《Zoldassim》


 001 - Stout Heart, Fiery Soul

    I opened my eyes after the last few hours of slumber. Weighting on my shoulder laid the ebon steel sheath of my beloved Nyraxis.


    Unsheathing the slender sword I see my reflection in the even darker steel. This blade had been forged from a special material renowned for its pure black lustre, and it kept that way for millennium.


    But has for time concerned itself, Its keen sheen turned somewhat crimson, bathing her in the blood of my many foes had an effect on it.


    I sheathed it back again and looked around from high on my throne.


    My castle. My throne room, all built from stone and bones. Bones from my enemies and slaves both; and stone from the fallen kingdoms that perished towards my wrath throughout many thousands of years.


    During my journeys since I came to this world, I never really belonged or had a home to return to.


    But ever since I finished this wonderful project of mine, that did change. I brought the few woman that earned my love throughout my life and had some kids.


    At the side of my throne there lied my ax. I placed Nyraxis leaning at the side of my throne and jammed it a little. Good old guitar, a perfect replica from the one I had in my first life back on earth, this one had magic in it tough.


    ¡°


    Works of art, painted black


    Magniloquent, bleeding dark


    Monotonous palate, murky spectrum, grimly unlimited


    Food for thought, so prolific¡­¡°


    I sang along the lyrics and played a solo with the skill earned throughout an immortal life.


    ¡°


    Bleeding works of art


    Seething work so dark


    Seering words from the hearth.¡°


    *Clap* *Clap* *Clap*


    I heard the sound and looked to the side as a figure appeared from the darkness behind a set of pillars.


    ¡°Impressive. Rare is the soul that can sneak on me. I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s as far as you can get.¡± I said with my usual stern demeanour.


    ¡°Without having me sniff you out!¡± I snapped a laugh and charged at the figure.


    ¡°EEEKKKK¡± It screamed as I lifted her up in the air and span her around.


    My daughter and a source joy. All the light that this dark and murderous heart of mine can withstand.


    ¡°Daaaad! I¡¯m too old for this stop!¡± She said as I spun her around. Then I placed her back down.


    I sat in the steps of my throne and she quickly sat right by my side, a mischievous grin in her face.


    ¡°You will always be my little barghest, spooking my mortals and pranking my courtiers!¡± I poked her nose.


    *ATCHOOOO* She sneezed.


    I looked at her. My third daughter, always getting in trouble, and trying to get me to teach her my songs. Those that I happened to err¡­ borrow from back then.


    She is all big now. Kids¡­ grow up fast. But in truth they never cease to be those little mischievous gremlins always getting into trouble.


    ¡°That song is Hearthwork right? Can you teach me a little? I never seem to get the riff right!¡± She tried to reach for my guitar as I held her in place by her clothes.


    ¡°No touching my things, go fetch you own damn guitar!¡± I rolled my eyes in an amused annoyance.


    ¡°Meh¡­ Yours is a lot cooler.¡± She mumbled.


    Abella. Golden eyes and a long auburn hair. Now that she is all grown up she is the spitting image of her mother. That c¡­. Never mind. Our daughter stayed with me while she keeps prowling the night making her amateurish plots that will never work against her betters.


    And I did replaced her, my newest one is the perfect one, I am sure.


    ¡°I just want to show my new¡­¡± She kept mumbling and I cut her off.


    ¡°How are the twins? Behaving? ¡± I asked.


    She frowned. ¡°Yeah¡­ They are babies they just cry and stink. Their mother is taking care of them! I know let¡¯s go over to the lowest floors! I heard of a bunch of mortals stirring up a¡­¡±


    I cut her off again. And walked out of the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m off, going to check on the twins. You are free to come.¡±


    I heard her stomping her feet and walking away.


    Kids¡­ Almost two centuries old and still acting like that.


    Soon I reached a chamber where i saw the three.


    My wife Astra sat on a couch surrounded by books as always, and my two little baby daughters playing at¡­ throwing books at each other.


    ¡°Fise! Falle! Stop that! You are lucky these are enchanted if you ruin any of my tomes I will cast a pacify jinx on both of you!¡± The mother said clearly annoyed. But I noticed a faint smile on her lips.


    I took a sit in the couch next to them.


    She jerked up. ¡°My lord¡­ How kind of you to find the time to¡­ grace us with your presence. Our children are alright as you can see ¡­ eer¡± She shyly hid behind a blanket.


    ¡°I see. I came to check on you too. Do you¡­ have everything you need? The servants are behaving? No one causing trouble for you three?¡± I asked sincerely.


    ¡ª


    My wife Astra¡­ she is a little withdrawn.


    One of the daughters of a wizard emperor back in the other side of the continent. An empire which I happened to raze to the ground and enslave most of its citizens.


    Anyway, all of it is over, solved and now that empire now flies the correct banner and pays taxes to the correct emperor. Mine and me.


    Before I fed that old coot¡¯s neck to my sword he came up with a peace offering. His daughter in exchange for mercy and vassalizing his empire, and of course few more remunerations and a few slightly useful artefacts.


    I was feeling compassionate that day. And I did happen to be single at the time.


    So I took his offer and only cut off his legs. He won¡¯t be growing them back.


    Still. His daughter¡­ The renowned genius of the arcane and etcetera, is having trouble warming up to me. Despite me being so nice to her.


    Give it time, I guess.


    ¡ª-


    ¡°Yes! No one gives us trouble¡­ And everything is peaceful.¡± She nodded.


    ¡°Good.¡± I smiled.


    ¡°Is my eldest daughter behaving?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes of course, why wouldn¡¯t she be?¡± Astra answered and then made a question, which I ignored.


    My eldest daughter¡­ Nevauri was quite the handful. I was expecting her to stir up trouble with her new little sisters and my new wife, but she behaved. How odd.


    I got close to the twins and patted their heads.


    ¡°Fise, Falle. Take care of your mother and keep her from murdering everyone.¡±


    They both pinched my cheeks.


    Fise-¡°Daddy is cute!¡±


    Falle-¡°Daddy play with us!¡±


    ¡°Fise, Falle! Behave!¡± Astra jerked up and shouted, panic in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry my lord. They are children i¡­ can¡¯t control them.¡± Her voice shaken.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright¡± I chuckled. I have no idea how to talk with her, i noted.


    I looked at my little daughters. Black eyes and a natural blue hair the exact looks of their mother, aside from the eyes.


    Do I get a say in it?


    ¡°I¡¯m off, back to my duties. See you ladies later.¡± I got out of the room and closed the doors.


    As I walked in the corridors of my palace suddenly a spell warned me.


    Trespassers are reaching the highest floor. Come to slay the mean big old devil. It seems the many traps, hordes and the meanest pets from hell failed at their job of guarding the place.


    ¡°These brave heroes¡­¡° I mumbled in disgust.


    I sat back on my throne ready for a fight as I polished my beloved Nyraxis. ¡°You will soon quench your thirst.¡± The great sword glinted seemingly in acknowledgement.


    The doors opened. And from the stairs below walked a single figure. She approached swag on her step. Tall and slender. A rapier on her waist, silver white hair and abyss black eyes just like mine. Pretty face, but a devious grin and eyebrows full of deceit. My own face on a girl.


    ¡°Nevauri.¡± I greeted her.


    ¡°Father.¡± She answered.


    ¡°I see you came to greet our visitors. Keeping me company, heh?¡± I asked as I relaxed.


    ¡°You have been sitting on your arse for far too long. I fear it made you soft; so I decided to come¡­ and give my old man a little backup.¡± She smirked as she sat in the throne¡¯s steps.


    ¡°You just sit and watch. It will only take a moment.¡± I answered.


    She laughed. ¡°Amusing.¡±


    Nevauri. My first daughter, she is the one who takes after me the most both by looks and might. I spoiled her a little to much, but then again she never failed at anything. Always moving up, always the best at everything. A genius.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Such heights bring ambition, and once there. Arrogance.


    Our downfall. I learn that lesson thorough my life. And when it happened, i was at my lowest.


    I will be there for her when that happens, seeing my daughter like that is something that a father just can¡¯t bear.


    ¡°Hey Nev.¡± I smiled as I looked at her.


    ¡°Dad?¡± She looked at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m very proud of you. And¡­ I love you very much.¡± I said sincerely.


    She narrowed her eyes. ¡°I¡­ Me too. Me too.¡±


    She looked a little uncomfortable now.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I went to her side and summoned a blanket and placed it in her back.


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª Its¡­ just the cold, yes the cold.¡± She jerked up and hugged the blanket.


    ¡°Sure¡­ We need to talk.¡± I answered, strange seeing her acting this shy. She is always so brazen.


    I sensed the intruders just beaten the last floor. They were coming up the steps. Come to greet me. They would be here in about thirty minutes.


    ¡°Later¡­¡± I continued.


    She nodded.


    I took my Ax and started strumming. A greeting is in order.


    ¡°


    Long been complacent with the hand I¡¯ve been dealt


    Restless and weak from the life that I¡¯ve built


    So I¡¯ll journey afar, for there¡¯s glory to find


    And I¡¯ll out my entry in the annals of time ¡°


    I started strumming and singing one of my favourite songs.


    The doors finally opened as I went on.


    ¡°Silence devil! I came to end your tyranny. And avenge my parents¡­ And all the people you have murdered.¡± The leader spoke up.


    Interrupting-me.


    Finally they show up. The blonde youth and his little group all clad in enchanted armours and weapons.


    Just like in those fairy tales.


    I looked at him in disgust. Got up and smashed the tip of Nyraxis against the floor. Holding the grip with both hands.


    Dark feathered wings grew off my back, and horns curled up high above my head as I stood three meters tall.


    One, two, five. A well rounded party; this might actually take more than a moment¡­


    I could feel Nevauri smirking behind me.


    Some started chanting spells and others advanced. No matter.


    ¡°My name is Davos of Shorehelm. And I will end you this day.¡±


    The brave hero approached in an offensive stance, spear and shield.


    I step slowly into the light so they can see my size and might, unsheathing Nyraxis and lifting it up high above my head.


    ¡°My name is Zoldassim, I welcome you to my home. Witness your impeding doom¡­!¡±


    Nyraxis tight in my grasp I charged forward smashing it against the hero¡¯s shield.


    He withstood the charge, parrying the blow and deflecting the sword, taking advantage of my overextended position he counter attacked, thrusting his spear towards my chest.


    The scales on my chest are impenetrable, his spear bounced off like nothing. As I chuckled.


    His companions stood far in the hall watching the fight, but didn¡¯t move. It seems they chose to stay out of this. A hero¡¯s honour... Sure, I could play around a little bit too.


    ¡°Impressive armour. Unfortunately for you, my spear is not bound by ordinary limitations.¡±


    With a quick flourish, he tossed his spear up into the air, spinning it end over end. As he catches it, the spear seems changed, glowing and sparking with power.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how well your armour holds up against this, fiend!¡± He shouted.


    I fix my gaze at him like a dragon eyeing his pray. My glare following every move like a hawk waiting for the right moment to pounce.


    I let out another chuckle. My voice rumbling like thunder thorough the room¡¯s halls.


    ¡°You think a toy¡¯s weapon can scratch me? You truly entertain me.¡±I chuckled.


    A smile crossed his annoying face.


    ¡°Let me show you the meaning of true strength.¡±


    With a lightning-fast motion, he launched himself forward in an explosion of speed. Closing the distance before I could react.


    Leaping into the air. He brought down his spear in an overhead strike aiming for my chest.


    In a flash, My response was like a lighting bolt taken form. My massive hand whips out in an instant, grasping his spear mid-descent, stopping his attack effortlessly.


    My grip is like vice, and his spear looks tiny in my iron palm. I chuckle again mocking him.


    ¡°You are quick little hero. I will give you that. Too bad it is not enough.¡±


    He pulled back quickly, the force of my counter attack sending him stumbling backwards momentarily.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle this then.¡± He said.


    With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of energy along the length of his spear, the force surging outwards in a blast intended to knock me off balance.


    This wave of energy crashed into me, sending tremors of force into my body. Shacking the whole room. But instead of being thorn off balance, I stood firm, my feet sinking slightly into the ground but remaining steady.


    I chuckled, my voice filled with disdain.


    ¡°Fall fiend!¡± He screamed, hatred in his voice.


    He grips his spear pressing the attack, He surges forward again, feinting high with his spear before changing direction and aiming a kick at my knee.


    Once again, my response is preternatural. I raise my hand in a block, catching his kick and stopping it dead with ease. My gaze locks onto his. A smirk on my face.


    Then I squeezed his ankle within my grip.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk. Predictable¡­ and weak.¡± I said with boredom.


    He grimaces in pain as his ankle is crushed in my grip. However he did not give me the satisfaction of a cry or a plea.


    Seizing the opportunity the contact provides, he slammed his forehead into my face, trying to drive me back with a headbutt.


    As his forehead connected with mine, a loud ¡®thunk¡¯ rang out. Bone to bone, skull to skull. My head snaps backwards for an instant, but I just smiled.


    In one quick motion, I grabbed hold of his shoulders, shoving him away and sending him stumbling several steps back. A deep, mocking laugh emanating from my chest.


    He managed to land on his feet, backing off and seemingly trying to regain composure. His breath comes in ragged gasps.


    He grits his teeth, focusing. ¡°You really are a monster.¡± He said with a ragged voice


    And again he raises his spear, shifting into a ready stance. ¡°But even monsters have weaknesses. I just have to find yours.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t keep up?¡± I provoked.


    I slowly start to approach him again, my strides slow and deliberate. My steel boots crunching the ground beneath them, the sound echoing through the stillness of the throne room.


    I raised my sword; Nyraxis over my shoulder with a single hand, the weapon seeming weightless in my grasp and my gaze fixed on the hero.


    He eyed the massive weapon with a mixture of trepidation and determination. The sheer size of it makes it look like a pillar of stone in my hands.


    ¡°Impressive sword.¡± He commented. ¡°But size isn¡¯t everything.¡±


    Bracing himself for the impeding attack, he shifts into a defensive stance.


    I swing Nyraxis in a wide arc, the sword whistling through the air. It collides with his spear, over and over again, sending shock waves rippling through the spear¡¯s shaft. The impact is like thunderclap, the force of the blow sending tremors through his very bones.


    I followed up with a quick jab with my sword''s pointy tip, aiming for his abdomen.


    He desperately sidesteps the thrust, the tip of Nyraxis grazing his armour and leaving a shallow wound in his side. Despite the pain, he keeps moving, sidestepping and dodging as best as he could.


    Suddenly he switches tactics. Instead of meeting my strikes head-on, he begins to weave and dance around me, looking¡­ for an opening.


    Eventually, i start getting a little frustrated as he successfully evades my attacks. I grunt in annoyance as I continue to swing my weapon, the mighty sword meeting only air each time.


    My patience thins as the hero weaves around me. I start to anticipate his movements better. I suddenly decide to pivot, launching a quick backhand towards him, catching him off guard.


    Smashing into his chin with the force of freight train. My backhand rocks his head back sending him flying and smashing against the wall.


    ¡°Nnngh!¡± He groans, shaking his head and spitting out more blood. ¡°You¡¯re faster than you look, I¡¯ll give you that¡­¡±


    I let out a deep, satisfied chuckle as my backhand connects, the impact clearly affecting him. I stride forward, closing the distance between us. My dark gaze locking into his, a smile on my face.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a stubborn little annoyance, nothing more.¡± I answered.


    I raised Nyraxis once again, the massive sword casual in my grip.


    ¡°You won¡¯t last much longer, you¡¯ll fall soon enough. Why don¡¯t you call your friends? I tire of holding back.¡± I teased the little hero.


    I slashed the sword down. Interestingly enough, he managed to raise his spear and shield once again, only just.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m just a stubborn little annoyance.¡± He retorts between breaths. ¡°But I didn¡¯t get this far by giving up easily. And you are mine, my friends have no place in this fight!¡±


    With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward once again, feinting with his spear before quickly changing direction and attempting to slide against me, aiming to get behind me. My reflexes did not fail me; countless battles and duels owned my skills to the top heights, it doesn¡¯t get better than this. I reacted to his feinting manoeuvrer.With the speed of a dragon, I twisted my body, Nyraxis sweeping across the area where he was aiming to pass through, its tip slashing the air just millimetres from his body.


    I let out another mocking chuckle. My gaze on him.


    Reacting quickly, he feints again, but this time launching into a roll and rolling under my legs, coming up behind me. He quickly raises to his feet, spear raised; aiming for a strike at my back. In surprise my expression falters for a moment as he rolls past me, his spear ready My gaze narrows as I spin around and smack his spear away with Nyraxis, the weapon¡¯s heavy impact sending it flying from his grasp.


    I step forward, my voice low, a mocking growl.


    ¡°You¡¯re just prolonging the inevitable, little hero. You¡¯re dancing on thin ice, and I¡¯m about to crack it.


    His weapon skitters across the ground and out of his reach. He steps back, the realization settling in that he is now unarmed and at a sever disadvantage.


    ¡°Maybe so,¡± He responds, his voice steady as I smell his fear bubbling inside. ¡°But if I¡¯m going to go down, I¡¯ll go down fighting.¡±


    In a desperate attempt and charges forward, hoping to throw me off just enough to retrieve his spear.


    My eyes narrow and I ready myself for his charge, my grip on Nyraxis tightening.


    I see right through his feint, noticing his true intention to reach for his spear.


    With a swift, calculated swing of Nyraxis, I deflect his charge, shoving him away forcefully and making it clear that I¡¯m not fooled by his move.


    ¡°You thought you could deceive me, eh? How na?ve of you.¡±


    His back hits the ground, his breath escaping him as he lands hard. He tries to get back up, but the pain in his ankle and the blow from Nyraxis slows his movement.


    ¡°Damn you¡­¡± He mutters, struggling to stand.


    He looks, and sees me looming over me, Nyraxis raised triumphantly, preparing for the final blow.


    I smirk as I ready the execution.


    ¡°And so, it comes to this. The end of your little show of defiance.¡±


    I take a menacing step closer, holding Nyraxis high.


    ¡°Any words before you final breath, little fly?¡±


    His friend shout in panic and try to rush over, but our brave hero raise an hand and orders them to stop.


    Impressive and foolish. I think.


    He stared up defiantly, despite the fact that he is clearly beaten. His eyes never waver, his gaze steady.


    ¡°Just one.¡± He responded, his voice firm.


    With a sudden burst of strength, he rolls to the side and reaches out, fingers grasping the haft of his fallen spear.


    As he reaches for the spear, my eyes widen, realising his last-ditch effort o grab onto his weapon again.


    I swiftly shift my stance, bringing Nyraxis down in a powerful cleave towards him, intending to prevent him from reaching the spear.


    The pain from his ankle flares as he dive rolls away from the incoming strike, just narrowly avoiding a messy end.


    As he lands, his fingers finally close around the haft of his spear, and scrabbles to his feet.


    ¡°Not quite yet,¡± He manages, his voice a bit raspy from the effort. ¡°I¡¯m still breathing.¡±


    My expression darkens in annoyance and my anger grows.


    I take a step forward, readying myself for another attack, Nyraxis gripped tightly.


    He braces himself, clutching the spear in a defensive stance. His breaths come in ragged gasps, the exertion and pain from the fight starting to take their toll.


    Still, he holds his ground, refusing to back down.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. Come on.¡± He taunts between breaths. ¡°Show me¡­ Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    My confidence unwavering as I approach him. ¡°You¡¯re exhausted. You¡¯re injured. And yet you still cling to that feeble spear. How noble¡­ and foolish.¡± I raise my sword once again; humming with power as It slashes at him in a sweeping arc. Hoping to cleave him in half.


    He manages to sidestep it, the sudden movement sending a fresh wave of pain through his injuries. He winces but keeps moving, staying just out of range of the massive sword.


    ¡°Foolish, maybe,¡± He admits between breaths. ¡°But I¡¯ve never gave up on anything in my life!¡± Gripping his spear once again, he performs a feint jab towards my gut, but at the last moment, he spins and aims a kick at my knee instead.


    My reflexes prove true, and I catch on to his plan once again, and with a quick reaction i deflect his spear and lift my knee intercepting his kick before it can connect with my kneecap.


    He stumbled slightly, suprised as his kick is fails; his balance compromised from the injury to the ankle. He staggered back a step, his breathing laboured, I could hear his heart pounding in my ears.


    ¡°Dammit, you¡¯re quick. Prick.¡± He grunts, his voice strained ¡°But you¡­ don¡¯t scare me.¡± He adjust his grip once again on his spear, his shield long lost. And braces himself to continue the fight.


    I notice him subtly stumbling and decide to exploit this sudden moment of weakness. I move swiftly, Covering the distance between us in a few powerful strides.


    I raise mt sword high and bring it crashing down towards him with my full force. The sharp edge aimed for his chest.


    He tries to sidestep the blow in retaliation, but the injured ankle fails him, he finds himself unable to move out of the way in time. The satisfying crunch of Nyraxis connecting with his chest plate rings out, the impact knocking him a few feet back.


