《Twisted Star》 Chapter 1- A Change of Fate Lei thought destiny gifted him greatness, with strength of dragons, intelligence of kings, swiftness of tornadoes, and bla, bla, bla -- or so, the family elders say. Yet, here he laid. Arms stretched, held by chains connected to the wall, blood seeping out from old scars and new wounds, a sight hidden by darkness. His skin was caressed by the eternal still of the dungeon, as if comforting him of his failed escape. Once again, the faint wails of singing whips cracked at his back, sucking up old blood, and presenting new pain, a custom happening daily. It was punishment for Lei, but meditation for the torturer. ¡°You are lucky,¡± a raspy voice said. Wuh-PSSH! ¡°That you hold value.¡± Wuh-PSSH! ¡°Heal him,¡± the torturer said. Wuh-PSSH! So, did destiny really bestowed greatness upon him? Like broken mirrors, perhaps it signified a future of disaster. Who knows, really? ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. 1 month ago, Mist Drop Forest. This forest shelters spirits and feys: Mythical creatures that bless the woodlands with paradise and sunshine. Dancing trees casted happy shadows as warm winds ruffled their hair-like leaves. Its various inhabitants hummed with chirps and bubbling brooks. It sounds great, but bad for travels. Why? The roads relapse to their winded, unpaved forms, undaunted by the weary travelers footsteps. Bright plants overgrow the path as holes popped by in undecipherable patterns. It was a journey that gave no room for comfort. The luxury carriage squeaked from the horses¡¯ uneven tempo, sunlight peeking through the curtains like waves, reflecting only the table of plattered, bright fruits. The various apples and oranges rolled, attempting to escape their platter. Lei slouched on the coach seat, feet resting on an ancient oak table. His mother said that posture was bad, but he¡¯s still young so back problems don¡¯t persist until the late forties, or even longer as a Mage. His seven year old sister, Mimi, leaned on his shoulders, napping. She, like him, had dark golden hair. Unlike him, she drools asleep. The drool dripped onto his gold embroidered robe, a crime unforgiveable to anyone else, but his sister. He faced the emotionless Jurok, his advisor. The tall, lanky man wore a tailored, dark suit. Pale as the finest paper, he looked like the blood suckers of legend. His neck hung a small, crimson diamond which swung like a pendulum. His thin veins throbbed, if one looked close enough, which was reassuring; At least he won¡¯t turn him into an empty husk- physically, Lei thought. ¡°I hope you enjoyed your stay at the Houston Academy, Lei. The Lord Commander has paid a steep price for you to learn the Empire¡¯s best magic,¡± Jurok spoke lightly in contrast to the rumbling carriage. Yet, his monotone voice sounded as if it was next to his ear. He took out a quill from his inner jacket and scribbled on a notepad. Whatever he was writing, it wasn¡¯t positive. Jurok had met Lei halfway to escort him to the Royal Capital. Mimi had insisted on tagging along so they brought along four guards and a captain. ¡°When we reach the Royal Capital, we¡¯ll put you on a exercise regime. Fat is a sign of wealth, but youth need not wealth of the old,¡± Jurok said, adjusting his glasses, sighing. ¡°You should also cherish your return. We paid an insurmountable price to appease the Royal Court after you unleashed a herd of rampaging thunder lizards upon the palace.¡± The structural damages that came forth forced King Vizno and leading nobles to unanimously banish Lei from the Royal Capital, Ezmahel. Lei¡¯s exile was further exacerbated when one of his arrogant henchmen instigated conflict with the unsuspecting and humble young brother of King Vizno. Thus, he was only permitted to return for a week a year. ¡°Direct as ever, Jurok. I like my fat, it makes me look bigger.¡± Lei pinched his belly, wrapped in a robe intertwined with gold and silk, then cupped the fat firmly with his gold bling covered hands, shiny rings adorned on each finger. ¡°The real gem there are the Academy¡¯s world class chefs; It¡¯s the only reason I agreed to go,¡± Lei reminisced. Of course, the real reason he went was because the Royal Academy in Ezmahel expelled him for abusing his background. ¡°The academy was fine. They helped me form my first magic circle,¡± Lei rolled the sleeve on his right arm, revealing a palm sized, translucent circle. ¡°This means I can revolve mana to form magic. With the war going on, the instructors are becoming very harsh.¡± From his golden robe, he pulled out a foot-long crimson wand, a glittering ruby protruded from the tip, evident of a powerful treasure. ¡°They only taught me a few beginner spells. It¡¯s to feel the ¡®flow of mana,¡¯ they say. It was truly boring so I secretly bought magic off the Black Market.¡± Pointing to the platter of fruits, Lei attempted to levitate a cherry into his mouth. Levitation spells were only taught in higher levels, but why not try? The fruits was unaffected as they continued to roll around like trapped animals. Lei gave up, opting to grab it instead. Jurok¡¯s raven-like eyes remained immobile. ¡°If you put in the effort, you could surpass Felgus. Your younger brother is prospering in elemental composition and essence manipulation. He¡¯s even earned the attention of a foreign Master Class Wizard.¡± Jurok slit his eyes. ¡°Nineteen years old and all you do is eat, eat, and eat while surrounding yourself with yes-men boot lickers. It is fortunate they didn¡¯t stay with you in the academy, otherwise you¡¯ll stray further from your path.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth,¡± Lei warned. Despite how powerful elemental mages are, magic tools are developed to the point where nonmagic ¡®mortals¡¯ can to contend with Third Circle mages. Magic abilities are -- for the wealthy -- status symbols to flaunt around. Still, this sort of behavior was unacceptable. Lei will have father discipline him later. Right now, something else was on his mind. He poked his head out the carriage window, the sun blinding his vision, and looking at one of the four guards, ¡°Oi, tell Captain Moore to head east towards Kargus Point.¡± ¡°Kargus Point? You got it, young master!¡± The closest guard nodded. ¡°Lei, we are not headed to Kargus Point. Head to the Royal Capital,¡± Jurok said, his voice bypassed the loud rumble and reached the guards ear. Huh, something''s off. Why¡¯s he so keen on heading to the Royal Capital? ¡°Miss Mina is on her way to meet you,¡± He replied, as if sensing Lei¡¯s confusion. Jurok began stroking the red pendent on his neck. Weird, from Jurok¡¯s six years of servitude, he never wore any necklace, not to mention one with diamonds. So why was he wearing that today? ¡°Mina¡­ who? The stable girl?¡± Lei slowly tapped his right knee. ¡°No, the darling of the Mecuria Clan. Lord Commander has instigated this marriage to better the relations of our two clans,¡± Jurok continued to stroke his pendent. ¡±We can use this to spread our networks using their trade routes. Plus, rumor says she¡¯s quite the beauty. Prince Aeric won¡¯t stop sending her gifts.¡± Lei chucked a bright crimson cherry into his mouth. The sweet tart left his lips puckering. ¡°Y¡¯know what, scribble a reminder to send a chest of the best whatevers you can find for this Mina girl.¡± He pointed to that notepad. ¡°And cancel the marriage. Now, let¡¯s head to Kargus Point!¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Denied. You have no power to nullify the Lord Commander¡¯s authority on this matter,¡± Jurok said emotionlessly, evoking the authority of Lei¡¯s father, lord of the Garuda Clan. Mimi woke as they argued, groggily rubbed her eyes, saying, ¡°Lei~! I want to go to Kargus Point too!¡± She tugged on his robe. ¡°And I want to eat at Bears Paw. Father never lets me go when you¡¯re gone.¡± Her eyes glowed with delight when she saw the fruits on the table and began stuffing a mouthful of cherries, her cheeks puffing as she chewed like a chipmunk. She shook her head with face scrunched up to deal with the heavy tartness. ¡°You¡¯re being very direct since the last time we¡¯ve met, Jurok,¡± Lei said, his fingers tapped faster. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll accept the punishment when we return to the Capital. Kargus Point has the best weapons shop there, and I need to bring some gifts for my brothers.¡± ¡°You are nineteen years old, the eldest male of the Garuda family, third wealthiest trading family in the Eaz Empire! You carry the responsibilities of leadership as you mature.¡± Juroked eyed Lei, ¡°It¡¯s time to stop being a playboy!¡± Lei sighed, feeling conflicted. His eldest sister, Eve, was the truly shrewd and talented businesswoman in the family. Yet, she was married off to the heir of Taelos Estate for a mere alliance. Why can¡¯t they let him enjoy life? He wished to eat delicacies, long for new experiences, and to flirt with th-! They banged the table lurching forth as the carriage came to an abrupt halt. The horses neighed weakly.Sounds of muffled struggle came and left. ¡°Captain Moore, what happened?¡± Lei shouted, wanting to poke his head out, but his back tingled. It was a sense of danger. Silence. Jurok took out a dagger under the table¡¯s compartment, his face remained emotionless. ¡°Mimi stay inside. Jurok, keep her safe.