《The Spellblade of Jure》 Prologue - Lone Survivor Prologue - Lone Survivor Jure¡¯s Domain - The Bastion of Light Within a grand hall of stone and ivory, two winged figures stood peering into a large, floating orb of pure mana. One was a white-robed woman with flowing green hair - she had a breathtaking and otherworldly beauty that would leave anyone mesmerized. Standing at her side was an old, bearded man with kind eyes and a warm disposition, though his expression was currently one of intense worry. He absentmindedly fiddled with the ring of keys in his hands, and was building up the nerve to speak. ¡°Goddess Jure,¡± The bearded man said nervously, ¡°Are you sure about this? He is gifted, but-¡± The woman raised her hand, silencing her advisor. Jure had already made up her mind, and there was no turning back. She looked calm, but stared unblinking at the orb in front of her. On it was a tragic scene. A young man, bloodied and orphaned, crawling towards the darkest corner of a decrepit building. Behind him was a long trail of blood, most of it coming from his mangled left leg and perforated chest. Without medical attention, he would die in minutes. ¡°Make the preparations, Chavok.¡± Jure said coldly, her eyes filled with anger - but at what? ¡°He¡¯s the one. The summoning will proceed as planned.¡± With a sigh, Chavok bowed and left, his steps echoing in the massive hall. Jure bit her lip in frustration, upset at what she was about to do. But for the sake of this world and her people, she would make use of anything and anyone at her disposal. ¡°Sorry, little one.¡± She whispered. ¡°This selfish goddess will have to burden you.¡± * * * Inside a decrepit building in Boston, Massachusetts Hi there. Yes, you. Excuse me, but would you listen to my sob story for a while? I¡¯m not usually one for sentimentality. But when a man is about to die, crawled up pathetically in the corner of an abandoned warehouse, he starts reminiscing. It also helps in ignoring the pain and grief. Anyway... where to begin. This shitty turn of events was probably inevitable, but that doesn''t make me feel any better. Being a mage used to be great. My fondest memory was back in third grade. Father decided that I was old and responsible enough to learn the basics of mana control, so he set aside the weekend to teach me how to draw in the world¡¯s natural energy - sparse as it may be in this godforsaken age. It turned out that a weekend wasn¡¯t necessary. Little Ezekiel mastered the concept in just two hours, and my parents were ecstatic at their talented wizard-in-training. That wasn¡¯t a fluke either, since all of their next lessons were similarly easy. Heh, I became one smug brat back then. The prodigious son of Zacharias and Gretta Hawk, a rising dragon. Many families sent their congratulations, and another famous clan even suggested a future betrothal to their daughter. Two years later, I was able to form my 1st Circle and cast a basic fireball (almost roasting my older sister Rebecca¡¯s poor cat in the process), earning the right to be formally called a mage - the youngest in centuries. But genius magi don¡¯t count for much when mana itself is dying. See, Earth isn¡¯t a very hospitable place for magi anymore. Roughly five hundred years ago, the concentration of mana in the air started rapidly diminishing. All spells became much harder to cast. By the time I was born, the oldest ¡°archmages¡± were only able to master up to the 3rd Circle of Spellcraft - the 4th to 9th Circles completely useless and out of reach without sufficient mana. In other words, many magi were capable of little more than party tricks. Guns are a hell of a lot deadlier than a slow moving, highly visible fireball, right? So why bother learning magic and passing it on to the next generation at all? Honor. Tradition. Just because it looks really cool. There were countless justifications for the ancient bloodlines to preserve an obsolete way of life. But it was the wrong choice. Fucking hell, I wish we had all just burned our tomes and destroyed our artifacts. Maybe then my family would still be alive. * * * Keeping magic a secret is impossible in a world with cellphone cameras. All it took was one idiot named Edward Grant to slip up. In a panic, he conjured a wall of earth to stop a speeding car from hitting him, and the tabloids were all over it. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Edward became an unwilling celebrity, and despite his family moving to a different country, the media, conspiracy nutjobs, and other unsavory types stalked them wherever they fled. Too bad his clan wasn¡¯t specialized in illusion magic. Just last year, he and his family went ¡°missing¡±. Then the hunt started. Powerful figures were convinced that us magi were a threat, a goldmine, or both. The Grant clan¡¯s items were a hit on the black market, and people wondered what other goodies we were hiding. And who¡¯s to say that we sorcerers weren¡¯t mind controlling world leaders? That was impossible, of course. The easiest mind control spell is in the 7th Circle, a distant dream for all of us. But they didn¡¯t know that. Through torture, blackmail, and worse, they were able to root out the magic wielding clans. Some tried to fight back - but like I said, guns are king in this world with our limited arsenal. They were slaughtered, though the archmages still killed dozens before succumbing. Old geezers were craftier and more powerful than I gave them credit for. A few others surrendered, desperate enough to believe the sweet lies our hunters spouted. These poor souls were turned into puppets, and many were experimented upon. Magic is inherited, so scientists wanted to figure out what makes us tick. I, Ezekiel Hawk, and the rest of my family were among those who hid. Governments tried to keep the purge under wraps, but many still learned about it through the Internet. People sympathetic to the mages¡¯ plight sheltered us, so for several months we managed to survive. The constant pressure was good for my studies too, and I became a 2nd Circle mage at the age of 20. The life of a fugitive was both terrifying and monotonous. I spent my days learning magic and sparring with my father to hone my swordsmanship as well. Why would a mage pick up a blade? Because every famous mage clan has a secret art, and ours was - it allows us Hawks to infuse our weapons with arcane energy. Back when the world was still rich with mana, the highest levels of could help weapons cut through the thickest armor and strongest mana shields, making us incredibly deadly warmages. Dad was a great teacher, and I learned the fundamentals very quickly. But three days ago, they finally came. My father went out like a goddamn badass. I¡¯ve never seen him get angry before, but the moment those bastards kicked down the door, he showed them how scary a papa wolf can be. A raging inferno in human form, dad left nothing of their vanguard but ash. I''ll never forget the sight of his halberd cleaving through their body armor with almost no resistance. There were too many, though, and the Hawk clan specialized in close combat. We were surrounded. While dad charged at them with his flaming halberd to draw their attention, mom rushed me and Rebecca through the pre-planned escape route - not allowing us to die with our old man. In the end, it only let us live miserably for a few more days. Mom was killed by a sniper several hours ago, causing me and my big sis to go berserk. We slaughtered our way past the grunts, ignoring the bullet wounds, before Becca managed to cut off the offending marksman¡¯s head with a sweep of her lightning-imbued axe. She collapsed soon afterwards from her injuries, and here I am. Alone, half-dead, and rambling to some non-existent person in my head. Right now I¡¯m clutching a bag filled with our family¡¯s heirlooms - magical items and a few tomes that contain the most powerful spells we possessed. Although we had lost almost everything during the escape, these five spellbooks were our real foundation. Priceless treasures to any mage clan before, but worthless junk in this situation. Still, I could sense my family''s lingering presence on them, so I hugged the bag close to comfort myself. I want to take at least one more of those masked assholes with me, but my pitiful mana reserves are spent. Footsteps outside; I think that¡¯s them. These thugs won''t even give me time to feel sorry for myself. Guess this is it then. Mom, dad, sis¡­ I¡¯ll see you soon. * * * As I closed my eyes, however, a blinding light enveloped my body. What is this, are the sick bastards shining a spotlight on me? Teasing their prey before filling me with lead? Those ridiculous thoughts disappeared as soon as I opened my eyes. The dirty cement floor I was sprawled out on had been replaced by one made of spotless marble. On both sides of the hall were tall pillars like those of the Acropolis, wrapped in flowering vines that seemed to burst with vitality and life. Gorgeous statues, a jewel encrusted fountain... I looked in front of me, and found myself struck dumb. A goddess. That was the only way to describe her. She was smiling, her green eyes filled with compassion. Her hair was the same color, except for a small streak of chestnut brown locks along the right side. She was dressed in robes of pure white, and I noticed an intricately designed silver lance in her right hand. Majestic wings stretched out of her back, and oddly enough, there were small wings attached to her circular hat as well. Around her waist was a golden ornate belt, dangling a chain that had a large, blood red ruby in the center - I could sense immense magic surrounding the gem, a maelstrom of mana that could probably level a city with ease if used in the right spell. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She asked me, her gentle voice snapping me out of my reverie. I finally noticed that my wounds had completely disappeared, and even my clothes were mended. The bag containing the Hawk clan¡¯s treasures was beside me too, but I cared little for that right now. My mind was still in turmoil. ¡°Alive. I¡¯ve had better days, though.¡± I replied, getting to my feet. ¡°Did you save me?¡± She nodded. ¡°In a manner of speaking. My name is Jure, the Goddess of Light and Healing.¡± Huh, guess that explains how I¡¯m completely fixed up. ¡°This must be quite a shock for you, but please listen to what I have to say. There is something I would like to request of you.¡± By this point, my brain was finally up to speed. Mages are a very adaptable lot - things like deities and ghosts can¡¯t really phase someone who studies the arcane. I was surprised, but I had already accepted what was happening as reality. However, alarm bells were ringing inside my head: what kind of favor would a goddess need? ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure what I can help you with,¡± I said, shrugging in resignation. ¡°This one is a mage who has barely mastered the 2nd Circle, as you are probably aware. But do tell. I¡¯ll listen to the details.¡± Not like I had a choice. Besides, I quite literally owed her my life, so listening is the least I can do. Jure took a deep breath, and looked straight into my eyes. Then she spoke. ¡°Ezekiel Hawk, last sorcerer of Earth, I need you to kill a god. My counterpart, Galros - the corrupted deity of chaos and death.¡± ...Knew it. Goddesses are nothing but trouble. Chapter 1 - A Hawks Resolve Chapter 1 - A Hawk¡¯s Resolve ¡°Ezekiel Hawk, last sorcerer of Earth, I need you to kill a god. My counterpart, Galros - the corrupted deity of chaos and death.¡± Jure looked at the youth in front of her, waiting for his reaction. She knew that what she said was outrageous, but contrary to her expectations, Ezekiel didn¡¯t look shocked or confused. Instead, he just sighed and muttered something about ¡®stupid cliches¡¯. ¡°Okay, why does he have to die?¡± The mage finally said. ¡°Is he doing typical bad guy stuff?¡± ¡°Um, yes, so to speak.¡± Jure answered, wondering what he meant by typical. ¡°We don¡¯t know how, but Galros was able to materialize physically on Ethna - the world we watch over. Doing so would usually destroy the god¡¯s soul for violating the ancient treaty that governs this entire realm. Now he¡¯s opening rifts to other realms, and flooding the world with demons. He appears to have become somewhat¡­ unbalanced.¡± ¡°And how much time do we have before he destroys everything?¡± ¡°Ten years. By then he would have regained too much of his power to be stopped.¡± Jure twirled and pulled her hair, a nervous habit she was never able to get rid of. There was much more to the issue, but she wanted to avoid scaring the boy for now - even though he seemed to be weirdly calm about all this. Jure was truly unwilling to ask him to take on such a heavy and dangerous burden. However, she had no choice. It had to be him. And if he refused, Jure knew exactly how to make him change his mind. ¡°I¡¯m flattered, but what makes you think I¡¯m up to the task?¡± Ezekiel asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Please don¡¯t say that it¡¯s an ancient prophecy or something, because those are notoriously unreliable.¡± Jure shook her head. ¡°No, this decision was mine alone. You weren¡¯t the only candidate, but I believe that you have the highest chance of success.¡± She waved her hand, conjuring a large marble table and two chairs in the middle of the hall. Jure took a seat, and the young mage did the same, his eyes still full of skepticism. Before he could speak, however, a white-haired servant arrived carrying a tray with tea and snacks. This old man was Chavok, and he politely served the two seated parties before bowing and leaving. ¡°Before I agree, I¡¯d like to ask a few things.¡± Ezekiel said, taking a sip of the tea. His eyes suddenly widened - it tasted terrible. Where are they getting their leaves!? He coughed slightly, then continued. ¡°First, what is so special about me?¡± ¡°There are three reasons I chose you for this.¡° Jure began, oblivious to her guest¡¯s displeasure. ¡°One, your clan¡¯s spell. This art is unique, and I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Using a weapon to direct and amplify mana¡¯s natural power, slicing through arcane energies - if you master it, there¡¯s a chance that you can even cut through a god¡¯s defenses.¡± A chance. Ezekiel didn¡¯t like that word, but he held his tongue for the time being. ¡°Second, the Circles of magic that your people have developed. This system is far more advanced than anything on Ethna. With that kind of power, it¡¯s possible for you to unify the entire continent, and lead - ¡± ¡°Hold on, unify?¡± Ezekiel interrupted. ¡°Yes,¡± Jure answered, nodding. ¡°Galros has a massive legion under his command, which grows stronger every day. Only with the armies of Ethna can you break into his domain and kill him.¡± ¡°Okay. But why not just take my and knowledge?¡± Ezekiel asked, taking another sip of the tea. He was starting to get used to its taste. ¡°It can be taught, and I¡¯m sure there are plenty of eager adventurers in Ethna who would do your bidding, goddess.¡± ¡°Mages who are talented in close combat are rarer than you think.¡± She answered, drinking as well. Jure smiled in contentment, relishing the tea¡¯s bizarre flavor. ¡°And that brings us to the last reason: you¡¯re an outsider. Ethna has many heroes, but they would be helpless before Galros. Deities have an aura that makes beings in their realm unable to fight back. Any mortal in your place right now would be quivering in fear, even if I did my best to hide my presence.¡± Ezekiel frowned. That truly was a massive complication. ¡°Let¡¯s say that I agree to take on this suicide mission.¡± He said, drumming his fingers on the table. ¡°Sorry for asking, but what¡¯s in it for me? Aside from repaying my debt to you, of course.¡± Jure made a wry grin; how many would dare to be so mercantile in front of a goddess? Still, it made things easier now that the conversation had been steered into this direction. She swung the lance in her right hand, opening a small tear in the fabric of existence. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to do this for free.¡± She said, and pulled out three glowing orbs from the tear beside her. ¡°Do you know what these are?¡± Ezekiel frowned slightly, and then his laidback demeanor immediately vanished. Jure felt an overwhelming amount of hostility coming from him, which was almost immediately suppressed. ¡°My family¡¯s souls.¡± The young man answered nonchalantly, but the bloodlust was just barely hidden under the surface. ¡°So is that it? I do what you say, or you make them suffer?¡± ¡°N-no! Of course not, you idiot!!!¡± Jure said, dropping her teacup and shaking her head frantically, her formerly graceful air gone. Ezekiel was taken aback. ¡°Even if you decline, I¡¯ll let them pass on peacefully. Do I look like a sadistic goddess to you!? Insensitive oaf! You bully, I can¡¯t believe you would- ¡± Chavok coughed loudly from out of sight, and Jure immediately reddened, becoming aware of how unseemly she was acting. ¡°Please excuse me for that outburst.¡± Jure coughed, slowly sinking into her seat. Her face was still scarlet, and she was half-tempted to disappear for a while.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry. It was my fault for jumping to conclusions.¡± Ezekiel answered sheepishly. ¡°But then what do you mean? Can you¡­?¡± The young man¡¯s eyes were filled with hope, but grew dim when Jure shook her head sadly. ¡°I can¡¯t bring them back to life.¡± She sighed. ¡°Resurrection is very taxing even for a goddess of light, and it¡¯s outright impossible to revive beings from other realms. However, I can let them be reincarnated on Ethna. They will even retain some of their memories. You can be together with them again, and I promise that all of you will want for nothing.¡± Ezekiel thought about it only for a moment before nodding decisively. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be your hero, but wait until I¡¯ve killed Galros before you let my family reincarnate.¡± He said, his voice filled with unusual seriousness. ¡°I don¡¯t want them to be born into a world at war.