    He finally hits the ground hard, the air knocked out of him. He lies there for a moment, struggling to breathe, pain shooting through his body from his injuries. With a groan, he pushes himself up on his elbows, looking up at me through blurry vision. Fear and hate evident on his face.


    I looked down on him, with a mixture of disdain and triumph. The sound of Nyraxis almost spilling his guts on the floor; music to my ears.


    I walk to his side and place a foot in his back lifting his head up by the hair. A mocking smirk on my lips.


    ¡°Good fight.¡±


    I bring Nyraxis up from below his neck. Cutting his head clean off in one blow. Blood spilled on the floor; as his friends gasped from afar; their hands in their mouths and knees on the floor.


    ¡°The result would still be the same had you all intervene.¡± I looked over to them.


    I moved my neck. Strange¡­


    It did not move.


    I couldn¡¯t move at all.


    I looked over to the body.


    Haa I see¡­ An holy curse¡ªSuch high level to actually paralyse me for a little while.


    ¡°It will only take a moment to¡­¡±


    Suddenly pain rang in my back, I managed to look down. The bloody pointy end of a rapier was sticking out of my chest. Where my heart was.


    I feel on my knees and saw her.


    My beloved daughter a light of my life. The one who had the most of my looks. Holding that sword in her grip.


    ¡°Nev¡ª¡­ What have you done?¡± I said more sadness in my voice than rage. Still a mix of both.


    She moved her lips saying some words. ¡°¡­ I ¡­.¡­..¡­.¡­.¡­ ...¡­


    ¡­..¡­¡­.¡­.¡­.¡­


    I could not hear what she had said.


    Darkness.

 002 - Curious world

    I regain my consciousness.


    My reincarnation methods seem to be working just fine. I sprout out the will of my soul around, taking in my surroundings.


    I find myself in the soul sea.


    The place where all mortal souls end up in, after their certain demise waiting for judgement. In natural circumstances I would never end up here, my soul would fly straight to the deepest hell.


    Once there, a manor of mine and my servants would be jubilant to greet me, and bow down my feet. It would be a fine vacation; after so many mortal centuries.


    Still, I knew if someone where to be able to actually kill me. Returning there would not be the wisest move.


    I planned ahead.


    Now I am dead. And those who did it, are aware where I would end up. Killing my mortal body wouldn¡¯t finish me. If they did, I would be there yet again the next day. Nyraxis in hand its blade singing the name of the next neck¡¯s owner.


    No. Nevauri knew it, she arranged a trap to capture me on my weakened state after revival, that much is sure.


    And there in the mansion I would be at my killer¡¯s mercy.


    Only someone of that wit would be able to actually end me. Nev sure outdid herself.


    In truth? I am proud of her.


    My daughter; that indeed was a beautiful betrayal. I had a feeling she would try to take my place eventually.


    After all she is my flesh and blood.


    Still. I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be so soon, and she would actually succeed.


    That spell that paralysed me¡­ It was not something that shitty little hero could come up with. No¡­


    There is a thicker plot there. I could smell the stink.


    ¡ª


    I look around with my will. The gargantuan aura of my soul snuffing out the light out of the the weak around me.


    That should draw attention.


    Soon enough a scythe of energy drew me to another location, and an outside power gave my soul a mouth, ears and eyes.


    There in its chair it sat, hood up; face pure darkness. With a lofty attitude.


    Black wings and a huge schyte leaning at its side. Coszots the aspect of death.


    ¡°We meet once again.¡± I greeted it casually.


    ¡°Finally, thou decided to accept mine gift, is thy struggle finally over?¡± Death had no face, all that it showed was a huge figure, a black robe shrouding its hole body; clad in chains of rusted iron.


    In place of a face there was only pure darkness. Its voice was husky and asexual, loud enough to be heard far off. But it sounded like a whisper, a loud whisper one that would resound inside one¡¯s head; something that one could not fail to hear.


    This was no joke. This was the embodiment of death, the most powerful of the aspects embodying the wills of the universe; a primordial being. Its realm was no different; this place works as sorting machine of sorts, the sky a dark purple where numerous souls floated around awaiting their judgement.


    And the ground I made of mountains upon mountains of bones and decaying flesh; all kinds of creatures from beasts to demons, it stretched on infinitely.


    ¡°No. I will never know peace; you know that. There is much to be done, our deal remember? Do it.¡± I answered, with a somewhat sombre tone in my voice.


    ¡°Thou hast been an worthy champion, spreading mine word and mine gift upon thousands. Prithee , forbear this folly. Art thou ne''r going to wot peace? shall thy red hand aye hast it¡± Death leaned forward, almost sounding caring for me.


    Death and i¡­ We go way back.


    ¡°No.¡±


    It took a while but;¡ª


    I finally answered. It owes me a favour, all the mighty deity that death is. It must keep its word. It is folly to put faith in others, especially in such a fickle thing like death. But I know, this thing has its uses for me; something mutual. It will keep its word.


    ¡°Life is not mine domain, yet for thou i shall compose an exception. Hie then, live a few moe of thy mortal years long enough to regret it, then join back and pray me for mercy and mine gift. Then i shall refuse thou once again, so that thou may wot thy place.¡±


    It waved its rotting hand hand sending me far off. A portal of some kind¡­


    ¡°Creation shall be enchafed upon me, allow us get this ordeal over with¡± I heard its voice; far off in the distance. It clasped its hands, and then I was off somewhere else.


    ¡ª-


    I opened my eyes.


    Yes, I seem to have eyes now.


    A girl in her early twenties stared at me with her greyish hazel eyes.


    ¡°Fucker. You are awake.¡± She said.


    Suddenly three more youths got close to the bed I laid on. All similar, a greyish silver blonde hair and grey eyes. They were all pale as corpses, dressed in black robes it seemed they never had seen the sun.


    Another girl hugged me.


    A older boy shook his head and another older one spoke.


    ¡°Seems he will live after all.¡± He turned around and left. The other lad followed him out of the room.


    ¡°Adam. Speak to me.¡± The girl who spoke before addressed me.


    ¡°What¡¯s up.¡± I greeted her casually.


    She frowned and lifted her hand to slap me.


    I caught her hand in the air.


    ¡°Unhand me!¡± She shrieked.


    ¡°That depends. Will you push your luck again?¡± I tightened my grip making her bend to the side in pain.


    ¡°No¡­ Stop it! You are hurting me. Fool.¡± She answered.


    I let her go and she stumbled back falling in her butt.


    I got up from bed and stretched my new body. Experimenting with the voice. Placed an hand in my crotch.


    ¡°Everything seems to be in order.¡± *Haaaa* I yawned ¡°How good it is to be alive.¡± I said as I stretched.


    This body¡­ is weak as fuck. I noticed. Well mortals are like this after all.


    Compared to my old body that was three meters tall, now I stood with one and a half maybe a little more. This new body hadn¡¯t even started to develop it¡¯s muscles. I lifted my right arm that looked like a wet noodle and squeezed it with my left hand.


    The strength that my grip produced could hardly crush my arm, yet I still managed to hurt the hand by squeezing my own arm. Very weak was my first thought.


    To be honest this body is really uncomfortable, like wearing a sock crusted in mud. But still better than nothing.


    ¡°Pig.¡± The girl commented as she got up.


    ¡°Look. I don¡¯t know what spell you used, but you should be a mindless zombie right now. I just cast a necromancy spell on you. If this is a prank and you happened to somehow not be dead. I am going to be very irritated.¡± She said, her voice full of arrogance and annoyance.


    I lunged forward and grasped for her throat shoving her against the wall. She resisted, and to my surprise a little girl like her, turned out to be actually stronger than me. But a gentle squeeze at the apple of her throat that was now in my grasp reminded her of her place.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like your tone. Child.¡± I said as I strangled her.


    Good enough to bully girls at least.


    ¡°So¡­rr¡­.*cough*Sorry.¡± She apologized in tears.


    I let her go and she fell on her knees. I turned around giving my back to her and looking towards the window. An haggard looking little town, It seems I find myself inside a church.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t recall?. I am Maria, and that is Ruth. We are your sisters, right?¡± She spoke between coughs and looked at the bed where I was laid when I woke up.


    Another girl was sitting there. Just smiling at me.


    Strange, I saw her. But I¡¯m used to detecting presences, this girl didn¡¯t have one. If this Maria did not point her out I wouldn''t have noticed her at all.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you speak?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°She is mute.¡± The other girl answered. ¡°She is also your twin.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± I looked into a nearby mirror.


    Grey eyes with shades of purple and long greyish silver blond hair, almost grey too. This boy¡¯s physique was indeed pathetic, a miracle he could stand at all. Aged about sixteen, or seventeen given the details. Given the state of the body he could be younger. Who knows.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    He also had deep dark circles under in his eyes.


    ¡­Its my current body now. And such a fucking headache, it will be to make this thing productive.


    ¡°Come on Maria and Ruth. I seem to be suffering from amnesia, tour me the grounds.¡± I walked out of the room, hands folded behind my back. Gesturing them to follow.


    This was not my first round around.


    As I walked out of the room I found myself in a corridor made of stone, many doors here it seems this is the dormitory. Behind me I could hear hurried footsteps, both girls seem to be obedient. Good.


    ¡°Adam! Wait, you say you are experiencing amnesia? Were are you going? We need to go and see father.¡± Maria reached me by my side and spoke.


    ¡°Somewhere high and quiet were I can question you. Who is this father?¡± I asked as I opened the double door in the end of the hallway.


    Dim sunlight lit up the corridor which was previously lit only by candles and oil lanterns.


    I immediately went blind. Damn¡­ This body is really sensitive. Who was this Adam? A basement dweller?


    I was now in the garden. Only dead shrubs and grey flora. Some dead trees too. This place indeed is a church. Quite a big one too. Maybe a monastery.


    Not far in the garden I spotted a bell tower. There I would have a good view of the place and I could also talk with this girl more comfortably.


    ¡°Our father. The high priest?¡± She asked confused.


    ¡°Priest? They are allowed to have kids here? Not unheard of, but this place looks very¡­ catholic.¡± I responded.


    ¡°Of course, why wouldn¡¯t they? what is catholic? Have you also gone bollocks?¡±


    Bollocks? Is she for real¡­ so this is some kind of british tea cult? No¡­ My first world burned.


    A mirror perhaps? I wondered. Alternative dimensions and their rules are a headache.


    Not responding I kept walking.


    Soon I reached this tower. There was a wooden ladder, I climbed up and the girls followed.


    Up here there was a small big metal bell and a mechanism to ring it. I took a seat at the edge of this belfry.


    I looked down from up this tower, it seems to be about eighty meters high.


    I leaned my back in the wall and casually leaned a leg down the edge. Ruth quickly emulated me and sat in front of me sitting the exact same way in front of me.


    Maria crossed her arms. ¡°That¡¯s dangerous¡­¡± She said.


    I raised an hand to silence her.


    This place is indeed a monastery. Quite a big one too. Outside its walls a town stood, below the hill, where the monastery stood. In the horizon I could see a forest of dead trees and a landfill.


    Just next to the town. These people seem to be pigs.


    The town isn¡¯t advanced. It seems we are in the early eighties.


    I spotted a few horse carriages and men dressed up in black suits. That gave it away enough.


    ¡°So our father is the boss of this place. Tell me about him.¡± I turned to Maria.


    ¡°What is there to tell¡­ He is the leader of the priests here, on paper we worship Ahdon¡­¡±


    I cut her.


    ¡°On paper.¡± I remarked.


    ¡°You already know this. It¡¯s a secret for those outside of the monastery, but for us inside we worship other deities. Ones that grants us¡­ Powers.¡± She said nonchalantly.


    ¡°I see.¡± I answered and looked around now with some greater understanding.


    ¡°Blood sacrifices? Orgies? What gets this place going?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± She answered. ¡°All of those, and some more. Anything to reach the mysteries beyond. That¡¯s the way our order operates.¡±


    Humans¡­


    ¡°Tell me Maria. Have you ever participated in any of these?¡±


    ¡°Blood sacrifices, only. I don¡¯t have the need for any other stuff, father doesn¡¯t allow us either; it would be¡­ well unbecoming of our station like he likes to say. And I would never.¡± She said. Her tone serious.


    I got up and stood in front of her my hand in her chin. And I approached my face to hers.


    ¡°You are a pretty girl Maria, have you never done it? Not even with a single person?¡± I got close to her, attempting a kiss.


    Ruth behind me muttered a sound. A gasp? Interesting.


    Maria went red and then pushed me to the side and turned around.


    ¡°No.¡± She answered, obviously shaken.


    An introvert. I thought, as I crossed my arms.


    ¡°We are siblings¡­ Even in the band of Eryzirity there are lines that should not be crossed.¡± She said.


    ¡°I see, cutting and fucking each others in blood orgies is fine. But sibling fucking is where you draw the line. Fucking hypocrites.¡± I commented with a smirk.


    ¡°We do it by choice. For power, that¡¯s what the deities want. That¡¯s what we give them for their boons. But even power is not worth throwing away my dignity.¡± She spoke quite resolutely.


    I took a seat again by the edge.


    ¡°Is it not? I wonder what would you do if you had no other away forward. A choice, Power or pride? Choices, choices.¡± I clicked my tongue.


    ¡°The time to stop¡­ comes for everyone.¡± She muttered.


    ¡°Yes. I wonder what you will do in yours. Don¡¯t say it, I don¡¯t care. You my sweet girl, earned yourself the benefit of the doubt.¡±


    Moving to other matters.


    ¡°One last question. Why did I woke up in a bed, and why did you thought I was dead?¡±


    ¡°Our older brothers¡­ They don¡¯t take kindly to you for some stupid reason. Me and Ruth do our best to keep them away from you¡­ But Ruth is a cripple and I don¡¯t do miracles.¡± She sneered.


    ¡°I see. And what was I like before I woke up?¡± Intriguing.


    ¡°The opposite of what you show to be now. It seems they really did hit your head hard. You are a coward and a loser. Could not even learn the easiest spells even with me and father holding your hand. Always sick.¡± She said, hoping for a reaction.


    ¡°And? Did they beat me? What did they say, what does this father think?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, i have been looking out for you for as long as I remember. Ruth is very talented¡­ As for you¡­ well there is talk of a big sacrifice. I have done what I could, but I don¡¯t think I can change his damned mind.¡±


    ¡°Sacrificing his own flesh and blood¡­ Father is¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± She said quite disheartened.


    What a joke.


    ¡°Enough. Maria, you now work for me. I have uses for you. Come, there is much to do.¡±


    I gestured her to follow and went down the stairs.


    As soon as I stepped out of the belfry the girls behind me. Near a pound in this garden there were my new brothers. It seems they were both waiting for me.


    They hadn¡¯t spotted me yet. Their intentions are obviously clear.


    *Haa¡­* I breathed in. Boys of this age always seeking attention and some sort of validation.


    They are due to a lesson.


    Clearly; they are older than this body. Not older than me.


    ¡ª


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    Today has been quite a strange day, Adam my brother turned from a spineless donkey into a bloody maniac.


    This shameless away that he is acting today Is bringing me to the edge of my patience with him. Maybe this great sacrifice is a good idea after all.


    I love Ruth and she loves him, her twin. I have been protecting him all these years for her sake. But if he keeps acting this wild and crazy I am afraid I will be finally done with vouching for him.


    But I can¡¯t help but just come with him. Do as he says? Its something about his voice, his attitude.


    This¡­ Authority. Just like father.


    Right now I can¡¯t say if I am afraid for him, that he might do something stupid. Or that I am actually afraid¡­¡ª of him; but that¡¯s silly he is a weakling¡­ isn¡¯t he?


    No. He is just a boy, I am a fully fledged master.


    He cannot hurt me, he is the one who should be afraid, I am his better after all.


    I am following him down the ladder of the belfry. Soon we get out of the building.


    Rob and Dough are here.


    Waiting for him. I will not protect him again, not after the unceasing disrespect that he keeps showing me.


    They haven¡¯t noticed us coming down. Their backs are turned, he wants to sneak by them? I will get their attention. He is due to a lesson in manners.


    ¡°Hoy, ladies! Taking a piss are we?¡± Adam called out for his older brothers.


    Such disrespect! They are actual acolytes, nearly masters too; eventually¡­ while he isn¡¯t even worthy of the title he owns, some apprentices are actually stronger than him; pathetic boy.


    There is still a year before his first ceremony, and that is if he makes it out alive. Which he won¡¯t.


    Is he fucking stupid?


    ¡°Adam, was the last beating not good enough of a lesso¡ª¡± Our older brother Rob starts talking and immediately gets interrupted.


    Adam fucking sucker punched him in the teeth. I can see them flying out of his mouth as the older brother hits the ground.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Dough shouted in panic. Then he started chanting a spell.


    ¡°Hurt!¡± A vacuum appeared in Adam shoulder. The bloody idiot is using the dismemberment curse on his brother.


    ¡°Dough!¡± I shouted. Too late to help Adam.


    He just stood there. Watching as the slow spell was activating.


    ¡°Move you idio¡­¡± I tried to help in panic.


    But he just lifted a finger and suddenly the spell disappeared.


    Spell cancellation? The Adam? He is just an acolyte, how is that possible, only some master¡¯s are capable of that spell.


    I looked again. A circle was appearing in Dough¡¯s thigh.


    THE FUCKING COUNTER-SPELL!???


    Dough had not even noticed it before a spring of blood busted out of his hip as his leg was separated an fell on the ground along with him.


    He panicked and screamed. Soaked in his own piss.


    ¡°FUCKER¡± He screamed his voice a shrike of pain.


    I rushed over to try and help him. He is scum, but also my brother. I had to help.


    ¡°Wath de fuuuk!?¡± Rob the elder brother got up by his knees stuttering between is broken teeth.


    I haven¡¯t even noticed when he grabbed it. Dough¡¯s dismembered leg was¡­ Well in Adam¡¯s hand being held by the ankle.


    He took the the leg. It hadn¡¯t stopped bleeding yet, blood covering him as he lifted it above his head.


    He used it like it was a some club on Rob¡¯s face.


    Over and over again.


    ¡°Haaaaa, Fuuck, Stooooep! ¡± Rob screamed between broken teeth.


    Smash.


    Smack.


    And bump.


    I could not help but cover my mouth with my hands at the bloody scene.


    Rob went unconscious.


    The bloody monster threw the leg back at Dough and clapped his hands.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s settled. Dear sister do show me the way to the nearest bath. I am positively covered in filth.¡± He looked at me and said as nothing just had happened.


    I looked around. The acolytes and apprentices were all around us watching the scene, there is no way that father was not going to find out about this.


    ¡ª


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    Ah nothing like bloody dismemberment to set the mood for a fresh start.


    I cracked my shoulders. As I stretched.


    ¡°Sure¡­ This way.¡± Maria got up and motioned me to follow. Such a helpful lass.


    I followed her and soon we entered a big bathroom with a pool. The water wasn¡¯t warm, but I have never been one for hot showers either. I immediately threw the silly robe away and stepped into the water.


    I could hear a gasp. ¡°Could you¡­! Not go naked in front of me!¡± Maria shouted.


    ¡°Never seen one before?¡± I asked. Amused.


    ¡°You shameless little! Arhgh!¡± She stomped her foot and went away slamming the door.


    I took a seat in the bath and started washing my arms.


    Funnily enough that quiet, weird little girl was still standing there., Ruth was her name I think.


    ¡°Want to join?¡± I asked.


    She immediately nodded and threw the robe away. Almost jumping in the water, butt-naked.


    ¡°Woah!¡­ You certainly ain¡¯t shy. You know¡­ I like your style.¡± I Laughed.


    She smiled and started imitating me. Washing herself.


    I looked at her. She is this body¡¯s twin it seemed. The same silver blonde hair and grey eyes with shades of purple, she is indeed quite a pretty young lass.


    She reminded me of my daughters for some reason¡­ ¡°Abella, Dae, Nev¡­¡°


    ¡°Nevauri.¡±


    Her eyes perked up.


    I notice I said their names aloud.


    ¡°So¡­ Your name is Ruth. I¡¯m afraid my memory isn¡¯t so fresh.¡± I changed the subject. ¡°Tell me¡­ How old are you?¡±


    She seemed confused at first but then. She lifted both her open hands and then she only kept up seven fingers.


    ¡°Seventeen, heh? The world is ours for the taking, am I right?¡± I laughed and she gave me a awkward smile.


    Laying back as I relaxed, I washed the blood off. The water turned red from my previous endeavour but I didn¡¯t care. Ruth rushed out of the bath when she noticed it. Still I wasn¡¯t in a hurry.


    And thought about my situation.


    Having gotten killed a few times in my whole existence, starts like this were nothing new.


    My first life was on earth. Born and raised, I loved music and started a band, I was¡­ happy, at first all things concerned. I had a family for a while and a girl that I was planning to confess to. Money wasn¡¯t good. But then again? When is it?


