《Solace》


 Prologue

    "Nothing. That is everything. This truth is the key....... You know the meaning of the words but you do not understand. I sought eternity and found...... once I understood I realized I could not...... No, I would not take the final step...... Too few know this truth, too many too lobotomized.


    The insights I''ve grasped on my journey are mine alone, you must find your own meaning. Any secrets of the world I can impart to you are no secret at all to those who choose to see them. Do not stain your virgin mind through my thoughts, go and make your own judgements, see meaning where others do not, find what you seek.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    I am sending you to the Guardian Temple, but be careful for change is coming. Even on Sanctuary Isles even those damned Cross cannot escape. Safety is an delusion."


    "........ As you wish Father, but before I leave I need a few answers."

 Tides

    Waves crashed into the rocks before retreating back into to the sea. Leonardo slowly opened his sleepy eyes. He lazed for a little longer soaking in the familiar scent of salt and chorus of waves. Leo''s eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness before he sighed and forced himself out of the comfort of his warm bed. He quickly washed his face with the cold bowl of water on the stand next to his bunk bed. Refreshed and awake he crossed the room and opened a window. The window were just wooden shutters but Jack had also put a think cloth over the windows complaining about how cold it is. From his room he could see the docks where there were already sailors and merchants going about their day preparing their vessels. The sun would not rise for another hour or two but there was enough light the men could work without tripping. Besides most people woke around this time and were used to it, especially the sailors since the larger vessels would need to leave with the tide if they wished to sail past the reefs safely. He heard someone shift and grumble in the bunk bed beside him.


    "Sunshine''s up," the pile of blankets grunted out.


    Leo smirked before body slamming the blankets and shaking the bed up and down, "What are you talking about Jack the sun won''t rise for another hour at least." He heard someone throw something from the top of the third bunk bed in the room. A pillow plopped on the back of his heard as he heard a voice speak out.


    "Only pleabians such as you imbeciles wake up at such an ungodly hour." A brief silence before the three of them couldn''t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. From the top of Leo''s bunk bed he heard someone quietly grumble, "Every fucking morning." This made the three begin to laugh even harder.


    Leo got up and walked back to his bed to wipe himself clean and get ready to start his day. As he got ready he saw Long Han slowly get up as well.


    "I heard there will be quite a few transfers this year as well as a new instructor."


    "So what? It''s our last year, what''s it matter if there''s a few more transfers than usual and the new instructor is probably to handle the surplus of students," Jack''s muffled out of his pile of blankets seeming to make no moves to getting up.


    "Tch, as expected despite being a genius know-it-all you remain ignorant of the world. That new instructor is for us fourth years and the number of transfers is double the average and will continue to rise bookworm."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ".... How do you know the number of transfers will continue to go up and not stop little snake?"


    "Do not compare my mighty dragon to your little worm, your mother can bear witness to it''s length." This caused a round of chuckles before Xiao Long continued, "Besides the clans, mine included, are making plans to send many of our youths here to study as for why I couldn''t find out."


    "...... Snake." "Tch, worm." As Leo finished getting dressed he grabbed his chamber pot so he could empty it before heading to breakfast. "Hey bud could you empty out mine too while your at it." "Sure Rajeesh."


    "Awww that''s sweet could you take out my shit too," Jack said as he poked his head out from under his blankets. "Sorry Jack you''re too big for me to carry and throw out," Leo remarked before opening the door with his free hand and walking out. He could hear them chuckling before closing the door.


    ''Morning sunshine.'' Leo greeted the few people also starting their day as he made his way out. The building he lived in was basically just a giant dorm, one of many, for the people of the Guardian Temple.


    Leo continued leisurely on his normal route towards the nearby cliff to empty the chamber pots. It was illegal for someone to empty it out in the city or the river that ran through it but luckily his dorm was only a short walk to the cliffs. Leo''s pale blonde hair ruffled in the sea breeze, no doubt the main reason for his nickname along with him being a morning person. Leo didn''t like people calling him that, but couldn''t bring himself to make people stop. The reason that it was what his mother used to call him by, Leo clenched his fist, it was also the reason he wanted them to stop so he would not be reminded of her death. He let out a sigh before fixing his tan robe and turned toward the city with the now empty pots. Although still dark the white stone walls of Pearl Port peeked out. As he took his first step he noticed two people making their way up the path from the direction of the docks.


    "Hooooh if it ain''t sunshine hahaha," bellowed the large man. A large, thick man clearly getting on his age with dark skin, walking slightly behind a youth with black hairs and black eyes. A youth from one of the clans like Xiao Long wondered Leo.


    "Hey Captian Jones looks like this last voyage was a long one," Leo greeted shaking the hand Jones offered.


    "Hahaha aye that it was which is why I was hoping you could do me a favor and take this lad and show em the ropes, a transfer like your mates. Need to go see the missus before she finds out I didn''t go see her first hahaha."


    "Sure as long as you bring me another one of your wife''s famous seafood hotpot sometime."


    "Hahaha aye no problem but I''ll most likely finish it all myself before I get to you. You''ll just have to come by for dinner if you want it hahaha," Jones said as he turned away back towards the port with a casual wave.


    That left Leo and the youth who looked at one another. Leo extended out his hand, "I''m Leonardo Moretti, but you can just call me Leo."


    "Akira Ito. Aki is fine."