¡± Jure sighed in relief. It was done. She hated having to use Ezekiel¡¯s loved ones as a bribe, but at least now Ethna had a chance of surviving. Quickly, she clapped her hands once, and Chavok emerged carrying a large number of books and a very large map. ¡°I can¡¯t just send you in there blind.¡± Jure said. ¡°Ethna is a dangerous place, so Chavok here will teach you what you need to know about the land and its people.¡± The old man grinned, sending shivers down Ezekiel¡¯s spine. For some reason, the young mage felt extremely threatened right then. A thought entered his mind; could Chavok be planning to discuss everything in those books? There must be over a dozen! ¡°Well then,¡± Chavok started, ¡°Let¡¯s begin with the history of the Dawn Empire¡­¡± * * * Ezekiel Hawk, the last mage of Earth I had a splitting headache. Chavok talked my ear off for over eight hours. The old geezer made me memorize the geography of the world, which was surprisingly simple. One huge continent and around fifty islands, only a few of which were inhabited. Galros and his nasty demon portals are in the far north, conveniently blocked by a number of highly fortified strongholds belonging to the Dawn Empire and the Unbowed Alliance. Chavok also described the different races, kingdoms, and factions within the world of Ethna. It was a complicated web of old grudges and delicate alliances. Wars erupt every few decades, and there were more fallen and forgotten empires than have ever existed on Earth. Honestly, I¡¯m surprised the continent hasn¡¯t managed to destroy itself yet. Perhaps Galros is just trying to speed up the inevitable. As the god of death, maybe he was fed up with all the work he had to do? Jure looked on in mild amusement as I scratched my head, trying to make sense of it all and come up with a solid plan. But no matter how hard I thought about it, there was only one way to unify the continent within the ten year time limit. I finally made up mind. ¡°Sir Hawk, I think that the Merchant States would be a good place to start.¡± Chavok said, gesturing to some cities on the eastern coast of his map. ¡°Their leaders may be somewhat deceitful, but they are far more accepting of talented outsiders than any other country. With your skill, it will be very easy to build a reputation for yourself, and safely grow into a powerf-¡± ¡°No.¡± I cut him off, then pointed to a large territory near the western mountain ranges. It had large forests and lakes, testifying to its rich natural resources. The land was dotted with eight different towns - its capital being the largest. ¡°Take me here.¡± ¡°The Bardoch Kingdom? Sir Hawk, surely you jest.¡± Chavok protested, his beard quivering in disbelief. ¡°That place is a mess! Its current king is a half-mad tyrant, his two sons are fighting a succession war in the shadows, and its slaves and commoners are so poorly treated that they are on the brink of rebellion. That is too much for a novice hero to fix!¡± ¡°Do you plan to heal the king and become his court mage to establish your reputation?¡± Jure asked me. ¡°Or will you side with one of the princes to bring an end to the conflict?¡± ¡°I have no plans of supporting either prince, nor do I want to cure the current king.¡± I said, with a slight smile. Jure¡¯s eyes widened, as realization dawned on her. ¡°From what you¡¯ve told me, the entire royal family and most of the noble houses are incompetent and corrupt beyond saving." Chavok nodded. ¡°Exactly, sir Hawk. This is a terrible and dangerous place - not suited for your current level of strength. And even if you gain many accomplishments, the local powers will only grow wary and plot against you. They¡¯ll hinder your progress at every step! Without backing, it will be hard to create any meaningful change. What are you planning?¡± I didn¡¯t answer him, looking first towards Jure. She hesitated only a moment, then nodded - giving her approval. Ethna had too many squabbling idiots, and there was only one way to make them all work together in such a short amount of time: conquest. Taking a deep breath, I declared my intentions. ¡°I will become its king.¡± * * * Within a dark alley in Copperhold Town, minor frontier city of the Bardoch Kingdom The bright light faded, and I found myself standing in a dirty, rubbish filled alley. Jure could have picked a better spot to teleport me; what kind of hero¡¯s story begins in a place like this!? Is she still mad about me mistaking her intentions earlier? Pinching my nose in disgust, I walked out into the much cleaner main street of Copperhold town. I was greeted by the sound of vendors noisily hawking their wares, trotting horses, and all the other workings of a classic medieval fantasy town. Try as I might, I couldn¡¯t help but gawk a bit at the surroundings. Wooden and stone buildings, a worn cobblestone road, and people dressed in all sorts of exotic outfits - it was right out of a picture book. One of the merchants caught my eye, a beautiful mature woman selling potions and tonics. She had a striking pair of large¡­ rabbit ears. Yeah. That¡¯s totally what I was looking at. Anyway, it was my first time seeing a demihuman, and it really drove in the fact that I was in a totally different world. Seeing me staring at her, she smiled and winked, and I quickly looked away in embarrassment. This is where my journey would begin - the frontier town of Bardoch Kingdom, responsible for most of its lumber output. Why they named a lumber town ¡°Copperhold¡± is beyond me. It also contained the headquarters of the kingdom¡¯s Adventurer¡¯s Guild, since the nearby forests are full of nasty creatures that need regular culling. That was where I planned to head first; unaffiliated mages are highly suspicious unless they are registered as adventurers. It was around two hours since I told my ''employers'' what I was planning to do. Jure and Chavok vehemently refused to let me start in the capital, saying that I would only be a fat lamb for the greedy nobles to slaughter. They were probably right. Until I managed to strengthen myself and master higher Circles of magic, I could not usurp the throne. The two of them proceeded to drill some last minute information into me, then sent me on my merry way, Jure anxiously telling me to be careful and pray if I ever needed to talk to her. Such a sweet goddess, she is. As I was about to ask someone for directions to the guild, however, the afternoon¡¯s calm was shattered by ringing bells. Everyone tensed, and looked towards the west, where the sound was coming from. Soon I could hear frantic shouting¡­ ¡°A massive goblin horde is assaulting the Western Gate!¡± ¡°Captain Esterhold is ordering all spare guards and adventurers to aid in the defense!¡± Many of the people who were shopping quickly dropped what they were doing and began rushing towards the western area. I grinned; looks like my first battle in Ethna is happening way earlier than expected. I strode in the direction of the gate, eager to see just how my magic held up in this new world. Chapter 2 - The First Battle Chapter 2 - The First Battle As I ran towards the western sector of Copperhold town, the sounds of fighting became more distinct. Angry yells, cries of pain, and inhuman shrieks - which I dearly hoped came from the goblins. ¡°The gate has been breached! Quickly, block them!¡± ¡°Some of them are trying to scale the wall. Archers!¡± ¡°There must be hundreds of them! Where did they all come from!?¡± Once the gate came into view, I could tell that the situation was turning grim. The goblins had somehow managed to break open the iron gate, and only a human wall of shieldbearers and pikemen was holding back the green tide. This looked like a residential area; if the goblins were able to get through the defenses, many civilians would get slaughtered. Adventurers began taking their places along the walls, or stood waiting behind the gate, ready to relieve the guards who were currently blocking the opening. At the very front of the carnage, I could vaguely make out a head of black hair with two wolf ears. She was valiantly leading the defense, her sword cutting goblin heads off with every swing. ¡°Hold for as long as you can!¡± A commanding female voice rang out. ¡°On my signal, unleash an all-out attack then pull back to swap with the relief units!