    Then the third world war started.


    I got drafted into the army and fought for my country, and in turn i got to watch as everyone that I ever loved dying and everything I cherished burning.


    I lost my mind back then. Turned into a rabid dog lost in hate and disgust. My masters pointed and I killed. I was good at it.


    That didn¡¯t make me less of a dog.


    In the end, I lived long enough to watch the world burn in nuclear fire from a good high up view.


    From back then I remember smiling.


    I don¡¯t know how or why, but I got a second chance. I started over in a world full of magic and wonderful things. Maybe this time I could finally be happy?


    Wrong.


    The place was cruel. Those with power murdered and took what they wanted, no remorse.


    Survival of the fittest.


    I realised that there is no such thing as peace and happiness, none that would last.


    I wanted to live. So I became strong, powerful enough that none would ever even think of hurting me or the ones I loved. I spat at death¡¯s notion and told its aspect to go fuck itself when I finally got to meet with it; it gave me its boon for impressing it back then... As some form of wicked mockery.


    Power was my life, my dream and my goal. My everything. Its pursuit. But its never enough. In this road there is always an higher being. A threat.


    At some point i even ended up in a place akin to heaven. There I actually got to be happy for a while. Not that It lasted.


    I could not stop, that place reminded me of that in the end. Stopping would be accepting defeat. I don¡¯t lose. Never again. For me, and for my daughters.


    My will, it had to be done.


    Now here I am again. A starting point, I need to find out about this world and a away to get back to where I was before. Go back to my daughters and wife. Take back my stuff, and move on to the next step in the road of power.


    That¡¯s it.


    This is just a minor setback.


    Find Nev, find out who plotted against me. And have my revenge. But that¡¯s the future, smart people think about the future.


    Geniuses about the present.


    Ruth was sitting in a table nearby reading something, when I heard the double doors open.


    It is time to meet this ¡®Father¡¯.

 003 - A pimp named slickAdam

    *Creak*


    The big wooden door opened, shoved by a huge hand.


    The man who entered was a rough burly monster, two meters tall. A bald head, and a full pointy grey beard, his eyes had shades of purple.


    His skin pale as a corpse; he wore a embroidered black robe the same as everyone here used, but this one was fancy. Clearly to embody a higher standing.


    What stood out the most was his golden necklace. An impaled man, in his head a wreath and his face sombre.


    Jesus on a pike?


    This world is clearly a mirror from hearth, an alternative dimension maybe? It seems its story is the same, despite some details and time-wise it seems to be at least a century behind it, according to the ¡®Imperatum¡¯.


    And of course. This world possesses magic. I did not know about earth, but I never came across it in my first life. So I assume; that there was none there.


    This place is not much different, though weak; it exists. That¡¯s a big difference.


    Imperatum, Or The order. In the whole of existence were all the worlds exist they set the rules and hold the highest power. Its also known as heaven amongst the mortals.


    Heaven and Hell were realms that served the same purpose for every different world in the known universe, meaning¡­ they were really big and rich places.


    Every ¡®World¡¯ has it own timeline. The correct present is established by this Imperatum, It decides where in the true timeline the present is. Travelling either to the past or the future of a given world is strictly forgiven. And incurs the divine wrath.


    I can¡¯t say if they do indeed keep any order or just want to monopolize dimensional travel. Knowing them, provably both.


    The divine wrath. Execution. Destruction of the soul.


    The final death. Not even death, they wouldn¡¯t meet it. They would just cease existence.


    They are dangerous fuckers.


    Either way I have a big cunt staring me down, and here I am musing the rules of the universe.


    I pay him no heed as he looks down on me. Ruth who is sitting nearby is shivering, she is clearly terrified of him. I keep washing myself as he stares at me in silence.


    I finish my bath and get up, pick back up my robe and underwear and dress up. Then I decide to walk out, trying to prove the man.


    A hammer of force quickly booms at my side which I manage to block with my elbow just barely. It sends me flying, crashing against the wall.


    I sit comfortably on the ground showing no pain nor surprise as I look up at the monster.


    ¡°An acolyte of Eryzirity greets his superiors with a bow.¡± He spoke in a quiet cold yet rough voice.


    I spat at his feet.


    *gasp*


    *BOOM*


    Ruth gasped and wall behind me boomed as the bigfoot smashed his boot at the my face.


    I avoided it easily enough.


    But the wall had a hole on it. He aimed to kill.


    I looked at it and him again. ¡°Impressive.¡± I complimented.


    ¡°You are not the one who is due to a impression.¡± Arrogance and disdain in his voice. ¡ª¡°I am.¡±


    He took the boot of the wall and pulled the table that Ruth was using before, leaving her sitting in her chair there; quiet like a mouse.


    He leaned on it, arms crossed.


    ¡°I hear that you had a fight. And won.¡± He frowned. ¡°Your older brothers came back to me. Disturbing my research, One missing his teeth the other holding his leg in his arms.¡±


    I smiled.


    ¡°Now tell me. How did my useless son that was always sick and smelling of piss, from night to night now possesses the same eyes as his old man.¡± His face a frown. He did not really asked, he demanded.


    I like his style.


    ¡°Tell me, dear father. What do you see in these eyes of mine?¡± I held his gaze.


    ¡°¡­ I see myself.¡± He paused to think. ¡°There is no greater pride for a father than to see a son holding up to his expectations.¡±


    Ho my¡­ ¡ªyou do think highly of yourself.


    He got out of the table and approached me. His towering figure overwhelming this feeble body of mine.


    ¡°Now to important matters. Counter-Spell. How?¡± He held his gaze. His whole demeanour made with intent to intimidate.


    I could only smirk at it. ¡°I learnt it, on a dream. Step-to-step and all. A big tidy goddess teaching me. ¡± I said almost laughing.


    His frown darkened.


    ¡°It¡¯s only wise for a sorcerer to withhold his sources. And as unlikely as it his for a deity to reach out to you in your¡­ ¡®Dreams¡¯¡± He crossed his arms and looked at a nearby window.


    ¡°Show me.¡± He paused and made a motion, not even muttering the incantation that the previous fool did.


    It was the same, a spiral in my chest conjuring a hole.


    This level could hardly be counted as magic. Much less sorcery, I don¡¯t even have have to make motions, easily casting the thing with only my mind. And amateur in my old world could do such things.


    Why not the Overlord?


    I simply moved the already cast spell. Aiming it at his ear.


    He looked at the side of his head. Dark blood flowing at the side of his head.


    Surprisingly enough he did not have a reaction or bothered to dodge it. He just nodded, and walked away.


    He suddenly stopped before the door. ¡°The next sunday come to my quarters. We shall discuss the next steps.¡±


    And that was that. I met my ¡®father¡¯, I wasn¡¯t expecting to be impressed but he managed. I was expecting a flood of questions.


    Demands, WHaT HaVE YoU DOne TO MY pOOr BAbiEEs!? and such. Well, that was that.


    ¡°Hey Ruth, what day is today?¡± I turned to my sister who was just standing in the corner.


    She put four fingers up.


    ¡°Wednesday, huh? Guess I have two days to get ready.¡± I looked at her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I have things to do¡­ and do put on some clothes, will you? I don¡¯t want to experience the reputation of having a nudist sister, or something queer like that.¡± I winked at her.


    She turned beet red and immediately started dressing up.


    There is no point in hiding my powers and what I am capable of. Right now they are capable of actually killing me, so its best if they are afraid of me. Have uses for me.


    Manipulation works both ways. And I am quite proud of my repertoire.


    We walked down the corridor as the other acolytes threw odd glances at me. They all did, it seems that now I have a reputation. An improvement to be sure.


    Ruth didn¡¯t say much, I liked that about her.


    I eventually came out of the monastery, found an exit; the main gate. And there she was.


    ¡°We live in a monastery for a reason. There is no interacting with the outside world, their ways of debauchery is a plague upon our purpose. Higher learning.¡±


    My beloved helpful sister was sitting on a cairn along the stony wall next to the road, reading a bible. Sitting with her legs sideways. Her pigtails resting on her shoulders.


    ¡°You a guard or something?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I have been tasked to keep an eye on you. Yes.¡± She closed the book and stared at me.


    ¡°Then come. I have the need to debauch myself a little.¡± I walked along the road in direction of the town, which wasn¡¯t far.


    She quickly rushed over to my side.


    ¡°It is prohibited.¡± She frowned and stood up to me. Blocking my way.


    ¡°I just had a talk with dear old father.¡± I smiled.


    ¡°You did!?¡± She gasped.


    ¡°Let us say, that our dear brothers¡­ what I did to them was the least of their misfortunes. You see, he now acquaints himself to my way of doing things. So what if his beloved heir, decides to break a few rules.¡± I lied through my teeth.


    Still ¡®Ass¡¯ and ¡®Balls¡¯ ¡®whatstheirname¡¯ should have a pretty bad time. He was clearly pissed about having his research interrupted.


    ¡°HE WHAT!?¡± She shouted. ¡°I am the heir!! I am the most talented sorcerer after him! How dare you take my place!?¡± She showed a fire that I didn¡¯t knew she had in her. I hit a nerve.


    ¡°You sick fuck! I demand a duel. RIGHT NOW! He must see the error of his ways.¡± I had done it now.


    ¡°Calm yourself tits. You actually dare to oppose the high priest¡¯s decision, his will!?¡± I smiled towards her.


    ¡°WHAT!? ¡­No, I wouldn''t¡¯¡± She quietly panicked now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I am such a magnanimous brother that I shall grant your request. After we visit this town.¡± I patted her head, and walked away.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Tsk. You better, what is it that you are going to do there? There is nothing for our kind there.¡± She walked back to my side. She sure got it under control quickly.


    ¡°Guess.¡± I teased.


    ¡°You are going to get dr¡­ YOU PIG, YOU NOT GOING TO TAKE RUTH WITH YOU TO A BROTH¡­¡±


    I hushed her.


    ¡°No.¡±


    She sighted.


    ¡°You have a dirty mind.¡± I commented.


    ¡°Whatever¡­ I give up.¡± She was quite down now as we walked down the hill.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Cheer up dearest sister. You might end up having fun for the first time in your life.¡± I said with a mocking tone when we reached the entrance of the town.


    ¡°I will have you kno¡­¡±


    ¡°State your business, please.¡± A guard cut her as she was going to complain or something. We reached the town¡¯s main entrance.


    Time does fly while conversating.


    ¡°Broth¡ª¡­¡±


    ¡°We are here in a supply run. Move aside.¡± Maria cut me off and spoke.


    The guard looked down at us and noticed our black robes. His entire demeanour immediately changed.


    ¡°Of course your holinesses. Go right in.¡± He spoke as he motioned.


    We walked inside. It was an average, identical to a eighteenth century english town. This side of the town seemed quite poor though. The street were covered in manure, and there were many small factories around.


    There were many tall buildings in the distance, clearly the rich side of the place. The poor lived in the slums like always and that meant, it is supposed to have a slums somewhere nearby.


    Still, I can see a few big houses and stores here.


    There were some well-dressed people with black tuxedos. But most of them were dressed in more modest clothing like linen, pointing out they were working folk and others with


    somewhat more fancy attire were probably house servants.


    They threw wary glances at us, it seems the churches aren¡¯t that popular among the common folk.


    We spotted many carriages pulled by horses as we walked, It seems I found one of the sources of the shit.


    ¡°Do you have any idea were we going?¡± Maria asked after some time of walking.


    ¡°What? You tired already? I¡¯m taking the sights.¡± I answered.


    ¡°And the smells.¡± She complained.


    ¡°Do you have any cash?¡± I asked her and Ruth.


    Ruth just shook her head.


    ¡°I am a priestess.¡±


    ¡°And I am a priest, i think.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Come on then Maria. Let me teach how to make money.¡± I smiled as I walked into a dark alley. The girls followed behind me.


    ¡°What on hell are you plotting!?¡±


    I pointed at a bar around the corner.


    ¡°See that place? Soon enough a man in some fancy suit will come out.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± She asked. Clearly puzzled.


    I pointed at her chest and to Ruth.


    ¡°What on hell are you pointing at!¡± She snapped.


    ¡°See those puppies on your chests? They aren¡¯t just for show.¡± I started opening her robe.


    She shoved me. Of course in this weak body I could do nothing but to take a few steps back.


    ¡°Are you mad!? You bastard!¡± She shouted.


    I crossed my arms. And threw her a sombre glance.


    ¡°Do you want me to go to father? Tell him how much you have been bothering me?¡± A little blackmail goes a long way.


    ¡°You¡­ You aren¡¯t getting away with this!¡± I kept sombrely staring at her, and she eventually relented. ¡°Fine¡­ What¡¯s your¡­ plan¡± She muttered. Clearly angry.


    No matter. She is so afraid of the man, I don¡¯t even care to think how far she could go just not to risk his anger.


    Fear is power, I¡¯m afraid. And I do so love power.


    I stepped close to her and unbuttoned her chest. Only showing a bit of her breasts, and her pink bra.


    She only looked away flushed.


    I looked at Ruth. ¡°Come here my sweet.¡± She stood upright. Weird girl.


    Doing the same to her, she only blushed. While Maria frowned and awkwardly shook her head.


    ¡°You should be ashamed. Pig¡± She commented.


    ¡°Ho, by all means complain about making yourself useful.¡± I rebuked.


    As I done the same with Ruth, I took another good look at her.


    A petite girl with wavy greyish silver blonde hair. Her almond eyes were the same colour as her sister and brothers, Hers however had traces of purple. Just like my new body and our ¡®father¡¯.


    Although she was slim and had a small bosom, she didn¡¯t lose to her sister in looks. ¡ªWhich was even taller than me and had those puffy cow tits.


    They were both real lookers though, no way a honeytrap isn¡¯t going to work.


    With both girls prepared; i laid out the plan.


    ¡°That corner over there.¡± I pointed. ¡°Eventually some old man in a suit will come out. You two walk into him.¡± I explained, both girls just looking at me like they seen a ghost.


    ¡°And¡­ We take his purse?¡± Maria interrupted.


    Dumb cow.


    ¡°No, my dearest sister. You throw him a compliment. Pass a hand in his crotch, tell him how big he is.¡± I said, with a dead serious expression.


    They gasped. ¡°How¡­ Ho, Hoow!?¡± Maria¡¯s eyebrows twitched her mouth wide open. ¡°Hoow¡­ WHAT!?¡± She hissed.


    ¡°Just compliment him! Say something nice. And then drag him over here.¡±


    I grinned. As I pointed to my back with my thumb making them look to the dark alley.


    ¡°Say something Nice¡­ Okay, got it, then what? Don¡¯t tell me we will fu¡­.¡± She said and I interrupted her.


    ¡°Nothing like that.¡± I took a beer bottle from the ground and smashed it on the wall.


    ¡°I stab him.¡± I smiled playing with the bottle in my fingers.


    They both gasped. ¡°You will murder a man in broad daylight, are you mad!?¡±


    ¡°Well yes. We are going to rob him no!?¡± I asked, clearly confused by her logic.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we just¡­ You know, knock him out?¡±


    ¡°Robbing without killing!? And you call me mad.¡± I tsked. Amateurs. ¡°That way he will see your faces, unless you want a ugly drawing of both of you, one that says ¡®Wanted¡¯ I don¡¯t suggest it.¡±


    They looked at each other.


    ¡°Go on, I¡¯m waiting. Don¡¯t forget to show off your ¡®assets¡¯.¡± I motioned them away with a shoo.


    And they went.


    I looked up to the blue sky between tall building, from this dark alley and sighted.


    What a fine day to pimp my sisters. Always trying new things, and me starting to think that living was getting boring.


    ¡ª¡ª-


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    What a fucking dogshit eater pigheaded cur of a brother I found myself stuck with!!!


    ¡®Keep and eye on him!¡¯ Father said after months without talking to me. Then the fucker comes and threatens me with him!


    Now here I am walking in the street like a common whore. Showing off my privacy.


    I looked at Ruth.


    Poor girl, I just don¡¯t get what she sees in him. Before he was a disgusting pig coward; good for nothing.


    And now, from out of the nowhere. He turns into a rogue, a maniac and a even more of a disgusting scum!


    She always shadowed him like a lost puppy. That decease is not all of her, she is talented with magic and loves reading. Even father took note of that, I saw him nodding in approval


    one time that he watched her practice. He never did that to me and I am the best of his students!


    I don¡¯t know what happened between them. But she sure loves him, he asked her to do shameful thing and she didn¡¯t even flinch.


    Blackmailing me. The dare!


    We leaned by the door of this alehouse. Ruth did the same.


    ¡°Hey, sis. I¡¯m sorry that you are stuck with him. And doing this, I hate it too you know¡­¡±


    She just shook her head.


    ¡°Someday you have to let him go; you are better than that, live your own life.¡±


    She just looked away and pointed at the door.


    A man in a black suit and a round belly was walking out of the bar. I could smell the alcohol in his breath from here.


    How¡­ Do I do this!?


    I rushed in, walking into the man.


    My body pressed on his. He groaned. Disgusting.


    He looked down to my chest. DISGUSTING


    I could see his yellow broken teeth and the sweat in his forehead. I think he might have lice too!


    ¡°Lass, maybe we should get a room.¡± He said between his stinky breath as he held his face close to mine.


    DISGUST¡­DISTIIING. IM GOING TO PUKE.


    I managed not to. Miracle.


    In a revulsion I brought my hand to his lower parts. And felt it.


    ¡°Wha..WHat a ni¡­nII..nICe, youo ha¡­HAve. Big, RO..Round. Be¡­¡± I looked down. ¡°Belly.¡± I spurted out.


    ¡°What!?¡± He blurted out.


    I took him by the arm, gripping it hard against my chest.


    He came, he did not resist. Weird. Thank Ahdon that man are disgusting lecherous pigs, I don¡¯t think I would have the strength to drag him, should he had resisted.


    Ruth did the same, also dragging him. His other arm on her chest.


    ¡°Today is my lucky day!!!¡± He laughed pervertedly and disgustingly ¡°Not one! But two goddesses sent from heaven to bless old Robert!¡±


    Please let this end.


    Soon we reached the alley. He was nowhere to be seen.


    The man placed an hand in the inner of my thigh. And dragged me against the wall.


    Licking my neck.


    DISGUSTING. IM FUCKING GOING TO MURDER HIM.


    ¡°REAP.¡° I muttered as i casted the spell on instinct.


    Ruth gasped and made a noise knocking something over.


    Before the spell came off. He appeared.


    Adam. Sticking a broken beer bottle in his neck from his back, in and out


    The men fell on the ground and Adam just kept at it, long after he was dead. Stab, Stab. Cut and grab.


    He smashed the man¡¯s skull against the concrete floor afterwards and only laughed.


    Like¡­ ¡ª a real maniac¡­


    ¡°So much blood¡­¡± I muttered, as I cancelled the spell.


    ¡ª¡ª-


    I watched as the light went off his eyes.


    Its been a while since I last drew blood. That hero as been the last one who bleed for me. Hero or drunkard, blood is all the same.


    I got up and threw the bloody bottle into the trash.


    A bulging purse in my hands. Good thing the girls managed to snatch a rich fucker at the first time.


    Not like I couldn¡¯t keep at it the whole day.


    But still, there are other things I would rather do.


    The girls were staring at me and the body like I was some sort of maniac. Hey! I¡¯m not crazy I¡¯m just¡­ Well me.


    I griped at his shoulders lifting him up a little.


    ¡°What are you two looking at!? Come give me an hand.¡± Fat bugger.


    Ruth nodded and lifted his feet.


    Maria just shook her head and helped lifting by the side.


    We dumped the body in a nearby trash container.


    Once we opened it, we saw another body. A dead woman, a whore judging by her clothes. Looks like I¡¯m not the only pimp in town. Joking, still better get out of here.


    My robes were a little bloody. But red in black is not that noticeable.


    ¡°You are an absolute lunatic.¡± Maria said.


    ¡°You keep mentioning.¡± I answered. I do am starting to get touchy on the subject.


    We entered a nearby tavern and sat in a free table.


    The girls were still looking at me.


    ¡°Well, we did the job as three. So I¡¯m willing to throw a first time bonus for you two. Don¡¯t get used to it.¡± I said.


    ¡°Maria, you did a superb job. You do have talent in this line of work. You can close your robe now.¡± I teased her.


    Ruth already did it a while ago.


    ¡°You¡­ Are unbelievable.¡± Anger was evident on her face.


    ¡°You can keep them that way. I don¡¯t mind at all!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ going to fucking murder you.¡± She said in a low voice as she concealed her cleavage.


    ¡°Well, anyway. Here take a look. How much is this worth?¡± I threw the purse at her. I did not recognize this currency.


    ¡°Three hundred pound sterlings.¡± She said as she counted.


    ¡°Good. One hundred for each of us.¡± I replied.


    She threw the purse back at me.


    ¡°I did it because you blackmailed me. I¡¯m not some whore who goes out chasing men to bring you profit and get a cut. Keep your damned money.¡± She crossed her arms.


