《The Warring Teacher》


 Prologue

    Prologue:


    Changing the world was not a job for a single man¡ªnot a normal one at least. It was something that life, along with those around him, never failed to remind him. At some point even he used to think like that, believing that living in such a world was meaningless, having no dreams or goals to pursue. He dropped university two times, worked only enough to survive and even his family gave up on him eventually.


    Thankfully, he managed to turn around his life and find a purpose.


    One day he ran into a certain high school teacher. He was the kind of teacher that liked to preach about the future and wanting to change his students for society¡¯s sake. At the time he thought it was a foolish goal, but now¡­ now he made up his mind to pursue the same ideals, no matter how often the society seemed unwilling to change.


    Devin Harrison walked home after another disappointing day.


    Why doesn''t anyone want a career after high school anymore? He thought.


    The generational gap between him and his students seemed to be abysmal, even when there was barely more than a decade of difference. In the past all he dreamed of was getting a successful engineering career and working as a software developer, but kids nowadays only wanted to involve themselves with the biological arts.


    And worse of all, he chose history to teach in a time when his students only cared for the progress in the future and totally ignored the glorious feats of the past.


    He sighed, feeling like an old man.


    Devin kept walking, dejected, when he saw one of his students across the road. He was with other two boys of around his age, and by all the things adorning their faces, they had to be hardcores of the bio arts. They did not seem like the kind of people a boy like him would hang with.


    He was a boy with whom he identified himself quite a bit. The boy had a good brain and could do great when he was interested in something, the problem being, that he had not particular interests apart from the occasional trend and the bio arts as everyone else. The boy was just like him before meeting his teacher again, only needing someone to encourage him to invest himself in his future. And he, as his teacher, wanted to be that someone.


    He walked towards his student, but as he got closer, he saw the boy turn away and run towards the road with a flustered face.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± He shouted. Down the road came one of those old buses, on circulation only for the sake of the extremely poor people that could not afford other means of transport. The light was green and the driver looked at who knows what in the sky.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Steeling his nerves, Devin dashed forward to push his student out of the way. The bus did not show any sign of stopping and neither did his student, but if he was fast enough, he could stop the boy before he crossed the bus and both would be safe.


    But life not always goes as expected.


    When he grabbed his student to push him away, the boy stopped abruptly and struggled with him for a moment. That moment would cost them both their lives if he did not do something. Without thinking, he kicked his student and threw him out of the bus¡¯ path, but he himself stumbled backwards and fell right in front of the giant wheels.


    The whole world turned bright for a moment and then darkened. He felt an immense weight crush him, but then it vanished. He could feel his body roll and bounce on something hard, but soon it also ended.


    Whispers.


    Voices.


    Screams.


    It all came to his ears little by little and then he could open his eyes. The first thing he saw was the student he just saved, crying and whimpering.


    ¡°¡­ sorry, teacher, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Devin thought that such an accident would be devastating, but if he was still conscious and the boy could recognize him, then maybe the accident was not that bad. He did not feel pain, after all.


    ¡°¡­don¡¯t worry, boy¡­¡± His voice came out softer than expected.


    The boy realized that his teacher was awake, and brought his face closer to hear better. ¡°What?¡± His voice trembled.


    ¡°¡­you¡¯re the future of the world, I can¡¯t let you get harmed, right?¡­¡± He felt that it was the perfect opportunity to persuade the boy to get a hold of his future. ¡°¡­sorry for the cheese words¡­¡± He coughed trying to laugh. ¡°¡­just stop losing your time and focus on your future. I know you can become someone great¡­¡± Now after a good performance, he could be at ease and leave everything else for the paramedics. He doubted that a small accident like that would cause him any permanent damage. Maybe he would be limping for a few months. Not that bad.


    ¡°¡­now let me sleep. I''m tired¡­remember to not slack off and be diligent¡­¡± Devin took a long breath and his consciousness began to fade. The boy surely would listen to his words. He couldn''t wait to see what the boy would become in the future. ¡°¡­see you later in class¡­¡± He exhaled.


    ¡°Teacher?¡± The boy shook his teacher¡¯s body, but there was no response.


    Devin Harrison just laid there, with his eyes open, an unmoving chest and a missing lower body.


    The teacher would not see the boy in class again.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Darkness. Silence. He could only use those two words to describe what became of his world after the accident.


    ¡°...want...ther chance...?¡±


    He thought that he had been in the darkness for a long time¡ªan eternity¡ªbut at the moment he heard the whisper, it felt like only an instant had passed since the accident.


    ¡°What?¡± He couldn''t hear properly what the voice said.


    ¡°Do you want another chance to live?¡± The voice was clearer and familiar, sounding as if it came from everywhere.


    Another chance? He thought. Was he dead? Is this how death feels? Just emptiness? But the words he heard gave him hope. He was being offered another chance to live, to teach.


    ¡°Yes.¡± He answered without a second thought. He did not question the whys and the hows, just accepted. He wanted to continue his dream in the next life, and one day change the world through his teachings.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to fight for your life someday, be prepared, and never give up.¡± The booming voice said with a tinge of worry.


    What? Fight? What was that about? He thought. Why would i need to- The shred of consciousness he gained when the voice talked to him disappeared, and he returned to the dark silence.

 Chapter 1: The Tunnels

    Chapter 1: The Tunnels


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡­had I killed the bastard that day, none of this would be happening. I curse and curse again the day I called him brother, for had I not done that, I could have forced my hand to smother his life. Now my doubt has condemned us all, condemned the Empire and condemned the world¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Spears in front.¡± Attalus commanded and five legionnaires left their squad and stepped ahead, wielding their weapons. The youngsters tried to stay focused, but it was impossible in their current situation, and their twisting and grimacing faces gave away their thoughts, to Attalus¡¯ amusement and disappointment.


    He had been lecturing them for the best part of two months and most of them still could not maintain the proper conduct of a legionnaire, though it was good to see the brats get a good taste of a dirty situation.


    He still resented that his father put him in charge of their training, saying that it was part of his duty. Screw that. Because of them he had been away from a real fight for two whole months. At this rate he would not be able to gather enough funds to participate in the next demon hunting in Liberwell¡¯s dungeon. What a waste of time. He thought.


    They turned around the corner and the way forward was cut off by an old cave in, foul water flowed through the gaps in the debris, But they found what they came for.


    ¡°Quick, bitch. It hurts, bitch. Fast.¡± Under the light of a crooked candle, they saw the fleeing hobgoblin smacking the head of two goblins that did their utmost to bandage its wounds. Nearby were other two goblins fidgeting their feet and holding their heads in worry.


    ¡°Yes, boss.¡± A goblin bowed constantly after it finished wrapping a dirty cloth around its boss¡¯ arm¡ªa poor job it was.


    Attalus mood improved and he grinned, letting out a laugh that alerted the demons. He dashed forward with his weapon drawn and and slashed at the surprised hobgoblin.


    The greenish creature picked its rusty hatchet to block the swift sword, but only managed to deflect it to its shoulder. The hobgoblin squealed and fell on his rear trying to step back.


    Attalus clicked his tongue and took another step forward. With a quick motion of his arm, the hobgoblin¡¯s head flew off and its lifeless body slumped on the dirty ground, spurting purplish blood.


    He grunted and his grin vanished. ¡°Disappointing.¡± His mood soured.


    The other goblins flinched back and picked their weapons after seeing their boss die. Their weapons trembled under the glare of the fierce human and they pushed each other forward trying not to be the next headless goblin.


    ¡°Finish them.¡± Attalus sheathed his weapon and went behind the legionnaires. The goblins didn¡¯t try to stop him.


    The young legionnaires stepped forward, their spears pointing at the cowering goblins. Though the goblins were not the only ones shivering in fear. The five youngsters held their spears a bit too far away from their bodies to keep the goblins at bay and fidgeted their fingers so much that it looked like the spears were musical instruments rather than weapons.


    ¡°For gods¡¯ sake.¡± Attalus rolled his eyes. ¡°Their weapons wouldn¡¯t cut even an apple, let alone five fully armored snobby mommy boys. Get moving on or you¡®ll fight weaponless next time.¡±


    The five young legionnaires looked at each other for a moment¡ªa fatal mistake against foes fighting for their lives, Attalus thought¡ªand breathed deeply. Slowly, they advanced while poking at the four goblins holding their rusty hatchets and daggers in a futile attempt of resistance. The goblins kept on retreating until they knocked their backs against the wall of debris and could not retreat any further.


    ¡°Go.¡± They heard their captain yell from behind and they lunged their weapons at the goblins at the same time, as practiced during the drills.


    In an instant the four goblins had one or two new seeping holes on their torsos and the legionnaires quickly retreated their weapons and thrust them again to try to make more holes in them.


    Two goblins got two new holes, one of them through its neck, while the other two blocked the oncoming spears and charged in a maddened rush towards two of the young legionnaires.


    The two stepped back to avoid the green vermin and struck with the pole of their spears trying to make them stop, which never occurred.


    The other three legionnaires also threw scared slashes at the goblins, but none of them connected properly and while in pain, the two goblins got close enough to hit the two young legionnaires squarely on their chests. But as their captain said, their weapons wouldn¡¯t cut through their armors any time soon.


    The pair let out trembling grunts and two arrows came flying from behind them, injuring the goblins and making them stop, giving enough time for the other three legionnaires to desperately stab to death the three remaining goblins.


    ¡°That was sad.¡± Attalus shook his head. ¡°That bunch were one of the most malnourished goblins I¡¯ve ever seen and they got two of you? Imagine that they held proper weapons that could cut through the legionnaire armor, what then? We¡¯d probably have two dead nobles to bring back to their families in disgrace.


    ¡°But cap-¡± One of the two who were struck tried to defend himself but was cut off before he could continue.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your lousy excuses, I want you to get moving and butcher the crystals off the dead goblins. Now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, captain.¡± The young legionnaires answered through their teeth. Cutting open the dead dirty demons was not something they were particularly fond of. Even less when they had no idea where the crystals were and had to cut the goblins all around their bodies.


    ¡°Only you two will do it this time.¡± Attalus looked at legionnaires who were struck. ¡°The others at least did a somewhat proper job, especially you Bellamy,¡± He turned his gaze to the legionnaire that killed the first goblin. ¡°Nice job.¡± He nodded at him.


    ¡°Thanks captain.¡± The young legionnaire struck his chest with his right fist and said with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Not so loud. We don¡¯t want to attract too many demons at once.¡±


    ¡°Yes captain.¡± Bellamy said with the same enthusiasm but in a lower voice.


    ¡°Boot-licker.¡± One of the two tasked with the goblin butchering muttered under his breath, but only when their captain had walked far enough.


    Bellamy managed to hear it, but decided to ignore the resentful comment and followed the captain and the rest of the group.


    After a short rest Attalus continued leading his group of recruits, making them fight against all the small groups of goblin they encountered, and as the number of goblins grew, he eventually made the two whole squads of legionnaires join the fray. After the wake up call from the first fight, they young legionnaires committed no mistakes¡ªat least not big ones¡ªand thankfully for them, no hobgoblin or other similar creature appeared to mess things up for a while.


    They spent the best part of an hour wiping small parties of goblins until the next complication appeared.


    ¡°Pinkfaces!¡± A goblin hidden behind a small pile of rubble sprang up from his hiding place and darted towards the dark corridors, turning around a corner just in time to avoid an arrow flying towards its back. He kept screaming ¡®Pinkfaces¡¯ continuously, the echoes sounding for a long time.


    ¡°Get in formation, quickly. Shields up. Prepare the bows.¡± Attalus said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s coming.¡± He drew his sword and stood in front of his men. He doubted that they could handle the full impact of anything stronger than a goblin.


    The young legionnaires spent the next few minutes in a tortuous calm waiting for the enemy, while Attalus set his gaze on the corridor like a predator waiting for its prey, his heart beating faster by the minute and exploding to a frenzied beat when he heard a multitude of steps approaching from the darkness.


    A group of over thirty goblins came charging at them from around the corner, with two of the hugest hobgoblins Attalus had ever seen leading from the front. The pair were as tall as a small man and broad with muscles and fat. They looked more like a pair of miniature orcs.


    Attalus raised his arm while giving orders to his legionnaires and pointed his bracelet at the two hobgoblins.


    Hobgoblin | Combatant | Danger: 2


    ¡¾Level 18¡¿


    Hobgoblin | Combatant | Danger: 2Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡¾Level 19¡¿


    So that¡¯s why they were so huge. They were almost at the level limit of their species and probably about to evolve into orcs. Attalus could handle an orc¡ªeven two if he incurred some loss¡ªbut the two hobgoblins with their band of goblins were twice as dangerous as any pair of normal orcs. With how many goblins accompanied them, he knew he¡¯d eventually get tired from repelling their weak attacks and his ability to quickly finish the hobgoblins would diminish.


    If that was not enough, instead of fighting alongside his regular companions, he had to look after these noble recruits. He didn''t even bother to call them legionnaires anymore. He was mad at their weakness and at his own stupidity for letting the situation get to that point.


    He didn''t know at what moment he forgot the most basic teachings of the instructors at the academy. You can count with a single hand the things more important than scouting ahead in unknown places, they always said, and he always nodded seriously, promising to not get overconfident. Which, incidentally, was one of the few things more important than scouting, and also what drove him to the current situation.


    He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath to clear his head. It was not the moment for self-reflection. He had to get them all out and alive of that place¡ªin a single piece if possible.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Quick.¡± Kancil whispered as they rushed towards their hiding spot. He just saw how Gurgh and Geth¡¯s band began to gather like crazy just a moment after they were on their way out of their territory.


    He and the others had been stealing from them for weeks without getting caught and only a few close calls. The pair of bosses were extremely stupid in comparison to the bosses of other territories and maintained a loose security around their supplies, but it seemed that they were not so stupid as to not realize eventually that the missing food could not always be their minion¡¯s doing.


    Since the group had been reduced to only the four of them their scavenging and stealing trips had been more successful than ever, but he was not happy about it. Just as the others died, it would be their turn eventually.


    He always wondered why he still lived, why did he have to endure such a tortuous life when ending it himself would end all the pain. Others had done it before, and as far as he knew, it went well for them. Their pain had stopped at the very least. But no matter how often he thought about killing himself, he never even tried. The thirst for revenge fueled his determination to keep living.


    There were people outside that owed him dearly, and he refused to die without making them pay. He also had the recurring feeling that he couldn¡¯t die there, that there was a greater purpose waiting for him.


    It would be for the best if he finds out that purpose quickly, because after being discovered by Gurgh and Geth, it would be hard to find another safe food source. They probably wont last more than a week with the little food they managed to steal this time¡ªassuming that they are not found out before escaping.


    They turned around the corner and Kancil stopped to push the others behind a big piece of crumbled wall. The splashing sound of hurried footsteps resounded through the corridor ahead of them and began to grow louder and closer. Kancil¡¯s heart began to beat like crazy and his back quivered. No matter how long he had been living such life, it was hard to face life-threatening dangers and not get scared, but he had to gather his wits and think of something.


    He brought his face closer to his companions and nudged each one slightly on the arm to get their attention and see if any of them had an idea, but their faces said everything for them.


    Miles breathed heavily and his eyes darted everywhere, looking for a solution, yet finding none.


    Tim had the same reaction as Miles save for looking around for a solution. He just looked down while gripping his tattered trousers.


    Ravi on the other side, reacted differently. He leaned his back to the walls and closed his eyes, his breath almost steady. He had given up and was ready to die.


    Kancil couldn¡¯t blame him. He had seen his father take his own life and leave him and his sister alone. He had also seen his sister dying with a spear impaling her through her back. It had been two months since then and Ravi only resisted following his father¡¯s steps thanks to the others¡¯ encouragement, but even that could not reassure him in such a situation.


    Kancil gritted his teeth and began to get up. He tightened his grip on his shabby spear, making the pain he had been ignoring to flare up, and prepared himself to rush at the coming enemy.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Miles grabbed his arm and pulled him back to his knees. ¡°Listen.¡± He whispered to his ear, his voice almost inaudible.


    ¡°Fuck. Couldn''t finish my shit. What do the bosses want?¡± A distant and slightly shrill voice said.


    ¡°I told you, I not know.¡± Another similar voice answered and a small thud sounded. Probably the owner of the second voice hitting the owner of the first. A groan followed the sound, confirming Kancil¡¯s guess.


    Kancil and Miles looked at each other and nodded. They drew closer to the others and huddled against the wall and the rubble, making their bodies as small as they could and containing their breaths.


    ¡°W-¡± Tim tried to ask about what was happening, but Miles and Kancil had their hands over his mouth before he could even try and shoved his head down.


    Ravi continued leaning on the wall, oblivious of what was happening all the time.


    The four waited in silence as the footsteps¡¯ splash drew closer, fearing that even their heartbeats would give away their position, but the dreaded situation never came. The pair passed by them complaining and making a ruckus, probably didn¡¯t even care about their surroundings¡ªa common trait of Gurgh and Geth¡¯s minions.


    They maintained the same position for a good two or three minutes, not daring to even move a little, though Tim¡¯s trembling could be counted as moving. Kancil and Miles looked at each other and exhaled a sigh of relief at the same time, both bringing their hands to the mouth right after. It seemed that the band¡¯s gathering was not because of them, or at least the pair of minions didn¡¯t know about it. Either way, it was best not to tempt fate too much.


    They quickly got up and went on their way, but not without having to pull the oblivious Ravi up. He seemed like he didn''t even notice the arrow they just avoided. Soon he gathered his thoughts together and his eyes sparkled a little when he realized that he was alive and away from any visible danger.


    ¡°Quick.¡± Miles pulled his arm.


    The ran through the borders of the corridor, trying to avoid stepping on the foul water running on the ground and make any unnecessary sound. After a few turns and squeezes through gaps in blocked corridors, they arrived at an innocuous and dark corner, where no kind of light reached and nothing stood out.


    The four released a deep sigh and looked at each other for a moment, then began to laugh boisterously, their voice echoing everywhere. They had been hiding in that place for the same time as they¡¯ve been stealing from Gurgh and Geth and they had never seen a single soul get close to them. Even the sound of gruesome fights barely reached. They were safe.


    The laughters didn¡¯t last long. The fear hit them hard and made them plummet to their rears.


    ¡°T-that was close.¡± Tim said, his voice threatening to crack up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t count your chickens just yet.¡± Ravi said. ¡°They might have send someone to follow us. For all we know I could be saying my last words right now.¡±


    Miles glared at Ravi and clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t be a jinx. Not all of us want to die.¡±


    ¡°Y-you saw me.¡± Ravi blushed, fortunate that none of them could enhance their eyes enough to see it.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard not to see a crazy guy trying to doze off in such danger.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ravi looked down. ¡°I know I promised it, but I was sure we¡¯d¡­¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Kancil spoke up. ¡°What¡¯s important is that we earned a good meal.¡± He smiled and raised the bag he had been carrying all the time. ¡°Miles, could you bring the plates?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t ya¡¯ go yourself?¡± He said and then chuckled. ¡°Never mind, you¡¯d probably trip and dirty the food¡ªmore than it is.¡± He punched Kancil lightly in the arm and got up to grab the plates.


    He went to the farthest corner on the corridor, where a big crack was. It was almost as tall as him and just wide enough to squeeze his body in. He entered the crack and reappeared just a minute after, holding a few wooden plates and cups.


    Kancil took a waterskin and dripped a little bit of water on each plate and cup to clean them.


    ¡°Stop that. I think we¡¯ve already eaten all the dirty things around here.¡± Miles said. ¡°More importantly, open the bag. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s our harvest this time.¡±


    ¡°OK, just let me finish this.¡± He wiped the last plate and then began to empty the bag.


    The four ¡®feasted¡¯ until they were full¡ªa feeling that they had almost forgotten¡ªand slowly the mood drifted to the usual stillness they had gotten used to, but it did not last as long as usually.


    Almost an hour after finishing their ¡®feast¡¯ they began to hear the faint echoes of a distant fight that traveled through the twisting tunnels to their safe corner. The four sprung up to attention when the sound did not stop and instead began to grow louder.


    They maintained a solemn silence to focus on the possible danger. All they could hear through the trickling sound of flowing water and the constant rhythm of falling droplets were unintelligible shouts, voices and clashes of metal. For some time they listened with simple curiosity. They¡¯d heard similar commotions in the past and learned that it was not worth it to worry too much about it. The fights never got too close to them to rightfully earn their fear.


    Though they tried to keep calm, soon the tension began to grow. The commotion had lasted at least twice than the longest they had heard and soon it grew louder than ever before. They guessed that its cause was the sudden gathering of Gurgh and Geth¡¯s forces, but why they maintained such a fierce fight and why did it got so close to them, they didn''t know.


    ¡°Argh.¡± Tim exclaimed when a tremor shook the tunnel.


    ¡°Fuck.¡± Miles cursed and ran towards the crack on the wall, Ravi behind him. Kancil tried to follow them but stopped when he almost tripped on a protrusion in the ground. It would only be a nuisance if he tripped and hurt himself further. He had learned it the hard way. He decided to stop and wait until Miles and Ravi came back.