¡± That wolf girl is Captain Esterhold, I presume. A war of attrition was the only option thanks to the breach, but even with the newly arrived adventurers our numbers were pitiful. Only fifteen heavily armored guardsmen, counting the captain, and twenty fighters of varying skill. That¡¯s against a seemingly endless number of goblins. If another group attacked the town¡¯s other entrances, we would quickly be overrun. Where is the rest of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild? I looked around for a good vantage point, then smiled, seeing an empty watchtower along the walls. Time to join the fight. * * * Lisa Esterhold, Captain of the Copperhold Guard Shit, the captain thought as she bashed another goblin¡¯s head in with her shield. This is bad. My men are heavily wounded and exhausted. Switching with the relief units will let us rest for a few minutes, but they¡¯re too green and won¡¯t be able to hold for long. Should I call for reinforcements? Lisa shook her head. The town¡¯s other entrances were barely defended as it is. If she called those few guards over here, the other sectors would be wide open for assault. This was the worst timing possible. The largest monster wave in decades, right when most of the guild¡¯s veterans were out on a wyvern subjugation mission? Dogshit luck. None of them would be back before nightfall, and by then the town would be in flames, countless lives lost. Gritting her teeth, Lisa resolved to hold the line with her life if needed. A female demihuman commoner, it took her years to earn her position in this cesspool of a kingdom, and she¡¯ll be damned before she disgraces it by retreating. Not a single civilian would be harmed while she drew breath. Seeing that her guardsmen were on the verge of collapse, Lisa prepared to give the order for an all-out attack, hoping to create enough room to swap places with the waiting adventurers. However, before she could say anything, two of the goblins in front of them were suddenly ablaze. Lisa stared dumbfounded at the shrieking green runts as they ran around in a panic, shoving and scorching their brethren. Then more of them were ignited, and she finally saw what was causing it. A veritable barrage of small fireballs was raining down upon the green tide. She looked up at the source, and saw a young man in one of the watchtowers. Dressed in simple leathers, he looked just like any other traveler at first glance. However, his eyes were blazing with wisps of mana, and there were eight fireballs floating around him. He was creating them as quickly as he shot them! A mage!? The captain thought in disbelief. How? There is no Mage¡¯s Guild here, and I know that none of the local adventurers are capable of magic. Is he an honored guest of... nevermind. There were more important things to focus on than his identity. He had created an opening for them, and the troops¡¯ morale had soared. Shaking her head to get rid of her distracting thoughts, Lisa quickly commanded her guardsmen to pull back and switch with the eager adventurers behind her. If we survive this battle, I owe you an ale, mage. She thought, sighing in relief as she began checking the wounds of her guards. * * * Ezekiel Hawk, The Spellblade of Jure This is fucking amazing! Holy shit! I was absolutely ecstatic, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh madly as I cast fireball after fireball at the goblin horde below. What was once a terrifying menace had turned into convenient target practice for me. I had never felt this free and alive. Was this what my ancestors felt like before Earth¡¯s loss of mana? This was a very pleasant surprise. When I had finished climbing up to the top of the watchtower, I began to gather the world¡¯s energy within me - and almost fainted. It was like an unstoppable torrent that overwhelmed my senses, causing me to feel dizzy for several seconds. Once I had gotten used to it, though, the feeling was pure bliss. Jure had warned me that using magic would feel very different once I was in Ethna, but this was beyond my wildest expectations. The air was so heavy with mana that I could almost choke on it. My spell is a magic of the first Circle, and I used to struggle for minutes just to make it maintain form back on Earth. Controlling one took all of my attention. But now, I could practically just will them into existence, and have up to eight out at any time. I must have thrown at least fifty of them by now, yet I was only slightly tired. This was ridiculous. If we had this kind of power back on Earth¡­ No. Don¡¯t think about it. Right now, I have a job to do.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I could see the goblins start to waver. Dumb little bastards, they have almost no fear of death, but even the stupidest life forms would fear being roasted alive. There were a few bigger goblins who were unaffected and shouting at their brethren, trying to urge them forward. I assumed these were their leaders. Taking aim, I unleashed another salvo, this time aiming specifically for those giving orders. The result was predictable. As their leaders rolled on the ground, shrieking in pain, the most cowardly among the goblins began to break and run. Victory was almost within our grasp. Just as the adventurers and guards started to cheer, though, heavy footsteps shook the ground. From among the trees emerged a massive creature. Over three meters tall with a disproportionate frame, it lumbered towards us, dragging a fallen tree that it probably used as a club. One look at its ugly face and long nose confirmed my suspicions: it¡¯s a forest troll. ¡°Archers! Focus on the troll! Aim for its eyes and joints!¡± Captain Esterhold shouted, waking me up from my surprise. A rain of arrows fell on the creature, but every single one bounced off harmlessly - even those that struck its dumb looking eyes. The troll is a creature with extremely tough, rock like skin and a very high resistance to magic - the worst possible foe we could face right now. Curse my luck. Jure, this is the starting town, isn¡¯t the difficulty a little too high!? Then I remembered that they didn¡¯t even want me to go here yet, and that Chavok repeatedly warned me about the dangerous creatures in this territory. Okay, I don¡¯t get to complain. Taking a deep breath, I sent all eight of my fireballs at the troll, aiming for its face. Predictably, the dumb brute completely ignored the barrage. I cycled through my other four offensive spells - , , , and - but it was useless. They were all 1st Circle spells. The troll just kept walking slowly towards the walls. Shit. He¡¯s planning to create another opening in the wall, isn¡¯t he? There were still hundreds of goblins outside. If another breach was created, then they would come flooding in. It was impossible to kill all of them without countless townspeople dying first. Then there¡¯s the troll, which we do not even have an answer for. As if reading my thoughts, Captain Esterhold rallied her troops - the ones who could still stand, anyway. ¡°We sally out! Stop that troll at any cost!¡± She looked up at me, seemingly requesting my support. ¡°Lord mage, I beg you, please try to clear a way through the goblins with your fireballs as we approach the troll!¡± It was a suicide mission. With the troll¡¯s tough skin and massive strength, most of them would die before they could even wound it. Even worse, it had insane regeneration, so their only hope was miraculously landing a vital blow. The captain might be able to do it, but it would probably come at a heavy price. Foolish, but not a single one of the guardsmen looked unwilling. All were ready to die. Several adventurers had volunteered as well. I sighed, then quickly jumped down from the tower to the walls, and took the stairs down. Captain Esterhold was looking inquisitively at me; wasn¡¯t my previous spot the best place to provide fire support from? ¡°That¡¯s not a bad plan, but let¡¯s switch roles.¡± I said, smiling as I drew my sword - the Hawk¡¯s Talon, specially designed to withstand and channel mana. ¡°Please protect me from the goblins while I handle the troll.¡± They looked at me like I was insane. Figures. Well then, looks like I¡¯ll have to test in the stupidest and most dangerous way possible. * * * After a short argument, I finally convinced them to go along with my plan. The guard captain in particular was very reluctant to risk the life of a mage, especially one who had already contributed so much to protecting the town. However, she relented when I reminded her that if the troll breaks through, I was pretty much dead anyway. There were nine of us: Me, Captain Esterhold, four guards, and three adventurers. The rest of those who could still fight would protect the gate and walls while we were outside. I sent a barrage of fireballs at the goblins moving towards the gate, causing a cacophony of screaming. Then we charged forward, shieldbearers first, into the fray. I quickly realized that Captain Esterhold wasn¡¯t just a good leader. Her skill with the blade was amazing, and I¡¯m embarrassed to admit it, but I wouldn¡¯t be her match if I wasn¡¯t allowed to use any magic. Her strikes were simple, yet fast, precise, and overwhelmingly powerful. Demihumans tend to have better physical capabilities than humans, though they have much fewer mages to compensate. And even among them, the wolf race is one of the strongest and most agile, as Captain Esterhold was currently demonstrating. She led the way, cutting a swath through the horde. We were advancing very quickly, and soon we were just meters away from the troll. ¡°Please do your best to keep the goblins from interfering.