    I divide the money and gave an half to Ruth.


    She took it. Smart girl.


    I nodded, and then called over the waiter in this place, who was standing not too far.


    He nodded, and did just so.


    ¡°What will it be, sir and madams?¡± The man was wearing a white shirt with a tie and black pants. This place has standards it seems, as he handed the menu¡¯s book.


    The prices were high as I glanced over. But then again, I didn¡¯t had to work to earn this money.


    So who cares.


    ¡°I will take the lamb and the best vintage on the house.¡± I handed over the menu to Maria.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ Have any money...¡± She glanced to the sides awkwardly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s only a favour you will owe me, how bad could it possibly be? Ask whatever you want, don¡¯t you worry.¡± I teased her.


    ¡°You¡­ You know what!? I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡ª*GROWL*


    Her stomach rumbled audibly. ¡°Agghhh, I hate you.¡± She muttered.


    ¡°I will take the chicken and a glass of water.¡± She said and then started complaining in that way she always did, as she handed the menu to Ruth.


    She pointed what she wanted and we sent the waiter off.


    ¡°So, Maria my dearest sister. I noticed the people throwing weird gazes at us. What¡¯s their deal?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the stains of blood in your robe.¡± She answered nonchalantly


    ¡°No it isn¡¯t. They were staring before I¡­ well.¡±


    ¡°Brother.¡± She looked around making sure no one else was listening. ¡°As you know, we worship Ahdon. But there are other rumours, malicious rumours. Started by fools with more free time than sense. It is why we at the monastery are prohibited from coming out. Understand?¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± I nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I was against the shit you pulled off today. But I can¡¯t seem to pull any sense into that thick skull of yours or go against you without you ending my whole career, or doing something even more stupid.¡± She mumbled.


    ¡°We priests visit town; first time in a long while, next day a man of status shows up murdered. I wonder what will happen¡­¡± I smirked as I spoke.


    She threw me a sharp glare. ¡°Whatever you are trying to pull. I suggest you be careful, there is a reason our order values secrecy and covers it¡¯s tracks; there are many who would see us burn. And before they do, father will have your head.¡± The girl threatened.


    ¡°Why are you always such a grouchy cunt?¡±


    ¡°And why are you always a sordid prick?¡±


    ¡°Maybe we will fit together after all.¡± I laughed.


    She giggled. ¡°Okay, I will give you that one.¡±


    The waiter started bringing over out our food and drinks, so we kept quiet as he worked. A plate of lamb with roasted potatoes, and a fine vintage for me. Maria got roasted chicken with rice. And Ruth pork and rice, she asked for the same wine as me. I wonder if it is her first time drinking.


    ¡°Hey Ruth. Easy on that stuff, this is a strong one and nicely aged too, not beginner friendly you know?¡± I warned her. Not like I¡¯m going to stop her, am I what? Her brother. Bah, let the girl be happy.


    ¡°Sis, you know. You brother is a degenerate, but you need to keep your head straight. We have to take care of him. You know?¡± Maria warned.


    She shook her head and took a big gulp.


    Then turned beet red. And spat... ¡ªAll over my robe.


    ¡°I told you this was too strong for you, chunder bunny.¡± I said unimpressed. Not like it bothers me. The darn thing was already tainted red and I hadn¡¯t even started. Maybe it will hide the bloodstains.


    I drank.


    ¡°Chuggler what?¡± Maria asked smirking.


    ¡°Chunder bunny.¡± I corrected her. ¡°Well¡­ I had a buddy from long ago from a far off land, we partied together and went off chasing girls.¡±


    ¡°You!? A friend. Don¡¯t lie you never had any friends. Creep.¡± She raised an eyebrow.


    Dammit, I¡¯m talking to much.


    ¡°Yes, like you were watching me my whole life all the time. Like one of those thirsty stalker girls.¡± I teased her.


    She went red. ¡°Thirsty!? For you? Dream on.¡± She started eating. Wanting to change the topic.


    I did too. Ruth was already half-way through her meal. Her cheeks rosy.


    ¡°Damn. This stuoff¡­ Ish the stuoff!¡± Maria nodded as she talked with her mouth full.


    ¡°Well. Lets make this our little secret then. We come over to eat here from time to time, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m dying to err¡­ go back for the monastery¡¯s cantina food. ¡± I approved.


    Ruth nodded. Maria did too.

 004 - The art of skullduggery

    We had our fill. I drank more than this body can reasonably afford to, still it¡¯s unbefitting for a demon lord to blunder in his drink.


    Weird¡­ I don¡¯t seem to be getting affected by alcohol. But I should¡­ More the shame. ¡ªHo well.


    Ruth managed to finish her glass. Good girl.


    We ended up each paying our own. Me and Ruth paid each half of Maria¡¯s dinner. Now she owed a favour to us both.


    We walked out of the tavern listening to her complaining and regretting not to have had taken the money. She learned a lesson it seems, take what you can get.


    The place where we ate was empty. Provably due to the exorbitant prices.


    Still. I had a goal, gather information. So had to head off somewhere else.


    ¡°Where to next?¡± Maria asked as she patted her belly.


    ¡°Already homesick?¡± I asked as we walked by the side of the road, the place was quite crowded.


    ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m having fun.¡± She admitted.


    ¡°It sucks to be always stuck in one place, everyday doing the same thing. Bad for your mind you know? Sometimes we have to go and try new things.¡± I commented.


    ¡°Wha¡­t? That¡¯s actually quite insightful coming from you. But it¡¯s not like that, in our way of life we are meant to always learn new things, always improve I mean. ¡± She answered.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s more of the same. Lets do something different. You know, new?¡± I pointed to a nearby establishment.


    She looked at it. And then at me, then at it again. And then¡­ At me.


    ¡°THATS A BROTHEL YOU FU¡­ jUST WHen I thought you had gotten smarter you pull of one like this.¡± She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not new for me but you know¡­ for you it certainly is, its time to turn into a real mature woman my dear sister!¡± I teased her.


    She pushed me against the wall in fury.


    Her face was flushed.


    ¡°You know¡­ I¡¯m not a well, I did it before. I¡¯m not a child¡­ That girl and I she¡­¡± Her eyes looked rather sad.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t count.¡± I replied.


    ¡°Fuck you.¡±


    ¡°On my way.¡± I headed off to the brothel.


    She placed an hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°You are seventeen, and Ruth too. That¡¯s not a place for¡­ well kids. I¡¯m not setting a foot in such a disgusting place.¡± She spoke with a serious expression.


    ¡°Fine then. I can think of somewhere else.¡±


    A brothel was a perfect place to gather information. Well if I happened to fiddle with a tit or two, I wouldn¡¯t argue either. Still, I got these kids with me.


    We walked a while and I stepped into a clothing store nearby.


    Ruth looked around in awe, Maria too. Woman love this sort of thing. And these too only know dark robes and sandals. Its not like I would be paying; Ruth had money and Maria, well she can owe favours.


    ¡°I hate you.¡± She said.


    I looked around. Big store, there was a side for men¡¯s clothing and another for woman. All divided in breeches, shirts, foot-ware. That sort of thing, another place had already made out combinations of suits and dresses. All very chic.


    I pointed at a simple black suit, an affordable one and a clerk went and took it off. Giving it to me to try it out.


    I went to the dresser and put it on, the girls waited outside. This body was a lot smaller than my original so I had no issue dressing up. Still a lot of buttons were giving me trouble.


    I puled my head out.


    ¡°Hey Ruth come over here.¡± I motioned I called out to the girl who was looking at lady¡¯s shoes not far away.


    She came.


    Of course I didn¡¯t want Maria, she never shuts up.


    Ruth is simply, Better.


    Maria was somewhere else. Provably gawking at dresses she couldn¡¯t afford.


    ¡°Come on in.¡± I said as she hesitated. ¡°C¡¯mon we bathed together the other day, don¡¯t be shy. I need help with all these buttons.¡±


    She entered and helped me out, even trying to do the tie, I had to teach her. She eventually managed after a few tries.


    I bet the other one would spend the entire day trying to tie a tie.


    Ruth is a good girl. I patted her head.


    ¡°You are a lot smarter that your sister.¡± She just smiled and nodded.


    I combed my hair and tied it up in a ponytail. This fucker had long hair. Like some guitarist, I would too if it wasn¡¯t a pain in the ass to maintain it.


    Fuck, a guitar. It¡¯s been a while since I last played. I Need to find a way to get one, no way I will find one in this world.


    It was also a pain last time too.


    Well just need to reach out to a few of my contacts in hell.


    I waited a while for the girls to dress up.


    ¡ª


    Someone poked my forehead; and I woke up¡­. Must have dozed off.


    Of course, Ruth.


    She was wearing a simple black and grey dress with stockings and lace up shoes. Her hair was neatly combed and she seemed to have done some make up too.


    She did a little spin showing off.


    Maria was standing behind her with her arms crossed. She got a neat red dress and a hat. Her ponytails were no more, she had let her wavy long hair go free, she made a fringe too.


    What I noticed more was her new make up.


    She had it done like some goth chick before, now she looked like more of a mature woman, with red lipstick and all that. She looked five years older.


    ¡°Done gawking?¡± She commented.


    ¡°Considering I¡¯m the one paying. Well at least I can say you look good.¡± I answered.


    ¡°Well¡­ You look good too. Not like some cavemen I know.¡±


    I shrugged, and went to the counter to pay. The numbers were the same just like last time.


    Maria didn¡¯t look very comfortable about it. Well¡­ The things I will make her do! I can¡¯t help but grin.


    We walked out of the store. Now looking like people, the ugly stares stopped too.


    Humans are such simple creatures.


    We walked a while. And soon we reached our next stop.


    The opera.


    ¡°Is this¡­ Is this an opera! I¡­I always wanted to see one!¡± Maria was all smiles.


    ¡°Ladies¡­ We aren¡¯t here on a sunday trip.¡± I turned serious as I looked at them. ¡°Enjoy the music, watch the show.¡±


    I pulled them to the side of the entrance


    ¡°Our goal is to gather information. We live all cloistered up and all, so its important to do this sometimes.¡± I spoke.


    Ruth nodded.


    Maria took a newspaper that was on the shelf in the nearby wall and gave it to me.


    ¡°Won¡¯t this do?¡± She had an innocent look on her face.


    What can I say¡­ Kids.


    I took it and tore it apart. ¡°Don¡¯t read this lass. It¡¯s all propaganda, advertising and lies. That¡¯s media, they don¡¯t provide any kind of information, they are all about entertainment; the only use they have is to manipulate the fools who actually believe this nonsense.¡± I keenly educated her.


    ¡°O¡­ kay¡± She said, with some new expression on her face.


    I continued.


    ¡°Real information is gathered by walking, listening and observing.¡± I motioned with my fingers around showing them the different people around. Nobles, merchants, some soldiers and such. ¡°In places like this.¡°


    ¡°Go in. Mingle with the folks, spin¡¯em a yarn. Make up some story and see what they say. Lean on some corner and listen while they do business and talk. There is much to learn from simple conversations and common encounters.¡±


    Maria and Ruth nodded.


    ¡°One more thing. We need an alibi.¡±


    ¡°An what?¡± She said.


    ¡°A background. Make sure they think we are worth their breath.¡±


    ¡°How do you know these things? And how are you so good at this?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I will tell you another time. If I feel like it.¡± I replied


    ¡°Your name is¡­ Dulce, and I am John. We are married, and this is our cute daughter¡­ Abella¡± I pointed to Ruth. ¡°We came from a rich country far away called¡­ America. We are here in the oil business.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± She gasped.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. Good luck.¡± I took her arm and Ruth¡¯s hand and walked in.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°We are siblings! We three look to much alike! They will see that something is off!¡± Maria whispered complaining.


    ¡°My dear, you do know this is normal in our homeland ¡­ ¡ªAlabama!¡± I couldn¡¯t say this without grinning.


    ¡°What exactly is the issue?¡± I smirked.


    She just face-palmed.


    ¡ª-


    Ruth¡¯s FOV


    Adam gave me his hand. He hadn¡¯t done this since we were little, playing hide and seek with the other kids back home.


    We walked through this weird place. He is all smiles along with our bitch sister Maria.


    She helped protect him from father. I can respect that, but only because I made her do it, by helping her with a spell that she couldn¡¯t get right.


    I hate her. She always been an arrogant cow for him, sometimes even joining those dog brothers of ours and other kids, bullying him.


    The way she boasts to dad out of envy, because he notices I am better than her, the never-ending complaints.


    And now he takes her by the arm, supposed to be his wife in this little game we are playing.


    Why not me!?


    I¡¯m better! Father knows! He even said so himself.


    I glared at her.


    She didn¡¯t notice. She never notices anything.


    I hate her.


    Now he had this huge change. More confident, ruthless just like dad¡­ and always with aces up his sleeves. Everything a dark priest must strive for.


    And the bitch is now all smiles! Blablabla here blabla there¡­! Now you notice how great he is!? Bloody frump.


    I wish¡­ I could speak again, tell her this to her face. Fuck her.


    Just because she got those¡­ I looked down. Well we are supposed to be sisters why aren¡¯t mine like hers!? Why does she get big and I am five feet tall? I¡¯m seventeen, I should be getting bigger. Brother is almost as tall as her and he is my age. We are twins!


    I will prove she is useless and I am better. Even though I don¡¯t need it I will.


    ¡°Something the matter little Abella?¡± He asked me, I think he noticed how uncomfortable I was.


    Wait¡­! Little!?


    You¡­ Dork!


    I stomped his foot and shook my head.


    ¡°Aghh, that was uncalled for.¡± He poke me on the side. And made an expression.


    Ho, right we are playing at spy stuff. I think he might be reading one of my books when he hides in the closet for some reason.


    Wait this is my chance! I can prove I am better than her. I just have to gather all the information in this place. Once I do¡­ I can write it down for him. He will pat me in the head again.


    We walked a while the opera is about to start. All of these well dressed folks are talking.


    He approached a group of them and entered the conversation. I just stood quiet by his side, like the usual. Why can¡¯t I talk¡­ If I only I remembered why suddenly could not do it any more maybe I could do more than just stalk in the shadows like a some¡­ rat.


    I was very young when I lost my speech. Every time I try to remember a headache goes over my head, and sometimes I even faint.


    What am I supposed to do¡­


    ¡°Greetings sirs, madams.¡± We joined a group of these¡­ people with dumb wigs. And Adam started talking.


    ¡°Why, hello gentle-folks i have never seen you before. What brings you to Doncaster? ¡± A thin Man in a suit and a top hat with a moustache and a monocle answered.


    ¡°Business my friends me and my wife come from America, Oil business. My name is John and this here is Anna, the little one is Abella our sweet daughter.¡± Adam answered.


    He is good at this¡­ wonder how, last week he was too afraid to ask another student for a quill. I had to do it for him and I can¡¯t even¡ª ¡­Well talk.


    ¡°Pleasure.¡± The bitch said with a smile.


    I just nodded. I mean what else?


    ¡°America!? You must be a really daring individual to actually venture into such dreadful places and even settle!¡± One of these individuals answered with disbelief.


    ¡°Ho hush Antony, clearly this gentleman is a truly remarkable individual!¡± One of them said as he sized Adam up. Sharp that one¡­


    Then he continued, shaking Adam¡¯s hand.


    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet such estimated guests to our little community! My name his Everan and this is¡­¡± He introduced his friends, nodding his head and talking... A lot. Self-interested twits.


    They were chatting about stock¡­ whatever that is and Maria even started giggling with the other woman. I noticed that some rich teens and soon considered adults; to regular people¡¯s standards were looking at me.


    I hated when people looked at me.


    I touched Adam to get his attention.


    ¡°What is it my sweet?¡± He said.


    I motioned pointing at them with my head.


    ¡°I see.¡± He turned to the men he was talking with.


    ¡°The young ones are giving funny looks to my daughter here, why not introduce them?¡± He asked.


    I could not help but cringe at this.


    We are the same age you dork! Just because you got a suit and all that¡­ acting, posture whatever doesn¡¯t make a grown up!


    But he is really good at this. Maybe our natural silver hair helps, they haven¡¯t even mentioned his age!


    Maria had that slutty dress and bosom, and face painted like a clown. No wonder she managed it too.


    Well I get to be the daughter. Not like I can have a conversation anyway.


    ¡°Of course!¡± One of the man who he was talking to immediately answered and motioned the younger ones over.


    They came. Three boys and two girls, maybe they are sons and daughters or maybe cousins of these fancy folk, who knows.


    They are obviously younger than me¡­ ¡ªBut I am quite short though so¡­ well it works.


    ¡°This is Tristan Read, my son.¡± He tapped one of the boys on the shoulder. He seemed to be the leader. Blonde hair, green eyes. Handsome.


    The other men said names and showed off their kids.


    I didn¡¯t bother to pay attention. And just nodded.


    ¡°Shy little girl yours, is she?¡± The man from before asked.


    ¡°Ho no! She doesn¡¯t have any shyness in her! She just¡­ Well a rare condition, she can¡¯t really talk. We had all kinds of doctors and mystics from all over the world to try and help, but she never got her speech. Poor girl.¡± Adam looked really dejected as he said it.


    Idiot¡­ showing off.


    ¡°Ho, I see¡­ Poor lass. Tristan, show the girl around. And be nice to her.¡± His voice had a weight. It really seems these fancy folks fell for Adam¡¯ story like dumb little ducks.


    ¡°Of course father, it will be my honour.¡± The blonde answered, looking a little spooked at his father¡¯s tone. If only you met my real dad¡­ Idiot.


    ¡°Come on, let us let the old folks to their thing.¡± He motioned for me to follow him.


    I guess Adam entertains the men, Maria¡­ Well whatever that she does. And me, I have to babysit the kids; who turn out to be almost our age.


    Darn it¡­ I¡¯m used to the short straw by now.


    I joined the group.


    They made me hear their dumb names again. Not like I will be able to use them.


    ¡°This is Abella, she comes from America!¡± The blond said.


    ¡°America? Isn¡¯t that place a hellhole filled with devils?.¡± A boy with brown curls asked. He had said his name was Otto.


    ¡°It is also a truly rich country in natural resources and nearly unlimited riches. My father said that.¡± The boy tristan pointed out. ¡°To those who had the guts and the wealth to establish there, of course.¡± He quickly added.


    ¡°Our family was meant to move there too! But father decided against it¡­ It is no place to raise a family, he said so we stayed here in Great britain.¡± A girl with also blonde hair and green eyes spoke. She introduced herself as Tristan¡¯s sister, Elena.


    I have heard of this, truly what did Adam take America for?


    ¡°Nice dress. You are really pretty.¡± Another girl random girl said.


    Goddammit, I¡¯m used to have many people around due to have grown, well¡­ in a church that took in orphans and trained them to be sorcerers. But I never¡­ well.


    Been good with people.


    This is awkward. I can¡¯t answer, how am I going to talk with them.


    So I just smiled.


    ¡°She is mute, a decease she was born with. But no matter! You are twice as pretty than these too unprepossessing maids.¡± The blonde lad said with a smile, and the girls punched him gently.


    My brother would drown you, idiot.


    ¡°Look at her! She is blushing! The other girl said.¡±


    Damn it.


    We took a seat and I spent twenty minutes answering lies of yes and no questions from these spoiled skunks. Then they went on about shit that their parents bought for them.


    Things I never even knew existed.


    They talked about some sailor who claimed some country, an Eastern Austra-something for Britain.


    And then about the death of some painter.


    Maybe Adam wanted to know this so¡­ I tried to pay attention. They were really boring me, interesting talk is about new spells and powerful entities that we came into contact from the beyond. Nothing like this.


    They really seem to live in their own little world. Unaware of the darkness underneath.


    An announcement was made in a loud voice. I thought it was a spell, but no just some fancy machine they had.


    The opera was starting.


    The blonde girl took my hand and guided me through the crowd. I wanted to refuse, only my brother could take my hand! But she was nice¡­ So I didn¡¯t mind.


    We eventually took a seat all together.


    I couldn¡¯t see Adam nor Maria. These kids really were weird, aren¡¯t they supposed to watch an opera close to their parents?


    I bet she is rubbing those filthy paws all over him, like the bitch she is. Acting like she is his wife.


    No I can¡¯t even imagine it. I would sacrifice her to Ghrexh¡¯itru.


    ¡ª-


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    ¡°Maria, you have to play the part, get close to me. We are supposed to be a couple!¡±I whispered.


    She narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°You wish.¡± She whispered too, with that attitude of hers.


    The opera started. As the singers began, I took her hand.


    I couldn¡¯t have her blow our cover now! People don¡¯t come to an opera to watch the show. They come to show off and gossip. If I am to have business in the future with these fools I need to have a good impression.


    She of course resisted. But I managed to put her in place with a sharp glare.


    I wonder how Ruth is doing. So far I have learned about the trade flows and some wars that were going on.