    Meanwhile, Tim stood motionless, flinching each time another tremor ran through the tunnels. He had seen people¡ªclose people¡ªdie when the ceiling crumbled because some of the mighty creatures that inhabited the tunnels decided that it was worth it to endanger collapsing the whole place due to some territory squabble.


    Among the infinity of things in those tunnels that could kill him, dying crushed under debris was one of the worst. The simple thought of dying slowly while having each and every bone crushed made him shiver.


    ¡°A little help here.¡± Kancil called out and made Tim react.


    Kancil held the bag with the food and waved it around. Tim approached him and took it.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Kancil said.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get the fuck out.¡± Miles and Ravi returned from the cracked wall with two bags slung over their shoulders.


    ¡°Help me to the wall.¡± Kancil said while waving his arms around, trying to grab any of them.


    Ravi walked up to him and guided him. Telling him where to step


    When they were out of their ¡®safe corner¡¯ they broke out in a cold sweat. The commotion began to grow louder and they could begin to distinguish the different kind of voices. A bad sign. There were two walls of rubble until the closest main tunnel and they needed to get there before the fight got too close if they hoped to escape the situation.


    Kancil moved with Ravi¡¯s help until they passed one more wall of debris, where he could begin to see thanks to the dim light produced by the light runes engraved on the ceiling. Though the runes¡¯ mana was almost depleted, at least they still produced enough light so the tunnels were not covered in total darkness.


    They kept running, tension growing, hoping to make it to the main tunnel at time, but slowly coming to the realization that it might not be possible.


    They could hear the so familiar voices of Gurgh and Geth resounding through the tunnels, snarling and insulting whoever or whatever they fought with. Even when the pair liked to beat and insult their minions, they never heard them speak with voices so full of hatred and anger. If they were caught by the two bosses or whatever could draw out such emotions from the nasty pair, it would be the end for the four of them.


    They ran even when their chests burned, ignoring most of the corridors they passed by and following the familiar path. Soon they reached the last wall of rubble before the main tunnel. They could still hear very closely the commotion, but the sound did not grow any closer. The fight might have continued through one of the nearby tunnels, maybe they could make it out of the situation. Hope began to grow in the four¡¯s chests.


    However, hope was crushed just as quickly as it grew.

 Chapter 2: Four ?Goblins?

    Chapter 2: Four ?Goblins?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡­I shouldn¡¯t be shouldering all the blame by myself, they had all agreed with my decision. They also called him their brother and friend. How could any of us have known that the wisp of a man he was at the time would become our extinction? How could we have known that the bastard harbored such a twisted sense of revenge? ¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The wall of debris exploded, sending dangerously pointed pieces of rocks spraying everywhere, including their bodies. The impact sent them flying to the ground, bleeding and bruised, but it was not the first time they had experienced something like that. They scrambled to their feet and retreated to one of the branching tunnels they had just passed by, not daring to even turn their heads to see the ongoing battle.


    They successfully turned around the corner and stuck their backs to the wall instead of keeping running. The tunnel they were in had no exit and if the battlers decided to take their carnage that way they would be trapped with no way out. It was wiser to wait for them to kill each other, or continue their fight the other way. They should have their minds busy enough with fighting for their lives to notice them crouching in the dark tunnels, at least they hoped so.


    For a few moments the battle stopped, with no sound coming from the tunnels. There was an eerie stillness that could perfectly be called the calm before the storm. The sound of fighting in the distance could still be heard, but they had all their focus on any sound coming from the nearby tunnel, which stayed in silence for at least a minute.


    The four could not resist the temptation to see if the battlers had killed each other and peeked from the corner. The sight made their blood run cold.


    The brutish Gurgh and Geth stood wielding a pair of huge axes each, their bodies a tangle of small wounds and dripping purplish blood. But they had seen bloodied hobgoblins before, that sight did not surprise them that much.


    Facing the pair was not another group of hobgoblins, or even an orc, which they thought was the most probable thing.


    A tall man covered in even more blood than the pair of hobgoblins stared at them with a grim smile, pointing at them with his bloodied sword. The blood covering him was a mix of the human red blood¡ªprobably his¡ªand the thick purple blood of goblins.


    The way the man breathed, glared and moved evoked a feeling of savagery that not even the ogre that massacred over three hundred of the initial group of survivors had. As if he were a primal beast born only for carnage and bloodshed. The glimmer of hope that appeared when they saw a new human after so much time disappeared just as quickly as it came. They doubted that such a madman was there to rescue them, a bunch of commoners.


    Kancil lifted his left arm, numb with pain as it was, and pointed the dirty bracelet he had at the battlers.


    ¡¾Level 19¡¿


    ¡¾Level 18¡¿


    ¡¾Level 24¡¿


    Unless one of the two hobgoblins was a dwarf orc in disguise, then the man battling them had the clear advantage over them in terms of level, even if they were two. But as fierce as the man was, he was already breathing with difficulty, unlike the two demons, who were accustomed to daily battle for territory against other hobgoblins and similar creatures. If the man could not finish the fight soon, he might end up losing.


    They stopped peeking as the battlers began to move around to begin the next round. Now they could only wait to see what would the Aeternum¡¯s judgment be.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Hobgoblin | Combatant | Danger: 5


    ¡¾Level 18¡¿


    Hobgoblin | Combatant | Danger: 5


    ¡¾Level 19¡¿


    Attalus looked a last time at his bracelet and breathed deeply. Bloody hell. He clenched his teeth under his smile and threw himself against the hobgoblins again.


    How was it possible that he had been engaged in a tight battle with a bunch of goblins for an entire hour. It was like reliving his days of apprenticeship once again, but in an annoying way. Had there not been so many goblins to weaken him while he distracted the hobgoblins and defended the recruits, he would have beheaded the disgusting pair a long time ago.


    Instead, he was so tired that the hobgoblins were already at a danger level where each one was considered his equal. And all he could do was struggle to keep his life while he waited for the recruits to finish the remaining goblins and come help him, hoping that they had not turned their tails and left him alone after he saved them.


    It did not help either that the two hobgoblins had almost the same strength as a weak orc, even without evolving. How bad could be his luck to encounter a pair of mutated hobgoblins when having to keep alive the snobby recruits. Alone. He should not have divided the groups like he did so. Overconfidence was indeed a poison for a leader.


    He swung at the chubbier hobgoblin¡¯s head while trying to push away the self-reproaching thoughts.


    The demon blocked his sword with one of its axes and whipped the other at his stomach.


    Attalus deflected the attack and leaped to one side, also evading the leaner hobgoblin¡¯s attack. Thankfully they lacked agility and skill just as their strength was exceptional. If it weren''t for that he wouldn''t have been able to keep the fight at a stalemate for so long. He had already exhausted the greater part of his mana when dealing with the swarming goblins and could not throw any kind of magic thoughtlessly, lest his mind began to waver and caused his untimely death.


    He also did not want to use his elder artifact to deal with two hobgoblins. Mutated and all, it would be a huge disgrace when he had to tell his father how he wasted an artifact that could stop something at the level of a Silver Knight with two demons that barely qualified as Warriors. Furthermore, the reason why he decided to form a mercenary band was to prove that he was worthy of his family¡¯s nomen even without awakening a dream, having to use the artifact his father gave him would be a slap to his own face.


    He ground his teeth and forced himself to keep his sadistic smile to intimidate the enemies, enduring the burning pressure on his chest from receiving one of the hobgoblin¡¯s axes.


    His blood began to pump quicker and the pain began to fade to the back of his mind, allowing him to feel the bliss of the battle. Pure bliss. The training at the castle could never compare to a good fight for his life. If someone asked him at that moment why he decided to create the mercenary band he would answer ¡®for slaughter¡¯ without hesitation, forget about worthiness and nomina.


    The fat hobgoblin¡¯s ax brushed his cheek while he enjoyed the feeling, adding to it. Attalus plunged at the hobgoblin, undaunted and thrusting his sword at its jiggling belly, just to be stopped by the other hobgoblin.


    Five minutes later and a few more flesh wounds on both sides, the sound of fight in the tunnels behind him had stopped, and in its place sounded the splashing of feet and the clanking of armors. Finally. Attalus grinned and leaped back, avoiding an ax coming at his head.


    He creased his brows and began to channel the lasts bits of his mana to his weapon arm and his sword. His arm¡¯s muscles tightened and the sword began to sizzle, making smoke come from it as the blood covering it burned and the metal began to glow red.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The two hobgoblins stopped their charge and studied the resilient human and his weapon. It was the same battle skill he had used to bisect half a dozen of their minions. Even the dumb pair knew when to stop the recklessness and be mindful of their lives.


    Attalus let out a crazed laugh and pounced, his body riddled with openings.


    The pair had to decide whether to stay away from the glowing sword or grasp the good chance to finally get rid of the annoying human. Both decided different things.


    The lean hobgoblin was intimidated by Attalus¡¯ glare and retreated under, while the fat one could muster the courage to attack, as he was not under the pressure of the pair of bloodthirsty eyes.


    Attalus stopped his charge at the lean hobgoblin and with a stomp of his foot, leaped to one side, his sword slashing at the other¡¯s body.


    Realizing his blunder, the fat hobgoblin moved both his axes to parry the blow, but met the heated blade with the shafts of his weapons.


    Attalus¡¯ fire blade cut the ironwood poles like butter and continued on with the hobgoblin¡¯s leather armor, opening his fat chest almost all the way to his back. Blood spurted and the hobgoblin gave an agonized squeal, then went silent as its body slumped on the hard, wet ground.


    Attalus whipped his sword at the other hobgoblin to make it retreat more, and then he retreated himself. His weapon quickly lost its red glow and his vision grew dizzy, making him lose sight of his enemy for a moment. But for the first time, the legionnaire recruits did their job well and had arrived at time.


    ¡°Charge.¡± Attalus commanded, and the legionnaires ran past him with their weapons raised.


    Some arrows flew by and pierced different part of the hobgoblin¡¯s skin.


    The flustered hobgoblin turned its tail to run¡ªit knew it had no chance against such a big group of humans¡ªbut it did not reach too far.


    Bellamy let out a muffled grunt and threw his spear at its back, making it trip and fall to the ground.


    The other legionnaires followed suit and their spears embedded themselves fatally on the hobgoblin.


    Attalus watched the hobgoblin become a pincushion and let out a breath of relief. What a long day, he thought as his bloodthirsty mindset began to fade. He saw the legionnaire recruits do the same as some of them slumped to the ground, totally exhausted from the near death experience.


    While relieved and fatigued, Attalus did not forget his duties and began to count the recruits, hoping that all of them had made it. Surely their clans would not have sent them to real combat training without giving them at least a minor artifact. No matter if they were third or fourth sons, there was no patrician clan that ruthless with its descendants.


    It seemed that they were all there. Bellamy had performed well as the substitute captain, just as he had expected. They guy had a good brain and-


    ¡°Argh.¡± One of the legionnaires in front screamed, attracting all the gazes.


    A few legionnaires rushed to retrieve their spears from the dead hobgoblin while the others formed a shield-wall.


    A group of four dirty¡­ goblins? Raised from the darkness clutching shabby hatchets and spears. They were certainly tall for a goblin, like a kid in his early teens, but they were too scrawny to be considered hobgoblins. More bone than meat. Maybe they were also mutated goblins about to evolve, or really scrawny and weak hobgoblins.


    Not that it mattered for the tense legionnaires, who readied themselves with increased expertise.


    ¡°For the imperium.¡± The eight men in the shield-wall yelled and charged at the surprised goblins with forced confidence, trying to hide their fear. Even when the four hobgoblins looked like scrawny kids and were less threatening than a common hobgoblin, they decided to be ruthless, after all, even a common goblin could be deadly, let alone four hobgoblins.


    The four goblins retreated slashing their weapons, trying to bring to a halt the charge without success, but the four critters were the agile kind and evaded the shield-wall¡¯s bash.


    Attalus furrowed his brows, staring fixedly at the four goblins. Something felt amiss. He could see little more than silhouettes in the dark corridor, even with his enhanced eyes, but those goblins had something strange about them.


    He saw them slash at the legionnaires feet and then stab and cut four of them on the legs when they let down their guard, though they were superficial wounds.


    The other shield bearers broke the formation and bashed the goblins, making one fall to the ground while the others retreated.


    The fallen goblin slashed at the legionnaires feet, making some of them retreat. The other three punched and kicked and slashed to make the rest move away while the goblin on the ground began to rise to its feet.


    The rising goblin stopped midway and stared down to find the point of a spear sticking out of his chest.


    Bellamy, with his masterful throw, once again turned the tides to the legionnaires favor.


    ¡°Ravi!¡± The three goblins yelled at the same time, dashing for their friend.


    Attalus eyes widened and he fixed his gaze on the goblins, looking from one to another. He raised his left arm and pointed at the goblins with his bracelet.


    The legionnaires saw the opportunity and plunged at the three flustered goblin. Their shields bashed all three goblins to the ground and their swords slashed and thrust.


    Human | Novice


    ¡¾Level 6¡¿


    Human | Novice


    ¡¾Level 5¡¿


    Human | Novice


    ¡¾Level 8¡¿


    Human | Novice


    ¡¾Level 6¡¿


    ¡°HALT.¡± Attalus darted forward, pushing away the legionnaires surrounding the four boys.


    Most legionnaires stopped, but the ones engaged against them kept kicking and slashing¡ªa shameful display of their lack of discipline.


    ¡°Are you bloody deaf?¡± Attalus kicked one of the legionnaires and sent him rolling on the ground.


    The others turned around in surprise, weapons ready, just to be greeted by their captain¡¯s infuriated face.


    ¡°Out of the way.¡± He pushed the remaining youngsters away and looked at the boys laying on the ground. Two of them were unmoving and riddled with deep cuts and swelling bruises. The last one held his broken spear and a hatchet in his hands, glaring with a single defiant, enraged eye¡ªa filthy piece of cloth covered the other eye.


    Attalus took a step forward, but the boy moved his weapons towards him. The way he glared and held his weapons against him made him look like a wounded beast, prepared to take at least a part of his enemy with him. The boy¡¯s eye was dull, without life, as if a corpse staring at him, yet within he could see a fierce determination to hurt his enemy, even if he lost his life.


    Attalus stood wide eyed, entranced by the boy¡¯s dreadful green eye.


    ¡°Captain.¡± Bellamy called out for the third time.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Attalus blinked repeatedly, looking around for a moment until he recognized Bellamy as the one calling him. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Um- Why did you stop us?¡± He said, not daring to mention his captain¡¯s absence of mind.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Attalus regained his mind and his brows furrowed. ¡°Are you bastards perhaps bloody blind? Has the shit around here damaged your eyes? These are boys.¡± He pointed at the three kids lying in front of him, ¡°Human boys. What you¡¯ve just done is beyond atrocious.¡± He yelled.


    The legionnaires frowned, looking at each other and then staring at the boys for a long while, coming to the realization of what had just happened. Focusing on enhancing their eyes, they could see better in the darkness, and it was evident that while the boys were as filthy and ragged¡ªif not more¡ªthan all the goblins they had encountered, their features were totally different from the goblins¡¯. Although one of the boys had a wide pointy nose and sharp chin that could be the target of comparisons, he was not even closely as ugly as a goblin.


    An unnerving coldness began to spread through their bodies. It took them two months to be prepared mentally to kill demons¡ªan enemy of humanity¡ªbut in no moment crossed their minds that they would kill humans during their training. Even less human boys younger than themselves.


    All the legionnaires began to fidget and retreat from the unmoving boys, turning their gazes away.


    ¡°Pray to the gods that we can still do something to save them.¡± Attalus brought his arm up and pointed at the boys with his bracelet again. The three boys in front of him showed their regular status message on the bracelet¡¯s blue screen, but when he pointed at the boy impaled with the spear, it showed nothing. The bracelet did not recognize the boy as a living creature. ¡°By the Aeternum.¡± Attalus covered his face with his hand.


    The legionnaires stared blankly at their captain, waiting for the torrent of anger to come at them.


    Attalus turned his head slowly, his face livid. ¡°You-¡± He was about to explode in anger, but the booming of numerous shrill voices yelling in unison from behind stopped him.


    ¡°Goblins.¡± The boy holding the broken spear muttered in a rough voice, turning his head around. Right after he did so, the same splashing and voices sounded from the tunnel in front.


    They were being slowly surrounded by goblins. Attalus didn''t know if it was a coincidence or some powerful creature¡¯s orchestration. Either way, they were not in condition to face another band of goblins¡ªor worse.


    ¡°Carry the boys. We¡¯re out of here.¡± Attalus turned around and began walking, sword drawn and eyes wavering, but he couldn''t afford to rest.


    The legionnaires approached the three boys, but the one still awake waved his weapons aggressively towards them.


    ¡°You know kid, if you don¡¯t cooperate we¡¯re gonna leave you here to die. We¡¯re not dying for some random kid¡¯s fault. Make a choice.¡± Attalus and the boy stared at each other, their gazes unwavering. He noticed that the boy had lost the dreadful gaze he had before, maybe result of knowing that his life was not in danger¡ªat least not immediate danger.


    The boy stared back for a few more seconds and began to lower his weapons to allow the men to carry him.


    ¡°What do we do with this?¡± Bellamy jerked off his spear from the dead boy¡¯s body, making blood spurt from his chest.


    Attalus grimaced inside at the crude action, but did not make any comment on it. The situation left no room for appearances. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to bring the body. Leave him.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The boy yelled and began to struggle within the legionnaire¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°Stop it.¡± Attalus shouted, but the boy ignored him entirely. ¡°I said,¡± He approached the two and lifted the boy by the neck. ¡°Stop it.¡± He punched him on the stomach, taking away his consciousness and then giving him back to the legionnaire.


    ¡°Get moving recruits, out of this hole.¡± He walked off towards the main tunnel. ¡°Bellamy, watch the rear.¡± He said and the legionnaires began their retreat.

 Chapter 3: Black Tower.

    Chapter 3: Black Tower.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡­if a God truly exists, I pray that he takes pity on us and help us against that fiend, otherwise I doubt our race will live to see another spring. The Lords still underestimate him and think us capable of winning. They will keep thinking that they still have the bastard within their grasps until the very moment he consumes them¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Kancil woke to a blinding¡ªalmost burning¡ªlight. He could not even force himself to open his eye. What happened? He thought. Had the tunnels finally collapsed and crushed them? Was he dead? He had always discussed with the others how would it be if they died in their sleep and had to wake to whatever death was like, but never thought that would actually happen.


    So it is like this. He mused.


    He relaxed, accepting his fate, when he took a deep breath that sent strings of pain all through his torso. His limbs jerked due to the pain, flaring further pain through all his body.


    He began to heave quickly, flailing his arms around trying to get a gist of what was happening, He felt like he was being tortured. Maybe some creature within the tunnels had captured them and now were on their way to make them their dinner, or¡­ maybe the bastards that called themselves gods had descended again. It would explain the blinding light and the sadism to torture him, but why? They had said that they wouldn¡¯t appear before him again.


    He should make a mental note not to believe what the bastards say again.


    ¡°Stay bloody quiet.¡± He felt a strong hand push him to the ground.


    ¡°W-what?¡± He tried to open his eye again to look at the owner of the hand and the voice, but without much success.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move so much. Your wounds will worsen.¡± Someone said.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± Kancil asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m a healer. You¡¯re badly wounded, don¡¯t move.¡± The voice said. ¡°I wonder what kind of bastard did this to you.¡±


    ¡°The bloody recruits did.¡± Another voice said. ¡°They wouldn''t stop attacking even when I commanded them to stop. Thankfully he seems to be more skilled than the others and protected himself better.¡±


    ¡°Better? He is the one worse off among the three. The others have flesh wounds and a few broken bones, but he¡­ His internal organs were almost ruptured. I didn¡¯t know the recruits were so strong to do something like that with their low levels. They went pretty hard on his stomach.¡± The healer said.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Um, about that¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I think it was me. The one who caused that¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The healer said, outraged. ¡°Attalus, did you pair up with the recruits to beat them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. The brat wouldn''t stop struggling because we had to leave one of his dead friends behind.¡± Attalus said. ¡°Don''t give me that look, it had to be done. We might as well all died if we had to stop to convince him. What I did saved his life-¡±


    ¡°Barely.¡± The healer interrupted. ¡°If I hadn''t had that medium grade potion with me the brat would be dead by now.¡±


    ¡°Anyways. It ended up well. He¡¯s alive.¡± Attalus said. ¡°I¡¯ll go with the others to scout the area. I¡¯ll leave you to your things.¡±


    ¡°Anyways?¡± The healer muttered and then sighed. The other person had already left.


    Kancil laid unmoving, processing what they had just said.


    Ravi was dead.


    The memories of what had happened returned to him. They had killed him. The legionnaires. ¡®People¡¯s legions¡¯. What a load of crap. They were just like every other citizen, only caring about their own asses. If they had bothered to look at them properly instead of charging to satisfy their vain blood-lust that wouldn''t have happened. He clenched his teeth and took a deep breath. He had to endure. He had lived his whole life enduring, it shouldn''t be that hard.