¡± I repeated, then before anyone could stop me, I attacked. Casting one of the three 2nd Circle spells I knew, , I burst forward with extreme speed and arrived in front of the troll. It gazed at me dumbly and slowly raised its weapon, but before it could attack I used to infuse my sword with mana. Slashing at the wrist holding its club, I cut the entire hand off in one amazing swipe¡­ Or so I would have liked to say, but unfortunately, my wasn¡¯t that strong yet. I merely made a shallow gash, causing troll blood to spurt out like a fountain. Damn. However, that small nick was enough to make the creature enraged - trolls felt that any physical wound was an insult to their pride. Howling, it lunged at me, trying to crush me with its massive body. Not good. I dodged to the side, barely avoiding getting flattened by its stomach. I cursed under my breath as I immediately distanced myself from the troll, watching it get up. Captain Esterhold and the others were watching anxiously as they held back the wave of goblins; the runts had sensed weakness in us, and were attacking in a frenzy. Change of plan. Let¡¯s try to cripple its movement first, then go for a lethal blow. consumed a lot of mana and only lasted for a second. It was also very hard to control - I could not change directions or swing my blade properly during the rush. However, the extra momentum was necessary for what I was planning. The troll glared at me, and broke into a lumbering run. I waited until I had a clear path, and then cast the spell again. Feeling my body become weightless, I blitzed forward at three times my usual speed, and held my imbued blade out. The satisfying feeling of cutting through flesh and the troll¡¯s angry, pain-filled roar confirmed that my attack had connected. It staggered, the cut ligaments in its right leg making it fall to the ground in a massive thud. I was somewhat tired from using twice in a row - fortunately, I was only slightly drained. Back on Earth this spell was useless in battle, since it took five seconds to cast and would leave me completely exhausted, if not injured afterwards. Only my dad had mastered it enough to make it usable. Not missing my chance, I jumped onto the troll¡¯s back as it struggled to get to its feet. I climbed up, then raised my sword and drove it with both hands into the creature¡¯s neck, where I hoped its carotid artery would be. Chavok didn¡¯t exactly go into the specifics of troll anatomy. Hawk¡¯s Talon sunk into the monster''s flesh, and I was rewarded with a huge burst of troll blood. Success! Noticing its free hand moving to grab me, I quickly jumped off, taking my sword as well. Even a dying troll could easily crush my body. But was that blow enough to end it? The creature stood unsteadily, looking as if it would keel over at any minute. All of a sudden, an armored blur slammed into its torso, knocking it down to the ground. Captain Esterhold was kneeling on top of the fallen troll, her sword piercing through the creature¡¯s heart. Ah. That¡¯s probably what she was planning to do when she rallied the troops earlier. It was over. The goblins, seeing their troll dead, lost what little was left of their morale and fled back into the forests, shrieking in terror. We were far too tired and injured to pursue them, but that could wait. Right now all I wanted was to go back and grab a room at the inn. Captain Esterhold stood up and walked towards me, then saluted. ¡°My apologies for stealing your kill, lord mage.¡± She said humbly. ¡°But you looked tired, and I was worried that the troll would land a blow on you if you had tried to finish it off yourself.¡± I smiled and shook my head. ¡°No apologies needed captain, your help was very welcome. Let¡¯s head back to the town, though. The gate needs to be fixed, right?¡± She nodded, and our weary party walked back to the safety of Copperhold, bathed in the deafening cheers of the defenders and townspeople. None of us had died, though everyone was wounded and one rookie adventurer had lost a hand. All in all, my first battle in Ethna could have gone much worse. Chapter 3 - New Friends, Rowdy Celebrations Chapter 3 - New Friends, Rowdy Celebrations Lisa Esterhold, Captain of the Copperhold Guard Workers were repairing the iron gate, supervised by two of Copperhold¡¯s blacksmiths. Others were hauling away the goblin corpses to a large pile that would be burned later. The troll¡¯s body was cut apart, being too heavy to lift, and the most valuable parts like its eyes and marrow were taken. They would be used as potion ingredients or reagents in the creation of magical items. Lisa felt sick at the thought of drinking a potion made with troll toes, but it was better than bleeding to death on the battlefield. Herbalists are the hands of Jure¡­ it¡¯s just that you are better off not knowing what they put in those pungent concoctions of theirs. Right now, they were in Copperhold¡¯s western plaza. The most heavily injured defenders were lying on cots, busy healers tending to their wounds with potions, pastes, and unknown substances. Tom, the poor lad who lost a hand during the sally, winced as his stump was bandaged - it would be hard for him to make a living anymore. Lisa took note of him, and internally promised to shoulder his healing expenses and find him new work. Brushing the sweat soaked hair out of her face, Lisa turned to the person who had saved so many lives this day. No one would guess that he was a mage at first glance. Dressed in unremarkable clothing, he was tall and of average build, with slightly messy brown hair and bright green eyes. He would be good looking¡­ if he wasn¡¯t covered in so much troll blood. ¡°Thank you again for your assistance, lord mage. I am Lisa Esterhold, captain of the guard.¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m no lord.¡± The man answered, waving his hands. ¡°I¡¯m just another traveler with a little talent in spellcasting. Ezekiel Hawk, at your service.¡± ¡°Good.¡± She said with a smile, visibly relaxing. ¡°Sorry if I¡¯ve been acting a bit stiff. Had to watch my language in case you were some thin-skinned noble, yeah? Captains have been beheaded for less.¡± Ezekiel laughed, but he knew it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. This was that kind of kingdom. Lisa was truly relieved that the mage wasn¡¯t a visitor of the local count. Otherwise, that vicious bastard would surely use it against her. She could already imagine his despicable voice, saying something like ¡°The mutt cannot even do its job without relying on my guests? Haah, maybe it really is time for you to step down. Go watch over your own kind in the kennels instead.¡± ¡°Um, are you alright?¡± The mage¡¯s concerned voice snapped Lisa out of her thoughts. She became aware of how much bloodlust she was emitting. Not good, that temper had gotten her into trouble too many times already. Shaking her head, the captain changed the topic. ¡°If you¡¯re new in town, then you¡¯re probably looking for an inn and the guildmaster.¡± Seeing him nod, Lisa continued. ¡°Most of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild are out hunting a rampaging wyvern. They¡¯ll be back by nightfall. If you want, I can introduce you to the guildmaster myself.¡± ¡°That would be wonderful.¡± Ezekiel said eagerly. ¡°I was planning to register at the guild when the attack happened.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± She said, and called over one of her guards. ¡°Rick here will escort you to a good inn. He¡¯ll also pick you up later tonight and take you to Copperhold¡¯s biggest tavern. We¡¯ll have to celebrate this victory, and you can meet the guildmaster there.¡± As the mage and Rick walked away, Lisa thought back to their earlier battle. Hawk¡¯s magic was too bizarre. Each fireball may have been weak, but to cast so many at such a fast rate¡­ then there were those other spells he had casually flung at the troll. It takes years to master a single spell, how can someone at his age know so many? Nevermind that the boy can fight and wields a sword that can cut through troll skin. Too odd. Lisa thought, rubbing her chin. Should I send an inquiry to the Mage¡¯s Guild? Shaking her head, the captain decided to ignore it for the time being. Ezekiel might be dangerous, but he was their benefactor today. If he¡¯s dressed that simply, it means he doesn¡¯t want people prying into his business. No point in possibly making an enemy of him. * * * Ezekiel Hawk, The Spellblade of Jure Lazily rolling in my bed, I enjoyed the calm after our hard-fought battle. I was in a room at the inn Lisa recommended, having already changed out of my bloodstained clothes. The ¡®Homely Nook¡¯ was a charming building with three storeys, wattle and daub walls, and a thatch roof. Many of the other rooms had their windows open, taking advantage of the cool summer breeze outside. Situated in the eastern sector of Copperhold, it was far away from the noisy bustle of the town¡¯s main street. Perfect for a weary traveler. When the old innkeeper realized who I was, he refused to take any payment and gave me one of the best rooms in the building, despite me insisting otherwise. I would later find out that his son was one of the guards at the western gate, which was why he was so grateful. I wasn¡¯t really lacking money though. One of the gifts that Jure gave me was a huge number of coins, so I never had to worry about gold while I was adventuring. Sitting up, I looked at where this wealth was hidden - the very plain looking steel ring on my left hand. Yeah, it¡¯s a bonafide dimensional storage ring. This was something I specifically requested from Jure, and she hesitated a lot before giving in. I just about squealed in delight when she handed it over. ¡°Don¡¯t ever reveal its existence to other people, okay?