until they too dissolved into the ground beneath them. Looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings, Exill helped the Priest up. They paused in disbelief, unable and unwilling to fathom the horror they had endured. ¡°We¡­ made it.¡± The devout Priest clasped both hands in humble servitude, giving thanks to the Spirit for its protection. They limped towards the dim glow of lamplight surrounding the town built around the volcanic caldera. Father Jonas had lost his lamp during the struggle and so the two survivors stumbled through the tall grass for several minutes until they reached civilisation. ¡°We are in the western quarters.¡± The old man said in recognition. He had circled the town many times in search of the Aberration and was familiar with the surroundings. ¡°The Church should be just up ahead.¡± They soon came upon a large chapel built out of ashen volcanic rock. Father Jonas led him to an unassuming building off to the side. ¡°This is the dormitories¡± he explained while rapping at the door that had been bolted shut. A moment passed before a feminine voice called out, asking who it was. Hearing Father Jonas¡¯s voice, the door was quickly unlatched and a young woman in the red robes of priesthood greeted them, her face filled with wonder. ¡°You have been gone for days Father, where have you been?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°What day is it child?¡± the Priest asked with a frown. It quickly became apparent that two full days had passed since they initially set out for the search. It appeared the Aberration was not only capable of dilating space, but time as well. The Priestess ushered them in, stoking the fire and preparing a cup of warm tea. ¡°The town was in uproar when they found you didn¡¯t return that evening. The town commander had sent out search parties for the last few nights and I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t encounter one on the way back.¡± As the woman went out to draw some more water to heat up, Exill groaned and peeled back the hem of his tattered trousers. What lay underneath was overripe flesh, oozing slippery black liquid. ¡°Spirit bless this poor soul¡­¡± Father Jonas muttered a short prayer and tapped his heart twice in benediction. From a mere glance, he could tell the wound was cursed and spreading fast. ¡°Quickly, wear this!¡± The Priest fumbled off a plain amulet covered in whorls of knotted wood and placed it over his head with trembling hands. Feeling a strange resonance from the amulet, he intuitively summoned his Card.
Corruption Resisted
It was the first time seeing the quickly fading overlay, and curiosity drove him to [Appraise] the plain ornament around his neck.
Equipment Price Enchantment
Amulet: Splinter of the Divine Tree ??? Minor resistance to abnormal status effects
Over one and a half years into this accursed world, Exill had encountered his first legendary item. Chapter 117 - Betrayal For a brief moment, Exill forgot the pain gnawing at his leg and was awed by the nature of the amulet. The fact that price appeared as ¡®???¡¯ indicated it had never been sold before, or its value was too large to appraise. Father Jonas was soon joined by the alarmed Priestess, who had swiftly returned after hearing the consternation. They both knelt in front of him, chanting prayers of benediction while their palms were bathed in a gentle golden glow. Exill felt the pain in his leg slowly subside, and with it disappeared a numbing sensation that had been afflicting his mind. For the first time in a long while, he felt clear, sharp and awake. ¡°That is as much as we can do for now¡­¡± Father Jonas raised himself back onto the bench with a sigh. His knees hurt, and his back ached from the sudden exertion of faith. ¡°It is a repulsive curse, designed to cripple and maim. You should recover after another session of blessings, but hold onto the amulet until then.¡± The Priestess continued to channel her faith into his leg for a few more seconds, then returned with a warm compress that was anointed with holy water. Exill looked down at this leg and found the swelling had subsided greatly. There were still black tendrils of corruption surrounding the gash around his ankle, but it was no longer spreading. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t bought me time back there when we were surrounded, *cough* I imagine I would be covered in such wounds¡­¡± Father Jonas patted his brows with a handkerchief, doubly tired from the nightmarish ordeal. ¡°Pray to the Spirit for benediction every morning and evening, it should aid in your healing.¡± Putting some weight on his injured leg, Exill realised it wasn¡¯t so bad. He ignored the fussing Priestess and reached out to gather his belongings. ¡°I should head back; I¡¯m worried about the state of my clinic.¡± Father Jonas, who had been dozing off, shook himself awake. ¡°You should rest the night here, but if you can walk and are determined to leave, I¡¯m sure the Priestess can arrange escorts to lead you back.¡± He subtly motioned the young Priestess to make the necessary arrangements. Once she was out of earshot, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m grateful that you went out of your way to indulge this old man¡¯s search and escort me back safely... We¡¯ll talk of your reward tomorrow.¡± Exill hesitated, remembering the look of suspicion on Inquisitor Deroch¡¯s face when his blessing was affirmed by the Oracle. He didn¡¯t want to draw any further attention than possible with the Church. ¡°Would it be possible¡­ to downplay my involvement?¡± he whispered to the Priest. ¡°Why would we do that? You were the one who took it down!¡± Genuine confusion painted the old man¡¯s lined face. ¡°I¡­ well, it¡¯s complicated but I don¡¯t want to draw unwanted attention from the Inquisition.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, I¡¯ll report directly to the Oracle of what transpired here. She should have witnessed fragments of it in any case.¡± Father Jonas gripped his shoulder reassuringly, then motioned him to the entryway. ¡°Now hurry home, I can hear the approaching night patrol. I¡¯ll try to drop by tomorrow evening if I¡¯ve recovered by then.¡± Troubled by the Priest¡¯s words, Exill reluctantly stood up and left the building. He was immediately recognised by a pair of night watchmen who agreed to escort him home. Feeling the cool fresh wind drawn by the inactive volcano towering above them, he walked forward, trying to bury the claustrophobic nightmare they had overcome. His mind still reeled away from the memory of Verill, and how the spear had caused a sucking wound in his friend¡¯s heart. Lost in thought, he was momentarily surprised to find himself standing in front of a familiar door, a soft light emanating from the window to his side. The escorts turned away when he approached the front door, eager to call it a night and report to their commander. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He knocked softly, realising the keys had been left at home, expecting a swift return. ¡°Um, who is it?¡± a timid voice enquired. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Hearing his voice, the door quickly unlatched and Tsarra threw herself at him in a warm embrace, burying her face in his chest. Envy stood behind her, sheathed sword at the ready and a surprised expression on her face. Wincing from the pain in his ankles, he waddled inside with the diminutive woman still clinging to him. ¡°I hear I¡¯ve been gone for two days. Please tell me everything didn¡¯t fall apart.¡± *** It took some time for Exill to get washed, eat food, and settled down with a cup of tea. Tsarra fussed over the ankle injury, but her attempts to heal the gash was stymied by the latent corruption still residing in his flesh. Disturbed by the wound that would not heal, his apprentice covered it with poultice and hesitantly reported what had happened the last few days. ¡°We reported to the town guard that you went missing the next morning¡­ Envy wanted to search for you, but I insisted you would return, and that it would be important to keep the Clinic running.¡± Tsarra shrank back as Exill couldn¡¯t hold himself back from affectionately patting her head. She had made the right choice, and he was incredibly proud of her. ¡°Um¡­ so I treated the patients without you, and it was really difficult. People kept asking for the Witchdoctor instead of me. I would have given up if it hadn¡¯t been for Dyna assisting me with triage, she came that afternoon when news spread you had disappeared.¡± ¡°It must have been difficult, but you did well.¡± Exill said, his emerald eyes sparkling with warmth. ¡°What happened?¡± Envy asked, still struggling to believe he had returned. The Vampire looked haggard from lack of sleep and worry, dark circles ringing her eyes. The hope that Exill has bestowed upon her had come crashing down with his disappearance¡­ and it had struck her especially hard. ¡°Well, before we dive into the specifics I want to test a theory.¡± Exill groaned as he stood up and limped into Envy¡¯s room, returning with the pouch of runic throwing bones. He channelled mana into them until their runes shone brightly, then let them slip through his fingers. A small smile crept up the corner of his mouth when he sensed the changed readings. ¡°We are no longer in danger at Virigo.¡± He said, finally feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. The expressions on the women in front of him relaxed visibly as well. ¡°Now, about what happened that night. I set out in the direction of the well with Father Jonas and¡­¡± Exill explained what had transpired that night, taking out the silver bracelet and coin pouch of their predecessor. He skipped over his encounter with Verill, his voice briefly faltering over the memory, and described the vile abomination that fell out of the egg sac. Tsarra examined the bracelet, together with the receipt in the coin pouch. ¡°This must be from that hunter who was missing his hand¡­ so he wasn¡¯t lying in the end.¡± ¡°Yeah, I will have to return it.¡± Exill said, reluctantly counting the coins in the pouch. The Hunter would have to be notified of this recovery and offered a partial refund, or a continuation of the therapy under his replacement. He set the two items aside, they could be handed in to the sheriff tomorrow. Envy eyed the coin pouch containing 900 Denars. In principle, she agreed with the Witchdoctor¡¯s judgement. On the other hand, there were four instalments to Diallo totalling 5200 Denars, and this would go a long way towards settling it. She quietly motioned Tsarra to return to her room, and when they were the only ones in the common area she offered a counterproposal. ¡°Don¡¯t tell the Sheriff we discovered the money and the receipt.¡± Exill stared at her and pursed his lips. It was not as if the same thought hadn¡¯t crossed his mind. However it went against his very principles, knowing how difficult it was for a normal Hunter to save up such funds. He eventually shook his head, denying her proposal. ¡°He tried to choke you! If you feel so bad, you can return the money later when you have the funds.¡± The edges of her amber eyes turned crimson with passion. Shaking his head again, Exill refused to even entertain the idea. Yet he slowed, a sense of doubt creeping into his mind. ¡®Do we have enough money to settle the debt when we return to Ark in a few days?¡¯ He had forgotten to ask Tsarra their earnings while he had gone missing. His muddied hesitation was broken by a strangely resonating sensation near his chest. The amulet had been resonating periodically to indicate the corruption was being resisted, but something about the recent sensation felt off. Intuitively summoning his Card, the quickly fading silent notification caught him off guard.
Enthral Resisted
Exill slowly looked up from his Card, eyes wide in disbelief, presented with the greatest betrayal he had ever faced.
Author''s note: For those who are reading this on other platforms, I would greatly appreciate it if you could participate in a survey/retrospective on this cliffhanger in Royal Road. Chapter 118 - Enthral Exill felt both feverish and cold at the same time. The whites of his eyes visible as he absorbed the implication of the notification. Glancing up, he saw Envy continue to glare at him, the edges of her amber eyes dyed crimson. Suddenly, everything made sense. Why he had felt so much pity when he first laid eyes on her. Why he had entered into such a crippling debt. For a brief moment, he questioned the very emotions he was feeling, because the sense of betrayal and doubt was too unreal. It took everything to tamp down the primal anger at being manipulated so completely, and for so long. ¡®Did she plan this from the start? Was it all an act?¡¯ The questions endlessly whirled around in his mind. More importantly, she was someone he had come to care about. He checked the position of his spear leaning against the door frame, and confirmed Envy was similarly unarmed. There were better ways to confront her treachery, especially with the condition he was in, however the resonance from the divine amulet indicating the mental assault was ongoing left him no choice. ¡°How long have you been manipulating me.¡± His voice was like a sibilant whisper. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Confused by his sudden change in tone and demeanour, Envy was momentarily caught off guard. ¡°How long have you been manipulating me through [Enthral].¡± Perplexed by the sudden hostility exuding from him, she spoke slowly and carefully, unsure how the encounter with the Aberration and the Priest had changed him. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve heard about Vampires and what they are capable of, but it¡¯s just a myth. Do you think I would remain a slave if I could manipulate people so easily?¡± In spite of those words, she felt doubt. It was true that at times people fell to her suggestions, but it was not something she could induce at will. At her stubborn denial over a proven fact, Exill felt his frustration surge forth. ¡°Out of all the people who have tried to manipulate and exploit me¡­ you are the worst. Was it not enough that I guaranteed you freedom!? Were you so determined to turn me into your drooling slave?¡± He took a deep breath, feeling his voice crack from the pain, ¡°I trusted you¡­¡± It had been mere hours since horrifically parting ways with his longtime friend. If he hadn¡¯t already been numbed by the recent loss, there was no knowing what he would have done in response to the betrayal. For the next few seconds of silence, he gathered himself, ignoring the resonance that indicated the hurtful mental assault was ongoing. There was little choice, and he poured a prodigious amount of mana into the command directed at his slave. In theory, he knew the strength and duration of slave commands were greatly affected by the amount of mana injected into them. The longest standing command was rumoured to last a week. That was one reason why slave owners preferred notarized contracts over spoken commands, because the former would last until eternity if the terms specified it. ¡°You will not attempt to [Enthral] me.¡± Exill felt the amulet¡¯s resonance immediately subside, and Envy¡¯s eyes return to their clear amber colour. She stared at him confused, not quite understanding the restriction that had gone into effect. ¡°Did you just command me like a slave?¡± Her tone rose in disbelief. Apart from the one time he had ordered her to lower the weapon, Exill had never flouted his power over her. It was an incredible breach of their relationship, causing her eyes to turn crimson with hurt and anger. As soon as it happened, all that emotion and fire brimming within her was swiftly extinguished by his standing order, leaving her hollow and dismayed. ¡°What¡­?¡± She asked, horrified by the sudden emptiness that filled her. She met his cold, distant gaze, and the pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place. ¡°Do you understand now what you¡¯ve been doing to me?¡± Exill asked coldly. He saw the hint of realisation in her features. It was with considerable sadness that he recognised the little tells that hid her feelings. They had grown just that close over all this time. For several minutes, Envy couldn¡¯t answer him, lost in the sudden realisation that there was a fragment of truth to the myths surrounding her ancestors. She thought back to her first encounter with the Witchdoctor from the confines of her cell, taken by those clear emerald eyes that held none of the avarice and desire she was familiar with. She remembered the gnawing hunger and the desire to be free. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t do it deliberately.¡± Exill nodded tiredly. He didn¡¯t doubt her words. If she was truly capable of controlling such power, she wouldn¡¯t have remained a slave for so long. However that didn¡¯t excuse the betrayal simmering in his heart, making him question if all the affection he felt had been real. ¡°When we return to Ark, I want you to sign a notarized contract preventing you from enthralling me.¡± He paused to release a soft sigh, ¡°I also want you to keep your distance from me.¡± He picked up the offending coin pouch that had instigated this discovery and limped to the master bedroom, softly closing the door behind him. Envy sat at the table for the next hour, staring at its weathered surface, lost in thought. She adjusted the bracelet holding the Luck+ enchantment, feeling the cold emptiness that suddenly filled her heart. Exill had quietly promised a better fortune in this life when he clasped it on her wrist. Instead, feeling abandoned more than ever, she resented the man who had pledged everything she wanted and more. *** Exill awoke with a start to find himself alone on the bed, half expecting Envy to be curled up beside him. Rubbing his bleary eyes he looked out the window. Judging from the amount of light pouring in, it was late morning. A steady thrum of activity could be heard from the living room as well as subdued voices. Coming out of the room, he was greeted by the sight of patients milling about the common room, while Dyna triaged and took payment from the departing patients. He brushed past the people lined up and quietly let himself in to the treatment room. Tsarra was explaining to the warehouse loader the treatment options for broken fingers, her voice was calm and reassuring and there was no hint of indecision in her tone. He washed his hands and examined the patient¡¯s digits that had already been paralyzed by his apprentice. ¡°She is right, it is better to regrow the tips of your pinkie and ring finger and shouldn¡¯t cost more than 300 Denars for the whole treatment.¡± He said, while reaching for a length of string. With the warehouse loaders permission, he tied off blood flow to the fingers, before circling the affected area with a sharp scalpel, cutting deep into the bone. A sharp twisting motion cleanly detached the crushed fingertips and all Exill had to do was channel healing magic while pinching closed the residual flap of skin. He had become so proficient in the procedure that it took less than thirty seconds to complete for each finger. Funnily enough, it took longer to poultice and bandage than the operation itself. ¡°You should have woken me.¡± He glanced back while washing his hands, smiling softly to take the edge off his rebuke. ¡°Um¡­ I tried, but Envy wouldn¡¯t let me. She said you needed to rest.¡± ¡°Ah, that is understandable then.¡± He admitted, feeling a dull pain at the mention of Envy. He knew just how persuasive the Murderess could be. Gently squeezing her elbow, he coaxed Tsarra to take a break. ¡°Just for ten minutes, then you can rotate with Dyna.¡± Time passed quickly as everyone fell into the accustomed rhythm of their roles. The volume of patients had also dropped to half its peak on their first day here, giving the staff plenty of opportunities to rest in between. They closed the Clinic a little early after sending the last patient off. ¡°I heard that you defeated the Aberration!¡± Dyna exclaimed at the table, no longer able to contain herself. ¡°Father said the motion to relax curfews is likely to pass in the next few days.¡± She continued to pester him for details on what it was like to face an abomination few had survived. Exill once again explained what had transpired that night, glossing over the clash with Verill, his subconscious still recoiling from the encounter. ¡°Are you feeling better now? I was worried when you didn¡¯t turn up for a few days.¡± He asked, wondering if she suffered from some ailment. Dyna looked embarrassed for a moment, remembering the night she had impulsively stormed out. Her father had scolded her, lecturing that engagement rings meant nothing on their own. The first person to finalise marriage would relegate everyone else to the position of mistress. ¡°Yes, I am better now.¡± She simply replied, holding her delicate chin up. ¡°Father would like to know how much longer you intend to stay at Virigo because he would like to arrange a small celebration for your victory. He also extends an invitation to the hot springs.¡± Exill had notified Councilman Coran he planned to stay for ten days from the outset, until time dilation from the Aberration messed up his schedule. It was currently the ninth day, and Coran was likely testing the waters, hoping to extend the Witchdoctor¡¯s stay. ¡°How much have we earned so far?¡± He asked Tsarra, who had become their unofficial treasurer with her quick mental calculations. ¡°I think we will have just under 2500 Denars by the end of tomorrow after settling all the taxes and Guild dues.¡± She replied promptly, having anticipated this question. ¡°Tomorrow will be the last clinic day as we discussed, I need to return on schedule.¡± He replied to Dyna¡¯s earlier question. Combined with the 1500 Denars waiting for them back in Ark, and their savings, it should be tight but achievable. It was unfortunate, but there wasn¡¯t much time remaining for the next loan instalment and he intended to settle it all in one go. ¡°As for your invitation to the hot springs¡­ I don¡¯t mind, provided Tsarra is on board.¡± He had noticed the Dwarf¡¯s eyes light up at the invitation. There was no longer any reason to be cautious as the runic throwing bones indicated there wasn¡¯t any lingering danger, besides, it was a good opportunity to relax after working so hard for the past week. With the way his Apprentice had kept everything from falling apart, she deserved this little reprieve and more. Envy looked away while Tsarra nodded eagerly. ¡°We¡¯ll drop by after work tomorrow.¡± He confirmed. Chapter 119 - Common Courtesy After bidding Dyna goodbye at the doorway, he caught a familiar glimpse of two crimson robed figures approaching the clinic from a distance. Exill limped out to meet them and warmly greeted Father Jonas and the Priestess. ¡°You needn¡¯t have come out to greet us, child. How is your ankle doing?¡± The Priest earnestly squeezed Exill¡¯s arm, genuine concern painting his tired features. ¡°I would have come by sooner, but I had difficulty getting out of bed after our¡­ little adventure.¡± He chuckled lightly, lamenting where all the years had gone by. ¡°My ankle feels a lot better, and I have a lot to be grateful for.¡± Exill truly meant every word. The amulet had unearthed a great deal of corruption, both within and without. ¡°That is good to hear, let¡¯s go inside to finish our treatment, shall we?¡± Exill led them back to the Clinic, and it was a strange sensation to roll up the hem of his trousers and lie back like a patient in the treatment room. Tsarra hung to one side, and observed the two clerics channel their faith into dispelling the corruption rooted in his ankle. ¡°That¡­ should do it.¡± Father Jonas wiped the sweat from his brow in the crowded treatment room, and leaned against the windowsill where the cool evening breeze blew in. Tsarra took over once the subdermal rot was wiped out, and healed his leg with great satisfaction. ¡°Will you be extending your stay in Virigo? It¡¯s a nice little town you know, I used to always enjoy my postings here.¡± The genial Priest gratefully accepted the cup of warm tea and leaned back on the stool. ¡°Tomorrow is our last day, and we will return to Ark the day after.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a shame¡­ you did good work here, and the people like you.¡± The Father smiled warmly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll remain here for a week longer. The Church is terribly understaffed in this region, with most of the clergy assigned to the former battlegrounds to fight the spiritual disturbance caused by the war. It is most troublesome.¡± ¡°What is it like out there?¡± Exill asked. Information about the territories that had seen conflict was tightly controlled, and all the rumours he heard had been vague. ¡°If you thought the Infested Edifice we encountered yesterday was bad, it is much worse out there. Aberrations are a monthly occurrence, and hordes of corpse devouring ghouls roam the countryside. This makes trade and relief efforts difficult, contributing further to human misery.¡± Father Jonas shook his head sadly, ¡°It is a vicious self-perpetuating cycle.¡± The treatment room fell silent as all its occupants grew sombre in thought. The middle-aged Priest sighed loudly and rose to his feet with a groan. He made as if to leave, but paused. ¡°I nearly forgot, now that the corruption is gone you won¡¯t need the amulet.¡± Exill had also stood up alongside the Priest, and now he hesitated, knowing how incredibly valuable the legendary item was. It was the only thing that had warned him of Envy¡¯s manipulation, and he was loathe to give it up. In spite of this, he took the Splinter of the Divine Tree off his neck and handed it over to Father Jonas. ¡°This is a precious memento from my former teacher, and has saved my life many times¡­ I¡¯m glad it was able to protect you.¡± He reminisced fondly then gestured for the accompanying Priestess to lead the way. ¡°I¡¯ll try to drop by in a week¡¯s time on my return to Ark.¡± He bid farewell and stepped out into the darkening evening. Exill observed the two figures retreat into the encroaching darkness, and his heart felt strangely naked and exposed. Without the amulet to protect against abnormal status effects, the sanctity of his mind was vulnerable to deception. To be unable to trust one¡¯s thoughts and emotions was harrowing torment, and he involuntarily shivered in the cool night air. ¡°Let¡¯s go in¡­¡± Tsarra tugged at his sleeve, concerned that he might catch a cold. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Yeah.¡± Exill turned around and paused at the sight of the Vampire repairing the torn hem of his trousers while seated at the table. They hadn¡¯t exchanged a word since last night and he felt reluctant to talk to her, especially now that he was so vulnerable. In spite of this, he gently turned to his apprentice. ¡°This is your last night with the books, and you should make of it as much as you can. Do you mind studying in your room tonight? I need to have a private word with Envy.¡± ¡°Um¡­ okay.¡± Tsarra stifled her curiosity and retreated to her room. Exill reluctantly sat opposite the Vampire and watched her deftly fix up his trousers for minutes on end, unsure of how to begin or even approach such an absurd topic. What she had unwittingly done to him was incredibly asinine and damaging. Nearly all his troubles had begun the moment her crimson eyes matched his. It was incredibly unfair, and even now, he was confused how much had been his intent, and how much had been hers. The fact she had offered to rewrite their contract in a gesture of self-sacrifice prior to the duel only muddied the waters. He still remembered her clear amber eyes, unwavering and melancholy when she suggested the revision. ¡®How could I forget¡­¡¯ he breathed lightly in self-deprecation. ¡°Have you thought about what we discussed last night?¡± Envy glanced up from her sewing, her eyes the colour of clear amber and imperceptibly nodded in affirmation. ¡°What do you think I should do about you?¡± Her hands hesitated at his gently voiced question, and the needle accidentally pierced her thumb, causing a glossy bead to well up. She shrugged, and put the sewing off to one side. Exill was torn by her behaviour. She was outwardly acting as if she didn¡¯t care, but it was obvious from the set of her shoulder that she was tense and anxious. Agonising over this question the whole day, he had tried to measure the treachery against her intent. His impulse screamed at him to nullify the Contract, sell her, or put her far away. It was a reaction borne from fear and deception. A more moderate, emotional side of him couldn¡¯t reject the genuine interactions they had shared. He desperately wanted to believe that all of it had not been a lie. However even this desire was tempered by the suspicion he was still under her influence. Still undecided, he offered a stopgap measure. ¡°I¡¯m going to give you another command as a master to his slave, and that is to not [Enthral] anyone without my permission. Do you consent to this?¡± Envy furrowed her brows, and she wrung her hands in pain, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ¡°Consent? What kind of question is that?¡± The Slave bitingly questioned her Master. Exill had never seen the Vampire so vulnerable, and it hurt him more for what he was about to say, ¡°It wasn¡¯t a question. I was doing you a common courtesy by telling you in advance what I was about to do.¡± She bit her lip, tasting the bittersweet irony of what her Master called a ¡®common courtesy¡¯, a gesture no one had ever extended, while simultaneously binding her freedom. She softly nodded in acquiescence, and felt his mana infused command wash over her. ¡°Lastly, I need to know the truth from you. Did you knowingly Enthral me.¡± He channelled mana again into the command. In the back of his mind, a darker side of him revelled at how easy it was to force the Vampire to do his bidding. ¡°No.¡± She immediately replied, her features clear of deceit. Exill felt a small part of the burden shift from his shoulders, but it did little to excuse the trials and tribulations he had faced since saving her. Neither did it free him from the suffocating shackles of her debt. He was still being pursued by the mysterious figure seeking a default on his loan, and it jeopardized not only him, but his business as well. They continued to sit opposite each other, wrapped in their own thoughts, and quickly lost track of time. Exill was thinking about the missed opportunity of testing Conman¡¯s [Bluff] against the legendary amulet to see how it compared to Envy¡¯s [Enthral]. He quietly suspected that [Bluff] didn¡¯t apply a status ailment and instead affected the tone and delivery of his speech to be more believable. ¡°What are these ¡®myths¡¯ you spoke of yesterday about vampires?¡± He reluctantly refrained from injecting mana into the question. Envy eyed him cautiously, ¡°There are legends¡­ that especially strong vampires are capable of subjugating people.¡± The puzzle gradually became clearer in Exill¡¯s mind. Considering the scarcity of vampires, and the difficulty of feeding them proportional to their strength; it went some way towards explaining the rarity of this unique racial ability. His thoughts then turned to the utility of [Enthral] and how powerful it could be in the right hands. ¡®Is it possible to control such a power? What are its limitations?¡¯ These were all urgent questions that had no answers. Instead, he voiced the mystery that had plagued him all this time. ¡°Was that how you killed your previous master?¡± Envy was caught off guard by the sudden enquiry, and she shook her head to indicate ¡®no¡¯, but fell further into thought. ¡°Maybe¡­ it could have helped.¡± She acknowledged in the end. It gave her fresh perspective on the events that had occurred that fateful day. ¡°Will you tell me what happened?¡± She stared at him, knowing he was fully capable of forcing that information with a single mana-laced command. Shaking her head, she denied her final trump card, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when you set me free.¡± Chapter 120 - Hot Springs The next day was busier than ever as talk abounded that it would be the last day for the Will-blessed Healer. The clinic staff had to work hard to assure visitors that minor ailments could easily be treated by someone else, referring them to their local herbalist. It was early evening when Exill sent away the last patient, closing the clinic for the final time. It had been a tumultuous whirlwind of activity from the moment they had arrived. Acknowledging the tired yet beaming eyes of Tsarra and Dyna, he knew he would look back at this time in Virigo with both fondness and melancholy. A mixture of relief and part reluctance weighed heavily, slowing his movements. It was a nice town, filled with warm, generous people and for a brief moment in time, it had become their home... ¡°Are we ready to leave?¡± he asked, checking all the windows were latched. They doused the fire and collected all their belongings, turning the lock of the front door with some finality. The group waited patiently as Exill paused, turning to appreciate the cottage one last time. Councilman Coran had arranged lodgings at a premium Inn attached to the family¡¯s hot springs, in lieu of Exill¡¯s victory over the Aberration and the four would spend their final night there. They walked up the gentle slope of the dormant volcano, marvelling at the hot waters cascading down carefully constructed aqueducts, steaming gently into the evening sky. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and the air grew humid and warmer the higher they climbed. ¡°This is our home!¡± Dyna exclaimed while leading them to a well maintained two storey building built of age-old timber and whitewashed walls. Judging from steam rising behind the fa?ade, it enclosed a significant hot spring flanked by annexes that served as guest quarters. The four of them were greeted by Dyna¡¯s parents, who eagerly received Exill within the well-furnished lobby. Coran¡¯s wife had smooth porcelain skin and long flowing midnight hair; her bearing was graceful as befitting a lady of her stature. ¡°I heard so much about you.¡± She warmly welcomed him, holding both his hands. ¡°You must be tired, and Dyna will lead you to the changing rooms right away.¡± He took his clothes off and wrapped the provided linen towel around his waist. Exill felt strangely exposed when the girls met him in the corridor, realizing they had sleeveless tunics on. Noting his questioning gaze, Dyna fumbled with an explanation. ¡°Um¡­ most men don¡¯t bother with the tunics, so we don¡¯t provide one unless they ask for it specifically.¡± She tried to hide the embarrassed flush, hoping her lie was believable. ¡°Are we all going into the same spring? I thought it would be separated by gender¡­¡± Exill observed with dismay when he saw Dyna submerging her legs into the steaming water. ¡°Ah¡­ this is the private pool for privileged guests¡± Dyna tried to strike an alluring pose, but the Witchdoctor had already turned away, searching for the spring assigned only to men. He intuited that sharing the private space with this scheming girl would be the furthest thing from relaxing. She could only watch forlornly at his broad muscular back as Tsarra let out a happy sigh beside her. Thus Dyna¡¯s plan for seducing Exill failed before it could begin, she was now stuck with people she either feared or disliked as rivals and it irked her greatly. Servants came out bearing trays of steamed meat and vegetables, but one of them lay untouched and a fragment of a plan began to form in her head. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I will break both your legs if you try to take that to him.¡± Envy spoke, her eyes closed and back arched against a large boulder. The Murderess was trying to quell her inner turmoil by relaxing in the hot waters and she was willing to cripple the girl to maintain it. Dyna shivered despite the heat of the spring and reluctantly obliged, sticking close to Tsarra. The Dwarf was in a state of nirvana, her rosy cheeks pointing to the darkening sky as she felt a week¡¯s worth of tension melt away. ¡°Do you get to do this every day? That is so nice...¡± She mumbled pleasantly to Dyna. But all good things couldn¡¯t last, and they left an hour later to their quarters with Tsarra bearing the remaining tray of food. They entered their private accommodation composed of a cozy common area, surrounded by two rooms on each side. Exill was seated at the table, dressed in a white robe and damp hair slicked back. His brows were furrowed in intense concentration while channelling mana into the throwing bones, a grim look on his face. ¡°Wow, are you able to divine readings as well, can you tell me my fortune?¡± Dyna sat next to him, watching with amazement as the runes flickered, too fast for the human eyes to decipher. ¡°Sure, but before that I would like to share a word privately.¡± He looked at Tsarra then Envy, gesturing both to his room. Once they were all inside Exill laid out the problem, a serious look on his face. ¡°We are safe here, but danger lurks in Ark. I would like us to prepare for the worst and expect an ambush, did you manage to practice the air shield and ice bolt?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I couldn¡¯t practice much.¡± Tsarra twisted her ring, embarrassed by the failure. ¡°You¡¯re not to blame, you barely had any time to study from the tomes either and that was much more important to you.¡± He patted her head; sincerely apologetic they had missed two days¡¯ worth of lessons. ¡°We¡¯ll practice on the way back so rest well tonight.¡± They returned to the common room in a sober mood and Exill attempted to lighten the atmosphere by offering readings to the women. ¡°Me first!¡± Dyna exclaimed with youthful exuberance, ¡°I want to know about my future husband.¡± ¡°Okay, imprint yourself on these, then I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Exill then channelled mana into the bones and let them drop, their runes flashing ¨C as they normally should ¨C at a much slower sequence than the previous reading. The impressions were much clearer than anything related to his fragmented future. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is the right way to interpret it¡­ but the runes say you will meet someone who dearly loves you and has your best interest in heart.¡± He carefully left out the part that said Dyna would not love the man, worrying what it would do to her with that knowledge. He knew all too well how fate had a perverse ability to induce the fulfilment of its prophecy. Seeing her happy reaction, Exill quickly turned to Tsarra, prompting her to ask the next question. ¡°Um¡­ how many children will I have?¡± she asked, embarrassed by her question. Exill¡¯s eyebrows rose in both amusement and surprise. Charmed by her confidence in finding a husband first and foremost. He tossed the bones, and was inundated with a cascade of visions, making it difficult to interpret the results. Unlike Dyna''s earlier reading, Tsarra was being influenced by his Weave, and that made the process fragmented and confusing at best. What little he grasped indicated she would remain single her entire life. He hesitated, wondering how to tell her she would bear no children. ¡°I can¡¯t grasp the exact number... but it¡¯s larger than one.¡± He lied, beginning to regret his offer to read their fortunes. Exill began to sweep the bones back into its pouch when Tsarra tugged at his tunic, her eyes still bright with hope. ¡°Wait, you didn¡¯t ask big sis.¡± He glanced hesitantly at Envy, fully expecting the Vampire to skip her turn, allowing him to close the session safely. Yet it wasn¡¯t to be. ¡°Will I be free.¡± She simply asked. He closed his eyes while channelling mana into the throwing bones, inwardly swearing now at his stupid attempt to lighten the mood. The runes flashed even faster than before, but Exill was able to interpret it with an opportune [Haste]. However, it was all for naught, as the bones performed the Divining Coin¡¯s equivalent of landing on its edge. Envy noticed his hesitation, her amber eyes flickering back and forth between crimson. Knowing how important it was to her, Exill decided to tell the truth. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ the runes indicate it could go either way.¡± Chapter 121 - Failed Blessing The women woke up in the serene twilight of morning to take a final dip in the hot spring, Their soft forms submerging into steaming waters as the dawning sunlight chased the stars away. Tsarra blissfully daydreamed of living in Virigo as their resident healer while Envy quietly immersed herself in the relaxing waters. She had remained silent after hearing the Witchdoctor¡¯s shocking proclamation and simply returned to her room. Lately, her mind was a jumbled mess, and it was growing difficult to ignore the change gnawing at her heart. Although Exill was a bad liar, it would have been easy for him to lie that she would eventually be free. Contrary to expectations, his admission enhanced her trust in him, and the misery over his distancing only grew further. The duo reluctantly climbed out when Exill announced they were leaving shortly. Tsarra paused in front of the placid waters, promising herself that one day, she would return here to admire the breathtaking view. Soon after that, they checked out of the Inn. Dyna stood with her parents at the entryway, pouting while she clutched the ends of her midnight hair draped over one shoulder. Councilman Coran held a reassuring hand on her shoulder, as if to say there would be many more eligible bachelors who would pass through the resort town, failing to understand the freedom his precious daughter desired. ¡°I¡¯ve had a talk with the other council members and considering the vast service you have done for the residents of Virigo, all of them agreed they are amenable to a partial rebate on your taxes.¡± Coran clasped Exill¡¯s shoulders in firm gratitude, ¡°You should receive a promissory note by mail in a few weeks upon finalisation.¡± ¡°Thank you Councilman, I appreciate it.¡± Exill would have vastly preferred to have the funds now, rather than later, but it was welcome news nevertheless. Waving a final farewell, they left the courtyard of the famed Inn. They ambled down the eastern slope of the dormant volcano, admiring the wide vista of the town and surrounding hills. From here, they could see their destination, a large dusty yard on the outskirts, filled with carts, coaches and beasts of burden. They greeted familiar faces on the street, patients and their relatives who were eager to share their goodbyes and morning groceries with the trio. By the time they had reached the coach yard, Exill was laden with multiple slices of pie, freshly picked vegetables and loaves of baked bread. A familiar hunched man with stringy hair could be seen near the loading area, directing the workers to carefully load his cart. Exill waved at Koopra the Navigator, glad to be reacquainted with the larger-than-life man. ¡°Ah, If it ain¡¯t Witchdoctor! Come to find services of Great Koopra?¡± ¡°Yes, the three of us will be returning to Ark. 40 Denars for the extra passengers correct?¡± Exill asked, withdrawing four large copper coins from his pouch. ¡°Nonono¡­ 60 Denars for you all. Guild didn¡¯t pay for return fee.¡± Koopra shook his head vigorously, beads of sweat flung from the ends of his damp hair. Tsarra cringed as a droplet landed on her green dress. ¡®Makes sense¡­ they didn¡¯t know I will return on Koopra¡¯s cart.¡¯ Exill thought while withdrawing two more large copper coins. In retrospect, he was glad the penny-pinching Guild had arranged transport by cart instead of fast coach because the latter cost 60 Denars per passenger ¨C meaning he would have had to pay 120 Denars for the extra passengers. Once the loading of cargo was finished, Tsarra held down the skirt of her dress as Exill helped her up into the end of the cart. He sat next to her, opposite Envy and waited for the Navigator to set off. It looked like they would be the only passengers for this return trip. Sometime later, Koopra returned from the latrines while chewing on a hard biscuit. He pulled himself up into the driver¡¯s seat, then cracked the whip with a shout, making the cart jerk as the feathered brel began to pick up speed. And so, they left behind the resort town of Virigo, making a brief stop at midday. During their break, Exill took Tsarra aside to coach her on wind barrier. She was having difficulty creating a circular vortex as opposed to strong winds that flew in a straight line. Aside from that, her aim with ice bolt was acceptable where she was able to hit the trunk of trees with a finger sized shard of ice from twenty meters (22 yards) away most of the time. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°You¡¯re doing well.¡± Exill patted her head fondly, while they waited for the cart to set off again. The remainder of the afternoon was uneventful and Tsarra eventually dozed off against his shoulder, tired from waking up early to enjoy the hot spring one last time. He moved the cargo around a bit to give the petite woman some room to rest her head on his lap. That night, they set up camp in a clearing different from the one Exill had faced the Aberration with Father Jonas. A small stream of freshwater flowed close to their campfire, and the Witchdoctor took this opportunity to practice blessing the water in his flask. However, no matter which way he approached it, the stubborn water refused to be blessed and Exill abandoned the endeavour. As Father Jonas put it, even if blessed water was available, he wouldn¡¯t be able to bless the ground or weapon without faith. Lacking the means to defend against abominations, or the people to stand watch throughout the night, he took a fatalistic view of their situation. With Tsarra¡¯s assistance, they did what they could by channelling earth magic to set up a semi-circular wall around the fire. Laying the mats close to each other, Exill was envious of Koopra who had relaxed and already fallen asleep. The Navigator appeared to be in his early thirties, and he wondered about the unknown dangers of the road and the average life expectancy of a caravaner. Exill had been on the road for a cumulative total of ten days and during that time had encountered two attacks from beasts as well as three encounters with an Aberration. Doing the math, it suggested a 50% encounter rate with some sort of life-threatening danger. When travel was that dangerous, intercity commerce would plummet and any form of travel would be a coin toss between life and death, greatly deterring the migration of people. However, in reality, trade flourished, and people moved between towns all the time. ¡®No, the math doesn¡¯t lie. The Aberrations are¡­ attracted to me.¡¯ A sick realisation in the pit of his stomach formed. If that was true¡­ he would be partially, if not wholly responsible for the deaths of the refugees in their flight to Ark. Faces flashed past his eyes, the elderly man who sat next to him when the Mist struck, or the mother and child who were consumed by the Lone Tower. He had condemned these people simply through proximity. And now, there were other people in his vicinity. People he cared for. Exill propped himself up by his elbow to look down at Tsarra and Envy, both sleeping peacefully. He softly sighed while reaching for the canteen of water above him, fervently hoping that this time¡­ he would be able to bless it. *** Gasping in surprise, Exill woke from his nightmare a few hours later to find Tsarra nestled into the crook of his arm. In the dim morning light, he could see her soft auburn hair covering much of her face, including the softly parted lips through which she breathed softly. In the nightmare, he had watched Tsarra torn apart by the tentacled Aberration, all because of his failure to bless the canteen to sanctify their surroundings. The offending container of water was still gripped in one hand, persistently stubborn in its wateriness. A deep sigh of relief left his lips, thankful that it was just a dream. ¡®What is Tsarra to me?¡¯ he wondered, staring up at the vast starry expanse, slowly receding under the morning rays. The devastation he had felt in his nightmares held something more than the loss of an acquaintance. Purchased on a whim, he had invested countless Denars and hours into the woman. Healing her injuries and developing her knowledge as a budding apprentice. ¡®Why go to such lengths for her?¡¯ he found himself echoing the same question asked of Verill in the Infested Edifice. Hearing the birds begin to chirp around them, he rose to his feet and stoked the fire, drawing water from the stream to prepare a simple breakfast. One by one, the members of the caravan woke up and gathered around the gently steaming cauldron. Soon after breakfast, they set off again. ¡°The cart is heavy laden but we making good time! I reckon we be there by the third bell.¡± Koopra smiled back at them. ¡°Excuse me Navigator, may I ask how long you have been driving carts and this route specifically?¡± Exill asked, trying to test his theory from the night before. ¡°Ah! Finally taken interest in me, yeah? Well the Great Koopra has been travelling around Kingdom since he was a little lad. Aye, and I bought this route from Guild seven years ago, cost me arm and a leg that.¡± Koopra curled his wiry biceps to emphasize this point, turning back to wink at Tsarra. ¡°And how often do you encounter Aberrations on this route?¡± ¡°Shhh! It be bad luck to speak of them on road, very bad luck.¡± The Navigator rebuked him, cutting the conversation short. However, the larger than life man was unable to keep silent once engaged and cautiously spoke up after some time, ¡°Well¡­ I would say we encounter once or twice a year. This road very safe, that¡¯s why expensive.¡± ¡°It appears you made a wise investment.¡± Exill agreed with him, inwardly troubled by the confirmation of his theory. ¡°Just out of curiosity, how much would such a route cost?¡± ¡°Different every time! When old navigator dies, route go up for blind auction. Highest bid wins and money goes to old navigator family. I paid 5400 Denars for this route.¡± Koopra puffed out his chest in pride. The Navigator was about to add something else when an arrow whistled into the seat next to him and pandemonium broke loose. Chapter 122 - Ambush ¡°Form a party now!¡± Exill ducked while reaching out with both hands to establish a party, just as they had practiced the day before. The brel reared in panic at the sudden obstacle, and Koopra flattened himself, covering his head with both hands. Bandits were a rare occurrence this close to Ark, but provided you didn¡¯t put up a fight, there was a good chance you would make it out alive. Exill knew these were no simple outlaws and motioned Tsarra to channel an air gust while he summoned a flame wall to cover their rear. Exill peeked over the sideboard to see they were surrounded, with archers flanking both sides and two bandits cautiously approaching on foot. Envy leapt off the cart, deflecting a strike with her buckler as she kicked the nearest man¡¯s knee out under him, finishing it off with a gruesome thrust into the neck. Tsarra was crouched while shooting ice bolts in between gusts of strong wind, unable to channel two magics at once. She concentrated on the archers to their left, while arrows thudded violently into the sides of the cart. ¡®This is worse than I expected.¡¯ Exill nocked an arrow and imprinted it lightly with mana to ensure it wouldn¡¯t be affected by Tsarra¡¯s gust of wind. He was on his knees, firing precise shots at archers flanking them on the other side. ¡°Ah!¡± Hearing the shout of pain, Exill glanced over his shoulder to find Tsarra grimacing from an arrow stuck in her shoulder. He quickly lowered her head as projectiles continued to whistle past and snapped the shaft near her body. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine, focus on channelling the wind.¡± Reassuring her, he pivoted to the other side of the cart. Exill had taken down three archers to the right and their counterfire had reduced significantly, whereas Tsarra had managed to wound one. He fired off another two arrows, each finding their mark. ¡°Leave the red haired one alive and kill the man!¡± A heavily armed bandit mounted on a horse leapt over the flame walls to the rear, knocking Envy down with his charge. The horse reared in pain from its singed underbelly, causing the bandit leader to fall from his saddle. Exill released his last arrow, taking down the last of the archers then picked up his spear, coming to Envy¡¯s aid. He leapt off the cart and dismissed the flame wall, firing two consecutive ice bolts at the bandit leader¡¯s head. The brutish armoured man lifted his heater shield in time to block the ice shards, however it had been a feint. The deception broke the bandit leader¡¯s line of sight as he was forced to hold his shield aloft. Taking this opportunity to strike at the knees, Exill tore the man¡¯s hamstring when the cruelly barbed spear snagged against his tendons. ¡°Argh!¡± The bandit leader flailed, losing balance as he suddenly lost strength in one leg. Another ice bolt embedded itself into the man¡¯s thigh, effectively bringing him to his knees. Blinded by rage, Exill thrust the spear into his open mouth, shattering teeth in the process and instantly killing the bandit leader.