    It shouldn¡¯t, yet he found himself weeping. His friend had been killed, but he felt immense relief to finally be out of that shit-hole. He couldn''t help but feel like trash because he even felt grateful to the bastards that killed Ravi.


    ¡°No.¡± Kancil yelled all of sudden and pulled his left arm, cutting off his tears.


    ¡°I need to see the wound below that bandage.¡± The healer said.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing there. I just like using it.¡± Kancil mumbled.


    ¡°Is that right?¡± The healer said, doubtful. ¡°And you just like using that bandage on your eye as well, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Whatever suits you best. I can¡¯t sense any big wound with my mana, so I guess you¡¯re not lying completely. I did my job here.¡± He heard the healer get up.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Kancil said. ¡°Where are my friends?


    ¡°They are well and resting, as you should. Don¡¯t move around or your wounds will open again. Three or four hours should be enough to let your body recover.¡± With that he turned around and walked off, leaving Kancil alone with his thoughts.


    After the healer left Kancil laid unmoving as he was told, but he kept trying to open his eye. The light even caused him discomfort through his eyelid, but as more time passed his eye got more used to it. Somewhere between one and two hours after, he could open his eye, though he had to close it after a short time. He tried his best to look around and glance at the surface. He couldn¡¯t help but want to see it again after so much time down there. What he saw was not that different from what was in the hole.


    Ruins everywhere. Burnt wood and broken stone filled his sight, and the smell of rot and death remained the same. It was as if God''s ire hit the city with all its might. Although in hindsight, it was indeed caused by the gods¡ªnot by their ire, but by their sadism.


    What did he expect? If after so much time no one had sent an army to clean the hole, then it was obvious that the situation of the city could not be much better. Seeing his home in such state brought him surprise and disappointment, but no sadness or anger. Not after all that had happened to him there.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Now that he was out of that literal shit-hole, the question surfaced again. Where do I belong?


    Around an hour after he fell good enough to sit. The healer had said two or three hours, but he was sure he knew the state of his body better.


    He began looking around, inspecting his surroundings. He had to keep his gaze low and shield it with his hands, but now his eye didn¡¯t hurt so much.


    There was little more than rubble and patrolling legionnaires to look at. There was also a huge hole in the ground, probably what was previously the entrance to the sewers that had imprisoned him and his friends for so much time.


    He turned his head to the other side and found his friends laying on a cloth mantle, still unconscious but otherwise pretty much alive.


    Except for Ravi.


    He dragged his body to a relatively flat boulder close to them, enduring the small spikes of pain that surged whenever he moved too fast and sat on the boulder with his head hung between his knees, making himself small to avoid attracting anyone¡¯s attention.


    Just looking at the city brought memories of what was and would not be again. All the things he lost. All the things taken from him.


    He reached into his pocket and took out a small pocket watch. It had stopped working a long time ago, but just having it between his hands and pressing the small button it had at the top calmed his mind, as if his dad was near him like the day he gave it to him.


    A while later he heard nearing footsteps that turned him away from his dark thoughts. He lifted his head and the sun hindered his sight again. But it did not seem that important in front of the owners of the footsteps. They all wore artifacts.


    A few men and women wore extravagant armors of many colors and shapes. It looked as if they took each piece of armor from different sets and put it all together. Spiked shoulder-pads made from something similar to bones. Shining metal boots. Red scale gloves. It was too chaotic and nothing matched, even the weapons.


    A man had on his back a bow made from barky wood. It was not a good idea to make a bow with such material, yet the man still carried it. Another man had a shield that looked like the carapace from an insect and a sword with unpractical spikes on its blade. All their equipment emitted a faint glow from small runes engraved on them.


    He lifted his arm with the bracelet and pointed at the group; their general levels were around 20, a few of them a little higher and a few others a little lower. If they had accompanied the legionnaire boss, the poor bastard wouldn¡¯t have struggled against Gurgh and Geth so hard.


    ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± A handsome man approached looking at him with a pair of friendly golden eyes.


    Speaking of the devil, it was the boss of the legionnaires and the owner of the voice that spoke earlier with the healer. He was called Attalus. He wore a normal-looking metal armor¡ªwithout glowing runes¡ªand if his earlier display was a hint of how fearsome the man was, then he had to mind his manners around him.


    But the shock of the sight was too big, and he ignored the man¡¯s question and made one of his own. ¡°Are all those artifacts?¡± He pointed his finger at the group as they began moving towards the hole on the ground.


    ¡°Artifacts? No, no.¡± The boss shook his head. ¡°How do I put it¡­¡± He scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. And right now we¡¯ve got to get moving¡­¡± He crossed his arms and frowned. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, in a few hours, after we come back from there,¡± He pointed at the hole with his thumb. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about what has happened all this time and you can tell me how you survived in there since the gods¡¯ day.¡±


    ¡°Gods¡¯ Day¡­?¡± Kancil tilted his head for a moment. There could only be one day with such name. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He nodded. ¡°But¡­ you shouldn¡¯t go back there.¡±


    ¡°And why shouldn¡¯t we?¡± The boss raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°If you go too deep into the tunnels you¡¯ll run into the orcs eventually. There are tons of them down there.¡±


    ¡°Orcs?¡± The boss looked at him with disbelief. ¡°Demons of that caliber should be closer to the city¡¯s core, not in the outskirts.¡±


    ¡°Well, the sewers are connected to the core.¡± Kancil said.


    ¡°Still, orcs are the main force of the demons, they shouldn¡¯t be stationed in such a place.¡±


    Kancil shrugged and looked down. ¡°You should also watch out for¡­ other things. Evil things. Worse things¡­¡± His expression grew somber as memories of the horrors down there poured back into his head.


    The boss furrowed his brows, his disbelief growing. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ll be on guard for that. Thanks for the information.¡± He nodded at him. ¡°You and your friends stay here. All the area should be safe. I¡¯ll leave a few legionnaires around, so if something happens, you can call for help.


    ¡°You have so many things you need to know,¡± He patted him on the shoulders and smiled. ¡°The world has changed a lot since that day.¡± With that, he left with the weirdly dressed men and women, some of the regular legionnaires from before and a large group of men with basic equipment into the hole.


    ¡®The world has changed a lot since that day¡¯. He sneered in his head. Your world, at least. The only meaningful thing that changed for him was who he fought and from whom he hid, but his situation had been too similar to what it was before. He hung his head between his knees again and closed his eye, his hand fidgeting with the clock¡¯s button.


    Two hours later, the sun already approaching the horizon line, he heard the legionnaires¡¯ footsteps stir. He saw people climbing out of the hole, the boss leading them. Most of them were covered in filth from head to toe, but he could recognize him anyway, because the man was the only one bathed in blood.


    One of the legionnaires that stayed guarding took a large piece of cloth from a bag and handed it to their captain.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± The boss wiped his face. ¡°We need to get moving.¡± He clapped his metal gauntlets to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°The boy was right; the place is infested with orcs. There might even be an ogre, but I dare not confirm it.¡±


    Many gasps and whispers sounded among the legionnaires, but soon they began moving about as their boss commanded.


    ¡°There is an ogre.¡± Kancil spoke up, his voice rough and barely audible, but the shock that Attalus¡¯ words brought caused a total silence that permitted his words to be heard. ¡°It killed over three hundred survivors the first week we were there. It was the main cause why it took so long for anyone to escape.¡±


    ¡°I can believe that.¡± The boss nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll have to go back and regroup with the army.¡±


    ¡°What ¡®bout them?¡± he pointed at his two friends.


    The boss looked at them and then at the legionnaires. ¡°You and you.¡± He pointed at two of them.


    ¡°You will carry them until we reach the caravan. Carefully.¡± He glared at them.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The two men stiffened and went to the injured.


    The legionnaires scurried about, packing all their stuff or cleaning themselves. In just a few moments, they gathered everything and were ready to go.


    ¡°So.¡± The boss approached him. ¡°I promised that I would explain things to you, but I¡¯d like to ask you a few things first.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± He got up from the boulder, dusted off his rear and returned his clock to his pocket. ¡°As long as you explain everything to me.¡± He shrugged.


    ¡°Of course.¡± The boss smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.


    Kancil¡¯s face twitched at the touch, but he endured the discomfort.


    The man had cleaned himself better while waiting for his men, but the smell of blood still lingered around him. The boss beckoned forward and began walking. ¡°First of all, I¡¯d like to know if you have-¡±


    His words were interrupted by Kancil¡¯s shout.


    ¡°What in fuck is that?¡± His mouth hung open. In the distance he could see a humongous black tower rising above the clouds, as if a black mountain had appeared in the middle of the city. The tower was ten times as tall as the first wall before being destroyed and covered at least half of the space of the city¡¯s core.


    ¡°What? You hadn¡¯t seen it?¡± The boss arched his eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯ve been half a day around here.¡±


    ¡°The sun didn¡¯t let me look up beyond the rubble.¡± Kancil had to push his head almost all the way back to look at the top of the tower.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s normal after all the time you spent inside the dark tunnels.¡± He said. ¡°That dungeon is one of the things that Gods¡¯ Day brought along. But it is a long story, let¡¯s leave it for later. First answer my question, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hm.¡± He nodded, still looking up at the tower.


    ¡°As I was saying. Have you heard about a boy called Brencis?¡±


    Kancil stopped and moved his gaze towards the boss.


    Brencis. He didn¡¯t think that the first thing he asked would be about him. The name brought a sour feeling, and he felt his mouth dry when he thought about even pronouncing the name. His left shoulder flared up in pain when his mind began to recall all his memories about him. ¡°What about him?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, I just wanted to know what you know about him.¡± The boss shrugged.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He paused for a moment, thinking about what to say. ¡°I heard he was a talented brat. Got a high core and all that.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you know of him? Anything else?¡±


    ¡°I heard he was a shy boy, always following the older kids in the training camp. But that¡¯s all I can remember, didn¡¯t know him personally.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, is that so?¡± The boss eyed him suspiciously for a moment.


    ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s been of the genius? He survived the day?¡±


    ¡°Survived?¡± The boss let out a laugh. ¡°The boy¡¯s living the big life right now.¡±

 Chapter 4: The Feast

    Chapter 4: The Feast


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Year 437 after the fracture. Twelfth day of the sixth month.


    The lands of Tellus were at peace. It had been like that for 116 years.


    During the three warring centuries that followed the Divine Empire¡¯s fracture, the nations birthed from its pieces waged war constantly to claim just a bit more of land from their neighbors or to unify the land again and create a great empire of their own. Yet no worthy Imperator had been born to claim the Imperium from the people.


    It took more than three centuries and uncountable deaths for the rulers of the land to learn that as long as the six kingdoms all stood tall without a single one bending its knees to others, there would be no Great Empire again, and no descendant of the Diadochi¡ªthe six Generals who fought alongside the last Imperator and divided what was left of the Divine Empire among themselves¡ªwould submit to one another.


    On this historic day, the gods descended from the Olympian Rings that hung over Tellus¡¯ night. They brought an important message to each city in all Six Kingdoms. The demons¡ªa force that tellians had hunted to almost extinction¡ªhad multiplied to billions in a place that the gods referred to as the ¡®Dark World¡¯, located beyond Shakor¡¯s Wall, a limitless mountain range believed to be the end of the land.


    The Aeternum exerted all his divine power to stop the demon¡¯s Fallen Thrones from ravaging the land. He fought ten days and ten nights against the Seven Sins of the Fallen Thrones and pushed them back to their dark domains, but at the price of damaging the Olympian Gate and leaving all the high officers of his court trapped in the Olympian Rings without the possibility to send them to help the humans.


    The Aeternum could only send the Aetherlings, his favored sons and daughters, to spread the news of the great danger looming over the continent. The demons had broken through Shakor¡¯s Wall and planned to conquer the green and fertile lands of Tellus for themselves.


    He made the Northern Empire, the Six Kingdoms and the Southern Dynasty to leave behind their differences and join to fight the demon invasion under the guidance of the Aetherlings.


    The Six Kingdoms joined together and created the Epigoni League to equate their authority and power to their northern and southern neighbors, and so, the Three Great Powers set forth to wage the bloodiest war in Tellus¡¯ history against the Dark World.


    The continent has united for once to fight a common enemy. But I fear that this war has broken the delicate balance the continent had cultivated over centuries of bloodshed. I don¡¯t doubt that the greatest war this continent has seen is yet to come.


    Liberides, Censor of the Epigoni League


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The door opened and a wide lavish hall appeared in front of them. He had to make his best effort to avoid gaping at the numerous sculptures and paintings, but his eyes still darted everywhere.


    ¡°Archidux Marcus Jaume Tempesta, Dux Julius Ignatius Fuegni and Vice Dux Titus Pietro Riubin from Southwell.¡± A man announced.


    The group walked forward and knelt in front of a golden and purple throne with the brown haired Rex seated.


    Only two guards stood behind the throne to protect the most important man in the kingdom, but they were more than enough. Each one wore a pair of bluish silver gauntlets that represented their status as elite Silver Knights. Few men could fight evenly against the two of them and even less could defeat them¡ªmost of the later were at the battlefront in the Dark World.


    The Rex stood up and climbed down the small set of stairs to stand on the same level as his guests. ¡°Stand up.¡± He said.


    Everyone stood up and bowed to the Rex.


    The Rex went to each clan leader and clasped their hands in a friendly grip and then nodded at the four kids and the group behind them. His golden eyes along with his purple crown matched perfectly the throne in the background.


    ¡°Come, accompany us to the dinner hal. It¡¯s been more than a year since Southwell¡¯s dungeon break and I have yet to welcome you properly to the city.¡± He waved his hands and turned around. The Rex began walking towards a door to one side of the hall and the two guards from the throne followed in silence behind him.


    They entered a smaller hall and sat around a long table. Servants brought tray after tray of luscious cuisine to the table to the delight of those present.


    Brencis¡¯ eyes glittered while looking at the food. For a moment, in his head sprung the absurd idea of making everyone¡ªeven the Rex¡ªshut up to begin eating, but when the consequences of that would be something along the lines of getting his head separated from his body, he discarded the idea.


    ¡°Tell me Ignatius, which of these talented young fighters is the brilliant rising star from your clan?¡± The Rex looked at the red haired Fuegni clan leader.


    Brencis tensed up and moved his gaze to his dominus.


    Ignatius returned his gaze and pointed towards him. ¡°That¡¯s him.¡±


    The Rex regarded him with his powerful golden gaze. ¡°What¡¯s your name, boy?¡±


    Brencis looked back and forth between the Rex and his dominus for a moment and then made the motion to stand up just to froze midway. We¡¯re in a feast, fool, there¡¯s no need to get up. He reprimanded himself and sat. ¡°I-I¡¯m Brencis.¡± He said.


    He began to panic when he saw the king still looking at him in silence and his dominus pinching his brows. ¡°Brencis Murat ex Fuegni.¡± He corrected himself, but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    The Rex raised his eyebrows, waiting.


    Ignatius closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, still pinching his brows.


    ¡°M-my lord.¡± Brencis added.


    Ignatius reached his limit and let out an exasperated sigh.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The Rex stopped staring at Brencis and chuckled.


    ¡°He¡¯s a work in progress, your Majesty.¡± Ignatius said.


    ¡°I said is okay, I understand his position.¡± His Majesty said. ¡°However,¡± He turned a serious gaze to Ignatius. ¡°At the table, I¡¯m not your Majesty, Ignatius, I¡¯m your cousin.¡± Then he regarded everyone on the table with his golden gaze. ¡°At the table, you¡¯re not my subjects, you¡¯re my friends and guests.¡±


    They could only nod awkwardly, not knowing how to respond to such a statement from the Rex himself.


    ¡°Anyway, Brencis.¡± The Rex changed the topic. ¡°The engineers have told me great things of your ¡®engine¡¯ and your ¡®printing press¡¯. They say that if they can make your ideas work, then it could bring a revolution¡ªas they call it¡ªto the kingdom.


    ¡°Though it is a shame that the times don¡¯t allow the kingdom to put any good amount of resources into their development.¡± The Rex sighed. ¡°If this crazy war could just be over¡­¡± He shook his head.


    ¡°T-thank you.¡± Brencis said. His face flushed in nervousness and his heartbeat drummed his ears.


    The Rex nodded at him and turned to talk with the clan leaders, mostly about idle topics and to congratulate them for recent accomplishments. After a while, the Rex clinked his spoon with a wine cup and declared the feast started.


    Brencis had to sink his nails in his palms to stop himself from wolfing the food and instead began eating in the slow¡ªand less enjoyable¡ªway of the patricians. He looked at his mom a few seats to his right facing a similar struggle to his.


    ¡°This is also part of the emotions training.¡± Kiara nudged him with her elbow from the left. She wore an exquisite yellow dress and her hair styled a crown braid that made her look like a princess. With all the nervousness he had not seen her properly, but after calming down, her beauty stunned him.


    He had never seen her so beautiful and radiant. She always had a simple ponytail and wore training vests or comfortable dresses that she called ¡®battle dresses¡¯.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t overcome this, then you¡¯re not my pupil anymore.¡± She frowned playfully.


    ¡°I¡¯m not your pupil.¡± He pursed his lip and returned to his food.


    He looked at the important people talking on the other end of the table, hoping that it would distract him from the banquet.


    ¡°¡­ yes, I must apologize for my son¡¯s absence. I sent him with the army to Southwell. Let¡¯s hope that he¡¯ll return with good news.¡± The Rex said. ¡°Anyway,¡± He grabbed his cup and took a long sip of wine. ¡°Ignatius, tell me your thoughts about Brencis. About his talents as a mana fighter or his prospects as a magus. I need to know if I did well to send him to the academy instead of the college.¡±


    Hearing the Rex mention him again, Brencis tensed on his seat.


    ¡°There¡¯s not much to tell about him that you already don¡¯t know. He is a prodigy from one of the clan¡¯s training camps, a simple 1st rank plebeian. But I¡¯ve seen him grow in strength from an average commoner into an exceptional patrician child in little more than two years. I¡¯d expect him to reach the same level of those prodigies of his age in about two more years, after that, it is up to his efforts if he can surpass them.


    ¡°As for his evoking attainments, I¡¯d say above average, but not outstanding. It is in mana wielding that he excels. I can see the promise of a Golden Knight in him.¡± Ignatius glanced for a moment at Brencis. ¡°If he keeps growing at this pace, I think he could compare to a young Norman in no time.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re vying for a spot among the Five, huh? The boy certainly has the potential.¡± The Rex nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of another kid awakening a sixth rank core in this generation. But, does it not concern you to reveal your long term plans for the boy in public? After all, we¡¯re no strangers to what has happened to prodigies of the past generation¡­¡±


    ¡°Octavian¡­¡± Ignatius nodded. ¡°But I would not worry about it that much.¡± The clan leader shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re all family and friends around the Rex¡¯s table, right?¡± He smiled. ¡°And I don''t think there is a lord fool enough to try to remove a potential war asset in such times.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The Rex nodded. ¡°It would be great if uncle¡¯s dream became true thanks to the boy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it would.¡± Ignatius smiled, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes for a moment.


    ¡°Speaking of Norman,¡± The Rex turned to look the blue haired Tempesta clan¡¯s leader. ¡°Jaume, what was his answer to my request?¡±


    ¡°Norman¡¯s hard headiness is well known, and he never wanted to take a disciple. All I could accomplish was making him agree to test the Princeps. He told me that if he passes, then he would accept your request.¡± The blue haired Jaume said with a slightly sour expression.


    ¡°Worry not, my friend. You¡¯ve done more than enough, and I owe you for it. It is hard for a young Golden Knight to take a disciple. Testing him is good. Now it¡¯s up to him to earn Norman¡¯s respect.¡±


    ¡°The Princeps¡¯ fame precedes him. I¡¯ve heard that he is a superb fighter for his age. Norman will surely accept him.¡± Jaume said.


    ¡°Yes¡­ his fame.¡± The Rex said. ¡°Or should we call it infamy?¡± He took a bite of meat and chewed slowly.


    ¡°He-he.¡± A girl seated to the Rex¡¯s right giggled. ¡°Everyone fears my brother.¡±


    The Rex sighed and rubbed his trimmed beard. ¡°It¡¯s not a good thing¡­¡±


    Brencis stopped eating and looked at the princess. Her beauty did not lose to Kiara¡¯s, but she had a different kind of charm. Where Kiara was intense and confident, the princess had innocence and purity¡ªif anything, only their eyes had a resemblance. Kiara¡¯s amber eyes were similar to the golden of the two royals sitting together, only darker. But the princess¡¯s beauty was not what attracted Brencis¡¯ attention, their conversation did.


    He once had the opportunity to meet the infamous Princeps they talked about¡ªa meeting he would never forget. Before that time, he had only feared for his life once, when he almost died fighting a blue mane in the past.


    But a single gaze from Princeps ingrained a fear in his heart unlike anything he had experienced before. ¡®The Bloody Prince¡¯ they called him. Not out of spite, but as a result of his actions.


    ¡­ ¡­


    Soon after all the guests were done with their food the Rex stood up, leaving a third of his food still on the plates¡ªBrencis felt it almost a crime to leave such a lavish food behind, though he supposed the servants would get through it.