¡± She had warned me repeatedly. ¡°Space magic doesn¡¯t exist in Ethna. Other mages would immediately know that this item is from a deity.¡± So despite this highly convenient tool on my finger, I still have to travel around with a small ¡®decoy¡¯ bag filled with rations, cheap potions, coins, and other essentials. What a pain. Ethna¡¯s currency was fortunately very simple. A gold coin is equal to ten silvers, and a silver is equal to a hundred coppers. Adult commoners could live comfortably on two silvers a month. Meanwhile, a hard working and skilled craftsman may earn a monthly wage of five silvers. My lovely goddess went a little overboard. Jure gave me a thousand gold coins, two thousand silvers, and more coppers than I can count. Are you trying to cause hyperinflation!? Shaking my head, I decided not to think about it too much. As huge as this amount of gold might be to a normal adventurer, it wasn¡¯t that big compared to a king or duke¡¯s assets. For a person who wanted to usurp the throne, help the territory recover, then wage a war of unification across the entire continent? No amount of money in the world would be enough. The ring contained enough food and water to last me for a year, in case I ever found myself stranded (or in a place with terrible cooking). However, its most valuable contents were the magic items and five spellbooks my family managed to save - the last of the Hawk clan¡¯s legacy. * * * Now, let¡¯s talk about my magic, and what makes the Circles so unique. Back in the old days, Earth¡¯s mages were fairly... primitive. Spells were more like rituals, some taking days to perform. Lots of chanting and animal sacrifices to make the tribe¡¯s warriors a little stronger in combat, or to speed up the growth of crops. Then we discovered runes and sigils - the language of mana. Carving the right symbols into items like staves can drastically improve the power and efficiency of magic. Using runes in a ¡°formula¡± was also a very effective way to create powerful new spells. Incantations became shorter, and sorcerers started competing to see who was the biggest badass. Mage wars were fought in private, though, away from the curious eyes of ordinary mortals. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. One day, some crazy bastard had an idea: what if you carved runes into your very soul? I have no idea what the fuck that guy was thinking, but he laid the foundations of the Circles of magic, ushering in a new era for us spellcasters. We were eventually able to perfect the process after generations of research and development. A Circle is a complicated formation, made up of carefully woven runes and sigils. The mage carves it into their soul by directing mana like a precise laser. This is a very painful and difficult process. Once successfully formed, however, it has huge benefits. Not only does your control over mana improve with each completed Circle, it also creates a place for permanently ¡®storing¡¯ spells. This completely removes the need for incantations or mediums like enchanted staves. The difference in power is staggering, and after enough practice, casting a stored spell feels as natural as breathing to a mage. Each formed Circle can hold a maximum of five spells. The process of storing them is similar to what I described before, though much easier. We carve the spell¡¯s rune formula onto the Circle itself, merging them together, but the level of a Circle determines how powerful its stored magic can be. We can¡¯t just go around adding spells like to the 1st Circle or it would break apart. Now, I have to emphasize: Circle creation is dangerous. Making a mistake while cutting stuff onto your soul can have serious consequences, such as never being able to use mana again. It¡¯s why you should never attempt to create the next one unless you have completely memorized the process. Even then, a lapse in concentration leads to failure, forcing you to try again. So what spells do I currently have imprinted on my soul? 1st Circle Spells
  1. - The first spell I learned, and the one I¡¯m most familiar with. Very basic but reliable.
  2. - Good damage, and great for incapacitating people if I adjust the power.
  3. - Rain down icicles that shatter on impact. Painful, but hard to actually kill with.
  4. - Silent, mostly invisible, and precise. Good for sneak attacks, but effectiveness diminishes with range.
  5. - Blunt force trauma on demand. I can either use a lot of small rocks or a few big ones.
2nd Circle Spells
  1. - Burst forward at three times my maximum speed for one second.
  2. - Create a wall to block attacks or cut off a fleeing opponent¡¯s escape route.
  3. - The Hawk clan¡¯s art. To get stronger, it needs a spot on every future Circle I make too.
I still have two free spots in my 2nd Circle, which I plan to fill up with ¡®control¡¯ type spells from the Hawk family tomes. My 1st Circle magic will be enough to cover ranged combat for the time being, and can deal with anything else. Also, I have to practice using my arsenal in this new world. is hard to control and uses a lot of mana. Not every opponent will be as slow or clumsy as the troll. I need to master it fast, since the combination with my sword make it a very good trump card. Lying back down on the bed, I drifted off to sleep. * * * Several hours later, I arrived at the tavern with Rick. It was a chaotic den of laughter, shouting, and celebration. I recognized some of the fighters, who were bragging about their exploits in the battle earlier to anyone who would listen. The smell of cheap alcohol was strong, but oddly welcoming. There was even an arm-wrestling match going on with onlookers placing bets. Maybe I should join in with a wager of my own? Before I could do anything, though, the place erupted in loud cheers. They had recognized me. ¡°There¡¯s the man of the hour!¡± I heard a familiar voice call out. ¡°Stop gawking and get over here!¡± Lisa strode over to me, grinning widely. She was no longer dressed in her heavy metal armor. Instead, she was wearing leathers that didn¡¯t fully hide her curves and highly trained physique. Lisa¡¯s tail was visible now as well - the same black color as her hair and wolf ears. Judging by the mug of ale in her hand and her flushed cheeks, she¡¯d already had a few drinks. The captain swung her free arm around my shoulders, then half-dragged me over to a table at the corner of the tavern. Along the way, many of the guards and tavern-goers clapped me on the back or raised their drinks in my direction. One of them pushed a pint of ale into my hands, which I happily accepted. Sitting at the table was a middle-aged man, nursing a flagon. He had long blonde hair that was braided behind him, striking blue eyes, and a thick jaw covered in stubble. There was an awe-inspiring warhammer leaning against the wall beside him, and I had no doubt that he could wield it with his massive, powerful frame. Dressed in heavy plate armor that was covered in scratches and dents, this man was an experienced warrior who nobody sane would fuck with. ¡°Ah, this is the fearsome wizard who repelled the monster wave, eh?¡± The man laughed, standing up to greet us. He was taller than me by a full three heads. ¡°All of Copperhold thanks you, lad. I am Robert Iceforged, leader of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild in Bardoch Kingdom.¡± ¡°Well met, my name is Ezekiel Hawk.¡± I said, shaking his hand. ¡°I was merely one of the defenders. The credit goes to everyone who fought to protect the town.¡± He nodded approvingly at my response as Lisa and I took our seats. The captain¡¯s tail wagged as she grabbed another tankard from a passing serving girl - hers was already empty. It¡¯s hard to imagine that this loud and overly friendly drunkard was the same terrifying woman who minced dozens of goblins earlier, but I liked this side of her too. ¡°So how did you find yourself in Copperhold, Hawk?¡± The guildmaster asked me, taking a swig from his oversized flagon. Straight to business. ¡°A talented young mage like you could easily be an officer somewhere.¡± I scratched the back of my head, grinning sheepishly like a rogue caught red-handed. ¡°Well, there¡¯s a very upset viscount back home. He has sworn to drag me behind a horse cart if he ever manages to catch me. I¡­ may have accidentally slept with his wife.¡± Lisa and Robert stared at me, then roared with laughter. It was ridiculous, a talented mage having to run for his life after seducing the wrong woman? They didn¡¯t believe it, but the idea was funny enough that they silently decided to stop asking further. I had already earned my keep, after all. Most likely, they thought I was just an irresponsible noble brat or heir to a famous mage clan, having run away from my home country to make trouble in the world while I¡¯m still young. They¡¯d send inquiries, but wouldn¡¯t suspect me of being a spy. Wiping away his tears of mirth, Robert said, ¡°Cuckolding nobility is a serious offense, boy. Don¡¯t worry, if any angry viscounts come around, we never saw you.