    I can¡¯t yet place the year we are on. This really is earth¡¯s mirror as far as I have gathered. The story seems to be the exact same for the most part. At least here in england; after the death of Christ I mean, here it his Ahdon.


    If I am to study story I am better off in the monastery than chatting up these buffoons.


    However that Everan fellow seems to run a mystic shop here in town with records dating back before the death of this Ahdon.


    They use the same Gregorian calendar. But instead of BC it is BA, before Ahdon. The AD hasn¡¯t changed, It still stands for Anno Domini- The year of the lord.


    I will investigate the monastery about this first. I have a feeling that magic used to be more substantial in the older centuries.


    It is not unheard of from what I have gathered when I asked about the rumours of the monastery it seemed.


    Why am I so obsessed with magic? Simple, i need to go back home. Sort this mess, and go back to my plots. I can only do an interdimensional travel with magic.


    The opera is going well. The singers are good as far as I can tell, i never been one for opera myself. Maria is starting to warm up to the ladies, maybe she can still make herself useful.


    It would be unbefitting for me to go about crawling in the shadows now that I have warmed up to these men. They really are set on buttering me up.


    Backwater; seemingly rich country folk provably knee deep in debts. Trying to make a buck with the oil tycoon, they are playing it quite well despite the obvious. ¡ªmost of them can tell that oil is the future, some doubt it but they are fools.


    That separates who is worth the time and who isn¡¯t. Clueless and Smart.


    Oil business started booming in eighteen hundred. Given their reaction we are somewhat far from that.


    Trains in eighteen oh four. Those who were in oil business before that easily turned into millionaires.


    Back In my first life i used to be a soldier to some country in the north america. I always had a thing for history. Good to see that it is serving me now, thousands of years later after I was reborn for the first time.


    The only thing that you can learn from history is that you cannot learn anything with history. Its always doomed to repeat itself one way or the other.


    Unless you travel to the past to get rich that is.


    I kept chatting up the ¡®gentle folks¡¯, and watching the opera by Maria¡¯s side. Not a worry in mind.


    ¡ª-


    Ruth¡¯ FOV


    ¡°Here is the restroom. Do you need anything else?¡± The blonde girl from before had helped me out finding the place.


    I scribbled in paper that I took from a wall with a pen that Otto had lent me. Supposedly it had been imported from a far away country to the east, one much more advanced.


    Curious thing, it stored ink instead of the usual quill and ink pot making it much more practical to carry around. He wanted it back though¡­ A very expensive item.


    *I¡¯m good. You can go, thank you for the help. I can find my way back.* It read.


    ¡°I can wait for you here¡­ I never been much a fan of opera anyway.¡± She said.


    *No need. Please go.*I answered.


    Bloody hell. Get out of here, I want to lean in dark corners and listen to mysterious conversations. Just like Adam said.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± She nodded and headed off.


    I entered the restroom. It was clean¡­ For monastery standards. Good thing that I had the premium dormitories back home from well, being the boss¡¯s daughter. There I had to clean my own toilet, but only I used it.


    I waited a bit to see if the girl was still skulking about. I¡¯m still a little tipsy from the wine, the healing spell didn¡¯t manage to get me rid of the whole hungover, but I can do this!


    I sneaked out of the restroom and went to the place I passed by on the way here.


    It read *Premium boxes* I noticed some fancy folks seating here and talking from below. I might find out something useful.


    There was a guard, but nothing a little blindness jinx couldn¡¯t help with.


    I sneaked inside.


    The first one had a old couple watching the show. The door was open so I could easily listen to the conversation.


    They were celebrating another year of their marriage it seemed. Only giggles and kisses, boring and disgusting. They are too old for that!


    I moved. I need to do this before they notice I¡¯m taking too long. The boxes weren¡¯t too far apart so¡­ it wasn¡¯t that difficult


    The next one had a middle aged man making out with a woman much younger than him. She looked and was dressed like some prostitute.


    The door was closed but I managed to pull a stool and look inside from a little window above the it.


    I recognized the man!


    It was! Those kids¡­ Elena and Tristan I think their name was. Its their father; he introduced his son to me not long ago!


    I don¡¯t think I want to tell them this.


    I moved on. Most of the boxes this way were empty but eventually I spotted another occupied one.


    It had a guard on the door. Big guy, big hat. Dressed in a really worn black suit. He had a pistol on his hip, held in a holster.


    A guard! It must be important. This is it!


    I was leaning in a corner. Looking at him when suddenly, a hand on my shoulder!


    I jumped up, it scared me!


    Looking at who it was, I calmed down. The blonde girl from before!


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± She asked with a serious expression.


    I still had the pen and paper in pocket that this new dress had concealed, I took it out and wrote.


    *How long have you been following me?*


    ¡°Since just now. You didn¡¯t answer my question.¡±


    *You saw it?*


    ¡°Saw what?¡±


    Maybe I could use her help.


    *You will find it interesting. But I need your help, I¡¯m looking for someone here, see that guard? Distract him for me, I will make it worth your while.*


    ¡°What¡­ I¡¯m not! Eeer¡­¡± She thought for a while. ¡°Alright. But, I, humm. Never distracted anyone before!¡± She looked really shy. These fancy ladies¡­ what exactly they do all day!?


    I pointed at her chest. She had some big ones there.


    Adam is a genius at this, no way his strategies can go wrong.


    ¡°What!?¡± She was flabbergasted. I almost laughed at her.


    *You can do it. It will be worth it¡­ And I will owe you one.*


    She nodded.


    ¡°You better make good on your word.¡±


    She went over to the guard.

 005 - What guy? The Guy!

    Ruth¡¯s FOV


    I was watching from afar, leaning in a corner. The girl Elena approached the guard, she started limping and fell on the ground, right in front of him.


    ¡°HAAAA¡± She screamed.


    ¡°Are you alright lassie?¡± He had a really thick accent he spoke as he bent over to help her.


    ¡°I¡­ I think I twisted my ankle, damn high heels. I will never learn its art. Ahh, it hurts.¡± She placed a hand in the man¡¯s forearm.


    He helped her get up; standing only on one foot, she tried to stand on the one she had ¡®twisted¡¯, back in the floor and made a pained expression.


    Good acting.


    ¡°Kind sir, ¡­I might need your help to get to my father. He will help, I can¡¯t walk like this alone!¡± She said with a really fake embarrassed expression.


    ¡°Lass, I¡¯m working I can¡¯t leave just like this¡­ You see the boss¡­¡±


    ¡°Not a problem, my father is very rich he will reward you and owe a favour to your boss for helping his daughter, your boss will give you a raise you will see!¡± She lied through her teeth.


    Maybe she isn¡¯t as dumb as she looks.


    ¡°Alright, if you say so¡­¡± The man helped her out as they went in another direction.


    That was¡­ actually solid. I¡¯m impressed.


    I quickly rushed over the door and leaned my hear against it. I could hear two voices. Two men.


    ¡°Any problems with the last shipments?¡± A man with a soft voice made a question.


    ¡°Everything is dandy, boss. We just have a little problem with the Black tar¡­¡± Another man with a rough voice answered, Submission clear in his voice.


    ¡°Again!? Those cultists attacked another shipment? It¡¯s the second time this month.¡± The man with the soft voice hissed.


    ¡°I did everything boss! Changed routes. Hid it in hidden compartments of the sugar boxes. Had guards! Everything I tell you. Those cultists have otherworldly powers! A man can¡¯t hope to hold against this sort of thing!¡± The rough voice was fearful.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care for excuses. My revenue is dropping at alarming rates; my clients are banging my door down! You either get the Heroin or I will find someone else who will.¡± The soft voice hissed.


    ¡°I am assembling a big team in a local abandoned slaughterhouse. We will raid that monastery, I¡¯m sure these cultists are in liege with the priests there. We will clean the place up and find the merchandise.¡± The rough voice answered with confidence.


    ¡°And now you are going to tell me why you haven¡¯t you done so already.¡± The voice said full of annoyance.


    ¡°I have a contact. Guns. Pistols, muskets even the new rifles. But we are lacking some¡­¡±


    BAAM.


    Someone punched a table. Almost scared me to death too. But this is important I need to listen.


    ¡°You wil have your money. If I don¡¯t get my shipment in two weeks. I will have your head on a pike. This conversation is over.¡±


    I heard a chair moving. Time to skedaddle.


    So I did; fast as the wind.


    An attack!? To the monastery? That¡¯s my home.


    Adam needs to know about this. Father too!


    I passed through the guard guarding an exit in the other end of the corridor from where I came from.


    He didn¡¯t say anything. It seems his job is to keep people from coming in, not out.


    I acted normal. Its time to go back to watch the opera.


    The corridors were mostly empty, the opera was still going on so most people were on their seats right now. I rushed over to get back to my spot.


    I took a seat. The other teens were either watching the show or giggling at something. I took a seat back.


    ¡°Went for a number two at home?¡± Otto asked; laughing.


    ¡°Where is my sister? She went with you and isn¡¯t back?¡± Tristan the blond from before and the girl¡¯s brother asked.


    I shrugged.


    ¡ª-


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    I cracked my shoulders as the opera was closing its final act.


    My ears are buzzing from all the noise, either the gums of inbred pillocks or this opera. I thought an old times opera would be good! But they have so much to still improve on¡­ Or maybe it is just this backwater town that doesn¡¯t have much culture.


    I took my wife by the arm and walked away. We both saying our farewells, my pockets full of business cards.


    We stood by the exit waiting for Ruth. Maria hadn¡¯t said anything yet.


    Weird.


    ¡°You can let go of me now. We are done.¡± I said.


    She released my arm.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I noticed she had a new mood.


    She looked up. ¡°I just¡­ noticed, there is so much more to life than dank basements and spell books. You were right, this was fun. I never so many people, they sort of weird but maybe they are just different. Even if it was just a lie¡­ It¡­it felt good to be appreciated. You know?¡±


    I patted her head, she was just a kid after all. No amount of dark spells and mutilation methods will change them; life does.


    A thing that Nev never really came close to understand after centuries. Immortality has effects on people. Many of them.


    Turns out that some people can live up to centuries and still be children; quaint notion that.


    ¡°But you are appreciated. ¡± I answered.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ by whom? You? No¡­ not even you.¡± She sighted.


    ¡°You know. Since I woke for the first¡­ up this morning the first person I saw was you. And yet the day is coming to a close and here you are. By my side. Ruth might be a sneaky little weasel but I¡¯m sure she loves you too. So¡­ don¡¯t beat yourself up, its not numbers that count. Its quality. And I would say that I had a great day.¡± I looked at her. She was starting at me with those big gazel puppy eyes.


    ¡°And¡­ even thought you resisted, you did great today by my side. I appreciate it.¡± I smiled.


    I could see a tear in the corner of her eye.


    ¡°Idiot! Making me emotional¡­ I guess¡­ you are right. Thank you.¡± She also smiled.


    Not to ruin this beautiful moment, but if she was my daughter there would be quite a hearing from me, if any of them said this.


    To depend on others? Seek their approval? Pathetic. Unbefitting of my depraved inheritance.


    However I do have uses for this girl. Better to just make her depend of me. And when she outlives her usefulness, cast her away. By then she will learn her lesson; and become stronger for it.


    I am the overlord. I didn¡¯t reach the top among the most ancient and powerful beings in all of existence by being compassionate, caring. I do what must be done, and the road for divinity is paved in blood.


    Either by ancestors or by those who conquered.


    If she can keep up? Good for her. I will grant her all the power and glory she deserves. And if she can¡¯t? Well, she can go and join the corpses of my enemies. The ones I used to pave my stairs back to the heavens.


    One thing is certain. I won¡¯t hold anyone¡¯s hand, that reservation is for my daughters only, and I always make sure they do pay for it. This girl wouldn¡¯t afford it, she would be better off dead.


    It took a few minutes but Ruth eventually came out of the opera with her gang. Rich kids these, hope she made a few friends they might be useful.


    She was holding hands with a blonde girl. The girl had tears in her eyes and the blonde man seemed a little down too. Wonder what happened.


    ¡°Hey Abella. How was the opera?¡± I said. The underling meaning clear, I was expecting her to perform well in our task. She is smart after all.


    She nodded.


    Good girl.


    They said their farewells, and I noticed that the sun was going down. Time to head home, starting to get hungry and all that.


    Monastery food here I come.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    We walked a while and had no trouble getting out of the town. There was still a little climb due to the monastery being up in a hill, this body certainly needed the workout.


    I checked for tails. There were none.


    Once we reached the walls of the place, we had no trouble going back in. The priest in guard duty quickly recognized who we were, even if our clothes were not in accordance to the proper dress code. A glare from Maria quickly made him rethink his words.


    She really was held in a high standard in this community. The apparent heir.


    The place was built in a square.


    It wasn¡¯t that big. One side was a building with dormitories, separating male and female. The centre building had a big room that was the prayer halls full of religious carvings, statue and fancy religious stuff, like chandeliers, gold goblets and such.


    And another side was the hostelry where we ate and guests stayed. I have a feeling that there weren¡¯t that many guests nowadays. It also had an infirmary.


    The entry side was a big wall, supplied with old crossbows and rusty swords. There were fighting marks on it, indicating the place had seen action before.


    It had a big iron gate, the one we just passed through.


    The centre was a big garden, made up of dead flora which the priests didn¡¯t seem to care about.


    Finally at this garden¡¯s centre the belfry that I had climbed up earlier.


    Maria had mentioned a basement. Where ¡®father¡¯s¡¯ accommodation was. And where we worked, either cult stuff or general priest duties.


    Like translations and alchemy. It must be a big place underground.


    I spotted a big church back in town. It seems the city folk pray there instead of coming here. It seemed a little different too.


    However there is a big cemetery in the side of the hill here; where the monastery stood. Provably serving the whole town.


    We reached the cantina and the three of us took a seat on a table. There were many priests and kids; perhaps apprentices? At this hour the place is quite crowded, but I can tell that this is not all of the order¡¯s members, they are too weak.


    The stronger ones must have somewhere else to dwell¡­


    The acolytes/apprentices used a grey robe and novices an white one. Ruth had a grey robe and Maria a black one¡­ I do also have a grey one, wish I threw away back in town, the girls did too. They didn¡¯t take their old clothes with them. Do they represent a power ranking of sorts?


    It also seems this monastery¡¯s rules and the monastic horarium aren¡¯t as strict as most of them.


    There is also the fact that men and woman are equal in the clergy, even allowing them their own dormitories and such. Traditional christian church isn¡¯t like this; another thing that the presence of magic somehow changed.


    I wonder how they handle the implications that having men and woman living together causes.


    We waited a while as Maria went to fetch our meal. Considering I was amnesiac and Ruth well Ruth. She didn¡¯t give us an earful.


    Ruth was scribbling a paper for a while. And as soon as Maria came with our supper. She handed it to me.


    *Mission report. IMPORTANT* I read the first line.


    ¡°I see you did well. I will read it later.¡± I smiled as I pocketed it.


    She nodded.


    ¡°We could communicate like this more often. Get a journal and a pen or something.¡±


    She pulled out a silver pen that she had in her pocket. A pricey one it seems.


    ¡°Well done.¡± I said as I poured a ladle of soup into my mouth.


    It wasn¡¯t bad¡­ Just bland.


    ¡°Hey Maria¡­ I was wondering, what does the monastery do when girls get pregnant here?¡± I suddenly asked half-way through being done with the meal breaking the silence.


    ¡°That¡¯s a sudden, and a weird question. Well¡­ Some monasteries immediately execute both parents for breaking dictate. Other ones like ours, who well¡­ don¡¯t usually take in orphans or outsiders have them raised here.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± I nodded.


    Rough world.


    ¡°These rules are set by the high priest. He has total authority in our church. Managing his own monastery whatever way he deems fit, sometimes the pope from the main branch does send in inquisitors to¡­ well see that everything is in order.¡± She said.


    ¡°That might be a problem.¡± I commented.


    ¡°Father has everything in control. They come and go and no problems ever arise, he is quite resourceful you see. ¡± She made a spin with her knife as she said it.


    ¡°Of course.¡± I just nodded. He is indeed quite the character.


    I noticed a group of three older priests in grey robes approaching our table. The leader an ugly men with a scar on his mouth.


    He slammed both his hands in the side of the table. Our table.


    ¡°Who do you think you are! Disrespecting the rules of our community. First you break dictate by going to town; after the high priest clearly stated that no interaction whatsoever with the outside world would be tolerated!¡± He shouted.


    I looked at him.


    ¡°And then you have the dare to walk back in, breaking dress code; like nothing had happened¡­! You three should be executed for desertion!¡± He continued, clearly in anger.


    ¡°Just because you are the high priest¡¯s off-springs doesn¡¯t make you impervious to our rules.¡± A short haired woman standing behind him added.


    ¡°How dare you¡­¡± Maria said indignant. But I cut her off.


    ¡°Did he sent you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°No. But that doesn¡¯t mean that me, an older and wiser member of our order doesn¡¯t have the authority to put you mutts in your place.¡± The scarred one answered.


    ¡°What right do you have to break our rules and after coerce your fellow brothers and sisters to do your bidding? Heh!¡± He said as he reached for Maria.


    ¡°Just because you weaselled your way into the rankings and got the title of ¡®Master¡¯ doesn¡¯t make you one!¡± He hissed at Maria. Who was clearly too young to be a ¡®Master¡¯.


    I grabbed his wrist midway and smirked. Maria was surprised at my actions; but just nodded.


    ¡°Right?¡± I laughed aloud. Everyone in the place were staring at us now; the commotion. Some members even looked through the windows.


    ¡°This right!¡±


    I pulled his hand with all my might making him fall face on the table. Before anyone could react, my eating knife severed his spinal cord.


    Then he just bled like a stuck pig.


    I picked up another knife on the table and got up, pulling him off it leaving a trail of blood, dragged him up on his knees by the table¡¯s side, then casually i lifted his head up by the hair and slitted his throat open; for everyone to see.


    He fell on the ground motionless in a pool of his own blood and piss.


    ¡°Adam!¡± Maria shouted.


    Ruth was looking at the scene. No clear expression on her face.


    The priests who were with him took a step back, the short haired girl along with a bald man with his skull full of engravings.


    He was the one standing guard earlier. I took note of their faces.


    ¡°For anyone who thinks it would be funny to stand in our way.¡± I motioned at the man on the floor and placed my shoe in the hilt of the knife stuck on him. Twisting it.


    He wanted to scream as he died. He could not; I only allowed him to whimper.


    I stood hands behind my back and stomped my foot crushing his throat.


    ¡°I will have them severed limb from limb, and their soul incinerated; you won¡¯t come back even as a flea ridden rat.¡±


    Suddenly i moved, grabbing the bald man who was frozen in fear by the throat and punched him; breaking his nose on the spot.


    ¡°We, the high priest¡¯s descendants are superior. Our authority unquestionable. Defy it and you will have my wrath, not even ¡®my¡¯ father will save any of you from me.¡± I shouted, my voice full of anger.


    I looked at the short haired girl.


    ¡°Get this shit cleaned up. I won¡¯t have it stinking my cantina.¡± I commanded.


    She nodded and went somewhere to get a broom or something.


    I took a seat.


    ¡ª-


    ¡°Surging all this emotions is making me tired. Dear sisters show me to my room.¡± I said to both of them who had their mouth wide open.


    We walked, everyone just made way for us.


    That¡¯s how you make an impression.


    Soon we reached the dormitories. We entered the men¡¯s side, and Maria and Ruth showed me my room. This body¡¯s room.


    I was¡­ Well. Unimpressed.


    The place was a mess. Trash laying on the floor, dirty socks. Eugh.


    The bed was just a yellow mattress filled with holes and the window was shattered.


    Maria squeezed her nose and Ruth pouted.


    ¡°I seem to have a problem.¡± I commented as I looked at the place. The walls were black of mould.


    ¡°I think you have many problems.¡± Maria replied with a smirk.


    I looked around. Not a single book to be seen. I opened the wardrobe, a rotten and broken thing. The stench was even worse here.


    I saw¡­ A big collection, of well drawings. Lewd ones, some weird hobby mayhaps?


    Maria looked away not saying a word and Ruth just smirked.


    I also spotted a few dark robes. They seemed relatively clean, I took them.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sleeping here. Honestly I have a really strong urge to burn this shithole to the ground.¡± I said as I walked out of the room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, mine is also a mess. I mean not the the disgusting kind, just my notes and books. Sort of... All over the place.¡± Maria said.


    I banged the door shut. To never set foot in there again.


    ¡°Really? You¡­ The princess is disorganized?¡± I grinned at her.


    ¡°Like you are one to talk¡­ And, boys are forgiven in the girls dormitory. After¡­ well an incident a few years back.¡±


    ¡°You are standing in the boy¡¯s dormitory right now.¡±


    ¡°Girls are allowed here.¡± She smiled.


    ¡°You know¡­ I don¡¯t give a fuck about rules. You should know that by now; so lead the way.¡± I said.


    ¡°Alright then. But you are not sleeping in my room, its not proper and I have studies to attend to.¡± She answered reluctantly.