¡± Lei took a deep breath, as if hesitant, then kicked the door askew, jumping out with wand blazing. He knew there was a chance of dying. But the attack happened so suddenly, he did not acknowledge the danger. Adrenaline coursed through his blood like a river, so he was no coward, but a cornered beast. Dead. Slouched on the ground were four guards and a captain; Each pierced by sinister purple arrows. Separate streams of blood slowly seeped into a pothole nearby. Its stench assaulted the nose with metallic luster. The lingering dust showed the horse had bolted far. Highway bandits? No, they wouldn¡¯t dare attack armed guards with their abilities. Assassins? Similar rival clans sending killers to get rid of their competitors heirs. It¡¯s possible. Sweat stuck like glue to the handle of his glowing wand, the ruby tip flashing with energy. It was Lei¡¯s first time seeing the dead. No! Captain Moore was alive- held on by a thread. He heaved heavily but his mouth opened and shut silently. His glazed eyes pleaded Lei to run. Lei suppressed the urge to regurgitate. His brain blared: Danger! Run! Flee! No! Mimi was still here and Jurok had no abilities to protect her. ¡°This chubster got guts facing us alone.¡± Three costumed men came out from the shadow of the forest. The assassins chuckled, their swords swung to the crunch of their boots. In their hands, crossbows were notched anew. ¡°Surrender and you shall live,¡± a large nose man said. Presumably, he¡¯s the leader. Think! This was an exact scenario shown in Magic Tactics class: What should we do in the case there are five enemies and one loaded fireball? His pounding heart rushed blood through his body like a raging river. His senses were exceptionally clear, taking in all details, and from the way the assaulters stood, they seem casual, as if killing were a normal part of their routine. What would my professors do? Lei thought. Rule one in group combat: Take out the leader and they¡¯ll be like a headless snake. Lei pointed the wand at them, the green tip glowed in the way a snake would hiss. His other hand reached into his robe. Seeing his action, the two assassins in the back raised their crossbows, ready to fire. It was a suicidal move, resulting in destroying both parties. Back in the Housten Magic Academy, two truths float evident over Lei¡¯s head. The first truth was his superb ability in using one time magic consumables. From his robe, he threw a scroll. It was thrown in a swift and precise manner, without mishaps or delays, a move he had practiced hundreds of times over. In that split second, it unfurled in the direction of the men, runes glowing, and activated. A plume of fire blazed from the scroll, billowing like a comet towards the three men. The scroll¡¯s magic was quality, as the earth trembled beneath the explosion, burying the leaves in a manic flame, and devouring the three men¡¯s figure. ¡°Was this it?¡± Lei wondered, his hands trembling. This was his first time in a life or death battle, and he expected the fight to be longer, and bloodier. He took a deep breath, taking in the heated air. So this was how it feels to kill? A blur shot out from the flames, plunging into his shoulder. Flames departed as the large nose man came out, unscathed, a circular forcefield held him snug. ¡°You kill my men and waste my precious shielding treasure. What am I going to do with you?¡± he said, frowning, as he aimed the newly notched crossbow and shot. The arrow greedily plunged into Lei¡¯s thigh. The force pushed him back a few steps, as surging pain bashed his mind. "My father... will..." Lei pointed his wand at the man, but nothing happened; no explosion, no fire, and no power; It was because he was unable to manipulate mana. That was the second truth to Lei: he was terrible at actual magic, a fact he hid from his parents. The man closed in, and with a slap, Lei lost conscience. ¡°I accept this wand as reparation for the damages,¡± the man said. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. Pain, oh, pain. There¡¯s nothing better than waking up and stretching the muscles from their slumber. Oof. A great stank assaulted his nose, like the fart of a six year old. ¡°Mimi¡­ stop it¡­.¡± He mumbled, brushing my shirt. ¡°Ow!¡± A pair of sharp diggers pierced his forearm. Lei opened my eyes and felt some creature licking his wound. He hastily picked it up and threw it. ¡°Damn rats,¡± Lei croaked. Where is this place? Oh right, the dungeon. As dark and cold, the rat was a foodsource. He needed to eat. Lei croaked into the void. ¡°Hey, you there?¡± His throat was dry like desert sand. His captors denied him water for days until his next meal of gruel and grass. His hands slowly groped the wet ground, searching for his cellmate. He was here far longer than Lei was. He had lost track of time being kept in the darkness for so long. Lei kept the prisoner sane, and he gave Lei information. He was a medic from the other empire but caught as a prisoner of war, thrown in by refusing servitude. Lei grabbed something emaciated, stiff and cold like ice. He dropped it immediately, lunging back to his old position. Lei hugged his knees and rocked about. Something wet glided down his cheek. He wiped it with his backhand and licked. But such miniscule amount of water could cure no thirst. His chattering teeth was the only sound in the chilling dungeon, almost echoing off the walls. His body shivered its best to keep warm. And his breathing slowed like a dying man. He was cold. He hummed the tunes Mimi always sings. He missed that rascal. A crack of light blasted through the darkness. It was bright but lacked warmth. The dungeon door screeched open like nails scratching chalkboard. In his days in darkness, the immediate brightness blinded him. Slick, clack, slick, slick. A dark figure walked down the dungeon stairs, leisurely. The viscous floor licked his boots every step. ¡°H-hey, uh, the old man died. Not that it matt-matters to you but it¡¯s quite un-unsanitary.¡± Lei told it. The dark figure lit a torch. ¡°I hope you¡¯re enjoying your stay here, Lei. Oh my, it¡¯s quite chilly in here.¡± That voice was extremely familiar. Quiet but clear. ¡°Jur-Jurok? You¡¯re... a-alive. Where is M-Mimi?¡± ¡°She¡¯s safe.¡± His voice bounced off the walls. ¡°That r-red pendant was a communication crystal, the kind you infuse mana into and tr-transmit a long ranged message, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lei stuttered. ¡±You couldn¡¯t force me to the R-Royal Capital s-so you had them amb-ambush me earlier¡­ but why?¡± Jurok silently stared. The iota of pity in his eyes was overwashed with pleasure as he smiled. ¡°That matter not anymore. I¡¯m here to pass a message onto you by your family.¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°By the edict of the Garuda clan¡¯s new Lord, His Lordship Felgushas issued your execution.¡± Chapter 2- We Must Do What Must Be Done ¡°I tried, I¡¯ve really tried,¡± Jurok said, the torch flames reflected off in his eyes, emotionless. The dungeon wall soaked up the heat, leaving the room shivering and despairing. ¡°But my efforts were in vain, so please forgive me. My family was created to serve the Garuda clan, and I was to devote my life to you. But you, indecisive, impatient, and talentless, lack the qualities-¡± ¡°Sounds like you were a shit advisor,¡± Lei glared, leaning against the wall, soaking up the heat. Jurok hung the torch onto a fixture on the wall. ¡°I wished to use you. Really. To put you up, turn you into a great man, and ride that to glory. Alas, you are simply too difficult to train-¡± ¡°So you thought of me as a... dog?¡± ¡°Did you not view me the same? You were nothing more than a deaf pet, and please stop interrupting.¡± Jurok reached into his black suit, and pulled out a piece of gnarled paper. Anyone could tell it was made for the wealthy, with fancy decor and cursive writing. ¡°This is our contract. Well, it was. It was created six years ago, on the eve your father declared you as heir. Schemes were formed, and heads were felled, all to protect you.¡± Holding the contract above the torch, flames caught it, devouring until it curled into ashes. He sighed. It wasn¡¯t a sign of guilt, but a feeling of euphoria. ¡°Never would I dare to do something so brash,¡± he said. ¡°However, now is different. Your father is dead.¡± ¡°Is this some sick joke? You¡¯ve already turned senile at your age, Jurok!¡± Lei sneered. When his father hears of this, Jurok will be executed for his impertinence and betrayal. Who would dare usurp the Garuda clan that stood proud for a century? ¡°Even now you deny the circumstances of your situation. Look at yourself. Foul as a barbarian, wearing rags unfit for the lowliest servant, and so stank none of your friends would recognize nor acknowledge-¡± ¡°Shut up would ya! I¡¯m tryna sleep here!¡± A dry voice interrupted. It was the person Lei though died, Geordie. How is he still alive in this freezing dungeon? ¡°Very well, then I won¡¯t bother you any longer, Lei. Please note, it¡¯s nothing personal, just business. We will meet at your execution.¡± Jurok took one last glance, with hands behind his back, and stepped up the slick stairs to the open dungeon door. The heavy and rusted dungeon door creaked its mouth shut. ¡°Geordie!