    The Rex thanked everyone for attending and declared the feast over, dismissing most of the guests. Then he walked to another room with the three clan leaders, a grim shadow looming over his face.


    Brencis walked at the front of the group along with the other three kids. Behind them were the members of their families that came with them.


    ¡°You know clan leader Ignatius is being extremely optimist by comparing you to lord Norman, right?¡± One of the boys glanced at Brencis and said in a derisive tone. He had the characteristic light blue hair of the Tempesta clan and a pair of hateful green eyes that for a moment sparked a long forgotten contempt inside Brencis.


    Brencis wanted to snap at him and tell him that no matter what he said, he was still the one favored by the Rex. However, he refrained from doing so. He still treated with reverence the gap that separated the nobles from the commoners, even if it made him the main target of his new patrician peers¡¯ mocking and mistreatments. He still couldn¡¯t get accustomed to being a Squire of the Rex, which in the first place should give him the advantage in terms of personal status with most of those who mocked him.


    ¡°What? Jealous that the Rex didn¡¯t even spare a glance to a simpleton like you?¡± Kiara arched her eyebrows, her tone not losing a bit in derisiveness against the boy¡¯s.


    The boy paused and stared at her, taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s not like he looked at you as well.¡± He snorted.


    ¡°What does it matter? The Rex seemed more than pleased with our clan. If I were you I¡¯d be worrying that Southwell doesn¡¯t end up under our clan¡¯s control.¡±


    ¡°What? We¡¯ve got one of the few Golden Knights in the kingdom. Your clan will never control Southwell.¡±


    ¡°Last time I checked, a single Golden Knight can¡¯t win against all our Silver Knights. In case you forgot, our clan has twice as much Silver Knights as your clan.¡± Kiara said.


    ¡°Well¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter. A Golden Knight is still better.¡± He stopped walking, raising his voice.


    ¡°Will you shut up already?¡± The last boy of the group spoke. He was tall and muscular, looking a good deal older than the others. He had dirt brown hair, cut short in the style of legionnaires. If Brencis didn¡¯t knew better, he would have thought that he was really a legionnaire instead of a boy still of age to enlist in the academy. ¡°Neither of you is a Golden Knight or a Silver Knight. What use is there to flaunt your clan¡¯s strength when you are not the strongest? They¡¯re just empty words. You should be worrying more about the academy and how will you face it. You surely have heard of the stories.¡±


    Kiara and the blue haired boy shut up at his words and began walking again. They were certainly not the strongest¡ªnot even among the four of them. He was. And in that regard, he had a point.


    They were taught from a very young age that if they wanted to be worthy of their clan¡¯s nomen, they first needed to prove themselves. For that reason, every child born from a noble couple¡ªwhile patricians in front of the law¡ªheld no nobility title. They had to earn it as every citizen of the kingdom. Admittedly, with a considerable advantage in terms of resources.


    However, they wouldn¡¯t simply shut up and walk straight just because one of the strongest among their peers said so. It was his mention of the academy that made them pensive. They did hear the stories. The Royal Academy was a place where you either break down or come out as a Centurion. And considering that the whole kingdom had barely more than two thousand active Centurions among a population of tens of millions, the numbers of failures had to be very high.


    Though failure did not mean that everything was over. The very best among them could also become an officer of the legions. Still, that did not make the rate of graduates that much higher.


    Their talent gave them an advantage to become stronger more quickly than others, but it was assuming that they could endure the same training as them.


    ¡°You think it is as bad as they say?¡± Brencis whispered to Kiara.


    She nodded. ¡°It could be worse. Those who can¡¯t keep up with the training end up as guards defending some unimportant door or as candy-scratcher debauchees. I¡¯ve seen them. They¡¯re one of the unhappiest persons I¡¯ve ever seen, as if they were stults.¡±


    ¡°I-it can¡¯t be that bad¡­¡±


    ¡°It is worse.¡± The blue haired boy stepped in. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that they beat every fresh recruit until they throw up blood. If you can¡¯t take that beating you¡¯re out.¡± He looked at Brencis¡¯ expression and grinned when he saw the paling face he wanted to see. ¡°And that¡¯s not the worst-¡±


    ¡°The worst is that they hate children and beat up every recruit until they¡¯re rid of their immaturity.¡± The brown haired boy interrupted. ¡°They¡¯ll probably take a good while to be done with you.¡± He arched his eyebrows, mocking at the blue haired boy with his gaze.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± The blue haired boy grunted.


    ¡°They also like picking on the strong ones. To let them know that there are oceans beyond their well.¡± Kiara said. ¡°I heard you¡¯re pretty strong yourself¡­¡± She returned him a mocking gaze just like his own.


    The brown haired boy¡¯s eyebrows twitched and he snorted. ¡°Bah, they¡¯re just stories. We will know how things really are next week.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, stories¡­¡± She chuckled.


    Brencis smiled lightly and continued walking in silence. He found it hard to join their battle of wits when he still couldn¡¯t even talk normally with the two noble boys. It had taken him a few months to get accustomed to talk with Kiara, and she was on the friendly side of the nobles.


    The others he had met always liked to make fun of his origins as a commoner, or how weak he still was compared to them, or for how low his voice was. Pretty much anything was a good excuse to mock a shy upstart like him.


    It didn¡¯t matter to them that he had a sixth rank core, something almost unique in each generation, and that could very possibly make him a Golden Knight in the future. A bunch of fools in his opinion.


    He kept walking in silence, the trio still bickering and trying to be the one left with the last word. He turned twice to look at his mom, her face infused with pride for what her son had achieved, ignoring the pains that said achievements brought.


    He still preferred to have stayed at home, living a normal life far from the heavy responsibilities that would come to him eventually. But he didn¡¯t have a home anymore. The world was changing too fast and he needed to keep up with it if he wanted his mom to stay safe. He¡¯d heard of how life for commoners had become after the war began¡ªalmost as bad as if they were stults. He did not want that for his mom. He was the only one left to protect her after his dad disappeared.


    The group left the throne room and began to part ways. Brencis and his mom continued to their rooms, located in one of the farthest corners of the palace. A sharp contrast with the other nobles¡¯ rooms, located more to the center of the palace. Though it was to be expected. The others were closely related to the clan leaders of the three remaining great houses in Southwell, while he was a simple Squire. A Squire of the Rex¡ªmore important than a regular Squire¡ªyet still a Squire.


    Brencis slugged through the beautiful corridors, now with time to look at the statues, carvings and decorations, and enough privacy to allow himself to gape at them. His mom walked beside him, pretty much doing the same until they arrived their rooms.


    ¡°Would you like to talk a bit?¡± She asked. ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time.¡± Her eyes seemed a little somber even though she smiled and spoke casually.


    Brencis paused for a moment and nodded. It had been months since they last talked properly.


    He spent most of his day training with Kiara and learning from the wide array of instructors lord Ignatius had prepared for him¡ªwhat they taught back at the training camp was not enough to prepare a child to enter the Centorbis¡¯ Royal Academy apparently. By the end of the day he would return with barely enough strength to dine and slump on his bed right after, never spending with her more than a few minutes.


    She smiled and moved to her door. ¡°You see, these noble rooms seem to have more furnitures than I thought a person needed. Maybe you know what they¡¯re for?¡± She laughed and entered.


    He smiled and followed, preparing himself mentally for the idle chatting that mothers seemed to like so much.

 Chapter 5: The Royal Academy

    Chapter 5: The Royal Academy


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    If you asked a commoner who defends the realm, he will mention the ¡®People¡¯s Legions¡¯¡ªand then proceed to mouth off about his cousin or relative that is part of them.


    If you went to the highest officers of the legions and asked the same question, they would proudly declare ¡®the patricians¡¯, for they knew how much the nobility invested in funding the legions, and of course, most of them were patricians themselves.


    Then what would happen if you went to the patricians with the same question? They would praise their Rex¡¯s effort and accomplishments in managing the realm and keeping all its factions working together.


    What would I say if you asked me? The Rex said. I would say that there is only one true defender of the realm, and it is gathered here today before me. I bow my head to you in respect, for I know that many of you will perish. He did as he said, and lowered his head deeply. But know that your sacrifice will be remembered and your families rewarded.


    A thunderous cheer echoed through the mountains. Birds scattered from the forests and even the fierce beasts began to roar and flee.


    I announce then, that Banniard¡¯s proud and loyal Knighthood Orders shall advance to the Dark World and bring death upon humanity¡¯s foe.The Rex bolstered the army¡¯s emotions, bringing them to a new, almost unprecedented, intensity.


    The hundred thousand men shouted again, infusing their voices with mana. Their cheer resounded all through the mountain range, making rocks roll down from the peaks and even the land itself trembled.


    The bloodiest stage of the war had begun.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    After a remarkably boring week, the day he awaited with excitement and dread had arrived. His first day in the academy.


    Brencis and Kiara walked through Centorbis¡¯ crowded streets accompanied by a squad of guards and Brencis¡¯ mother. The Royal Academy, surprisingly enough, was not located in the city core, but in the first ring, and so they crossed the humongous gate that connected the core with it.


    Brencis gawked at the sight of ten Bronze Knights guarding the thirty-meter-tall gate, five at each side, and had to resist the temptation to check their levels with his status bracelet. He¡¯d done it in the past and such action was not received well by Knights on duty.


    Considering that no kingdom had more than a thousand knights¡ªas far as Brencis was concerned¡ªhaving ten of them standing to guard the capital¡¯s core gates was a testimony to its importance. Centorbis¡¯ core was more often than not known as the realm¡¯s heart and it proved to be so.


    Brencis felt the sight dull as they entered the first ring, not that it was really dull or lackluster. In fact, it was almost as beautiful as Southwell¡¯s core, but Centorbis¡¯ core felt like a wondrous world of its own.


    The streets of the core had almost every single corner carved with artistic patterns and magical runes. The buildings, tall and wide, were from the most expensive kinds of wood and stone that money could afford; and numerous artifacts to make the life of the residents more comfortable littered around. Carrier orbs, message orbs, light orbs, soothing orbs, weather orbs¡ªall of it a luxury anywhere else but a high noble¡¯s keep¡ªabounded as if ordinary tools.


    Instead, the first ring, while still having luxurious buildings¡ªmade from expensive wood planks, each costing more than what commoners could earn in their whole lives¡ªand carefully adorned streets, lacked that mysticality that artifacts gave the core.


    The sense of dullness did not last long, after all, he¡¯d lived his whole life in Southwell¡¯s outermost ring. There the only buildings that could be called ¡®acceptable¡¯ compared to those of the first ring were only the local church and the ministry of enforcement¡¯s office.


    They reached the academy entrance a while later. It was not that big compared to the other buildings around and it was built simple and without the flair so common in Centorbis.


    It would be a confusing sight for anyone who didn¡¯t know it was Centorbis¡¯ Royal Academy entrance to see dozens of fancy carriages, pulled by finely bred horses and even tamed beasts, stopping in front of that simple building and riding away. Paired up with men and women wearing ornamental artifacts standing by the carriages as guards or lecturing their children, the sight could be hard to digest.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re here¡­¡± Brencis muttered.


    ¡°Yeah, this is it.¡± Kiara nodded.


    Brencis turned around and looked at his mom.


    She walked forward and embraced him, planting a kiss atop of his head. ¡°Go there and make mom proud.¡± She whispered.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Brencis groaned in embarrassment but did not push her away. He knew how hard it would be for her to live without him in a new city and surrounded by unknown people of different upbringing.


    ¡°Be sure to contact me as soon as you can.¡± She released him and smiled.


    Brencis nodded and turned.


    ¡°You ready, mommy boy?¡± Kiara nudged him with her elbow and whispered.


    ¡°Leave me alone.¡± Brencis¡¯ face turned red and he walked ahead.


    Kiara chuckled and followed. ¡°Wait for me.¡± She said. ¡°You don¡¯t know who to talk with.¡±


    Brencis slowed his pace and waited, still not looking at her.


    They left behind the guards and Brencis¡¯ mom and had to squeeze past the patrician crowd to get to the entrance.


    Kiara took a golden medallion with the symbol of a purple flame in it and showed it to one of the entrance guards. ¡°We¡¯re from the Fuegni clan.¡± She said.


    The guard glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re new recruits here.¡± She frowned.


    ¡°Your inscription letter?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have one.¡± She said. ¡°The R-¡±


    ¡°Without aletter you¡¯re not a recruit here.¡± The guard replied with mild hostility and stopped looking at her.


    ¡°We were recommended by the Rex himself. What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± She snapped.


    The guard widened his eyes and looked at her, then turned to look at his companion to the other side of the door.


    ¡°Please, come this way.¡± The other guard opened the door and bowed his head.


    Kiara snorted and pulled Brencis forward.


    ¡°Confirm your inscription with the receptionist to the left.¡± The guard said after they crossed the door.


    Kiara stomped her foot and turned around, but the door had already closed. ¡°These b-¡­¡± She gritted her teeth and turned around again. ¡°These people really don¡¯t care about patricians.¡± She said. ¡°I hope this place lives to its reputation.¡± She continued walking.


    Brencis followed, shrinking his shoulders from the stares directed at them after Kiara¡¯s fuss.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kiara slammed the bell on the receptionist¡¯s counter repeatedly and announced. ¡°Kiara Fuegni and Brencis Murat ex Fuegni. Recommended by the Rex himself.¡±


    The woman behind the counter looked at her stunned for a moment and then took out a few papers. She scanned them with a quick glanced and nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re both on the list.¡± She said. ¡°Please pass through the door to my left and wait with the other recruits for the status examination.¡±


    Kiara walked away loftily without saying anything else.


    Brencis threw an apologetic glance at the receptionist and followed Kiara.


    The room was filled with simple furniture. Chairs and tables of common wood. If something gave the room an air of luxury, it was the light orbs sticking to the walls and ceiling.


    In the room were at least fifty kids around their age, all with different kinds of attires¡ªbeast furs, leather clothing, fine suits or dresses¡ªwith only their lavish appearance as a common factor. A great part of the kids stood with their arms folded or leaning on a wall, probably considering the chairs unworthy of bearing their noble rears. The remaining few sat, uncaring of the chairs'' material.


    To the end of the room was another door, a blue board on the wall to its left with a wood desk in front and a few shelves containing books and chests farther to the left.


    Most kids turned to look at them at the same time as they entered.


    Brencis couldn¡¯t shrink his shoulders any further no matter how much he wanted. ¡°Let¡¯s seat.¡± He said.


    ¡°Why should we?¡± Kiara raised an eyebrow. ¡°They prepare such cheap furnishings for us as an insult. If we desire become centurions, we shouldn¡¯t let them slight us like this.¡±


    The gazes of the kids that heard her words showed approval.


    ¡°Please.¡± Brencis said, showing her eyes that couldn¡¯t be more pitiful.


    She let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Okay, just-¡± She paused. ¡°Just stop that face or others will think you weak.¡± She pulled him to the table closest to the front of the room and sat there.


    They waited for another thirty minutes until the door near the board opened. By then the room was so packed that some of the proud nobles were forced to sit on the unworthy chairs.


    A wizened man entered through the door. He wore a yellow shirt and gray pants and had a red leather bag slung over his left shoulder. Most of the kids glanced at him and turned back to whatever they were doing. The simple man was probably a servant preparing the desk for the instructor.


    ¡°Silence.¡± The man stood in the middle of the room and said.


    Most kids threw annoyed gazes but otherwise kept ignoring the man.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Kiara said, but Brencis did not reply.


    There was something about the man¡¯s eyes that made him imposing, as if a beast hid behind the guise of a frail man, even though it was not evident. Brencis sat straighter.


    ¡°Silence.¡± The man said again, but this time his voice resounded through the room, echoing as if they were in a cave and kept bouncing from wall to wall, growing louder. Every kid in the room groaned and covered their ears, except Brencis and a scarce few others. The waves of sound did not affect them for some reason.


    The sound stopped and the room was left in utter silence. Some of the most curious and strong-willed kids lifted their arms and pointed their bracelets at the man despite their dizziness. They paled after seeing what appeared in the blue screen and made a clumsy legionnaire salute.


    Brencis¡¯ curiosity craved to do the same, but he knew better than to try his luck.


    ¡°It is too late for that now. You¡¯ll be up for a nice reward later.¡± The wizened man¡¯s mouth parted in a sinister smiled. ¡°Except you.¡± He looked at the kids who didn¡¯t affect the sound wave. ¡°A disciplined and discerning recruit is always well rewarded. This time your reward will be the lack of one. Any objections on that?


    Brencis and the others shook their head repeatedly.


    ¡°Great.¡± The man nodded and turned to address the whole room. ¡°The first thing you¡¯ll learn here,¡± He said. ¡°Is to get rid of overconfidence¡ªthe bane of talented people. It won¡¯t matter if you become a Knight in the future if a Duelist sticks a knife through your throat because you underestimated his ability to get said knife through it.¡± His expression grew somber and everyone felt a chill crawl up their backs as if he had uttered a direct threat to them. ¡°A sharp edge and enough strength can cut the skin of any person, no matter their level, artifacts or dream. Remember that.¡± He said, and his expression eased.


    ¡°But that¡¯s enough of that. I¡¯m not here to undermine your spirit. The proctors will see to that. I want you to step in front of me to register your status. One at a time.¡± His voice lost all edge and he returned to look like a frail old man.


    The kids hesitated, looking at each other, unable to talk.


    The man cleared his throat and breathed deeply as if about to shout.


    One of the kids stood up and hurried towards the old man, declaring his name. He was just a second faster than others that also had begun to do the same.


    The man¡¯s sound attack had been avoided. The rest of kids sighed in relief.


    The man turned around and opened one of the chests in the shelves behind him. He took out a blue orb that fit in his palm and turned towards the kid in front of him. ¡°Take this orb and infuse your mana performing your highest elemental masteries.¡±


    The kid nodded and took the orb, concentrating his mana in it.


    A series of letters and numbers appeared on the blue board behind and the old man took another blue orb from his leather bag and pointed at the board. It glowed for a moment and then stopped.


    ¡°Next.¡± The man took the blue orb from the kid and waved his hand at the boy, beckoning him to return to his seat.


    The next kid went and everyone focused on the words appearing on the board, knowing that it was best to get to know their competition¡¯s status from the beginning. More and more passed and a few times the status appearing on the board caused gasps in many of the kids and even praise from the old instructor.


    ¡°You¡¯ll go after me.¡± Kiara stood and walked to the instructor.


    ¡°W-what? Wait, no-¡± Brencis tried to complain, but Kiara was already in front of the instructor.


    She took the blue orb and closed her eyes, focusing completely on infusing her masteries correctly.


    Kiara Fuegni | Novice | Patrician


    Age: 13


    ¡¾Level: 10¡¿


    ¡¾Mana: 21/21¡¿


    ¡¾Barrier: 11/11¡¿


    Magic Power: 14


    Mana Control: 11


    Mana Perception: 12


    Constitution: 9


    Agility: 12


    Skill: 10


    Strength: 13


    Core: ¡¾5th Rank¡¿ Fire


    Elemental Affinity


    Fire - Beginner (9/10)


    Air - Beginner (1/10)


    Arts Mastery


    Sword Mastery ¨C Beginner (8/10)


    Footwork ¨C Beginner (5/10)


    The old instructor whistled in appreciation and the room of noble kids gasped¡ªthe biggest one yet.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the Fuegni young lady people whisper about. A very nice talent indeed.¡± The instructor nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to work in the other aspects and maybe you¡¯ll get to finish the five years.¡± He took the orb from her hand and waved his hand. ¡°Next.¡±


    She clenched her fists and glared at the old man for a moment, then turned around and directed her fiery glare at Brencis, commanding him to do as she said and be the next.


    Brencis hesitated but still stood up. He knew better than to anger the Fuegni young lady any further, lest she decides to get even with him later during their training.


    Brencis took the orb and began to infuse his mana, his hands trembling and his back sweating. He could feel all the eyes in the room piercing his back. He took a deep breath and shook his head, focusing only in the orb. He first injected his mana violently and made it flow in a spiral with a violent impetus. Then he changed his mana flow and injected single uniform rush and kept his mana flowing in a file. His mana trembled but maintained a somewhat even flow.


    Brencis Murat ex Fuegni | Novice | Squire


    Age: 12


    ¡¾Level 7¡¿


    ¡¾Mana: 19/19¡¿


    ¡¾Barrier: 7/7¡¿


    Magic Power: 15


    Mana Control: 8


    Mana Perception: 10


    Constitution: 9


    Agility: 7


    Skill: 8


    Strength: 11


    Core: ¡¾6th Rank¡¿ Fire


    Elemental Affinity


    Fire - Beginner (6/10)


    Earth - Basic (7/10)


    Arts Mastery


    Sword Mastery ¨C Beginner (6/10)


    Footwork ¨C Beginner (4/10)


    Spear Mastery ¨C Beginner (2/10)


    The blue board flickered and his status appeared, garnering another round of gasp from the other kids.


    ¡°It¡¯s him¡­¡± He could hear the noble kids whispering his name and things about him. ¡°A sixth rank core¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not what I expected.¡± A nearby kid whispered to another.