[Ping!]
Exill huffed while pulling out the spear, looking back and forth amidst the treeline, wary of archers. He helped Envy to her feet and observed the lone bandit blocking the road up ahead flee into the forest. ¡°Do you know how to ride?¡± Exill asked, grabbing the reigns of the horse. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°No.¡± Nevertheless, she sheathed her sword and passed the buckler to him. Exill helped her mount the frolicking mare who was snorting and still jittery from the burn. He waited anxiously as she gently soothed the horse, settling into the saddle before passing up her buckler. Only when she rode away on the impatient mare to scout ahead did he find the wherewithal to look around at the site of ambush. It was a scene of carnage and blood; dead bodies lay around them and the cart was like a pincushion from all the arrow shafts embedded on the side. ¡®I killed someone.¡¯ The turbulent image of the spearhead shattering teeth was nothing like the impersonal death dealt through ranged combat. Killing monsters, even zombies in the Labyrinth couldn¡¯t compare to taking someone¡¯s life up close and personal. ¡°Uuergh¡­¡± he vomited up his breakfast while leaning against the cart. Amidst the nausea, soft shallow breaths of pain could be heard up above, forcing Exill to quickly return to his senses. Tsarra needed treatment. Trying not to look too closely, he looted the shield from the bandit leader and threw it onboard. ¡°Koopra we need to leave now!¡± he shouted at the cowering Navigator while clambering on board. Fumbling in his satchel for the enchanted scalpel, he shouted at the driver again to move, throwing worried glances at Tsarra¡¯s pale face. She was bleeding badly. He tore her tunic near the arrow shaft and paralyzed the shoulder to provide some relief, then inspected the arrows embedded into the side of the cart to get an idea of arrow tip¡¯s shape. Thankfully they were all sharpened tips, and he grabbed the slippery shaft and grimaced as he pulled at it, crisp splinters digging into his palm. With a sucking sound, the tip was finally released, and he pinched closed the gaping wound while channelling all his remaining mana and vitality deep into the shoulder. Gritting his teeth through the incredible migraine brought on by mana abuse, he wiped his hands on his tunic and brushed Tsarra¡¯s dishevelled hair aside, cradling her head and pale cheeks. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere else?¡± ¡°No¡­ but I feel dizzy.¡± She whispered back faintly. For a heart stopping moment, Exill feared she had been poisoned. He wasn¡¯t an expert on venom or toxins but had been taught most of them had a bitter taste. Pulling two arrows out of the cart¡¯s side, he tentatively sampled the tips and was relieved to taste only bare metal. Spitting over the edge, he watched Envy ride ahead, growing accustomed to the feel of her horse. Small whimpers continued to escape from Koopra¡¯s lips as he urged the reluctant feathered brel on to a slow trot. Exill refilled his empty quiver, and only then did he allow himself to sit back and breathe deeply, keeping an eye on Tsarra who lay opposite him. ¡®What should I do about her?¡¯ The original plan was to drop by Perg¡¯s Clinic, collect the 1500 Denar reward from the Guild and march straight to Diallo¡¯s with the 5200 Denars to fully settle their debt. Now that Tsarra was weak and wounded, he couldn¡¯t drag her around and he was loathe to leave her alone at an insecure location. Exill doubted this would be the end of the attack and in his weakened state, he wasn¡¯t sure he would be able to fend off a similar assault. If he had been the one planning this offensive, there would be another ambush ahead, perhaps a gang of thieves instructed to steal his Denars. ¡®I need help¡­¡¯ he thought, gritting his jaw. *** Several carts passed them by as they drew closer to Ark, and Exill tensed whenever one came into view. Thankfully, they were all merchant caravans, and had been vetted in advance by the mounted vampire. Envy had natural talent and had fully attuned herself to the horse, scratching the mare¡¯s mane while patrolling ahead, alert for further attacks. It was a bit after two o¡¯clock that they passed through the western perimeter wall of Ark and Koopra breathed a sigh of relief, allowing the tired brel to slow down to its normal pace. He turned in to the dusty coach yard and pulled over to the side, allowing Exill and Tsarra to alight from the cart. ¡°Thank you for saving me life, you never know with bandits if they just steal or kill.¡± Koopra muttered while helping unload Exill¡¯s belongings. ¡°Thank you for bringing us to Ark safely, I¡¯ll seek you out if we head west again.¡± Exill hurriedly thanked the Navigator, then picked up his luggage and rushed to the still mounted Vampire with Tsarra in tow. Unfortunately, you needed a permit to ride horses in the Inner City, so he sought out an idle stableboy, palming him ten Denars to look after it for a few days. Envy reluctantly dismounted and shared a few words with the boy, passing him a salve to apply to the singed underbelly. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry.¡± The trio were a grim blood-spattered sight as they beelined towards the nearest Inner City gate. The guards raised an eyebrow, but otherwise waved them through after checking their cards and resident tokens. Keeping a lookout, he clung to Tsarra and his coin pouch as they neared their destination. Chapter 123 - Mattan There was an explosion of noise when the trio burst into the Mercenary Guild. Exill lowered Tsarra on a bench near the back and frantically looked around for familiar faces, anyone that could help, but the only person he recognised was Mattan. The hulking mercenary was standing in line, scratching his greasy locks as he waited to turn his haul in for the day. Exill squeezed past the people waiting in line, ignoring the shoves and complaints while approaching the bulky mercenary and was hit with the reek of weeks old armpit. ¡°Mattan, it¡¯s good to see you again.¡± He breathed through his mouth to avoid the worst of the eye-watering stench. ¡°Ah, You returned! How is Father Jonas doing?¡± The large Mercenary beamed, turning to face him. ¡°He is doing well and is due to return in a week. Actually¡­ I¡¯m here to ask for a favour. I need you to escort me for the next hour. How does a hundred Denars sound?¡± Exill hurriedly spoke, not caring who overheard. Several ears pricked up at the mention of a hundred Denars for an hours work, but turned away upon noticing the smeared blood across his tunic. ¡°Anything for you, boy! Let me just drop this haul off.¡± Mattan hefted the netting and boomed in agreement. They waited together as precious minutes passed by and Exill grew increasingly paranoid, periodically glancing back to find Envy standing protectively over Tsarra. They finally reached the front of the queue and Iris let out a gasp when she recognised him. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Iris reached out to grasp his hand, but recoiled upon hurting herself on the splinters still embedded in his palm. Her kind grey eyes turned into a worried frown, only now realising his tunic was smeared with blood. ¡°I would love to chat but there¡¯s something I need to do first, can you quickly process Mattan¡¯s haul and look after Tsarra for an hour?¡± The words rushed out of his mouth. ¡°Um¡­ sure, there is room in the back office. What is happening Exill?¡± she faltered when the Witchdoctor slipped out of sight and returned seconds later with Tsarra in tow. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later, please look after her, and I¡¯ll be waiting for you by the entrance Mattan.¡± Exill rudely threw most of his personal belongings behind the counter then joined Envy to wait by the entrance. Iris released a pent-up sigh and processed the greasy mercenary¡¯s haul, then dragged Exill¡¯s baggage to the back office. If the Guild clerk had been a lesser person, she might have resented his actions, but the kindly women took it in her stride and resolved to interrogate him tomorrow. By the time she returned to the counter, Mattan, Envy and Exill were already long gone. *** Exill checked the strap on his newly acquired heater shield, formerly owned by the dead bandit leader. There was a functional indent on the right side, allowing him to brace his spear while the shield was raised. ¡°Thank you for helping me out Mattan. I¡¯m not sure if we will be attacked but it would be best to stay on guard.¡± He said briskly while passing under the looming shadow of the North Gate. Perg¡¯s Clinic was in the northern quarters of the Outer City and the trio weaved through the back alleyways until they reached an accented building that was painted a light blue colour. Exill barged in, frightening the receptionist when she saw three heavily armed personnel enter the premises, before recognising the familiar Witchdoctor. ¡°Do you have an appoint-¡± she began, but he cut her off. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Hana but I¡¯m in a hurry, I need to see him urgently.¡± The Assistant took in the bloodstained tunic and scowl on his face, hesitating for a moment until she made up her mind. She knocked on an elaborate door to her left and waited precious seconds for a response. Hearing nothing, she cracked it open and spoke to the Healer inside. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disrupt your mid-afternoon tea but Witchdoctor Exill is here to see you and he says it is urgent.¡± ¡°Let him in, let him in!¡± a cheerful voice rang out. Exill excused himself from his companions, leaving the spear and shield with Envy and entered the luxuriously furnished room. ¡°The glorious hero returns! But my, you are in quite the shape my friend, had a run in with scoundrels I dare say. Please, where are my manners, take a seat, take a seat!¡± Exill remained standing, worried about leaving bloodstains on the opulent chair and refused the cup of tea offered by his host. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing your break but my life is on the line, and I need the Guild payment now.¡± His words came out jagged and rushed. ¡°After your life you say, could it have something to do with the Vampire? You hear rumours in the upper circles you know, absolutely terrible things! Well, if someone is after my friend¡¯s life I shouldn¡¯t tarry on¡­¡± Perg ruffled through a side cabinet, withdrawing a small coin pouch. ¡°and here is your promised reward! 1500 Denars as promised.¡± The portly Healer waddled over to Exill and placed it in his hand. ¡°As I mentioned weeks ago, the Guild is very much in your debt, the situation in Virigo is still unresolved mind you, but I feel we have a handle on it now. Off you go and remember to give old Perg a visit, it gets awfully lonely around here!¡± Exill counted the five silver and one gold coin, confirming their receipt. He thanked the talkative Healer and left the Clinic. ¡®It¡¯s a fifteen minute walk to the slave market.¡¯ He thought while adjusting the straps of the heater shield. His fingers itched to throw the divination coin, but already knew what answer it would yield. Putting aside personal misgivings, Exill turned to his longtime manipulator and asked her opinion. ¡°Do you think we should go by main street or alleyways?¡± Envy was taken aback by the sudden question after receiving the cold shoulder for so long. Nevertheless, she answered without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°They will knife you in the gut in the crowded streets. I would rather risk an ambush in the alleyways.¡± Mattan also nodded in agreement, hefting his harpoon like spear. Gratified to hear the team was aligned, Exill stepped forward to take the lead, but was surprised to find Envy holding him back. ¡°Stay in the middle, let us protect you.¡± She gripped his arm, a rare look of worry in her eyes. It took incredible self-control to not jerk away from her touch. Instead, he shook his head while moving forward, ¡°I know the streets around the slave market better than anyone¡­ Bring up the rear with Mattan instead, he can provide you support with his spear.¡± They traversed the narrow streets warily, and were startled by the sound of children laughing as they chased each other. Before long, Exill peeked around the corner and observed the North Gate up ahead. A dozen soldiers guarded the ivory stone gates to the Inner City, and two lines of a twenty people each shuffled forward as they were waved through by the guards. At peak times, the number of queuing people could swell to three or even four times that number. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Exill checked the surroundings then sprinted to the back of the queue, Mattan and Envy quickly following behind. ¡°What did you do to get yourself in such trouble, boy?¡± The hulking mercenary asked in a low rumble. The tension had subsided as they drew closer to the gate, feeling safer in the proximity of armed guards. ¡°¡­ it¡¯s related to Envy¡± Exill offered, not fully understanding the situation either. ¡°It¡¯s always women, am I right?¡± Mattan laughed throatily, and slapped his shoulder with a meaty palm. The hulking man suddenly yelped in pain, as the Murderess kicked the back of his leg. ¡°It¡¯s never worth it to stick your dick in crazy, boy. How do you think I ended up like this?¡± Mattan ruefully whispered while wincing in pain, earning him another kick in the same place. They were waved through by the guards and Exill immediately took a side passageway, hugging the city wall on one side. He passed a side street offering the most direct route to the Slave Market, and jogged further down, choosing to approach their objective in a roundabout way. ¡°It¡¯s a straight run from-¡± Exill was cut off when a dark figure emerged around a corner, setting loose an arrow. He raised his shield in time, and felt the projectile thud into its solid surface. ¡°Ambush!¡± he yelled, firing a quick ice bolt in retaliation, but the figure stepped back, avoiding the slow projectile with ease. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ He had predicted another ambush near the slave market, and it bought no satisfaction in being proved right. Exill hastily glanced back to find they were surrounded on all sides. The situation took a turn for the worse when an earth wall erupted from the rear, separating him from Envy and Mattan. A [Wizard] had entered the fray. Chapter 124 - Ambush II Exill spotted the Wizard amongst the attackers but immediately lost sight of the robed figure when another arrow forced him to take cover behind the shield. The archer was beginning to get on his nerves, but there was little he could do to pin the slippery opponent down. ¡®Channelling an earth wall will block the side street that archer is in, but it will use up half my mana¡­¡¯ He immediately rejected the idea. ¡®On the other hand, a fire wall consumes less mana but it risks spreading to nearby houses.¡¯ He snorted, amused by the concern for others¡¯ property while his life was on the line, but he wasn¡¯t so eager to settle one debt, only to be saddled with an even larger one. Through their party connection, he could sense Mattan and Envy similarly pinned down on the other side, feeling their frustration leak through the mental connection. Wary of further projectiles, Exill channelled a quarter of his mana reserves into the wall behind him, shifting the material away from the centre. He then struck the weakened spot with the haft of his spear and was pleased to see it emerge on the other side. ¡°Raaargh!¡± Mattan crashed through the earth wall like a battering ram, his face crimson with berserker fury. The hulking mercenary was followed by Envy who covered their rear with a raised buckler. They advanced as a unit, approaching the side street up ahead and forcing the archer to retreat. ¡®Where is that damn Wizard?¡¯ Exill moved cautiously, wary of sudden dangers. Four scoundrels wearing plain clothes, their faces concealed with linen veils emerged from the archer¡¯s place and Exill could spot another half dozen up ahead, deterring pedestrians from wandering into the site of ambush. ¡°Ten ahead!¡± he shouted, and heard Envy respond, ¡°Eight behind!¡± Employing such numbers against them, as well as the services of a Wizard¡­ their opponent had obviously gone all out. Exill remained confident they would pull through as superiority in numbers meant little in this passageway that was one-and-a-half shoulder widths wide. To shift the battle slightly in his favour, a small earthen lip emerged from the ground ahead when Exill channelled 10% of his mana reserves forward. The scoundrel in front easily stepped over the obstacle but those following stumbled, pushing the lead attacker into Exill¡¯s spear. Mattan harpooned the second man, giving Exill room to fire consecutive ice bolts into the stomachs of the remaining two. The limitation of ice bolt was that the finger sized darts of ice lacked penetrating power and took considerable mana to propel. However in these tight quarters, it was enough to give the opponents pause. This earned him enough time to free his spear, shield bashing one rogue aside for Mattan to finish while impaling the last of this wave. They were scoundrels who preyed on the weak, and were no match for seasoned mercs who put their lives at risk each day. ¡°Watch your feet!¡± Exill shouted as he stepped over the magically conjured obstacle. He hurried down the passageway, narrowly dodging an arrow when he poked his head down the side street, spotting three more rogues in the distance. ¡®Damn, six ahead, and three to the side, with heaven knows how many on our tail¡­¡¯ He was tempted to follow the path of least resistance, but it would only take them further away from the slave market. Exill leapt past the exposed street with three rogues towards the six remaining enemies, all the while shouting at the top of his lungs where he saw pedestrians in the distance. ¡°Eleven behind!¡± Envy shouted when she saw three more enemies reinforce the pursuing force. Yet they kept their distance, striding confidently towards the trio with twisted grins ill-concealed behind veils. They pelted rocks at the snarling Murderess, the projectiles clattering against the buckler and bruising her exposed shins as they jeered what they would do to her once they caught her. Exill grit his teeth when he heard their taunts, focusing on the four out of the six who had peeled off to engage them. There was only 50% mana remaining and he needed that to cover their retreat, meaning his bag of tricks was severely depleted. Changing tactics, Mattan and Exill formed a staggered spear wall and pressed the rogues back with their extended reach. They didn¡¯t necessarily have to kill the enemy¡­ it would still be their victory to push the foes back into the main street, where it would be harder for the patrolling guards to ignore the skirmish. ¡°Guards, Guards!¡± Exill shouted as they inched towards the exit. He smiled as alarmed shouts could be heard from passing pedestrians and the faces of the scoundrels grew nervous, knowing their time was running short. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Exill knew the moment was at hand when the sharp trill of whistles could be heard far away. The faces of the six in front of him paled before the long arm of the law, and one-by-one, melted off into the crowded streets. Spotting the opportunity, Exill channelled the remainder of his mana reserves to guarantee their escape. An earthen wall erupted in front of Envy to cut off the desperate attackers who had realised their quarry was no longer cornered. ¡°Run!¡± he shouted, and rounded the corner, pushing people aside while sprinting towards the slave market entrance a hundred meters away. Exill didn¡¯t stop and ran past the surprised guards until he was finally safe in the enclosure of Diallo¡¯s compound. The trio paused to catch their breath, wheezing as they nervously kept an eye out for pursuers, but nobody came after them. ¡°All this for a woman?¡± Mattan questioned, his barrel chest heaving for air. Scowling from the migraine induced by mana abuse, Exill staggered into the nondescript building and hammered angrily at Diallo¡¯s office door, ignoring the frantic assistant who rose to stop him, The slave trader emerged with a deathly glare, which quickly turned to surprise upon recognising the Witchdoctor. Exill shoved past him and forcibly entered the room, dropping multiple coin pouches with a heavy thud on the ornate desk. ¡°5200 Denars¡­ here are the remaining four instalments.¡± Exill whispered, too tired to maintain his anger. Diallo¡¯s composure returned as he seated himself behind the desk, deftly counting and sorting the pile of coins. Satisfied with the amount, he checked a clay tablet for the treatment records. ¡°You overpaid by a hundred Denars if we take into account the slaves you treated for haemorrhoids three weeks ago.¡± The slave trader stated while sliding a silver coin back to the young man. ¡°Your contract has been fulfilled, effective immediately.¡±
[Ping!]
Exill felt a new job unlock, as well as a deep resonance within him, signifying the notarized contract¡¯s hold had been lifted. He unwittingly leaned on the trader''s desk, feeling the tension leave his legs. Diallo scrawled a message on a scrap of parchment, handing it to Ivar, his assistant who promptly took it away. ¡°I have sent a message to the person who purchased your debt, informing them of the contract¡¯s closure. It would be best if you stayed here for an hour or so, until¡­ misunderstandings have been settled.¡± Diallo suggested in a monotone voice. Exill shot him a dark look, finally confirming the debt had been sold, despite the slave trader¡¯s best assurance it would never happen. He stepped out to meet Envy and Mattan who were leaning against the wall, tired but alert. ¡°It¡¯s over¡± he said, placing a silver coin in Mattan¡¯s palm. ¡°We need to hang around here for another hour, but you are free to leave¡­ thank you for your help back there.¡± Exill gripped the mercenary¡¯s sweaty forearm in gratitude, dismissing him from the party. ¡°Call me anytime kid, I owed you one anyway.¡± The hulking mercenary shrugged then turned to leave, hefting the heavy harpoon against one shoulder. Exill turned to Envy who was watching him intently. He opened his mouth to speak but faltered as words failed him. After all, what was there to say? For him, the ordeal was over. He was no longer shackled to the burdensome debt. However for her, the only thing that had changed was the name of her official master. Regardless, a celebration was the last thing on his mind, not after the hellish obstacles he had just overcome. The fire of hatred burned deep inside him. ¡°Someone tried to hunt me down and hurt Tsarra¡­ and I¡¯m going to make them pay.¡± He said bitterly, turning to enter Diallo¡¯s office. The door remained open, and the stern man was pouring out a glass of dwarven spirit, which he offered to Exill wordlessly. The Witchdoctor downed it in one shot and asked the question raging in his mind. ¡°Who bought our contract?¡± Diallo closed his eyes and exhaled softly, feeling the venom in the young man¡¯s voice. It was understandable really, he would be furious too if their roles had been reversed, that was why he didn¡¯t want to be involved in the first place, but fate had other plans in mind. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have warned you if I wanted to sell your debt in the first place.¡± Diallo began, while seating himself on the edge of his desk. ¡°But¡­ the rental agreement for this compound expired and I had no choice.¡± He finished with a sigh. ¡°So who was the buyer?¡± Exill asked, barely controlling the acrid anger burning in his throat. ¡°A shell company. Even if I knew their name, my notarised contract forbids divulging their identity. You won¡¯t be able to torture it out of me either.¡± ¡°Then where did you send that message?¡± Exill demanded, growing increasingly frustrated. ¡°I can¡¯t say that either.¡± Diallo replied, but his eyes flickered briefly to Ivar, his assistant who was seated outside by the counter. Exill caught the eye movement and he moved away, leaving Diallo¡¯s office door open as he entered the lobby. The hunched assistant nervously glanced at the approaching bloodstained man, emitting a deathly aura of decay. ¡°Ivar, what is the address of the message you just sent.¡± Exill asked, his frigid voice lowering the temperature of the surrounding area by a few degrees. ¡°Uh- um¡­ I cannot recall-¡± Ivar¡¯s stammer was cut short when Exill levelled his spear at the man¡¯s throat, his emerald eyes glinting in determination. The hunched man¡¯s eyes swivelled to the left, but Diallo remained seated on his desk, deliberately refusing to meet his Assistant¡¯s eyes. Only then did Ivar understand his master¡¯s intent, and after an agonizing pause, he reluctantly whispered the information that Exill so desperately sought. ¡°Room 304 of the Courtyard Inn.¡± Ivar hoped this leaked information wouldn¡¯t be the cause of his death. Chapter 125 - Crime & Punishment ¡°I have a lead on the mastermind behind the attack.¡± Exill turned his back on the cowering Assistant and marched outside. Envy nodded idly, having heard the exchange while standing guard outside the entryway. ¡°What will you do?¡± she quietly asked. Exill glared in the direction of the main street, torn between his desire for justice and revenge. However, they were both in terrible shape, and he was still suffering from the symptoms of mana abuse. It was agonising to admit that they were in no condition to chase up on the lead. With the trail growing colder every second, he needed to make a decision fast. ¡°Let it go... nothing good can come from pursuing this further.¡± Envy gently offered her own advice. As much as she empathised with the outrage burning in his heart, she knew that path would only lead to ruin. She suspected a noble, or someone with significant influence was involved. For Exill to go up against someone like that was akin to a slave opposing her master. It was courting death. But she doubted the Witchdoctor understood, after all, he had a strange sense of justice, a quality she both admired and found exasperating at times. ¡°You want to let them get away with this, after all they¡¯ve done?!¡± He confirmed her eyes were clear amber-yellow, afraid she was trying to enthral him again. The seconds ticked by, with Envy refusing to rise to the bait. In the absence of words, her surface emotions ¨C through their party connection did all the speaking. It spoke of fatigue and resignation in the face of pointless struggle. ¡°Is revenge really that important to you?¡± She watched the anger in his eyes gradually subside. ¡®Right¡­ I have to focus on what is important.¡¯ He thought, reminded of Tsarra lying unconscious back at the Guild. A part of him died when the righteous anger smouldering in his heart was forcibly doused in cold harsh reality. This is what it meant to be burdened with responsibility, and he gained fresh perspective on all the times he had seen people unjustly treated, walking away without complaint. Suddenly feeling bone-deep weariness and the full weight of his age, he released a long drawn out breath. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± The two waited silently in Diallo¡¯s compound until the hour was up, and they couldn¡¯t stand the stench of despair and occasional whimpers emanating from the nearby warehouse. They took the main thoroughfares to the sandstone building housing the Mercenary Guild, safe in the knowledge they had nothing of value to be stolen. Once inside, the two mercenaries limped towards the front desk, their clothes tattered and bloodied, people moving aside and falling silent as they recognised the pair. Iris fretted over them, but otherwise remained silent and led them to the back office where Tsarra lay sleeping on the couch, her face still pale from blood loss. ¡°Tsarra? It¡¯s over, we can go home now.¡± Exill said softly, checking her temperature by pressing his wrist against her forehead. Scientist¡¯s [Measure] told him her heart rate was 120 beats per minute and her skin was cool and clammy to the touch, all symptoms of severe blood loss. ¡°Help me carry her.¡± He asked, struggling to lift her on to his back. Thanks to the party racial perk provided by Envy alongside level 20 Warrior, he had the benefit of two Strength bonuses, allowing him to carry the petite woman and some of their luggage despite his weakened state. They walked home, laden under the weight of their belongings, feeling their feet grow lighter when the familiar blue-green facade of their home came into view. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. There was a collective sigh of relief when they closed the door against the bustling market. Exill promptly dumped the heavy baggage and lowered Tsarra onto her bed. Following this, he returned outside to draw fresh water from the well, alongside various small tasks that needed doing after their prolonged absence. Once the water began to steam, he brought the washbasin into Envy¡¯s room, catching her in a state of undress. She was still wearing her tunic, but the hem barely covered her underwear. What caught his eye was the bleeding cuts and ugly red welts covering her pale slender legs. ¡®Did she receive those injuries while covering our rear?¡¯ ¡°Sit down.¡± He reluctantly sighed, using that time to summon the Card and check his mana reserves¡­ It had recovered to 20%, enough to heal the most serious cuts without suffering the symptoms of mana abuse. He knelt in front of her, fingertips brushing against her skin as mana trickled into the most egregious cuts. All the while, Envy quietly wiped her legs down with a damp cloth. There was a quiet intimacy in the task¡­ a strange sense of satisfaction when his hand skimmed across the surface of her thighs, leaving a trail of unblemished skin. Before long, Exill was taken aback when there were no more cuts left to heal. The seconds stretched out as his hand hovered over her vulnerable legs. Then, as if waking from a daze, he snatched his hand away, reminded of what she had put him through. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Tsarra.¡± His voice sounded strangely husky, and he hurried out of the room. Exill carried a basin of fresh water down to the treatment room, and was surprised to find the injured maiden already sitting up. ¡°You should lie down.¡± He rebuked the woman, then wet the cloth to wipe away the crusted blood on her shoulder. ¡°Um¡­ I can wash myself.¡± She stammered weakly, reaching for the damp washcloth. ¡°Oh hush, let me check this first.¡± Exill retorted while cleaning her shoulder, pleased to find all traces of the wound had vanished. ¡°There, you can wash yourself now. Call out if you need help, and don¡¯t forget to drink this recovery tonic for severe blood loss.¡± He tapped the red vial by her bedside, a supplement he was intimately familiar with. Now that all the pressing matters had been resolved, he returned to his room, burying his face into the soft familiar pillow. ¡®It¡¯s finally over¡­¡¯ he thought, feeling relieved as he drifted off to sleep. *** *Knock, knock, knock* It was the afternoon of the next day when Exill groaned, frowning as he stumbled out of bed, cursing the ancestors of the person incessantly knocking at their door. He climbed down the stairs, his mood turning fouler with each heavy knock resounding against the entryway. ¡°What do you-¡± he yanked the door open to find two guards examining him with a grim look, the Magistrate¡¯s seal emblazoned on their pauldrons. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill? Come with us for judgement.¡± They held his arms in a vise-like grip, forcibly demanding he summon the Card to confirm his identity. ¡°Where are you taking me? I¡¯ve done nothing wrong!¡± Exill protested while struggling, his muscles still sore from the exertion yesterday, but it was no use. He tried to remember what he could possibly be charged with while they were waved through the East Gate. ¡®Is it about the earth wall I summoned to block off the passageway? Surely I can¡¯t be blamed for killing those rogues who ambushed me!¡¯ People moved out of the way as the guards marched Exill away in lockstep, some whispering when they recognised the most eligible bachelor of Ark being led away like a common criminal. The large copper dome of the Magistrate¡¯s soon came into view, and he was led into a side entrance where they held him in front of a tired desk sergeant who was struggling to organize the clay tablets stacked behind him. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill, charged under property crime by proxy under Article 4, Section 23.¡± The Guard on his left stated in a gruff voice. ¡°Right, cell block four should have some room available.¡± The Sergeant said, scribbling a note on his ledger. Exill¡¯s mind raced while absorbing the new information, ¡®property crime by proxy? Then it must be about that earth wall I summoned to block the street¡­¡¯ his mind raced through the possibilities, ¡®But jailing me seems hardly proportional to the crime!¡¯ He tried to relax when the guards threw him into the cell. One of them pointed a warning finger at his prone figure, explaining the consequences of disobedience. ¡°You will be executed on the spot if you attempt to escape or channel magic.¡± And with those parting words, locked the cell behind them. Picking himself off the ground, he looked around at the dimly lit room. It was large enough to squeeze a small car in, and the floor, walls and even ceiling was plated in wrought iron, obviously to prevent Wizards from channelling earth magic to dig their way out. There were five other inmates in the cramped cell and the stench of faeces wafted from a bucket nearby. A hulking brute of a man locked eyes with Exill, a menacing glint in his dark eyes. ¡°What you in for¡­ pretty boy.¡± The ugly man sneered. Chapter 126 - Prison Exill paused when the others in the cell sniggered at the open provocation. He had watched enough prison drama to know more than his dignity was on the line. Despite his proficiency in unarmed combat, Exill doubted he could take on all five in this small, enclosed space. Confirming Conman¡¯s [Bluff] was active, he chose his next words carefully.
Job Conman
Level 13
Description Outlaw- Tier I
Active Skill [Bluff] Your lies are slightly more believable. (scales with level)
¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I was charged with property crimes, but it is likely related to the nine men I killed yesterday.¡± He said nonchalantly, seating himself at the end of the bench. The others wavered in the face of his confidence, struggling to believe the claims of this young man. Yet they felt a small shiver run down their backs when they met the ruthless emerald glint in his eyes. The matter appeared settled as the hours passed and no one challenged the Witchdoctor any further. He spent the time picking splinters from his palm and listening to the sparse conversation between inmates. It appeared most of them were in here for petty theft or assault. They would likely be fined or sold into slavery if they couldn¡¯t pay up. This put Exill in a tricky situation as he had spent most of his money on settling Diallo¡¯s loan yesterday. ¡®I swear I¡¯m going to tear the heart out of the person behind this.¡¯ Exill thought with gritted teeth, growing more certain that this was part of the conspiracy to steal Envy away from him. ¡®This whole situation is ridiculous¡­ why do I need to still stand up for her?¡¯ If only he hadn¡¯t signed the contract guaranteeing her freedom in two years, he wouldn¡¯t fight tooth and nail to retain her under his control. He sat fuming for several more hours, the sun began to set over the distant mountain range when the sound of footsteps rang out through the corridor. A large tray slid under the door, five loaves of bread for the six inhabitants of the cell. As Exill was nearest to the door, he grabbed a loaf and pushed the tray down to the far side of the dungeon, the platter sliding smoothly across the iron plated floor. He leaped up and pressed himself against the door as a fight broke out for the last remaining loaf. After heated battle, a scrawny man grumbled, the obvious loser of the exchange - who winced in pain while biting into a quarter of the loaf that had been wrestled from his opponent. Shivering as night approached, Exill tried to keep away from the chilly metal walls, huddling together with the other inmates to keep warm. Sleep was hard to come by as whenever he began to doze off, someone would jolt awake, as if from a nightmare, rousing their neighbours with the sudden movement and noise. Thus the Witchdoctor greeted the rising sun with bleary eyes, dark circles under his eyes from the lack of sleep and concern eating away at him. He worried about Envy and Tsarra¡­ ¡®Do they even know about my whereabouts?¡¯ As the hours trickled by, the inhabitants of his cell were slowly led out one-by-one, not to return. It was with some relief that he faced his captors that afternoon, when two guards came to collect him from the cell. He was led to a small chamber where an engraved metal octagonal platform stood at the centre. It was facing an imposing podium, behind which was seated a stern greying man in his fifties, hands steepled over the clay tablet in front of him. Exill was chained to a pedestal on the platform and forced to stand before the Justiciar, the righteous dispenser of justice in the Kingdom of Fayth. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill, you are accused of property crime by proxy under Article 4, Section 23. How do you plead?¡± The authoritative man¡¯s voice was resonant within the small chamber. ¡°May I know the specific charges?¡± Exill asked, his throat suddenly dry. ¡°Just answer the question-¡± The Guard beside him hissed but was cut off when the Justiciar raised his hand in fairness. ¡°Article 4 relates to theft, and Section 23 pertains to livestock, in your instance, a mare owned by Baron Gravesend. So, how do you plead.¡± The Justiciar explained in an even tone. ¡®Is he talking about the horse we retrieved from that bandit leader?¡¯ Exill thought, a slow realisation dawning in his head. He didn¡¯t hesitate while speaking in a clear voice. ¡°I am not guilty your honour.¡± The Justiciar stared at him for a moment, then motioned the Bailiff forward, a nasty looking man who appeared to enjoy his job. ¡°Having denied your guilt, you will testify to the truth under enslavement. This is my final warning. If we find you are lying, you forfeit the right to appeal. Your punishment will not end with a fine or imprisonment, and you will immediately be sold as a slave. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Exill swallowed nervously when the Bailiff wrapped cold hands around his, whispering ¡°Subjugate¡± with a sibilant grin.