¡± Lei shouted, shook, slapped, and kicked him. Anything to anchor him to his mortal coil. He brushed Lei aside in a lazy manner. Emaciated with plastered gray hair, he was about forty. The shoddy clothes folded in his basin-like chest. ¡°Did I hear something bout¡¯ an execution? Not for me is it?¡± Lei sighed, carrying Geordie closer to the torch¡¯s warmth, and explained his situation. The flame projected two shadows that flickered imperceptibly on the floor. The shadows were still but grew with anger but deflated in helplessness, absorbing and releasing the colors of crimson heat. ¡°We can¡¯t die here like this! We gotta explore the world, eat food, and flirt with them beauties! The best way to live is to spitfully live! Spite your brother! I.. I want to flirt with girls! I¡¯m only thirty! ¡± He rubbed his bony hands together. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ I can¡¯t die like this! I MUST LIVE!¡± Lei yelled. ¡°But.. there¡¯s no way to escape¡­¡± He slouched. ¡°Don¡¯t accept what fate gives you because they¡¯re all second-hand goods. Fight for what you want.¡± Geordie chuckled weakly, his fingers intertwined.I got a good idea¡­¡± ******** A sunburnt, burly man hobbled down the dungeon, carrying a torch in one hand, and a bag of gruel in the other. He was a sturdy, straw haired man with two crossed eyes, and a crooked smile. His thin coat magnified his shifting muscles as it was stretched to the limit. ¡°Mista Jurok told me to give ya this for your last meal. Something about food and stuff. Welp, here¡¯s ya gruel.¡± He dumped the meal on the floor. He turned and walked up the stairs. ¡°S-say, mister.. Master Jurok said he¡¯d le-let me outta here.¡± Lei said, shivering. ¡°Did he now¡­ welp, he ain¡¯t here, whatcha gonna do?¡± He continued walking. ¡°I command you to stop this instant!¡± The man snapped his head back, face blooming beet red, eyes twitching. ¡°You what now?¡± ¡°Please sir, calm your anger.¡± Lei dropped to his knees, and bowed. His face was similarly red, for him to beg was humiliating, even if it was pretend. ¡°The guy next to me is a medic. One willing to service you!¡± The man lit up, calming down. Without hesitation, he dropped his pants, revealing a puffy, oozing tumor on the right inner thigh.¡°Oh, neato, I¡¯ve got this big one here.¡± The man revealed a sad face. ¡°Can you fix me, doc? It¡¯s been chaffin¡¯ for years. I cut it off and it comes back meaner n¡¯ bigger.¡± Geordie''s eyes widened. ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± ¡°Of course he¡¯ll heal it for you!¡± Lei interjected, pushing him forward. ¡°But you must let us out!¡± The man agreed, forcing Geordie to inspect the wound. Geordie asked for a sharp knife, alcohol, and clean gauze. The man complied, running out to retrieve the materials. ¡°My First Circle is unable to revolve mana anymore and I can¡¯t cast heal without a medium to channel the magic. I¡¯m going to slice off the tumor with a sharp knife.¡± He leaned closer. ¡°Or we could change our plan¡­.¡± He whispered. ¡°No.. we can¡¯t do that! I can¡¯t do that,¡± Lei shook vehemently. He had done plenty of misdeeds, but not something so deadly. Geordie gripped Lei¡¯s arm tighter, ¡°We must, to survive! You¡¯ll understand one day, so don¡¯t ruin this.¡± The door creaked and the man came back with a gleaning knife, a jug, and some cloth, ¡°Welp, doc, here¡¯s ya stuff.¡± He grinned a dumb, goofy smile. Geordie wrapped the man¡¯s eyes and stuffed his mouth with the cloth. It¡¯s so he doesn¡¯t see the surgery, and could bite down on the pain, he says. The knife prepared its brave incision into unknown dome of the tumor. It paused- hesitating- then pushed forth in a smooth curve arc like a paddle through water. The man grit his teeth until the jaws locked and muscles bulged red and bruised The torch lit a play of shadows on the wall. The figures were elongated and flickered with the laughing flames. One sat and one squatted. For the next plan was not his wish, perhaps his lack of will is his weakness. Lei stared blankly. The sitting figure grunted in surprise. It shot up but the legs went limp; a thin knife was stuck in it. A stream shot out; an artery was sliced. The burly figure wobbled. The squatted shadow pushed the injured shadow onto the ground, merging together. The top shadow suffocated the victim. Geordie¡¯s shadow moved fast. It raised its arm- holding another sharp object- and plunged, puncturing the shadow¡¯s neck. It was sure swift, afterall, a medic should know the body best. Like a skilled butcher, the executioner sweeps the blade, left, right, left, right, around the throat slicing whatever holds the body up. For a brief moment it looked like the victim tries to yell, as more tissue is severed. Blood squirts with every cut, splashing onto the wall with force. The torches dimmed as the body struggled- becoming weaker and slower- for a few seconds later until the body became slump. The occasional arm or leg convulsed. Maybe the soul was passing through them? The bloodsoaked Geordie stood up weakly, gasping for breath. He stared at me, gaunt eyes darted from me to the dungeon door. ¡°We must do anything to survive, Lei. Lives are but a simple passing of the wind.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Are those words of yours comforting me or you?¡± ¡°Aye, I have broken the Code I held honor.¡± Geordie, with shaky hands, stripped the clothes off the dead man. A small pool of blood gathered, staining the air with metallic taste. He donned the dead man¡¯s clothes. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± His thumb gestured towards the door. Time for part two. Geordie grabbed the torch from the wall and pushed Lei forth. It was no dashing escape. A castle¡¯s security force was overseen by a Prime Guard, a mage of Third Circle or higher. The castle guards include household knights, mage apprentices, squires, men-at-arms and watchmen. If the castle owner fancied it, they could install intrusion runes - triggering traps - rather than employing guards. For example, the Garuda Clan had large interconnected mansions utilizing both methods. Guards patrolled the perimeter and intrusion runes safeguarded valuables. This castle owner, however, did not justify the high cost of maintaining a night patrol. Just establishing normal guards already depleted the owner¡¯s stash of gold. It made security runes seem very attractive. Lei deduced that the guards are asleep in their quarters. However, the security runes may be active at night. The stone halls were empty, lit only by dying torches. Wealthier nobles would embed mana crystals into the walls, which emitted sooth and calming ambient light; a symbol of wealth. Lei oncescoffedat the cheap designs of such manors and castles, but facing the unknown, it now provided a sense of anxiety and itjumped his senses into overdrive. What if they triggered an unsuspecting rune? They could be obliterated into nothing. It could be worse: physical traps. These traps don''t rely on magic, they are activated by pressure in the stairs or on the floor.If they get spiked, they''re done for. This leads to the question of: Is Baron Argus a cheap bastard or not? Luckily, it was the middle of the night when they discovered guards at key points in the castle so many were unaware, simply dozing off while leaning against the wall. Stalking up the maze-like corridors, they were hit by the smell of roasted meat. Their grumbling stomach rebelled, so they made a detour into the welcoming kitchen. The smell was faint, but it lingered around to guide them. Tied roasted chickens greeted their eyes, golden and crisp, were slow roasting over the weak oven embers. The aroma emanated an aura that touched every nook in the kitchen, seeping herbal flavors into the counter of strewn piles of bread. Arched above the table - resting from their day of use - were tacked various cooking tools. Lei knew the owner held a feast of sorts earlier. They went to work, eating like starved animals. Chunks of bread and chicken disappeared into the black hole of their stomach. Their bellies expanded like they were pregnant, a full moon. Grease splashed on their canvas of a mouth, as they slumped next to the warm oven. They felt something they haven¡¯t in months: a full stomach;. Lei sighed with a smile, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He scooched closer to the oven, basking in heat. A sharp, oily knife rested atop Lei¡¯s belly, as a fork was in his hand. Geordie gestured towards the exit. Lei shook his head. ¡°We need to find my sister and bring her. I don¡¯t trust my brother anymore,¡± Lei whispered. ¡°We? Bah,¡± Geordie waved. ¡°We are barely alive and you want to save your sister? She¡¯ll be fine. Let her go. Save her when you¡¯re stronger.¡± Lei paused and gripped his shoulder. ¡±You go first. Once I retrieve my sister, I¡¯ll find you.¡± Geordie paused, thinking about it, then sighed,¡± Grab your sister and let¡¯s run¡­ Where is she?¡± Correct¡­ Where was she? Lei thought. As the guest of some noble, rooms are reserved near the top floors of the castle. ¡°The wealthy believe the rising sun will gift them good luck so their bedrooms face the sun rise. When they treat guests, their rooms should be next to or nearby the master bedroom,¡± Lei said. Geordie sighed, ¡±Fine, let¡¯s do this quickly.¡± They grabbed a few things in the kitchen - a couple of knives, more food, and some water - before ascending the spiral stairs in a careful manner. Geordie taunted Lei for bringing along the ladle. ¡°Casting spells is assuring, alright?