    We walked to the other side of the building. Some women and girls gave me looks, but after my most recent show they wouldn¡¯t dare say a word.


    Maria unlocked and pushed the door open into her room.


    Honestly I didn¡¯t know what to expect. But it really was a mess. Books and papers all over the place, the room was a tiny claustrophobic thing. And piles upon piles of books well. It was a mess.


    ¡°What on hell do you need that many books for!?¡± I asked.


    Ruth took a paper and scribbled as Maria didn¡¯t say a word and took a set in a sort of throne made of¡­ well mess and books. Id didn¡¯t smell nearly as bad as this body¡¯s room. Just dust.


    I looked at it.


    *She is dumb, so she studies a lot. Not that will save her from it.* She also drew a¡­ emoji. A face with the tongue out and a winking eye.


    I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    I took a seat in a stool and opened one of the books.


    ¡°Hey that¡¯s my stuff! It¡¯s a mess. But an organized mess, I know were everything is.¡± She complained.


    ¡°Proper ways to interact with otherworldly beings. What is this¡­!?¡± I said as I read the book¡¯s title aloud.


    ¡°You know, when we make a pact so the being we make a contact with¡­ well accepts our terms and doesn¡¯t hex us or something. We need these pacts so we have an anchor¡­ you know to be able to cast spells. The resource. You have that, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t be able to cast the spells you do.¡± She explained.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it works¡­¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Yes.¡± She answered.


    Now I realize it. These people don¡¯t have their own magic! This world¡¯s magic density is so weak that I could hardly feely it. At first I thought it was this body being detuned with¡­ well pretty much everything. But it is really that weak, just good enough to make pacts. Warlock pacts, and yes they do suck. You are pretty much a slave depending on its terms.


    I wasn¡¯t using these fellow¡¯s previous pacts to fuel my spells. He died, so the pact ended. No I was using my own soul. The one that is in the process of healing after I died and travelled who knows how far for how long.


    The one that holds my essence, who I am.


    Good thing I didn¡¯t abuse this magic. Yes my soul is powerful, but draining it even a little too much may cause some serious trouble for me later on. It happened before.


    I don¡¯t want to even start remembering about that headache.


    ¡°I know a guy.¡± I said aloud.


    ¡°What guy?¡± She raised an eyebrow


    ¡°A guy we three can make a pact with. No trouble, all power for us.¡±


    Ruth laughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s preposterous. Most otherworldly beings wouldn¡¯t bother to answer stray calls from what they deem insects, like us. Much less making a pact for nothing.¡± Maria answered, expressionless.


    Its true. There is absolutely no benefit to making a pact with anything that this world possesses. No magic, no worth. But some creatures do, either for amusement or because there are that desperate for souls.


    No way that someone from this world would have the power or means to harvest souls. I wonder why do they make them.


    ¡°The one we have a pact with, well he is bond in our family. Our ancestors tamed it and enslaved it to a certain degree. He is quite powerful, Father gave us these powers just because we are his descendants. There is no greater gift than this and that¡¯s why we must make up for him¡± She explained.


    Ruth nodded.


    So that¡¯s why they pretty much worship that old man.


    ¡°You should be most grateful for it. The other priests either have a pact with the cult¡¯s scamps, making them pathetic, or with some creature that tortures them day and night. In our lives there is nothing more valuable than our pact. That¡¯s something that every lineage sorcerer agrees on.¡±


    ¡°Like I said; I know a guy, I just need some chalk. I will call him up, whatever this scamp you have a deal with, my guy is a god compared to him.¡± I said.


    What? I actually do know of lots of guys I could reach out to. But this one, ¡­ there was never someone as loyal. It almost brings a tear to my eye.


    ¡°You are delusional.¡± She shook her head.


    Ruth placed a hand on my shoulder consoling me.


    ¡°Some chalk please and a place away from prying eyes.¡± I crossed my arms firm about my decision.


    ¡ª-


    Ruth¡¯s room.


    She actually had an organized room. A wardrobe with a set of neatly arranged robes and books, and a desk. A small bed too.


    I was holding a piece of chalk between my fingers after I changed out of the bloody robe, into a fresher one.


    The girls were staring at me, eyes full of disregard and some sympathy.


    ¡°Our brother went bollocks.¡± Maria said to Ruth.


    Ruth nodded.


    I started to draw a circle with the chalk.


    Time to make a home call.

 006 - Acquaintances from hell

    Ritual circles. These come in all shapes and sizes, for all kind of purposes. This one I just finished was a contact one; its purpose to send information back and through whoever you contact. It also can serve as a conduct to send and retrieve magic and anything magically related; for a price of course.


    Contracts like the one I intend to make. With this, the contacted is free to send all the power he wishes to us. As for items, well there are strict policies but nothing that hasn¡¯t been exploited over and over.


    Smuggling this way was not so easy. But it was quite profitable for those who could do it.


    Its basically circles inside circles. Runes are carved on the sides and inside, these circles are meant to set where and what you which to contact. And the runes decide the rest, for example who specifically are you contacting, and guide the circles to work properly. They are basically smaller spells with various purposes.


    Its like a mathematics diagram; a single mistake would make the whole thing fail.


    I finished it in twenty minutes. The girls just stood there watching.


    ¡°I have no idea what any of this is.¡± Maria said and looked at Ruth.


    She shook her head, and pointed at one of the runes in the circle.


    ¡°That is one of the sending glyphs, that one makes whoever we contact able ear what we say.¡± I explained.


    She pointed at another.


    ¡°That one takes care of the image. So he can see us and we can see him.¡±


    Maria seemed impressed. ¡°I had no idea, all the rituals I have performed so far¡­ I just copied a drawing from a book and threw magic at it.¡± She confessed.


    Ruth nodded.


    ¡°I guess the arts of ritual magic was lost in time.¡± I replied.


    ¡°How do you know all of this, are you pranking us? When we use this circle and it fails are you just going to laugh at us for believing you¡­ or something?¡± The girl asked with a complicated expression.


    I took a knife and made a cut in my hand, pouring blood at the centre of the ritual. It¡¯s purpose simple, make sure the entity is interested on the call. Blood is essence, and possessing the essence of another is a big leverage for a demon or whatever being that can manipulate it. It draws attention.


    ¡°It¡¯s secret and no. Go on¡­ both of you, activate it.¡± I took a seat in a chair facing the circle.


    They nodded and used their means.


    It took a while, because well... this world is really a backwater. But it worked.


    ¡°So fast!¡± Maria said in surprise.


    ¡°Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.¡± I muttered a quick prayer for a finish.


    The whole circle glowed a deep red. The blood in the centre quickly expanded into a pool, And curved onyx horns rose slowly.


    We couldn¡¯t see his surroundings only his face and body. The image was somewhat clear.


    ¡°What on the grieving pits do you want? and how do you have my private contact!?¡± The being demanded with a frown, his whole demeanour was arrogance; arms crossed while staring at us full of spite.


    He spoke in hell¡¯s language, the girls clearly could not understand him. For those who did not have infernal inheritage or studied it; it sounded like hateful gibberish and drained the soul of those who heard it. I did set up a protection against that so they wouldn¡¯t get hurt.


    Ruth and Maria gasped.


    ¡°Adam! This is not¡­! This what on earth is this being¡­!¡± She backed away against the wall. Pulling Ruth with her.


    He took a look at them. And spoke in our tongue.


    ¡°YOU¡­ DARE SUMMON ME, and not know who I am!!! The impudence!¡± He shouted. Towards them.


    ¡°No, master...! We only activated the circle, he summoned you!¡± Maria pointed towards me, clearly terrified.


    His gaze came towards m. As I sat in a chair smirking at him and bandaging my cut; a cold shiver ran through my spine, he was going to kill me.


    I looked towards him, an old pal.


    A pure bred-demon, and a archdevil. A tall and a slender creature resembling a man, his skin red; with long black claws and a scaly tail ending in a blade. He was wearing a brown tuxedo. His most noticeable features were his long curved horns, resembling a goat. A proof of his lineage. Most creatures from the hells would quake in fear at the sight of one such as him.


    After all, this one was of a royal lineage. And quite a wicked one too.


    ¡°Hello Seth.¡± I casually greeted him, In the infernal language of course I would rather not have eavesdropping on our conversation.


    ¡°Who are you to address me so casually? Speak quickly, this connection¡­ is rubbish.¡± He quickly demanded.


    ¡°I offered you my blood. Can¡¯t you tell what¡¯s special about it?¡± I smirked.


    ¡°It¡¯s rotten. Like¡­ some undead thrall, and¡­ this is¡­ Master¡¯s life force! Who the hells are you? ¡± He demanded.


    What is he on about?


    ¡°Long time no see, old buddy.¡± I smiled.


    ¡°You are¡­ This is Impossible, You were murdered! They even made sure you would not come back to the manor. Where exactly are you? I thought you were gone; never to be found again...¡± He answered; intrigued, his demeanour more relaxed.


    ¡°You know what¡­ I have no fucking idea, I ended up in a shitty world were the attunement is nearly non existent. I require your aid.¡± I answered.


    ¡°Master¡­ You have fallen from glory. Your manor here was destroyed, your armies crumbled and deserted! I took whatever I could save from the attackers, and those who are still¡­ loyal to you, and we are hiding. Their forces are hunting us. ¡±


    ¡°My daughter. Tell me about her, what has she been up too?¡± I asked,


    ¡°Daughter?. I heard nothing from a daughter of yours, only those who were soul bound to you are still loyal, of course when the one who took your place noticed that we were not dead when you¡­ well went somewhere. She started hunting us with that sword of hers.¡±


    Keeping a low profile¡­ With my sword.


    I had many servants soul bond to me. My death was their death, my will their duty. Just like Seth here. He used to be my butler back in hell.


    She is doing well with that whole take my stuff thing of hers. Good for her, for now.


    ¡°I see, first things first make sure you are safe. I have no doubt that¡¯s inside your capabilities. Now you mentioned that you took whatever you could from my safes. Tell me you managed to save it all.¡±


    ¡°Of course master. The dimensional pocket you granted me is full, everything is mine to safeguard until you have the need of it, just like you instructed me in case of crisis.¡±


    I had many useful stuff stored back in hell. Good to see that Seth took his duty seriously.


    I started writing on a paper and once I finished it; I sent it over to the ritual circle. The paper materialized in Seth¡¯s claws.  He cast a spell on it so it wouldn¡¯t burn and examined it.


    ¡°Make whatever preparations you need to send me over that pocket with everything in that list included. I will be contacting you once I¡¯m ready to receive it.¡± I ordered.


    ¡°Of course master.¡± He bowed.


    Maria and Ruth weren¡¯t understanding anything while they shivered in a corner. But once they saw the creature make a polite bow, they gasped.


    I used a spell to materialize Seth¡¯s contract. The one that made him pretty much my slave.


    ¡°Listen Seth. I know you serve with your whole hearth, but I don¡¯t want you to see this as mere duty. Once I¡¯m back in my throne; in my own world, I will burn this thing.  You will be free, and I shall grant you whatever you desire. You have my word¡­ so don¡¯t fail me.¡±


    I needed him to be all in with this. Not just bond by duty. This servant of many was the most powerful and most competent one that I had currently. He is going to serve as my trump card to get out of this world and go back home.


    ¡°Master¡­ You are too kind. For this one to have his freedom back, it would be a dream realized. I shall arrange this shipment and have it ready, let me make first contact. Is there anything else?¡± He said as he looked at me while bowing.


    ¡°Good, don¡¯t make me wait; time can be fickle from here to there. A few more things, find all the other soul bonds of mine and gather an army with you as the leader; the bigger the better, we are going to need it in the future.¡± I said.


    He nodded and bowed again.


    ¡°One more thing. See those two girls? They serve me, i decided to reward them; Make a warlock pact with them, free of bindings. I shall require one too. As you might noticed the attunement here is trash. We require pacts to use the arcane arts, here¡­ it¡¯s the only way I figured out so far. I would rather have my servants having power of something above some imp.¡± I said.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°And of course; for me. I¡¯m literally exhausting my own soul to be here talking with you, so I shall require one too.¡± I instructed him.


    Sure I could just use my soul, its powerful enough to fuel anything I need. But I won¡¯t be able to heal it in this world and it would cause problems later on; as for Seth he lives in Hell that dimension is almost literally made of magic. He can just send some our way, no problem.


    ¡°As you will master. As rare of pacts free of bond are, I shall respect my end of the bargain.¡± He sent over three contracts. I could see a twitch in his brow, its not in a demon¡¯s nature to make a deal where he is the only one giving. I commanded it; so he would have no other choice.


    While I possessed his soul, he couldn¡¯t even think of raising a finger against me.


    The contracts were all equal. We just needed to sign it. I signed mine and keep it. He signed another, to finish the deal between us.


    I motioned the girls to come over, and they did.


    ¡°Go on.¡± I showed them the contract and translated it to them.


    It was just formalities, there were absolutely no restrictions or anything that they needed to do for the devil. I could do it; make them my slaves¡­ but where is the fun in that.


    They signed it.


    ¡°What is this¡­ You have a pact with a fucking imp!? And these conditions ¡­ Outrageous.¡± Seth smirked as he saw the pact the girls had, speaking in the language that they understood.


    Pathetic. ¡°An imp!? Really? Is this the powerful devil that ¡®our¡¯ family had a pact with!? ¡± I mocked them.


    I couldn¡¯t hold it. I started laughing aloud; Seth did too.


    ¡°Wha¡­what?¡± Maria asked befuddled.


    Ruth just looked down embarrassed.


    ¡°We are done. I shall wait for you to contact me.¡± I turned around and experimented with a spell.


    Now I could cast pretty much anything as long as it was basic; I wouldn¡¯t run out of magic, Seth would send the juice. I just had to sleep for a few hours.


    I took a seat and looked back at my wound. The blood really was strange, and it didn¡¯t hurt. It wasn¡¯t bleeding either, i need to check this later.


    For now I needed a nap. I would be using my newfound source of power to finally start healing my soul. That meant I could not really abuse magic while in this world. At this rate my soul would take almost a century to heal. That was a little problem.


    Ruth and Maria talked with Seth for a while. He was clearly annoyed with all the questions but he would not show it, out of respect for me.


    I laid in Ruth¡¯s bed and closed my eyes.


    ¡ª-


    Someone poked my cheek.


    Ruth.


    I opened my eyes.


    The white hair and the coal black eyes. She was not like the last time I saw her¡­ She is little, again. A dream.


    She had that¡­ innocent and mischievous smile that I always loved.


    ¡°Wake up daddy! I can see the cathedral from here! She said¡± Her high pitched voice full of awe.


    ¡°Nev¡­ What?¡± I asked as I looked around, the golden fields of sunflowers reflected the warm sun¡¯s light all around us as we rode the carriage along the road. The soft wind, flowing in our hair.


    Eralenir¡­ The realm of the gods; ¡®Heaven¡¯.


    We were going down a hill, a huge cathedral built of gold and sapphires stood ahead of us.


    ¡°My love , are you unwell?¡± A beautiful woman at my side asked with a warm smile.


    She had that same long white silver hair and a face practically carved by a master sculptor; kind sky blue eyes. Her belly was round; she was with child.


    My child. She was also holding my hand¡­


    ¡°Qhavelia. My love, I just had the grimmest of dreams.¡± I answered to my love as I breathed in and calmed myself. Taking in the surroundings.


    ¡°Our dreams are often messages, sometimes from the past sometimes¡­ the future. What did they reveal to you, sweetheart?¡± She had her usual warm smile, her gaze kind and caring.


    Always she had been like that. Compassionate, soft-hearted. In no means weak. Always a smile in her face, even when we went through some dark moments of our lives she had her smile. She couldn¡¯t pass by anyone without listening; offering her help.


    I loved her for that.


    ¡°I was in a dark place¡­¡± I said as I gently brushed Nevauri¡¯s hair with the back of my hand. ¡°Everyone was¡­ lonely and hopeless; And¡­ me; my heart so full of hatred, my hands stained in red not matter how much I tried to wash them.¡± I looked down at my other hand ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t breath; It was suffocating, I reached up for air trying to fill my lungs but all that entered them was blood, by the end I was drowned. I saw myself drowned. ¡± I answered.


    Nevauri hugged me interrupting me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry daddy, its alright.¡± The little one brushed my hair back with her hand.


    Qhavelia hugged me too, she was at my side holding the reigns of the same carriage with her left hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m here. I will always be here for you¡­ If that darkness is the past, its over now. There is only light for now on, as long as we are together I won¡¯t let any harm come your way. Look at our daughter¡­ we will have another soon, maybe a boy this time. You will se both of them grow up.¡± She smiled as she rested her head on my shoulder, she still held my hand¡­


    ¡°I fear for the future¡­ Your father, he never did approve of me, saying that the darkness in my heart will never cease. That the blood in my hands deserves no forgiveness. Sometimes¡­ I feel like I am some monster. He is the creator after all¡­ the highest god. If he can¡¯t forgive me; then what can?¡± I said as I rested my head on hers.


    She smiled faintly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not his place to forgive, It¡¯s¡­¡± She was cut off.


    ¡­.Suddenly. I came to my senses and i was running.


    Holding Nevauri in my arm against my shoulder as she cried; I charged forward, on my other hand was a bloodied blade.


    Knights in holy armours charged at me for no effect as I danced between them; my blade cutting them down one after the other. The single hand was all it took; the wrath in my heart offered them no quarter.


    I rushed down that corridor; opened those huge double doors out of the way with a mighty kick.


    There, a big room with open spaces serving as windows stood; a mighty storm was brewing outside.


    Nevauri looked and also saw her.


    Standing in the bed was Qhavelia¡­ all bloody ¡ªwhat was meant to be a child was only an amalgamation of worms and putrid black matter.


    I rushed to her side, grasping for her hand.


    ¡°Zoldassim¡­¡± She muttered while i took her bloodied hand. The maids around her were all dead, as they inhaled the putrid bog. They were only mortals; unlike us who have ascended.


    ¡°My love¡­ It¡¯s alright, we are going to leave! Go back home, our little cottage by the river. Your beautiful garden¡­ The poppies must be all grown by now, we will sing together again. Come let¡¯s see them. Lets go back.¡± I took hold of her¡­ I knew she was going to pass; i just couldn¡¯t bear the thought of it.


    ¡°N¡­No. I can¡¯t, look¡­ father is here. He will make the pain go away¡­¡± She looked into my eyes, her bloodshot blue eyes devoid of any light, deep circles below them. She¡­ she wasn¡¯t smiling.


    ¡°Please¡­ Take care of  our daughter¡­¡± Her last words came out.


    Her hand went limp. She had died.


    ¡°MOMMY!¡± Nevauri screamed between tears.


    I turned away; shielding Nev¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°We have¡­ ¡ªTo go.¡± I said.


    *BOOM*


    Through the wind a sudden presence emerged.


    He was an enormous old man. With a rugged stoic face and a wooden crow, A gold Sceptre in his huge hand.


    ¡°This is thy doing.  Hast thou pride  ''i  thy actions!?  hast had thou enough of making mine daughter endure agony? now look upon''r.  Look upon''r!¡± His voice carried the weight of the heavens themselves and pure fury; an aura that I barely could endure¡­


    ¡°Have thou had enough?¡± He seized my shoulder almost crushing it, he looked upon Qhavelia and then noticed Nevauri.


    ¡°Grant her to me! Fiend.¡±


    More knights rushed into the room. Surrounding us.


    ¡°NEVER!!¡± I screamed at the top of my lungs. At this old nemesis of mine.


    In panic, I slashed my sword at the man¡¯s neck, only making it stuck. His gaze darkened with a even heavier frown.


    In terror I left my sword there, and rushed towards the windows, jumping out.


    Then I fell into the darkness along with the rays of light that the storm brought down.


    Along with little Nevauri in my arms.


    ¡ª-


    I awakened and stood up, struggling for air.


    Light went through the window, lighting up the room. I saw the ritual circle and a girl sleeping soundly by my side.


    After all these years, this cursed dream still would haunt me. That was when it all started. My legacy as the Overlord. After harrowing years in a cruel world I found myself somewhere akin to the notion of heaven¡­ somehow.


    There I found my true love, and happiness. Also found the biggest hole that a hearth could become.


    But I had Nevauri, I had to take care of her. That kept me going¡­ even thought I became something else. I never left her side, never lost her. Not again.


    And after thousands of years, here I am.


    Somewhere.


    I hope her betrayal made her happy. Once I go back home, I will forgive. She is my everything after all. But¡­ I need to do something; she needs to be¡­ punished. And that will pain me more than anything that I could think about.


    Looking down I saw Ruth who had somehow crawled into bed and slept by my side. She somewhat reminded me of that daughter of mine. But I can¡¯t allow myself to be soft. Not now.


    I pinched her nose, and stretched my arms up. Waking her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I need¡­ a drink.¡± I got out of the bed.


    Ruth touched my shoulder and pointed at the a bedside table.