Become a Slave?
[Yes] [No]
The seconds stretched out, and the Bailiff¡¯s expression grew unkinder, tightening the grip around his wrist painfully. Seeing no alternatives, Exill agreed, and felt his core resonate under humiliating subjugation. ¡®So this is what it feels like¡­¡¯ It was a stifling sensation, difficult to describe. ¡°Good¡­ now, you will answer truthfully to all my questions.¡± The Bailiff hissed, channelling mana into his command. ¡°Did you, or your slave steal Baron Gravesend¡¯s horse?¡± ¡°No, we recovered the horse after fighting off bandits on the way to Ark.¡± He explained, feeling an immeasurable sense of relief. There was slight consternation around the room as his guilt was immediately absolved. The Justiciar raised a hand to free the enslaved prisoner, having proved his innocence without a doubt. However the Bailiff was not done. Gritting his teeth, the unpleasant man asked a follow up question, in what amounted to an illegal fishing expedition. ¡°Have you ever broken laws of the Kingdom?¡± Exill tried to reply ¡°No¡±, but his throat immediately clammed up. His eyes widened in panic, remembering the incident where he had misused the Healer¡¯s Guild colours for his Clinic. ¡°That¡¯s enough Bailiff. The defendant is not guilty of the -¡± The Justiciar¡¯s words were abruptly cut off when the Bailiff tightened his grip further, his eyes sparkling with unsettling fervour. ¡°Did you lie about your blessing from the Spirit, Witchdoctor?¡± It took all of Exill¡¯s effort to prevent himself from blurting out ¡°Yes¡±, and the Courtroom devolved into further chaos when the tired Justiciar shot to his feet and exclaimed in a commanding shout. ¡°That is out of order Bailiff! You will immediately free the defendant or I will find you in contempt of court!¡± ¡°I compel you to answer!¡± Loose spittle flecked from the Bailiff¡¯s mouth as he channelled mana into the command. ¡°Guards, seize the Bailiff!¡± The Justiciar stepped down from the podium and opened a side door to call for more guards. The courtroom was in utter pandemonium. Exill was on his knees, struggling to breathe, while the Bailiff continued to scream his compulsion. Soon, the fervent man was bound and gagged then dragged to within arm¡¯s reach of the collapsed Witchdoctor. Shortly after, a highly ranked Slave Trader was rushed in to cast [Break], and Exill suddenly found he could breathe again. Reduced to a coughing fit, he didn¡¯t notice the guards unshackling the chain at his feet. ¡°Take him away, and bring the Bailiff to me!¡± The Justiciar angrily motioned the guards to leave, and their voices grew faint as Exill was led down a short corridor into an adjoining chamber. Soon, he found himself exhausted on a bench, sitting in front of a mousey bespectacled clerk. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill?¡± the small man asked tenderly. ¡°Yes.¡± he whispered in a hoarse voice, stricken by the humiliating experience of interrogation as a slave. He was shell shocked at the injustice of the false imprisonment and what he suspected was involvement by the Inquisition. It caught him off guard that it culminated in the dismissal of all charges ¨C all at the snap of a finger. ¡®Is this what the judicial system looks like in this world?¡¯ he silently wondered. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry about the misunderstanding. We received a report of a stolen mare, branded as a property of Baron Gravesend. It appears your slave returned to the stables yesterday morning enquiring about the state of the horse, insisting ownership in front of many witnesses¡­ and well, as the registered owner of the slave, you were held responsible for the theft by proxy.¡± ¡°Does that mean Envy is imprisoned here as well?¡± Exill asked, a note of rising incredulity in his voice. ¡°A-ah, yes¡­ I¡¯ll arrange for her immediate release.¡± The Clerk stammered. Exill took a deep breath to calm himself down, stifling the anger that smouldered within him. He softly explained the events that had occurred two days ago, describing the encounter with the bandits, and adding Koopra the Navigator as his witness. The Clerk nodded while writing all this down. ¡°It appears we owe you an apology Witchdoctor sir, not only are you deserving a reward for the safe return of the mare, but also the bounty on the outlaws. If you could please wait here, I will arrange for the release of your slave and the reward.¡± The Clerk bowed then excused himself. Seating himself on the bench, Exill waited for half an hour for the return of the clerk. During that time, another man was led into the waiting room by the guards, taking a seat beside Exill. There were similar dark circles under his traumatized eyes and the two acknowledged each other, not needing words to express kinship over their shared experience. The Clerk returned with Envy in tow, deep gouges cut into her cheek. Her hair was a mess and there was burning indignation in her crimson tinged eyes. She looked at Exill in surprise, noting his dishevelled state and a look of guilt flashed across her features. ¡°600 Denars in total, 400 for taking down the outlaws and 200 for the return of Baron Gravesend¡¯s horse. Again, I express my apologies on behalf of the Magistrate¡¯s and hope you have a pleasant day.¡± The Clerk bowed, turning to the seated man who had similarly been found innocent. Hooking the coin pouch to his belt, Exill glanced at the clotted grooves cut across Envy¡¯s prominent cheeks. Someone had likely swiped at her, gouging out her flesh. ¡®And I thought I had it bad¡­¡¯ he reflected sympathetically. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home.¡± He simply said, feeling incredibly tired all of a sudden. The two stumbled out a side entrance and crossed the cobblestoned plaza facing the Magistrate¡¯s. It was mid-afternoon and there were many people on the street glancing worriedly at the overcast sky above them. It was likely to rain soon. ¡°I went to check on the horse the next morning and they arrested me. They said it was the property of a Baron and that I had stolen it.¡± Envy admitted while keeping pace at his side. She was aware what her actions had brought upon her Master, and was concerned that it would fray an already tenuous relationship. ¡°I know¡­¡± Exill simply replied, and after a dozen steps added in a softer tone, ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± Those last four words threatened to overwhelm the stoic woman, and her eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears. She stumbled a few steps and bumped into him, feeling tired and vulnerable. ¡°There were other slaves in my cell¡­¡± She hesitantly began, but petered out, unwilling to describe the men she had nearly killed in self-defence. Exill felt his blood pressure spike when he noticed how she was holding together the torn edges of her tunic and breeches where they flapped in the wind. He grit his teeth as they were waved through the East Gate, and they hurried home when the first droplets of rain fell. Chapter 127 - Cycad Elderbough Special: Deroch ¡°You were unable to obtain the confession.¡± Deroch stated the fact in cold disappointment as he led the former Bailiff out of the cell. ¡°He was lying about the blessing; I am sure of it! I compelled him multiple times, but he stopped breathing to avoid speakin a word.¡± The cruel Bailiff complained, while rubbing his wrists where they had been shackled. The Inquisitor simply sighed and led his accomplice out of the prison complex located deep under the Magistrate¡¯s. It had taken a significant amount of favours to free his planted asset, but Deroch was not known for leaving his men behind¡­ no matter how despicable they may be. Breathing lightly out of his mouth to avoid the stench of human misery, he reflected on where it had all gone wrong. The news of the Witchdoctor¡¯s sudden imprisonment had caught him off guard, but in the span of a few hours, he had formed a rudimentary plan to exploit this opportunity. ¡®If only I had a bit more time to replace the Justiciar¡­¡¯ Deroch had worked with the upstanding man before, and considered him a benefit to society. Given time, the ruthless Inquisitor would have merely¡­ inconvenienced him, so that a more malleable judge could preside over the case. Now, the Aberration would be on guard, and the same method would not work again. Inquisitor Deroch did not lightly label the canonized individual as an aberration, a travesty against humanity. Yesterday, he had received another piece of the puzzle that indicated Exill was an abomination. However, it was tightly under wraps, only known to him and a cooperating Bishop because of the highly circumstantial nature of the evidence. ¡°You are free to go, I have other business to attend to.¡± Deroch instructed his informant while nodding to the sergeant on duty. They stepped out into the sunlit courtyard, and he marched straight to the awaiting coach emblazoned with the crest of the Eld Tree. His assistant Indra, a Priestess who had served him for ten long years was already seated in the carriage, and she knocked on the cabin wall twice, indicating to the driver they should set off. Her sharp features were furrowed in stress, mentally rearranging their day¡¯s crowded schedule. ¡°Ah¡­¡± He softly let out a deep sigh, staring out at the pedestrians passing by. They were vulnerable souls, who didn¡¯t understand the threat they faced each day against the unworldly forces that sought to defile them. Only he, and a dedicated few stood between the corruption that loomed over them. ¡°Did the Asset fail to obtain a confession?¡± Indra asked, frowning while she checked again their schedule for the day. ¡°Yes, though it wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected.¡± Deroch clasped both hands as if in prayer, ¡°We are up against an individual who can corrupt the sanctity of an Oracle after all.¡± The assistant remained silent to the accusations that bordered on Heresy. Deroch knew the woman wasn¡¯t entirely convinced of Exill¡¯s true nature, but that was only natural. The Inquisitor had faced countless unnatural foes over his lifetime and his instincts had grown incredibly sharp, almost to the point where he could simply sniff them out with a glance. There was a tell-tale ¡®wrongness¡¯ about them that gave them away, something Indra couldn¡¯t understand. The carriage was waved through without inspection at the gates, and it soon came to a rolling stop outside a graveyard, evident from the wrought iron fence designed to fend off ghouls. They both alighted from the carriage and entered the yard where a hunched Graveyard keeper prostrated himself in their presence. ¡°You may rise. Have you prepared the bodies we need?¡± Deroch looked around at the pile of corpses littering the small yard. ¡°Yes my lord, right this way my lord.¡± The hunched man limped towards a covered open-air shack where two recently deceased corpses of beastkin children lay. Their limbs were contorted in rigor mortis. They couldn¡¯t have been dead for long. ¡°I scraped them off the street this morning near the slums.¡± The Graveyard keeper proudly gestured to the corpses. ¡°I received your message and immediately went in search for some freshies.¡± Deroch pursed his lips in response to the fetid man¡¯s fawning and stepped aside to let him load the carriage¡¯s covered lockbox with the bodies. Then, he dropped a few silver coins into the man¡¯s grimy palm. ¡°Thank you me lord!¡± The Graveyard keeper prostrated himself again, and didn¡¯t get up until the carriage had turned the corner, out of view. Inside the cabin, Deroch absentmindedly wiped his hand with a gold-filigreed kerchief, disgusted with what he was about to do. The coach was fast heading towards the eastern forest situated a few hours from Ark, from which countless trees were farmed and harvested for the city¡¯s industries. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°My lord¡­ I failed to mention this in my morning report, but the Lone Tower was spotted near Virigo yesterday morning.¡± Indra spoke up to fill the tense silence. ¡°That is fine.¡± Deroch sighed, putting the handkerchief away. The crumbling Tower was an enigmatic entity. Aside from reports of picking off a few unwary travellers, it was largely considered harmless. What they were about to face however, was equally ancient and posed a greater risk to the safety of Ark¡¯s citizens. Sometime later, the dirt road gradually became more uneven, and the carriage began to sway vehemently as the Navigator maneuvered past gnarled roots that threatened to tip the vehicle over. It wasn¡¯t long before it came to an abrupt stop. The Inquisitor and his Assistant alighted from the carriage and greeted the two Paladins who had arrived earlier to secure the area. They each held the reins of a warhorse, draped in light padded armour that displayed the symbolic red liveries of the Church. With practiced ease, the Paladins withdrew the two beastkin children¡¯s corpses from the lockbox at the rear of the carriage and shouldered the pitiful bundles onto their mounts. ¡°Navigator, you may lead the way.¡± Deroch commanded, once the driver had secured the carriage. ¡°Yes my lord.¡± The neatly dressed man withdrew his brass accumulator from a side pouch and led the small party deeper into the forest. One might question why a Navigator was necessary for this brief foray, but their destination had a tendency to change locations every now and again. It was best to be prepared and forewarned beyond the safety of Ark. Half an hour later, they stepped into a small clearing, and the temperature immediately dropped several degrees. The hardened warhorses whinnied in fright and refused to approach the stone altar that lay at the centre of the glade. ¡°Stay with the horses Indra.¡± Deroch instructed his Assistant and oversaw the Paladins each carry the stiff corpses to their destination. The sense of wrongness gradually became stronger as they approached the weathered altar. Their breaths frosted up the air and the distance appeared to stretch out, taking longer than it should to arrive at the monument. Once the bodies of the children were softly lowered on the pitted surface, the group stepped back as one. Now¡­ they just had to wait. It was at first like a whisper of the wind. The sound of creaking branches and the agonizing wails of splintering roots grew to a crescendo. Deroch glanced at his attending Paladins with concealed pride. Apart from their stiff postures, they didn¡¯t display an ounce of fear. Behind them, the sound of panicked whinnying could be heard, and the desperate attempts of the equally frightened Navigator attempting to calm the horses. Soon, beyond the treeline approached a colossal entity of twisted branches that ambled erratically towards them. Its official designation was the Cycad Elderbough, and it was a teeming mass of plant matter three storeys tall, rivalling even the Kingdom¡¯s War Colossi that protected the mountains up north. The faceless entity approached them with furious calm and came to a stop in front of the altar. It stood still, as if examining the party while discordant tendrils and branches constantly rearranged themselves around the Eldritch entity. Then, too fast for the eyes to see, two tubular limbs shot out from its torso and absorbed the dead beastkin children. Having satisfied its unknowable urges, the lumbering titan turned away and was soon absorbed by the treeline. The Inquisitor remembered to breath, and he drew in a ragged gasp of air. He had conducted this ritual countless times over his career, but each time, his body locked in fear of the Cycad Elderbough¡¯s physical presence. As much as he despised negotiating with these cancerous entities, he understood why the ritual had been emplaced hundreds of years ago. Legend had it that the Cycad abomination had consumed countless of the Kingdom¡¯s bravest heroes, terrorising the surrounding forests and devastating Ark¡¯s industry into a grinding halt. That was, until the Oracle had divined a method to temporarily appease it. Even now, the ritual had created a schism within the Church, with a growing minority claiming that any form of negotiation with abominations went against their core tenets. Thus, the task of appeasement fell on the shoulders of moderates like himself, who nevertheless despised this thankless duty. Unable to quell the shiver that travelled down his spine, Deroch and his group retreated from the Cycad Elderbough¡¯s glade. With the aid of the Navigator, they returned to the carriage, and the Inquisitor wearily stepped into the cabin, feeling all forty-seven of his years. Their return trip to Ark was punctuated with a tense silence. ¡°Are you alright my lord?¡± Indra enquired after a while. She had noticed him fidgeting with his ring, a habit that usually didn¡¯t bode well for the citizens of Ark. ¡°It is not me you should be worried about...¡± Deroch whispered back. It was as if there was some sort of inner turmoil eating away at him. ¡°What do you know of the origins of this ritual?¡± He eventually asked. ¡°Only that the abomination terrorised the countryside for time immemorial, and that it was contained at great expense in terms of lives and resources. Once killed, I read it reforms deep in the forest.¡± Indra recited the texts she had read word-for-word, an ability Deroch valued highly. ¡°That is correct¡­ but what the text fails to mention is that when the ritual originally began, it would be years before the Cycad abomination would harass the countryside between offerings.¡± Deroch softly confessed while staring out into the passing farmland. Indra¡¯s eyebrows rose, shocked by the implications. It was the first time she was hearing of this. During the past ten years of service, she had noticed a few discrepancies in the schedule of their ritual, but not to the extent described by the Inquisitor. ¡°But we are doing the ritual every two months. Then it would...¡± She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, worried about what it meant for the future of Ark. Deroch let out a soft sigh, his blue eyes fixed on the beautiful countryside scenery. ¡°What will we do when we have to do this every day?¡± He slowly fixed a cold gaze on his Assistant, ¡°What will we do when it isn¡¯t enough to pick dead children off the streets?¡± Neither of them had an answer to the chilling dilemma. Chapter 128 - Three New Jobs ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Tsarra embraced him at the door, her gentle eyes twisted in worry when she saw the fatigue on his face. She let out a yelp upon witnessing the condition of the Vampire, her face bloodied, and clothes torn. ¡°I¡¯ll warm up some water¡± she said, hurrying up the stairs. The liberated duo followed her upstairs, entering their private rooms to wash themselves and change their clothes. ¡®I should check up on her injuries¡­¡¯ Exill knocked on Envy¡¯s door prior to entering, surprised to find Tsarra tenderly applying poultice to the scratches on the Vampire¡¯s face and ribs. ¡°Thanks Tsarra, don¡¯t push yourself as you¡¯re not fully recovered yet.¡± Exill lingered for a moment watching the two have a bonding moment. Returning to the living room, he sat down by the table and dug into the vegetable and egg pie Tsarra had heated up. He listened to the gentle murmurs of conversation emanating from Envy¡¯s room, his ears itching, curious to know what they were talking about. After some time, Tsarra emerged, gently closing the door behind her. She walked over to him, brushing his pie filled cheeks and tousled hair with concern in her eyes. In his seated state, the petite woman was slightly taller than him and her jade eyes glimmered, amused by the novelty of this reversal of roles. ¡°Is it over now?¡± she asked, noticing the cuts on his palm. ¡°Yes, and I received a reward for our troubles. Let¡¯s shop you new clothes tomorrow.¡± ¡°But I can repair-¡± ¡°No, those garments are stained in blood and beyond repair, go shopping with Envy tomorrow, she needs new clothes as well.¡± Exill cut her off, unwilling to put up with her penny-pinching ways that exceeded his own. Tsarra caressed his hand, touching the hard callus in the centre of his palm, formed from months of painful training with the spear. Exill felt a shiver run down his spine when her fingertips brushed against the cuts on his hand, a slight tickling sensation as his skin absorbed her healing mana. Exill looked up to see her examining him intently. ¡°Do you think you will ever stop fighting?¡± she asked. Feeling a distinct sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, he smiled ruefully, fondly remembering Luna and her dislike of the Labyrinth. ¡®I wonder how she is holding up.¡¯ He wondered briefly. Searching deep within for the right words, it took a few seconds until he could properly respond. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think that would be possible. You know most of my secrets, but I haven¡¯t shared one recent discovery; Aberrations are drawn to me. We might be safe for now in Ark, but I don¡¯t know how long that will last with the Inquisition breathing down my neck.¡± Hesitating slightly, he added in a soft voice: ¡°Soon, I will leave Ark¡­¡± Tsarra nodded, having suspected that would be the case, yet his words hit her like a brick wall. She turned to withdraw her hands from his, but was surprised when he held tight, a mischievous grin on his face. ¡°Another thing I failed to tell you is that I¡¯m sitting on an impressive magic that I have yet to master, capable of transporting me across vast distances in an instant.¡± He swept his hand across the air to emphasize this point, ¡°Even if I were to leave, it wouldn¡¯t be goodbye, I will drop by from time to time.¡± He squeezed her hand in affection, rising to clear his empty plates. ¡°I need to periodically check up on how my favourite apprentice is doing after all.¡± He added with a cheeky smile. ¡°I am your only apprentice.¡± She replied, smiling at his joke. However there was a hint of sadness in her eyes and she went back downstairs to rest. Exill washed the dishes while deep in thought, ¡®I really should leave soon¡¯. The encounter with the Bailiff had been too close for his liking. Having said that, there were many things he needed to do before leaving, and as always, money was the key limiting factor. ¡®I need funds, not only to leave this country, but to access the Spirit Guide.¡¯ The Spirit Guide was a tome stored in the Library that contained the sum of the Kingdom¡¯s knowledge on how to obtain jobs. It cost a thousand Denars to access and required prior approval. To fully utilize the tome, he would need to unlock [Archivist] first ¨C a job he suspected would grant him photographic memory. He returned to his room to consult with the Divination tools, and was surprised to find Envy already sitting on his bed. He paused, knowing she hadn¡¯t fed in two days, but he had yet to recover vitality from healing Tsarra. Incarceration with a loaf of bread had done little to aid his recovery. Noticing his reluctance, Envy patted the spot beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken a blood potion¡± she grimaced, expressing her opinion of them, ¡°I just want to talk.¡± Exill hesitantly sat down beside her, suppressing the urge to check the colour of her eyes. It had been four days since he emplaced the mana laced command to prevent her from enthralling him, and it took all his self-control to not reiterate the command right now at this moment. ¡°We are halfway there.¡± Envy said wistfully, unaware of his internal struggle. She was simply happy with his earlier forgiveness and this momentous milestone. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Yes, only 15,000 Denars and you are free. We are four months ahead of schedule despite your incessant nagging on how I spend every singly Denar¡­¡± he added. It was strange to think he was sitting next to the woman who had saddled him with so much debt. ¡°I¡¯m... sorry for getting you imprisoned, and everything else.¡± She said, the remorse sticking in her throat. Exill turned to her, surprised by the sudden apology. He had never heard her say sorry before. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a shame you had to say goodbye to the horse, I know how fond you had grown of her.¡± Exill changed the topic, not mentioning how he had overheard her naming the mare ¡®Princess¡¯. ¡°Mn, she was nice.¡± Envy hummed, fondly remembering the sensation of freedom. Exill let the silence grow longer between them. In spite of the earlier apprehension, he was unprepared to find himself enjoying her quiet company. He wanted to ask about what had happened inside her cell but didn¡¯t know how to broach the sensitive topic. ¡°What did you talk to Tsarra about?¡± he asked instead. ¡°Stuff¡­ not everything is about you, you know.¡± She replied, with a ghostly hint of her trademark teasing. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just that you were both in there for a while and I was curious what you guys had in common.¡± He fumbled, surprised by her sudden change in tone. ¡°That is between me and her.¡± She replied softly, and provided a rare smile to soften her rebuke. Exill felt his heart beat faster, both taken by her warmth, and the grievous sight of the bandages covering her ravaged face. However, there were some things that needed to be dealt with first. Reluctantly, he broke the mood by reaching out towards the drawer containing the spare notarized contract, knowing it could no longer be delayed. ¡°I need you to sign this.¡± Envy reached out and read the terms, forbidding her from enthralling anyone without his permission. The terms specified no end-date, implying it would have a lingering impact even after she was free. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she channelled mana into the contract, and they were both filled with the same resonance signifying a successful agreement. ¡°Do you think¡­ we can return to the way we were?¡± She admitted the discomfort gnawing at the distance that had grown between them. She met his surprised gaze unflinchingly, knowing he had every reason to deny her. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± He eventually replied, then continued on when she quickly looked away, ¡°¡­but give me time, for now.¡± The stifling burden that he had unknowingly been carrying was lifted from his shoulders with this small offering of forgiveness. As much as he resented her inadvertent manipulation, he had come to rely on her support and companionship even more. If she could learn to control her powers, it could prove to be a powerful weapon in their arsenal against Fate. Satisfied with the answer, Envy placed her hand on his knee, then returned to her room. *** The next morning, Exill awoke late and got up to brew some tea. Tsarra¡¯s clay tablet was on the table, and he held it up to the light to read her clear script. ¡®Envy and I are going clothes shopping with Iris. We¡¯ll return by lunchtime.¡¯ It simply said. Grinning fondly, he wondered if they had enough money, curious what new fashion she would return with. The rest of the morning was spent prepping the Clinic for operation. Now that his debt had been resolved there was a bit of breathing room to replace the enchanted artefacts he had lost or given away. Exill was also eager to return to training in the Labyrinth. In this world, strength translated to power¡­ and he needed it to protect the things most valuable to him. It was true that he had become a rampaging killing machine, capable of taking down a dozen men, but he knew he was capable of so much more. Having prepared everything for the Clinic¡¯s opening, he composed a shopping list of the items he wanted, chief among them was a replacement for the ¡®Wizard Ring¡¯. He idly checked his Card and was surprised to find two new jobs had been unlocked, and another one that was greyed out.
Job Slave Trader
Level 1
Description Production - Tier III
Active Skill [Subjugate] Create slave contracts with willing participants
Job Murderer
Level 1
Description Outlaw - Tier I
Passive Buff Increased damage to humanoids (scales with level).
Job Inquisitor
Level Requires [Priest] Level 40 to unlock
Description Magic - Tier II
Slave Trader had been unlocked as a specialised progression of Vendor when it rose to level 20. Apparently, the 5200 Denar payment to Diallo was worth a lot of experience. He was just glad he had the wherewithal to assign [Vendor] as an active job while settling the debt. Murderer was the job Envy held, and despite its unappealing name, the buff it provided was pretty spectacular. He distinctly remembered a resonant feeling when the Bandit Leader was killed. [Inquisitor] was wholly unexpected, and he must have fulfilled some, or part of the conditions for obtaining it when he defeated the Infested Edifice that had been haunting Virigo. All-in-all he was pleased with the progression. If he could somehow raise Slave Trader to a level higher than Diallo¡¯s, it would save him having to pay 15,000 Denars for her freedom. ¡®It might be worth it to return to the slave market to investigate what Diallo¡¯s level might be¡­¡¯ he thought. Chapter 129 - Detox Potions While the women were out shopping, Exill conducted divination readings on his continued safety. As always, his future was fragmented and difficult to read, but he walked away with two impressions. He was safe in the meantime, and that it was dangerous outside Ark. In some ways, it made sense. The roundabout way the Inquisition targeted him indicated they couldn¡¯t directly accuse a canonised individual. Keeping his head down and playing it safe would buy him time. Valuable weeks and months to achieve his objectives before leaving it all behind. Later that morning, a frown was plastered across Exill¡¯s face while focusing on the mana potion he had been concocting. The grey lichen harvested from skeletons in the Labyrinth was refusing to bind with the other ingredients and he couldn¡¯t remember what was missing. This was his first time crafting a mana potion after learning about its many limitations. Much like its close cousin, the vitality potion (or health potion as he liked to call it), it had a limited shelf life of a month before its effects started to deteriorate. Combined with the relatively high cost of ingredients and the fact that it merely boosted the body¡¯s natural regenerative rate, it had made little sense for him to craft them. However, the recent skirmish had shown him how important even a minor boost in mana regeneration could be. It could make up for the difference between firing a single accelerated ice bolt and defeat. Besides, he hoped Witchdoctor¡¯s [Mana Infuse] skill could improve the effect of the potion. Suddenly, he heard the front door chime open, followed by two sets of footsteps. ¡°Did you have a good time?¡± Exill asked, pivoting on his stool as his earlier frown turned into a smile. Envy leaned against the partitioned doorframe, the right side of her face still swollen and covered with bandages. Tsarra nudged past her into the treatment room, both hands grasping the woven shopping bag in front her. She held a bright smile, clearly exhilarated by the morning excursion. ¡°We had a good time. We replaced our torn tunics and Iris even bought a blouse for me!¡± Tsarra held up a sleeveless navy-blue blouse with black lace around the scoop neck collar. Exill had no idea what he was looking at, but it looked fancy, maybe a tad expensive for his taste, so he just nodded appreciatively. ¡°That looks nice, it suits you well!¡± ¡°Did you know they will be hosting a festival next month to mark the anniversary of the war?¡± Tsarra asked, bright eyed. She had never experienced a festival before and was looking forward to the occasion. ¡°Is that so?¡± Exill¡¯s mind was less focused on the revelry and more on how he could profit from the event. Festivities often brought its own unique form of injury, and he was eager to exploit it. ¡®People are bound to get drunk when they celebrate, I wonder if a detoxification potion could be marketed as a hangover cure.¡¯ He mused to himself. After the scare he had received on the suspicion Tsarra had been poisoned by arrows, he had studied the market for cures. To his surprise, the vendor had touted generic anti-poison as a viable cure to hangovers, albeit an expensive one. ¡®But if it is infused with mana to increase efficacy, then diluted and sold out of a cask¡­¡¯ By utilising economies of scale, it could be like printing money. While the Witchdoctor was otherwise occupied in thought, Tsarra put away her clothes in the spare cabinet dedicated to her belongings and came to lean over his shoulders to examine the mana concoction. Her hair brushed against his shoulders and a faint scent of gentle lilac effused the air. ¡°Did you buy perfume as well?¡± his eyebrows rose in surprise at the lavish spending. ¡°Ah! Can you smell it?¡± Tsarra held her wrist up to her nose. ¡°Actually no, Iris let me try some of her perfume after I said I liked it.¡± She blushed, embarrassed by her enjoyment of something usually reserved for privileged ladies. ¡°I think it is very soothing¡­ it suits you.¡± He replied, realising it was familiar because it was Iris¡¯s scent. Exill made a mental note to purchase a small bottle of the fragrance, knowing the frugal woman would refuse to buy it for herself. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Tsarra pursed her lips, tucking her auburn hair behind her ear while leaning closer to examine the contents of his mortar. ¡°Did you add the salt to that mana potion?¡± she asked, looking at the congealed grey mixture. ¡°I-I was just about to.¡± Exill struggled not to stammer as he reached for a half teaspoon of salt, cursing himself for the rookie mistake, no wonder the mixture was failing to bind together. He also made a mental note to purchase a reference book for herbal remedies. It would prevent future embarrassments and also help Tsarra with her learnings. An unfamiliar smirk crossed the petite woman¡¯s lips, mirth hidden in her gentle jade eyes. She brushed and patted her mentor¡¯s hair as if their positions were reversed, revelling in his mistake. ¡°Did you¡­ forget the recipe for a mana potion?¡± she lightly teased. ¡°¡­ Maybe?¡± he admitted after a few seconds. ¡°I¡¯m more impressed you remembered the ingredients considering how little time you had to study the tome in Virigo. I was just thinking it would be nice to have a reference book here as well.¡± Her hand froze while teasing his hair, caught off guard by both his admission and the compliment. Something a colleague might say, never a mentor. ¡®Did he just acknowledge me?¡¯ She was surprised by the warm sense of pride infusing her heart, knowing she could be of tangible assistance to the person she most looked up to. ¡°I think having a reference book would be nice.¡± She simply replied, standing behind him as he finished the potion. Exill decanted the unappetizingly grey mixture into a vial and [Appraised] it:
Item Price
Mana Potion 24 Denars
It was a success. Activating the unique Witchdoctor¡¯s skill, he infused the vial with mana and crafted an Infused Mana Potion. This was a major breakthrough because by comparing the effects of a normal mana potion with its infused variant, he could quantitatively measure the effectiveness of the unique Witchdoctor¡¯s skill [Mana Infuse]. Furthermore, every time he levelled up Witchdoctor, he could chart the incremental gain in efficacy. This would allow him to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying system behind jobs and skills. Tsarra could only marvel at the glowing grey mixture, for it was something only her mentor could achieve. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at this blessing that no amount of skill and training could overcome, and it was made worse by the guilt and shame that followed for begrudging her benefactor. She quietly excused herself and went upstairs to make lunch while Exill made plans to test his alcohol detoxification theory. *** That evening, four people sat upstairs for an impromptu party. A platter of sliced meat and cheese on crackers and a small cask of dwarven spirit occupied the table. ¡°Thank you for coming on such short notice.¡± Exill addressed Iris. ¡°I¡¯m happy to be here¡­ but I have work tomorrow so I can¡¯t drink much.¡± she said, shifting in her seat while eyeing the small cask of alcohol. She wondered why Exill seemed so eager to get them drunk. Noticing the doubt growing in the women¡¯s eyes, Exill couldn¡¯t help but be abashed by their suspicion. ¡®Is their opinion of me so low?¡¯ he thought, preparing to reveal the real purpose of the party. Four vials of varying concentrations of anti-poison were placed in front of everyone. ¡°I wanted to celebrate our return to Ark, and in doing so test an upcoming product that will undoubtedly perform well in the festival next month. It is a hangover cure so I would appreciate if you could enjoy your evening and provide feedback tomorrow on how effective my concoction was.¡± He explained while pouring out a glass of dwarven spirit for everyone. ¡°Aren¡¯t these expensive?¡± Iris held the clear vial aloft, noticing the faint glow emanating from it. As far as she knew, even the cheapest detoxification potion cost around sixteen Denars. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that, just enjoy the evening!¡± he replied as he clinked his wooden mug against hers. Envy took a careful sip and felt a pleasant fire burn down her throat. She occasionally drank water after strenuous exercise, but otherwise never felt the need to drink or eat food. It was a novel experience for her. Tsarra took careful sips and soon began to feel a gentle warmth when the alcohol entered her bloodstream. Her face felt flushed, and the corners of her mouth climbed up in a happy smile. As the night wore on, their conversations turned more philosophical, while Iris morosely complained for the fifth time that night, how there were no good men left in Ark. Meanwhile, Exill had to fend off an inebriated Vampire who kept challenging him to a wrestling match claiming she could easily beat him with one arm tied behind her back. Of course, her real objective was to pin him down and bite him, her appetite greatly boosted by the alcohol. After the second bout, Tsarra stumbled over with glistening eyes and fussed over the small puncture wounds dotted over his arms. She would channel mana haphazardly as her hand-eye coordination faltered and eventually ended up falling asleep in his arms. Perhaps due to his enhanced physique, Exill was the least affected by alcohol, so he stumbled down the stairs with the Dwarf in his arms and safely tucked her into bed. ¡°Don¡¯t stay up too *hic* late¡± he warned the other two women and wavered into bed. Chapter 130 - Hangover Painful sunlight filtered through the window onto Exill¡¯s face, causing him to wince when the crimes of the night before caught up with him. There was a splitting headache, not quite as bad as the one caused by mana abuse, but it was painful enough to make him want to vomit. Together with the feeling of the dry tongue scraping around in his mouth, it was possibly the worst morning he had experienced since coming to this world. He sat up, feeling the urgent need to relieve himself, but the chamber pot was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Where did I-¡± he began to ask, then groaned as memories of yesterday night came trickling back. These were fragmented visions, blurred behind the haze of alcohol.
Iris¡¯s normally kind grey eyes were fixed on his while brushing a stray strand of her dark hair from her lips. There was a slight frown on her face as she struggled to remain balanced while bent over, her dress riding up to the hips. She spread her legs, exposing her pale inner thighs as Envy held her steady, rubbing a leaf against her exposed cotton underwear in a downward motion. ¡°I-it is important to... wipe down.¡± She wavered, standing back up to hitch her dress down. The Guild clerk drunkenly finished her demonstration.