¡± retorted Lei. ***************************************************** Four guards stood near the guest rooms, dozing off. Their spears leaned on the wall. The hall lined six impressive rooms, running in a circular base, parallel to each, all inlaid with the crest of a sword and fang. With a glance, Lei knew that insignia. It belonged to Baron Argus Redfield- a notorious sexfiend with a temper to match. Lei raised the ladle, and casted Deep Slumber. It was the only spell he was able to learn back in the Housten Academy. It was potent and immediate. There was a miniscule amount of movement in his body; just enough for one cast. Lei¡¯s magic circle - incomplete and clogged by torture - rotated like a broken clock as it poured viscous mana into the spell. Because the guards were dozing off, it was easy to influence. The spell brushed into the guards and they fell to the floor like puppets with their strings cut. Except one. The furthest guard grabbed his spear and attacked. He swayed. Unsteady, like a drunk. Lei fell to his knees, his hand dangled a snapped ladle, charring black by mana. The guard reached Lei, spear raised back, ready for blood. Geordie dashed forth, arcing up a kitchen cleaver at the guard¡¯s neck. The momentum carried the blade. It sliced. Unstoppable. It continued until it hacked into the stone wall with a solid clang. Praise the chefs; they took great care of their tools. The head plopped next to Lei, wearing a mask of confusion. Lei¡¯s bony, shaky hand wiped his forehead sweat as he heaved. His magic circle faded, presenting a welting bruise. Geordie got down and inspected Lei. He said, ¡°No. More. Magic.¡± Taking a break, they pressed their ears against the closest door, listening. Four guards represented four occupied rooms. Two rooms had faint rumbling of snores. Those were crossed out. The furthest wooden door transmitted vibrations caused by bouncing¡­ and moaning. Argus Redfield. So, the sexfiend rumors were true. There lies the only room left: the silent. They opened it with care, no creaks to be heard. What would they see? It could be a muscular warrior, or maybe a elderly noble. It was their first chance, their only attempt. The window was wide open, letting the breeze wave the curtains. Moonlight illuminated the black carpet that extended from the open door to two luxurious beds. One bed empty. The other laid a small figure cocooned in quilt. ¡°Mimi!¡± Lei rushed over and shook her. She rubbed her eyes and squinted. ¡°Lei¡­¡± She muttered. Her eyes teared up and hugged his arm like a caterpillar. ¡°I¡¯m dreaming again,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me!¡± She hugged tighter. Her head tilted back, revealing a sleeping face with plastered blonde hair, pale blush cheeks with hint of drool on tip of her mouth. Lei stroked her messy hair, cooing her sadness. ¡°There¡¯s no way to escape quietly,¡± Geordie frowned, gesturing at the window. The guest room faced the outer wall of the entrance, towering over the landscape of sleeping flowers, and exposing the gate. A giant wall surrounded the castle. There leaned two guards. They laughed and drank and were lively as ever. Damn! We can only pass through the gate. They raided the closet and donned on nicer clothes while fixing their scraggly hair. Their escape required much finesse since their magic was disabled. They returned back to the kitchen, where they found a wooden crate; one big enough to fit Mimi. The trio descended past the chambers. They tiptoed down the great hall, andproceeded toward the gate. Walk with swagger, Lei reminded Geordie. The moon eyed them from the cloudless night, scarred by ancient craters, it hung high, bright and round, curious of their actions. The Three Celestial Rings - worshipped for many reasons - arced across the sky, overlapping each other at different positions. The two guards wore basic leather armor, with swords hung by their waist, stood by the arched gate. It was obvious the ash bearded guard was a mentor to the younger one... A rookie that held a notepad. ¡°Halt! Where are you leaving to so late?¡± The middle aged guard asked. He held a casual posture seeing the scrawny but well dressed travellers. Lei lowered the wooden crate. Calm down, breath slow. This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve done this. ¡°We wish to pass.¡± Lei said, chest puffed. ¡°State your name, position and reason for leaving.¡± The young guard readied his notepad. ¡°We are Jel and Lo,¡± Lei stated. ¡°Chefs heading out early to gather ingredients for a feast... for the baron.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the baron just have a feast?¡± The middle age guard pondered, stroking his mustache. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the cooks in the castle, but they¡¯re all fat bastards. I¡¯ve never seen such skinny ones. Have you, Leonard?¡± he asked the rookie. The young, naive guard shook his head. Gerfie slapped Lei¡¯s head, ¡°Sir, we are apprentices.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in the crate?¡± ¡°Supplies.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re apprentices, there¡¯s a tradition you need to follow. As in offering tribute.¡± The middle aged guard winked at the trainee. ¡°Take note.¡± Lei smirked, and handed the mentoring guard a small, wrapped package. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re a smart one,¡± the guard revealed stained, yellow teeth as he smiled. ¡°Move along.¡± A whimper came from shadow. It was a brown, scrawny dog with visible ribs. ¡°Oh, something wrong, dog?¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve caught the scent of bacon, that dog.¡± Lei gritted his teeth, throwing a small piece of bacon to the dog. The young guard swooped in and pried the meat from the dog¡¯s mouth. He kicked the dog away. ¡°HEY!¡± Geofie huffed as he got between them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? It¡¯s just a damn animal.¡± The kicker eyed Geordie. ¡°That¡¯s right, Ge... Lo. It¡¯s just a damn animal.¡± Lei muttered, glaring daggers at Geordie. ¡°These boys need to eat, especially during war.¡± Lei pulled him back. Geordie''s face turned beet red. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hurt the dog!¡± Geordie lashed a punch at the guard. ¡°Dog?¡± A cute, stifled voice came from inside the crate. The content inside began struggling. ¡°What the¡­?¡± The young guard looked confused. Lei sighed, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a leather pouch of red powder. He hurled the contents, covering the guard¡¯s face like a rose cloud. ¡°Pocket spice!¡± The young guardfell onto the dirt ground, curling into the fetal position, with hands covering, rubbinghis eyes, screaming as if swarmed with fire ants. With various chilis and seasoning, who could resist? ¡°Ah! My nose! Oh! My eyes!¡± Lei stepped to the side, grabbed a nearby thick stick, and proceeded to wack him unconscious - lest it attracted attention. ¡°We could¡¯ve escaped smoothly!¡± Lei punched the huffing Geordie. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°Alright my as-,¡± Lei realized Geordie was talking to and petting the dog. Geordie looked around. ¡°Let¡¯s steal a horse.¡± A castle should have horses, or would it still be a castle? ¡°Do you know how to ride a horse?¡± Lei replied, retrieving the guard¡¯s bacon. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Damn it, Geordie, me neither.¡± Chapter 3- Running From Our Problems Frosty mist puffed from the green horned deer, its ears pointed, swivelling, scanning for danger. The sun was waking, just above the horizon, but it will soon be hidden by gray and freezing clouds, warned by the chill wind. It had to eat, it had to fatten up, it had to follow its whispering instincts to adapt. The panting deer trotted a beaten strip, a gentle stream lay parallel, followed by patches of dewey grass, which was promptly ripped from its base by the deer, chewing in cadence. It froze in mid-chew; an instinct born of prey. It heard multiple figures bumbling through the weaves of branches and shrubbery. They were clumsy- but dangerous. Energy surged in its legs as it pounced over the gentle stream, disappearing into the shedding valley of woven ash trees. A few minutes later, three scraggly figures stumbled by, followed by a brown, sharp eared dog. ¡°Lei, I¡¯m tired! Carry me like a princess or I won¡¯t move anymore!¡± Mimi said, stamping her feet. Her once pirstine shoes were now laced with dirt, mud covered her pajamas, and soot browned her rosy cheeks. Lei stretched, and squatted at the stream. ¡°We¡¯ll take an hour break and-¡± ¡°No, we need to keep moving! C¡¯mon, c¡¯mon.¡± Geordie said, his gaunt eyes darting around trees and open areas for danger. ¡°Let¡¯s follow the stream and find us a village to hide in. I know they are on our trail. I feel it.¡± ¡°Paranoia¡¯s got you good, Geordie. Relax, we¡¯re a few hours ahead of them. How are they going to find us in these woods, right?