    I saw the piece of folded paper that she had gave me. And opened it;  I almost had forgotten about it.


    I read it. And wow; she had some talent for that spy stuff.


    *Mission report. IMPORTANT* It read.


    *I overheard some local mafia boss, chatting with a thug. Someone from the cult stole a carriage full of black tar. They found out who it was and are launching an attack to the monastery; this week! maybe the next. They have high end guns and a big squad in some abandoned warehouse from what I gathered; we need to do something!*


    ¡°Hmm, I guess we will see some action. We need to find who this addict is, and question him. I will talk with father; to¡­ see what he says.¡± I said as I nodded in acknowledgement.


    ¡°It¡¯s best if we strike first. Wipe them out. I will see what I can do with this information.¡±


    She pointed at the back of the paper.


    *I also heard the other kids talking. Last week some sailor or something conquered something called an Australia. And some other painter died.*


    James Cook and Australia. That happened in the late eighteen century if my memory serves me right. Hell, I don¡¯t know how I remember things from thousands of years from before. Guess my first life really left the deepest impression on me.


    Good to have my time more or less situated. I wasn¡¯t too off with the oil thing.


    ¡°Good job.¡± I said as I patted her head.


    We walked together out of the room and the of the building, Maria had seen us and caught up to us. She demanded that we followed her and we went to a lone spot in the back of the building.


    Ruth went alone to the cafeteria to break her fast, clearly not interested in Maria¡¯s games.


    ¡°I need answers.¡± She demanded with a frown.


    ¡°And I have them, today is going to be a long day. So, go on get them out of your system.¡± I replied.


    ¡°Who are you? That night¡­ That devil¡­ He bowed to you and followed your instructions. I am no fool; at first I thought Adam had a¡­ glow up. Something boys do¡­ But that I can¡¯t believe after what I presented. Who are you, what do you want from us?¡± Maria had an edge on her voice has she demanded her answers.


    I honestly have no interest in keeping my identity a secret. These mortals don¡¯t know me, and if I told everyone that a demon had possessed this boy¡¯s body and decided to live his life. Who would honestly believe it? There is almost no magic in this world. Maybe religious people? These are ¡®evil¡¯ cultists, more facts less fiction.


    ¡°Zoldassim is my name. I also had many titles¡­ ¡®Death¡¯s Consort¡¯, ¡®Ebonblade¡¯, ¡®The sombre monarch¡¯, ¡®The crimson tyrant¡¯; many more¡ª Too many to bother to remember. Most fools know me as ¡®The Overlord.¡¯¡± I answered her question with honesty and a smile.


    ¡°So you really are¡­ Listen, I don¡¯t care about Adam, he was a piece of shit. I care about your intentions¡­ Your kind rarely has any benevolence in them. Why are you here? What do you want from us? ¡­Zoldassim.¡± She answered, she had defiance in her voice, but she was clearly weary.


    ¡°Listen¡­ Maria, what is that you want? I mean in your life, right now what is your goal. What¡¯s the everything that you have always strived for?¡± I asked.


    She frowned and turned around, thinking a answer.


    ¡°I want to prove to father that I am not worthless¡­ I need power, I want knowledge. To never again have someone¡­ something I care about be taken away from me. I want to protect.¡± She answered only turning back around to face me at the end of her answer, resolutely.


    ¡°I see¡­ You are just like me then.¡± I looked up and sighted. ¡°I have granted you already enough potential to become something far greater than anything that ever walked this world. But you are nothing but a flicker in face of the whole of existence¡ª You are nothing. Your mortality shackles you; you will die long before you can even scratch the surface of the potential the universe can offer you.¡±


    I looked into her eyes when she looked back.


    ¡°My piece is obvious. Come with me, be my shadow and help me achieve my goals. I will make sure you potential does not stagnate, you shall have everything you think you ever wanted¡­ and much more.¡±


    I extended my hand. Offering the deal.


    ¡°I¡­ I need to think about this. Ruth¡­ She will be shaken once she knows that Adam is dead.¡± she muttered as she looked away from my hand. Smart girl, don¡¯t play games with devils. They tend to win.


    ¡°It come without saying that my identity is to be kept secret.¡± I narrowed my eyes as I placed my arm behind my back once again.


    Honestly, i don¡¯t care about it. There is really very little consequence; but it would make thing less fun. And I do hate less fun.


    And of course if it does come to light, I will immediately know who is not worth of a speck of my trust.


    ¡°O¡­ Of course, I won¡¯t tell her. I won¡¯t tell a soul! But¡­ she is really quite smart, she is going to figure it out.¡± She rambled.


    ¡°Maybe she will, now come i have much to do today. ¡± I walked out of the corner and Maria followed close behind.

 007 - To fight or to fight?

    Soon we entered the cantina to break our fast; Ruth was already nearly done.


    We took our servings and took a seat in a table were she was sitting all alone.


    ¡°Hi.¡± I Said as I sat, and looked at my breakfast.


    Warm goat milk with some kind of cereals, and a loaf of bread. Good enough, Maria took a seat too and started her breakfast in silence.


    Ruth nodded as we sat.


    She made a motion with her hands, it looked like she was writing in a paper and then she made a cut at her throat with her finger.


    ¡°I will handle that later, let¡¯s take this day off. You two got tend to your duties, i have a few things I want to check out today.¡± I said as I finished to break my fast and started to get up.


    ¡°Wait¡­ My duty is to keep an eye on you, father¡¯s orders. So¡­¡± Maria said as I got up.


    ¡°No need. Take the day off, like I said I have things to do and I would rather be alone.¡± I walked away as I said it.


    Walking out of the cantina, I gathered my thoughts as I sat in a bench nearby.


    There is definitely something wrong with this body. The wound in my hand isn¡¯t healing naturally and even healing spells are failing. Seth had said that my blood was rotting¡­ I remember Maria saying that she had cast a necromancy spell on Adam. Low level too.


    Food didn¡¯t have any effect on me, only making me seemingly heavier for now. So far since I woke up I didn¡¯t have the need to defecate either.


    Its rather obvious at this point. I clearly reincarnated on a dead body; mutating into a zombie as times passes. This is highly problematic, the advantages of this condition are few, and the disadvantages are a pain to handle.


    I would need to avoid the sun and dry places from now on, otherwise it will make the rotting process progress a lot faster. My wounds won¡¯t heal either; most undead can regenerate, but not at this level.


    I also need to constantly leak arcane force into the body. Before the pact, I was doing it subconsciously. But now that I have higher control over my power I stopped it; trying to see what would happen and in cause it almost made me fall over and die. Permanently.


    Even thought this body no longer needs sleep; now I have to do it a lot more, my pact will only send me the juice which I need to sustain it when I do, and I have a limit of how much I can store at a time.


    So avoiding the use of magic would be ideal.


    I can think of a few solutions to this current dilemma.


    One would be the most obvious, advancing in my undead rank; becoming a wight or maybe a lich.


    The more powerful I would become the less these current problem would bother me, but honestly I¡¯m not into being permanently rotting, a freak or desperate.


    And undead are¡­ Indeed foul and meagre creatures.


    The second option would be to restore this body¡¯s life force. That would be a real botheration, I would need a lot of resource that are unlikely to exist in this world¡­ a big ritual and a lot of sacrifices to harvest life-force, and that would mean having the means to actually do it.


    I can¡¯t bother Seth to go on a never ending errand run. He clearly has enough problems to deal with instead of wasting time babysitting me.


    And the third one, the one I will provably go for.


    Body swapping. An heinous art and outright forgiven in pretty much all of the existence, it has many disadvantages. Like losing all the power and nurture that I would have gathered into the previous body; and it would also cause a certain degree of damage to the soul, it would also take decades to get used to the new body.


    The success rate is very low; leading to death, even final death is possible with these methods.


    Death would lose its job in case body swapping became mainstream; or not¡­ someone would have to always die.


    But it¡¯s not like swapping shoes.


    Many who are desperate for immortality practice this art. Either by not being able to expand their lifespan or by just being rich and crazy enough to not bother with the losses.


    As for me; well I happen to have an ace in my sleeve. Back in my castle at hell, the one were Seth used to serve; this particular storeroom where I keep a good chunk of the treasures I gathered and pretty much hoarded random crap; there was something I nabbed during my time in heaven.


    A forgiven relic.


    These are something that the highest entity in existence¡­ That wretched creator banned. He would gather them and lock them away in a forgotten realm inside his residence. I managed to sneak into there once.


    Stealing would be impossible. He made sure of that, but I had tricks that even the almighty wretch couldn¡¯t anticipate. An only use treasure painstakingly invented and created by none other than me back when I was on the road of my pursuit of power; and in defiance of the laws that he had set for the universe.


    It¡¯s an one use item. It looks like a fork made of ash; once one stabs it to another object, no matter how powerful or how mundane it was, it would become an exact replica of it.


    I invaded that forgiven dimension and ended up stabbing one of the forgiven relics at random. Circumstance back then led time to be short; before getting caught I had no rime to test the hundreds of random heaven defying treasures.


    And so, I left it to luck.


    Later on; he ended up filling the vault with mundane objects among the relics in way to counter my method. Making the endeavour completely not worth the risk; i would be more likely to stab my fork on a mundane chair than one of the unassuming heaven defying artefacts.


    Yes, some of them looked like chairs. Pillows, and such; yet it did not make their powers any less terrifying.


    I did spend a good amount of time trying to figure out what that copy that I obtained could do, without wasting it. And well¡­ I managed.


    To my despondency, it was just a body swapping tool. Pretty much useless to the me from back then, who was pretty much a perfect being. I ended up just stored it away in some vault inside one of my castles.


    And now, thanks to circumstance¡­ I found a use for it, coincidently I even contacted Seth who was at the right place.


    I just need to put up with this putrid body long enough for him to send over my dimensional pocket with it inside. And then find a suitable host for my good self.


    That¡¯s my current goal. Let¡¯s plan ahead for my convenience so I don¡¯t have to go around stinking wearing this fool¡¯s rotting body for much longer than I need.


    I looked around.


    Having spent a good amount of time staring into the atmosphere with the most random expressions; I was starting to draw attention from my fellow sorcerers.


    Time to get up and meet people, find a good candidate.


    But first I am heading to the library, I need to check how much this mirror ¡®world¡¯ actually resembles Earth.


    That meant studying some of the local history and maybe geography¡­ some terribly beguiling matters of course.


    I noticed a short younger boy, maybe fourteen or fifteen? His hair was light brown and he wore a grey robe and was holding a big book between his arms, i rushed over to his side and stared at him.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Excuse me, Adam, sir¡­ Is¡­ Is¡­ There something I can help you with?¡± He spoke to me awkwardly, it seems this boy is shy or maybe he is just scared. I did cultivate a fine reputation these last two days.


    ¡°Show me the way to the library.¡± I commanded.


    ¡°Ma¡­ Ma¡­ Master Adam, your excellency does not know the way to our library?¡± He asked, stuttering and clearly confused.


    ¡°Of course I do! ¡­I just forgot. Now do as I say!¡± I replied, It wasn¡¯t a lie. Sort of.


    ¡°Of¡­Of Course Sir! I was in my way there!¡± He immediately answered and started walking at a fast pace.


    I followed closely behind and glanced at the boy. Small; and with the shakes. I could see many bruises in his hands and one in his neck, provably he is covered in them.


    The most likely cause seems to be bullying, a common occurrence in social circles of the young. Amidst evil priests I suppose that a little prey on the weak isn¡¯t much of a big deal, and the senior members don¡¯t bother to regulate it either.


    And it¡¯s alright. The way I see it, the suffering will either make him stronger or get him killed; culling the weak from our midst. But in the future it may cause many problems; like¡­ low loyalty and a waste of manpower in acts such as revenge, in the end of the day it would not be worth to nurture such behaviours.


    I followed the boy into the prayer halls.


    There were many tall pillars of polished granite spread around like trees from the smooth and polished stone floor, reaching all the way up and disappearing into the shadows of an high vault above. A faint glow of light streamed through several large rose windows, highlighting the intricate stone carvings that decorated the sides of the pillars. A few other priestly sorcerers wandered the halls, quietly muttering their prayers and performing some ritual. The only sound that could be heard was a soft echo of the chanting, and the shuffling of feet as they paced across the cold and solid stone floor.


    Most of them were older members that recognized me and nodded towards me. Other younger lads looked at the boy that I was hanging out with some expression or other.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    He guided me towards a corridor in the side that led to a staircase that went underground.


    This old staircase that lead further into the darkness was lit only by dim oil lanterns was crumbling and somewhat decrepit, the its ancient stone was cracked and loose. It seemed that it had much use and hardly any maintenance. This ancient stone was stained dirty and grey, the walls too worn to tell any of the history that may have once been written upon them. At the base of the stairs laid an old oak door, its hinges rusted with decay.


    The boy knocked on the door casually.


    ¡°Who goes there?¡± A slide on the door opened and an angry old voice came out.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, acolyte Torin. Here to deliver a borrowed book to the library by my master, lord Edwyn¡¯s biding.¡± The boy answered.


    ¡°Again? Ed should come down more often. We do miss him¡­ Only masters are allowed entry inside the third floor.¡± The guard said as he opened the door with a loud bang. ¡°You are lucky that you work in the library¡­ still I¡¯m not allowed to let you pass when you are off duty.¡±


    He was an old man with a bald spotted head and long gray hair in the sides. He was also hunched and smelt of piss.


    He looked at me.


    I looked at him.


    ¡°Acolyte Adam! What a¡­ surprise to see you! Coming here from your own volition, and not being dragged. I heard that you finally got out of your shell!¡± He talked... To me.


    ¡°Move out of my way before I crack yours fool.¡± I stepped inside right in front of him staring down at his bald spotted head. I was taller.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± The old man moved. ¡°I see you really did, don¡¯t let me keep you, on you go. Your lord father is in his personal chamber if that¡¯s what you are looking for.¡± He said as he grinded his teeth.


    I detest porters, telling me where I can and cannot go¡­


    We walked into a long corridor, A long black carpet with engraved flowers extended on ahead, at the sides there were many doors as it went on and on; as we walked in the same grey stone floor and dark walls. This place was also lit only by oil lanterns same as the entrance, there was a great many of them.


    There were many more of the same fashioned oak doors from the entrance. As the corridor went on and took its turns, the only differences were the wooden plaques that indicated what was behind each door.


    Like one that read ¡®Master Coleman¡¯s Chambers¡¯ or the one in the entrance that wrote ¡®Portman¡¯s Station¡¯ and ¡®Laboratorium¡¯.


    I noticed a couple of familiar gazes at my back.


    Soon we reached the one that said ¡®Library¡¯. I had counted hundreds of doors as we walked.


    Funnily enough, not far from the library¡¯s entrance was one of these plaques that read ¡®Grand Master¡¯s Chamber.¡¯ and another just below ¡®Strictly prohibited to anyone other than Grand Master himself.¡¯


    It seems he does enjoy his privacy.


    Torin noticed that I was looking towards my father¡¯s chamber and spoke. ¡°Are you planning to go see your father Adam, sir?¡± He asked, no hesitation in his voice.


    ¡°Maybe later. Why do you ask?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°Well¡­ Grand Master Daryle is well, I look up to him a great deal. He is a legend in his own right some even say that he matches Eryzirity herself in the arts. You know the lady creator of our group. I¡­ I saw him only once¡­ from afar. He has been sequestering himself in his chamber so much these last few years. I wonder what is going on with him.¡± The boy spoke as we entered the library, he had such a great deal of enthusiasm and some worry in his voice.


    ¡°He had told me that he had been in the middle of some important research last I saw him.¡± I muttered loud enough to be heard as I moved my head around taking in the library.


    This library is indeed massive! easily a few stories high; i couldn¡¯t believe that we were already so deep in the underground, they were filled from top to bottom with towering rows of bookshelves. The space Is actually quite quiet and dim, a strange green hue pours from the ceiling to illuminate the whole area, creating a ghostly feeling to the space.


    The air feels strangely dusty, even more so considering the lack of light to collect dust. There is a strange sense of loneliness to the place, as if we were completely alone in the entire library even though there were many masters and acolytes going on about their business.


    Yet even still, the silence is deafening, as if the entire area was watching our every move.


    I figured out the power ranking of this cult. At lowest we have the novices; who well¡­ are just kids being inducted and trained into the order.


    Then come the apprentices or acolytes; kids that had passed some kind of test and were starting into the path of the sorcerers like Tobin here.


    Finally we had the masters, who were mostly the older members all above their thirties and that mean grit about them. Like people who had killed, a lot. Maria was a master somehow; but she doesn¡¯t seem to be the kind to go on about killing.


    And of course the Grand Master.


    Tobin went over to the reception were a middle aged woman wearing the black master¡¯s robes and a pin of a book in her chest was standing, he delivered the book that he was holding and came back to my side.


    ¡°Adam sir, we are here in the library! I spend most of my time here, studying and reading. What kind of book are you looking for? I can help!¡± He said enthusiastically.


    ¡°Tobin, dear boy. Tell me about this library, like what sort of books it holds; and for how long has it been around.¡± I asked with curiosity, maybe I won¡¯t have to check out the city. This place does seem to possess a lot of knowledge such as the records from the older times.


    I¡¯m sure there are some answers somewhere; like where the fuck in this shitty world a place with good attunement could be found.


    ¡°Sir¡­ You wound me, it¡¯s not Tobin, it¡¯s Torin!¡± The boy muttered. ¡°Well there are books about history, magic, many maps, even biography from sorcerers that came before us and if you care to look you might even come across old newspapers and comic books from the outside world. I mean¡­ the one outside the monastery not the huh¡­¡± He explained.


    ¡°I see.¡± I answered him as I opened a odd yellow book I picked up from a shelf nearby.


    I read one of its parts aloud, so Robin could hear.


    ¡°If you lie to me I will slay you with my sword, if you tell me the truth, I will slay you with a spell.- What must you say to stay alive?¡± I asked him.


    He shivered, but then he realized what I was doing and pouted for a while.


    ¡°You will slay me with a sword.¡± He did take a few moments to think, but finally answered.


    I re-read the riddle. And decided to give it some thought.


    ¡°Good answer. You are not as dumb as you look.¡± I returned the book to its shelf.


    ¡°Thank you Adam sir!¡± He immediately answered.


    ¡°How long has this years has this library been around?¡± I asked as I closed the book and gently placed it back.


    The boy looked around confused. ¡°The library has existed since the creation of our monastery I think. About¡­ Six hundred years ago? I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°That long¡­ huh.¡± I walked ahead and took a seat at a table nearby.


    ¡°Go fetch me a map of the world; the more recent the better, and a history book that dates back to the earliest times. Take your time, make sure you find the right ones.¡± I ordered the boy as I laid my head on the table, for a little nap.


    I hadn¡¯t had much sleep tonight.


    ¡°Right away sir!¡± He walked off somewhere.


    ¡ª-


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    A couple hours earlier.


    ¡°No need. Take the day off, like I said I have things to do and I would rather be alone.¡± He said as he walked off on us.


    I have been tasked with keeping an eye on him, and that¡¯s what I intend to do. But after he just revealed earlier, I can¡¯t help but to feel apprehensive. He is dangerous, more dangerous than anything I ever faced.


    Possibly even more than father.


    I should hold my tongue more often around him. Still, he is clearly a threat to our order; a threat to our home.


    Ruth was sitting by my side as we broke our fast together, should I tell her? No¡­ She was very attached to the old Adam, she wouldn¡¯t believe me easily; and the threat he made earlier!?


    I shivered at the thought, the one of having a devil who had an archdevil as a slave as my enemy. I should be grateful and just accept the power he granted me, it¡¯s not like I can stand against him.


    No¡­ don¡¯t be Maria. You can¡¯t think like this, you know that often the things that cost us more are the ones that were granted to us for free. Father taught you that, and you know best than to ignore his teachings.


    While I was spacing out; going through the thoughts in my head. Ruth got up and started walking off.


    Without saying a word to me! Sometimes I think she really dislikes me.


    Wait¡­ she can¡¯t say anything. Often I forget that.


    I rushed over to her side, someone later would clean the table.


    ¡°Hey Ruth.¡± I taped her shoulder as soon as I caught up.


    She looked up to me, narrowing her eyes.


    ¡°I want to test the new patron, you up for a spar like the old times? We haven¡¯t done so since before I became a master. What do you say?¡± I asked her.


    She looked around seemingly confused but eventually nodded.


    We walked together the way to the training grounds, underground.


    We used to spare all the time there when we were both younger. Sure we had that age gap, I¡¯m in my one and twenty and her in her ten and seven.


    Everyone recognized me as a genius when I became the youngest master over the last century, just last year, most people would only get there when they reached their thirties if they lived long enough. They told me I had talent, that I would accomplish great things, it is fate.


    Bullshit.


    I got there thanks to nepotism, I recognize that. And thanks to the superior patron that father gave me; while others crawled around in the dirt I got to enjoy learning magic.