¡®Oh yeah¡­ she was teaching Envy how to use the chamber pot.¡¯ Exill blushed furiously while trying to expunge the memory. At least now he remembered where the chamber pot was. There were two of them in the house, and since Envy had no use for one, the one in her room had been donated to Tsarra when she moved in. His was currently in a private corner of the kitchen, available for anyone upstairs to use. Struggling to find his pants, Exill threw on his tunic from yesterday night, tiptoeing past Envy¡¯s open bedroom door. Iris and Envy were entangled on the bed, still sound asleep. It was a jumble of bare flesh and he quickly moved on, already struggling with his morning wood which would be an obstacle to relieving himself. He crouched on top of the half-full chamber pot, then switched to a kneeling position as his erection refused to die down. Closing his eyes, he recited complex mathematical theorems and soon felt it subside enough for a thin stream to painfully emerge. Exhaling softly, he opened his eyes to find Iris frozen, the whites of her eyes visible while peering through her fingers. ¡°Haah!¡± He panicked, struggling to cut off mid-stream but it was no use, and several seconds trickled by until he was completely empty. Only then did she seem to snap out of it, turning her back as he hurriedly stood up. He wordlessly moved past her, and shamefully returned to his room, closing the door with a loud slam. He stood for a long minute, feeling the urge to crawl under the bed and die in embarrassment. The headache came back, stronger than ever as his blood pressure returned to normal. ¡®Ah... the hangover cure is outside in the living room.¡¯ He grimaced in pain, reluctant to face Iris so soon after their encounter. However the thundering headache, turning into a migraine convinced him otherwise. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Hey¡± he awkwardly said, eventually taking the seat diagonally across from Iris. He was determined to act like nothing had happened. ¡°Hi¡­ um, is this the one I¡¯m supposed to take?¡± she similarly frowned in pain, unable to meet his eyes while holding aloft a lightly glowing vial that Exill recognised as the 40% concentrate. ¡°Yeah, that will do.¡± Exill replied, making a note on the clay tablet. He himself took the 25% concentrate and immediately began to feel the throbbing in his head dissipate. ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect this to work so fast! How much are you planning to sell this for?¡± ¡°Five to six Denars each.¡± He replied, noting the wonder in her eyes. ¡°That is amazing! This would be incredibly popular if we stocked it in the Guild.¡± Exill nodded in agreement while examining Iris. She was the one who had made the push for handbooks to be institutionalised for all new recruits. If she was on his team, there was no doubt the product would capture the market. Iris noticed Exill¡¯s calculating gaze, mistaking it for something else and suddenly remembered the lewd tutorial she had given Envy when the fog shrouding her mind slowly receded. ¡®Oh merciful heavens¡­ what did I do?¡¯ she lamented softly. ¡°I will forget what I saw, if you never mention again what happened last night.¡± Iris refused to meet his eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°You mean teaching Envy how to-¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one!¡± She cut him off, covering her face in both hands. He didn¡¯t fully understand why he didn¡¯t let it go at that; it may have been because the 25% detox concentrate wasn¡¯t enough to fully cure his hangover, or he was naturally vindictive. Either way, he clamped down on her apparent weakness. ¡°It hardly seems fair considering you caught a full ten seconds of my exposed member, and don¡¯t you dare pretend otherwise, because I saw you peeking through your fingers.¡± ¡°Hyah!?¡± she exclaimed, vividly remembering the young man knelt before the chamber pot. ¡°-So you still owe me big time.¡± Exill finished, fully intending to leverage the incident into a favourable agreement to stock the Guild with his Detox potions. He excused himself and climbed down the stairs to find Tsarra who had woken up from the hubbub upstairs. She was an important component of his experiment as he needed to test if the other races reacted differently to detox. ¡°Hey sleepyhead, take this and you should feel better.¡± Brushing the stray strands from her lips, he raised the vial of glowing detox to her mouth and coaxed her to drink it all. ¡°On a scale of one to ten, how would you describe the hangover before and after drinking the concoction?¡± ¡°Um¡­ seven, then one?¡± she blinked carefully, feeling her aversion to sunlight disappear. ¡°Fantastic, come upstairs for a cup of tea when you are ready.¡± He patted her soft head, remembering to grab a spare vial from the cupboard then climbed back upstairs. He filled the empty vial with plain water from the kitchen and infused it with mana to make it glow. Knocking on Envy¡¯s door, he entered after hearing no response to find the Vampire covering her face with a pillow. It wasn¡¯t by chance that he had chosen her as the control for the experiment. It had nothing to do with the residual irritation he felt from her unwitting manipulation. ¡°Good morning princess, it¡¯s time for your medication to make all the pain go away.¡± His voice dripped with false affection while uncorking the glowing placebo in front of her eyes. ¡°On a scale of one to ten, how would you describe the hangover before and after drinking the concoction?¡± he asked after a full minute had passed. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any better¡± she croaked, recoiling away from the loud sunlight. ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­¡± He enjoyed her pain for a full minute, ¡°Then try this.¡± He uncorked the 30% concentrate and poured it directly into her mouth. ¡°Mn¡­ I can feel it working¡± she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her body slowly return to normal. Exill remained beside her for a while longer then asked again how she felt, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the results. ¡®If I can sell the 30% concentrate in a small cask, I could save on packaging for a margin of two to three Denars per dose¡¯ he thought. This meant after sharing fees with the vendor, he would likely be bringing in an operating profit of 200 Denars per cask. He shot Iris a bright smile as he passed her, thinking of the ingredients and barrels he would need to order to craft a steady supply. Chapter 131 - Cancelled Request Several days later, it was morning when the Market bell rang nine times and Exill pulled himself out of bed. Soft susurrations caused him to step out into the living room to investigate. ¡°Good morning! Tea is ready, and you just need to bring a cup.¡± Iris brightly called out from the table. Exill stared at the three women seated around the table, then shaking his head, went to the kitchen to wash his face and fetch a clean mug. Sweeping back his damp hair, he plunked down on the seat while drying his face with Envy¡¯s clean red towel. ¡°It feels like you¡¯re coming here earlier each morning¡­¡± He grumbled, then had the towel promptly snatched away by Envy. The genial clerk played with her braids in embarrassment, wondering if she was somehow intruding. Her colleague Marco was always on her case about boundaries, that it sent the wrong message at times. ¡°I was teaching Envy how to braid bracelets, and Tsarra joined in.¡± She took a lighter teasing tone, ¡°Are you jealous I¡¯m stealing all your women? Don¡¯t you have any friends to play with instead?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have any friends.¡± Envy replied, her fingers deftly weaving the threads. Her annoyance had nothing to do with his continued use of her clean towels. ¡°Even though he¡¯s always telling me to socialise more.¡± Tsarra added meekly, annoyed by her assignment to Bola¡¯s stall near the Labyrinth Tower. ¡°That is not true! I have¡­¡± He was about to say ¡®Luna¡¯, but quickly held himself back. The women around the table glanced at him with a mixture of emotions, ranging from pity to smugness. ¡®I guess the only other person is Verill.¡¯ He thought, reminded of the wraith encountered in the Infested Edifice. It was a sobering thought, and it must have shown on his face because Iris reached out to hold his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you¡­ You have me, Envy and Tsarra as friends, right?¡± Iris turned to the Vampire for affirmation, but the Murderess only snorted in response. ¡°I¡¯m his slave, and Tsarra is his apprentice. They don¡¯t count.¡± Exill ignored the heated discussion breaking out in front of him, enraptured by the memory of his spear plunging into Verill¡¯s chest. He felt something squeeze his hand, and he was brought back down to earth by Iris¡¯s earnest question. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Her kind eyes flickered with warmth. ¡°Yeah¡­ I was just thinking of things to do.¡± He took a deep breath, ¡°Let me join you on the way to work today, I need to talk to your colleague Marco about something.¡± And with that, he poured himself tea, and went to sit alone in the treatment room. The hours passed filled with busywork, and Iris came down to knock on the partition door soon after the Market bell rang eleven. ¡°I¡¯m going to work; do you still want to come with me and Envy?¡± Her voice was subdued, lamenting the fact she had teased him about having no friends. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡± He rose to his feet, and called out in a louder voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, so look after the clinic for me Tsarra.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The three left the Clinic to a bright sunny day, and quickly passed through the East Gate, flashing their resident tokens in sequence. ¡°Although it takes longer to get to work, I like this route through the East Gate. It¡¯s less congested and it passes by the best baker in all of Ark.¡± Iris tried to lift the sullen atmosphere by pointing to a nearby shop while hugging Envy¡¯s arm. They stood in line for a brief time and thanks to Iris¡¯s recommendation, he chose two cheese loafs to bring back home for Tsarra. However the Baker¡¯s scuttlebutt eyes gleamed when she recognised the three of them gathered together. ¡°What is this Iris dear? You¡¯ve never dropped by my store with a man before¡­¡± The Guild clerk swore inwardly, if only the bread wasn¡¯t so delightful she wouldn¡¯t have to put up with the Baker¡¯s rumours. Throwing Exill into the mix would only complicate matters. ¡°Run!¡± Iris grabbed Exill¡¯s arm and dragged him away with her. They ran a short distance, and eventually slowed to brisk walk. Envy was just behind them, and the Vampire looked amused at the sight of Iris breathing heavily from exertion. ¡°Was that really worth running from?¡± He asked, confused by what had happened. ¡°Mercs shop there a lot, and the Baker likes to gossip what mood Iris is in, or what she is wearing that day.¡± Envy explained languidly, having heard it all. ¡°She even tells them what I¡¯m wearing?¡± Iris was flabbergasted by the revelation and resolved never to frequent there again. ¡°She told me the last time you wore that ¡®cute blue dress¡¯, and that it looked very good on you.¡± Envy added in response, curious to know how the fashion conscious woman would respond. ¡°Oh.¡± The three of them entered the Guild hall together, with Iris silently wondering if she should give the Baker another chance. She agreed with the rumouring scuttlebutt that the blue dress was simply adorable. Meanwhile, Exill made a beeline for the queue leading to Marco, the clerk responsible for handling requests. ¡°To what do I owe this pleasure Witchdoctor? I¡¯m afraid I haven¡¯t received information on the whereabouts of your friend.¡± Marco kindly asked when he stepped to the front of the line. ¡°I know. I came to cancel the request.¡± Exill plainly replied. Marco paused, knowing full well the Witchdoctor complained vehemently behind the scenes on the slow progressing search. As it had been reported before, the battles around the south-eastern front were especially fierce, with whole battalions and their records wiped out. It was proving difficult to exchange information with the Afrye counterparts on who exactly had been taken slaves due to their federated tribal system. Requests were cancelled all the time with a minor penalty attached. However it was rare for those seeking information on loved ones and close friends to withdraw the search. ¡°Are you sure? If you cancel now I can only return 300 out of the 500 Denars in your bounty.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Marco hesitantly glanced to his side to check if Iris had begun her shift yet, but she had yet to change to her work clothes. After a few seconds of searching for records the Clerk eventually nullified the search entry and refunded three silver coins to Exill. ¡°I apologise that the Guild was unable to fulfil your request, and hope it won¡¯t deter you from coming to us in the future.¡± Marco politely replied, and watched Exill nod and walk away. Envy observed the entire exchange from the back of the hall, and she pushed the fawning wolfman Feroy to one side to intercept the Witchdoctor. In some ways, she understood him better than anyone else, and knew he shouldn¡¯t be left alone at this time. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She lightly tugged his sleeve as he was about to step out into the street. ¡°I¡­ was going to take a walk.¡± ¡°Come delve with us then.¡± She gently persuaded. ¡°But I don¡¯t have my spear, or my gear.¡± Exill was growing confused by her offer. She had never demonstrated such mild insistence before. ¡°Then use magic. Attack from the rear like the cowardly master you are.¡± She flicked him on the forehead, causing him to flinch back. ¡®Is she for real?¡¯ He was suddenly reminded of the times before the duel. However underneath that fa?ade of mild annoyance, he spotted genuine concern in her features, and felt his fists slowly unclench. ¡®Of course, what would Envy be without the occasional teasing.¡¯ He suppressed a sigh and joined the assembled team of Grundle, Feroy and Envy. Chapter 132 - Adamantium Knife It had been a long time since Exill exchanged anything beyond a light greeting to Grundle, the gruff bald mercenary who had been his partner briefly over a year ago. He traded a firm handshake with the man and stood aside as Envy prepared to speak. In all the time that had passed, it appeared she had taken over the role of de facto party leader and everyone stood attentive to her words. ¡°Standard formation. The Witchdoctor will cast supporting magic from the rear.¡± ¡°Wow, you can Heal and cast magic? Is it because you are blessed? How can I become a Witchdoctor too?¡± The young grey furred wolfman, who had a streak of silver white on his forehead fawned over him, holding his palm high up in a rough attempt to inspect his Card. Exill humoured the energetic Wolfman and summoned his Card. ¡°Wow, he is the same age as me! Does he call you big sis as well, big sis?¡± Feroy avidly turned to Envy. ¡°No, but he should.¡± She lightly scratched Feroy behind the ear, and lead them out into the street. They stuck together as a group and the other pedestrians gave them a wide berth, making the short distance walk to the Labyrinth Tower rather pleasant. ¡°How have you been holding up.¡± Grundle asked, his quiet gravelly voice barely audible over the din of street vendors hawking their wares. ¡°A lot of things happened, but I¡¯m good.¡± It was the understatement of the year. ¡°I heard how you have your own Clinic now, with a pretty apprentice on top. You¡¯ve moved up in the world, while that cockroach Mattan is still stuck in Sundry Inn.¡± Exill didn¡¯t know it at the time, but Grundle had a long standing rivalry with his former roommate Mattan, nicknamed ¡®Sundry¡¯s Cockroach¡¯. There was a soft relish in the tone of the gruff mercenary, causing him to reflect on all that had happened over the past year. They arrived at the Labyrinth tower, queuing up under its cool shade. Bola the Vendor barked a short greeting, as well as Samson the dwarf grill vendor shyly waving him hello. Being surrounded by all these people who welcomed him on this bright sunny day, Exill found himself slowly unclench his fist. Soon, they were waved through by the Royal Guards at the entrance, and Envy immediately fussed over the hard boiled leather armour covering Feroy¡¯s torso. ¡°I warned you to tighten the straps.¡± The Vampire pulled hard at the buckles covering the Wolfman¡¯s arm, causing him to yelp in pain. ¡°You¡¯re pinching my fur!¡± Feroy winced in pain. ¡°Your precious fur won¡¯t protect you from a piercing mud fly if you don¡¯t tighten these straps.¡± Envy was unforgiving while checking his leg buckles as well. After a minute, everyone was prepared and partied up, then they slipped into inky black portal leading to the Abyss. Feroy hefted his spear and took formation to Envy¡¯s right while Grundle also readied his spear and covered her other side. This left Exill to bring up the rear. ¡°Four Goblins.¡± Feroy¡¯s ears flickered in response to some echoed sound, and his moist brown nose tentatively sniffed the air. ¡°I¡¯ll take the two in the centre, while you guys engage the flanks.¡± She beckoned with one finger to Exill and drew him closer, ¡°Support me.¡± She simply instructed. He nodded in response, feeling the change in dynamic quite refreshing. It was nice to take the backseat for once and just follow instructions. The Goblins were lightly armoured foes, and a few shards of ice magic would suffice. Envy readied her sword and shield, and advanced on the enemy with Feroy and Grundle covering her flanks. Exill channelled mana to his fingertips and shot two consecutive ice bolts at the goblins that were her opponents. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. One shard of ice embedded itself in the goblins shoulder, while the other slow moving projectile narrowly missed its waist. However it was enough to distract the enemy for Envy¡¯s mithril shortsword to cleanly decapitate the opponent. ¡°Hey! We might even reach the second floor today, Big Sis!¡± Feroy enthusiastically fussed over the Goblins, checking they held nothing of value. Exill had never reached the second tier of the Labyrinth, but it was rumoured to be an old stone staircase that led deeper into the Abyss, where stronger monsters resided. You had to traverse seven caverns to reach that point, and it was a difficult enough task for the average party to wade through gradually increasing number of monsters. Mercenaries often reached that point, back in the days when entry into the Tower cost a fee. However parties rarely ventured that far nowadays, since it made no sense to take such risks. Exill stood idly by, wondering how Envy would respond. ¡°We will see.¡± She simply stated. The next cavern was filled with a flock of five harpies and the team as a whole let out a sigh of exasperation. None of them had ranged skills, and Exill was without his shortbow. The Harpies harrowing attacks and their sharp talons made progression risky and difficult. ¡°Use your wind magic and let¡¯s move on to the next chamber.¡± Envy instructed, and he inwardly agreed with her assessment. She motioned Feroy to cover the rear and they stepped out into the wide open-aired chasm, from which the unsettling crimson sky was visible. ¡°Is this where you encountered the Spirit?¡± Feroy asked in an awed tone while Exill channelled wind magic into a vortex around them. ¡°Yeah¡­ kind of.¡± They cautiously crossed the open ground to the cliff-face on the other side, a furious vortex of wind stymying the Harpies attempts to dive at them. After a minute or so, they successfully slipped into the large crevasse to the angry shrieks of condemnation from the flying monsters. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Envy tugged at Feroy, who had turned to admire how easily Exill had overcome this obstacle. Even Grundle shook his head slightly, which was high praise from the gruff mercenary. The next cavern was a gravelly arena, filled with boulders of various shapes and sizes. Envy motioned them to stop at the entrance, an unsettling sensation at the pit of her stomach. There were no apparent enemies to face, and it was too quiet, too barren. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered a room like this before¡­ let¡¯s turn back.¡± She whispered, and yanked the eager Wolfman¡¯s armour, to keep him from venturing forth. ¡°Why? What did you fight?¡± Exill asked, flipping through his handbook for monsters he hadn¡¯t encountered yet in the lower strata, which were few and far between. ¡°Rock Serpent.¡± Envy answered, and at that moment, an unassuming pile of rocks slowly unravelled to reveal a six meter long serpentine monster that looked like segmented boulders. The Party quickly retreated to the passageway, and Feroy leaned over the Witchdoctor¡¯s shoulders as he searched for its entry.
Rock Serpent: 5-8 meters long. A rare monster that appears alone in the lower strata and in pairs in subsequent levels. A pale cream coloured python-like ambush predator that clads itself in sheets of rock to disguise itself as a pile of boulders. Its skin secretes a substance that is commonly used to etch Mithril weapons for enchantment.
Recommended Strategy: Cut off the head with an Adamantium weapon. Mithril weapons can be used in combination with a Wizard casting earth magic to forcibly shed its skin. Contact with its bile can cause severe burns.
Average Harvest: 500 Denars
The entry included a rudimentary diagram of where to harvest the bile sacs along multiple points of the body, emphasizing the dangers of puncturing it, and using an Adamantium knife to avoid damaging the blade. Envy must have recognised the temptation in his features because she furiously shook her head even before he had a chance to speak, ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you ruin my sword for that.¡± ¡°If you are fast in decapitating it, most of the damage should buff right out.¡± It was a severe understatement, and everyone knew it. Envy quickly fired back: ¡°Then what will you use to harvest the bile sacs, Feroy¡¯s knife?¡± She pointed to the Wolfman¡¯s steel blade, which would immediately disintegrate on contact with the Rock Serpent¡¯s skin. ¡°We will use your weapon. It¡¯s a shortsword, it will just become a little shorter.¡± Exill was teasing her at this point. He had no intention of fighting the Rock Serpent and was quietly pleased that Envy treasured the first sword he had crafted. Envy flicked his forehead in annoyance, realising he was jerking her chain from the surface emotions shared through their party connection, and led the party back to the surface. Their delve had lasted just over an hour and they had nothing to show for it. It was apparent from everyone¡¯s expression that an adamantine blade, no matter how small, was high on the priority of their next purchase. To walk away from 500 Denars was no easy feat. ¡°Let¡¯s go again.¡± Envy stated, her amber eyes tinged red with passion. Chapter 133 - Confession Exill stared at her warily, and saw her eyes abruptly return to their clear amber colour. Their contract still held, but it wasn¡¯t pleasant to know he had been a hairsbreadth away from being enthralled again. ¡°No, I should go back. Tsarra is waiting for me.¡± Exill wearily dismissed himself from the party. Grundle slapped his shoulder, while Feroy reluctantly hugged him goodbye. Envy stared at him for long seconds, wondering if she should call it a day as well and escort him back. Noticing her reluctance, Exill beat her to the punch. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, go on another run. We can try this again some other day.¡± He then waved a backhanded goodbye and left the Tower into the early afternoon sunlight. ¡®They¡¯re a nice bunch.¡¯ He thought while waving at Bola a second time that day. ¡®I should figure out how to craft adamantium weapons to avoid missing out on such good luck in the future.¡¯ However this was better said than done. He had witnessed Ham forge an adamantium knife once from start to finish. The Dwarf had begun by unwrapping his treasured rune inscribed smithing hammer. After heating to a sufficient temperature, the stock bar of adamantium had been split in two and treated differently with additives and flux to create what Ham dubbed, ¡®cutting-edge¡¯ and ¡®basic¡¯ material. This was later combined to create a blade of unparalleled function that was the envy of all the other apprentices. ¡®Maybe when I¡¯m a Master Blacksmith.¡¯ He dismissed the venture for now, knowing it would take a long time of mastery and specialised equipment to achieve a similar feat. He sighed, feeling deflated and reminded of his time back at the refugee camp. In many ways¡­ life had been simpler back then. For some reason, instead of heading home he turned further west, to where the spire of the Cathedral were visible over the rooftops. In just under ten minutes he found himself looking up at the majestic gothic structure supported by rows of burgeoning arches on both sides. There were no good memories of this place, but there was a specific reason he had come here. In a world where the dead were cremated, people sought solace and reminders of their loved ones in the presence of the all-encompassing Spirit. The religious in this world believed that their souls were vessels contained within an infinite abyss. It was said that a person crossed many bridges over the course of their lifetime. What bound these tenuous walkways together was the dreams they were composed of, helping to span the vast gulf of infinite silence. When they died, they were returned to the World¡¯s embrace, and the cycle begun anew under its gentle guidance. Exill wasn¡¯t a religious man, but that had changed when he saw Verill¡¯s wraith. He passed through the imposing studded doors and dropped a few Denars into the donation box, then found an empty bench to sit alone. The airy hall was lit with bright light streaming through the stained glass windows. The atmosphere was hushed with countless whispered prayers earnestly offered to those departed. Exill clasped his own hands together and reflected on all his encounters with his mentor, saviour, and dearly departed friend. Time passed in quiet contemplation, and he felt some of the burden lift away. For all that, his recovering mental state was immediately ruined by a familiar whisper from behind. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you to be a religious man, Witchdoctor.¡± The church bells above rang twice in slow reverberation, and Exill felt surprise melt away to dull anger. To be ambushed like this while remembering the deceased made the Inquisitor all the more hateful. Some of the outrage slipped out in the curt tone of his voice. ¡°Is it wrong to pray for those who have departed, Inquisitor?¡± The seconds slowly stretched out, and he sensed the presence behind him stand up and walk away, only for the sanguine robed man to rejoin and sit beside him, just out of arm¡¯s reach. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°No¡­ it is never wrong to pray. I have no excuse for interrupting while you were being faithful. It is just that your visit here¡­ was outside my expectations.¡± Deroch¡¯s soft apology caught him off guard. Exill was about to leave when the Inquisitor spoke again, a quiet curiosity propelling his voice, ¡°Was that a prayer offered to Ranger Verill?¡± The Inquisitor was sharp to the extreme, and Exill began to feel a grudging respect towards the unsettling man. Against his better judgement, he decided to prod him for information in turn. ¡°What do you know about wraiths.¡± ¡°Did you encounter one?¡± Deroch turned to him in surprise, and after some thought, provided what he knew about the spectral phenomenon. Intelligence gathering was a lot like fishing, and it helped to dangle information in front of your suspect. ¡°Not all souls immediately return to the Spirit¡¯s embrace upon death, Witchdoctor. Not if they have an unfulfilled purpose left in the waking world.¡± Deroch drew a long breath, ¡°What you likely witnessed was the soul of your friend wrapped in malicious intent, given corporeal form. I suspect this was inside the Infested Edifice, no?¡± He waited several seconds for an answer before continuing on, ¡°What you took down was nothing but the corrupted husk. The Ranger¡¯s soul would have been freed and returned to World¡¯s embrace.¡± Deroch waited patiently for a response. The Witchdoctor¡¯s single question had helped reveal the true nature of the defeated abomination, and he was grateful for this assistance. Exill felt hot tears drip down his face. He had known Verill was dead. In spite of this, a small seed of hope sustained itself in his mind, hoping it had all been an illusion. To hear it had been all real, and more importantly, that he hadn¡¯t harmed his friend¡¯s soul brought a surge of relief to his grieving heart. The Inquisitor pursed his lips at this display of uncharacteristic emotion, a hint of rare uncertainty crossing his features. He sighed softly and stood up to leave, awarding the Aberration he so earnestly hunted room to mourn. ¡°Wait.¡± Exill hurriedly wiped his tears and took a deep breath. The consolation he felt at the news of his dead friend was welcome, but there were more pressing matters regarding the living. ¡°Let¡¯s assume I am what you suspect I am. What will happen to my companions?¡± ¡°Is this a confession?" Deroch hastily sat back down on the bench and waited for a reply. They stared at each other resolutely, with Exill refusing to take the bait. Eventually, it was the Inquisitor who looked away first, troubled by the look of genuine concern in the young man¡¯s features. ¡°Providing they haven¡¯t harmed the World Spirit or its good citizens¡­¡± Deroch slowly began, punctuating his condition with a pause, ¡°¡­ and they are willing to cooperate with the Church, they will not be harmed. You have my word.¡± The Inquisitor quickly left after offering this saving grace, and Exill remained seated for a few more minutes until he felt the tears fully subside. Then, feeling exhausted, he returned home. *** ¡°What took you so long?¡± Tsarra poked her head out of the treatment room when the door chimed upon his return. ¡°Envy dragged me into the Labyrinth.¡± He simply replied, while lowering the two loaves of bread on the counter. Tsarra drew closer and quickly scanned his body for injuries, but her gaze was drawn to his slightly bloodshot gaze. ¡°Are you hurt? Did something happen to your eyes?¡± She reached up on tiptoes to get a better look but was brushed off by her embarrassed mentor. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Have some bread for lunch and let¡¯s go over your studies. Were there no patients all this time?¡± ¡°Um, no¡­ no-one.¡± Exill sighed again, for perhaps the tenth time that day. It was understandable in some ways. The Clinic had been closed for two weeks while they were at Virigo, furthermore, he had been imprisoned for two days on top of that. It was a stretch to think that patients would come pouring back. Nevertheless, he sought to reassure her, although the words were mainly for himself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, the patients will eventually return. Did the delivery for casks and ingredients for the detox potion arrive?¡± ¡°Um, only the casks, I asked them to store it in the forge.¡± She led him to the dimly lit room and pointed to six casks piled up in a corner. ¡°Good girl.¡± He affectionately patted her on the head, knowing how much she disliked the endearing term. Tsarra bit back the retort that had been forming on her lips, and only because he had been deflated all morning since Iris teased him about having no friends. Instead, she brushed some dust off the nearby anvil. ¡°Are you going to use the forge at all?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ maybe¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Exill exhaled while peering into the dusty room. After his sobering encounter with the Inquisitor, his dreams of creating a workshop seemed further away than ever before. All his earlier optimism when he first rented this place had been eroded away by the many looming threats. ¡°I saw Bola and Samson today by the way. You know, the more I look at him, the more I realise how cute that grill-vendor is¡­¡± Exill began, trying to redirect his morose thoughts. However the Dwarf-maiden was having none of it, and she slammed the treatment door behind her in mock exasperation. Chapter 134 - Deroch Special: Deroch ¡°Indra, have the trainee paladins returned from the Labyrinth?¡± The Inquisitor scanned over the daily intelligence reports while calling out to his longtime aide. ¡°No my lord, they should have returned this morning at the earliest. However some delay is within the margin of error.¡± The sharp Priestess who had served Deroch for the past ten years promptly responded. Lower level delves were multi-day affairs due to the characteristics of the Labyrinth. Time¡­ had a tendency to flow strangely down there. This combined with various obstacles and challenges served as excellent training for those who were destined to face Aberrations. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Deroch wordlessly expressed his opinion on such inefficiency and tardiness. The men and women who had delved into the expanse of the Labyrinth were trainees, and could be awarded some slack. That did not mean he excused their lax behaviour in what was arguably the most prestigious assignment of their careers. The Inquisitor was a busy man, in charge of investigating heresy and aberrations in several of Ark¡¯s district. This was on top of organizing the Oracle¡¯s protection detail. Five long years had been spent lobbying for a squad of paladins to augment the seven already under his command. Perhaps that was why he pinned so much hope on the tardy trainees - when the safety of so many lives were on the line. Heaving a weary sigh, he stood up and stepped out into the paved colonnades circling the Inner Sanctum, leaning against a stone pillar to observe the Oracle from afar. The blindfolded woman was seated on the wrought iron bench, listening to the songbirds that occasionally sought solace on the glowing boughs of the Eld Tree. He had watched her inauguration three years ago, shortly after the previous Oracle passed away, and was responsible for her protection as well as instructing her on the various duties of the role. In spite of this, he had been severely shaken after the abrupt canonisation of the Witchdoctor. After painstaking months of investigation, he had lured the suspected Aberration into this holiest of chambers where its powers would be sealed, and its corruption laid bare. All she had to do was confirm its nature, but had betrayed him at the last moment. ¡®How¡­ and when was she corrupted?¡¯ The speculation that their Oracle was compromised bordered on Heresy, but Deroch was an old hand and could smell the stench of wrongness from a mile away. He approached the woman of unworldly beauty with a disapproving frown on his face. ¡°I greet your Eminence this fine morning.¡± ¡°Hello Inquisitor. You do not have to worry about your trainees. They will return before dusk.¡± Alya softly replied with her face turned to the Eld Tree. ¡°¡­ That is good to know.¡± Deroch paused for a moment, taken off guard by the sudden declaration. He countered by scrutinizing her features while divulging some information. ¡°I met the Witchdoctor yesterday, here, at the main hall of the Cathedral...¡± He began, and saw the hint of surprise from her raised eyebrows. ¡°He sat on the pews, praying for half an hour until I eventually approached him. He told me¡­ the most interesting thing.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°¡­What did he say?¡± Alya¡¯s expression was strangely serious when Deroch didn¡¯t immediately continue. ¡°He informed me, in not so many words¡­ that a Wraith was encountered housing the soul of his departed friend.¡± Deroch¡¯s voice took a steely edge, ¡°Your old mentor failed to mention in his report that the Infested Edifice held such power.¡± ¡°Father Jonas failed to report it because he didn¡¯t know. It was Exill that faced the Aberration in its sepulchre.¡± The edges of her lips twitched upwards in quiet satisfaction. ¡°Did you know it wielded such power?¡± Deroch was afraid to know the truth, and his heart fell further when the Oracle didn¡¯t reply. He stood still for a minute, and with some reluctance, used the last remaining card in his arsenal, pushing the envelope further. ¡°He wanted to know what will happen to his companions when his lie is exposed.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t ask such a¡­¡± Alya trailed off as she sensed the truth in his words. She hesitated, knowing the deceit and limitations of her power had been unwittingly exposed. The Inquisitor was beyond satisfied at what the interrogation had revealed, and performed a small mercy by disclosing the rest of the conversation. ¡°I told him that provided they haven¡¯t harmed the World Spirit, or its citizens, they will not be harmed; as long as they willingly cooperate with the Church.¡± ¡°For our sakes¡­ I hope you keep your word.¡± The Oracle¡¯s tone was accusingly glacial, and the Inquisitor felt his breath frost briefly in the air. ¡°I always keep my word.¡± Deroch¡¯s chillingly blue eyes lit up in affront. As soon as their discussion was over, he turned to find Indra, his aide who rushed over and began talking in hushed tones. ¡°My lord, we just received reports of ghouls in the western slum district¡­¡± ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know. Let the city guard deal with it.¡± Deroch dismissed her easily while stepping into his office. The appearance of corpse eating ghouls in the slum area was a common occurrence, and hardly warranted his attention. More important was preparing for the arrival of the Paladin trainees this evening, as the Oracle had predicted. ¡°My apologies, I meant to say the guards discovered the desiccated corpses of three ghouls, and early investigations revealed they were dry husks, on the verge of disintegrating.¡± Indra hurriedly corrected herself, smoothing her red priest robe in embarrassment. The Inquisitor stood frozen near the entryway to his office in quiet contemplation. The appearance of ghouls was quite commonplace, but he had never heard of a monster that preyed on the corpse eaters in such a fashion. ¡°Assemble my team, and prepare to lock the Inner Sanctum down while I¡¯m gone.¡± He ordered, then stepped out to gaze once more at the Oracle, seated at her bench. ¡°Leave four paladins behind to guard this place.¡± He quietly added, then hurried to the armoury. It was a small room only accessible from the Inner Sanctum, and Deroch withdrew an adamantium key and channelled mana into its twin enchantments to unseal the locking mechanism. A series of clacks indicated the door could be opened, and he stepped eagerly inside to inspect the arsenal of holy artefacts. Chief among them was the ¡®Eye of Behelit¡¯, a grotesque lidded eye affixed on top of veiny wooden staff. It could only be wielded by the Oracle and could immediately detect any aberration within the vicinity despite the Labyrinth¡¯s gravitational pull. Deroch pursed his lips. He had often ventured forth with Alya¡¯s predecessor on hunts within the maze like warrens of Ark, and back then, the grotesque artefact had made rooting out evil a trivial affair. Perhaps old age was beginning to affect him, but he was reluctant to risk the Oracle¡¯s safety on such ventures, not with only a squad of paladins for support. ¡®This will have to do¡­¡¯ He withdrew three gently glowing vials of blessed water, and a single vial that emitted a pale golden light. This last one was the most valuable, and had been personally blessed by the Archbishop some months ago. It never hurt to be too careful. ¡°My lord, I have sent messengers to have your team meet you at the site.¡± Indra hurriedly reported the facts while he resealed the armoury. ¡°Good. Now, take me to where the ghouls were found.¡± Deroch¡¯s gaunt face lit up in quiet determination. Chapter 135 - Ghoul Hunt The desiccated husks of the three ghouls lay partially obscured behind a hastily erected awning near an alleyway, a stones throw away from the maze like morass of the slums. Inquisitor Deroch strode through the gawking crowd and perimeter guards, and was attended by three Paladins equipped for combat. A clean shaven Priest in his mid-twenties, who Deroch recognised as a promising up and coming individual turned to greet him warmly with a smile. ¡°Greetings Inquisitor, I arranged for this awning to be put in place, but I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ve deteriorated considerably due to sunlight.¡± ¡°Brother Benli was it?¡± Deroch was impressed by the initiative of the devout man, ¡°You did well to cover up the scene. Now, tell me what you know about the events that occurred here.¡± Flustered by the praise and the fact that the Inquisitor remembered his name, Priest Benli leapt into his report, ¡°At first light, I was performing the daily rites of consecration as a preventative measure against ghouls and aberrations. That was when I heard a scream from the direction of the slums and these dry husks scattered down the alleyway.¡± ¡°When you say you heard the scream down there, was it a man or a woman?¡± The Inquisitor stared at the looming entrance to the slums dominating the far side of the street from where they stood. ¡°It was a woman¡¯s voice, unfortunately I was unable to see her.¡± ¡°Good. Brother Benli, I know you are familiar with this district and that you do good work around here. The denizens trust you.¡± Deroch nodded in the direction of the slums, ¡°I want you to assist the Paladins in canvassing the area and finding that witness.¡± He placed a heavy hand on the devout Priest¡¯s shoulder and indicated to the three Paladins that he would be fine on his own. Watching the four figures receding into the dark warren of haphazardly stacked dwellings, Deroch turned his considerable attention to the corpses littering the alleyway. He moved the awning aside and crouched down to inspect the nearest ghoul, and was dismayed to find it crumble to fine ash from the lightest touch. ¡®Very peculiar¡­¡¯ he mused, noting the orientation of the ghouls. They were all facing away from the slums, as if fleeing from an unknown source. There was very little that could strike fear in a corpse eater and the Inquisitor¡¯s heart sank further in dark suspicion. Hearing the sounds of consternation behind him, Deroch emerged from the covered alleyway to find his long-time friend Pashta wade through the guard perimeter. ¡°How are you doing old friend?