¡± After they escaped the castle, and neared a village, the unfortunate howling of dogs alarmed everyone, so they hastened their speed. And when the sun peeked past the horizon, across the grassy hills and wheat fields, they tread past the bordering village. The journey was treacherous by Lei¡¯s standard; he walked more in a day than he exercised in a school year. With his legs bruised, his arms sore, Lei missed his delightful carriage. A drowsy sheep herder eyed them as they wandered across the valley trails and into the unknown woods. Lei splashed his face with clear stream water. Scooping it, he gulped it down like it was nectar of the gods. He saw his reflection. Long, thin blonde hair pasted on his waxy, bearded face. The difference was like night and day, and it felt like he was looking at a stranger. Was possible that¡­ with his appearance, he could also seek a new life, a happy one without obligation, without pressure? No. That¡¯s ridiculous. Didn¡¯t he enjoy the wealth and power of his family? His hand slicked through his hair, catching dust and dirt. He has a responsibility - to lead the Garuda business¡¯ and ventures. His life was that purpose, just like Jurok¡¯s was to serve under him. But¡­ Did anyone else ask him what he wanted? Like Jurok, he could burn his contract with his family. Jurok¡­ That bastard! To dare lie about the death of his father, one of the most powerful man in the Eaz empire, he must be seeking death. That¡¯s right, power and wealth was why he had the capital to be so arrogant among his peers! ¡°Brother, brother,¡± Mimi interrupted, tugging on Lei¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Mooneye flowers! Please... Let¡¯s go north. Now!¡± ¡°Let big brother rest a bit, ok?¡± Lei got up and walked over to Geordie, who slumped next to a gnarled tree. His hands covered his face. Mimi also followed, curious. ¡°What¡¯s happening now? Cheer up man, we¡¯re almost away!¡± Lei playfully punched Geordie in the shoulders. ¡°I killed a man, and now that I think about it¡­ What have I been working for?¡± Geordie glanced at Lei, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°I worked so hard in the past ten years to study medicine. I sought to care for my wife so I joined the Mastrekian army to become a apothecary. Then I planned open up a medicine shop when I finish my duties. But now, I¡¯m in the middle of the nowhere, stuck who knows how far from my home.¡± Lei nodded, he thought it was a wasted effort. ¡°Well, when you take me home, I¡¯ll give you enough funds to open one, no, ten! Ten medical shops!¡± Lei stretched his arms, as if he could fulfill anyone¡¯s endless desires. He continued, ¡±Not just in any lousy town either, but in the Royal Capital! That¡¯s how rich I am, and I can fulfill your every dreams¡­ As long as I am back in my clan.¡± Mimi nodded, agreeing with Lei. She knew he was telling the truth, yet Geordie remained skeptical, saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t that man say, back in the dungeon, your father was dead? He seemed quite sincere about it.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Lei kicked a tree in anger, his mood fell like the leaves, his breathing turned erratic. Preposterous. ¡°Lei~, don¡¯t be angry!¡± Mimi¡¯s childish voice was a dash of cold water on Lei, forcing him to control his breathing, as she tugged Lei¡¯s arm. Her heart sank seeing her brother get angry so she would be the one to stop him from doing something rash. ¡°You see?¡± Geordie got up, arms wide, imitating Lei¡¯s previous gesture. ¡°Classic denial. To perform fantastic feats of cognitive dissonance. I¡¯ve seen it in soldiers when they lost their arms. I¡¯ve seen it when one of their sworn brothers die.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He walked over with a stiff finger, and poked Lei¡¯s chest, saying, ¡°And I¡¯ve seen it in you.¡± Swatting the finger away, Lei stepped back, his voice shrill, a lack of confidence, shouting, ¡±Shut up! Shut up!¡± Geordie ignored that, and closed in until Lei backed into a tree. The dog whimpered, tail swung nervously. He continued, ¡±Are you so naive to believe all that wealth belongs to you? Take that away and you¡¯ll have nothing. Nothing! No goals. No skills. No talent. You might possess a modicum of talent when you were younger, but you¡¯ve lost it. You don¡¯t rely on yourself, you rely on others.¡± ¡°Stop. Please stop,¡± Lei said weakly, his eyes shut, and his ears covered. His hands were pried away by Geordie¡¯s iron grip. ¡°Prince? More like the Prince of Toilets because you¡¯re full of shit. It¡¯s pathetic.¡± Mimi kicked Geordie¡¯s leg, but it was weak and left no damage. ¡°Leave my brother alone!¡± Geordie¡¯s palm landed on her head, and slid her an arms length away, rendering her onslaught of punches futile. ¡°Then there¡¯s your sister. If we went without her, nobody would have noticed. But no, you had to bring...¡± Stepping away from the pair, realization dawned on him. ¡°They¡¯re not chasing me. I¡¯m irrelevant. They¡¯re after you people! I could be far away if I had left you.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± A gruff voice came from the woods. The dog, tense, let loose a guttural growl, knew the pursuers were here. Under the snap of twigs and leaves, a shadow shot from behind the trees. Geordie was prepared. He drew back, but also kicked Lei, knocking him from dangers path. The arrow missed its target, piercing a tree with a dull thud. He took once glance at Lei, almost hesitating, then darted into the woods, leaving them behind. Sometimes, that was the only way to survive. But was it the right choice? Lei grabbed Mimi, and stumbled near the stream. Right now, he wanted to run from all his problems. ¡°Go!¡± The stream morphed into a river, slow to rapid, narrow to expansive; as it swam further along, it was a destructive serpent, twisting and turning, waves slamming into the mud riverbank, revealing jagged rocks. Lei ran and he didn¡¯t care where to. He followed the dog. His mind disoriented. He couldn¡¯t think straight. Lei¡¯s breathing ragged the further down they moved. Bending, his hand clutched his chest, dry heaving, feeling the berzerk rhythm of his beating heart. He tasted blood. They reached an impasse. The river slithered ninety degrees. Their escape was blocked. A dull thrum suppressed his thinking, making him dizzy. He glanced to his side. The tree branches interweaved each other, even extended over the river itself, and the trees themselves were so plentiful, they competed with each other, staunch, with spiked barks. It would be impossible to climb or pass through. ¡°Um, I¡¯m not good at swimming¡­¡± said Mimi. She gingerly dipped her toes into the rapid water. With teary eyes, she looked at Lei for support. Lei picked up a smooth stone that fit his hand perfectly. He turned around. ¡°Why do you chase us?!¡± He saw three men. The middle one was the leader that knocked him out. Because his nose was battered and oversized, Lei named him Junkface. Hearing the silly, desperate question, Junkface laughed. He showed no sign of exhaustion, his overwhelming muscles stretched his leather outfit into a tight fit, jingling various attached daggers. ¡°Hear that, boys? He asked us why.¡± The two men beside him chuckled nervously, as they glanced at him. ¡°Brat, we¡¯ll take your little sister back. Be obedient and maybe, just maybe, I¡¯ll chop off one leg and a half.¡± Chop.. his legs off? Lei peeked at the river. Perhaps it was worth a jump. Calculating the stone¡¯s mass, he thought it could be a thrown, just like a spell scroll. Then... let it fly! It was a simple attack, fast and heavy as it shot towards Junknose. Dodging to the side, Junknose made his move, unsheathing two daggers, and closed in, jumping over wet rocks with graceful dexterity. His opponent was just a kid without any spells, especially not earth magic. The kid has been on the run for a day, so he must be exhausted. The kid has been starved, so he must be weak. However, even a cornered rat would attack with all its might. Suddenly, a thin figure burst out of the woods, charging like a bull at Junknose, ignoring the cuts from jagged stones. The other two men did not chase, but instead aimed their crossbows and shot. Two arrows pierced the figure just as it leaped forth, tackling Junknose¡¯s back. The figure, Geordie, let out a deep growl, and a pained chuckle. Partly wondering, why did is he doing this? He shouted, ¡±LEI! LIVE FOR ME!¡± Before Junknose could throw him off, Geordie laughed crazily, and said, ¡±Let this absolve my sins!¡± Underneath his thin clothing, his emaciated body seemingly held boundless strength, a circular glow appeared on his shoulder, shined like a star. Then¡­ It exploded. Shockwave shot past everyone, blasting everyone back. It swept Lei up, his back hurling towards the roaring river. ********************** ¡°Boy, you want this rat?¡± A thin man stared at the near unconscious youth on the ground. ¡°What¡¯re you in here for? They¡¯ve beaten you black and blue. I doubt your mother would recognize you.¡± When Lei didn¡¯t respond, he shrugged, and said, ¡°More rat for me, I guess.¡± ********************** ¡°Why do we fight to stay alive, Lei?¡± ¡°It¡¯s purpose. So I live on.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s your purpose?