    ¡°Yes, I heard Southwell¡¯s prodigy was calm and charismatic. That one couldn¡¯t help but see him as a leader after meeting him.¡± The other responded. ¡°He doesn¡¯t give that feeling.¡±


    Brencis clenched his fists and they turned white. Those rumors were about him. Somewhere down the line information about Brencis mixed with his and people had a wrong idea.


    ¡°Yeah, I guess the Fuegni clan bolstered him to gain the prestige they lost after losing Southwell.¡±


    Brencis turned around and walked back to his seat, cutting off whatever words of praise the instructor was saying.


    He sat and folded his arm, looking down with a deep scowl.


    Kiara nudged him with her elbow. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of jealous kids, don¡¯t mind them.¡± She whispered.


    ¡°Yes, they are.¡± Brencis said, not minding that the patrician kids heard him agree with her words.


    After an awkward silence the old man cleared his throat and called for the next. The examination ended after a few minutes and the clapped his hands once.


    ¡°Now that we are through with this I want to leave a few things clear before you go receive your reward.¡± The old man stood firm and regained his imposing demeanor.


    ¡°First allow me to introduce myself, I¡¯m the vice principal Basil Aemilii.¡± The vice principal bowed his head¡ªa little too much, considering his position. ¡°First and foremost, I¡¯d like to welcome you all to Saint Remus¡¯ Royal Academy. It is our institution¡¯s pleasure and honor to receive for the first time such a variety of students.


    ¡°As you might know, this is the first year our institution is accepting recruits from all over the continent. With the ongoing war against the demon and the first continental alliance, the Lord Aetherlings have seen fit that every great academy in the continent begin a student exchange program to bring closer the diverse cultures of the land.¡±


    So that¡¯s why everyone dresses so differently. Brencis thought.


    ¡°Knowing that, I must warn that you behave properly, as each one of you is representing their nation and any shame you bring unto yourself you do as well for your nation.¡± The vice principal¡¯s voice made most of the tangle of emotions the kids had going through their hearts fade; all but one. Fear.


    They knew that the man spoke seriously and even though he didn¡¯t say it, they knew his words contained a threat. ¡®Behave properly, otherwise¡­¡¯


    ¡°Well then,¡± The vice principal smiled again and that dreadful moment from before seemed to never have happened. ¡°Without further ado, again, welcome to Saint Remus¡¯ Royal Academy.¡± He waved his hand and pointed at the door at the end of the room, which had opened at some point.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget your reward.¡± He added.

 Chapter 6: Refugee Town

    Chapter 6: Refugee Town


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Disciples of minor and major Knighthood orders began their attack with unbridled impetus. They claimed most of the territory Banniard had explored as a wave of workers began building colonies in their wake.


    The campaign was a success, the Marshal had led the Orders and swept across the demon filled land, but then things went awry a certain cold night when his men began to turn against themselves¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Why the face?¡± Collin closed on Attalus from the side. ¡°They¡¯ve been doing pretty good, considering their levels.¡± He pulled the reins to make his horse walk at the same pace as his.


    Attalus looked at the bandaged legionnaires marching behind them. ¡°Good is not enough. They need to do excellent if they don¡¯t want to find a spear piercing their throats next time. I don¡¯t even know how they survived after so much shit went wrong. Even the auxiliaries did better.¡±


    ¡°Well, the auxiliaries are veterans, even if they¡¯re stults. You can¡¯t compare them.¡±


    ¡°Anyways, they should have done better.¡± He clicked his tongue and glared at Collin. ¡°You should also do better.¡± He said. ¡°You weren¡¯t injured last time and you still skipped the last three drills.¡±


    Collin raised his eyebrows, his droopy eyes gaining some zest. ¡°I give results, what does it matter? You said it yourself: Results is all that matters.¡± He said, imitating the stern tone Attalus forced when lecturing the recruits.


    Attalus snorted and looked away. It was the truth, but it didn''t make it any less annoying that Collin skipped half of the practices. He ignored the droopy-eyes comments about cutting the trainees some slack and rode in silence.


    After the close call in Southwell¡¯s sewers, Attalus retreated from the city with his injured legionnaires. It gained him some subtle insults from legate Aetius, but at least he managed to get away from any plots the Regina¡¯s faction had for him¡ªassuming that what happened in the sewers was not one of their plots to begin with.


    He didn¡¯t know how his father would react to him leaving the subjugation so quickly, but at least they still completed their scouting mission and achieved a little from their trip to the sewers. They managed to rescue survivors from Southwell¡¯s fall a whole year back. It wasn¡¯t some epic achievement, but it should be good enough to earn the legionnaires some reward. Maybe they would even be promoted to a legion and he¡¯ll finally get rid of them.


    ¡°Hey.¡± Someone called out from behind.


    He turned his head and looked down. It was one of the boys. Kancil. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°How much longer?¡± Kancil said. ¡°All I can see are trees and dirt.¡±


    Attalus smiled. ¡°Not much. We¡¯re going up a hill right now, that¡¯s why you can¡¯t see the town, but we should take half a day more.¡±


    Kancil nodded and walked back towards the other two boys.


    Attalus stared at them and let out a smile. He liked the three boys pretty much. They showed a discipline worthy of a legionnaire, even the jumpy one, not like the noble recruits. They never complained and showed proper respect to his orders, though Kancil had a certain edge in his tone anytime he spoke to him. He couldn¡¯t blame him. What he experienced in the sewers should have hardened his mind beyond a normal kid of his age.


    It still surprised him how Kancil didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when he told him how the world had become a mess after Gods¡¯ Day. At least the other two showed a more normal reaction to the news.


    After seeing how they fought in sewers against his legionnaires he would like very much to recruit them. They had the coordination to fight back and injure three legionnaires almost twice their level even though they were utterly surrounded. It was the kind of fierceness and tenacity he wanted to see in his legionnaires. It was a shame that the other boy had died. After that they surely wouldn¡¯t want to join the legions anytime soon¡ªnot willingly at least. He didn¡¯t blame Bellamy for what he did, the situation had been too sudden, but still. What a shame.


    I¡¯ll try to recruit them anyway. He decided. He wouldn¡¯t lose anything with trying. Of course, he¡¯ll have to wait after they¡¯re registered in the new God¡¯s System when they reach the refugee town. And then go through the tedious paperwork to add them to his team if they accepted.


    The legionnaires kept marching with sunken faces, drained of any vigor. That¡¯s what a near death experience, then a week of march while still doing the daily training did to unprepared minds. The eighty auxiliaries surrounded them, being the only ones really prepared for any eventuality, apart from Attalus¡¯ team.


    Half a day later, the sun on its way down, they reached the refugee town, just as Attalus had said. From the distance they could see a wooden palisade surrounding the town and right in front the foundation of the wall that would probably become the walls of a future city core. Further ahead were numerous fields full of mature crops almost ready for harvest.


    As they approached they could see stults working in the fields with the utmost care as if their lives depended on it. They probably did. If the stults could not produce enough food they would surely be forced to enlist in the auxilia and serve as cannon fodder for the colonies in the Dark World. A death sentence for most. Though it didn¡¯t matter for the kingdom¡¯s citizens. There were enough stults around to replace them.


    Attalus could see the town guards tensing as they approached. He raised his arm and made his men stop twenty meters away from the wooden gates and he reined his horse forward. He took out a steel insignia from his baggage and showed it to the guards.


    The guards straightened and bumped their right fists on their chests. ¡°Centurion.¡± They saluted.


    Attalus nodded at them, his brows twitching. He hated the word. It bounded him to a larger organization. That¡¯s why he put so much effort in making his men call him ¡®Captain¡¯ instead of ¡®Centurion¡¯. That¡¯s how mercenaries addressed their leader, no matter how strong he was or how many men he commanded. He liked to think that he¡¯d form his own band of men following the same principle of mercenaries: freedom.


    The guards opened the gate and he made his troops march forward.


    ¡°Hey.¡± He stopped and called one of the guards.


    ¡°Sire?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the enforcement office?¡±


    ¡°Follow the street and after you reach the first tavern turn to the right, sir. You shouldn¡¯t miss the building.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Attalus nodded and continued.


    The town was a rare sight. Stults and citizens walked side by side in the streets going about doing their things. It was a sample of the perfect society many scholars dreamed about, where no man was above another. Attalus knew it would not last long. After the walls were finished the town would slowly but surely send the stults to live out of them as more citizen refugees arrive¡ªafter the war began there was no shortage of those.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    After a great metropolis like Southwell fell, many other cities and town surrounding it went with it as a result of the wave of demons that escaped from the dungeon. Survivors from Southwell and all those places fled to other cities and metropolis, but eventually they would have to settle in a new town if they wanted to have a solid foothold for their families. That¡¯s when they entered the town and the stults left the walls¡¯ safety.


    In Attalus¡¯ opinion, it was kind of unfair for them to be sent out after making the city flourish, but that¡¯s just how things were. He wouldn¡¯t stop living his life just because stults were treated badly.


    Attalus brought his men to the tavern the guard mentioned and made them wait there. The place was huge in terms of taverns and allowed both citizens and stults, as it was the town¡¯s trend.


    Then he took the boys to the enforcement office. The place was a single-floor building with a ceiling four meters high.


    Slayers filled the place, something that would have been considered impossible before the war began. Their line of work was one of hunting demons and mana beasts, but since they were almost extinct it was harsh to live as one.


    Now with Southwell¡¯s dungeon break and demons filling the land again, the profession thrived. With so many plantations and villages ravaged by the creatures, the only option for poor peasants and stults was to try to make a living off killing demons. Of course, young men and legionnaires thirsting for a real fight also became slayers now that there were enough demons to hunt.


    It didn¡¯t matter the reason; the fact was slayers were multiplying as fast as demons.


    ¡°Remind me. Why do we need to do this?¡± Kancil asked. Miles and Tim seemed in the brink of correcting his manners.


    ¡°Remember what I told you about the new god¡¯s system?¡± Attalus said. ¡°Well, the Aetherlings ordered that every citizen registers in the system. It helps the enforcement ministry to flag criminals and manage bounties, among other boring things.¡±


    ¡°Still, I don¡¯t understand the rush.¡±


    Attalus shrugged. ¡°Divine orders. If an enforcer finds a citizen not registered in the system, they¡¯ll need a good reason as to why they¡¯re not registered yet. Since the enforcement office was close, I decided it was better to save you the trouble.¡±


    Kancil nodded and looked ahead, silent.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Tim said, tense because of Kancil¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°My pleasure.¡± Attalus smiled and moved to a counter at the end of the room. He took out his steel insignia and showed it to the receptionist.


    ¡°Centurion.¡± The man saluted.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Attalus returned a half-hearted salute and then pointed at the boys. ¡°They come to register.¡±


    The receptionist squinted his eyes at the boys and asked. ¡°Why now?¡±


    Kancil, Miles and Tim looked at each other, then Kancil began. ¡°We-¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re survivors of Southwell¡¯s incident. I can vouch for them.¡± Attalus said.


    The man frowned, not understanding completely what was that of survivors, but nodded. There was no need for further questions if a centurion took responsibility for them. He took a blue orb from behind him and put it on the counter. ¡°Infuse your mana and your masteries.¡±


    Miles and Tim went first, both their status and levels were rather high for commoners their age, but it was only natural after having to survive for so long in the sewers. The receptionist asked their names and after infusing his own mana in another blue orb he took out, their names appeared added to their status. Then it was Kancil¡¯s turn.


    Kancil grabbed the orb and began to infuse his mana. It flowed violently into the orb, then slowed down into a graceful flow, then it turned random and sparse, then sturdy. His mana flowed in various ways, but the intensity and control never wavered.


    Novice | Stult


    Age: 14


    ¡¾Level: 8¡¿


    ¡¾Mana: 4/4¡¿


    Magic Power: 3


    Mana Control: 12


    Mana Perception: 4


    Constitution: 12


    Agility: 11


    Skill: 17


    Strength: 13


    Core: ¡¾Coreless¡¿


    Elemental Mastery


    Fire - Beginner (2/10)


    Water - Beginner (3/10)


    Earth - Beginner (3/10)


    Air - Beginner (2/10)


    Attalus¡¯ face paled and he gaped at the board.


    A stult.


    Kancil, the one among the three boys that showed the most talent, a stult. Just that word was enough to make him ignore how outstanding most of his other stats were. A plebeian boy of his age wouldn¡¯t have that kind of stats. A patrician boy of his age would only have similar stats thanks to elixirs and potions to help him grow faster.


    It didn¡¯t matter.


    Being a stult immediately barred him from learning battle skills and training with breathing techniques or meditation techniques. That was the basic difference between a stult and a citizen. A stult would never be a match against a citizen of the same level if the later had a single battle skill, and a stult would be left in the dust after he turned 15 and the citizens of the same age began training with breathing or meditation techniques. It was a fact and the reason why the social hierarchy was structured like it was.


    Attalus sighed and shook his head. ¡°A stult, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°Your name?¡± The receptionist asked, his voice gaining a tinge of disdain.


    ¡°Wait, he isn¡¯t a stult.¡± Tim said. ¡°His parents are citizens. The law says that a coreless citizen is still a citizen.¡±


    ¡°Well, bring me his parents and he¡¯ll be a ¡®coreless citizen¡¯ instead of a stult. Otherwise, he stays a stult.¡±


    ¡°W-we don¡¯t know where they are.¡± Tim looked down.


    The receptionist snorted. ¡°Trying to trick the system about that could get you in serious trouble, boy. Be thankful that the lord centurion covers for you. Otherwise¡­¡±


    Tim¡¯s brows creased, his gaze wavering. ¡°But he-¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Kancil interrupted him. ¡°Remember what I told you about my parents. It wouldn¡¯t matter even if we knew where they were.¡± He said and looked at the receptionist. ¡°Since it seems like I have no parents, I¡¯m Kancil. Just Kancil.¡±


    ¡°At least our stult is reasonable and doesn¡¯t want us to lose our time.¡± The receptionist nodded and infused his mana in the blue orb. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± He said. ¡°You can check it with your bracelet and see.¡± He told Attalus.


    Attalus nodded and did so.


    Timothy Fletcher | Novice | Commoner


    ¡¾Level 5¡¿


    Miles Ludel | Novice | Commoner


    ¡¾Level 6¡¿


    Kancil | Novice | Stult


    ¡¾Level 8¡¿


    He pointed his bracelet at each one and their basic status plate appeared on the blue screen on his bracelet. ¡°Thanks.¡± Attalus nodded at the receptionist and turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯ll need some food now.¡± He walked out of the enforcement office, the boys following.


    Attalus walked looking down, his head a mess. He still wanted to recruit him, even if he was a stult, but it would be doing him a disservice rather than a favor. He didn¡¯t plan to fight goblins and hobgoblins all his life. He would move to stronger things after all his teammates become Warriors. If he took Kancil with him he¡¯ll find himself facing enemies too strong and his progress stale without a breathing technique.


    He might have progressed fast during his time in the sewers, but it was surely some kind of divine luck that allowed them to survive for so long. One couldn¡¯t rely on luck to fight greater demons.


    As far as he knew it took a stult ten years of training to join the main body of the auxiliaries, only then is a stult useful in battle. He didn¡¯t have so much time to wait for him. The other two boys surely wouldn''t want to join him without Kancil. He sighed and shook his head. It was a lost case. Better to leave them live their life at their pace than forcing them to match the pace of the elite band he wanted to create.


    They returned to the tavern where the rest of the group rested. The auxiliaries sat on a side of the building, looking like a gray shadow due to their uniforms. The legionnaires and his teammates sat in front of the large bar at the end of the room. He¡¯d just been out for barely an hour and there were already a few of them drunk and bruised from a recent fight. They were a mess.


    ¡°It¡¯s done?¡± Collin approached and asked.


    Attalus nodded.


    Collin looked at the boys and then at Attalus with a knowing gaze. ¡°Will you-¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯ll talk about that later.¡± Attalus stopped him, knowing what he was about to ask.


    Collin shrugged and did not ask any further.


    ¡­ ¡­


    Attalus and his men stayed in town for the night and the next day they were departing from the town at the first light.


    ¡°I guess this is where we part ways.¡± Attalus said. They were standing in front of the town¡¯s gate, the legionnaires waiting in formation a few meters farther away.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Kancil nodded.


    Attalus looked at the boys, still regretful for how things turned out. ¡°Take this.¡± He took out a small pouch from his baggage and gave it to him. ¡°It will help you guys to settle in town. There should be enough for a month.¡±


    Kancil extended his arm by reflex and took the pouch. He looked at the cloth pouch with a frown.


    ¡°You should consider joining the local guard. They¡¯ll definitely accept you if you display your skills as you did back at Southwell. At worst you can do some farming works while you get a better job. Just don¡¯t stay there too much time. You guys don¡¯t belong to the plantations.¡± He said


    ¡°Thank you very much lord Attalus.¡± Tim said. ¡°We are in your debt.¡± He bowed deeply and Miles followed.


    ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m still sorry for not helping more, but we must continue with our schedule.¡±


    ¡°N-no lord Attalus. We wouldn¡¯t dare to ask for anything more.¡±


    Attalus chuckled and nodded. ¡°May the Aeternum guide your steps.¡± He waved his hands and walked away. What a shame. He kept repeating in his head. Maybe he¡¯ll be able to recruit them in the future, when he his band has grown enough to take care of them. He hated very much losing the opportunity of recruiting such inspiring boys.


    ¡°Hey.¡± Kancil called out from behind.


    Attalus turned his head looked at him. The boy had new clothes and had taken a bath, but the bandages he kept around his right eye and left arm, and his disheveled hair made him look like a street urchin. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Kancil looked down and clenched his fists, his brows trembling. ¡°Thanks- for¡­ everything.¡± He said.


    Attalus let out a wide smile and nodded. ¡°My pleasure.¡± He said, then continued on his way. A harsh and long training awaited him and his men.

 Chapter 7: End and Beginning

    Chapter 7: End and Beginning


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ...The Marshal Maxius could not believe his eyes.


    Screams and clashes of metal had woken him up and made him hurry out of his tent with barely enough time to put on his chest plate.


    He had expected an enemy ambush, but instead, he found men wearing the same colors killing each other. A great part of his men had black veins showing from their necks, faces, and arms, and their eyes were as black as night save for a blood-red pupil. Those showed no emotion or any sign of intelligence, only a violent need to kill every man that was not like them.


    It took the combined effort from three normal men to kill one of those¡­ aberrations. Thankfully the amount of people turned into those things were but a fraction of the Orders entire force and after some time the clashes began to fade throughout the camp.


    But it couldn¡¯t be that easy, could it?


    The real aberrations appeared when they thought it was over¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    It had been eight months since he arrived at Lenore Town, as Count Durian Lenore himself named the place.


    He picked up a big bag and swung it over his shoulder. It was the last one after a whole day of transporting food from a grocery store in the middle of the town to the plantation outside. With that, he would have earned his food for the day. What about tomorrow? It was uncertain, just as every day.


    Kancil bowed his head at the guards when he crossed the gate and continued. Since the walls were completed the security on the gates had become really tight for any stult wanting to pass.


    How did they distinguish stults? They made them wear a black collar. According to the law, stults had to wear the collars always to help distinguish them without using the status bracelet, but it was something akin to a breakable law. At least in Southwell was.


    After the efforts of some altruistic senators, most governors agreed to turn a blind eye to any stult that did not wear the collar, but it seemed that the estimated count Durian Lenore had prejudices against stults¡ªnothing really new in nobles that didn¡¯t care about their ¡®good-guy¡¯ image. Furthermore, he was sure that those senators that ¡®fought¡¯ for stults rights only wanted to look good and earn the votes of the citizens.


    Kancil still remembered Attalus¡¯ words when he parted. ¡®Join the local guard¡¯ what a joke. Count Lenore wouldn¡¯t want to taint his ¡®Elite Custodians¡¯ with the presence of a stult, even though that most were a bunch of drunkards that couldn¡¯t make the cut to join the legions.


    He continued walking, musing about how all nobles were such foul creatures. His thoughts didn¡¯t exclude the good boss Attalus. He had come to accept the man after spending some time watching how he carried himself with discipline and no arrogance, but with time all that remained in his head was the impression he had of him when his legionnaire killed Ravi: that of a petty noble that treated the lives of people without high social status as trash. Deep inside he still felt good will towards the young captain, but it was hard to think about it when surrounded by so many petty nobles and citizens reminding him of his biased thoughts.


    Kancil reached the warehouse and dropped the sack on the ground with the others. Finally. He exhaled.


    ¡°Kancil, my boy. Good job. That¡¯s why you¡¯re my favorite pack animal, even if you¡¯re disfigured.¡± A plump man said, looking with a mocking gaze at the bandages covering Kancil¡¯s right eye and left arm.


    He was Godric, the man who commissioned him most of his jobs. He was the kind of man to spend all his savings to buy an expensive jacket that made him stand out just wear it covered with grease and stains. The man had no skills to become a craftsman or the intelligence to work as a merchant, that¡¯s why he was already at the balding age and still worked as a leader of thugs overseeing goods¡¯ transportation and collecting money from stults. The only reason he even got that kind of job to begin with was because his cousin was a respected merchant.