¡± Deroch greeted the Wolfman Priest, whose defining feature was a withered left arm. It was a congenital defect, and had caused his abandonment to the same orphanage Deroch grew up in. He was similarly in his forties, with a smattering of silver grey fur around his mane. ¡°I can¡¯t complain.¡± Pashta sniffed, scrunching up his moist snout. ¡°I was organizing the old archives when your assistant said you might need my help. Honestly Deroch¡­ I¡¯m getting too old for fieldwork these days.¡± The Wolfman complained genially. ¡°Now, don¡¯t be like that. There are hardly any priests in the service with your level of tracking ability. It is only natural I count on you from time to time.¡± Deroch swept aside the awning with a soft smile and invited Pashta in to the scene of the crime. The Wolfman crouched down and carefully sniffed around, accidentally inhaling a lungful of ghoul dust. Deroch stifled a smile at the sight of his old friend hacking at the disgusting scent and smoothed his gaunt features with a concealing hand. ¡°They came from the slums alright, that means they were fleeing from whatever was chasing them.¡± Pashta eventually said once his breathing was under control. ¡°That was my suspicion as well, do you think you can track where they came from?¡± Pashta ruefully glared at Deroch, wrinkling his nose in disgust. To ask a wolfman to step into decaying miasma of the slums was a tall order. He would have declined outright if it hadn¡¯t been a request from his longtime friend. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Fine, but you owe me.¡± Pashta sniffed and stepped back out into the main street. The Inquisitor motioned a Priest over and left instructions for samples to be taken and the ghouls cleared away. There was little purpose in blocking the street, and he had gained everything necessary from the scene of the crime. The two crossed the road into the ominous shadow of the slums. ¡°Have you picked up the scent?¡± Deroch asked impatiently while the Wolfman took a deep breath and panted slightly to acclimatise to the new environment. ¡°Yes¡­ I think it is that way.¡± Pashta pointed to his right with his good arm and sauntered down a claustrophobic passageway that eventually widened into a small square. The Wolfman sniffed around for traces of grave rot that led him to a dead end after many minutes of wading through filth. ¡°You always pick me for the best jobs¡­¡± Pashta wrinkled his muzzle and inspected his shoes soaked in urine. ¡°The trail runs cold, and the ghouls didn¡¯t venture further from here.¡± ¡°That means our lead resides in one of the many houses we¡¯ve passed along the way.¡± Deroch inferred and mentally downgraded the resources needed to canvass the area. They returned to the main street and was met by Priest Benli and the three accompanying Paladins. ¡°Did you uncover any leads?¡± ¡°Yes, we found the woman who screamed at the sight of the ghouls.¡± Priest Benli swept back his auburn hair, ¡°Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t witness much else because she immediately slammed the door shut.¡± ¡°Show me where she lives.¡± Deroch¡¯s cold blue eyes glittered in anticipation while commanding the Paladins to follow. Pashta wrinkled his nose at the thought of re-entering the slums, but kept close behind the group until Benli stopped at a door they had passed earlier while pursuing the scent of the ghouls. Deroch nodded knowingly at the Wolfman, confirming their earlier suspicion that the suspect lived along the path they had taken. ¡°This is enough brother¡­ I greatly appreciate your assistance today.¡± Deroch clasped Pashta¡¯s shoulder in a quick embrace. He didn¡¯t want to risk the safety of his old friend in what would likely turn into a deadly confrontation. ¡°Take care of yourself, and call me out for a meal sometime, instead of chasing trails in the most wretched of places.¡± Pashta rubbed his muzzle while complaining genially. Then with a light double tap of his breast in benediction sauntered away back to the Cathedral. ¡°You should leave as well, Brother Benli¡­ the place we are about to delve is no place for you.¡± Deroch turned his back to the promising Priest and gestured for the Paladin¡¯s to draw their blades. As a unit, the elite of the Church militia drew their swords and knelt in a semicircle around the Inquisitor, holding their blades aloft with both hands for the sacred anointment. Priest Benli¡¯s eyes widened at the solemn sight of an Inquisitor preparing for battle. It was a scene reminiscent of the tapestries adorning the Church, and the sight moved him with an emotion he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. It was one of yearning. The warm radiance of faith was overwhelming as Deroch swept the glowing vial of blessed water across the weapons while channelling faith alongside a litany of prayers. In under a minute, each of them wielded a lightly glowing blessed weapon. ¡°Please, I can assist you. I know nearly every resident in this street.¡± The earnest Priest stepped forward, his features clear and unclouded. If there was to be a battle in this wretched place, Benli wanted to do everything to save innocent bystanders from the fallout. Observing the clear eyed younger man, it was like looking through a mirror into the past. The grizzled Inquisitor pursed his thin lips in due consideration. Depending on the outcome of this case, Deroch had half a mind to induct the promising Priest into the Inquisition¡¯s ranks. ¡°Stick close behind me, and run if we engage the enemy.¡± He instructed, then withdrew a thin brass circular disc from a side pouch. Unlike the standard accumulators that featured multiple dials and navigational aids, this tool featured a single needle attached to an incredibly fine ratcheting mechanism that lined the inner circumference of the housing. When the Inquisitor channelled mana into the tool, the dial spun around fluidly, clicking softly from the well-oiled gears. Eventually, the needle came to rest pointing in the direction of the Labyrinth Tower far away. Even out here in the outskirts, the tug exerted on the fabric of reality by the landmark Tower was too intense for an accurate reading. The Inquisitor rotated the bezel attached to the housing until it lined up with the needle. Now, in the presence of a strong Aberration the needle would deviate ever so slightly, and provide a clue to the direction of its presence. Of course, not all Aberrations exerted a strong presence, like that slippery Witchdoctor who continually evaded his grasp. For entities such as him, there were two ways to approach it. One was to lure him to a town without a Labyrinth and Waystones protecting the road, and the other was to build a citywide detector capable of triangulation. For the latter approach, his prototype had already yielded crude results. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for Exill to fall into the trap he had set. Being careful to mask his emotions, Deroch formed a party with the three Paladins and Priest Benli. They advanced down the claustrophobic streets in a wedge formation, the silence punctuated by the ratcheting mechanism of the specialised accumulator. ¡°We¡¯re getting close¡­ and it is on our left.¡± Deroch whispered to the group. Chapter 136 - Hyathorn Deroch¡¯s gaunt features were composed in concentration. He felt a spike of fear from the Brother Benli following in the rear, but it was quickly put under control. ¡®He does have potential.¡¯ Deroch noted while leading the way. Most priests would cower away from facing an entity capable of upending the logic of this world. After backtracking a few times, the Inquisitor grew increasingly certain that their quarry lay within one of the five dwellings to their left. His lined face broke into a frown while looking up to find another five wooden huts perched precariously over the ground level units. This made sneaking up on their prey difficult, and the chance of collateral damage nigh impossible to avoid. ¡°Our target is in one of these ten dwellings.¡± He defined the boundary of their investigation and motioned two Paladins to stand by and cut off the escape route on either side. ¡°We must evacuate the citizens behind us!¡± Priest Benli urgently whispered to Deroch and made to approach a door that hadn¡¯t been marked. The Inquisitor firmly gripped the conscientious Priest¡¯s arm and yanked him back just in time. ¡°You will do no such thing!¡± Deroch hissed at his younger self, ¡°Do you want to alert the Abomination and bring about greater casualties?... ask me how I know this.¡± He tried to incinerate the youthful optimism with callous words borne from experience. With a pale face, Priest Benli shirked back from the boiling rage filtering through their party connection, and resolutely pursed his lips at the massacre that would undoubtedly take place. He didn¡¯t know what trials the gaunt Inquisitor had gone through, but it went against the Church¡¯s tenets to put citizens in harm¡¯s way. Deroch ignored the stalwart righteousness emanating from Brother Benli and with the assistance of the remaining Paladin, began breaking down the doors of the houses one by one. The first two on the ground floor were empty, its residents no doubt out on the streets at work. However when the Inquisitor approached the third door, the smell of decaying flesh and the slightest hint of¡­ wrongness suffused the air. He quickly motioned the two paladins securing both exits of the alleyway to converge on this location. ¡°Our quarry lies beyond this door, keep back.¡± He hastily ordered Brother Benli who staunchly stood by his side. With dual assassins daggers drawn, glowing softly with holy benediction, Deroch kicked down the door of the hovel. The Paladin that had been at his side threw an illuminating cannister into the darkness and the small interior was immediately bathed in warm white light. Priest Benli gasped at the sight of a twelve year old boy, kneeling beside the decaying corpse of his mother. He immediately recognised them from the soup kitchen he supervised in the evenings. They hadn¡¯t appeared for over a week, and the boy was obviously starved and unwell, too weak to even raise his arm against the illuminating cannister. ¡°That is no abomination! I know the boy, he used to frequent the bread lines.¡± Priest Benli ignored the Paladin¡¯s grasping hand and weaved his way to the boy¡¯s side. The kid¡¯s forehead was clammy to the touch, and he was clearly dehydrated. He ushered the boy to lie down, and watched him greedily gulp the cool water from his canteen. The kindly Priest ignored the shouted warnings that eventually faded away when nothing happened. Inquisitor Deroch refused to sheathe his dual blades and watched the little boy with hooded eyes. He had seen them employ all manner of tricks to blend in with the living, to prey on the vulnerable from the shadows. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. There was no doubt the kid was an Aberration, and the Inquisitor would have immediately stabbed its heart if the young Priest was not in the way. Further complicating matters was his recent interaction with Exill, who had sown doubt in his heart. Perhaps¡­ they could be negotiated with. ¡®After all, aren¡¯t I negotiating with them already?¡¯ Remembering the ritual at the Cycad Elderbough¡¯s glade, he reluctantly lowered his blade and gestured the Paladins to step back. There could be value in studying Aberrations. He was reminded of an oft ridiculed faction of the Church who argued everyone, even abominations should be accepted in the Will¡¯s embrace. Deroch warily moved closer to the kneeling Priest, prepared to drag him immediately out of harm¡¯s way if needed. In spite of his caution, the boy appeared to have fallen asleep in the Priest¡¯s warm embrace, and only then did Deroch sheathe one of his blades. ¡°Get word back to the Order that we have a containment situation.¡± The Inquisitor whispered to the Paladin at his side, and stood tense for the next fifteen minutes, waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Eventually, an hour later, Deroch was keeping his distance outside the doorway when he saw the Paladin return with a giant beast of a man clad in armoured sanguine robes that clinked softly as he approached. The second Inquisitor¡¯s name was Hyathorn, and he haughtily glared around the decrepit slum while wielding a spiked battlestaff with one hand. ¡°Blessings to you Brother.¡± Deroch contained his dismay. ¡°Blessings to you too.¡± Hyathorn rumbled in response. If Deroch¡¯s eyes were considered cold, the newcomer¡¯s were absolutely frigid, and it felt like all the warmth in their vicinity was sucked away under Hyathorn¡¯s glare. The Berserker / Inquisitor was known for his fiery temper and no-nonsense attitude, and was the absolute worst person to be dispatched to a sensitive situation as this. ¡°Is it the boy?¡± Hyathorn sniffed inside, and similarly caught a whiff of the wrongness within. ¡°Yes, and we need to carefully escort it to the Inner Sanctum to seal its power and enact the containment procedure.¡± Deroch replied, wondering where the Oracle should stay while the protocol was enacted. ¡°Tsk¡­ it should be simple then.¡± Hyathorn bent his head to step inside the hovel and immediately ordered Priest Benli aside, ¡°Step away from the abomination.¡± Brother Benli was roughly shoved aside, and the colossal Inquisitor scooped up the startled awake boy by the back of his tunic. The Berserker shouldered through the crumbling doorway on his way out and grimaced in the direction of Deroch. ¡°Keep up.¡± He beckoned. It was at that moment the boy released an unearthly scream at the thought of being parted from his dead mother. It was a shriek of agony that tore at the very fabric of reality. Hyathorn¡¯s arm began to wither, and the burly Inquisitor released the boy with a pained yelp. ¡°Bloody Heathen!¡± The enraged Inquisitor¡¯s face was mottled red with berserker fury, and he backhanded the boy down and raised the sanctified battlestaff above his head. ¡°No!¡± Priest Benli exclaimed from the collapsed doorway, his ears bleeding from the deafening assault. But it was too late, and the spiked battlestaff descended with the full might of the towering Berserker into the boy¡¯s head, crushing it like a ripe watermelon. Silence filled the air as the boy crumpled to the ground and Hyathorn cursed again while flicking his battlestaff on the blood spattered ground. Priest Benli knelt beside the convulsing corpse of the boy, horrified by the senseless violence. Deroch merely pursed his lips and directed his Paladins to clear up the scene. He had half expected this to happen the moment his bloodthirsty colleague had entered the scene. ¡®What a waste¡­¡¯ Deroch lamented. At the very least, the Aberration could have provided the Order with a new Inquisitor recruit. Judging by the features of the young priest, there was only disgust directed at the callous deeds. ¡°Tsk¡­ I hope you learn from this mess Brother.¡± Hyathorn cradled his desiccated arm in a makeshift sling, ¡°Nothing good comes from negotiating with these filthy abominations. Stop complicating things and just do your damn job.¡± And with that last rebuke, the brusque Inquisitor assembled his team and left the slums. Deroch crouched beside Priest Benli and coaxed him away from the scene of death. The house that the Aberration had resided in was already beginning to crumble around the collapsed doorway. ¡°I knew the boy and his mother¡­ they were good people¡­¡± The traumatized Priest whispered while clinging to Deroch¡¯s robe. ¡°How¡­ I mean, why?¡± Deroch hesitated, and provided the advice his mentor had provided him when asked the same question decades ago. ¡°We live in a senseless world¡­ the best we can do is to protect those who are vulnerable, and guide them safely to the light.¡± Chapter 137 - x256 EXP [Equip Overview] Two weeks passed by in a blur and business in the Clinic slowly returned to their former heights after the forced break in Virigo. Preparations were underway for the inaugural festival marking the end of the war and people were understandably excited as decorations and banners were raised in the market. Exill had put the time to good use, drafting contracts with the Mercenaries Guild and various vendors in each marketplace to set up a detox potion distribution network. Some cost elements had been underestimated, but he nevertheless expected to earn an easy 1000 Denars a month going forward. There was already talk of branching outside Ark and a letter had been sent to Councilman Coran for references to potential vendors in Virigo. That late morning, Tsarra and Exill were reviewing recipes in their newly acquired copy of ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯, fifth edition, noting the minor differences and improvements featured in the latest edition compared to the two-hundred-year-old copy they had previously studied. ¡°I¡¯m glad we bought this.¡± Exill smiled, rubbing shoulders with Tsarra while eagerly flipping the page. The gentle scent of lilac filled the air when she leaned over the book, tucking her hair behind one ear. The small perfume bottle had been gifted to her yesterday, purchased after a long period of haggling with the vendor at Central Market. Tsarra had been ecstatic to receive the gift and had rewarded him with a small peck on his cheek. Their focus was broken when an ominous knock hit the front door, the sound reverberating through the Clinic. Exill laid a palm on Tsarra¡¯s shoulder and stopped her mid ascent, standing up in her stead to approach the entryway. For some reason, he checked the location of his spear before unlatching the door, sensing an intimidating aura on the other side. ¡°It is good to see you again Witchdoctor.¡± The man dressed in plain sanguine robes examined Exill, his gaunt face featuring a sombre smile. The Inquisitor entered uninvited and wandered around the lobby, noting the little changes that had been made since his last visit. ¡°How can I help you?¡± Exill quickly asked, feeling his throat clench in worry. ¡°No need to be nervous, this is supposed to be a friendly visit¡­ a clerk may have sufficed, but I had to see with my own eyes how the blessed Witchdoctor was doing.¡± There was a sense of incongruity in the way Deroch emphasised his title, and Exill felt his guard rise higher. He remained silent while the Inquisitor peeked into the dim forge room, followed by a long examination of Tsarra, who remained seated nervously in the treatment room. ¡°As I said, this is a cordial visit, frankly a long overdue one. The Ministry has entered your blessing into Canon and your success in taking down the Infested Edifice has been similarly recorded. This is¡­ a small appreciation of your deeds.¡± Deroch placed two gold coins on the counter, sliding them next to the potted Eld Tree sapling. ¡°I hope to hear more of your exploits.¡± The Inquisitor whispered, placing a heavy palm on his shoulder as he made to leave. Exill tried not to flinch from the physical contact that seemed to drain all warmth from his core. The door softly clicked shut behind the departing Inquisitor, and he saw Deroch striding off through the frosted side window. He turned to [Appraise] the coins, wondering if they were somehow cursed or bugged to overhear conversations. Exill¡¯s paranoia was off the charts. ¡®It¡¯s okay, calm down¡­¡¯ He took a deep breath. If the Inquisition actually had any evidence, they wouldn¡¯t be doing him a favour by handing over 2000 Denars. It was likely an intimidation tactic. Still, the urge to immediately flee consumed his mind. ¡®Do I run to the Afrye Tribal Federation or the Usberg Theocracy?¡¯ There was a lot more information to uncover in the library before making the plunge. ¡®Let¡¯s stick to the plan¡­ I want access to the Spirit Guide and train [Slave Trader] in the Labyrinth so that I can free Envy.¡¯ He pocketed the money and successfully calmed himself down. ¡®The fact that I was canonised and celebrated for taking down an Aberration must count for something¡­ right?¡¯ His mind raced in thought. It would be best if he could come up with a reasonable excuse to leave the country, like setting up an overseas distributor network for the Witchdoctor¡¯s Tonic for example. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Tsarra had been watching Exill from the partitioned doorway of the treatment room, seeing his emotions flicker from fear to grim determination that eventually melded into worry. She had heard her mentor address the chilling visitor as an Inquisitor, and her heart had grown cold when the man¡¯s icy eyes pierced her own, undressing all her sins. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ he just dropped by to reward me for taking down that Aberration. Can you watch the Clinic for a couple hours while I do some shopping?¡± Tsarra nodded, perturbed by recent events. She had spent enough time with Exill to recognise most of his emotions and she was determined to support him in his time of need. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Fetching his cloak, he wrapped it around his shoulders and pocketed the clay tablet containing his shopping list. It all boiled down to disposing of a few items, chief among them the knuckle duster he had never really used. Next was obtaining a replacement Wizard Ring and four more EXP boosting items to bring his experience modifier from 8>>256x. Over the past painstaking year, he had graphed the experience requirements for each level gain and concluded that the requirements exponentially doubled every twenty levels or so. It would take a dedicated practitioner 37 years of unamplified training to reach level 80 in a single job, and a total 77 years to reach level 100, assuming that was the cap.
Level EXP required
20 2 years
40 7 years
60 17 years
80 37 years
100 77 years
By amplifying his EXP gain to x256, he could raise seven jobs simultaneously from level 1>>40 in just over a week, where it would take a mundane person seven years to raise just one job to the same caliber. His hand rested on Tsarra¡¯s shoulder, thinking of the fast-approaching deadline of their farewell. He ruffled her hair affectionately, knowing the clever girl would do just fine. Deroch¡¯s promise not to harm his companions provided they cooperate with the Church had simplified his decision to leave her behind. With such a bright future ahead of her, it would be needlessly cruel and wasteful to drag her along a dangerous journey. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a few hours.¡± He said, then stepped out into the bustling street. Carefully avoiding the workmen precariously balanced on step ladders, Exill was swept along with the crowd towards the East Gate, marvelling at the colours and banners that festooned the main street. There was a sense of excitement in the air, from the liveliness of people¡¯s steps and the loud calls of vendors from their stalls. There were three major pawnbrokers, all located in Ark¡¯s Inner City, and he had to visit them all to find what he needed, trading in the brass knuckleduster that had barely seen any use. In its place he earned training pugilist gloves, a robust gauntlet of leather with a rune inscribed plate fortifying the knuckles. The second item was a replacement Wizard Ring. Unlike the intricate band of silver he had gifted Tsarra, this one was a simple design with no adornments. Next was a sturdy training boot meant for knights in training, a simple rune inscribed steel toecap covering the front. Still needing two more EXP boosting items, but running out of options he purchased a Trainee Carpenter¡¯s Ring and Enchanters Circlet. The whole set cost just under 2700 Denars and he was eager to delve into the Labyrinth tomorrow morning with Envy and shake off his rusty combat skills. He had already decided what jobs to raise, and they were:
Job Level Passive Buff/Active Skill
Warrior (Tier I) 39 Passive Buff: +attack speed, STR bonus,
Hunter (Tier I) 36 Passive Buff: +accuracy, SPD bonus,
Spearman (Tier II) 29 Passive Buff: +attack damage, Active Skill: [Weak Point]
Wizard (Tier I) 12 Passive Buff: +channel efficiency
Slave Trader (Tier III) 1 Active Skill: [Subjugate]
Murderer (Tier I) 1 Passive Buff: +damage to humanoids.
Scribe (Tier I) 14 Passive Buff: +reading speed
On the way back, he dropped by the Enchanters to pick up a small gift he had prepared for Tsarra. The ¡®Paralyzing Mithril Blade¡¯ was an exact replica of the scalpel he commonly used. Several nights ago, he had purchased half an ingot of mithril to craft the tool in secret, then paid the Enchanters to apply a paralyzing enchantment to the blade. It was a slight downgrade from the one he owned but it would suffice in kickstarting her budding career. ¡®She is going to love this.¡¯ He smiled, looking forward to another a peck on his cheek.
Equipment Enchantment
Training Bracelet, Copper Necklace, Copper Earring EXP Plus
Wizard Ring EXP Plus, MP Plus
Pugilist Gloves EXP Plus
Knight Training Boots EXP Plus
Carpenter¡¯s Ring EXP Plus
Enchanter¡¯s Circlet EXP Plus
Mithril Spear [1-slot] -
Leather Armour -
Heater Shield -
Ironwood Treant Shortbow -
Chapter 138 - First Kiss The next day, Exill woke up early to warm up and practice basic spear forms. By the tenth bell, he finished strapping on the new pugilist gloves. Tsarra stood off to one side, nervously playing with her ring while biting her lower lip. Her mentor looked invigorated and there was a lively look in his eyes as he nodded at Envy, who feigned annoyance and waited for him to get ready. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want me to come with you?¡± she asked, knowing only she could heal his wounds. ¡°It is going to be fine. We won¡¯t venture too deep considering it¡¯s been a while since I saw active combat.¡± Exill assured her, a strong smell of cured leather brushed her nose when he squeezed her shoulder. Then without further ceremony, he left the clinic. ¡°Is Grundle and¡­ Feroy was it? Will they be fine that I¡¯m stealing you in the mornings?¡± ¡°Mn. They understand.¡± Envy replied, and she flashed her green slave token to the Gate guard. They approached the plaza surrounding the Labyrinth and joined the short queue to enter the Tower. ¡°Well if it ain¡¯t the Spirit blessed Witchdoctor, fancy showing your ugly mug here after all this time!¡± ¡°How is business?¡± Exill grinned as he left the line to greet Bola, the vendor he had assigned Tsarra under to sell mana imbued poultices. ¡°Can¡¯t complain, dear, there¡¯s an influx of new visitors for the upcoming festival and your poultices are selling like hotcakes. When is that cute gal gonna drop by and watch my store? You know a lot of my regulars are asking after her you know.¡± She grinned, leaning forward to check if Samson the grill vendor was listening. The male dwarf was attentively watching Exill, his ears obviously straining for any information on his crush. ¡°Ah¡­ Since I¡¯ve begun delving again I was going to drop them off starting tomorrow but if she is that popular¡­ I guess I should ask her to come by with new stock then.¡± ¡°Damn right she is popular. Did you get those two tickets to the romantic comedy like I asked you?¡± Bola grinned, elbowing the Witchdoctor conspiratorially. ¡°Yes, I bought two tickets a month ago, but as far as I¡¯m aware, she hasn¡¯t used them yet.¡± ¡°Hmph, maybe she is just waiting for the right man to come along, I¡¯ll give her a good tease when you send her over tomorrow.¡± Bola waved at Exill as he walked away to join Envy who had reached the front of the queue. Exill and Envy both flashed their Guild handbooks and was waved through by the Imperial Guards. They entered the hushed, cool interior of the Tower and he paused briefly to appreciate the distant vaulted heights of the ceiling. ¡°Did Tsarra ask you to go with her to the play?¡± he asked, checking over the straps of Envy¡¯s cuirass. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he went through the familiar movements. ¡°No.¡± ¡®Huh... Bola was pretty insistent that Tsarra wanted to watch the play.¡¯ He wondered while finalizing the strap check, then tapped her back twice to indicate all was good to go. ¡°Can I trust you to watch my back in there?¡± He didn¡¯t channel mana into the question, and instead studied her features earnestly. Envy flicked his forehead in affront then marched towards the Labyrinth gateway alone. ¡°Hey! We aren¡¯t partied yet!¡± Exill jogged after her and hastily formed the party. He was surprised to sense the trailing edge of disappointment from the Vampire through their connection, until it was quickly smothered. Shaking off the sense that he had done something wrong, the two entered the inky black portal and delved into the dimensional depth of the Labyrinth. The first enemies they encountered were a pack of three zombies, and Exill returned from his reconnaissance to relay the news. ¡°Mages typically use fire wall to whittle them down right?¡± ¡°Mn. But it ruins their harvestable organs.¡± Envy added. ¡°Right¡­ at the moment I¡¯m focused on gaining experience so let¡¯s take down as many of them, as fast as we can.¡± Exill¡¯s mana bar had increased from 35>>45% thanks to Wizard Ring¡¯s enchantment. This had the added effect of increasing the raw damage output at his disposal. He summoned a fire wall as the zombies staggered towards them, summoning an encroaching fire wall once the last of them passed through the previous blaze of flame. By the time they had reached the duo, the zombies were a pile of charred corpses. Exill pierced their brains to ensure they were finished before moving on. The next enemy was a group of four plague rats, and Exill was suddenly taken back in time to his training assessment at the refugee camp over a year ago. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t pose a problem, let¡¯s go all out.¡± He said, activating [Steady Hand] and [Weak Point] while charging forward to impale the first of the rats in a surprise attack. Feeling these were the perfect non-dangerous targets to experiment with, he released the mithril spear and activated Monk¡¯s [Mana Channel] to imbue his fists with enhanced strength. Slamming his glowing fist into the nape of the nearest plague rat, an audible snap was heard when the neck broke, causing it to collapse into a spasming mess. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He saw Envy expertly slice the jugular of one rat while fending off the other with the buckler. She then kicked the second rat down and finished it off. After that, they faced off against two more groups of enemies until Exill called it a day, satisfied with their progress. ¡®I¡¯ve still got it.¡¯ He thought inwardly, grinning from the success of their delve. Summoning his Card while Envy filled the netting with their haul, he was pleased to find Warrior had reached level 40, unlocking a new passive buff as he had expected.
Job Warrior
Level 40
Description Melee Combat - Tier I
Passive Buff + attack speed (scales with level), STR bonus, VIT bonus
On closer inspection, his Vitality bar had increased by about 10% and on reflection, he had felt sturdier after defeating the last group of enemies. ¡®This means Hunter lvl 40 would likely impart another stat bonus considering it largely mirrors Warrior in terms of benefits.¡¯ He thought, noting the job required another three levels to catch up with its more utilized brethren. ¡®But why is [Murderer] only level 3?¡¯ He puzzled over the screen. It had been level 1 when he entered the Labyrinth, and by his calculations it should have exceeded level 7 at the incredible 256 multiplier in EXP. ¡°Hold on a second Envy.¡± He dismissed their party and leaned against one of the large pillars supporting the interior of the landmark Tower. Summoning his Card again, he scanned over the listed equipment that was currently equipped. There were two items whose enchantments were greyed out. ¡®I see the reason why¡­ the enchantment from Trainee Carpenter¡¯s Ring isn¡¯t active. Is it because it clashes with the Wizard Ring?¡¯ He scratched his head, ¡®But why is my Enchanter¡¯s Circlet also not active?¡¯ Under the eyes of the amused Envy, he took his boots, gloves and rings off, re-equipping them in a different sequence of order. After several tries, he came to a bitter conclusion. ¡®It is not that the two rings clashed. I¡¯m unable to activate more than six of the same enchantments.¡¯ This meant his EXP rate was capped at x64 of a mundane person. It was still an outrageous advantage as it stood. Nevertheless, he felt disappointment that the grandiose plan hadn¡¯t worked. ¡®Is there a special significance with the number six?¡¯ It felt a strangely arbitrary number.
Completely remove restrictions on equipable enchantments?
[Yes] +30 Rejection [No]
¡®Damn...¡¯ Exill had tapped around on his card with [Planeswalker] active to check if the rules could be bypassed, when he was presented with the frightening prompt. ¡®If the cost was ten, or even twenty Rejection I would have seriously considered it.¡¯ He carefully pressed [No]. His Rejection was currently at 40 and there was no telling what would happen if it nearly doubled. ¡°I¡¯ll see you back at the Guild, I just need to drop by the Pawnbrokers.¡± Hefting his light haul for the day, Exill left the Tower. He planned to return the Carpenter¡¯s Ring and Enchanter¡¯s Circlet, and hoped the store had a decent refund policy. *** Sometime later, he arrived back at the Guild. The Pawnbroker hadn¡¯t been willing to do a full refund, but they met in the middle at 90% of market value for what had been an expensive, but very valuable lesson. He walked up to the counter to greet Iris, who had begun her shift several minutes prior; noting the small cask of detox by the counter where it was proudly labelled as the following:
Item Appraisal
Witchdoctors Detox 6 Denars
¡°Will you be regularly delving into the Labyrinth now?¡± Iris asked, stymied away by the Pugilist Gloves from inspecting his hands. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be seeing you every day for the foreseeable future, how are the detox sales going?¡± He replied, channelling a trickle of healing magic into her questing palms. ¡°Hey!.. they¡¯re doing fine, I think it will last another week.¡± She replied, noticing the warm tickling sensation as the cuts on her hands were mended. She paused for a moment, then continued on, ¡°Would you like to come to the party at my house three days from now?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s invited¡­ and will there be enough chamber pots?¡± he whispered teasingly, grinning while narrowly avoiding an exasperated slap from Iris. ¡°Only Envy so far, I was going to ask Tsarra tomorrow.¡± ¡°It sounds like you would have a better time if I stayed out of it, I have a lot of preparations to make for the festival anyway.¡± He smiled warmly, trying to take the sting off his refusal. He remembered how small Iris¡¯s one room flat was and four people would have been a crowd. ¡°Maybe next time then¡­¡± she looked disappointed for a moment, but the warmth in her kind grey eyes returned as she waved him off. Exill raised a hand in recognition on the way out to Envy and Grundle, the gruff bald mercenary who had been his former partner. They were standing idly by, waiting for the third member of their party to arrive. ¡®It was Feroy wasn¡¯t it?¡¯ He tried to remember the enthusiastic wolfman who always referred to Envy as ¡®Big Sis¡¯. They were a good team, and he felt happy for them. Slightly exhausted, he arrived home sometime later. Tsarra was visibly relieved when she saw he had returned unharmed and fussed over the small cuts on his fingers. ¡°Iris invited you to a party at her house three days from now, are you interested?¡± he asked. ¡°Will you be going as well?¡± ¡°No, I think it will be more fun as a girl¡¯s night out.¡± He said, semi truthfully. Seeing her nod in reply, he continued, ¡°I need you to drop by the Labyrinth to supply Bola with a fresh batch of poultice, by the way, do you still have those tickets to the romantic comedy I gave you?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ and yes, I still have them.¡± Tsarra played with the two clay tokens in her pocket, she hadn¡¯t made up her mind yet on who to watch it with. Exill read her expression and decided not to press further, instead reaching into his pack to withdraw a small wooden case wrapped with a piece of green ribbon. ¡°Alright then, here¡¯s a small gift, a token of appreciation for all the help you have provided me.¡± In many ways, this was the best he could do since she vehemently refused being paid a wage while under his apprenticeship. Tsarra gingerly opened the case to reveal a padded interior, on which rested her very own enchanted mithril scalpel. She jumped for joy and embraced him with a hug, reaching up on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. But for whatever reason, her aim missed and the two of them were stunned when her lips softly pressed against his. Chapter 139 - Archivist Tsarra felt his warm embrace, the musky scent of fresh sweat mixed with cured leather. Moreover, she sensed his surprised lips pressing against hers. For that brief moment before they slowly parted, she realised it was everything she wanted and more, and a glacial clarity descended on her mind. For Exill, he had similarly enjoyed the press of her soft body and the scent of lilac. When she pressed her soft lips against his, it had awakened a primal desire within him. It took immense self-control to let her go and he realised he saw her as something more than an apprentice, more than a friend really. They stood apart, each refusing to take the first step that could irreconcilably destroy their suddenly fragile relationship. ¡°¡­ I should go wash up¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll heat up the water¡± she replied. She put some water over the fire then returned to the treatment room downstairs, holding her hand over her fluttering heart. Feeling the familiar clay tokens to the play clattering in her pockets, she unexpectedly realised who she wanted to watch it with all along. The days passed and neither of them made the first move while immersing themselves into their respective duties. The events of that day were all but forgotten as Exill gradually warmed up to her again, acting as if the kiss never happened. Envy observed them from the shadows, her woman¡¯s intuition telling her that something was amiss, but their interactions betrayed no strange agenda. Exill had fallen into the routine of delving in the Labyrinth in the morning, followed by clinic duties, and ending with repeatedly copying extracts from ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯ to raise the level of [Scribe]. Soon, the evening of Iris¡¯ party approached them. At that very moment, Exill was upstairs, seated at the dining table. He looked up to see Tsarra leaning over his shoulder, checking what chapter he had been studying. ¡°Oh¡­ I was trying to raise the proficiency of Scribe¡± Exill admitted. He massaged his fingers, tired from repeatedly writing out passages while hindered by the bulky Pugilist Gloves. She didn¡¯t question him further, knowing he had his reasons for everything. Instead, she smoothed her skirt down and reached over to pick up the basket of crackers and cheese. ¡°Is it time for you to leave already?¡± he looked out the window at the reddening skies. ¡°Well, enjoy your night out with the girls and return by tomorrow morning.¡± He tried to keep a stern look on his face, but it broke out into a grin when he saw Envy accompany Tsarra down the stairs. ¡®Now¡­ how am I supposed to unlock Archivist?¡¯ he mused. Scribe had reached level 20 a mere hour ago, but it had only unlocked the Tier II jobs Teacher and Notary, both of which were now level 1. Given some parchment, he could write his own ¡®Notarized Contracts¡¯. Teacher, a job he hadn¡¯t expected much from had an unexpected boon of a skill.
Job Teacher
Level 1
Description Arcane - Tier II
Active Skill [Share Exp] party members gain a share of the teacher¡¯s experience (scales with level)
Job Notary
Level 1
Description Arcane - Tier II
Active Skill [Notarize] draft a contract that would bind willing parties to their word with the World Spirit as the intermediary.
Even a sliver of his x64 bonus EXP multiplier would outclass anything people had access to in this world, not to mention it would increase over time when he levelled up Teacher. It could massively benefit Envy and Tsarra¡¯s advancement. The only downside was that it required them to party together, and sometimes¡­ shared emotions could be messy. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Trying to ignore the memory of his first kiss, Exill focused on the task at hand. Unlocking [Archivist]. Bibliographies of renowned archivists mentioned in the library indicated they were prodigies of some kind, able to recall excerpts from a book they had read only once several years ago. He suspected it was related to an acquired skill, and he needed it to fully exploit the ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯ at the Library. The ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯ was one of the Kingdom¡¯s greatest assets, a large tome containing the sum of the Kingdom¡¯s knowledge on job acquisition. Entry into the room housing the book was strictly controlled and required a reservation and background check weeks in advance. Access to the tome cost 1000 Denar¡¯s a session and a person was only allowed to stay in the room for an hour. Note taking was also forbidden. ¡®If Archivist is related to memory¡­ maybe I am approaching this the wrong way, and need to recall information to unlock it.¡¯ He spent the next hour writing down several chapters from ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯ from rote memory. It had been copied and read so many times that he could see the pages fly by with his eyes closed.
[Ping!]
A deep resonance filled his core and Exill hurriedly summoned his Card in excitement.
Job Archivist
Level 1
Description Arcane - Tier II
Active Skill [Archive] store information perfectly in your memory. 0/5 pages.