 Heresy

    "........ You will have to take over his classes." A gaunt old man sternly spoke, a trace of anger in his tone. His hair was bone white, eyes sunken, wrinkles and spots all over his skin which seemed to sag of his bones. He wore a simple white shirt and black pants instead of the traditional golden Guardian armour. The old man sat behind a solid slab of metal comically being used as a desk, an addition by Guardian Anvil that his predecessors found too annoying to throw out. Across from him sat a bald middle aged man wearing black, slightly baggy clothes. He had an average face with tanned skin, no other part of his body was uncovered however as he even wore thin black gloves.


    "Whose classes? And why? At this time I''ll already be late to my first class as an instructor due to this meeting Guardian Cloud." The man in the black Tang suit calmly spoke showing no reaction. He reached foward for the cup of the cold water placed in front of him. They were in a large room made of the same white stone like the rest of the town. The room was bare besides the shelves of thick tomes on the walls and a Golden plate armor in the corner. There was only one large window directly behind Guardian Cloud, but this window was made entirely from think glass.


    "........ I know it wasn''t you, but I also know you knew beforehand..... He wasn''t a Guard but he was still a Templar and I need to know why Need." Guardian Cloud glared hard.


    Needle did not like his Guard name but now was not the time to complain. He could tell from Clouds stare that he was seconds away from a serious beating if he didn''t open up.


    "Haaaah honestly I don''t know why either.... But I can guess." Cloud simply nodded for Needle to continue.


    "As I traveled to complete my research I made a friend with one of the Empire''s Inquisitors." Guardian Cloud raised a brow at this but said nothing. "He told me the Starved Immortal was stirring, the Inquisitors are trying to figure out why and stop it but last I heard they have no clue." Cloud was extremely surprised but continued to solemnly listened without saying anything. Needle continued, "There''s been no word from the last northern ''expedition'', the free tribes in the jungles of Gaia continent have all gone dark, the nomads and slavers on the Labyrinth continent have allied. Lastly the Cross has been recalling their priests while those with connections to the Cross have been dieing...... I expect the other kingdoms and powers to start moving within a year or two."


    "Mmm........ Coincidences?.... or is the board is being set up, but who are the players. You are dismissed Needle, someone will find you to show you to your class."


    "Sir." Needle got up to leave but he could see Guardian Cloud already deep in thought. He had probably already heard most of this besides the news of the immortal stirring. Any well informed idiot could see a storm was coming. Needle closed the solid metal door respectfully behind him and made his way to the Academic building. As he crossed the plaza separating the Temple and academy a handsome man in a white robe intercepted him. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Deathguard Needle, I am Lifeguard Petal. Please follow me." He was brief and concise, but there was a hint of disgust that was very well hidden. Petal then quickly turned around and walked briskly towards the academic building seemingly indifferent as to whether he followed or not. Needle smirked and followed. Lifeguards who generally operated in the light to defend people deeply despised the deathguards preffered stealthy assassination and would do anything to kill their targets. Most would never see a Deathguard due to their few numbers and the fact that most maintained tight secrecy even from fellow Guards. Almost all the Lifeguards teaching at the temple were against allowing a Deathguard to teach despite a few in the past having done so. He would probably be the first Deathguard instructor in at least half a century mused Needle.


    They quickly arrived at the classroom and entered. The conversations quickly stopped as Petal made his way to the podium. Needle stood to the side observing his students. There were 23 young boys and girls, most as expected were either temple trainees or acolytes of the cross. There were gasps and quite murmurs amonst the students as Petal introduced him as a Deathguard. The few transfers he saw sat together in the far left corner of the classroom along with a blonde haired acolyte. There was a clear gap between them and the rest of the class. ''Bullying? No most likely fear by the way the other students refused to look in their direction'' Needle thought.


    Petal quickly finished up and excused himself before leaving. There was a heavy silence once he had left. Needle sighed as he saw the curious gazes begging to ask him questions. "You can all just call me teacher, I''ll answer some of your questions first and in return you will answer mine during classes, agreed?" Happy and excited murmurs began to spread as the students began talking to one another about what questions to ask. Needle grabbed a chair and slouched back as he waited for the first question.


    "Are you really a Deathguard?" "Stupid question, of course I am."


    "How many people have you killed?" "A lot."


    "Where are you from?" "Here."


    "Why is a bloody killer teaching kids here?" Everyone turned silent at that. Need didn''t immediately answer back and looked at the one who asked that question. The kid had black hair and black eyes. Probably an assassin from the guild thought needle. Needle locked eyes with the kid who didn''t shy away as he spoke, "Because I''m smart and as a favor to a friend. If you have any other questions you can come find me later but let''s start class."


    "Now who can tell me all the foundation powers currently known?" One of the students confidently stood up and spoke, "Teacher I am trainee Henry head of this class. There is Mana for the mages, qi for the cultivators, divine faith for the priests, spirits for shamens. Rumors says the Empire''s Inquisitors also have a secret foundation power they use."


    "Good, now can you or anyone else tell me why you can''t train in more than one?"


    The student Henry frowned but refused to sit back down. He hesitantly spoke out, "Sir? Because you just can''t. It''s a well known fact."


    Needle just sighed and sat up a bit straighter. "Yes and I asked why that is. Why can''t someone train in more than one?" Henry frowned deeper and sat back down.


    "Teacher according to the most widely accepted theory it''s because the different powers conflict with each other."


    Needle looked at the kid who spoke. He had a slightly pudgy face and body to match, his hair was a messy orange mop, green eyes showing curiosity. "Stand up and introduce yourself."


    "Teacher I am Jack Song a mage from the Fable Kingdom."


    "Good, but you''re wrong. The reason is because it''s all the same power."