    Godric unstrapped a leather pouch he hung on his belt and took out a copper coin and two iron coins. ¡°Here¡¯s your pay.¡± He offered the coins to Kancil.


    Kancil looked at the hand with the coins and frowned. ¡°You promised two drachmas.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was what we agreed, but, you see,¡± He pointed at one of the sacks.


    Kancil immediately realized what was going on. The sack had a small rip on one of its sides. He doubted he caused the rip, as it was big enough to let out some of the vegetables inside. He doubted that not a single one fell while he carried the sack. If that was not enough, the cut was clearly made with a knife. Of course, ¡®a stupid stult wouldn¡¯t be able to tell¡¯. He was sure that would be Godric¡¯s excuse.


    Anyways, he didn¡¯t want to complain and make Godric start a scene. He¡¯d rather take the loss than attract too much unwanted attention and lose his only source of works.


    Kancil sighed and took the coins. It was another day eating dry bread for dinner and breakfast. The money wouldn¡¯t allow him to buy more than three loafs of bread and pay the rent for the shabby room he called home. He¡¯d had plans for those eight pennies the bastard kept. Earlier today he had seen a piece of old meat selling in the market for eight pennies. Meat in that state would cause a serious stomachache for a normal person, but he had been trained by the ¡®menu¡¯ of the sewers.


    What a great way to spend his fifteenth birthday. He sighed and departed from the warehouse.


    ¡°Come early tomorrow and I might have some work for you.¡± Godric said.


    Kancil nodded and kept walking.


    A while later he arrived at the ugliest and dirtiest part of the shack-town outside Lenore. He walked with only two loafs of bread in his arms and a lighter pocket. It seemed that there was a shortage of grain after one of the grain fields caught a plague and the price of bread would be higher for a time.


    He only had six pennies left and he knew where they were going. Just as he arrived at a building with tens of ragged doors and holes that were supposed to be windows, he saw the landlord waiting in the entrance, arms folded. Kancil sighed and took out the six pennies and gave them to the man.


    The landlord tried to bend the coins and only after he was done checking that all six weren¡¯t brass counterfeit, he nodded and turned around, entering the less shabby door in the building.


    Kancil sighed and opened the door to his room.


    ¡°Why so depressed?¡± A voice said from his right. Otis walked from his own shabby room in the nearby building. At his 31 years of age, the man had his brown hair grizzled with more white than brown and enough wrinkles to make him pass for a man ten years older. Otis was practically the only kind person he had met in the shack-town, even when he was a man with his own share of problems. It was rare to see a citizen who had fallen so low to live among stults, and he was one.


    ¡°Just stuff, you know. At this point, I¡¯m used to shit going wrong all the time, but when it happens on your birthday, it is a new kind of low.¡± Kancil shrugged.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s your day?¡± Otis raised his eyebrows. ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Fifteen.¡±


    ¡°By the Aeternum, boy.¡± He approached and clasped his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re a man now.¡± He laughed. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be spending the day moping around. Wait a minute, I have something for you.¡± He said and hurried to his room. He came out a moment after carrying a bottle half filled with a red liquid. ¡°For you. To celebrate your coming of age.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Kancil took the bottle and inspected it. ¡°This is wine.¡± He widened his uncovered eye and stared at Otis. ¡°This is expensive; how did you get it?¡±


    ¡°Well, you know, I¡¯m pretty respected in my job. A friend gave it to me after I did him a favor.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you want to give this to me?¡±


    ¡°Of course boy. At my age, I¡¯ve had a good share of ale and wine, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve never had either. Go drink to my health and cheer up. Life¡¯s too short to be depressed.¡± Otis laughed and turned to his room waving his hand.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Kancil said. The man¡¯s kindness brought the slightest of smiles to his lips.


    He entered his room and put the bread and the bottle on a small table in a corner. He took out his shoes and his shirt and put the at the foot of the ¡®bed¡¯, which was nothing but a cloth tended on the floor.


    He sat on the chair in front of the table and began eating a loaf of bread. It was harder than usual, apart from being more expensive. He didn¡¯t know if the baker was being like everyone else and taking advantage of him or if he had said the truth. Though it didn¡¯t matter. He had little time left living in that miserable place.


    After eight months of saving pennies, he finally had bought a small knife a week ago. It was of bad quality, but it should suffice to kill demons at the level of a goblin. In the sewers, he had killed goblins with hatchets less sharp than his knife.


    After spending more time living in the ¡®free world¡¯ he had gotten to know better the state of the world.


    He knew that at that point his only real options were staying living in the shack-town, bearing the abuses from pretty much everyone for the rest of his life¡ªor until he snapped and hurt badly someone, which would earn him either respect from others or an execution from an enforcer¡ªor depart to the Dark World and try his luck hunting demons. Maybe joining a slayer team. He heard that slayers had become a profitable profession if you could bear the risk of fighting demons. He had done it before, so it was a viable option for him.


    The latter was the only option, really. He doubted he could stand living like he was much more time.


    He took another bite of bread and downed it with a sip of wine. The thing tasted sweet and sour at the same time, he liked the sweet part, but almost couldn¡¯t stand the sourness. He couldn¡¯t say that he would become a fan of wine after tasting it, but at least it was better than eating the bread dry. He finished the bread and downed all the wine even though he didn¡¯t love the red liquid, after all, he promised Otis he would drink to his health.


    He wrapped the other loaf of bread and then went to his bed and laid down. He took out his small pocket clock and stared at it. It was a simple piece of bronze, not worth more than a talent if he sold it for the metal. What held real worth were its insides, easily over ten talents if it worked and a few less as it was right now. That along with the knife be bought and his old status bracelet were his only truly valuable possessions.


    He grabbed his knife from below the bed and began looking at it, caressing the edge. That small piece of iron was his ticket out of a miserable life and hopefully the beginning of his plans. It had been almost two years since Southwell¡¯s incident, but he still did not forget the debs some people owed him. He would one day return to collect those debts, doesn¡¯t matter if he has to go against the world or the heavens to do it. It wouldn¡¯t be the-


    He heard enraged shouts from outside. He put the clock in his pocket and went to the ¡®window¡¯. He took out a plank of wood covering the hole and looked outside.


    He saw the back of Godric¡¯s ugly jacket. He, along with two of his thugs were surrounding some poor bastard. Probably someone who couldn¡¯t pay his debt on time. Exactly because of things like that he preferred going a day without eating than asking money from parasites like Godric. He pitied the poor bastard on the other side, but there was nothing he could-


    It was Otis.


    Kancil caught sight of Otis¡¯ face when Godric kicked him on the ground and moved to one side when he almost tripped. The old man was not of age to go around kicking people, not with his low level.


    ¡°Blint said he saw you take it, Otis. You better speak or things might turn violent, Otis.¡± Godric threatened, even thought things had already gone violent.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have no wine, Godric. Blint is a liar.¡± Otis stood up gasping for air.


    Wine? Kancil thought.


    ¡°Otis, Otis. Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± Godric said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you took a sip, you can pay me back later, but I want my wine back. I know you wouldn¡¯t drink it all at once, not knowing how expensive it was. Eight talents, Otis, you know it.¡± He said in a calm tone, though his livid face betrayed his tone. ¡°I want my fucking wine right now, or I¡¯ll rip your head, you understand me? I¡¯ll fucking kill you, Otis. Who would charge me for the death of a fucking trash like you? At worst I¡¯ll have to hand some drachma to a Quaestor and that¡¯s it. That¡¯s what your life¡¯s worth. So stop making a show and bring me my fucking wine, okay?¡±


    ¡°I told you, I have no wine. Bloody Blint is lying. He probably took it and is trying to blame me.¡± Otis said, holding his stomach where Godric kicked him.


    Otis had given him the wine he stole from Godric, Kancil realized. He didn¡¯t know if it was a set up to frame him or an accident, but it was better to be sure. Kancil went to dress and began packing what little he had. If Otis was about to betray him, he better prepares to get out of there.


    Godric approached Otis in silence and threw a punch to his gut.


    Otis fell to his knees again, breathless.


    Godric took out a knife from his belt and held it on Otis¡¯ neck. ¡°This is your last chance, Otis. I want you to think it well. Where. Is. My. Wine?¡± Godric glared with his eyes bulging, letting the silence stretch.


    Kancil returned to the window to watch, dressed up and with a cloth containing his last piece of bread, waterskin and his only other set of clothes tied to his back.


    He lifted his left arm, now with his status bracelet on and pointed at Godric and his thugs.


    ¡¾Level 11¡¿


    ¡¾Level 12¡¿


    ¡¾Level 6¡¿


    He held his knife in one hand in case they went to his room looking for him. He should simply get out of the room and flee, but if one of Godric¡¯s thugs see him it would look suspicious and they would overpower him quickly. Those two thugs were Combatants, so if he hoped to win against them, he had to caught them off guard or fight inside his room, where he could pull out some tricks. Godric was no real threat for him.


    ¡°The¡­¡± Otis gasped for breath. ¡°Wine¡­¡±


    Here it comes. Kancil thought. Another betrayal for the collection. He tightened the grip on his knife.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have your bloody wine.¡± Otis yelled. ¡°You crazy bastard.¡± He sprung to his feet, head-butting Godric on the face.


    The fat man fell rear-first to the ground, his nose bleeding. ¡°K-kill the fucking bastard. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.¡± Godric yelled as if a kid throwing a tantrum. A dangerous kid.


    The two thugs took out knives and approached Otis.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your wine.¡± Kancil yelled and threw the empty bottle at Godric just as he turned his head. The bottle hit him squarely on the face and shattered.


    ¡°Gah.¡± Godric held his face and rolled on the ground, squealing.


    The two thugs turned around and glared at Kancil with murder in their eyes.


    Kancil ran towards the thugs, knife in hand. He approached the two men and thrust his knife at the one to the right. ¡°Left.¡± He yelled, hoping that Otis gets the clue.


    He somehow did. Otis pushed the thug to Kancil¡¯s left and made him stumble forward, though he couldn''t make the man fall.


    Kancil stopped his charge at the man to the right and ignoring the pain on his bandaged left arm, he swung his knife to the left, at the other thug¡¯s face. At the same time, he took the cloth from his back and lashed at the other thug to stop him, sending bread and clothes flying.


    His knife connected on the thug¡¯s face and the cloth made the other thug stop to block.


    Kancil let out the cloth and opened his palm pointing it at the thug to the right. He infused all his pitiful three points of mana in his arm and released it. A small blast of dirt exploded from his hand to the thug¡¯s face.


    The man stepped back covering his eyes and swinging his knife blindly.


    Kancil took the chance and plunged at the man he cut on the face and began stabbing him repeatedly on the chest. The man punched and tried to stab Kancil, but soon he lost his strength and dropped dead, only giving Kancil a few bruises on the back of his head and a superficial cut.


    ¡°Watch out.¡± Otis yelled.


    Kancil ducked just in time to avoid the other thug¡¯s slash.


    He rolled on the ground and turned to see Otis clinging to the thug¡¯s back and the later elbowing him on the ribs and face constantly.


    Kancil took a breath and narrowed his eye.


    With a flick of his arm, he sent his knife flying right to the thug¡¯s neck.


    The man stared at Kancil, anger,and disbelief evident on his face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get the hell out.¡± Kancil said to the stunned Otis, who let go of the dying man after he plummeted to the ground.


    Kancil could see people staring from the hole-windows at the situation. It wouldn¡¯t take too much time for the guards to arrive and Quaestors would follow. They better be far from there by then.


    Otis looked around, his face bloodied and swelling. ¡°Wait.¡± He said and stumbled to his room.


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Kancil said. ¡°We need to get out.¡± But Otis kept walking to his room as if deaf.


    Kancil clicked his tongue and went to retrieve his knife from the thug¡¯s neck.


    He pulled it out and then also took the man¡¯s. Two is always better than one. He began topat the dead body, looking for anything of value. The crime was done. He couldn''t stop to think about what he had just done or what it implicated. His mind was focused on surviving, and the pouch he just found would be useful for that.


    He grabbed the pouch and put it inside his shirt.


    ¡°Will you hurry-¡±


    He felt a stab of pain from his left shoulder. Same fucking shoulder again. He thought.


    He swung his knife behind and cut Godric on the chest.


    ¡°B-bastard.¡± The fat Godric muttered. ¡°You¡¯re dead. You¡¯re fucking dead.¡± He yelled.


    Knowing the kind of influence Godric held, Kancil would have felt genuinely threatened if it wasn¡¯t for how much the man¡¯s legs trembled and a wet stain spreading through his groin.


    Kancil dashed forward and kicked Godric on the legs.


    Godric stumbled back, grunting and trying to counter with a slash, but Kancil stayed out of reach.


    Kancil avoided two more slashes and punched, sending the whimpering fat man to the ground.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Otis came back from his room with a big backpack in tow.


    Kancil raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t say anything and nodded.


    Before going he stood in front of Godric and threw a good kick to his face, letting out the accumulated rage for the man all at once. Then he and Otis began running to the outskirts of the shack-town, to the uncertain future.

 Chapter 8: Road to a Change

    Chapter 8: Road to a Change


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡­Creatures of darkness sprung from the forest and from within the very earth.


    They took lives as a farmer reaps wheat. Thousands had died by the time the Orders¡¯ Knights had organized and began to notice that they could only kill the creatures by beheading them. Anything else wouldn¡¯t work¡­.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Kancil leaned his back on a tree and sat down, gasping for air. Nearby, Otis laid sprawled on the ground next to his bulging backpack, his chest heaving up and down furiously and his face swollen and covered with dry blood.


    They fled from Lenore at evening and now the moon and the Olympian Rings were high up in the sky already.


    They had been running nonstop for around five hours, fearing that even the slightest delay would let any pursuer catch up to them. It was not until they arrived at a forest that Kancil said ¡®Stop¡¯ and immediately he and Otis collapsed. Kancil knew that the town wouldn¡¯t send a pursuit squad only for the murder of two stult thugs¡ªat most they¡¯ll tell the guards to keep an eye out for them¡ªbut as he¡¯d learned the hard way ¡®better safe than sorry¡¯.


    At that moment of rest, Kancil began to think about how things turned out. He had been thinking on leaving Lenore, but not like that. He would have gathered information about the Dark World and only when he had a clear idea of what to do after he gets there would he leave. Now he had already left, with no more knowledge of the Dark World than it has millions of demons and mana beasts and that humans settle in colonies in the conquered territory.


    Though there was not helping it. It was already done.


    What truly troubled him was what he had done before leaving. He had killed before¡ªseveral times¡ªbut only goblins. It was his first time killing a person¡ªtwo, for that matter. He¡¯d heard that one must be prepared mentally to kill a person, that it was a shock the first time, even for trained legionnaires. But he felt¡­ nothing. It was just like when he had to kill a goblin, a matter of survival.


    He tried to make himself feel bad about killing those two men thinking about their situation, their families, but it caused him feel pity for them at most. Nothing like the heart-wrenching regret and guilt others talked about. It might be because of his opinion of goblins and the likes¡ªhe spent a year living around the critters, time in which he got to see how similar they were to humans, just a little dumber¡ªand he had killed them without thinking too much about it. He did remember feeling a little of that regret and guilt, but it might had been his inexperience. Maybe he was too well acquainted with death already. Maybe he was just numb to killing people.


    ¡°I¡¯m-¡± Otis said, pausing to gasp for breath. ¡°Sorry lad. I screwed you over.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind it. It was a stupid accident.¡± Kancil shrugged. ¡°But thanks for not snitching on me.¡±


    ¡°Snitching on you?¡± Otis picked himself up and sat on the ground, looking at Kancil, a few leaves got stuck to his grizzled hair. ¡°It was my fault that you had the wine in the first place, boy. What kind of person would it make me if I did something so dirty?¡±


    ¡°A normal one? People do tend to betray people. Like a second nature.¡±


    Otis¡¯ gaze softened. ¡°Come now, boy. There are fellows like that, but not every person is like that. In fact, most people aren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before, but, well¡­experience says otherwise. People show their true faces in dire situations, like the one earlier today. It is good to know that you¡¯re not one more of the lot.¡± Kancil¡¯s lips stretched in a small smile.


    Otis wanted to say something more, but refrained from doing so. He couldn¡¯t change the boy¡¯s mind with a few words. ¡°It¡¯s good to not be one.¡± He said. ¡°But I still must apologize for involving you in my problems. Now you can¡¯t return to Lenore.¡±


    ¡°Screw Lenore.¡± Kancil snorted. ¡°I was planning to leave anyway. Not like this, but it still works.¡±


    Otis raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that so? What about your friends, the wide-nosed and the jumpy one?¡±


    ¡°They¡­¡± He paused. ¡°They will be fine without me. In fact, they¡¯ll be better. I don¡¯t doubt the Quaestors will go asking them questions about me, but they joined the local garrison, they won¡¯t make too much troubles for them. Furthermore, I¡­ I don¡¯t think we¡¯re friends anymore.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡± Otis nodded and then began rubbing his chin, looking intently at Kancil but staying silent.


    Kancil furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Are you okay? I mean, about the thugs you¡­ defeated.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m traumatized for killing them.¡±


    Otis shifted uncomfortably and nodded. ¡°Right¡­.¡±


    They sat quietly, letting the sounds of the night surround them and regaining their breath. Though Kancil let an ear open. It had only been eight months since the sewers and he was still not that rusty to let his guard down.


    ¡°So,¡± Kancil broke the silence after a while. ¡°How did you get your hands on that wine anyway?¡±


    Otis¡¯ face picked up, relieved to discuss a non-somber topic. ¡°You see, I¡¯m a bit of a wine¡­ fan.¡± He said, avoiding the use of the word ¡®addict¡¯. ¡°The other day I was doing some work for Godric when I heard him flaunting his new acquisition: the wine. It was an aged wine¡ªnot many years of course, a man of Godric¡¯s standing wouldn¡¯t be able to afford something of more than three or four years¡ªand he filled his mouth saying that it was a decade wine, imported from the mother of wines itself, Junia. I know my wines, so I couldn¡¯t believe that a paltry thug like him could get his hands on something like that.


    ¡°I had to confirm it, so when he left it in his ¡®office¡¯ I couldn¡¯t resist my curiosity and¡­ took it. I was planning on returning it after tasting it, but I couldn¡¯t. The thing was not nearly as good as Godric said, but it was still a decent wine. I couldn¡¯t bear to part with it. It¡¯s been years now since I last tasted a decent wine.¡± He hung his head down in shame. ¡°So I kept it.¡±


    ¡°Then gave it to me?¡±


    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t become a man every day. I saw you dejected and thought having something good for a change would help. Since it had been a few days since I took it I thought it wouldn¡¯t cause any troubles. I was wrong. It seems that Godric really liked that wine.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Kancil smiled. ¡°But just so you don¡¯t waste any more wine in the future. I didn¡¯t like it. I¡¯m not a wine fan.¡±


    ¡°You serious?¡± Otis gaped. ¡°Everyone likes wine.¡±


    ¡°Not me apparently.¡± Kancil shrugged.


    ¡°What¡¯s there to not like? That fulfilling fleshy flavor, its flamboyancy, its subtle angular taste¡­¡± Otis¡¯ tried to display a dramatic expression, but with his swollen face what he managed was the face of a suffering man.


    ¡°Not my thing¡­¡± Kancil smiled apologetically.


    Otis hung his head and sighed. ¡°Whatever.¡± He shook his head. ¡°So, what are you going to do now? You said you¡¯ve been planning to leave. Where to?¡±


    ¡°Well, I wanted to leave because of the miserable lifestyle. So there¡¯s truly only one option for a stult like myself to get a better life¡­¡±


    ¡°You''re going to the war front then? To the Dark World?¡±


    Kancil nodded. ¡°And you? Have anything in mind?¡±


    ¡°I guess I could settle in any town and keep doing my work. It wouldn¡¯t be that hard. But I¡¯m also getting tired of this ¡®bowing-to-everyone¡¯ lifestyle. I might as well stake it all and go to the Dark World as well. Who knows, maybe my work will be more useful there.¡±


    ¡°What do you do? By the way.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked.¡± Otis¡¯ bruised face brightened and he puffed out his chest. ¡°I¡¯m a Scribe.¡± He said, looking at Kancil expectantly.


    ¡°So¡­ you write?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t just ¡®write¡¯,¡± Otis¡¯ eyebrows twitched. ¡°I compose runes, and carve them.¡±


    ¡°So you can make orbs and enhanced equipment? Nice.¡±


    ¡°Well, I could if I had enough mana crystals. My own mana can¡¯t keep up with such strenuous carving. I focus more on utility runes. Like heat runes or sound runes or¡­ light runes¡ªthough those are harder to make.¡±


    ¡°Nothing too spectacular then?¡± Kancil raised a mocking eyebrow.


    ¡°I could if I had the appropriate crystals and materials, but those are expensive. I spend most of my earnings buying paper and ink.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Kancil nodded.