Exill eagerly assigned it as an active job and skim read the pages of ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯ while activating [Archive]. By the time he had archived five pages, Archivist had risen to level 2 and the upper limit had increased to ten pages. Closing his eyes, he could perfectly visualise the sheet he had just read, including the imperfections of the paper. ¡®So I get five pages worth of memory for each level I increase!¡¯ He wasn¡¯t sure how many pages there were in the ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯, but it would be sensible to unlock at least a hundred pages of memory before attempting to access it. Exill spent the rest of the night training Archivist by lamplight until finally retiring to bed. ¡®I wonder if the girls are enjoying themselves¡¯ he thought while drifting off to sleep. *** The ¡®girls¡¯ in question were having a heck of time. At Tsarra¡¯s urgings, Envy had mixed ¡®Infused Blood Potion¡¯ with Dwarven Spirit to craft a unique cocktail that complemented the bitter aftertaste of the potion. It had completely destroyed her inhibitions. The Vampire was currently trying on Iris¡¯s clothes and providing them with a fashion show. The Guild clerk was mildly annoyed that some of the clothes she had dismissed long ago looked fabulous on the slim yet curvaceous figure of the alluring woman. Tsarra was seated next to her at the table, enjoying the beef stir fry she had specially prepared while taking small sips from her cup. They talked mostly of work, the upcoming festival, and their favourite foods. Iris completely spoiled the plot of ¡®Lost Memories: the Squire and the Maiden¡¯ to Tsarra¡¯s dismay, proudly pointing to the romantic poster hung on the wall. This eventually devolved into a familiar monologue complaining about the men of Ark. ¡°Do you know the only¡­ ¡®shaft¡¯ I have seen in the past year belongs to Exill?¡± she slurred incredulously. ¡°You¡¯ve seen it? When?¡± Tsarra asked, suddenly invested in the conversation. ¡°Actually, no¡­ forget what I said.¡± Iris covered her face, suddenly embarrassed by the unbidden memory. She waved her hands over the table as if to dismiss it. ¡°Are we talking about his ¡®shaft¡¯? I have felt it several times. There¡¯s nothing special about it.¡± The seated women looked up at the softly swaying Vampire with mouths agape as she took another sip of the blood cocktail. She held up her firestone embedded bracelet for Iris to examine, then spouted off some more words ripe for misinterpretation. ¡°See this? He proposed to me after smearing his seed all over my belongings.¡± ¡°No way!¡± they both exclaimed, it was simply too lewd to comprehend. Iris covered her face in embarrassment and visualised the incident. ¡®Could the rumours of the Witchdoctor and his lurid acts actually be understated?¡¯ She wondered inwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but I remember overhearing from Exill¡¯s acquaintance that Vampire¡¯s only feed on the blood of virgins. How does that work then?¡± Iris finally asked, remembering her encounter with Lady Anna at the Clinic. ¡°It¡¯s true. He is a virgin. As far as I know, he hasn¡¯t even kissed a woman.¡± Envy easily admitted. Tsarra coughed mid sip, feeling the searing alcohol travel up her nostrils in blinding pain. Iris reached out to pat the back of Envy¡¯s hand, a look of concern on her face. ¡°It would feel like such a curse to know your future was bound to something like that.¡± Her kind grey eyes were sincere. Envy shrugged. She could always find someone else to feed on, as long as they were strong enough, but it would be difficult to do while bound as his slave. And it didn¡¯t have to be a curse¡­ she remembered her mother, who didn¡¯t have to worry about such things while bonded to her devoted human father. Envy lowered her glass, suddenly feeling sober. ¡®I want to go home.¡¯ She thought. Chapter 140 - Royal Parade Exill awoke the next morning to the whiff of alcohol permeating the air. Envy was pressed up against him, her perfect features turned into a frown and a dried trail of tears running down her cheek. He had never seen Envy cry before; the tough woman was made from something else entirely and he doubted even the World could bend her spirit. That was why he cradled her head and brushed her forehead, smoothing her frown, hesitating if he should wake her from the nightmare. However his touch appeared to have the intended effect, and she dug deeper into his side, her features relaxed. ¡°When did you come back?¡± he asked, feeling her stir sometime later. ¡°Mn.¡± She managed to croak, feeling the onset of a painful migraine. Exill got out of bed and stood over the Vampire who was covering her head with his pillow. ¡°I swear on the Eld Tree¡¯s branches, if you guys turn into raging alcoholics because you have access to tonics-¡± his voice trailed off while stepping downstairs to fetch a vial of detox. He eventually returned with a concerned look on his face. ¡°Did you not come home with Tsarra yesterday?¡± he asked, supporting her head as she greedily drank the tonic. The Vampire closed her eyes, waiting for the fog in her mind to clear. She remembered feeling sad and returning alone at the dead of night. She also remembered using Exill¡¯s chamber pot as Iris had taught her. And that was it, the reel of film that was her memory abruptly cut off there. ¡°She must have slept over at Iris¡¯s¡± Envy reasoned after a while. ¡°I know Ark is safer than a small town like Virigo, but you really shouldn¡¯t be wandering around drunk at night, especially in the Outer City.¡± Exill¡¯s nagging only drove Envy further away as she covered her head with his pillow, enjoying his comforting scent. The young man eventually wandered away to prepare the clinic for opening in the afternoon. Now that Tsarra wasn¡¯t here either, there was a lot of work to do alone. ¡°Get ready, I want to leave for the Labyrinth as soon as Tsarra comes home!¡± he shouted from downstairs. *** Two weeks passed by, and during that time, Exill continued to train in the Labyrinth in the mornings, focusing Monk (lvl 24) in the active job slot. Thanks to the rigorous delves, Hunter and Spearmen both crossed the level 40 barrier, unlocking VIT and STR bonuses respectively. Wizard, Slave Trader, and Murderer also passed the level 20 barrier unlocking another slew of passive trait bonuses as well. More importantly, level 20 Slave Trader had rewarded him with the skill [Break], the cure to [Subjugate]. However, it opened up a slew of ethical considerations. Theoretically¡­ he could train the job outside the Labyrinth assuming he had a willing subject for repeated enslavement and release. Tsarra was the only one that sprung to mind. She knew his secret after all, and he knew she would not object¡­ but he was worried about repeatedly triggering a traumatic memory. Regardless, it was a line he wasn¡¯t willing to cross. Father Jonas had also dropped by a week ago. A mysterious Aberration called the ¡®Last Bridge¡¯ had been sighted around Virigo, leading to his delayed return. He had otherwise assured Exill that a missive had been sent to the Oracle long ago, accurately reporting his contributions to the defeat of ¡®Infested Edifice¡¯ and that a reward would be issued shortly. Exill didn¡¯t have the heart to inform the kindly old man that he had already received the reward, directly from the Inquisitor no less. He instead thanked the Priest for his help and asked for a vial of Blessed Water in return. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. When the morning of the festival finally dawned upon the little Clinic, Exill was up early infusing mana into the last of his casks of Detox Potion. For the past week, there had been a steady ramp up of parties and events¡­ and no shortage of hangovers. As he had predicted, the Detox Potion was flying off the shelves, and he expected to make a very healthy profit today as well. ¡°Tsarra, Envy, we need to leave soon!¡± he exclaimed, while paying the warehouse loader three large copper coins to take the casks of Detox away. He was still short tempered when the girls eventually came down the stairs. His anger wasn¡¯t directed at them, but at the cost of distribution that had increased again as demand for deliveries outpaced supply. ¡®Happy thoughts! We just have to pull through today and costs will return to normal.¡¯ Exill placated himself, putting on a pleasant front for the women. Tsarra had switched over to her favourite teal sundress and tied her hair back with a matching green ribbon. Envy had borrowed a charcoal blouse from Iris that clung to her shoulders with a deep cut neck that displayed her ample cleavage. Apart from that, she had stuck to her usual laced breeches that was a little tight around the thighs. Exill admired the women and checked that his own breeches were fine. He had reached another growth spurt and they needed rehemming but were otherwise of good fit. Once Tsarra had finished picking off the lint from his jacket, he dramatically opened the front door, performing a mock bow to his companions. ¡°Let us go see the King and Queen my ladies.¡± Envy shot a ¡°Tch¡± at him while passing, but he was heartened by the excitement in Tsarra¡¯s eyes. Much like the Vampire, he wasn¡¯t interested in royalty or their large processions, vastly preferring the extra income such festivities brought instead. No, today¡¯s outing was mostly for the benefit of Tsarra. It was an opportunity for the three of them as a group to enjoy something that wasn¡¯t work related. They followed the throng of people flowing to the East Gate. All attempts at controlling traffic had been abandoned since last week and guards stood aside as an unending stream of people entered and left the Inner City. Exill held tight to Tsarra¡¯s shoulders as they were jostled past the plaza outside the Labyrinth Tower. They could wait here for the Royal Procession to pass by when they circuited the city, but Healer Perg had invited him to the colonnades of the Guild House, promising refreshments, and reserved seating for them. The Central Market soon came into view¡­ except most of the stalls had been cleared away to reveal the large flagstone square of the Parade Grounds. Their destination was the long building of freestone that lined one side of it. The Guild Hall was a two-storey building with interior colonnades leading to arched rooms where the various guilds of Ark could hold council. The talkative healer had arranged a spot on the upper floor, right outside the Healer¡¯s Guild. They climbed the stairwell of the Guild Hall and was afforded the most spectacular view of the Parade Ground. He could see thousands of onlookers ringing the square, held back by a thin line of soldiers standing smartly in their dress uniforms, ready to greet the procession that would soon pour out of the Royal Palace. Off to the side, a middle-aged rotund man dressed in a beige suit excitedly waved at Exill. ¡°There¡¯s Perg, let¡¯s go there and say hello.¡± Exill prepared himself for another earful of news about high society from the talkative healer. ¡°You came! Ah, and you brought your mistresses with you! I must say dear chap, you should bring them around with you more often, this jade eyed beauty positively brightens the room with her presence! I mean, just look at her precious smile!¡± Perg performed a deep bow to Tsarra. ¡°Where are my manners, please settle in, settle in. Refreshments are inside, and feel free to help yourself, courtesy of the Healer¡¯s Guild. The procession shouldn¡¯t begin for another quarter hour, so we have plenty of time to catch up my old friend.¡± ¡®It appears I arrived early.¡¯ Exill lamented while stifling a sigh. ¡°You must regret not joining our Guild when you had the opportunity, not that the offer has ever been rescinded. By the Eld Tree, we would accept you with open arms at any time! No, the reason I brought it up was that you would have been able to join the procession as a member of the Healer Corps, a mere two rows behind the Royal Family, would you believe that? Very prestigious I dare say, of course I had to turn it down because my knees don¡¯t work as well as they used to!¡± Perg prattled on while listing the benefits provided by the Guild. Exill eventually excused himself for refreshments and went inside the arched rooms, searching for a stiff drink, anything to make Perg¡¯s monologues bearable. Instead, he bumped into a familiar figure who had been too busy looking behind to notice him while hurrying towards the door. He held her shoulder to prevent her from being knocked back. There was a short period of silence as they recognised each other. Chapter 141 - Royal Parade It had been nearly five months since he had last seen her at these very steps of the Guild House. Back then, she had asked him to let her go, saying she didn¡¯t like the angry, bitter person she was turning into. She liked him, but at the same time, found it painful to stay at his side. Luna looked to be in good shape, but the lively, energetic, and occasionally shy maiden no longer stood before him. There was a hardness in her sapphire eyes now, and a quiet set of her jaw that spoke of subdued authority. The brief look of panic when she lost her balance had been replaced with resentment as she shrugged her shoulder free from his grasp, brushing her shoulder length blonde hair behind her pointed ears. ¡°You cut your hair.¡± he said, immediately regretting his opening line. ¡°And you have an additional mistress, how much did this one cost you?¡± She curtly responded. If words could cut, it would have grievously wounded him. Exill let out an exasperated sigh. Technically¡­ she was right, Tsarra had cost him 700 Denars. It didn¡¯t help that his reputation had deteriorated to a point where no one believed his attempts to explain they were not sex slaves. When informed that he had set Tsarra free, most people looked at him as if he was a lunatic. ¡°For your information, she is not a slave and is in fact my apprentice, one of the best in fact.¡± He couldn¡¯t help himself as his tone grew colder at her accusations. ¡°As for Envy, she is this close to being free and living her own life. I give it a couple months at most.¡± Exill held his thumb and forefinger apart to accentuate how close he was to freeing her. ¡°Well, congratulations then. I think you would make a fine couple.¡± Luna replied tartly, yet some of the coldness had disappeared from her voice. Exill paused for a few seconds, trying to understand why he was feeling so irritated, but quickly asked a neutral question when he saw she was about to leave. There was so much left to say and explain regarding his unwitting enthralment. ¡°You look better than when I last saw you¡­ did you manage to find an apprentice?¡± he asked in a conciliatory tone. ¡°No, but I received many partnership marriage offers.¡± ¡®Ah¡­ of course she would.¡¯ He raised his hand to hold her back as she made to leave when it was clear he had nothing else to say. Instead of grasping her arm, his hand continued to rise and now rested on the back of his head, tightly gripping his hair. ¡®What is the point of reconciliation when I¡¯m going to leave Ark anyway?¡¯ he thought ruefully, watching her receding figure. Yet it strangely hurt, just as much as last time, if not more; watching her disappear into the crowds. He wouldn¡¯t be able to say goodbye to someone he had considered his closest friend. Someone who had given her all to save life and limb. Luna had told him they were even, but he knew he owed her so much more. Turning to the refreshment table for something to distract him from the melancholy, he saw Envy whispering a few words into Tsarra¡¯s ear off to one side. Ignoring the two, he picked up a glass of sparkling wine and returned to the colonnade, leaning against the stone railing beside Perg. ¡°Did you meet Luna? Matured into a fine young woman hasn¡¯t she? I¡¯ve heard rumours the Head of the Guild approached her to reel you in with marriage but was firmly turned down. Why don¡¯t you give it a shot my good chum, you could do a lot worse you know!¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Perg¡­ why aren¡¯t you married?¡± Exill ignored his question and took a crude jab of his own. ¡°You must be mistaken! I thought we were better friends than that¡­ my wife lives in Virigo with our two children didn¡¯t you know? City life being what it is, she wanted to live with her parents in the open countryside, saying the air of the caldera was better for the kids. Didn¡¯t I tell you this already? I thought you met them when you were stationed there.¡± There was an animated grin on Perg¡¯s lips, happy that Exill had taken an interest in his personal life. ¡°Wait. If your family lives in Virigo¡­ why didn¡¯t you go there instead of me?¡± he asked, frowning in confusion. ¡°Ah~ you have yet to learn the ways of the world young one!¡± Perg tapped his temple excitedly. ¡°Small town politics is nothing to a man like me. I would starve and grow thin on petty rumours and the like. No, if I left Ark, the Guild would find a reason to permanently station me there.¡± Exill nodded, it made some sense. ¡°Actually¡­ that is one of the reasons you have been invited here today. We are eternally grateful for your service at Virigo, everyone agrees you did a fantastic job. The thing with doing a job too well is that you are often awarded with new opportunities. Have you heard of Brieshire? Picturesque little town east of here. Not as large as Virigo mind you but large enough. Has a large brewing industry been what I heard; we source a lot of good ales from there.¡± Perg drew a long breath. ¡°Anyway, could you do us a tiny favour and fill in for the Healer there, only for two weeks? It is two days travel by fast coach and the Guild Treasurer has authorised me to pay you 2000 Denars for the posting.¡± Perg grasped both his hands with a pleading look in his eyes. ¡°When do I have to decide this by?¡± Exill asked, determined to say ¡®no¡¯ if they wanted an immediate answer. ¡°Oh! Are you willing to give it some thought? That is magnanimous of you my good friend. Well, no need to worry, this posting isn¡¯t as urgent as the last one. We just need you to get back to us in the next five days, the sooner the better.¡± Exill nodded again. Perhaps he was looking at this with rose-tinted glasses now that it was behind him but the trip to Virigo hadn¡¯t been all that bad. On the contrary, if you ignored the Eldritch Aberrations and the assassination attempts, it had been a great bonding experience and he had learnt many new things and earned a lot of Denars. ¡°That should be the procession now!¡± Perg excitedly pointed at the Royal Gates that were opening. The sound of resounding trumpets reached their ears, and people in the rooms of the Guild House steadily filed out to grab a better view. Exill moved back a bit to let Tsarra stand in front, her diminutive height making it difficult to look over shoulders. It might have been the effects of the sparkling wine on an empty stomach, but he found himself holding Tsarra from behind. His chin resting on the crest of her head as the gentle scent of lilac pleasantly surrounded him. She squeezed his arm while they watched a parade of mounted knights, resplendent in shining armour leading the procession. They were followed by cadres of servicemen ordered by prestige of their profession. Exill spotted a group of mounted spearmen towards the front, soon followed by an open topped carriage from which the royal couple were standing, gently waving at the assembled crowd. ¡°Kneel before his Majesty!¡± The Herald announced, his voice amplified through some skill over the crowd. People all around him began to kneel, even those up in the upper storeys of the Guild House. Exill found it a little annoying, but released Tsarra to follow the lead of everyone else. People began to rise again when the Royal Coach passed them by. The procession was continued by supporting divisions of the Army, such as the engineering corps, healers and even priests from the Church. There was a vast uproar as people recognised the blindfolded woman leading the rear. Exill recognised her from her unworldly beauty even at this distance, and spotted Inquisitor Deroch standing protectively beside her as well. Two Bishops stood in front of her, recognisable from their golden caps. They wielded a glowing staff of elderwood, from the top of which streamed a soft beam of light in the direction of the Labyrinth Tower. The Oracle held a similar staff, but affixed on top was the bulbous eye of some monstrous beast, swivelling around as its creamy fibrous pupil sought out some hidden prey. It kept returning to stare at the Labyrinth Tower far away, but when the procession drew nearer to the Guild Hall, it fixed its blind sight on Exill, and along with it came a piercing pain, followed by jabbering whispers in his mind. The Oracle pursed her full lips, and the Staff finally averted its eyes, staring instead at the Tower far beyond. However Inquisitor Deroch had noticed its fixation, and his brows were furrowed while glaring at the Guild Hall. ¡®The Church has a way to detect me.¡¯ Exill thought with immediate dread. Chapter 142 - Lust Feeling faint from the abrupt psychic attack, Exill backed away from the railing and stumbled down the stairwell in a state of panic, trying to put as much distance between himself and the procession. If the Church had a way to detect Aberrations like himself, he had to leave now, tonight at the latest. Only when the door of his Clinic latched behind him did some semblance of reason begin to take shape. ¡®I forgot about Envy and Tsarra¡¯ he belatedly thought. Cradling his head in both arms against the counter, Exill took several deep breaths, and sorted his thoughts out one by one. ¡®The bug-out bag containing essentials for four days travel is prepared in my room.¡¯ he assured himself. ¡®I¡¯m going to leave Tsarra behind, and since I can¡¯t free Envy yet, she must flee with me. That means I need to wait for her return and ensure everything is packed up and good to go...¡¯ He briefly wondered if Envy would refuse to leave with him, but quickly dismissed the thought as an unnecessary complication. There was no question that freedom was the highest priority in her mind. Once he had gathered all of his and Envy¡¯s meagre belongings in one place, there was only one thing left to do, and that was to wait. A fresh notarized contract had also been prepared, that would overwrite the vow of secrecy with Tsarra. This would allow her to cooperate with the Church and lead a semblance of a normal life ¨C here in Ark. A sense of finality and calm descended upon him, with a smattering of regret over the farewells he couldn¡¯t share. ¡®If the Church had a way to detect me, why have they brought it out only now?¡¯ the intrusive thought knocked the breath out of him for a moment. ¡®The Inquisitor suspects I am some Eldritch Abomination, and he would have brought out the big guns; like the Elderwood staves the Bishops were carrying, or that maleficent eye that the Oracle wields.¡¯ Remembering how all the staves pointed at the Labyrinth Tower, containing the greatest Aberration in the region, Exill breathed out a sigh of relief. ¡®Maybe only the Oracle¡¯s Eye is sensitive enough to detect my presence, and she is covering for me, at least, I would like to believe so.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know how extensive the Church¡¯s arsenal of detection equipment was, but he knew Deroch. He suspected the Inquisitor had already tried to detect him using a Bishop, perhaps by walking past the Clinic at night time. The greatest unknown factor was the Oracle. He couldn¡¯t perceive her motives and he doubted the wily Inquisitor did either. Exill was startled out of his thoughts when the door was unlatched from the outside and Tsarra and Envy entered the hallway, similarly startled by all the belongings out on the counter. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± Tsarra asked in a suspicious tone, noticing that only her belongings had been excluded from the pile. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Exill improvised, ¡°I had a talk with Perg this afternoon and he wanted me to go to Brieshire to fill in for a Healer for two weeks. It is a picturesque town with a brewing industry just two days by fast coach from here¡­ he offered to pay me 2000 Denars. I just wanted to check if we had everything ready to go.¡± He winded the speech down, remembering he had a tendency to get wordy whenever he was lying. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°So you were thinking of leaving without me?¡± Tsarra asked, noticing his sentences had grown longer. ¡°I-I haven¡¯t accepted the posting yet if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking! Even if I did, you are more than capable of holding your own here. We only travelled together last time because our lives were in danger. Things are different now.¡± Exill bit his lip to stop talking. Tsarra felt hurt that he did all this without even consulting her, and retreated to the treatment room and softly closed the door behind her. Exill stood still for a moment, torn between chasing after her, or explaining to Envy their situation when a sudden epiphany struck him. ¡®Why didn¡¯t I think of using the rune throwing bones?¡¯ he thought belatedly. He had tried to wean himself off the divination tools, much like an addict would, knowing how much harm they could do with the wrong questions. Locking himself inside his room, he channelled mana into the throwing bones and asked the question: ¡®Am I in danger in Ark.¡¯ The runes flashed impossibly fast, but their meaning was simple and clear. There was no present danger in Ark threatening him. Feeling somewhat relieved, he channelled mana into the bones and asked a different question: ¡®Will I be in danger at Brieshire?¡¯ The runes flashed faster than before, if that was even possible. Even using Chronomancer¡¯s [Haste] he could grasp a fragment of what they were communicating. It felt like they were saying there simultaneously was, and there wasn¡¯t, only a looming pitfall awaited him down that path. ¡®I guess that makes things clear.¡¯ He thought, checking the answers a few more times. After a while, he climbed down the stairs and knocked on Tsarra¡¯s door. She was lying on her belly on the patient¡¯s examination table. A soft bedroll was unfurled over the surface while she read ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯ by lamplight. She had yet to change out of her favourite teal dress and studiously ignored him. ¡°Did you have a good time today?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Maybe. The Royal Family was a bit underwhelming.¡± She replied in an unfamiliar tone. The silence stretched out uncomfortably until she tenderly closed the book and turned to look at him, her gentle jade eyes looked troubled. ¡°Was that elf healer your mentor?¡± ¡°In many ways yes. To be more specific her grandmother Old Savta was my mentor, and she was her granddaughter and fellow apprentice.¡± ¡°Did you love her?¡± Exill¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise at the sudden question, rendering him speechless. ¡®Did I love her?¡¯ he reflected, allowing the seconds to pass by, ¡®and what is love?¡¯ he thought. ¡°If I truly loved her... I would have figured out a way to stay beside her and keep her happy.¡± He admitted after a while. ¡°Are you going to Brieshire without me?¡± she asked, seemingly satisfied with his answer. ¡°No¡­ my runes indicated there was some danger there.¡± ¡°Good.¡± she replied and surprised him by wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a light embrace and a quick peck on his cheek. ¡°Thank you for today.¡± Exill was taken aback, pleasantly so. They had held their distance since the accidental kiss, and he hadn¡¯t realised how much he missed her shy affection. Her arms lingered around his shoulder, and she was too close, the breath from her soft parted lips warmed his chin. The fading sensation on his cheek leaving him wanting more. Maybe she sensed the willingness in his eyes. Not knowing where she drew the courage from, Tsarra inched closer and pressed her lips against his. Feeling him melt under her advances, she began to nibble on his lower lip. Tenderly at first, then with more bite. The slight moan escaping his breath only emboldened her, pulling him tighter, leading him to the bed. Releasing her pent-up passion, she squeezed his waist with her thighs, crossing her feet behind his back. Her dress had ridden up and one sleeve was slipping off her shoulders, but she didn¡¯t care and hung on as she expressed her desire and affection. ¡°Haah!¡± She stifled a moan when something hard pressed against her. Realizing what it was, she quickly pushed him away, breathing heavily as guilt overwhelmed her. ¡°Envy¡­ we can¡¯t do it¡± she panted. Chapter 143 - Chance at a Normal Life Exill was breathing heavily as well, absorbing the sensual curves of her figure. The way the dress was precariously slipping off one shoulder and the soft thighs surrounding her underwear nearly made him ignore the warning in her voice. As it was, it took nearly all his willpower to look away while she made herself presentable again. ¡°This is¡­ wrong¡± he finally acknowledged the tension in the air. They sat for a while until Tsarra shyly shifted over and embraced him from behind, her fingers lightly brushing his broad chest. ¡°Um, we¡­ don¡¯t have to go all the way.¡± She whispered, coaxing him gently. A pleasant shiver ran down his back. For a few seconds he was tempted to return to exploring her body, but in the end, he shrugged her off and stood up. ¡®Just a few hours ago, I was prepared to leave her behind and start a life on the run. What the heck am I doing right now?¡¯ he thought, realizing the magnitude of his hypocrisy. ¡°Pretend this never happened. If you do this again, I will ask you to leave.¡± He instructed in a frigid voice. Exill¡¯s emerald eyes lit up, feigning anger at her, but it was mostly directed at himself for falling into a state of mindless lust. Tsarra opened her mouth as if to speak, confused by the sudden reversal, but he quickly stormed out, closing the door firmly behind him. She sat despondent in the lamplight. Over the span of a few minutes she had felt the heights of passion followed by the depths of despair. Burying her head in the pillow, she tried to erase the memory imprinted on her lips. *** Over the past couple weeks, Envy and Exill had gradually resumed their feeding schedule. This did not mean he had completely forgiven her, but there was a practical bend to it ¨C blood potions cost time and money to make. That night, Envy knocked on his door and entered in her usual loose-fitting black dress. He lowered the clay tablet on the nightstand and shifted back in bed, trying his utmost to pretend that nothing had happened earlier that day. She lay beside him and latched on to his forearm as usual. Over the past few weeks, his blood had grown markedly sweeter as his strength surged faster than ever before. She was finding it embarrassingly difficult to conceal her squirms of pleasure while feeding. However¡­ something tasted off today. The sweetness was still there, but it didn¡¯t taste as refreshing as before. ¡®Is it because of that incident at the Guild Hall?¡¯ she wondered, while wiping the blood from her lips. At the start of the Royal Procession, she had watched from the sides as Exill held Tsarra from behind. It had stirred an unfamiliar emotion that was only broken when they were forced to kneel before the passing King. It was towards the end of the event when the colour had abruptly drained from Exill¡¯s face, and he fled, not even looking back. She had tried to follow him down the stairwell, but he swiftly disappeared into the crowd. Faced with the dilemma of pursuing him or protecting Tsarra, she had chosen the latter. After all, the Witchdoctor was more than capable of defending himself. She had come to grow fond of the diminutive woman anyway and had begun to think of her as a little sister. It all began when she returned from lockup in prison¡­ their bond had grown in leaps and bounds, especially after the party at Iris¡¯s house. Stolen story; please report. That wasn¡¯t to say she didn¡¯t feel suspicious when the girl spent time alone with Exill, but she trusted her to do what was right. She wanted to believe that Tsarra could keep it in her dress. Envy finally turned around to face his emerald eyes, whose gaze still made her feel unsettled. ¡°What happened at the Guild Hall?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s complicated¡­¡± Exill had previously told her that factions within the Church believed he had fraudulently claimed a Spirit Blessing, but had never told her about his strange powers, or that he might be an Aberration. He knew she suspected something, but as a fellow hoarder of many secrets, she had carefully respected his privacy. However, the truth would have to be revealed soon if he intended to leave Ark. Further complicating matters was that he didn¡¯t fully trust her just yet. Releasing a great sigh, he slid his arm out from under her and sat up. Moving to the side of the bed, he smoothed the sleeves of his tunic while the Vampire watched impatiently. There was so much to his story that he didn¡¯t even know where to begin. ¡®Do I tell her I¡¯m from another world, is that the beginning of my story?¡¯ he wondered. ¡®Or does it start when I was first enthralled by her at Diallo¡¯s warehouse?¡¯ but promptly dismissed that as well. No, there was another start to his tale. He faltered for a few more seconds before he finally began his narration. ¡°My name is Exill of Lindtree, and almost everything you know about me is a lie¡­¡± He detailed key facts and abilities about himself, chief among them, his ability to see threads of fate and the number of jobs simultaneously available to him. Also described was how the various limitations of the world didn¡¯t apply at the cost of further Rejection. Finally, he elaborated on Rejection, and how events suggested it was turning him into an Aberration. Envy remained silent while listening to the story. For a long time, she had suspected he had hidden talents, but not to the extent that had been described. She was also aware of his Rejection and had known it for a long time, ever since she had tailed him to the Diviner and interrogated the old woman for details. ¡°Who else knows this?¡± she asked. ¡°Luna knows I am forsaken by the world, Tsarra knows a lot about my skills and abilities, but she doesn¡¯t know about my Rejection, only that I somehow draw Aberrations to myself.¡± Mildly annoyed that she was the last to know, but also pleased that she knew more than anyone else; Envy chose that time to reveal a secret she had been withholding for a while. ¡°This might be an opportunity for both of us.¡± she began. ¡°If what you say is true and a Slave Trader isn¡¯t necessary to free me, there is nothing holding us to Ark. I would like us to travel to Port Savig. There is something I am searching for and we can easily travel by ship to any number of countries.¡± ¡°What are you searching for?¡± he realised this was the first time he was learning something new about her. ¡°I have a younger brother, a little older than you. He was sold into slavery and the bounty I issued at the Guild tracked him down to Port Savig.¡± She looked down at her fingers, struggling to remember her own brother¡¯s face. Exill blinked. He hadn¡¯t expected that bombshell, that Envy had living family members out there. It was an additional complication but something he could accommodate while fleeing from the Inquisition¡¯s grasp. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± He eventually said. ¡°Are you going to bring Tsarra with us?¡± her expression was unusually impassive while asking the question, causing him to scrutinize her further. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± he threw the question back at her. ¡°I think you should consult with her.¡± Exill breathed deeply and looked up at the ceiling, troubled by the decision. The fact that he was attracted to Tsarra made things even more complicated. The decision was agonisingly painful, but he fervently believed it was for the best. ¡°You know she has a chance at a normal life here, a good one at that.¡± The words were whispered with untold yearning. Envy pursed her lips, understanding what he was alluding to, ¡°If you leave her behind, you are taking that choice away from her, she is the one you have to justify it to¡­ not me.¡± she firmly replied, disapproving of his reasoning. ¡°Nothing good can come from following me. You said it yourself, that people like us who are forsaken by the world can¡¯t hope to make it to retirement... I will not see her torn helplessly apart by an Aberration.¡± He closed the discussion, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. ¡°Fine.¡± Envy stood to leave but Exill grasped her hand, pausing as he calculated what was required. ¡°Give me five days. We leave then.¡± Chapter 144 - Spirit Guide Over the next three days Exill poured himself into work, trying to raise even one extra Denar to fund the long trip ahead. A chasm had formed in his relationship with Tsarra since the incident. It had only grown further when he informed her that he was taking the Brieshire posting and was taking Envy with him. ¡°But you said it was dangerous!¡± The worry was evident in her eyes. ¡°I took a reading again and it said it would be fine if I take Envy. Diviners deal in probabilities remember, futures change.¡± He ignored the disapproving look from the Vampire. Envy dragged Exill to the side once Tsarra left to run some errands. ¡°Is this how it¡¯s going to be?¡± She fumed, ¡°Are you really going to deceive her with the Brieshire posting then pull the rug out from under her when we don¡¯t return in two weeks?¡± The barely concealed anger was evident from her grip strength. ¡°I don¡¯t want her coming after us. I¡¯ve made arrangements to let her know once we are far enough away.¡± Shrugging off her grip, Exill hastened off to do the hundred and one tasks that still needed doing. Keeping Tsarra in the dark had two desired effects. It ensured she remained here, and there would be no information for her to share with the Inquisition. It would buy valuable time to put distance between him and Deroch. Tsarra had been insistent on following him to Virigo, and he was afraid she would flee with him given the opportunity. There was no doubt she would argue along the lines of, ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can heal you if you get hurt.¡± The more terrifying thought was that he would eventually agree. ¡®But if she were to get hurt while we were fleeing¡­¡¯ Exill abruptly shook the thought away, reminded of the arrow protruding from her shoulder. Events related to his apprentice had been taken care of to an exacting degree. A request had been posted at the Guild to deliver a letter to Tsarra in a weeks¡¯ time to bid her farewell, hoping it would provide some closure. A letter was also written to Luna, set to be delivered around the same time. It took him an hour to write, but in the end, it only told her he was sorry, and asked her to look out for Tsarra. ¡®Was that an appropriate request to make?¡¯ he wondered, for he didn¡¯t understand the hearts of women to know any better. The market bell rang twice, indicating it was close to the time for his appointment. ¡°I¡¯m heading out and will be back in three hours.¡± He called out to the fuming Vampire as he left. Outside in the sunny market square, the blue and yellow striped banners representing the Kingdom of Fayth still hung from up high. The festival was over but the decorations had yet to be taken down. For the third time in as many days, Exill tried to imprint this lively scenery into his mind. Ark had become his home, and this was exactly the way he wanted to remember it by. He weaved through the Inner City towards the Arena, ignoring all the announcements of the duels underway. While crossing the plaza towards the Royal Library, something made him freeze when he recognised a familiar name on the betmakers billboard: Mattan vs Trey (5:4). ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± he scoffed, intrigued by the matchup. As much as he wanted to investigate, time was running short. The hour of his appointment was drawing near, and it was something he had waited over two weeks to be processed and approved. Reluctantly, he turned away and walked briskly towards the ostentatious three storey building in the distance. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. He hurried up the stairs to the large entryway of the Royal Library, protected by stone gryphons on either side. Slightly out of breath, he greeted the matronly woman behind the counter. ¡°I have an appointment at half past two for access to the ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯.¡± He breathed. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill,¡± she examined his Card then continued on. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have been told this already, but the Spirit Guide is a national treasure. It is a great privilege to view the Tome and I hope you treat it with the utmost respect. The person who will accompany you to the room arrived a few minutes ago, he should be in front of Annex I.¡± Her face was stern while lecturing him. Exill thanked the Librarian and walked through the French double doors separating the lobby from the Library. A quiet hush fell on him upon crossing the barrier of silence. As he strode towards Annex I, there was a slight chill in the air. His heart dropped further upon spotting the red robed sleeve idly playing with an hourglass behind a large pillar. ¡®Oh please no¡­¡¯ he thought, while rounding the corner. Inquisitor Deroch was leaning casually against the ivory pillar, a patient smile adorning his lined face. His frosty callous eyes pierced him and appeared to revel in his surprise. ¡°It is good to see you again Witchdoctor. Imagine my surprise when word reached me that a blessed individual wanted access to the Spirit Guide¡­ I simply had to insist on this placement.¡± Deroch unlocked the door to Annex I. Exill stood frozen at the doorway, unwilling to enter an enclosed space with the man devoted to hunting him down. Meanwhile, the Inquisitor traversed the small room, lighting an oil lantern at each corner. Deroch withdrew another key from his sleeve and opened a rune inscribed adamantite safe embedded in the wall, carefully pulling out an aged tome that was placed on the lectern. ¡®What is he doing here? I thought a member of the Royal Guard was supposed to enter the room with me!¡¯ Exill was perplexed by the sudden development. Cautiously, he stepped inside. It was small and sparsely furnished, the only furniture being a lectern at the centre of the room upon which was placed a blue and yellow striped leather-bound tome. He had expected the Spirit Guide to be more impressive, but it was the size of a standard book and about 300 pages long. Upon careful inspection, there were signs it had been bound several times as the discolouration of the parchment was irregular. ¡°I won¡¯t ask what you seek to find within the tome. I wish you luck, the hour starts now.¡± The Inquisitor turned the hourglass and placed it on a special shelf built into the lectern. He then stood aside, those chilling eyes darting back and forth between Exill¡¯s face and the page he was currently examining. Sweat poured down Exill¡¯s back while flipping through the tome with shaking fingers, unsettled by the Inquisitor¡¯s piercing gaze. He quickly realised how futile it was, as there was no table of contents, the pages weren¡¯t numbered, and no rhyme or reason to how the jobs were ordered. ¡®They must have added fresh pages and rebound the book as new jobs were discovered¡­¡¯ he thought bitterly. Turning the pages deeper into the tome, the parchment grew increasingly yellow and brittle. To his surprise, a table of contents was found a quarter of the way in. ¡®This must be the original tome!¡¯ his excitement must have shown as the Inquisitor leaned in to take a closer look, nodding in understanding. Exill ignored Deroch and scanned through the list, noting worthwhile jobs. He was already five minutes into the hour-long session, and he moved quickly to skim read and archive the jobs that caught his eye. Exill snorted in frustration as some of the more useful entries, such as Bishop, asked the reader to request access to a separate job acquisition guide in the Royal Collection. Time passed in a frantic daze. ¡°Your hour is over.¡± The Inquisitor eventually said, reaching over to close the page Exill had been desperately scanning. Deroch didn¡¯t try to show it, but he was perplexed by Exill¡¯s actions. The young man had spent most of his time turning through pages of common jobs with an avid look of interest. It was difficult to say if he even read the pages because he flipped through them so fast. The Inquisitor carefully locked up the tome in the safe and extinguished all the lamps. ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± Deroch asked upon leaving the room, his face impassive as stone. ¡°No, I will have to try again next time.¡± Exill replied, displaying the appropriate amount of disappointment and humility. It was a partial success; the hour-long session had answered a lot of the questions Exill had harboured about the job system. Yet, he had managed to scan only 55 pages of the 300-page tome, having overestimated his reading speed. The Inquisitor merely nodded at this answer and approached the Librarian to turn over the keys. Exill took this opportunity to leave and slipped into the crowds outside. He had planned to stay at the library for another hour, but not with the Inquisitor breathing down his back. There were more preparations to make. Chapter 145 - m?tos The farewell party was held the night before their departure. He had wanted to invite everyone who had made his life tolerable over the past year, including the people at the Guild such as Clerk Marco, and mercenaries Mattan, Grundle, and even Feroy the newbie who he never really got to know. There were also other notable friends he had made such as Vendor Bola, Father Jonas and even Healer Perg. As for Luna¡­ well, some things were better left unsaid. In the end, only Iris was invited. Envy had agreed that anyone else would draw attention from the Church. Exill tried to keep a bright face while pouring each other drinks but the alcohol eventually revealed his morose inner feelings. ¡°Why the glum face?¡± Iris poked him playfully, leaning into his side as she tipsily lost balance. ¡°Hmph¡­ why wouldn¡¯t I be glum? Leaving this comfortable home and friends only to make a few extra Denars.¡± He lied. ¡°True, you are the greediest person I know. There are more important things than money you know¡­ and you ¨C you should stop enabling him by pinching pennies at every corner. You should get paid for your work!¡± Iris drunkenly pointed at Tsarra who looked irritated by their age-old argument. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. I¡¯ll get paid when I¡¯m ready!¡± The diminutive maiden hissed angrily. Everyone¡¯s brows rose when they witnessed her uncharacteristic temper. The silence held for only a few seconds until Envy struggled to stifle a giggle. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± she said between breaths, ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯re so cute when you¡¯re angry¡­¡± As everyone except Tsarra laughed, Exill couldn¡¯t help but feel hot tears well up in his eyes. This was what he was leaving behind. In Enui folklore, it was said that a person¡¯s lifespan was filled with many types of bridges, all crafted of dreams. There was a special word for the moment when a person stepped from one bridge to the next, abandoning one dream for another ¨C ¡®m?tos¡¯. Tales told of adventurers and heroes who looked back in times of weakness, realising too late they had crossed the ¡®m?tos¡¯, to find the place they had left was irretrievably lost. This¡­ this was his ¡®m?tos¡¯, the inflection point to which he could never return. ¡°Aw, are you crying?¡± Iris dabbed at the corner of his eyes, and he quickly pushed her away, laughing in embarrassment. ¡°¡­I was reflecting on the cost of all this alcohol and snacks you singlehandedly managed to consume.¡± Exill endured her punches good naturedly while she complained that he was the reason Tsarra had become so twisted and miserly. ¡°Oh, did you hear about the duel between Trey and Mattan? Apparently that greasy lunk offended his wife again, obviously she...¡± Exill excused himself while Iris shared news about their friends. He softly closed his room door and looked out the window, from which the Labyrinth Tower was clearly visible, glowing softly against the night sky. His eyes were drawn to the poster of ¡®My Vampire Master¡¯ that hung beside it. ¡°Are you going to take that with you?¡± Envy asked, softly closing the door behind her. ¡°¡­ I was wondering the same thing, but I was worried Tsarra would notice its absence.¡± He whispered. ¡°I¡¯m taking mine.¡± ¡°You mean the one about the Squire losing his memories and falling in love again?¡± he shook his head mirthfully, ¡°It¡¯s strange¡­ I never had much interest in watching those plays, but why does my heart sink when I think I won¡¯t be able to ever see another one?¡± He carefully took down the poster and rolled it up, placing it alongside his sheets of parchment lest he forget. Sighing softly, he turned to Envy. ¡°Let¡¯s go back out there, they must be waiting for us.¡± *** The next morning, all the preparations for leaving had been completed. Exill had already stashed away everything but the most important tools for the long journey ahead. He checked the treatment room cupboards were stocked up on essentials and turned to Tsarra who was ensuring the same. ¡°Can you close the door? I would like a word with you.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Her eyes widened at his instructions, remembering the last time they had been alone together in this room. However she swiftly followed his directions. ¡°While I am away¡­¡± Exill paused, trying to find the words to keep her safe. He pushed the notarized contract nullifying the vow of secrecy into her palm. ¡°If the Inquisition ever comes for you while I¡¯m gone. I want you to fully cooperate with them. Tell them I forced you to sign the contract in exchange for freedom. They should protect you as a witness.¡± He was fully aware that no contract was infallible, and suspected the Inquisition had a trick or two to tease out information in either case. However Tsarra was having none of it. Her soft jade eyes lit up in anger. ¡°If I betray you, how will you ever return to Ark?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve discussed this before. I have many unnatural powers, one of them being the ability to warp across great distances. I¡¯ll come visit you from time to time.¡± He smiled brightly, putting on an air of false bravado. ¡°Then prove it. Use your skill to warp next to me.¡± Tsarra didn¡¯t believe his words for a minute. ¡°I¡­ look, it¡¯s not something I can do at the drop of a hat, and it needs some preparation. Just trust me on this, and if the Inquisition comes after you, look after yourself first.¡± He ended the conversation there, patting Tsarra¡¯s hair one last time while opening the door. In the small reception room, the counter was piled up with his belongings. Envy was already seated on a bench by the entrance, having her hand held by Iris. ¡°Are you leaving now?¡± The genial Guild clerk asked, standing up to bid him farewell. ¡°Yeah¡­ we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± He turned around to give Tsarra a quick embrace, that lingered for a second or two. ¡°Come back safe.¡± She said, surprised by the hug. Exill bit his lip, and reluctantly pulled away. He then turned to Iris, who was still holding Envy¡¯s hand. ¡°Please check in on her often.¡± He earnestly embraced Iris. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll drop by in the mornings as usual.¡± She smiled demurely when he pried his hands out of her grasp one last time. With no more words left to say, he left¡­ closing the clinic door, and marking an end this chapter in his life. In retrospect, he would point to this time at the dinghy clinic as one of the happiest moments of his life. ¡°Are you alright leaving like this?¡± Envy asked softly, sensing his inner turmoil. Exill looked away, trying to hide tears of anguish. He was not okay, but it was for the best. The hard choices were the ones that might look wrong to others, but he knew he was right in the long run. ¡°You know¡­ it¡¯s strange. I¡¯ve never been interested in visiting that restaurant across the street that opened up last month, but it feels like I¡¯m missing out.¡± ¡°I heard the service there is bad.¡± Exill chuckled at her deadpan delivery, but felt the knife twist in his heart even more. There was so much else in this city he never had the time to explore, and will never have the opportunity to experience again. ¡°Did you say goodbye to your friends?¡± He asked, and glanced back in the dim alleyway when she didn¡¯t immediately answer. Envy merely nodded in reply, and was silent while keeping pace with him, occasionally looking back to see if they were being followed. There was reason to be cautious, but not overly so. After all, if the Inquisition was determined to get a hold of him, it would have done so long ago. Their departure was a measure of safety, meant to put distance between him and a suspicious Inquisitor. ¡®Out of sight, out of mind.¡¯ He sighed inwardly. They weaved through the familiar back streets until they reached the western perimeter gate. There, they saw Koopra¡¯s familiar silhouette, sitting hunched over the driver¡¯s seat. A frail looking old woman and a boy who couldn¡¯t be older than ten were the only other passengers for the trip. ¡°I¡¯m Witchdoctor Exill and this is my escort Envy. We will be travelling to port Holmsburn.¡± Exill greeted the two once he clambered on board. The old woman peered at him through rheumy eyes and her face broke into a genuine smile. ¡°Hello young man, I am Seamstress Nora, though I don¡¯t do much tailoring anymore, well¡­ not since I had that bad fall three years ago, but you can call me Nana. This here is my grandson Alden, and we are also travelling to Holmsburn to visit family.¡± Her voice wavered as she patted the boy clinging to her. Exill handed Koopra eighty Denars in the form of eight large copper coins, wincing inwardly at the large expenditure right from the get-go. However, the hunched Navigator firmly returned twenty Denars with a wide grin on his face. ¡°Special discount for me favourite Witchdoctor, I owe you me life.¡± He sang, clasping Exill¡¯s fist with his muck ridden hands. ¡°Thanks, I appreciate it Koopra.¡± He smiled in return. The cart jerked forward, and it steadily picked up speed, propelled by the stubborn feathered brel who should have been retired a year ago. They made good time on their journey and Exill wistfully looked back until even the Labyrinth Tower faded from view. As they passed the site of the ambush a month ago, Exill examined the seat rests and side panels of the cart. The boards were split in some places and jagged splinters jutted out, posing a hazard to the passengers. ¡°Savin up for an upgrade¡­ ole¡¯ Tooty needs retiring soon as well. Many such expenses my friend!¡± Koopra grinned ruefully while affectionately patting the aged brel¡¯s rear. They took a short break for mid-afternoon lunch at a familiar clearing, and it only reminded him of Tsarra¡¯s absence, for the magic lessons he had taught her amongst the groves. When they made camp for the night, he noticed Nana was massaging her somewhat limp right hand, grimacing in pain. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± He finally gave in, unable to mind his own business. Nana launched into a monologue while he grimly inspected her wrist, finding it had broken and set badly, causing her great discomfort. There was little he could do at this point, but Nana weakly waved him away as she kept stroking her grandson¡¯s hair while he lay sleeping on her lap. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you took a look at it. My husband, Spirit rest his soul, was always nagging at me to have it looked at by a healer, but times were hard you see. Always something that needed doing or fixing.¡± She smiled softly as she swept the hair from little Alden¡¯s forehead. ¡°It can be like that.¡± Exill reflected on the massive debt he had recently escaped from. ¡°His father died during the war, and my daughter shortly after¡­ I¡¯m not long for this world, Witchdoctor sir. We¡¯re going to Holmsburn to live with my son, boy¡¯s uncle. Has a good fishing business been what I hear, fresh air will be good for the boy too.¡± Exill nodded, listening to the old woman¡¯s stories of her youth until he too eventually dozed off by the fire. Chapter 146 - [Assassin] ¡°What a pleasant surprise! What brings you here to this part of the Kingdom?¡± Councilman Coran vigorously shook his hand, warmly greeting the Witchdoctor. ¡°Just passing through on our way to Holmsburn, We¡¯ll be spending the night at Virigo then set off first thing in the morning.¡± Exill replied, hoping the Councilman would invite him inside. It would save the cost of lodgings and he really needed to pinch those pennies. ¡°Fantastic! Why don¡¯t you spend the night here? I¡¯m sure my daughter Dyna would be more than pleased to see you.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I couldn¡¯t impose, you¡¯re far too kind Councilman.¡± He replied, inwardly grinning ear-to-ear. ¡°Please, call me Coran, and look, here comes Dyna now.¡± He gestured to the pretty girl who hurried down the stairs, her midnight hair settling as she abruptly stopped before them. ¡°You came back!¡± she embraced Exill with a warm hug, planting a sneaky kiss on his cheek while warily eyeing Envy. ¡°He¡¯s only staying for the night dear, give him plenty of time to rest mind you.¡± Coran placed both his palms firmly on his daughters shoulder, knowing all too well how troublesome she could be. They were led to their rooms, the same one from their previous stay and they unpacked the essentials, taking a quick dip in the hot springs to wipe away the grime from their travels. ¡°Tsarra would have enjoyed this.¡± Envy whispered while patting her damp hair. Exill didn¡¯t respond to her provocation, knowing full well that the Vampire hadn¡¯t approved of his choice. He remained convinced it was the right decision. Subsequently, he channelled mana into the rune throwing bones, checking to see if their way to Port Savig was clear. He breathed a sigh of relief as the flashing runes indicated no dangers lay ahead. After that, they were invited to dinner with the Councilman and his wife. ¡°The new healer arrived a week after you left. She is a grouchy old one, always complaining about something or another. Everyone in town agrees you were the best.¡± Coran grumbled and took another sip of wine. ¡°Oh dear, you are being too harsh on her, nobody could possibly measure up to the Witchdoctor¡­¡± the Councilman¡¯s wife patted her husband¡¯s knee. Exill knew they were buttering him up but played along, happy to catch up on news about the town. Returning to Virigo reminded him that his rose-tinted glasses weren¡¯t lying ¨C this had been a nice place. ¡°Papa, tell him about the Aberration!¡± Dyna exclaimed. Coran tapped his heart twice with a closed fist, and said a quick prayer to the World Spirit. It was considered bad luck to talk about Eldritch beings even with the Church¡¯s protection. ¡°Ah¡­ I know this does not concern you, but shortly after you left there was another sighting. This one had uncanny skin as black as midnight... some say it is a skinwalker, but everyone who witnessed the being saw it standing over a dead body.¡± The Councilman said in hushed tones. ¡°Oh dear, let¡¯s not talk of such things. I always have trouble sleeping when I hear such reports.¡± Dyna¡¯s mother squeezed her arms and shivered slightly. The discussion over the table switched over to more pleasant topics and the Councilman was eager to tell Exill everything he knew about their next destination, Holmsburn. Eventually, Exill excused himself and dragged a reluctant Envy away, who had acquired a taste for the red wine. When they were safely in their room, Exill hesitated and withdrew the small sharp knife used to cut open monsters in the Labyrinth. Knowing Envy, she would refuse what he was about to do, but the future success of their migration could hinge on the acquisition of this job he had learnt. Regardless, it was a powerful tool to have in their arsenal. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I need you to focus Envy, you might feel a sharp pain, but I¡¯ll quickly patch you up.¡± He promised as he wiped down the blade with Dwarven spirit. ¡°Wha-?¡± she stumbled as Exill gripped her tightly, lifting her shirt to stab her in the back.