¡± *********************** Memories sprung in his mind, of the pain they beared, of the stories they shared. As he plunged into the river, underneath the billowing, blue cover, the current swept him away. Chapter 4 - The River Gives and Takes Lei was saved from the situation above. Yes, the river saved him, but now in return, it demanded something. The river was a fickle mistress, if Lei failed, it would forever own his body and soul. Leave? YOU BELONG TO ME! Power thrummed into his ears, as the white water rapids tossed him around like a baby, smashing him onto the smooth riverbed rocks, dragging him up until he cracked against fallen tree trunks, hurling him down at mach speed. The tide pushed deeper, forcing water down his nose and mouth, worming into his lungs and stomach. His lungs screamed, begging for air, pounding his chest as if trying to escape. Unbearable anxiety crawled out of his soul; he took no breath since entering the river. ¡°Live for me, Lei!¡± Geordie... Right. Dying... No. Arm raised, he thrusted down, trying to propel up. Again. Again! It was useless, for he was no fish; swimming upstream was impossible in this helpless situation. The darkness closed in, giving him starry eyed tunnel vision. One last push, his subconscious thought. Go! Gathering the last bits of strength in his legs, he kicked down. His head popped up! He gasped, taking in a beautiful, fresh lungful of oxygen. Paltry strength seeped into his air-deprived veins like a dying bear devouring meat. Unfortunately, it lasted for a second. It felt as if an iron ball was attached to his legs because the current dragged him down again. No! His arms shot for the nearest branch. His hands seized a thorny branch, but his grip was listless; a wave smashed and tore his grip away. The wave propelled him further, and further, until he smashed into a thick trunk. This time, he held on.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. However, the trunk cracked thanks to the extra force. Stuck between the trunk and current, behemoth pressure crushed Lei¡¯s body. His clothes were long ripped away, torn pants hanging by threads. With his conscience nil, body tethered at the edge of shedding flesh, ghastly chills invaded his bones, freezing marrow- Lei had reached beyond his mortality; his body begged to die already. Then it woke. His instincts took charge, pulling the very last vestiges of strength, from his muscles, from his magic circle, and from his soul. Gripping the bark, Lei crawled up, his hands dug deeper into the thorns, each action caused thorns to bite into his palms, thirsty for blood. On his back, a circle appeared, slowly forming. It was translucent in the shape of a donut, and like a vial of water injected with blood, it swirled crimson - blood? It glowed ominously, revolving faster, devouring the pressure like a starved beast. Eyes gleaming red, Lei groaned. The circle absorbed more water, its hue turning darker. However, Lei¡¯s emaciated body shrunk faster. Foundation magic circle requires blood to form, the more, the stronger. But how much could Lei afford? The current¡¯s flow transformed into a whirlpool around Lei¡¯s new circle. His body was nearly dessicated like a mummy; if this continued, the magic circle would kill him. Ripping his damaged palm from the thorny bark, he gestured at the riverbed, blasting the mud into a radius, revealing a hidden, giant scaled serpent. The serpent was surprised its little prey knew of its location. It was relaxing in a mud bath after a good meal when this puny creature disturbed its nap. Now it could enjoy desert. The serpent just hopes his prey has more meat than seen. It attacked. Coiling to gather energy, it shot forth, mouth wide, fangs dripping green saliva. And it felt regret. The deadpan Lei raised his arm. Following his will, a portion of the river broke off, a sharp whip, slicing the serpent in half, like knife through butter, its scale provided no resistance. Gesturing to come over, the serpent¡¯s blood seemed to be animated, gathering into stream like veins that condensed, slithering onto Lei¡¯s welcoming arm. It joyfully flowed into his magic circle, like it was home. The serpent squirmed on the riverbed, confused at what occurred, until it mummified when the last drop of blood left. A silver core, apple sized, floated to the top. Water wrapped it, presenting it for Lei. Lei¡¯s poor little heart started pumping fresh blood, his pale face slightly improving. Emotionless, Lei walked across the trunk, slicking across the mud shore, leaving blood prints in each step, collapsing onto lush grass, gripping the silver core tightly. Without Lei¡¯s interference, the river returned to rage on. Chapter 5- Please... Why?! Hanging atop the cloudless sky, the sun beat down on Lei, who was cradled by the long grass he slumbered in. Itchy and prickly, Lei opened his cloudy eyes, wondering where he was. The river was a constant reminder he was alive, roaring, and splashing some mist his way. His left hand gripped on a peach pit sized orb of sort. It gave off a cool sensation. A white fragment half buried among the grass poked him on the side. First he tried to stretch his slime covered arm, which emitted a pleasant smelling aroma, one of lavender and vanilla, which oozed out from the leafy looking bed of grass he lied on. Damn, was he being devoured? He tried moving but each attempt flared his body with intense pain, which somehow made the plant lively, secreting more green slime. The pain disappeared immediately, replaced by the sensation of drowsiness and euphoria, like laying in the plumpest silk bed that could swallow him up. The feeling was so overwhelming that Lei just closed his eyes, content. After all, he sought for pleasure and fun in life. It felt good. He heard the tall grass rustle, but deep in his subconscious, he didn¡¯t care. It might be a predator, some large fanged beast, or maybe a harmless deer. Why does it matter? ¡°Woof!¡± It barked twice. The grass rustled again, then came a squeaky, girlish voice,¡±Big brother! Why are you napping like that?¡± Opening his eyes, Lei looked at the source of the voice. Mimi, that poor little girl, she was all covered in mud and leaves and her hair was a mess. Is this some sort of hallucination? Brushing her plastered hair aside, Mimi quickly began to tear the grass that was eating Lei. Her hands turned mucky from her effort, and soon the slime¡¯s effect took action. Mimi plopped her butt down on the grass, eyes turning cloudy. She laughed. It was a dumb laugh, dull even, lacking any thought, without any of the manners she was taught. Laying down, she began waving her arms and legs as if she was making snow angels, covering herself in even more mucus. The two siblings looked at each other, both giggling like it was a good joke. Seeing this situation, the dog grew increasingly anxious, whimpering at Mimi to get up. It could not bear to bite her, so instead, it bit down hard¡­ On Lei¡¯s hand. Being punctured by gripping the thorny tree earlier, his hand was riddled with lacerations and adding on the bite, it ignited an explosion of pain. Electric soberness slapped him in the face and pumped him full of adrenaline until he shot up and screamed loud enough to echo through the forest-like woods, scaring the birds into flight. ¡°Mimi, get up! We¡¯ve got to leave this area.¡± He crawled to her while the grass clung tighter, unwilling to release. He snapped them off Mimi and dragged her away. Thanks to the slime¡¯s euphoric effect, the pain was suppressed, but it didn¡¯t help with his newfound limp. Lei sighed when checking his body. Near dessicated. Fractured bones. Countless gashes peppered around his body. For some reason, they were sealed even though they were only a day old. How could this have happened? He looked at the tiny, silver orb in his hands. It was smooth, lacking bumps or dents. Of course, Lei knew what this was. He grew up surrounded by - and even handled - rare objects. This was the beast core of a magic using creature. With fuzzy memories, confusion swirled as he wondered what happened when he blacked out. ¡°What do I do now, Geordie?¡± Lei mumbled. He looked around and saw vast expanses of huge trees. They look different from before, more normal¡­ Or perhaps they have roots that ambush nearby prey. The river surged in waves behind him, calling, but he ignored it. He dare not look at it. ¡°I¡¯ve survived this far so I can¡¯t give up. Just keep walking¡­ Just keep walking.¡± And so they moved forth, slowly, limping across muddy terrains, and over uncovered tree roots. Hot and heavy was the air that breathing was a chore. Lei¡¯s left hand held the beast core, while his other was linked with Mimi¡¯s, who was still under the effects of the mucus, giggling uncontrollably, walking like a drunk. She also suffered from periods of lucidity, often acting serious by mimicking the elders of their clan. The dog guided Lei. Occasionally, they spotted silver bears taller than two full grown men. Lei was thankful the wind didn¡¯t blow their scent towards the bears. Truth was, the bears wouldn¡¯t have noticed because they were so filthy. Lei learned that Mimi and and the dog were also blasted into the river, but was quickly thrown back onto shore by a forgiving wave. She followed the dog until they found him. Hours flew by. Both the sun and moon were visible to the naked eye, with the sun soon to slumber, just over the horizon, with the moon getting ready to man its station. Darkness unfurled its cover of starry night across the land like a blanket. Arcing like a bridge of unfathomable distance across the sky, The Arch Ring of Magic shined the brightest; the two other Celestial Rings wrapped themselves in a haze. The howl of hungry beasts reverberated throughout the woods, letting the world know they are ready to hunt. The mutt, which Mimi named Darky-darky, had discovered a worn caravan trail. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± Mimi asked. ¡°I¡¯m really hungry. I¡¯m tired. I miss roasted peasants. I want food. Now!¡± ¡°Stop it. You¡¯ve said it twelve times already. We¡¯ll get there when we catch a caravan, OK?¡± A ball of anxiety weighed heavy as a boulder in his heart. It¡¯s been two or three days since they¡¯ve last eaten something.The last time he drank was at the river. He licked his cracked lips. From hip to sole, every step taken grinded his bones raw, his calves constantly contract, tight as a bowstring, rarely releasing. It was unfair. He doesn¡¯t deserve this. ¡°Just keep walking¡­ Just keep walking,¡± he muttered, while tugging her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to rest¡­ What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Mimi was squatting, her hands rubbing her stomach. ¡°My tummy hurts,¡± she groaned. Lei caught the scent of something sweet from her breath. It was something familiar, something he¡¯s tasted before but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it. Medicinal¡­ Maybe? ¡°What did you eat?¡± ¡°Umm, nothing¡­¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that in your hand?¡± He pried it away from her. His palm stained blue from crushing it, he examined the object. ¡°A Sunset Berry. Our physician used to put this in our tea back home. Is this why you ate it, Mimi? She nodded, her face becoming pale and sweaty. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lei threw the crushed Sunset Berry onto the ground. ¡°The first thing our physician warned was NOT eat the actual berries! It must be boiled first.¡± Consuming it raw - for those untrained in magic - could prove fatal.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Lei paced around, about to panic. Wracking his brain for a solution, digging for information on mana revolution, he crouched next to Mimi, ready to spew out instructions; half of them might be incorrectly remembered. Of course, when a person tries to speak in rapid fire, words get jumbled up, words get blurred together, which causes miscommunication, leading to greater confusion. Expelling the mana from her body was crucial so he had her jump up and down. Her nose began to bleed. Watching, Lei smushed his hands on his face. He never dealt with hyperventilation before, but he could it feel it coming with his chest heaving deeper and faster. ¡°Mimi, you gotta¡­ you need to¡­ focus¡­¡± He learned her on a tree trunk, where the last vestige of sunlight focused on. Her forehead was burning, covered in sweat that dripped down her closed eyelids. What could he do now? She has to stay awake or this was it. Without a choice, he shook her. ¡°Remember how you always wanted to paint the King¡¯s statue green? We still need to do that so so stay with me, please!¡± He pleaded in a quivering voice, while gripping her shoulders. Her figure was blurred by his tears. Lei failed to notice a small hand grip his right wrist. Mimi opened her eyes. Her pupils contained a blue haze. Lei looked down to see her lightly poke his chest. Before he could react, a force blasted him away. He sailed back in an arc, crashing, then tumbling into the middle of the trail. He tried getting up but a deep ringing suppressed his conscience like a smashing hammer. His breathing labored; unable to fully inhale due to a blockage. ¡°Crawl¡­ to her¡­¡± The last sliver of horizon sun disappeared, replaced by the lit lantern of the moon. Lei felt the trail vibrate. Lifting his head up, he saw three horse-carrying freight carriages stop. Hope. ¡°Help me¡­¡± Lei tried shouting, but what came out was a rasp whisper. ¡°Sir! There is someone, looks about dead, blocking our path. Wait, no! He¡¯s alive, just barely,¡± a strong youthful voice reported from the first carriage. Somewhere behind, a gruff voice replied, ¡°At night? With all these animals around, just consider him dead. Kick him aside. There¡¯s no time to save him. We¡¯re already behind on our shipment.¡± A young guard leaped off his horse and dragged Lei to the side, carefully. He wore a basic leather armor, outfitted with a few daggers, with a sword strapped to his back.¡°Sorry,¡± he whispered. Lei watched the first carriage pass. ¡°Please, stop! Save my sister¡­ I beseech you!¡± He saw the young man that helped him look back. No one else did. Anger erupted, giving him paltry strength. Although his body was in agony, a particular pain was searing in a circle on his back. The second carriage rumbled by. ¡°WHY?!¡± he shouted at the passerbyers. He, Lei Garuda, never begged; anything he wanted was gifted; anyone he wanted was given. But today, with nothing to his name, he begged for the first time in his life. No one came to his aid because no one cared. Unbeknown to Lei, in the area they occupied, the originally dry trail became muddy even though no rain fell. To travellers in carriages, mud is a viscous beast that attaches itself to the wheels, stopping any further travel. Finally, the third carriage passed, ignoring him like the rest. Lei attempted to crawl to Mimi. He managed to flip onto his stomach. Unfortunately, that was all the strength he could muster. Every time he tried to move his arm, his strength would snap and dissipate. He could only lie face down on mud, smelling earth and rain. He heard the carriages come to a halt. *********************************** ¡°How did you lead us onto mud, Petra?¡± the owner of the gruff voice said. Wearing a similar leather armor, he was a middle aged man with silver hair tied back into a ponytail, a few loose strands hung over his right eye patch, while his beard covered his lower face. He inspected the wheels while three subordinates stood by. ¡°Sir, I swear to the Three Celestial Rings that the ground was dry earlier!¡± said Petra, the one who moved Lei. ¡°How could this be? Damn it! To be stuck in this forest is too dangerous with all those howling annoyances.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Captain Dragmis. This is my fault.¡± Petra kneelt onto the mud. ¡°First that dead guy blocked our path then kept shouting at us to stop. Now our caravan is stuck in mud¡­ This could be a ambush by thieves.¡± Captain Dragmis surveyed the surrounding area, one hand rested on the hilt of a sword by his waist. The moon lit night was clear, occupied by the sea of stars, blessing gentle light on the forest of huge trees, which casted terrifying shadows- if one let their imagination go wild. Mellow winds drifted by, carrying the beats of the forest it journeyed through. ¡°Arrange the caravans into defensive formation. Have a third of the team go to sleep, while the rest keep an eye out for beasts and thieves. Remember to follow your standard procedures with the miss. And Petra, you and I will go check out that half dead moron from earlier.¡± ¡°Er, Captain, shall I send two men to accompany you? Just incase it is an ambush,¡± a glasses wearing soldier asked. Captain Dragmist hawked spit onto the ground and flexed his muscles. ¡°Helt, does it look like I need help?¡± Helt thought, then said, ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time when we were in a similar situation, so yes.¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± In the same way they listened to the forest; the forest listened back. A crimson eyed beast dashed forth, hurling towards Dragmist,followed a fading stroke of red. A shower of arrows descended and pelted the beast, which slowed theit down, but failed to injure. It was Helt and a few archers who continued to watch Dragmis in the back. "Perfect! A Blood Wolf is just what I need after a long, stuffy ride. Keep an eye out for more attacks!" Dragmis ordered, unsheathing his sword, and sprinted, clashing with the beast. Dashingunder andleaping over, Dragmis chanted under his breathto which his sword heard, wrapping itself in razor-like wind. The Blood Wolf let out a howl that echoed throughout the land. Standing tall as two men, its fur grew sharp and rigid like armor, while its claws extended. Arrows continue to fall, attacking at the vital spots such as the eyes and nose. Dust was kicked up, shrouding two fighting figures. Dragmis leaped above the wolf, holding the sword high up in the air, razor wind lengthening. He hacked down. "Hawk Talon Slash!" The other mercenaries stood back, armed with swords, axes, and bows - ready to support Dragmis. "Can''t believe I saw a Blood Wolf tonight. I thought they''ve gone extinct with their fur being in high demandand their beast core also goes for an unimaginable price in the market, too!" A piercing scream came from behind them. "Oh shit, there''s another one!" one guy said as he looked back. Everyone was too investedseeing their captain that they forgot wolves travelled in packs. The new Blood Wolf alsowore thick, sharp fur, and stood on its hindlegs, with a carriage partly hoisted in its arms. Anotherscream came from inside the wolf''s carriage. The horses and travellers were slumped on the floor unconscious; a red mist swirled around. "Protect the miss! Who will pay us if shegets eaten? Charge!" They all raised their weapons and gave chase. The stealing Blood Wolf decided todropthe