    ¡°And what do you plan to do there? No more carrying things I guess?¡±


    ¡°Hell no.¡± Kancil said. ¡°I plan on becoming a slayer.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡±


    ¡°I guess.¡± Kancil shrugged. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the most dangerous thing I¡¯ve done in my life.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we could work this out.¡± Otis muttered. ¡°You get the crystals and I compose runes. The good ones. We can easily sell runes for ten times the crystals¡¯ worth. Of course, other materials are also expensive, but not so much for medium grade runes like the ones I make.¡±


    ¡°You mean we should go together to the Dark World?¡±


    ¡°Of course, why not? It¡¯s a win-win deal.¡±


    ¡°Well, surely it would be a hard journey to the Dark World for a¡­ scholar like you. I know my way around demons and I think I can trust you to not betray me.¡± Kancil nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s settled then. To the Dark World.¡± Otis said enthusiastically. Kancil didn¡¯t know how a man looking ten years older could act like one ten younger. ¡°Wait, why did you say ¡®scholar¡¯ like that? I¡¯ll have you know that I served two years in the legions. I¡¯m no pushover.¡± Otis scowled.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t a citizen¡¯s mandatory service four years?¡±


    ¡°I was too great to handle.¡± Otis said and began browsing through his things, terminating the conversation.


    They kept quiet the rest of the night. Otis slept nonchalantly, even allowing himself to snore¡ªthought it¡¯s not like it was a choice. Kancil managed to drift to sleep from time to time, but the slightest sound made him jump awake prepared for an attack. That would be one of the few things he¡¯d miss from Lenore: sleeping without fearing a sudden attack. Attacks at night were frequent enough in the shack-town, but not for him. He was inconspicuous enough that no one would have a reason to attack him. At least before he killed two thugs and beat up their leader.


    Now he was back to the sleepless nights surrounded by enemies. A well-received burden. Now he knew he was doing something to get stronger instead of biding his time to leave Lenore. In a way, he was grateful for what happened. It was the push he needed to take the reins of his life and shake Tellus¡¯ wicked society. He began grinning, hugging his little luggage. He had the means to begin working on that.


    The next day began with Kancil¡¯s hard loaf of bread as their breakfast, and their passionate determination to change their lives. The kind of passion common in young boys full of dreams, like Kancil, not the one expected from a man on his thirties that looked on his forties. It was the main reason why Kancil felt comfortable with Otis. The man acted like a boy of his age would, only with a slightly dangerous fixation for wine and wrinklier, and the gaze of an experienced man.


    He was like a rogue element in society¡¯s standards. Something he himself believed¡ªor hoped¡ªto be. Maybe he was the kind of man that would join him in his crazy thoughts of breaking society.


    Their walk through the forest was more uneventful than they expected. Probably because the legions had cleaned the area to make it inhabitable for Lenore and the blooming villages around.


    A few hours into their walk they arrived at one border of the forest and the outskirts of a village. It was a good place to acquire supplies and directions to the frontier, but Otis warned that Lenore might have sent the notice about them to the nearby settlements. It was a fair point, but not one that would get them food anytime soon. They¡¯ll have to wait to bump into a traveling peddler or scavenge something from the woods.


    They continued walking on the border of the forest and went to the road coming out of the village when they were far enough. All they could do was follow the road and hope to find soon a sign that told where they were.


    Their journey would have been a silent one if it wasn¡¯t for Otis¡¯ predisposition to talk about almost anything. Kancil was not much of a talker, but he appreciated the annoying distraction from his rumbling stomach.


    He learned that his assumptions of Otis¡¯ character were real. The man not only had the liveliness of a youngster¡ªmore than him, in fact¡ªbut also the dreams of one. The main reason why a citizen like him lived in a shack-town of stults was because he currently pursued a dream.


    As a Rune Scribe he wanted to compose a new kind of runescript, one that would make his name known to the entire world and even change it¡ªin a way a goal similar to his. Because of that he spent all his money in materials to experiment with new runes and in books of rune and mana theories. So far his research was not going too well, but the man maintained the mindset that he would accomplish his dream¡ªmore than a dream, goal.


    Though all the goals and dreams¡ªat least not regular dreams¡ªwould not fill their stomachs at the moment.


    Around late afternoon the solution to their food problems arrived in the shape of a small merchant caravan.


    ¡°Finally.¡± Otis said with excitement.


    Kancil nodded, looking with apprehension at the oncoming group.


    A small band of mercenaries of around forty men marched at the sides of the road. They distinguished themselves from legionnaires or auxiliaries for their lack of uniforms. Most wore leather armors and a sword, with only a few of them wearing chainmails or one of the weird-looking demon artifacts Attalus¡¯ team had.


    In the middle of the road traveled two carts and a carriage and in front of them rode the only two mercenaries with horses.


    Otis waved his hand at the caravan and stopped in the middle of the road to not look threatening.


    They waited until one of the two mounted mercenaries separated from the group and approached them.


    ¡°What¡¯s yer¡¯ business?¡± The tanned man said, his left arm raised pointing his status bracelet at them.


    ¡°Good day, sire.¡± Otis bowed. ¡°We¡¯re but a pair of lost travelers looking for the next city to try our luck. We¡¯d be most grateful if we could have directions from you.¡±


    The man grunted and looked at them from head to toe, his gaze lingering for a worryingly long time on Otis¡¯ backpack. ¡°Ya¡¯ talk like a scammer.¡± He grunted.


    ¡°I¡¯m a scribe, sire. I live off my words and I procure to maintain all of them active. Though all it has gotten me is a bag full of old paper and watery ink.¡± Otis hoped the mercenary would not return to his probably well acquainted banditry when under contract.


    The man grunted again and pointed with his chin at Kancil. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the boy?¡± The man looked with curiosity at Kancil¡¯s bandaged eye and arm.


    ¡°He? He is my apprentice sire. He¡¯s a little grumpy and¡­¡± He paused when he saw Kancil looking straight down to the ground and shrinking his shoulders as much as he could, totally different from his usual stern¡ªeven arrogant¡ªbehavior. ¡°Shy? The lad is a handful. He hurt himself working with a blacksmith and now he follows me. I still don¡¯t know how his da¡¯ convinced me to take him. I swear the wounds left the lad messed up in the head.¡± Otis shook his head.


    ¡°You want directions to the next city then?¡± The man stopped inspecting them and their holdings and turned his gaze to Otis when he deemed that the pair of dirty travelers had nothing of enough value to endanger his contract.


    ¡°And to buy some food if your company has some to spare.¡±


    The man¡¯s face brightened at the prospect of making a few more coins and nodded. ¡°Follow me then.¡± He turned his horse around and rode towards the caravan.


    Otis and Kancil hurried behind him.


    ¡°If ye¡¯ follow this road ye¡¯ll find a crosspath eventually. From there you can go to the west to Philac or to the east to Dunlac. I suggest avoidin¡¯ the road to Dunlac right now. Demon raiding parties like to sneak through the Wall and go ¡®round the villages and roads killin¡¯ and stealin¡¯.¡± He stopped his horse in front of the caravan and turned his head to them. ¡°So, about that food.¡± A sinister smile crept up his face.

 Chapter 9: Into the Dark World

    Chapter 9: Into the Dark World


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    ¡­Knights fought fiercely, but the creatures were too resilient and powerful, and they began to fall.


    The Marshal threw the communication orb to the ground and stopped providing commands for the Evoker squads and the army. He flared all his mana and cloaked himself with it, turning into an elemental avatar.


    The Marshal, now a figure made purely of water, charged at the dark creatures. He shot thousands of ice spikes that riddled most of the dark creatures with holes. He kept dashing around the small army of creatures, evading their swift claws and shooting more spikes through them.


    The man looked like an ice deity shredding the creatures by the dozens, but it wouldn¡¯t last long. Blood began to come from his nose, and he knew the time was over.


    ¡®Retreat!¡¯ His voice thundered through the battlefield as he committed himself to his last stand...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that bastard. One drachma for a hard bread and one for a single waterskin.¡± Otis cursed, munching the bread hatefully while he walked. ¡°Robbery I say. Robbery. He did not rob us with his sword, he did it with this thing.¡± He shook the bread in front of him, and even when he tightened his grip, his fingers barely sunk in it.


    ¡°That¡¯s what people do. They like preying on the weak.¡± Kancil muttered.


    Otis¡¯ frown eased and he looked at Kancil. ¡°Right, what was that back there? You looked like a village boy. Where was the boy that saved my life and wants to risk his life against demons in the Dark World?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d guessed it by now¡­ I don¡¯t like most people. They betray and deceive.¡± Kancil said, his face retaining some of the apprehension from before.


    ¡°Well, am I not a ¡®people¡¯? I haven¡¯t betrayed you as far as I remember.¡± Otis frowned.


    ¡°I said most. You are a decent fellow, though stupidly addicted to wine.¡± Kancil shrugged.


    ¡°Addicted?¡± Otis said, outraged. ¡°I¡¯m a connoisseur. It¡¯s something a child wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°What I understand is that wine tastes like piss.¡± Kancil said.


    Otis gasped dramatically and whipped his head away. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to doubt the working of this association.¡±


    Kancil snorted and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you getting those crystals alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see you getting another Rune Scribe to work with you. It might not look like it because of my regrettable situation, but us Scribes are a highly sought profession. You wouldn¡¯t believe what a town would pay to get the services of a skilled Scribe.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Lenore paid you for your services. So your skills must be¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a skilled Scribe, you don¡¯t need to doubt it. But I find it best to not flaunt the extent of my skills openly. Someone might take advantage of a Scribe without a backing like myself.¡±


    ¡°So you do admit that people are despicable.¡± Kancil¡¯s gaze picked up, having thought that he got Otis to agree with him.


    ¡°As I told you, there are good people and bad people. There are also good people that are forced to be bad people and bad people that pretend to be good people. You can¡¯t think of everyone in a black and white scale when there are innumerable shades of gray in-between. There are even other colors that don¡¯t fit on that scale.¡±


    Kancil slowed his pace and looked down. His words had a certain merit. Miles and Tim had distanced themselves from him, but they had their reasons. Miles had surprisingly found his mother working in a tavern inside Lenore and he knew Tim well. The brat would be terrified living surrounded by stults and citizens of doubtful character. And what need they had to live like that if they could have a better life joining the garrison and training to become stronger. They had even offered to help him to get a good place in the shack-town, but he had refused rudely, feeling betrayed by the guys that he thought of as his brothers.


    He felt that he owed them an apology, but he doubted he would ever have the chance for it. He¡¯d probably die following his impossible revenge.


    He stopped walking and widened his uncovered eye. Heck, maybe even those bastards have some reason for what they did, he thought, then shook his head and continued walking. Just because there were good people doing bad things that doesn¡¯t meanthat they were like that. After all, bad people also existed, and he was sure the bastards more than bad people were evil.


    ¡°You might be right.¡± Kancil said, munching the hard bread and picking up his pace.


    Otis smiled and increased his pace to Kancil¡¯s. The boy was in a good direction to avoid walking a path full of anger and enemies, and no friends to trust, like he had.


    By nightfall they reached the crossroads that the mercenary had mentioned. Just like the man had said, the signs pointed to Philac and Dunlac.


    Their chosen path was Dunlac, to the east. As far as they knew it was the easternmost settlement in the kingdom, unless some other refugee town like Lenore had bloomed farther to the east. From there they would go to the mountain pass to the Dark World after getting the appropriate information and supplies. They guessed they¡¯d have to spend the next few weeks eating only bread and water, with maybe the occasional wild fruit if they ever found any.


    The mercenary had made them use half of their money buying eight loafs of bread and two waterskins, all for the grand total of one talent. They were even lucky that the thug Kancil looted carried eight drachmas with him, otherwise they would have spent most of Otis¡¯ money in only food for two days¡ªthree if they stretched it. With what they had left they might make it to the Dark World, unless they had underestimated too much the journey, which was a possibility they preferred not to think about at the moment.


    They traveled a little to the east, where the forest continued and camped under the protection of trees and bushes. It was a place riddled with bugs and small critters, but it was better than getting sighted by bandits or demons while camping near the road.


    ¡­ ¡­


    Two days later they arrived at Dunlac. The travel had been uneventful and thankfully they didn¡¯t bump into a single demon like the mercenary had warned. For once their luck didn¡¯t seem so bad, and as they approached the growing shack-town outside Dunlac, they knew that their luck was never that bad to begin with.


    The shack-town of Lenore had been something that surged naturally after more citizens and stults had moved there. It was a refugee town in the first place. Anyone who worked would have a good standing and enough to eat, as everyone living there made the city bloom, even stults. But the sight outside Dunlac was truly miserable.


    People walked around with sunken and sickly faces, clearly at the brink of starvation. Most of them wore the stult black collar¡ªmaking people wear it apparently was not a thing of only Count Lenore¡ªbut there were also some people going in and out of shacks barely holding their own weight that did not have a collar: citizens. Normally it was something unthinkable to see so many citizens living in a stult shack-town, but in Dunlac it seemed pretty common.


    Most people didn¡¯t have the courage to move to new settlements like Lenore, with an untrained garrison and little to no real protection against another wave of demons. Most preferred to take refuge near a long-standing city like Dunlac, which still stood even after the dungeon break in Southwell.


    The people living outside the walls probably bordered the hundred thousand, almost the same that those living inside the walls. It was either that the damage caused by the dungeon break was far beyond what they thought or that Dunlac held some kind of allure for refugees.


    It didn¡¯t take them that long to discover that it was the later.


    As they walked to the city gates they saw a squad of legionnaires coming from the insides of the shack-town with a group of at least a hundred emaciated stults following.


    Otis approached one of the many people staring at the group. Kancil followed, looking about nervously.


    ¡°What is happening?¡± Otis asked the man.


    ¡°They¡¯re takin¡¯ them to the Dark World. Those are the ones that can¡¯t work for food anymore.¡± The withered man said. He looked at Otis, his gaze stopping longer on his bulging backpack. ¡°You a traveler?¡±


    Otis nodded.


    ¡°I suggest you to leave as fast as you can. This place is a trap.¡± The man said.


    ¡°How so?¡± Otis asked.


    ¡°Well, here ye¡¯ have to work like a slave to get any food, and what ye¡¯ get is not enough to keep workin¡¯ like that. In a few weeks ye¡¯ll find yerself thin as a leaf and marchin¡¯ with the legions to the Dark World. They promise to feed ya¡¯ three times a day if ye¡¯ join the colonies, but they don¡¯t tell ya¡¯ that many of those colonies get massacred by demons every week.


    ¡°Ya¡¯ see all this folk?¡± The man pointed around. ¡°There¡¯d be at least four times that if no one went to the Dark World. It¡¯s like we¡¯re naught but cattle for them. Of course, ye¡¯ are a citizen.¡± The man gazed at Otis¡¯ neck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry that much in yer¡¯ position. They¡¯ll get ya¡¯ to one of the good colonies if ye¡¯ volunteer. I¡¯d worry more about the lad.¡± He looked at Kancil¡¯s neck with the black collar and turned around and left.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    They looked around and found the words of the man to be true. The citizens, while looking hungry and sickly, walked about doing something, having work to do, but many¡ªif not most¡ªof the stults just laid around, looking at the going legionnaires with a dead stare or rolled up on the ground, trembling because of some illness that would kill them eventually.


    Kancil looked at them with a deep hollowness in his heart. If he gave up his revenge and instead used his abilities for those people¡¯s sake, he might possibly be able to do something for them. But if he gave up his revenge he¡¯d be without direction.


    He knew what his revenge was about, getting stronger and¡­ beating? Defeating? Killing? Well, in truth he wasn¡¯t even sure what his revenge was about, but he had an objective at least. If he instead made his goal helping them he¡¯d be lost about how to even begin, how to use his abilities to help them.


    Kancil sighed. He felt not much different from the uncaring people he loathed so much.


    ¡°Well, I think we have the information of how to get to the Dark World. Now we need the supplies.¡± Otis said, glancing at another squad of legionnaires leading a hundred stults with a few commoners mixed among them.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we just join one of those groups and go to the Dark World?¡± Kancil said.


    ¡°That¡¯d be counterproductive for us, those people are workers. The only reason the legions take them to the Dark World is to populate and build colonies and plantations to maintain the legions battling against the demons. We¡¯d be stuck as workers without freedom if we do that.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Kancil nodded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go buy some food and find a place to sleep. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Otis said. ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll investigate a little more and decide what to do.¡±


    ¡°Um- I don¡¯t think that¡¯s wise. We should buy the food and be off quickly.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Have you gone mad, boy? We¡¯ve been walking nonstop for two days. I can¡¯t stand my feet.¡±


    ¡°Unless you want to find a knife burrowing through your ribs this night, we should do that.¡± Kancil hissed. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed how people is looking at us?¡±


    Otis looked around and noticed at least a dozen men looking away when he crossed eyes with them. Only then realizing their position.


    ¡°We¡¯re easy prey.¡± Kancil whispered. ¡°A weak scholar and a stult boy? Even I¡¯m tempted to steal from us.¡±


    ¡°And we can¡¯t afford an inn inside the walls¡­¡± Otis grimaced.


    ¡°Not if we want to survive the journey.¡± Kancil shook his head. ¡°As it is we might even have to starve for a while before reaching a colony in the Dark World and finding some work.¡±


    Otis hung his head and groaned. ¡°But my feet¡­¡±


    They entered the city without a hitch thanks to Otis¡¯ status as a craftsman citizen, which put him above a third of the citizenry. They ate their first hot meal in a while for two drachmas¡ªa world of difference with the hard bread the mercenary sold them¡ªand bought another backpack to fill with bread and waterskins. With that they were left penniless and without knowledge of how to go to the Dark World. The asked people several times about that, but even something like that had a price tag in Dunlac.


    But it was no problem, they waited until the legionnaires departed with the workers from the city and followed them. Just like that they would know where to go.


    Not even an hour after they began following the legionnaires, a squad approached them.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you following?¡± The squad¡¯s sergeant demanded.


    ¡°We¡¯re not following, sire. We just travel the same path. We¡¯re headed to the Dark World.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re joining us then?¡± The sergeant asked.


    ¡°No sire, I¡¯m a craftsman that wants to try his luck in the colonies.¡± Otis said, stressing his status.


    The sergeant clicked his tongue and turned around. ¡°Just stay two hundred meters away from us. We¡¯re escorting the workers and don¡¯t want you making trouble to them.¡± He and his men walked off, but not before throwing Otis a disdainful glare. Well, at least that hasn¡¯t changed. Otis thought. Low ranking legionnaires have always felt jealously for craftsmen that earned more or the same as them without risking their lives. It seemed that even a world war couldn¡¯t change that.


    They did as the legionnaire said and kept their distance, there was no use in causing trouble at the moment.


    The group of the legionnaires was comprised of a century and a thousand workers. They moved slowly to maintain the tightness of the group and prevent the workers from dying on an ambush.


    ¡°People¡¯s legions.¡± Kancil snorted. ¡°They¡¯ve fallen really low if they don¡¯t care to protect even a citizen now.¡± Kancil tightened the bandage around his hand that had loosened.


    ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t decide making this journey relying on their protection anyway.¡± Otis shrugged. He eyed the bandages around Kancil¡¯s arm and eye. ¡°You know,¡± He said. ¡°I never asked you about those bandages.¡±


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. Until now.¡± Kancil said with and edge on his voice.


    ¡°Well, you know, I¡¯m a curious man¡­¡± Otis said with an apologetic-but-not-really expression.


    Kancil sighed. If they were going to be partners, then at least they should know a few things about each other. ¡°Did I ever tell you where I¡¯m from?¡±


    Otis shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m a survivor from Southwell¡¯s incident.¡±


    ¡°So you lived through all the mayhem that occurred there two years ago?¡± Otis said, guessing that the bandages came from that time.


    ¡°No.¡± Kancil shook his head. ¡°I lived through the mayhem occurring there until eight months ago.¡±


    ¡°Eight-¡± Otis narrowed his eyes. ¡°Eight months?¡±


    Kancil nodded. ¡°There was a group of people that couldn¡¯t escape after the demons began to appear in the city. We were surrounded and all we could do was flee into the sewers, where we could hide and defend better from the demons. It was only eight months ago that the kingdom decided to send a legion to clear the place. I and most of my friends were lucky to survive until then. I injured myself escaping from goblins, orcs and worse things.


    ¡°It¡¯s because that fourteen months that I spent there, surviving among great demons and killing minor ones, that I¡¯m confident on becoming a slayer.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unbelievable.¡± Otis gaped. ¡°I heard the day of the dungeon break was horrible enough. And you lived like that for more than a year? Unbelievable.¡± Otis shook his head with amazement. ¡°And how was it? Living like that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s- that¡¯s something I¡¯d rather not talk about.¡± Kancil looked down. He was not prepared to relive the horrors from that time. The tears, the pleading eyes, the bloodied faces, the traitors. He gnashed his teeth. I¡¯ll make them pay.


    ¡°Right, I¡¯m sorry. Must have been really though.¡± Idiot. Otis reprimanded himself in his head. Why did he have to make the boy remember the things that twisted his way of thinking in the first place.


    ¡°Stop.¡± Kancil raised his hand in front of Otis¡¯ chest. ¡°You hear that?¡± He curved his back slightly and began looking around.