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Lisa chortled, taking another drink. ¡°Be warned: many of the highborn ladies in this kingdom are beauties, but don¡¯t let them sink their venomous fangs into you. Evil bitches, the lot of them.¡± Then the guildmaster pulled out a small leather pouch, which he tossed over to me. ¡°This is?¡± I asked, opening it. Several coins were inside. ¡°A gold coin, four silvers, and twenty five coppers.¡± Robert answered simply. ¡°Your bounty for killing the troll, plus the value of the materials harvested from it.¡± ¡°The townspeople are also pooling funds together for your reward.¡± Lisa added. ¡°It should be available by tomorrow.¡± For a while I just looked at the pouch in my hand. This was more than an ordinary person could make in a year, but I had earned it in a single afternoon. Then without further ado, I pulled out three gold coins from my pocket, dropped them into the pouch, then casually tossed it back at Robert. Lisa was staring at me, wide eyed. The guildmaster raised an eyebrow, surprised as well. ¡°Please tell the townspeople to use the gathered money to cover the healing costs of the defenders.¡± I said calmly, taking a swig of ale. ¡°As for that pouch¡­ give it to the boy who lost his hand earlier.¡± I wasn¡¯t just doing this to be kind. Money was literally the last thing I needed right now. Doing this instead would raise my reputation and influence in the town further. Plus, such an obscene display of wealth would reinforce their suspicions of me being a naive, good hearted person with a powerful background. ¡°I suppose a mage wouldn¡¯t be lacking in gold.¡± Robert chuckled. ¡°So be it.¡± ¡°Ezekiel!¡± Lisa cried, turning serious. She quickly looked around the tavern to check if anyone saw what I just did. Then she continued, her voice low. ¡°I know that you can take care of yourself, but for Autea¡¯s sake, be more careful! Carrying around that much money is a good way to get stabbed.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± I said, nodding as if I had never considered the possibility. She sighed, rubbing her head at my cluelessness. ¡°Thank you. Everyone will be incredibly grateful for this, especially Tom. Just stay out of dark alleys, okay?¡± Robert laughed. ¡°Enough of that, Lisa, you¡¯re acting like a mother hen. Now, why don¡¯t I tell you two about the wyvern hunt? Fierce thing, the beast sweeped down on us like a tempest¡­¡± For the rest of the evening, the three of us noisily got drunk, argued, and shared stories. Well, I mostly just listened. There¡¯s no way I could talk about Earth or Jure, and they were probably sharp enough to tell if I lied. Both of them are good people. If all goes well, they¡¯ll be my generals when the rebellion begins. * * * Several hours later, the festivities finally died down. It was well past midnight, and everyone began drunkenly staggering home. The few sober guards had the unfortunate task of carrying those who passed out or were too inebriated to walk. Robert and I agreed to meet at the guild tomorrow to finish my registration. Once I had the crest officially marking me as an adventurer, I planned to accept a few missions from the guild. It would be good combat practice, and one of the best ways to continue building my influence. Lisa was still concerned about my safety, and quietly offered to walk me back to the Homely Nook. I immediately refused. Right now, I needed to be very deliberate in shaping how other people see me, and a person who needs an escort is definitely not king material. Speaking of Lisa, she was the type to get more fired up and foul mouthed the more she drank. At one point she even challenged me to a contest, but I wisely declined. With her stamina, the wolf girl could probably drink the entire tavern under the table. Good grief. And so I made my way back to the inn, humming a happy tune. It¡¯s been a long time since I last had the chance to just sit back and get drunk with friends. My last year on Earth was filled with constant fear and anxiety - never knowing when our hunters would show up. It felt good to finally get a chance to unwind. Now then, aren¡¯t they taking too long to show themselves? As if on cue, two hooded figures emerged from a nearby alley, blocking my path. I turned around, and there were three more behind me. None of them were showing weapons, but leaving wasn''t an option. Looks like it¡¯s time for ¡®negotiations¡¯. The question is, which faction is approaching me first? Chapter 4 - A Deal in the Dark Chapter 4 - A Deal in the Dark The five hooded figures surrounded me. All of them were standing just outside of my sword¡¯s range, but close enough to attack if I used any magic. It looks like they had a good grasp of my capabilities, so they either watched my battle against the troll earlier or had been informed by someone who did. Could they have been sent by the Count of Copperhold? No, if he wanted to talk then all he had to do was send a summons tomorrow and I would have to go to his manor. Unless Count Thornvine wanted to kill me privately, these people were acting on someone else¡¯s orders. Hmm. The local count is a well-known supporter of Bardoch''s Crown Prince. In that case, these men may be spies for someone in the Second Prince¡¯s camp, trying to recruit me before I meet the count¡­ or eliminate me if I were already in the other faction''s pocket. Lastly, there''s also the chance of them being spies from another kingdom. Only one way to find out. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s a nice evening for a stroll.¡± I said cheerfully. ¡°Can I help you gentlemen?¡± ¡°Enough with the act, mage.¡± One of those in front of me growled, his voice containing no hint of amusement. ¡°Who are you working for, and what is your mission here in Copperhold?¡± How rude. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± I answered, crossing my arms. ¡°No, actually, it¡¯s impolite to ask someone¡¯s identity without introducing yourself first.¡± Losing their patience, the five men brought out their weapons. All of them were wielding wooden clubs with thick metal heads. For them to risk using blunt weapons against a dangerous target, they definitely wanted me alive for interrogation. Then I noticed that one of them had a very odd stance. Could it be? ¡°Seize him!¡± Looks like the discussion was over. Tsk. They were close enough that I could slash the throats of one or two with , but if my guess is right, I can''t afford to kill them. I drew Hawk¡¯s Talon while summoning a wide in front of me to avoid fighting on two sides. Then I turned around to deal with the three at my back. One charged forward, his club raised high. Parrying his weapon, I punched him in the gut while casting a low powered . The man dropped to the ground convulsing. His companions were more careful and attacked me at the same time. However, they were just trying to keep me busy until the other two managed to get around my . Instead of dodging like they expected, I used , slamming shoulder first into the left one, my momentum carrying us several meters forward. He was left gasping for breath, and I quickly knocked him out. With his partners incapacitated, the last man ran away, joining the two who had finally gotten around my wall. However, this was a fatal mistake - all three were now too far to keep me from casting magic. With no distractions, I freely casted two . My targets were helpless to resist and fell to the ground like puppets with their strings cut. The last one hesitated, then dropped his club and raised his arms in surrender, knowing that he couldn¡¯t run. ¡°This is why I hate muscle brained idiots who attack without thinking.¡± I sighed, walking over. ¡°All of this could have been avoided if you just talked like normal people.¡± I grabbed the only guy I left conscious and removed his hood. As I thought, it was one of the adventurers who defended the walls, a skilled archer with short golden hair. His slightly pointed ears gave him away as a half-elf. I suspected it was him by the way he held his club - far too graceful and unsuited for such a crude instrument. ¡°I didn''t believe what I saw earlier today, but you really do control multiple elements.¡± He said, eyes wide in awe and respect. ¡°Are you a supreme elementalist from the Unbowed? No incantations either, what kind of overpowered bullshit- ¡° ¡°All you need to know is that I come from outside Bardoch, and that I am not very fond of the royal family.¡± I cut him off. ¡°Now, answer my questions. You''re agents from the Free Cities, right?¡± The young half-elf looked alarmed, confirming my suspicions. Before I could ask anything else, another person emerged from the nearby dark alley. I raised my sword to the half-elf¡¯s throat, but it was merely a precaution; this new figure wasn¡¯t emitting any hostility. He was a thin old man with a long, gaunt face and swept backed silver hair. Dressed in the same black cloak as my attackers, he stood with dignified bearing. Two black daggers were strapped to his waist. ¡°My apologies for our rudeness, mage,¡± He said, bowing slightly. ¡°We suspected that one of the dukes or Marshal Bradford had caught wind of us, and sent you here to investigate.