[Ping!]
Exill felt a deep resonance in his core as he pulled out the blade that had sunk a centimetre into her back. Their contract forbade them from harming each other, but a bit of mental gymnastics convinced him that this was the only way to protect her. Channelling mana, he quickly fused the cut until it disappeared while the enraged Murderess struggled beneath him. ¡°Shh¡­ calm down, it¡¯s alright. I just needed to stab you a little to unlock a new job. It¡¯s all healed now. Remember I told you about the ¡®Spirit Guide¡¯? Well, I found a way to progress Murderer into Assassin, and it only required a little stab in the back. We don¡¯t know when this new skill will come in handy.¡±
Job Assassin
Level 1
Description Outcast- Tier II
Active Skill [Disguise] while active, conceals Card information with a random Tier 1 job. Can also be applied to self or a party member to change minor facial features.
Once Envy had calmed down to the point she was only glaring at him, Assassin was assigned as his second job and [Disguise] activated. He imagined himself having dark brown pupils and when he opened his eyes, there was a look of surprise in her face. ¡°Your eyes are brown now¡­¡± ¡°Can you tell me what you see on my Card?¡± he carefully angled his Card for her to read, taking care that his knife was out of her reach. This was an experiment in two parts, and he was eager to finally know the results. ¡°I see Exill of Lindtree, age 18, and you are a Warrior and Artist.¡± She replied, confused by where this was going. ¡°You really don¡¯t see anything else? No third or fourth job?¡± he asked quickly, feeling elated. ¡°No, now give me that knife, it¡¯s my turn.¡± She tackled Exill, but failed to get him in an arm lock because he reacted too fast. ¡°W-wait¡­ I just remembered we have the scalpel!¡± he panicked, trying to keep the knife from her grasp. Eventually she gave up and released him, walking over to the mithril shortsword that she now unsheathed. The scabbard was thrown to a corner of the room. ¡°Give me the knife and lie down like a good boy. We can do this my way or the painful way.¡± A small smile crept up the side of her mouth. Exill grumbled while wiping the skinning knife down with Dwarven spirit then shakily handed it to her. Rolling up his tunic, he slowly knelt down, his heart racing quickly. ¡°D-don¡¯t stab too- Aah!¡± he cried as Envy struck. She withdrew the blade and licked it clean, and he felt a warm sensation on his back as she began feeding. Once she was satisfied, he felt a soft kiss when she tried to close the small cut. ¡°It¡¯s stopped bleeding.¡± She wiped her lips. Exill tried to examine his back but couldn¡¯t turn far enough around to examine the point of impact. It still stung and he was convinced she had stabbed him harder than necessary. ¡°Next time, ask. You have a bad habit of deciding things on your own.¡± She warned him, in more ways than one, simultaneously reminding him of his decision to leave Tsarra behind. Exill ignored her rebuke and stood up while rubbing his back, ¡°Have you progressed your job yet? Let me take a look.¡± He held Envy¡¯s palm to examine her Card. Her first job was Warrior and the second was Poet. ¡°I see Envy of Mistburgh, age 25, and you are a Warrior-Poet.¡± He struggled not to laugh at the incongruent imagery and only later realised her age had incremented up, ¡°When was it your birthday by the way?¡± ¡°Last month, can¡¯t you change what my job appears as?¡± Envy¡¯s lips were downturned in a worried frown, she wasn¡¯t sure that being mistaken as a Warrior-Poet was a good thing. ¡°Hold on, party with me.¡± Exill tried to unassign [Poet] and saw it immediately switch back to [Assassin] in the ¡®Unassigned Jobs¡¯ tab. He reassigned it again, only to see it revert to [Poet]. ¡®I guess I¡¯m also forever an [Artist] while [Assassin] is assigned.¡¯ He pursed his lips in thought. It appeared the random assignment of the cover job was permanent. While hilarious in some respects, it would impact their cover if Envy couldn¡¯t pull her poetic weight. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to swap [Assassin] to another job?¡± There were many other combat focused jobs in her ¡®Unassigned Jobs¡¯ tab, chief among them was [Monk] which sported high defensive capability. ¡°No, leave it. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± She adjusted her shirt and slipped in to her room. Chapter 147 - Arkadiko They said goodbye to the Councilman¡¯s family the next morning. Dyna was obviously unhappy that they hadn¡¯t stayed longer, and her cherry lips pouted in discontent. Exill and Envy climbed down the gentle slopes forming the caldera, the morning rays diffuse against the obscuring veil of fog around them. The air was humid as they made their way down, until the steaming hot springs around them no longer obscured the view. ¡°I think that¡¯s the western coach yard¡± he pointed to the dusty yard in the distance, connected to the main road circling the inactive volcano below them. It was still early morning when they arrived at the yard, filled with shouts and activity where loaders hauled last minute cargo on board. Koopra was returning from the latrines, hard biscuit in hand when they approached the cart. ¡°Good morning Koopra, Nana, Alden.¡± He greeted them one by one while climbing on board. Nana looked pale and tired, dark circles under her eyes as she returned the greeting. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be fine once we reach Holmsburn, just not built for the road at this age. All the bumps leave me sore and stiff, and the bed was no good either.¡± She complained. Exill nodded in response. He was familiar with the common complaints of the elderly at this point, having run a clinic all this time. The cart eventually set off, the space on board was slightly cramped as more cargo had been picked up at Virigo, heading for Holmsburn. Despite the extra baggage, they made good time on the road, and arrived a little early at the small clearing where they would spend the night. Nana¡¯s situation had deteriorated throughout the day and a fever had set hold despite his best efforts at channelling healing magic into her. The mood in the camp was grim where both Nana and Alden refused to eat dinner, the young boy sticking by his grandmother¡¯s prone form. ¡°Nana would want you to eat.¡± Exill slid the bowl of stew towards the boy when he knelt down to check on the old woman. Alden refused initially, but hours later, reluctantly ate when his stomach began to growl. Exill had to look away when he saw the boy try to feed his grandmother, spoon-feeding her small morsels as she drew ever shallower breaths. Exill walked away from the two, frustrated there was nothing that could be done. Rolling up his sleeves, he sat down on the bedding beside Envy and found familiar solace from brushing her hair, glittering in the firelight while she fed. They stayed like that for some time until she released his arm and sat up somewhat reluctantly. The Vampire had felt the tenseness in his arm while feeding, knowing his mind was elsewhere with the boy. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll come with you.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s nothing else I can do for her. I¡¯ve tried everything.¡± He whispered, worried that the boy would overhear. She sighed¡­ wondering how he could be so dense at times with his apparent intellect. Shaking her head, Envy led the Witchdoctor to the old woman whose end was drawing near. Despite the apparent maturity and wisdom beyond his years, Exill didn¡¯t seem to understand some basic human interactions. She didn¡¯t like to get involved in others¡¯ matters but watching him struggle inwardly only aggravated her more. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fix her. Just be there.¡± She gave him a firm push. Exill awkwardly lowered himself beside the boy and sat there, doing nothing and watched the old seamstress draw shallower breaths. Young Alden eventually dozed off, leaning against his shoulder, and he covered the lad with a checkered throw. It wasn¡¯t easy watching someone die. Like a spinning coin that was teetering on the verge of collapse, he could see the end, but it didn¡¯t come easily nor swiftly. He made himself comfortable, leaning against the large fallen log arranged around the campfire, and prepared for the long night ahead. *** He woke up sometime later to the sound of crackling flames, realizing that he had dozed off. While sleeping, Envy had sat beside him, covering them both with a blanket as she slept soundly, leaning against his shoulder. Despite her comforting presence and the campfire, he felt a strange, troubling chill in the air. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an unsettling figure, seated on the trunk facing the old seamstress. The man was dressed in a fine grey wool jacket, contrasting against his flawless ebony skin that blended in with night sky. There were hints of grey on the eyebrows and buzz cut hair, and his noble features were offset by eyes of the deepest midnight that appeared to assimilate the light around them. ¡°Good, you are awake.¡± His voice was like a deep caress. ¡°Who are you?¡± Exill was taken aback that he wasn¡¯t more alarmed by the appearance of this strange man and sat up a little straighter. ¡°I have many names, but you can call me Arkadiko.¡± There were many questions he wanted to ask, such as who he really was, and why he seemed so familiar. But in the end, the words that left his mouth was not a question, but a statement when his eyes came to rest on the still form of the old seamstress. ¡°She is dead.¡± Arkadiko nodded, looking down at the silver canteen loosely held in one hand. They were the calloused hands of someone who had worked hard their entire lives, contrasting with his fine attire. ¡°She had words to say, and I came to listen.¡± He spoke as if burdened. ¡°What did she say?¡± The burdened man sighed softly. It was the sound of a slow breeze in the darkest of nights, the sound of someone who had heard countless confessions whispered in their dying breaths. ¡°Her words were not for you.¡± They sat in silence, staring into the crackling embers of the dying fire. Exill bit his lips to check it was not just a dream, for it was too surreal. ¡°Have¡­ have we met before?¡± Back in Lindtree village, when he was smothered in hot ash under the table. Exill vaguely remembered the familiar presence that had accompanied him. Arkadiko turned his considerable gaze towards Exill, the man¡¯s dark pupils scrutinizing and swallowing him whole. Then, in an instant the pressure was gone, and he could breathe again. ¡°Perhaps¡­ but you had no words to say to me then.¡± They continued to sit in silence, until Arkadiko turned slightly to gaze back at something only he could see. Then, the colourless figure silently stood up, slipping the slim silver flask into his jacket pocket and donned a charcoal straw hat. ¡°It was nice meeting you Planeswalker, may our paths cross again in the next dream.¡± In the time it took for Exill to blink, Arkadiko was gone. Chapter 148 - Town of Holmsburn The early morning rays shone down on the little clearing where the cart had made stop for the night. Lazy tendrils of smoke drifted up from the recently doused campfire, with everyone gathered around the shroud of late seamstress Nora, grandmother to Alden. The young boy was calm and collected, having steeled his heart the night before. ¡°What happens to the body if someone dies mid journey?¡± Exill asked the Navigator softly. ¡°They call me Great Koopra because I always deliver to destination. Other Navigators not so great.¡± There was a mad glint in the man¡¯s eyes as he compared himself to lesser mortals. Some of the cargo in the cart had to be shifted around to make room for the burial shroud, but with the help of Exill and Envy, they set off no later than originally planned. By midday, they reached the mighty roaring Torin river, half as deep as it was wide, the waterway was a major artery of trade connecting much of the western Kingdom to Ark. They followed the banks until the town of Holmsburn came into view. It was a thriving town of commerce and fisheries, with two large river barges moored against the quay. Massive industrial cranes of wooden construction churned as men walked along treadwheels two storeys high. A small harbour to the side contained an eclectic mix of small fishing vessels of all colours and shapes. The wide straight roads were filled with carts of grain and goods from the surrounding farmlands, destined for export when they passed through Port Savig. Koopra¡¯s cart entered the congested yard where fellow Navigators were shouting and swearing at their colleagues to make way. ¡°Always takes a while this¡­ you can get off here if you likes.¡± Their Navigator gestured to the throng of workers kicking up dust in the yard. Exill glanced at young Alden, whose eyes were wide with panic. It was understandable of course, how could a boy hope to find his uncle in a foreign place, burdened with a burial shroud. He was soft-hearted as always and he shared a look with Envy, who nodded imperceptibly to his wordless question. ¡°Let¡¯s go find your uncle, boy.¡± Releasing a pent-up sigh, he hoisted the burial shroud over his shoulder. While turning away, Koopra gave him one parting word of advice. ¡°The river barges leave on the third bell! See you again Witchdoctor friend!¡± Exill waved his farewell and they walked to the harbour, hoping to find the boy¡¯s uncle with just a name. The Church bell rang once when they reached the ramshackle hut of the Harbourmaster, an irritable man with days old stubble and bloodshot eyes. ¡°We ¡®ave two Morley¡¯s in this town, you better be specific, son.¡± He replied gruffly. ¡°And which of them own a fishing boat?¡± Exill tried to conceal the irritation in his voice. ¡°Both.¡± The Harbourmaster spat. ¡°Can you point us to one of them?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a Morley coming in now, on board the Blue Crest.¡± The irascible man pointed to a blue fishing boat with white stripes on the bow. They hurried to the moored boat and approached the burly fisherman who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. Exill looked at Alden, but there was no recognition in the boy¡¯s eyes. If he had met his Uncle at all, it had been while he was a baby. ¡°Excuse me, are you the son of Seamstress Nora of Ark?¡± ¡°Why yes, how do you¡­¡± Fisherman Morley looked up from the ropes to see two strangers carrying a burial shroud, with a young boy at hand. His heart fell as he knew what it meant. ¡°Thank you stranger, you can rest Ma over here¡­ This be my young nephew?¡± Morley finished tying the ropes and leapt onto the pier where he laid his heavy palm on the boy¡¯s head. ¡°You a brave boy, lad. You did well to come all this way.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Turning to the canvas burial shroud, Morley stood in silence before he spoke again. ¡°Again, thank you for guiding the boy. If you have the time, you are welcome to our home, me wife¡¯s a good cook and it will do you good after the long journey from Ark.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we need to catch the river barge to Port Savig.¡± ¡°Understandable, you best be off then, may the Spirit guide your sails kind stranger.¡± Exill picked up his share of the luggage and followed the riverbank towards the quay where the barges were moored. The smell of fresh fish pervaded the air as wheelbarrows of today¡¯s catch were swiftly carted off to underground freezers encased in ice. Envy rubbed shoulders against him while they walked, clearly in a positive mood. ¡°Does my master feel better after doing his good deed of the day?¡± she teased lightly. ¡°I-... It¡¯s common courtesy, and stop acting like that, you¡¯re giving me the creeps.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t common, or a mere courtesy. Were people in your village all like that?¡± she asked, drawing away from him slightly so that their shoulders no longer touched. Exill had flashbacks of memories that weren¡¯t his own, visuals of children playing around a towering linden tree, friendly neighbours greeting each other in the village square¡­ he had to stop as nausea overtook him. ¡°Yes¡­ yes they were. I won¡¯t pretend to understand what hellscape you went through Envy, but there are good people in this world.¡± He said in a low voice. ¡°Like you?¡± Exill paused in thought, then a slow smile emerged in a corner of his mouth. ¡°Yes, like me. I doubt you would find a kinder master in the entire Kingdom.¡± He leaned into the joke, looking askance at the Vampire to see how she would react. However, Envy appeared to be lost in thought while they drew nearer to the moored barges. Exill began to wonder if he had taken the joke too far when she abruptly wrapped an arm around his and drew closer. ¡°Maybe¡­ I¡¯ll decide when you set me free.¡± She said, carefully looking ahead. Exill was moved upon realising she had said ¡®when¡¯ and not ¡®if¡¯. He smiled happily as they drew closer to the barges. ¡°Follow me down this alleyway and let¡¯s engage our disguises as we agreed.¡± He pulled her into an unoccupied side street and turned his most defining feature ¨C the emerald eyes into a plain brown. Envy similarly turned her crimson hair black. It might have been the limitation of their skill, but changing a single feature was the best they could do. They had discussed at length what disguise to apply when [Assassin] was first acquired and had settled on these two features. ¡°You are going to be a [Healer]?¡± Envy¡¯s eyes were clouded in doubt when she saw his Card, wondering why he wasn¡¯t switching to [Merchant] or a job that provided deeper cover. ¡°I want to throw them off my scent without incriminating myself.¡± He promptly responded. The trouble with the skill [Disguise] was that it didn¡¯t change the name, age, or place of birth displayed on his Card. It would not survive the scrutiny of close inspection. If they were to get caught before leaving the country assigned with a wholly different job like [Merchant], it would only incriminate them further. The best approach would have been to reserve [Disguise] as a last resort. However Exill¡¯s growing nervousness prevented him from committing to a full cover story, while attempting to shake off any would-be pursuers. ¡®If I¡¯m caught, I¡¯ll claim I introduced myself as a healer, and they must have misremembered my [Witchdoctor] job.¡¯ Although it was slightly contrived, plausible deniability was the only thing that could cover his unnatural ability to switch jobs. Well prepared, the two approached the authoritative figure directing loaders on the nearest barge. ¡°Excuse me, we are seeking passage to Port Savig, do you have space for two passengers?¡± The Captain, a frowning man in a navy-blue jacket bellowed at some loaders before turning to Exill. ¡°We only have one bunk left, and we¡¯re leaving on the hour. You best take the next ship.¡± He dismissed Exill and began walking to two crewmen who were struggling with a crate. ¡°When is the next ship leaving?¡± he raised his voice to be heard over the hubbub. ¡°How should I know? that barge yonder docked here barely two hours ago so it will be tomorrow at the earliest.¡± The Captain¡¯s tone rose in irritation, shoving aside a crewman as he untied the rope himself. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked Envy, while watching the Captain free the crate loose. ¡°Mn, sooner the better.¡± ¡°Captain! We¡¯ll take your bunk; how much would that be?¡± Exill shouted to grab his attention. ¡°80 Denars per passenger, and I¡¯ll kick you off at the next stop if I hear you fornicating.¡± The Captain shouted back, clearly trying to dissuade the two as he quoted a full price for both passengers. Exill hesitated for only a second and angrily paid the surprised Captain, who stared at the coins on his palm. ¡°Well, colour me surprised. You ain¡¯t on the run are you?¡± he asked while flagging down a tall crewman to stand by his side. The Captain eyed Exill¡¯s hand warily, waiting to see if the Card would prove him otherwise. ¡°Of course not, I am a healer on an urgent assignment, and this is my escort.¡± Exill flashed his Card to accentuate the point. ¡°My apologies Healer. Jelly Fingers here will guide you to your quarters. The trip will take five days and we¡¯ll be making one stop along the way.¡± The Captain gestured to the lanky crewman whose linen shirt was soaked in sweat. Envy and Exill followed Jelly Fingers into the dark depths of the ship. Chapter 149 - River Barge
Dear Bishop Graham, It is with great trepidation that I inform you that a person of interest may pass through Port Savig in the coming days or weeks. I ask for your cooperation in apprehending this individual and assist in their safe transfer to Ark. May the Spirit bless your path, Inquisitor Deroch
?
Dear Inquisitor Deroch, This ¡®individual¡¯ you allude to is no other than the recently canonized Witchdoctor. I¡¯m afraid you have really stepped out of bounds this time Deroch. I will not raise a finger unless the Archbishop or Oracle sanctions this... May the Spirit guide your path, Bishop Graham
*** Jelly Fingers breathed heavily while catching his breath, and crouched ever so slightly as he traversed the claustrophobic corridors of the massive barge. Exill and Envy were led to a small room with two stacked bunks on each side of the wall. Three passengers turned to look at the newcomers with mild curiosity. ¡°Looks like the one below is empty mister Healer sir, you can stow your belongings over there. We¡¯ll grab a new bunk for you when a spot opens up¡­ like when one of ¡®em dies.¡± Jelly Fingers gestured vaguely to the other passengers. Exill froze, not knowing if the statement was a poor attempt at a joke or if the passage to Port Savig was truly that dangerous. ¡°Not to worry sir.¡± Jelly Fingers laughed nervously, noticing the concern on Exill¡¯s face. ¡°We haven¡¯t lost a passenger in over a year. We just ask you stay below deck during nighttime and report to a crewman if you start hearin¡¯ or seein¡¯ strange things is all.¡± ¡°What kind of strange things?¡± Exill asked apprehensively. ¡°You know, strange voices and all, or strange objects and people.¡± Jelly Fingers explained, failing to explain how it was obvious what a strange phenomenon was. ¡°Well, I better hurry off then!¡± the lanky crewman moved away when the number of people shouting above deck rose in volume. The worried and confused looks on the other passengers indicated they were none the wiser on what to be wary of, so Exill and Envy stowed away their belongings and sat on the edge of their bunk. It was a glorified shelf affixed to the wall and was a tad bit wider than his shoulders. The bedding was thin and worn, prompting him to stack his own bedroll on top like the other passengers had done. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be this narrow...¡± He abashedly whispered to Envy. She shrugged, kicking off her boots and occupying more than half of the bunk as she lay down with her back to him. ¡®I¡¯m not going to fit in there¡­¡¯ the sinking realisation hit him as he played Tetris in his mind, even going so far to consider Envy laying on top of him. He had grown a lot in the past year and stood just over six feet (1.8m), taller than the average man whom the bunk had been designed for. At 5¡¯9¡± (1.75m), Envy was considered exceptionally tall among women, and even she had to bend her legs slightly to fit on the bed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®I guess we will have to sleep in shifts.¡¯ There was a drifting sensation when the barge floated away from its berth, the river currents taking control of the large vessel¡¯s inertia. The volume above deck rose to a crescendo as sailors spotted cargo that hadn¡¯t been properly secured, eventually settling down as the barge picked up speed. ¡°Healer sir? Captain wants to speak with you sir.¡± Jelly Fingers abruptly poked his head into the room, his linen shirt soaked in sweat. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Exill asked while following the lanky man through the dimly lit corridors. ¡°Ah, been an accident, Slim lost part of his finger when cargo cut loose.¡± Exill blinked as his eyes adjusted to the harsh sunlight outside and saw the Captain standing beside a young man who looked pale while cradling his bloodied hand. ¡°Healer, could you please take a look at Slim¡¯s hand?¡± The Captain was clearly annoyed by what it would cost to fix his crewmember up. Unfortunately for the Captain, Exill was not in a generous mood, having forked over 160 Denars for a single bunk that he couldn¡¯t share. In spite of this, he carefully peeled off the soaked bandage around the injured finger. There were fresh burn marks on the callused palm, where the rope had rapidly slipped before wrapping itself around the finger, shearing it off. Exill channelled healing magic while pinching the wound shut. After cleaning and bandaging the burns, he walked over to the Captain who was at the helm, a steady hand on the wheel. ¡°Slim will be fine. I can regrow the lost finger over the duration of our trip¡± Exill reported. ¡°How much will it cost?¡± The Captain asked tensely, knowing he had offended the Healer. Still, he was known as a fair Captain among his crew. He paid them an average wage but paid out of his pocket for unexpected expenses, like this injury that could have been prevented if he hadn¡¯t set off in such a hurry. ¡°120 Denars.¡± It was a fair price for a finger. ¡°Done.¡± The Captain let go of the wheel for a moment to hand the Healer his payment. Slightly mollified by the money he had managed to claw back, Exill walked to the front of the barge, carefully avoiding the busy crew members to admire the view. However there was a slight dip in front of the bow, and he encountered a number of sailors squatting while they did their business. ¡®I guess this is the toilet.¡¯ He stepped back in embarrassment from the head of the ship. It answered the question of where people relieved themselves. When dusk began to descend, it painted the placid river red, and he returned to his quarters to change shifts with Envy. She was still fast asleep and occupying the whole bunk, so he gently nudged her awake. Grimacing and slightly annoyed, the Vampire slowly sat up and made way for him. ¡®Finally!¡¯ Exill breathed a sigh of relief and reclined comfortably on the warm spot Envy had taken up earlier. However his comfort didn¡¯t last long when she pushed him further into the corner with both hands. Then, she slung both an arm and a leg over his body, clinging tightly, half mounting even, and rested her head against his chest. Exill found himself unwittingly holding her so she wouldn¡¯t fall off while the barge swayed gently in the currents. ¡°I¡¯ll get up in a bit.¡± She whispered drowsily. She quickly fell asleep to the rising sound of his heartbeat, anchored in his embrace. Meanwhile, Exill was incredibly uncomfortable, having to hold on tight in case she fell over the edge. Yet he drew a small measure of comfort from the soft warmth pressing against his body, and the faint scent of her sweat where her hair tickled his chin and nose. ¡®I can put up with this for five days.¡¯ He thought, drifting off to sleep. *** Two days passed uneventfully, and both Exill and Envy were on deck while the massive barge drifted alongside the quay. Sailors loudly swore as they heaved at the ropes, pulling the vessel to shore. Lybec was a bustling town of commerce much like Holmsburn. It served as a central hub for the western bank of the might river Torin, servicing the villages and farmlands around the area. ¡°We¡¯ll be leaving in five hours!¡± The Captain shouted his warning to the passengers who were disembarking to stretch their legs. Exill was eager to tour the town and eat something that wasn¡¯t hard biscuits. Envy accompanied him. She wasn¡¯t interested in the food but wanted to tour the market, having heard the wool industry was especially developed in the area. They melded into the busy crowd on the docks. Chapter 150 - Harvest & Fertility
Dear Bishop Graham, I must insist upon you the urgency of this matter. I loathe to say it, but I suspect the Oracle is compromised. I attach records of our readings indicating the absence of a Transient class Aberration on two occasions Witchdoctor Exill was confirmed to leave Ark. Fluctuations indicate he is a non-standard class, pending further investigation. I understand the readings in Savig may be similarly distorted by your Labyrinth, but I ask that you keep an eye on indirect readings. You should be able to confirm my data first hand. See attached for the method I devised for passive detection. May the Spirit bless your path, Inquisitor Deroch [Attached: A diagram detailing a large room with a central fixed bracket for the Elderwood staff. It requires the user to mark each degree of deviation on the periphery of the room. Readings on the channelled beam of light should be taken after morning and evening prayers and any deviation from the norm should be recorded.]
?