silent act and started lugging the carriage with all its might across the muddy terrain, with random items popping off, and ateary-eyed girl holding on. However, it was a struggle to move in the mud, which seemed to grow thicker and heavier each minute as if itwas the floor a river. The wolf also decided to fight the incoming mercenaries- starting off with a howl. Then it heaved up the carriage and threw it at the mercenaries, breaking up their battle formations. The girl, wearing glasses, flew out and crashed into the mud. The Miss, wiping away her ruined hair,peered up and saw a pair of gleaming eyes between the trees, the moonlight reflecting only fangs, dripping with saliva. Hastily, she got up and started running, unable to reach safety because she tripped, and fell atop some lanky object. She patted the floor to search for her fallen eye glasses, and when she found them, she disovered she was laying on a body. Cold. Clammy. A dead body. She covered her mouth with her hands but her eyes widened, because she realized she touched his body earlier. Another Blood Wolf landed in from of her. It was smaller, evidently younger, than the other wolves the merceanries were fighting, but nonetheless,a wolf. In the distance, Petra split from his group''s fight,sprinting towards the girl, who was still quite a distance away. He shouted, "Miss Catalina, I''m coming!" Could it be that Petra wantedto be herknight in shining armor? It was unfortunate that- despite pushing his legs to the limit, despitenearing, and despite wanting to save her- he was only a mortal that could watch her die. The wolf''s paw lachtched onto her throat. Chapter 6- The Meeting between Two Stubborn Hearts The wolf¡¯s paw cracked as it gripped the miss¡¯ neck. But her neck was uncrushed; rather, the wolf could not grasp any further. Sensing something, the Blood Wolf howled, and tried to jump back. Tried. As if sentient, the mud slobbered the wolf up to its waist, then anchored it down to the ground. The young wolf struggled in an attempt to claw its way out. Unfortunately, globs of mud snailed up its body, entering, exploring the cavities of its mouth, nose and ears, until the wolf suffocated, drowning in mud, sputtering out its last desperate howl. Catalina¡¯s face was blank as she stared at the mighty red wolf die a miserable death. She looked at the body she fell on. The man was young, almost nude, barely covered by a tattered cloth on his hip area. She watched blood flow down his nose, implying he was alive. Because the man lied on his stomach, she noticed a crimson circle imprinted on his back. Under the bright moon, it glowed with a demonic aura. ¡±Did he save me?¡± she muttered. ¡°Catalina!¡± Petra, panting, ran to her. He wore a mask of disbelief. ¡°I saw the mud just¡­ eat the wolf! Do you secretly know magic?!¡± Catalina tried to speak but her mouth was agape, stuck. She saw the mud and screamed, and in a moment of panic, leaped into Petra¡¯s arm. The mud grew air bubbles that popped; what came out wasn¡¯t air. Petra backed up from the vicinity, his eyes wide from the sight. Could the Blood Wolf still be alive, or perhaps the wolf has become a ghost? The pair watched crimson liquid seep out of the muddy pores, and in a snake-like manner, slithered over to the body. Catalina was dropped by Petra, who rushed to the young man, where the blood was converging. ¡°Petra come back!¡± Petra gazed at Catalina, and shook his head. ¡°I abandoned him the first time, so I refuse to do so again!¡± Petra hooked his arms under the young man¡¯s shoulders. Yet, after he came in contact with the body, he turned sluggish. ¡°My blood feels like lava. I¡¯ve never heard of anything besides elemental magic. What is this?¡± Soon the red, viscous liquid caught up. ¡°Stay away!¡± he told Catalina. Petra shut his eyes hard, waiting for be devoured. His heart thumped Scents of earthy metal clogged his nose and a strange warmth fizzled in his body. ¡°Don¡¯t move. It seems this ¡®blood¡¯ is attracted to the man you¡¯re holding.¡± Petra lowered his head to peek. A demonic ring, on the man¡¯s back, greedily absorbed the blood. ¡°What sort of mage is he?¡± ********************************************* Lei opened his eyes. He has emerged from the woods alive, somehow. ¡°I will burn this barn down if this is the Underworld River,¡± he muttered. He laid on an musty, itchy, hay bed, covered by a worn blanket. In front of him was a wooden gate, filtering past sunlight into the dark room, neighboring a few stalls that housed various hoofed animals, snorting and neighing, all aware of his presence. He wasn¡¯t sure what to feel currently. How many times has he fallen unconscious since his betrayal at the Mistdrop Forest?¡± He caught a sniff of lavender, sweet and refreshing. Wait, lavender? Memories of slime emitting grass reappeared, and his body reacted by twisting itself up. Lei grimaced as pain spiked in his body, reminding him of the wounds he accumulated. The wooden gate was kicked open, a sudden movement that startled the animals. The kick itself felt arrogant as if the person owned this place.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°You¡¯re awake! That¡¯s good news for all of us because you owe me a debt for saving your life.¡± Lei was surprised; the voice was so arrogant, but it belonged to a lady. She was average height, pretty, with dark, clever eyes, and flowing blonde hair that reached her shoulders, covered by casual wool clothing typically worn by the females of the middle class. She was someone Lei would¡¯ve ignored in the past. ¡°So how will you repay me?¡¯ She stood in front of his, her face stone cold. ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°My hired mercenary group brought my ruined merchandise, a half dead you, and a little girl back with them from the Bellding Forest. Now that-¡± ¡°Mimi! How is she?!¡± ¡°Hold on! Let¡¯s stay on the subject on hand. My shipments been half ruined, and not to mention, I had to feed you, clothe you, and heal you. You¡¯ve been asleep for days! Do you realize how much that healer and medicine costs me? If not for my naive sister begging me, I would¡¯ve thrown you out on the streets.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my sis-¡± ¡°The girl that I presume you kidnapped? My sister said a dog guarded her so she¡¯s alright during the battle.¡± Lei struggled to get into an upright position. ¡°Sorry but,¡± she yanked the blanket off him, ¡±she also told me you¡¯re a mage with unusual blood magic, said you took the blood out of Blood Wolf. That¡¯s quite spectacular. I need someone like you in my service.¡± With an exasperated face, Lei said,¡±Miss, these chains are unnecessary. Magic Sealing Cuffs are no- I¡¯m not even good at magic, ok?¡° ¡°Please don¡¯t dont act so humble, mister. I¡¯ve even sealed your magic circle with Mana Locks.¡± She flicked her hair, looking smug. This woman was young, around the same age as Lei, yet she acted so ruthless and cunning. ¡°Listen, I know some very wealthy nobles so I¡¯ll pay you back threefolds if you let me and my sister go. You called yourself a businesswomen, then you must know the value of networking amongst nobility.¡± She sneered,¡± Do you believe me to be a child? By the looks of your body, all those old whip scars, and deep cuts, you might just be a runaway slave who taught yourself some strange magic. Either way, I don¡¯t care for your ¡®wealthy¡¯ friends nor what networking opportunities you bring me.¡± From her back belt, she pulled a scroll out. It was a contract of sorts that leaked traces of foreboding. She pointed to a dried drop of blood on the signature area. ¡°You¡¯ve already agreed to my family¡¯s servant terms and employment contract. A full five years of servitude. In exchange, I, Eliza Kalamezon, will provide you with food, clothing, and whatever you need within reason. That little girl signed it in your stead when you were unconscious.¡± She blushed, looking away. ¡°Also in the contract, if you deny it later, you will be thrown into the toilet pits. That was Mimi¡¯s idea¡± Lei gritted his teeth. This woman- truly ruthless! Chaining him up brought back memories of the dungeon, a nightmare, of the continuous torture to break him. However, working for her would allow him to recoup from his injuries and lay low against the his pursuers. Since she believed he was a mage, this could be twisted into his advantage. It was also the perfect time to relearn magic. Over the past few months, he realized how lacking he was in protection- being abused over and over without any way to retaliate. Of course, there were also swords and magic tools available, but that was impossible to obtain with his current status: destitute. Even if he could get his hands on tools, the quality would be low grade, forged from very basic materials. This was the ideal scenario. They stared at each other, silent; whoever breaks movement loses. Lei studied her eyes, making rounds on her brown pupils, and while both maintained eye contact, they slowly squinted, never blinking as if they were sneering, while moving their facing in different directions. Eliza¡¯s cheeks grew rosy. Could this be the longest she ever stared into another guy¡¯s eyes? Finally, her patience reached its limit- she snapped. Eliza shouted, ¡°Are you going to say say something?¡± Lei shrugged. ¡±Yeah, and my answer is no.¡±