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve changed your mind?¡± I asked, letting go of the half-elf. He quickly staggered away. ¡°A noble¡¯s hunting dog wouldn¡¯t bother sparing their lives.¡± The silver haired man explained calmly, gesturing to the unconscious men. ¡°So you are likely telling the truth about coming from outside Bardoch. Well met, I am Councilman Raven of the Free Cities.¡± ¡°Ezekiel Hawk.¡± I said, offering my hand. Raven shook it. A legendary Councilman of the Free Cities. What kind of luck is this? I had made contact with one of the most important pieces of my plan, and much earlier than I expected. * * * The Free Cities are a special existence. Fifteen years ago, there was a massive slave revolt within the neighboring Sunset Kingdom, which is notorious for its inhumane treatment of "collared goods", as the slave merchants so kindly call their wares.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was a bloody uprising. Nobody knows how they coordinated it while maintaining perfect secrecy, but one night all of the slaves revolted within three of the Sunset Kingdom''s fortress towns. This attack was perfectly timed, as the country was at war with the Bardoch Kingdom, so most of its armies were away fighting at the border. After a fierce battle, the slaves (led by twelve people calling themselves the "Council") emerged victorious. They seized control of the cities, either banishing or killing the former masters, depending on the severity of treatment they received. The slave merchants were tortured to death in exceedingly brutal ways, their body parts hanged upon the city walls. Furious at the news, the Sunset King immediately recalled half of his men from the territory''s border to put an end to this uprising. Ten thousand soldiers marched, led by a vicious and highly experienced warrior named General Tyndall. Everyone was confident that order would soon be restored. However, the slaves had chosen their base well. The three fortresses were nestled deep within the mountains, surrounded by impenetrable cliff walls. There was only one narrow winding path up the mountain, leaving any invaders exposed. Most impressively, the cities were even connected by hidden passageways, making sieges extremely difficult. General Tyndall knew this, of course. But he refused to believe that the slaves would pose a challenge to his battle hardened soldiers. Tyndall was convinced that the slaves were too poorly armed and inexperienced to make full use of the terrain''s natural defenses. He thought wrong. It was a one-sided massacre. The pass had been littered with traps, and arrows constantly rained down upon Tyndall''s men as they made the treacherous climb upwards. Boiled pitch, rolling logs, and massive boulders... countless soldiers died by the time they reached the walls, and even that was only the beginning of their nightmare. Tyndall lead the assault, but instead of the defenseless slaves he expected, they were met by demihuman fighters wielding magical weapons and armor. It was later revealed that one of the Council members is a mage named Lindra Spark, who specializes in enchanting. The Council had prepared a massive armory of enchanted items before the revolution even began. As strong as General Tyndall was on the battlefield, he was no match for the combined power of the Twelve Councilmen. He was soon killed, stabbed through the heart by Raven himself, and what was left of his defeated army fled in terror. Of the ten thousand strong legion that marched to subjugate the slaves, only a few hundred made it back alive. The Sunset Kingdom paid for their arrogance with this humiliating loss. Their military strength fell drastically, and were forced to negotiate a ceasefire with Bardoch Kingdom at great cost. Above all, though, was the damage to their pride and influence. From an awe inspiring power, they dropped to a second rate territory, the laughing stock of Ethna. General Tyndall''s name became a curse, his former glories tarnished by the greatest sin ever committed in the Sunset Kingdom''s history: defeat against a slave army. The Sunset King would try again, sending many more of his troops to their deaths against the Free Cities, but it was all for naught. Overcome with rage, the king himself died soon afterwards, and his successor wisely chose to pretend that the mountains didn''t exist. To the elite of the Sunset Kingdom, the continued existence of the Free Cities is a blight. But to the oppressed, it is a beacon of hope and triumph. Agents from the cities would spread across Ethna wherever slavery was rampant, freeing those who suffered most and assassinating nobles who abused their power. This has earned them no small number of enemies, but they are loved by the masses. It''s no surprise that they have people working here in Bardoch Kingdom. This country is a wretched hive filled with ruthless slavers and despotic lords. * * * Now, the Free Cities have a reputation for being extreme in their methods, but I can''t blame them - their hatred of slavery and anti-demihuman bigotry runs deep. If I can keep them in check, they will be a powerful ally to have on my side. So when Councilman Raven asked me to follow him to a more private location, I quickly agreed. He led me to a small, inconspicuous house a short distance away. Both of us were now sitting across each other in a sparsely decorated living room, with the half-elf archer serving us tea. I still couldn''t believe that I was actually speaking with the legendary killer of General Tyndall. Really, I was grateful that he was the logical sort and that I avoided killing his men. If he attacked me, then I would probably die unless Jure intervenes. After taking a sip from his cup, the famous rogue and spymaster started talking. ¡°Sir Hawk, you seem to know who I am and why we are here in Copperhold." ¡°The Free Cities wants to help the slaves and oppressed commoners of Bardoch Kingdom.¡± ¡°Correct. And since you still chose to meet with me, I assume that you''re willing to help.¡± I nodded. "A partnership with the Free Cities would definitely help me in achieving my goals, and I personally admire your mission." "That is good to hear." Raven said, pleased. "But what exactly are your goals?" "I want the throne of Bardoch Kingdom." Raven paused, obviously taken aback at what I just said. Then he nodded, looking deep in contemplation. He believed that I was a champion secretly backed by another powerful country. It would explain my incredible mastery of magic at such a young age. If that was the case, then I definitely had a chance of usurping the throne during this chaotic period. But it would just be a small chance. Not worth gambling on. So I had to sweeten the pot. "The Free Cities may be impregnable, but it has one fatal weakness, right?" I asked, drinking my tea. This was leagues better than what Chavok had served me back then. Raven nodded, a bitter expression on his face. "It seems you understand. Our military strength is considerable, but no kingdom will risk being ostracized by trading with us." Being a territory deep in the mountains, food was the biggest problem the Free Cities had. Its population was always at risk of starvation. "And that is why you are forced to raid caravans and take huge losses in black market trades." "Indeed." He said. "It is not a sustainable practice, and we have been searching for a way to-" "I will declare a formal alliance with the Free Cities." I interrupted, looking Raven straight in the eyes. "Not only that, I plan to completely end slavery within Bardoch Kingdom." His normally calm expression shook, realizing what my proposition meant. It was a bold statement, equivalent to saying that I would be declaring war on the Sunset Kingdom. Raven''s brows furrowed; on one hand, he would risk putting the Free Cities into danger by helping me. On the other hand, a friendly King of Bardoch was the best chance the Free Cities had at long-term survival. "Open conflict with Bardoch is a serious matter, and I have to discuss it with the rest of the Council first." "Actually, I don''t need your armies." I said, quickly clearing up the confusion. "What I''m asking from you is much simpler than you think." "Oh?" Raven asked, his interest piqued. "I''ll only ask you to fight once, helping me win a decisive battle." I explained. A king that wins his throne by relying on another country''s soldiers is nothing but a puppet. "The most important thing I need you to do is gather information and spread rumors." I was determined to win this war as decisively as possible. To do that, I needed Raven''s spy network to be my eyes and ears throughout Bardoch Kingdom. Sow the seeds of chaos. Find the weaknesses of the noble factions. And most importantly, use their considerable influence among the common people to make me into a hero. Being a liberator is an excellent justification for seizing power. While the two princes fight and swagger, I will continue building my strength in the shadows. Once all of the pieces fall into place, I will cut both of their heads off.