Dear Inquisitor Deroch, What you are suggesting is on the verge of Heresy and I urge you to retract your statement on the Oracle. I will be sure to raise this in our next Communion. Unless you obtain a writ from the Archbishop, I will not lay a finger on the Witchdoctor. May the Spirit redeem your soul, Bishop Graham
*** ¡°Oh, this is good.¡± Exill hummed to a disinterested Envy and ate another spoonful of hearty stew. It was a variation of the Gumbo he was familiar with back on Earth. A strongly flavoured stock with generous helpings of shellfish and vegetables. It was served alongside thin sheets of woodfired dough, and he learned from observing the other patrons that they spread a portion of the thick stew on the flatbread, and rolled it up. Envy was enjoying a glass of warm honeyed wine, and she stared with vague interest at the joy painted on her companion¡¯s face. ¡°I need to find and purchase what they used to season this dish because the flavour¡­¡± Exill made a pleasured sound that resembled the noise she made while feeding. They toured the market afterwards, but the wares on offer were meagre in diversity compared to Ark. With their destination and length of journey unknown, they couldn¡¯t laden themselves either. So they toured the market, purchasing a few more foodstuffs before heading back to the barge. ¡°I¡¯m still full from the meal. You can have the bunk till evening.¡± Exill waved Envy off and leaned against the railing to watch the barge slowly take off. There was a slow, swaying cadence to life on the vessel and he found it pleasant to idly watch the verdant greenery of the riverbanks just drifting by. It almost made up for everything he was leaving behind. Once the sun had fully set, he descended below deck to switch shifts with Envy. *** That night, Exill awoke in cold sweat from a nightmare, a vivid dream of worshipping an Eldritch being who enticingly whispered of fertility and harvest. Looking around the dimly lit room, he saw all the other berths were eerily empty. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. There was an electric tension in the air, a highly charged static that crackled with appalling intent. He stepped into the dark claustrophobic corridor, where only the sounds of creaking wood and muffled sobs were audible. The rooms he passed on the way up were empty, all except one. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± a young boy was huddled in a corner softly crying for his mother. He moved past the boy and poked his head up the steep stairs, witnessing an eerie scene that was bathed in cold moonlight. All the crew and passengers were on deck, still as statues, staring at the full moon with their eyes unblinking in quietude. As he watched, they slowly began to move as if caught in a spectral automaton. The people closest to the railings bit their wrists and let their blood flow freely onto the deck, staining the wood with its slippery sheen. While this was happening, the passengers and crewmen amidship were undressing themselves, and he spotted his vacant-eyed partner step out of her dress and lay down on the cold deck. In mounting horror Exill knew what would happen next. He pushed forward, slipping on the bloodstained deck, heart racing desperately as he forced through the assembled crowd. Up ahead, Envy and several of the female passengers spread their legs with arms outstretched, inviting the placid men to their embrace. ¡°Snap out of it!¡± He shouted. Dragging the crouched sailor aside, he grasped her wrist and pulled up, snapping around in panic at the debauchery unfolding around them. ¡°Join us.¡± Envy whispered in his ear invitingly while they were surrounded by soft moans of pleasure. ¡°Wake up, this isn¡¯t real.¡± He hissed angrily, pulling her towards the safety below deck. However they didn¡¯t get far. Strong arms gripped the intruder who was disrupting the ritual, and Envy was torn from his grasp where she willingly returned to the debased orgy of limbs. ¡°No!¡± Exill thrashed at the countless hands restraining him, but as soon as he struck one down, another replaced them. A hollow anguish crept upon him when he saw his woman begin to descend amidst the perverse tangle of flesh. In his final moment of despair, he exhaled mana into his breath and commanded his slave in desperation. ¡°Come to me!¡± he roared, refusing to accept the scene unfolding in front of his eyes. Envy paused. Too many emotions flickered across her face. She slowly stood back up and turned to him, her lithe body bathed in moonlight and blood, and confusion in her vacant eyes. She struck at the clutching hands that tried to restrain her, but they were too many. Struck with insane fury, Exill finally managed to break free using his boosted strength. Out of the corner of his eye, he recognised a merchant whom he had greeted before, holding aloft a circular tablet of stone. The ancient, pitted disc was inscribed with slippery runes that evaded close inspection. ¡®That must be what is causing all this.¡¯ Feeling the familiar tug of something twisted and wrong, Exill seized the insipid tablet from the merchant¡¯s inhuman grip, and was temporarily blinded as the engraved runes repelled him in radiant anger. Profane and obscene whispers entered his mind, visions of the people he cared for impregnated by a heaving mass of flesh. They were of Tsarra, Envy and Luna repeatedly torn apart from within, with expressions of pure bliss painting their features. Exill clung to what remained of his sanity, brought to his knees by the horrific image planted in his mind. In a desperate last attempt, he slung the stone disc overboard with all his remaining strength. It noiselessly slipped into the dark depths of the river. He knew the madness was over when the soft moans of pleasure were replaced with cries of pain and outrage. Pushing through the naked mass of people he finally reached Envy who was angrily shoving a sailor aside who was too slow to move away. ¡°Thank the Spirit you are safe.¡± He hugged her in a tight embrace. ¡°Mn!?¡± Noticing the glances men were throwing at her naked form, Exill stripped off his tunic and slid it over her head. He then led her towards the stairs, too tired and emotionally drained to respond when she protested they should look for her clothes. It was of little consequence anyway, since they would find the garments strewn across the deck, soaked in blood the next day. There were groans of pain from the people who had tried to mindlessly restrain him, suffering from fractures and serious bruising. He feigned ignorance and led Envy back to their quarters. ¡°I¡­ had a strange dream.¡± She frowned while slipping into fresh clothes. ¡°Shh¡­ it¡¯s okay, nothing happened.¡± He brushed her black hair, relieved that he had rescued her in time. Her disguise from [Assassin] had held throughout the ordeal. A corner of his mind was reminded of the maddening visions the tablet had shown him and was relieved Tsarra hadn¡¯t followed him here. Since she was no longer a slave, he would not have been able to order her to fight back. It was unfair of him to do so, but Exill found himself dumping the residual helpless frustration he still felt upon Envy. ¡°If I had asked Tsarra as you suggested, what do you think would have happened?¡± He muttered somewhat spitefully. The visions of the people he cared for being defiled had been especially vivid in that front. Envy remained silent towards his recrimination. She didn¡¯t fully understand what had happened, but recognised the familiar anguish of helpless impotence in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay.¡± She soothed, and let him embrace her till morning arrived. Chapter 151 - Little Box Dear Bishop Graham, I understand, and retract my earlier statement expressing suspicion on the Oracle. I beg your humble forgiveness and ask that you deliver this enclosed gift to the Witchdoctor as a mark of atonement. May the Spirit bless your path, Inquisitor Deroch *** Two days later, they arrived at Port Savig. The nightmare they had experienced that night was buried in their minds, and if there was one saving grace from the incident, it was that Exill earned over two hundred Denars healing people who had been hurt during the hypnotising ritual. Injuries mostly inflicted by him. He breathed a sigh of relief when their feet stepped on solid ground. Port Savig was built on the eastern bank of the estuary where the mighty river Torin met the Pyrean sea. There was a small fortification and lighthouse on the western bank of the river. It was a city of considerable size with its own branch of the Mercenaries Guild helping to contain the Labyrinth situated northeast in the city outskirts. An imposing castle stood at the centre, overlooking the port from which the Duke of Savig ruled with a benevolent hand. Exill was about to ask for directions to the Mercenary Guild when a red robed priestess hesitantly approached from the road, immediately putting him on guard. ¡°Witchdoctor Exill? For a second I didn¡¯t recognise you! I¡¯ve been waiting here for two days! We received a missive from Ark several days ago by Weyn Moth instructing us to hand over this package the moment you arrived.¡± The Priestess was flushed with happiness at the thought of interacting with someone who had been blessed by the Spirit. She excitedly pressed the brown parcel the size of a finger into Exill¡¯s unwilling hands. ¡°Thank you...¡± he murmured, unsure if he should immediately flee. ¡®So they figured out I would come here, but their timing suggests they weren¡¯t sure exactly when I would arrive.¡¯ Exill pondered, knowing how difficult it was to divine anything related to someone who had broken free of Fate. His ears perked up upon hearing a Weyn Moth had been dispatched to deliver this message. The giant moths were the size of a large bird and renowned for the silver metallic iridescence of their scales. They served as single use messengers, capable of carrying larger items. ¡®Whatever message the parcel held couldn¡¯t be good if it came from the Church.¡¯ He thought while hurrying away from the Priestess. ¡°We¡¯ll open it when we check in at the Inn.¡± He said halfheartedly, in response to Envy¡¯s unspoken question. Asking around for directions, they arrived at Savig¡¯s Mercenary Guild half an hour later. Unlike the Guild office they were familiar with, Savig¡¯s branch was a massive complex with attached warehousing and processing facilities, perhaps owing to its remote position in the outskirts. Ark¡¯s Guild had the same infrastructure, but it was more spread out because land in the Inner City was priced at a premium. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The two entered through the main doorway and was greeted with a familiar scene, relieved that the interior layout was the same as Ark despite the imposing exterior. Standing in line for the queue for requests, they didn¡¯t have to wait long before a smartly dressed clerk addressed them. ¡°Hi, how can I help you today?¡± he asked in a mellow voice. ¡°I¡¯m here to follow up on a request I posted in Ark. I want to interview the person who remembered seeing my brother.¡± Envy replied. Exill waited from the side while the Clerk updated his companion on the details, going so far as directing her on the whereabouts of the slave market. She thanked the Clerk and led Exill out by the arm to the vacant streets overlooking the coast. A gentle sea breeze blew into shore, softly rustling their clothes and bringing with it the scent of sun blasted sand, salt, and seaweed. Envy appeared lost in thought while idly brushing loose black strands of hair from her lips, staring out into the distance. Exill waited awkwardly at her side, not knowing what he could do or say to help. ¡°¡­Can you tell with your divination if my brother is still alive?¡± she had been afraid to ask the question until now. There were many opportunities to ask about her brother¡¯s fate through indirect means but now that they were close to finding the answer, she needed time to prepare. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I need a piece of him, even a lock of hair that might have a trace of his mana left behind.¡± ¡°¡­ Oh,¡± she replied, simultaneously let down and relieved at the same time. At least this way, she could cling on to hope. For a long while, Exill had theorised her silence stemmed from reluctance to visit the slave market and be reminded of its horrors. Now that he understood what was on her mind, he could empathise with her. Had he not gone through the same uncertainty and heartbreak while searching for Verill? Remembering his encounter with the Wraith in the Infested Edifice¡­ he wondered if it hadn¡¯t been a blessing in disguise. It provided much needed closure to a chapter of his life he could never return to. ¡®Yeah¡­ it would have made it difficult for me to leave Ark if I thought there was a chance he would return.¡¯ He rubbed his nose ruefully in recollection, ¡®I bet he would have been outraged by the Inquisitor¡¯s treatment of me and insisted on following me.¡¯ The incongruity of everything he had left behind seeped into him. ¡°It just hit me that we¡¯re going to leave, across this vast sea.¡± The vast featureless expanse of rolling waves represented a new adventure, with god knows how many frightening abominations lurking within its depths. In a moment of weakness, he turned back to the cosy memory of the Clinic, already a fading memory left behind. The two of them walked silently back to the city in shared sorrow and regret. *** Sometime after they had checked into the Inn, Envy observed from the bed as she dried her hair. She watched Exill channel mana into the rune throwing bones while wordlessly mouthing his questions again. They had checked in to a shared room at a moderately priced Inn not too far from where they would be conducting their investigations. Exill was bare chested with a linen towel draped across his shoulders, his hair still damp from washing earlier. ¡°I¡¯m trying to figure out what¡¯s inside the box. It might be a trap¡­ but the runes don¡¯t indicate any danger.¡± He explained, feeling the Vampire¡¯s gaze. It never hurt to be cautious, especially where the Inquisition was involved. Reluctantly, he slid the little box away. ¡°We should check out the harbour tomorrow and see what routes are available to us, and what the passage will cost. After that, I will come with you to the slave markets to follow up on your lead.¡± He changed the topic, still reluctant to open the box. ¡°Open it.¡± Envy exhaled, growing tired that he was dragging this out. She made to get off the bed and open the box herself, which made Exill hurriedly take action. ¡°Fine.¡± With trembling apprehension, he unlaced the cord tying down the lid and slowly opened it. He sat there in silence, the light draining from his eyes when he immediately recognised the contents. Concerned by his reaction, Envy crossed the room to check what was inside the box and was frozen in spot when she identified what lay within. It was a silver ring of intricate design, with the finger still attached. Chapter 152 - Carry that Weight Exill didn¡¯t need to [Appraise] to know it was the Wizard Ring he had gifted Tsarra. He sat there for what felt like hours, feeling hot and cold at the same time while his mind raced with implications. A deep burning anger snapped within him. ¡°She had nothing to do with this!¡± He roared, slamming the table with barely restrained rage. Shaken by the outburst, Envy waited for him to calm down before approaching from the side. ¡°We can go back and get her.¡± She laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. It had the effect of calming him down, but not for the reason she had thought. Her suggestion that Tsarra could be saved had brought up an equally horrible possibility¡­ that she was beyond saving. ¡°Let me check where she is.¡± Exill hastily gathering up the rune throwing bones that had been scattered by the outburst. Ascertaining the location of a person through divination was crude work. The most rudimentary method was to orient yourself on a compass bearing and ask if the person was in that direction. This was repeated until you succeeded or the residual mana in the target¡¯s item was exhausted. The method Exill was about to try was different, asking the bones to pick from a short list of locations he was familiar with, his prime suspicion lying on the Cathedral of Ark. The glowing runes slipped through his fingers and dissipated slowly when they awarded him a negative response. ¡®Where else can they be holding her?¡¯ He felt frustrated by the result. Mindful of the diminishing mana retained within the finger, he tried again. ¡°It says she is at home¡­ but how can she¡­¡± The words faded from his pale lips. A pit in the darkest depth of his stomach formed. Channelling mana into his trembling hands, Exill¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he knew what fate the runes would forebode. ¡®I can still walk away from this. Live on with the hope that she just lost a finger and is living in the Clinic.¡¯ he thought desperately one last time. The divination bones slipped through his fingers, defining the second inflection point, or ¡®m?tos¡¯ of his life in as many weeks. Unwittingly, he had stepped forward onto the next bridge, leaving his old dreams crumbling in ruin, a monument to hubris. ¡°She¡¯s dead...¡± He whispered unbelievingly. Envy¡¯s fingers dug into his shoulder painfully, but it couldn¡¯t compare to the torment in his heart. He shook his head as if in a daze. ¡°The Inquisitor said he wouldn¡¯t harm them as long as they cooperated with the Church. I even gave Tsarra the contract nullifying the vow of secrecy.¡± He murmured in confusion. ¡°I should have asked her like you said, brought her with me. I should have known that thrice damned Inquisitor would never give up. Why did I think he would only go after me?¡± he hissed while slowly tearing himself apart. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Envy closed the lid of the box and hugged him tightly, comforting him through the loss. After a while, she pulled her vacant eyed companion to bed, where she embraced him, willing him to sleep and rest. *** Envy awoke the next morning to the sight of Exill moving his belongings from one bag to another. She sat up in growing alarm when he picked up his spear and slung a much lighter satchel over his shoulders. ¡°I have to catch the barge¡­ it should be leaving soon.¡± He offered simply, as if it explained everything - and in a twisted way, it did. ¡°Are you mad? What can you do by returning to Ark?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ alone back there.¡± Exill haltingly explained. The idea of her slowly decaying corpse adorning what had once been their home was too painful to picture. He looked out the window, as if trying to judge how much time he had before the barge would leave for Holmsburn. He let out a soft sigh and turned his unsettling emerald eyes towards Envy. It was the eyes of someone haunted by their past. ¡°Remember the night I confessed to you my secrets?¡± Exill looked out towards the far harbour, where ships were busy preparing to leave. ¡°That wasn¡¯t everything. It wasn¡¯t the real beginning of my story.¡± He paused for a moment, plagued by indecision on telling her the truth. In the end, he chose a fantasy that was slightly more believable. ¡°No, let me tell you something else¡­ there once was a bird, real in every sense of the word who suddenly died. This bird somehow revived and found its colour had turned a uniform shade of black.¡± Exill swallowed and waved a hand in the direction of the window. ¡°It was initially scared and suspicious of all the new birds around him, but eventually, the black bird made many new friends. However, as time went on, a nagging suspicion started to grate at its mind. The bird thought, ¡®was I ever alive, or is this some kind of twisted dream?¡¯ Even when it was happy, it found a reason to be scared¡­ worried that it would wake up and that nothing had changed, that looking back, what remained of its ¡®realness¡¯ had been an illusion all along.¡± He paused, struggling to find the words to say next. ¡°So what did it do next?¡± Envy asked softly. Exill swallowed, his mouth turned dry. Struggling to explain this imposter syndrome he had been plagued with, ever since waking up from the smouldering ruins of Lindtree Village. Even the vague memories that weren¡¯t his own muddied up his sense of self. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the damn bird did next, but you got it wrong about me returning to Ark for Tsarra, or some vague notion of vengeance¡­ I¡¯m doing this for me. I need to do this.¡± He didn¡¯t say how he had been escaping danger his whole life. Fleeing from one immediate threat to another. Recent events had made things crystal clear. It wasn¡¯t that he was running away; it was more like he was searching, in pursuit of a worthwhile cause, proof that he was alive. It was poetic irony that the answer he had been seeking was a suitable hill to die on. His soulless eyes were drawn from the window to see Envy angrily drag on her boots and gather their belongings. ¡°Fine, if I can¡¯t get it through your thick skull, I¡¯m coming with you.¡± Her flashing amber eyes countered the determination in his, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile in affection at her stubbornness. ¡°No¡­ you will stay here and investigate your brother¡¯s whereabouts. Protect my belongings for when I return.¡± ¡°You said the same crap to Tsarra! Do you think it would work on me? Do you think I will leave you to die alone?¡± She shouted, enraged he was treating her like some delicate wallflower. ¡°I¡¯m not going there to die. I¡¯m going there to see if I¡¯m really alive.¡± ¡°What kind of bull-¡± Envy¡¯s next words were cut off as Exill channelled mana into his voice, invoking the right to command his slave. ¡°You will not follow me to Ark.¡± She leapt at his throat; fury mixed with betrayal that he had cheated her after all this time. Deceiving her like an equal, only to command her like a slave when it really mattered. The hurt was immeasurable. ¡°Stop.¡± He commanded again. Then he kissed her, before walking out the door. Chapter 153 - My Message It was a week later that Exill rolled up to the familiar western perimeter wall. An intricate silver ring restlessly tumbled through his fingers while the overnight fast coach turned into the dusty yard. It was late morning, and the sky was an overcast grey as he stepped out into the familiar streets of the Outer City of Ark. Exill¡¯s eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, tormented by what he would find back ¡®home¡¯. Call it guilt¡­ maybe atonement, but the moment the divination runes had imparted the knowledge of her demise, there was no choice but for him to return. The imagery of Tsarra¡¯s slowly decaying corpse lying alone in the clinic wholly consumed his mind. The city was the same as he had left it half a month ago, but it might as well have been a different lifetime because he no longer recognised the place. Soon, he stood in front of the Clinic, and saw a familiar figure knocking at the front door. Iris turned around in surprise when he approached the building. ¡°Exill! You¡¯re back, but where is Envy?¡± she asked, searching behind him for her friend. Hearing no immediate answer, she held his familiar hands before continuing on, ¡°I checked on Tsarra each morning as you asked but around a week ago, she stopped responding. I¡¯m worried she might have gone somewhere.¡± There was a look of concern in her grey eyes while massaging his cold dead hands. ¡°Thank you for checking up on her. You should go now; I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Iris tried to refuse. There were so many things that didn¡¯t feel right. However the words died in her throat when she saw the pain tormenting the young man as he peeled her hands away. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked carefully instead. Exill shook his head. Her gentle question had broken something within him, and his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He had dreaded this exact moment and Iris standing here only made things worse. ¡°You need to go. Now.¡± He said hoarsely, firmly pulling away from her grasp. She stood aside as Exill approached the Clinic, and watched him hesitate for a few seconds before unlocking the door, quietly closing it behind him. Staring back over her shoulders with worried eyes, she hurried off to the Guild to start her shift. Meanwhile, Exill covered his nose as he entered the Clinic. He opened the windows and summoned a breeze to direct the faint smell of decay outside. Not prepared to face his nightmare, he climbed the stairs, spotting a half-eaten plate of bread and cheese on the table, spots of mould adorning its surface. He paced the upstairs area, searching for clues of how Tsarra had spent the last of her days. The only hint of her daily routine was the clay tablet he had gifted that had been inscribed with her name. It held a short shopping list of herbal ingredients that needed restocking. Cradling the tablet in his arms, his body was wracked by silent sobs. He sat there for several hours, staring at her last meal until the tears finally dried up. Heaving a trembling sigh, he carried the tablet downstairs, carefully stowing it away in his satchel. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. As he bent over, he spotted a familiar white card on the floor that had been blown off the counter from the summoned breeze. Picking it up, it took all his effort to avoid scrunching it up in anger. Instead, he placed it in his pocket. ¡®I don¡¯t want to do this.¡¯ He lingered, frozen outside the partition door to the treatment room. The sound of decay was evident from the faint buzzing of flies inside. Holding a deep breath, he opened the door, and an involuntary sob escaped his lips at the sight of what they had done to his apprentice and friend. The beautiful hands he had painstakingly restored had been mangled beyond recognition, evidence of the torture she had endured. Her skin had the pale grey pallor of death where she lay obscured and curled up on the treatment table, a stake driven through her torso. Exill tentatively approached the body, hoping against hope that it wasn¡¯t real, that an elaborate body double had been used to draw him back. He opened the windows and channelled a light breeze to draw out the decay, before collapsing on the stool. Softly brushing the auburn curls aside, he confirmed with heartbreak that it was Tsarra, her cold blue lips stained in blood. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Knowing what awaited him at the Clinic, the past week had been spent agonizing over what he would do once he arrived. The two options were to leave her rotting here, or to deliver the corpse to the graveyard. In the latter case, she would be one of many bodies, stacked among orphans, beggars and outcasts, carted off to be burned and buried in some distant pit. In the slow, agonizing stew that had been the journey back, he had realised that neither option was acceptable to him. He searched the rest of her belongings, and in the end, it was a paltry pile. A green hair ribbon, a copy of ¡®Herbalist Koncoctions¡¯, and two clay tokens to the theatre he had gifted her months ago. ¡®Why do I feel so angry that she never got to watch the play?¡¯ Countless guilty thoughts on how he could have done better ran through his head, but in the end, only one final thought remained. ¡°What a waste.¡± He breathed. The next hour was spent chilling her body for easier removal. Then he took an imbued mana potion to accelerate his recovery, crafting and imbuing several more vials for the journey ahead. When he was ready, he picked up the mithril spear then paused, returning it with the rest of his belongings. It was unlikely they would let him through to the Inquisitor with a weapon. Taking one last look around, he discovered the farewell letter that had arranged to be delivered stuck in the letterbox. ¡®What was the point,¡¯ he sighed. The intended recipient was long gone, its contents damning in their hubris. Bursting the letter into flame, he locked the door and shivered as he trod towards the Cathedral. *** ¡°I¡¯m here to see Inquisitor Deroch.¡± Exill flashed the embossed card to the Priest, who quivered upon witnessing the Witchdoctor¡¯s bloodshot eyes that were devoid of any emotion. He gestured a young boy over to him. ¡°Escort this esteemed guest to the Inner Sanctum.¡± Exill followed the boy listlessly down a series of twisting and turning passageways where they drew deeper into the depths of the complex. They emerged into a large corridor, at the end of which stood a heavy studded door guarded by a single man. As he approached the Paladin, Exill whispered to the young boy beside him. ¡°This is far enough, run away from here and don¡¯t look back.¡± The boy was already spooked from escorting the man who exuded a deathly aura and didn¡¯t need to be told twice to turn tail and run. The Paladin¡¯s eyes never left Exill¡¯s as he approached, a hand resting gently on the pommel of his sword. His gaze was wary when the young man raised Inquisitor Deroch¡¯s card for him to inspect. Call it a premonition, but the Paladin¡¯s hand never left the pommel as the door was opened to the Inner Sanctum, and followed the Witchdoctor in. Exill stepped through the archway into a quiet cloister surrounding a small garden with the overcast sky visible through the branches of the Eld Tree. Inquisitor Deroch looked up from the report he had been reading, seated on a bench adjacent to the Oracle. He slowly approached Exill with a satisfied gleam in his frosty blue eyes. ¡°You got my message.¡± Chapter 154 - [Dimensionist] It took all of Exill¡¯s effort to refrain from attacking the Inquisitor, and Deroch in turn silently admired the restraint, evident from the young man¡¯s clenched fist. ¡°I knew you would come. When you have been in my line of work as long as I have¡­ you get a sense of people and how they would react.¡± The Inquisitor said matter-of-factly, trying to incite the canonized individual further. ¡°Why did you have to kill Tsarra?¡± Exill demanded between bared teeth, scarcely holding on. The Inquisitor had been building up to this moment, aware that nothing less would bring the Aberration through the Inner Sanctum doors, where its apostasy would be laid bare. He pushed away the Oracle who had risen to interject, who was similarly furious by Deroch¡¯s actions. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I didn¡¯t want to kill her¡­¡± the Inquisitor whispered. ¡°This might be difficult to believe, but I consider myself a fair man, a great believer of redemption...¡± He frowned slightly before continuing on, ¡°I coached her on all the ways that a secrecy contract can be bypassed, because I wanted her to take the stand against you.¡± Deroch pointed an accusing finger to emphasize this point, while slowly circling his quarry. ¡°A finger would suffice to send a message, no? She could have been protected by the Church as a witness, am I not correct?¡± The cadence of his righteous sermon grew even louder. ¡°Only, you had to go and force her to sign a contract swearing secrecy! She could have been saved Witchdoctor! You were the one who damned her by turning her into a blaspheming accomplice. In the end, as expected¡­ she didn¡¯t spill a single drop of your precious secrets, but at what cost? What I did was a mercy compared to what will happen to you.¡± The Inquisitor drew no pleasure upon witnessing the exact moment that guilt further tore Exill apart. This was not something anyone could orchestrate. In many ways, Deroch knew and appreciated him better than anyone else. ¡°What about Luna, what did you do to her?¡± Exill swallowed nervously, barely holding himself back. The Inquisitor didn¡¯t answer him for several long seconds, but against his better judgement, admitted the truth. ¡°She is fine. In exchange for the Church¡¯s protection, she agreed to testify against your Heresy.¡± He stated quietly. ¡°What will happen to the Oracle?¡± Exill asked, suddenly subdued. ¡°That is beyond your concern.¡± There was a strained pause as both parties recognised the time for questions was over. Deroch was tense, ready to withdraw the concealed blades hidden within his robes, ¡®I just need him to attack first¡¯ he thought. As a dual classed Inquisitor and Assassin with thirty years of experience, he was more than confident of taking the Heretic down alone. Despite this, he gave a cautious signal to the Paladins assembled throughout the Inner Sanctum. However, Exill did not attack. Instead, a grim line of satisfaction adorned the Heretic¡¯s lips as a small tremor made itself felt.
[The World has noticed your transgression. Rejection: 50/100]
Deroch detected the malformed stench of corruption from his opponent. It was a cancerous odour that rejected order, and everything that was good with the World. He frowned as the tremor grew in volume until a deep rumble reverberated under their feet. In that brief moment of distraction, Exill leapt aside, holding a slender skinning knife against the Oracle¡¯s throat. ¡°That won¡¯t save you now boy, she will be tried alongside you for Heresy. There is nowhere you can run!¡± ¡°Fuck your Heresy!¡± Exill spat, and leapt back as the ground beneath them bulged, exploding violently outwards. A towering Rock Dragon emerged with its serpentine head, screeching at all those assembled. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Its serrated black metallic tail shot up from underground and Deroch narrowly managed to avoid impaling himself. The Inquisitor was overwhelmed, dumbstruck by the sudden emergence of one of the Labyrinth¡¯s strongest monsters, in the most holy of places no less. Paladins rushed forward from all sides, encircling the combatants with tower shields raised at the ready. It was true that they were the elite of the elite, although they had been caught off guard, their arms held steady. ¡°Protect the Oracle!¡± The Paladin nearest to Exill shouted, and the Inquisitor¡¯s frustrated commands went unheard amidst the unfolding chaos. Exill kept his blade steady on the Oracle¡¯s neck as the elite soldiers moved past him, forming a guard against the devastating monster. ¡®How does this damn skill work?¡¯ Exill assigned [Dimensionist] as an active job and tried envisioning the Clinic he had left moments earlier while channelling mana outwards through his palm. But it was like he was trapped in a void where his skills wouldn¡¯t activate. At that moment, the enraged Rock Dragon slammed its heavy metallic tail against the Eld Tree, splintering its trunk in two places. It was as if a smothering fog had been lifted and Exill could sense his skills again. The shrieking sound of chainsaws tearing into the fabric of reality startled everyone when Exill successfully activated [Warp]. The jagged tear in front of him unsteadily grew larger until it was wide enough to throw the Oracle, then himself through it. ¡°No!¡± Inquisitor Deroch shouted in dismay at the collapsing gate. He tried to leap through it but was blocked by the Rock Dragon who was infuriated by the howl of reality ripping itself apart. It slammed its serpentine tail against the gate, trying to smash it into pieces but only succeeded in amputating the tip of its tail as the dissipating gate sliced through it without any resistance. Once the gate had consumed itself, Exill could hear the Elder Beast enter a berserk rampage, audible even from the city outskirts. Summoning his Card, he assessed that 70% of his mana remained.
Job Dimensionist
Level 3
Description Unique - Tier II
Active Skill [Warp] Tear into the flesh of the World and travel to places you have been before. Range increases with level.
¡®How far can I go now?¡¯ Exill wondered, noting their short hop had raised two whole levels in the recently unlocked Dimensionist. He hurriedly slung belongings over one shoulder and grabbed the blind Oracle¡¯s hand to lead her into the treatment room. Activating [Warp] he closed his eyes and focused on a clearing he had passed near the barge town of Holmsburn. However, no matter how much mana he poured into the skill, the gate refused to open. With only 60% mana remaining, he activated [Warp] again, closing his eyes while desperately focusing on the place where he had defeated the Infested Edifice in Virigo. This time, he could feel the skill activate, and swiftly poured in mana to widen the gate. Pushing the Oracle through first, he grabbed the metal tray covering the treatment table and pulled it with him nearly 40 miles (65km) in an instant. Only then did he stop channelling mana to find he had just over 10% remaining. ¡°Where are we?¡± Alya asked, her voice trembling slightly. The young woman of unworldly beauty lay stranded on the tall grass. Her long platinum hair was in disarray, and the blindfold had slipped, revealing two gaping crevasses where her eyes had been gouged out. ¡°We are in Virigo.¡± Exill replied between heavy breaths. He was of two minds on bringing the Oracle here, but there were some answers only she could provide. ¡®Why did she risk lying to get him canonised, and why is she a loose thread of fate?¡¯ On the other hand, he didn¡¯t trust her in the slightest. It was not clear how the Oracle¡¯s skill worked, but he suspected a great deal of the events that had unfolded today had been foreseen. ¡®Did she know Tsarra was going to die? Did she know I would invoke a tribulation in the Inner Sanctum?¡¯ Thinking further on the matter, he realised how insipid and dangerous the Oracle was, especially if all this had been a manipulative act. ¡°I¡¯m going to go. The town is north of us so follow the direction of the warming sun.¡± He said, dragging the large metallic tray holding Tsarra¡¯s corpse deeper into the woods. ¡°Wait! Are you going to leave me here?¡± there was a note of panic in Alya¡¯s voice. Exill was tired, emotionally drained, and numb from loss. He didn''t want to deal with her and her manipulations. It was more important that Tsarra was respectfully put to rest. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you.¡± He grunted, pulling the tray further into the underbrush. The Oracle unsteadily rose to her feet and wavered, unsure of the future that lay ahead. ¡°What can I do to earn your trust?¡± She asked, not fully aware of the tidal wave of change it would wreak upon the World. Exill paused, wondering if such a thing was even possible after all that had transpired. A grim smile tugged at the corner of his lips while studying the panic-stricken woman with his bloodshot eyes. In the absence of trust, there was only subjugation. ¡°You can become my slave.¡± And with those obscene words, he receded deeper into the forest. Chapter 155 - Derochs Gambit [Epilogue] Nine days before the destruction of Ark¡¯s Cathedral: Inquisitor Deroch crumpled up the latest response from Port Savig¡¯s Bishop and glared out of the carriage window. The overcast sky illuminated the dreary streets of Eastern Market, the hazy view obscured by small rivulets of rain that streaked across the glass windowpane. The carriage eventually came to a stop outside the Witchdoctor¡¯s clinic, and the harnessed horses snorted restlessly as steam rose from their glossy coats in the morning chill. Deroch stepped out of the carriage marked in the red liveries of the Church and grimaced towards the three hooded Paladins dismounting from their horses. He walked over to the trio. ¡°Give me five minutes. Make sure no one enters or leaves the house.¡± Deroch instructed one of them to secure the rear of the building. Then, smoothing his greying slick hair back, he knocked on the front door. ¡°Um, we aren¡¯t open yet¡­ is this an emergency?¡± A timid woman¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°I am from the Church conducting an investigation. I would like a moment of your time.¡± Deroch called out in an overriding voice. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, the bolts were shakily withdrawn, and a diminutive woman with gentle jade eyes and auburn curls opened the door. ¡°I believe we¡¯ve met before.¡± Deroch stepped inside and pulled his black leather gloves off while looking around the Clinic¡¯s entryway. It no longer reeked of the subtle wrongness emanating from the Aberration, further supporting the fact that the wily Witchdoctor had fled. His frosty blue eyes slowly came to rest on Tsarra. She looked tired, frightened, and alone. It supported the profile he had built up on her. A horrifically scarred slave liberated by the Aberration and painstakingly reassembled as its apprentice. Her personality was marked as docile, timid, and shy. ¡°Um¡­ would you like some tea?¡± Deroch struggled to contain his surprise. It was not often that Inquisitors were welcomed in for drinks. Maintaining his steely demeanour, he declined the offer. ¡°Thank you, but that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± He stepped into the forge, then the treatment room, his practiced eye scanning the area for changes no matter how minute. Puzzlingly, none of the important tools had been removed or put away, and the Inquisitor had a sneaking suspicion that the slippery Witchdoctor intended to return to the Clinic at some point in the future. ¡°Are you aware that your master is on the run, fleeing to Port Savig at this very moment?¡± Deroch abruptly pinned her with a cold gaze, and caught her flinching in surprise. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Tsarra struggled to speak, caught off guard by the sudden challenge. More than that, her eyes grew watery at the confirmation that Exill had chosen to leave her behind. Her mentor was a terrible liar, and she had already known this to some extent. Yet it still hurt to be abandoned. ¡°I understand it may come as a surprise to you, but I¡¯m sure he had his best intentions in leaving you behind¡­¡± Deroch¡¯s tone softened at the sight of the Maiden barely holding herself together. ¡°I promised your Master that his companions would not be harmed, as long as they cooperate with the Church.¡± Deroch paused and his voice took on a more wistful tone, ¡°I suspect that guarantee factored greatly in his reasoning to leave you behind. To keep you safe.¡± The Inquisitor was rewarded when Tsarra involuntarily glanced at a drawer in the corner of the treatment room. Moving swiftly, he opened the drawer and pulled out a notarized contract. ¡°No!¡± Tsarra tried to reach for the paper, but was quickly rooted in place by the Inquisitor¡¯s unnerving gaze. With triumphant satisfaction, Deroch quickly scanned the contents of the parchment. To put it succinctly, it revoked the secrecy clause contained within the contract promising Tsarra¡¯s freedom. ¡®But why would he go to such an extent?¡¯ Deroch was troubled by what the revision signified. Exill was essentially handing incriminating evidence to the Church on a silver platter. ¡®Does he have no intention of returning to Ark? Or did he want to guarantee Tsarra¡¯s safety to such an extent?¡¯ The Inquisitor¡¯s mind raced in thought. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know what -¡± Tsarra hurriedly began, but was swiftly silenced when Deroch folded the parchment and slipped it into his robe. She stepped back in panic when he placed two fingers on the carotid artery of her neck, then cornered her against the wall, his hypnotizing blue eyes dissecting her with ease. ¡°Did he ever hint that he would return?¡± Deroch whispered. Tsarra didn¡¯t say a word, but to the experienced Inquisitor ¨C she was like an open book. He felt her pulse spiking in surprise, combined with the sudden dilation of her pupils. It was evident that Exill had promised to visit his treasured apprentice someday, that much was certain. Leaving the trembling woman behind, Deroch stepped out into the receding morning shower and fired quick instructions to the waiting Paladins. ¡°Conduct a thorough search, and detain the woman.¡± *** Later that afternoon Deroch stepped into the Chrysanthemum annex where Tsarra was temporarily being held. The room was simply furnished with an engraved oval table that took up most of the space. The Inquisitor was followed by a sneering, cruel man dressed in rough linen clothes. ¡°I apologize for holding you here, but recent events have left me little choice.¡± Deroch excused himself as he took a seat opposite Tsarra. When the diminutive woman stubbornly refused to respond, he dove into the heart of the matter. It was posed as a question, but was in actuality a statement of fact. ¡°You will testify to Witchdoctor Exill¡¯s Heresy, and aid in his capture if he ever returns.¡± ¡°I will never help you capture him.¡± Tsarra denied him with all her courage. Deroch examined her uncharacteristic behaviour that intelligence suggested was timid, shy, and withdrawn. He sighed softly while steepling his fingers, reluctant to resort to what he was about to do. ¡°¡­ I thought you might feel that way. Which is why I asked an acquaintance to accompany me today.¡± He nodded in the direction of the sneering slave trader, ¡°Let me assure you that although you will be a slave, your daily life and freedom will remain largely intact.¡± Deroch slid a notarized contract in her direction. ¡°In fact, the Church will negotiate with the Healer¡¯s Guild on your behalf to ensure the continued operation of the Witchdoctor¡¯s Clinic ¨C something your Master regretfully neglected in his urge to flee.¡± Deroch tapped his thin lips, ¡°Of course, the contract guarantees your freedom in the event of his capture.¡± Tsarra¡¯s lips quivered at the thought of being enslaved again, all to assist in the unjust sentencing of her saviour. She shivered when her eyes met the cruel sneer of the Slave Trader, who was licking his lips in anticipation. Deroch gave her several more seconds to accept his generous offer, then¡­ heaving a weary sigh, stood up. ¡°Enslave her.¡± He instructed the Slaver and stepped out of the room. The Inquisitor¡¯s boots clicked softly against the polished stone on the way back to the Inner Sanctum. The tactics he was resorting to was outside the modus operandi of the Church ¨C the most grievous of which was the retention of slaves. Unfortunately, there was little hope of hiding that a free citizen had been enslaved when it eventually came to the Witchdoctor¡¯s trial. As to the necessity for such a trial, there was no question in his mind. The hornets nest of corruption he was about to upheave reached the highest ranks of the Church. The risk of an internal schism occurring was significant. That was why it was imperative that fair trials take place. There should be no question in the minds of the common man that Heresy had taken place. On the matter of enslavement, Deroch could only hope that his fair terms and treatment of Tsarra would soften the blow to his reputation. However halfway to the Inner Chamber, he heard commotion echoing from behind that made him pause. ¡°Fetch a Healer, quick!¡± The frantic shout emanating down the hallway froze him in place. Feeling a pit in his stomach, Deroch turned and rushed back towards the Chrysanthemum annex. ¡°What is going on?¡± He shouted at the Slaver who was hurriedly re-tying the laces around his waist. Snorting in disgust, Deroch shoved the startled man aside and strode into the room to witness Tsarra convulsing on the floor. ¡°She bit her own tongue! I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± The Slaver hurriedly explained, and Deroch immediately knelt at the woman¡¯s side and tried to pry her mouth open so that he could clamp the bleeding. Tsarra grinned between gritted teeth, blood foaming at her lips. She refused his attempt to save her, and her convulsions grew weaker as the seconds passed. ¡°She said she would rather die than be turned into a slave again. I swear on the Spirit I did noth-¡± The whining Slave Trader was silenced with an icy glare from the crouched Inquisitor. ¡°Let me save you¡­¡± Deroch gently coaxed the Maiden to open her mouth, angry and frustrated that his plan was falling apart so close to fruition. However, it was not to be. He grimly watched the light fade from Tsarra¡¯s tearful eyes. ¡°What a waste...¡± Deroch¡¯s guilt ridden mind raced with repercussions, anguish, and how the situation could be resolved. Bleakly wiping his hand of blood, he stepped out into the corridor, and came face-to-face with a red-faced Healer in the Church¡¯s service, who was huffing in exertion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Brother, but your services are no longer required.¡± Deroch firmly turned the puzzled man away. He had to limit exposure and motioned a Paladin to escort the Healer away. Approaching the other Paladin guarding the door, Deroch paused in rare hesitation. The scheme he was about to commit had many flaws, but there was little time to improve upon his plan. ¡°I need you to discreetly transport the body back to the Clinic right this moment.¡± He whispered and turned to walk away a few steps. Then, having second thoughts, Deroch returned to give one last order. ¡°¡­ and fetch me a stake.¡± Intermission II - Hiatus/Cancellation Notice Authors Note: Perdition Bridge here, and thank you for finishing Book Two. Here are some answers to questions you might have: Q. Why did you kill Tsarra?
She died multiple times in my storyboard. It was a question of when, and not if. Without the permanence of death, there would be no meaning to the protagonists actions, and would only lower and dilute the stakes. She first died during the ambush on the way back from Virigo. The trouble was that had she died there, Exill would not have walked away from unmasking this mysterious noble that tried to buy Envy¡¯s contract. It would project him down an untenable path that only plot armour could resolve.
Q. Was Perg an informant for Deroch? Was the talkative Healer trying to lure Exill to a location where there wasn¡¯t a Labyrinth, or Waystones along the road to interfere with readings?
No, he was just a pawn.
Q. Who was the Noble that purchased Exill¡¯s debt from Diallo, and arranged that ambush?
It wasn¡¯t a noble. It was the Wizard Vameki from the merchant family who accompanied Sir Eumol and Envy into the Labyrinth.
Q. Did Luna really testify again Exill?
Yes.
Q. Why didn¡¯t Deroch use divination to determine if Exill was an Aberration? If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
He did. Deroch tried using hair samples taken from the Duel Arena. When asked if Exill was human, divination confirmed he was human. When questioned if Exill lied about his blessing, divination performed the coin toss equivalent of landing on its edge.
Q. What is the Labyrinth?
Without going into spoilers, there is a Labyrinth in all of us. It is the promise of self-improvement, of a better future. It is that loan you take out for a home or business. It is the long nights at the office, or second tour of your military career that you promised wouldn¡¯t happen to your wife. The Labyrinth simultaneously represents hope and its cost.
Q. Why won''t you publish the two extra chapters on Patreon?
Chapter 157 is where Book Two was originally supposed to end - on a big revelation. After careful review, I chose Chapter 154 as the revised ending because it represents a critical juncture in Exill''s character arc. The two extra chapters won''t be published because I don''t know if Book Three is going to happen. I''ve suspended my Patreon so unless you were the original ~5 people subscribed, you won''t have access to it in the future.
Looking at the ratings and reviews, it is clear that something went wrong in my characterization of Exill. Were a potential reader to browse this fiction¡¯s page, they would look at the low character score and steer clear of this trash. That is why I will be taking a hiatus to fix up Book 1+2 as outlined in the changelog linked below. The prevailing wisdom for new authors is to continue writing while learning from your mistakes. ¡®Implement those fixes in your next work.¡¯ Is what many grizzled veterans say. But there is no ¡®next work¡¯ for me. I don¡¯t particularly enjoy writing, and just had a story to share. This will be my first and last entry as an author. So I will try my best to improve Isekai Rejection to a 4.5 rating. And if that hurdle can¡¯t be overcome ¨C it probably means the story was flawed to begin with, and beyond saving. Sometimes, it is important to let go. You can check the changelog below to see how I¡¯m progressing on fixing up the first two books. Thank you for your interest and support. Changelog: Kanban Board on Miro (link)
Update I want to thank the long-time supporters, and many words of encouragement you guys left yesterday. I did not expect someone to post on Reddit asking how to motivate new authors. Many people reached out with their own anecdotes and words of support, and I am grateful for that. I would also like to thank fellow author and resident troll MDW for the time he devoted to an in-depth feedback of chapters 1-43. It helped me realise where I went wrong with the tale I wanted to tell, unlike the many others who wanted to mould and twist the story to their personal preference. To summarize, this half-year endeavour has taught me that I don''t enjoy writing. It dashes all hope of growing this into a side hustle. But I did enjoy telling this story, and I think it is worth saving.
Going Forward: MDW helped me realise the true scope of work required. He pointed out every instance that required suspension of disbelief. Some characters will need to be introduced earlier, and the Rejection mechanic will need to be tweaked with a threshold of some sort. More importantly, he convinced me to publish the rewrite as a new story, a clean slate. Stolen novel; please report. It makes sense because otherwise, there would be a lot of interstitial chapters named 20.1, 20.2 etc. You can track my progress as always on the Miro Kanban Board, but I will post another update/chapter here when the rewrite is released.
New Blurb: What if the World you transmigrated to actively rejects you? In a twist of fate, Exill is assigned with [Planeswalker], a remarkable job with the ability to break the very chains of this world. The only catch - an ominous rejection counter that steadily increments upwards. Follow our protagonist''s struggle for a quiet life as he come to terms with this new world, armed with a bittersweet system that tightens its noose the stronger he gets. His life begins to further unravel upon being compelled to purchase a beautiful slave who murdered her previous master.
Also thanks to the following for their continued roles: Consulting: DMMWolf, Dragonic Moral Support: James Kizer, Peruser, Captain Penn