    ¡°I only hear the wind and the depressed workers arguing with each other.¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Kancil held his finger over his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a core? Enhance your ears.¡±


    ¡± You say it as if it were that easy¡­¡± Otis began looking around, trying to hear with his pitifully enhanced ears.


    ¡°Run.¡± Kancil grabbed Otis¡¯ arm and pulled him forward. ¡°Damn it, old man, run.¡± He yelled.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Otis said, confused and scared, but following him.


    ¡°Blue manes!¡± Kancil shouted, loud enough so that the group ahead could hear.


    They ran as fast as they could, the bulging baggage on their backs bouncing and slowing them down.


    They reached the group and four squads of legionnaires were already in formation to protect the workers. A sharp contrast with what he had seen from Attalus¡¯ legionnaires, Kancil noted.


    ¡°What are you doing.¡± One of the sergeants shouted.


    ¡°Behind.¡± Kancil pointed. ¡°Blue manes.¡±


    ¡°What do y-¡± The sergeant stopped mid-sentence, as he could finally see the dozens of beasts pouring from the forest.


    ¡°Spears.¡±


    The legionnaires unfastened one of their spears from their back and threw them when the pack was at range. They followed with a second round of throws and then formed a spear wall with their last one, their shields raised up.


    The workers began retreating and the rest of the century joined the battle.


    Arrows flew, spears pierced, swords slashed and maws snapped. It was a hard for the legionnaires to hit properly the agile beasts, but they outmaneuvered and overpowered the beasts eventually, ending the battle with fifty beast bodies littered on the ground.


    Kancil and Otis had retreated with the workers, as they wouldn¡¯t be truly of any help. Kancil had fought with blue manes before, but if he stepped to fight he¡¯d only be obstruction the legionnaires tactics.


    A few legionnaires were injured and fewer received serious wounds, but none had fallen. That century had been escorting workers between Dunlac and the Dark World for some time and quickly grew into an elite force with quite a few Warriors and mostly high leveled Combatants.


    They began patching up the injured and reassembling to protect the workers.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to earn your meals, folk.¡± A sergeant shouted at a section of the workers. ¡°I want our spears retrieved and the bodies disassembled by the next hour. Move.¡± The he continued walking to his post but stopped when he sighted Kancil and Otis. ¡°You.¡± He glared, veins bulging around his neck. ¡°Bloody bastards.¡± He stomped towards them.


    ¡°What?¡± Otis and Kancil looked at each other in confusion. The man looked at them as if they had swindled him.


    ¡°You brought the blue manes.¡± He grabbed Otis¡¯ shirt and pulled. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± The sergeant snarled, his hand rested on his sword.


    ¡°You¡¯re misinterpreting something, sire. The blue manes approached and we fled.¡± Otis said, raising his hands in submission. ¡°How can we even make the beasts do that?¡±


    ¡°Shut it bastard.¡± The man shook Otis. ¡°Who send you to sabotage us?¡± He drew his sword and-


    Before the sergeant could bring his sword closer to Otis he found himself with a knife on his neck.


    ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t move any further or we¡¯ll have a red fountain coming from your neck.¡± Kancil hissed. The man was at least two heads taller than Kancil and with a robust physique, but exactly that was what allowed Kancil to get through the man¡¯s defenses without him noticing.


    ¡°Now release him slowly, no sudden movements.¡± Kancil said.


    The sergeant opened his hand slowly and let Otis go, his face growing paler by the second.


    ¡°Kancil¡­¡± Otis said, his voice shaking.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± Another legionnaire passed by and realized something was going on. Not that it was too hard, seeing a legionnaire with his sword half raised and a boy with his hand to his neck.


    ¡°Th-¡± The sergeant tried to speak, but Kancil pushed the knife bringing it to the brink of drawing blood.


    ¡°Bring your centurion.¡± Kancil demanded.


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± A man fully equipped with plate armor approached.


    His breastplate emitted a slight glow around the borders. An artifact. Kancil thought. Not a weaker demon artifact, a real one. One worth a few gold crowns.


    ¡°I would appreciate it if you released the sergeant.¡± The centurion said.


    ¡°I would appreciate it if this madman behaves.¡± Kancil responded.


    The centurion nodded. ¡°The sergeant will step back and stay like that until I say otherwise.¡±


    Kancil let go and pushed the man with more strength than his slight frame would suggest.


    The sergeant growled and swung his weapon at Kancil.


    ¡°Legionnaire!¡± The centurion threw a punch at the direction of the sergeant and a powerful gust of wind send the man rolling over the ground. ¡°Do you want to be punished for revolting?¡± The centurion stomped towards the man. ¡°Was I not clear?¡±


    ¡°Apologies, Centurion.¡± The sergeant scrambled to his feet and hurried to stand a few paces behind the centurion.


    When the centurion returned his gaze to Kancil and Otis the sergeant began glaring daggers at them from behind.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s all this about?¡±


    ¡°Sir, I found these spies-¡± The sergeant began.


    ¡°That man is delusional, sire.¡± Otis interrupted. ¡°He claims that we somehow controlled the beast to attack your group and that we harbor ulterior motives. I think the man has forgotten about the pact between the Six Kingdoms. Why would they send spies? Who would even send spies to sabotage a small operation like this?¡±


    ¡°Are you spies then?¡± The centurion lifted an eyebrow.


    ¡°Of course not, sire. I¡¯m a scribe hoping to try his luck in the Dark World. All we could do when we spotted the blue manes was run towards your group, else we¡¯d be torn to shreds by now.¡±


    ¡°T-these are spies, sir. They brought the blue manes, now three of our men might lose an arm or a leg.¡±


    ¡°No, sergeant.¡± The centurion shook his head. ¡°They alerted us of the pack. If they hadn¡¯t we might have lost tens of workers and a few men. Thanks to them we could get in formation quickly. We owe them, sergeant.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, sire. You also saved us, so we¡¯re even.¡±


    ¡°We saved two of you, you saved dozens of us. That¡¯s not even.¡±


    ¡°Well, how about you let us accompany you to the Dark World? Next time we might not flee on time, so you¡¯d be saving us again.¡± Otis said.


    ¡°That seems reasonable.¡± The centurion nodded and turned towards the sergeant. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know that you¡¯ve caused troubles for them, is that clear?¡±


    The man flinched when the centurion addressed him and then saluted. ¡°Yes, Centurion.¡±


    The centurion nodded towards them and walked off, the sergeant following, but not without glaring at them one last time.


    Otis let out a sigh of relief and pated Kancil on the shoulder. ¡°For a moment I thought we¡¯d have to escape again.¡±


    ¡°If the bastard wasn¡¯t a coward we might have.¡±


    ¡°¡­a stult¡­¡± The legionnaires from nearby pointed their bracelets at them, whispering to each other.


    They would definitely use that information to get a few laughs at the sergeant¡¯s expense for a few weeks.

 Chapter 10: Noble Mercenaries

    Chapter 10: Noble Mercenaries


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    ¡­ All Knighthood Orders retreated while the Marshal kept massacring the dark creatures. The world behind them became of ice, blood and destruction.


    The Marshal Maxius¡¯ might sundered the land and changed the landscape. His efforts saved ten thousands of lives and ended thousands of the dark creatures¡¯, but at the cost of his life.


    Grand Dux Lucius Maxius Diluvii¡¯s death marked the first Golden Knight to fall since the war began and the first sighting of the Grim¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Out of my sight, I said.¡± The Slayer captain slammed his hand on the table.


    ¡°No need to get violent, good man.¡± Otis stood up. ¡°Have a nice day.¡± He rearranged the chair in the table and left the tavern with Kancil.


    ¡°I keep telling you, there¡¯s no need to do this. We can handle this on our own.¡± Kancil said, lowering his voice and his face as they reached the middle of the populated street.


    Otis raised an eyebrow and snorted. ¡°And I keep telling you to stop doing that. Why do you return to looking like a village boy when there¡¯s people around?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ prefer to lay low, don¡¯t attracting unwanted attention, like you seem fond of doing.¡± Kancil said, his single uncovered eye darting around to avoid passersby, but always falling back on the ground.


    ¡°That¡¯s why no slayer team even consider accepting us. If aside from me looking like a scholar, you also approach them looking like a naive village boy no one would want us even as baggage carriers.¡± Otis said. ¡°If you just showed some of that edge you had when dealing with the legionnaire last week, maybe we¡¯d be out in the wilds hunting already.¡± They began walking through the street, moving towards a quieter part of the colony.


    ¡°Old scholar.¡± Kancil corrected. ¡°And that¡¯s because dealing with bastards is easier.¡± Kancil shrugged. ¡°A sharp blade to the neck is usually enough for those.¡± Kancil said in a low voice, but with his usual tone. ¡°But dealing with unknown people is harder. You never know which one you can trust or which one would get a knife through your ribs the moment you turn around.¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Otis replied immediately. ¡°We don¡¯t want you picking fights with entire slayer teams or mercenary bands.¡±


    ¡°So, are we going to do this on our own or what?¡±


    ¡°I told you, that¡¯s an act of sheer folly.¡± Otis said in an exasperated tone ¡°I sold half my inks and bought that information for something. We can¡¯t keep doing things blindly like before if we want our plan to work. The informant said that it was suicide to venture into the wilds with a group smaller than five, and that¡¯s if all are combatants. Neither you or I are combatants.


    ¡°He said that our best shot was to join a slayer team as helpers and that¡¯s truly the best choice. We¡¯d learn about the trade while earning some money.¡± Otis said


    ¡°I remember that the man also said that the area surrounding the colonies had fewer demons and all weak ones. I know how to handle those; we can do it alone.¡±


    ¡°And what would we do when a stronger demon or beast decides show up? Die. The man also told us about that.¡±


    Kancil looked to the sides and pushed Otis to one side of the street. ¡°Why don¡¯t you begin flaunting about your profession then? You said that anyone would want a Scribe to tag along.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but then they wouldn¡¯t want to let me go. I¡¯ve had similar dealings before, and let me tell you, fighters get addicted to using runes as if they were candyscratchers very easily.¡±


    ¡°Addicted to runes? How can that happen?¡±


    ¡°Aside from equipment enhancing runes and utility runes, there are some that can temporarily enhance a person¡¯s stats and are relatively easy to make. Those are the addictive ones. When a person experiences that sudden increase of strength or constitution it becomes hard to fight without it.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell them you don¡¯t know how to make those?¡±


    ¡°If I told them that then who¡¯d want me to join then? You can easily buy utility runes for a few pennies or drachmas anyway. And most people can¡¯t invest the money for equipment enhancing runes.¡±


    ¡°We should just join a mercenary band then. There are tons of those around and they take in any kind of person that can hold a weapon.¡± Kancil conceded.


    ¡°Yes, that seems to be our only option.¡± Otis agreed, resigned and crestfallen. ¡°The hard part should be choosing the less crappy mercenary band.¡±


    Most mercenary bands were made of rabble and riffraff. If you get crippled you¡¯d be lucky if a captain offers any kind of compensation. In general, a bunch that had no idea of honor or discipline. Of course, not all mercenary bands were like that, but joining a properly organized one would be hard, and finding it would be harder.


    ¡°We should begin gathering information in the taverns.¡± Otis said.


    ¡°We¡¯re depending on you.¡± Kancil patted Otis on the shoulder.


    ¡°Village boy¡­¡± Otis muttered.


    ¡°You should hurry then, because our bread will only last two more days.¡± Kancil said, turning a deaf ear to Otis¡¯ comment.


    They were lucky to even have that, actually. When they joined the legionnaire group crossing the mountain pass, the centurion had kindly afforded them with meals for the six days the journey lasted.


    Right after they decided their course of action they went into one of the taverns to inquire about the mercenary bands in the colony. Otis was a learned man and he could approach tables occupied by bored stult workers and entertain them with stories who knows where he read in exchange for some drink and rumors. Kancil being who he is, he disliked the drinks and could only sit in silence while having to endure Otis calling him his ¡®lame apprentice¡¯ all the time.


    Though he had to admit that his disheveled grown hair, the dirty cloth bandage covering a third of his face and the bandaged arm did give him the appearance of a lame apprentice. He wanted to at least get rid of the bandage around his eye, but he feared what might happen if he removed it. Last time he tried his head almost exploded from the headache.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    After two days of drinking with almost every worker in the colony they had decided what kind of mercenary band to join.


    To their surprise almost everyone agreed that the best choice were the bands led by adventurous patricians. They didn¡¯t even know that nobles fancied activities like being mercenaries, but it seemed that those were becoming common in the colonies.


    They were the best choice simply because they had all that ¡®noble honor¡¯ to upheld and could not afford to send men to die like cattle. Though the workers gossiped that the real reason was that they were to cowardly to throw themselves to fierce battles like mercenaries usually did.


    Whatever the reason, they fitted their needs. All they wanted to do was to amass some money to buy proper equipment and learn how the demon communities worked in the Dark World. Now they only had to find the noble mercenaries.


    ¡­ ¡­


    They spent the day looking for the so called noble mercenary bands, but all the found were a couple of cutthroat captains recruiting desperate stults for their bands.


    ¡°The workers said there were a lot of patrician captains around the colonies.¡± Otis said, chewing on the last bit of bread they had left. The workers sitting around had already heard all his interesting stories and he could not coax any ale out of them.


    ¡°Maybe they meant it in a general way. Around all colonies.¡± Kancil said, chewing.


    ¡°But we didn¡¯t find any even in that new Slayer Office they created? I thought all mercenaries went there to take jobs.¡± Otis slapped the table.


    ¡°I guess we ran out of luck. It¡¯s been smooth sailing since we¡­ departed from Lenore.¡± Kancil sighed and kept chewing, making sure to savor what might be his last food for a while.


    Otis moved his eyes around, hoping that their luck could stretch a little more and let him see a noble entering the tavern in his shiny armor and trimmed hair.


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Otis squinted his at the barman behind the bar counter. He saw the man carefully take a bottle of wine¡ªa Charles Buiger Sauvignon of the 425¡ªand pour it in a thoroughly cleaned mug.


    Well, that was not the kind of drink any worker or mercenary could afford. He doubted even the strongest slayers would spend their hardly earned money buying such a delicate beverage. Their kind usually preferred strong drinks.


    He looked at the man at which the barman poured such an exquisite drink. He wore the same kind of clothes mercenary captains or slayers used when they put away their armors. Otis would have thought of the man as a mercenary with excellent taste if it wasn¡¯t for how clean he kept his clothes. Not a single unwashable stain of blood or food at sight, and he actually kept his face and arms clean.


    ¡°I think we found our captain.¡± He nudged Kancil on the arm. ¡°Over there.¡± He pointed discreetly at the man drinking the splendorous wine.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a slayer?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, my good village boy. You see that magnificent thing he¡¯s drinking? A bottle of that is worth at least twice as much as all the ale and beer the tavern has sold this week combined. A plebeian slayer wouldn¡¯t have the money or the taste to buy that. Heck I even doubt that the tavern stocks such an expensive wine. The man probably brought it himself to the tavern for safekeeping.¡±


    ¡°You addict¡­¡± Kancil muttered under his breath and discreetly pointed his bracelet at the man.


    ¡¾Level 22¡¿


    The man¡¯s level appeared on his bracelet, confirming at least that he was strong enough to lead a mercenary band. ¡°You should go pay a visit to the other tables to ask about him then.¡±


    ¡°What need do we have of that? It¡¯s been so hard to find a patrician captain at last. We can¡¯t lose time with that, what if the man leaves?¡± Otis put the last bit of bread in his bag and began tidying his clothes and hair.


    ¡°Where did you leave the ¡®doing things blindly¡¯ thing? We don¡¯t know anything about the man.¡±


    ¡°I doubt a man who can enjoy such a good wine is of questionable character. We need to approach now when he is enjoying the taste of that blessed liquid.¡± Otis stood up. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re in love¡­¡± Kancil muttered and followed, his shoulders shrinking involuntarily.


    The man glanced at them as they approached and then returned to his wine, as if he had simply seen a leaf fly past him.


    ¡°Good evening, my lord.¡± Otis bowed reverentially and slapped Kancil¡¯s arm to make him do the same.


    Kancil followed suit by lowering his head mechanically and rising it up.


    The man stared down at the mug, as if he couldn¡¯t bear to part with the sight of his wine and then turned his head.


    Seeing the man¡¯s appreciation of the godly liquor Otis began to grow hopeful that if they joined the man he could get a taste of a similar wine one day.


    ¡°Yes?¡± The man raised a scrutinizing eyebrow.


    ¡°My name is Otis. I have the audacity to call myself a skilled physician and I wondered if your lordship is one of the pioneering patricians that have arrived to the Dark World to brave the dangers of the land?¡±


    The man had looked at them up and down with slight disdain, but his attention seemed piqued by Otis¡¯ flowery words. ¡°Yes, good man. I daresay I¡¯m leading a contract company to help humanity wage war against the demons.¡±


    Otis¡¯ eyes brightened. ¡°My lord, I wondered if me and my apprentice could join your company to support your brave fights.¡±


    The noble captain laughed through his nose. ¡°Why would I require your services, good man?¡±


    ¡°As I said, my lord, I¡¯m a skilled physician. I have an ample knowledge of all kinds of medicinal herbs that can close gashing wounds without leaving as much as a tiny scar and treat most kind of illnesses that you¡¯d come across the Dark World¡¯s thick forests. I can set bones and have a certain degree of skill in concocting potions and elixirs. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find my services most useful in the dangerous environment your lordship works.¡±


    The noble stroke his cleanly shaved chin and stared at Otis intensely. ¡°One of my healers has returned home recently due to personal matters and my company faces the need of a man of your skills. I¡¯ll be glad to contract your services,¡± He said, making Otis¡¯ heart jump in excitement. ¡°But what can your¡­ disabled apprentice do for my company? Is he of the same skills as you?¡± He turned his scrutinizing gaze to Kancil.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s not my lord. But the lad is hardly disabled. The injuries on his arm are from fighting off a gnoll, and he already had lost his eye by then. If your lordship checked his status you¡¯d see that he¡¯s a stult novice. Where else would you find a stult that can handle himself against a combatant demon? The boy¡¯s a stult prodigy, I assure you.¡±


    The man checked Kancil¡¯s status and raised his eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s indeed a stult novice¡­ and if what you say of his skills is true, the I see the value in keeping him.¡± He nodded. ¡°But only if it¡¯s true. Meet me outside this tavern tomorrow after sunrise. We¡¯ll make a trip to the nearby forests to test your skills.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my lord. You won¡¯t regret your choice.¡± Otis bowed and slapped Kancil¡¯s arm again.


    Kancil bowed as well.


    ¡°Might I have the pleasure to know your name, my lord?¡± Otis said.


    ¡°Not yet, good man. After you join us.¡± The noble smiled.


    ¡°Clarian!¡± A tall guy entered the tavern, calling for someone. All gazes moved to him and conversations stopped for a moment.


    ¡°There you are.¡± The man gazed towards them and approached. ¡°Clarian,¡± He crossed his arms and addressed the noble. ¡°Stop drinking your ass off and hurry up. You¡¯ve had us waiting for half an hour.¡±


    The noble¡¯s face froze, the corner of his lips twitching. ¡°My name is Clarian Ventilo.¡± He turned his face to Otis and downed the rest of the wine in one go. ¡°Be there punctually or you can forget this conversation ever happened.¡± He slapped the newcomer hard on the shoulder and walked off. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The other man flinched and groaned, following Clarian. ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Why¡¯re you trying to act like a moron again?¡± He asked, but Clarian kept walking, leaving his questions unanswered.


    ¡°That was confusing¡­¡± Kancil said.


    ¡°What does it matter? We¡¯re in, boy.¡± Otis laughed. ¡°We¡¯re going to stop eating hard bread and sleeping in the streets.¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯d test us. If he doesn¡¯t like us, then we¡¯ll end up in the plantations. Or in a shitty mercenary band.¡±


    ¡°Of course we¡¯ll pass his test. You¡¯re a really good fighter and I¡¯m a superb physician.¡± Otis said.


    ¡°Right, about that. What¡¯s that of being a physician? Aren¡¯t you a Scribe?¡± Kancil furrowed his brows.


    ¡°A man is not allowed to be good in different fields?¡± Otis held his chin high and stared down at Kancil.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Or why didn¡¯t you tell that to the slayer teams from before? One of them might have accepted us.¡± Kancil¡¯s voice began to heat up, but he realized by the end that he was attracting a few eyes and toned it down.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t seem trustworthy. More brawn than brain.¡± Otis shrugged. ¡°Furthermore, it is best this way. The nobles care a lot about reputation and wouldn¡¯t engage in an impossible battle. And he sure has funds, both to pay us and maybe pay for our equipment if we¡¯re good enough.¡± Otis said. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t give me that look, we won¡¯t have to sleep in the streets anymore!¡± He patted Kancil¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Well, today we will. We¡¯re not part of his-¡± Kancil paused. ¡°Company¡ªas he calls it. Today our bed is the good ol¡¯ hard, cold ground.¡± He snorted.


    ¡°You need to leave others to enjoy their happiness, grumpy village boy¡­¡± He muttered and walked out of the inn. Off to find their hard cold ground to sleep.