    I also realise that all my hard work , those sleepless nights reading my tomes amounted to nothing¡­ nothing really. I¡¯m a fool and I never learn.


    All these others here would be better than me in everything. I would be like the ones who die in the test to become apprentices if father hadn¡¯t held my hand back then.


    Ruth on the other hand. She is the real thing, I have never beaten her in anything. Magic? She is the one I reach for when I hit a wall. Alchemy? Hers are the book I borrow. She is almost half a decade younger than me! How can she be so much better like this?


    She is the genius, yet they all believe I am the one. Since I became a master we stopped sparring, I had so much to do since then, duties to attend to. I haven¡¯t had much time really.


    I hope she doesn¡¯t resent me for it.


    But now with our new patron we are both clueless in what we are capable off, I can do this. This time I will find out what I am actually capable of.


    We walked out of the cantina together; into the garden at the centre. At the sides there was the rustic stone hallways were others made their way to their duties.


    I breathed in glancing around this old place where I pretty much grew up, playing with my brothers. There was always an air of mystery and intrigue here, hanging about the monastery garden. Its shadowy corners always whispering secrets of hidden pasts.


    The thick bushes and tall trees reaching into the air, their leaves casting swirling shadows across the paved paths that twisted and turned through the now overgrown foliage.


    The old keeper of the garden passed; now a few months back and the foliage is starting to grow out of the control. Maybe I should start tending to it¡­ or maybe ask father to appoint a new one.


    No¡­ He has been too much busy these last few years, bothering him with such trivialities¡­ wouldn''t be such good idea.


    At the heart of the garden, an old stone statue of a crow stood sentry; its features shrouded in gloom and its presence a mute reminder of the secrets hidden within the monastery¡¯s walls.


    I remember back when i was seven, Rob and Dough taught me to climb it. We played make believe that we were pirates. Like in the story books that the master that was in charge of taking care of us had sneaked out of the library to read us to bed.


    A few years later in turn I taught and played with Adam and Ruth too.


    Those days now feel like a lifetime ago. Another world¡­


    Ruth got lost in her studies, Adam became a creep that rarely came out of his room. Rob and Dough turned into jerks and once I grew up past¡­ they started taking advantage of¡­ I don¡¯t want to think about it. Those times are past, and once father found out they were punished. Never again.


    We all grew so far apart. The others in the monastery are either afraid of us because of our father or have malicious ambitions in their minds.


    It hurts. Being surrounded by people and yet. Feeling such loneliness all the time. I started isolating myself too.


    Only being with her sometimes. The one secret¡­


    Adam yesterday came out of his shell. I thought Rob and Dough had killed him but he came back to us. But it was not him, some wicked creature in his place. Yet I didn¡¯t knew.


    He brought Ruth along we went to town. Something I always wanted to do, we met people¡­ and it was¡­ such genuine fun.


    And now that I know what he is¡­ And Ruth doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m afraid.


    I am so afraid.


    We won¡¯t have a happy ending. I know that. With devils there are never happy endings.


    My trial to become a master taught me that.


    I killed her; It was my choice.


    We entered the underground complex. As we went down, suddenly as we went down the stairs we spotted him.


    Adam. He was threatening the poor porter, I hid in the shadow along with Ruth. She made a puzzled face but didn¡¯t stop me. I wonder what he is up to.


    Is that Torbin by his side? A sharp boy with a sharper tongue. He often got in trouble from what I had heard. He was one of my brother¡¯s Rob and Dough favourite victims those two scum.


    They walked in. That¡¯s were the true cult was, only the ones who were officially tested and accepted could enter this place. Only masters, it was the truth of our home and our secrets. Everything above ground was just a farce to show to the outside world.


    They granted me a room down here. Which I refused, id rather sleep without the sound of the screams caused¡­ by well the nature of our work; I kept my old surface room. One down here; the third floor of the ¡®underdimension¡¯ was exclusive to masters like me; for a fee. And on the second floor only acolytes could have rooms.


    Adam wasn¡¯t really allowed down here¡­ Is he using Torbin to pass? Clever¡­


    We followed them through the corridors. They were heading towards father¡¯s room? Maybe the library?


    I immediately knew that Adam had noticed us. But he didn¡¯t react, clearly uninterested. Eventually we reached where the training grounds were.


    Ruth tugged at me. She wasn¡¯t interested in stalking Adam. She didn¡¯t knew who he was, the danger he posed after all.


    I entered along with her. I promised a spar after all.

 008 - Bloodwork

    Adam¡¯s FOV


    Someone poked me with something.


    I woke up and cleaned the drool off my face. I managed at least thirty minutes of sleep, felt good¡­ sleeping without the past haunting me. Even if just for a little while.


    It was Tobin or Robin, whatever name. He had placed a a pile of books on the table and was poking me with a big scroll. He moved his mouth, but honestly my headache is such that my brain couldn¡¯t even bother to give sense to words.


    I took the scroll and opened it. It was a map, a world map. Quite detailed too.


    ¡°Hmm¡± I muttered as I looked at it.


    It¡¯s quite similar to Earth indeed. The big isle where I was right now, europe and the other continents. There is just an odd factor. Something familiar.


    There is certainly less ocean, the continents are smaller and closer to each other, it wasn¡¯t an overlook; this map is very intricate. even having the distances accounted to the particulars.


    I took another map from the pile, just to make sure. And yes, the distances are the same.


    The continents are definitively smaller, there are countries that never existed on earth and even the flora went as far as having deserts in europe and icy wastes in africa. The only places that are most similar to the ones from earth was really just here. The british islands and some parts of asia too.


    There is also certainly more erosion given the little I knew of geography. This world has been around a lot longer than earth. Most land masses clenched and dispersed many times, damn; you could even get to the americas in a single week of sailing from where iberia was supposed to be.


    But given the information I had acquired the other day, america was recently discovered, colonized even. Maybe during the last century, less?


    It should have been a lot easier to find. So it should had happened long before.


    I took the history books and read the random bullshit, about some dimwit who burnt some place and the tragic story of a long dead royal family and some such. The things is, from all these books. I couldn¡¯t find traces from more than a thousand years ago.


    All these powerful entities who wielded great power and created the foundation of the magic that exists today?


    ¡­


    I found it out.


    I figured it all out, in maybe a couple of hours of research. Robin was engrossed in some book about fauna, and didn¡¯t pay much attention to me.


    I laid back in my chair.


    Two words, Farm and world; that would explain the lack of records a thousand years old missing. There is no such history from back there; a library this old and big would be sure to have them, it didn¡¯t.


    It¡¯s as simple as that. It¡¯s a world and a farm both.


    From what I could figure out every thousand years that passed there would be a whipping, a harvesting, yes. Harvesting.


    Some big shot from one of the hells, he owns this world and uses it to farm souls at a secure and methodic scale. A big one.


    Even I hadn¡¯t done it this way before. But I had heard of it; and that¡¯s why I recognized this ploy almost immediately. All thanks to knowledge in the structure of the universe and existence itself. An outside view.


    Damn, even the heavens couldn¡¯t help themselves but to have a bite from the cake. They had a branch here too. This church where I am standing right now used to belong to them; the ruling caste do love their taxes.


    Basically, every soul that is born here instead of reincarnating is harvested by said big shot from hell. Even thought they are weak as fuck due to the lack of arcana in this place, a soul is a soul, there is always market for it and no true demon would say no to free food.


    You can make millions by selling toilet paper. Same scheme.


    The difference? These are living sentient beings. Some manner of difference from a bit of a dead tree.


    It is indeed¡­ bloody diabolical. I did like it!


    As for the magic. Well, either he let a bit of it stay and develop, or some of his henchmen stayed behind to keep the things running and ended up going rogue making it public.


    As for this place being a replica of earth? Well, it is rare but sometimes it does happen. Being reincarnated with the memories from a previous life. Rare? Yes. But quite popular. And Earth is quite a functional world all things considered. It would only take about three hundred thousand years of sapient existence for them to murder each other and blow up the whole world into smithereens.


    Most worlds with magic don¡¯t last half that long.


    Earth is a perfect choice, a good reference to create a slave plane based on it indeed. I need to meet this¡­ so called ¡®big shot¡¯, it has been a long time since I had met a fellow from back home.


    No¡­ never mind, he provably comes from some other alternation.


    I stretched around in my seat. It is still about two hundred years until the next harvest, maybe I could speed it up a little?


    Bad idea. Given my current state I would be a banquet for him, without even having the power to lift a finger against such being, I would be a sitting fowl. My soul would be worth at least fifty the times what he would get from a single harvest, millions of these weaklings.


    My plans remain unchanged. Maybe I will cause a little havoc along the way, but I¡¯m getting out of here. Much to do back home, someone else¡¯s shady entrepreneurial schemes is not of my concern really.


    I closed my books and organized the scrolls, and got up.


    ¡°Adam, Sir!¡± Corbin rushed over my side as I walked.


    ¡°Ah¡­, yes you, we are done. Off you go.¡± I replied to his actions.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ Sir, I helped you now you help me. That¡¯s how it works, right?¡± The boy asked without hesitation.


    I casually turned, looking him in the eye. I stood in silence, he didn¡¯t flinch at my sudden reaction. He is quite shy, but it seems he can keep a level head when it counts.


    ¡°What is it that you would request of me, boy?¡± I smirked crossing my arms.


    He didn¡¯t hold my stare, even looking around kind of embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Your sister¡­ I¡­ I like her, even though we never really talked¡­ She helped me once with¡­ Never mind that. Can you help me, eeer¡± He looked really flushed. ¡°Get close to her?¡± He finally managed to say.


    He¡¯s got to be kidding! Ha! I couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Sorry kid. I don¡¯t think she is into¡­ Well boys, or men in general.¡± I replied sort of disappointed. It would be quite fun setting something between these two. I can always do with a good laugh.


    The boy gasped embarrassed. ¡°Nononoono! Not that bi¡­ beautiful princess! ¡­she scares me. Your twin I mean, lady Ruth¡­¡± He muttered.


    We walked out of the library as we talked. Eventually going out walking through the corridors, I stood silent for a while.


    What the hell does he see in that mute kid, she saved him he said? I guess I can prove him further.


    ¡°What exactly do you like about Ruth, boy?¡± I asked expressionless.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Everything sir! You provably know¡­ She is known as the silent singer among our order. Her mastery over magic is unbeatable! She stands invicta among those who aren¡¯t masters!¡± The boy clearly has an obsession, I noticed it as he raved on. ¡°Your older sister managed to grab all the attention last year when she beaten the test to become a master. But Ruth¡­ Ruth is the real talent all those who are any good know that! And her eyes¡­ Such beautiful shades she has¡­¡± He was showing a dreamy expression as he said it.


    I inwardly felt some level of disgust. He doesn¡¯t seem to have the purest intentions towards her¡­ Well maybe I can put up a test for her then for the nearby future, still¡­ I could arrange them to meet.


    I really wonder what would happen, her reaction to such a person.


    ¡°Very well. I will introduce you to her. Come on.¡± I don¡¯t really have no gratitude nor feel like I owe him anything¡­ but, now I¡¯m feeling quite curious.


    We walked towards the training room and I pushed the door open. Earlier I had noticed both girls entering this place, and honestly I¡¯m curious to see what these so called ¡®sorcerers¡¯ are really capable of.


    Pushing open the old rustic door, both of look around taking in this place. A grand circular room, at the centre two figures are engrossed in a seemingly tense duel. The floor was made of the same dark stone as most of the underground. But here it used to be polished at some point, due to the wear and tear many cracks and holes can be seen in this ground. Some holes are actually big enough to be used as advantage in these duels, if one had the mind to take advantage of them.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Like all the rooms there are no windows, we are underground that would be silly.


    A large ring of seats carved of the same black stone surround the duelling ring. There¡¯s nothing here for the onlookers to hide behind, forcing the many who where here right now watching the fight to use their own means to defend from stray spells.


    Not a place for the common acolyte.


    I casually approached the fight, it was indeed a heated one, Maria and Ruth were pushing themselves out of their limits in this fight, both going all out. I could see a couple of masters readying medical equipment at a safe distance for once the fight was finally done.


    Torbin followed me close behind muttering something. A defensive spell? Honestly I could notice the so called masters gasping in awe, they recognized the might that both girls were showing off. They obviously noticed by now that they both got hand of a powerful contractor.


    Silly girls, we should keep our aces up in our sleeves for whence one needs them, not before.


    As I approached the fight, an old master that was waddling around came to me. ¡°This is a private duel, interference is not permitted. If you wish to fight, sign up and wait your turn.¡± He said with a frown.


    ¡°Move aside. I will be taking over the¡­ arbitration!?¡± I answered amused, ignoring the older man and walking like he wasn¡¯t even there.


    ¡°You arrogant little! ¡­ Wait you are¡­¡± He quickly changed his tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry young master, go right ahead.¡± He let me pass.


    Good boy. I moved not paying him any more heed.


    Both girls noticed me, but didn¡¯t stop their fight. I just stood there observing the fight, where should I start? Terrible. They can¡¯t fight for shit.


    Maria noticed me smirking at them and lost no time to shout. ¡°What are you smirking at! You jerk.¡± Which she quickly regretted as Ruth threw a impressively precise firebolt at her face, she managed to deflect it in time with a barrier but it did almost knock her off her toes.


    ¡°Damn it.¡± She reacted, shouting in anger.


    She sprinted towards Ruth throwing firebolt after firebolt which in turn she easily defended against. Once she closed in she started summoning something like¡­ a fire spear? She jumped up and tried to stab it in Ruth¡¯s face. She quickly responded with a force shock wave sending maria flying back and landing with a back roll. She immediately got up and resumed her offensive.


    ¡°Wrong, wrong and wrong you two!¡± I shouted in amusement. They both stopped the duel and looked at me flabbergasted.


    Ruth made an ¡®what¡¯ expression with both her hands and face, while Maria just complained and made rude remarks about¡­ the lack of hair in my chin? as she crawled out of her butt, Anyway. I took no time to start teasing them both.


    ¡°Who taught you two to fight, a couple of drunken ogres? Maria you are always in the offensive! This reckless behaviour will only tire you out and create openings that would cost you your life in a real fight. Ruth! You are always in the defensive and you spent the whole time sitting in one place! Footwork girl. The predator stalks the prey and strikes when it is weak. You shouldn¡¯t have pushed her away, instead dragged her in into your dagger. The pull would surprise her and make her lose her balance making her dumb strike to miss or easily avoidable. Maria! That was a spear. You are meant to throw spears not to make silly poses with it.¡± I instructed them.


    Ruth was surprised then made an angry expression, she then responded me with a obscene gesture while Maria just scratched the back of her head embarrassed.


    ¡°Training alone is good for discipline, but don¡¯t do it. It only embeds your errors.¡± I finished.


    Ruth stomped her foot and made a gesture pointing at herself and Maria then at me.


    I quickly understood her intentions. ¡°Very well, you two come at me and¡­ You there.¡± I pointed at Robin. ¡°You join them, three against one might be slightly fun mayhaps.¡± I smirked.


    Maria panicked. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! I refuse.¡± I noticed that she wasn¡¯t actually afraid for me like the others but from me. She knew what I was.


    Ruth just spat in her general direction, deeming her a coward maybe?


    ¡°You don¡¯t¡­ understand Ruth he¡­ he is.¡± She quietly hushed as my gaze fell on her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hurt any of you.¡± I said as I took a rapier from one of the sword racks nearby. ¡°Much¡­¡± I laughed at the notion.


    The next one to speak was the boy, Tobin. ¡°As scary as you may be Adam, sir¡­ Even if you were a master three against one is¡­ unfair. I kindly ask that you yield.¡± He readied himself in a silly attack pose.


    ¡°Agreed.¡± The same old master that was watching over the fight from before spoke. ¡°Duels between a master and two acolytes are not unheard of, but three against one? And one of these three is a master? Young master¡­ don¡¯t let your pride get the better of your judgement. People can get really hurt in my arena, less often than I would like though.¡± He said with a light sadistic smirk.


    ¡°Enough talk, you four. Let¡¯s make it even more fun, old goat you must be bored of watching; come join! Four against one! The notion makes my blood boil¡­ Even if just a little bit.¡± I flourished the rusty old rapier, as the four of them quickly cornered me.


    This is going to be fun.


    ¡°Your move.¡± I smiled.


    ¡ª


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    He made a quick flourish with his blade and just stood there in the middle of the four of us with a easy smile on his face. One that made me nervous, I know we can¡¯t win this. There is no way such a monster can be felled by simple folk like us.


    Luckily¡­ He isn¡¯t out to kill us yet.


    We paced around him. And he just stood there with his eyes closed, undisturbed holding the slender blade up between his eyes, the anticipation is killing us. Fear is creeping up my spine, even though the others aren¡¯t afraid; they are just thinking of the best to way to engage making motions with their eyes silently crafting a plan.


    He opened his purple eyes and looked directly at me; into me, and he knew¡­ He knew I was afraid, even thought I am not showing it and he smiled.


    I never expected to feel quite so much fear, not from a smile.


    Master Yaspin was the first to make a move. He was a master after all, confident in his abilities and Adam was just a boy in his eyes.


    He hadn¡¯t even coordinated an attack with us, he just charged summoning flaming fist around his hands. He sprinted towards Adam and attacked in a flurry.


    What I saw next was unbelievable. A quick motion that even human eyes could follow, not even as fast as the blur that Yaspin¡¯s fists made has they missed the boy.


    What I saw was precision at best. I was paralysed, didn¡¯t even had a reaction to that.


    Three slashes was all it took, he casually sidestepped the flurry like one would avoid a rock in the road. And in an arched slash he easily cut the tendons below the shoulders the armpits, first the left one; then he made a fancy spin behind the man¡¯s back and slashed the other side. Making his flaming fists useless as the man¡¯s blood literally splashed into the stone floor, like a stroke of a brush...


    He was flabbergasted as he turned his head back and looked into Adam¡¯s purple eyes.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Adam laughed nonchalantly. And the older master¡¯s eyes were now filled with fear.


    ¡°Pathetic.¡± The younger boy; Adam mocked.


    In a blur, a faster move than before he made a single cut at the man¡¯s tendons behind his knees, making him fall on them. Casually he stroked the hilt of his sword against the back of the man¡¯s head making his head smash down against stone with a thump. Almost an audible crack.


    This was no magic, his speed wasn¡¯t superhuman either. It was pure skill, whatever it was¡­ I couldn¡¯t tell; describe it elsewise.


    He flourished his blade again painting the ground blood.


    ¡°You were four, now you are three. Come at me as such, don¡¯t make the same mistake as this dead fool.¡± The boy stood beside the knocked out man, holding his sword in a causal manner.


    I looked at Ruth and she nodded and the meek looking boy too. I was going in the offensive, Ruth would cover me and the boy would cover us both. I knew what Ruth was good at and him¡­ no idea, it is up to him to make himself count.


    I summoned the flaming spear again. The first spell I choose from the contract with that devil¡­ Seth was his name, I had read it in the contract that was burned into my memory. These were spells that pacts would grant us, like the shock wave Ruth made earlier, I could have picked that one too, we had the same pact after all.


    I choose the spear; I hadn¡¯t lost most spells from my previous contract tough¡­ our patron was so weak that he couldn¡¯t grant us the powers directly, only able just teach us how to use them after years of study and practice.


    Fire gathered in my hands and soon the greater spell surge forward. I lifted my arm up from a safe distance and shot it towards Adam; just like he had instructed. It worked! This does not only work as a weapon summon but also a projectile. Truly a prize from a greater contract!


    Pure fire was launched in the shape of a spear, Adam just smirked like the usual. Think you can just dodge a greater spell with ease? I doubt it. It¡¯s speed is more than any human is capable off.


    I could see the fire getting empowered as the spear flew. It really shines as a thrown weapon! Its absorbing the oxygen as it rotates to kindle the flames up and maximize its performance. These spells don¡¯t come with accurate description. One has to use them to learn them, good thing that fool explained it to me.


    Ruth started moving too. It seems she also took the advice to hearth, she rushed along the spear as it flew, now he had not to avoid one attack, but two!


    Now he is screwed. Or¡­ I thought he would be.


    He was just standing there, with his usual annoying expression the spear reached him and instead off ending him right there he casually caught it up in the air, and with a spin reversed it.


    In Ruth¡¯s face.


    Ruth¡¯s FOV


    I Rushed along the fire spear. I could have picked this spell too from the contract, quite an impressive weave, still shock-wave is nonetheless good. It can break bones and adds to my defensive fighting style.


    Still, we are three against one. The sow went on the offensive, so I¡¯m better off making a follow up. He won¡¯t expect that I am sure.


    Or so I was.


    He didn¡¯t parry it and he didn¡¯t dodge it either! The spear was faster than me even while I¡¯m using speed enchantments. What he did was really unexpected.


    He caught the damn thing mid-air in the shaft and used his body to reverse the spear¡¯s direction towards me! Fancy spin and all!


    *BOOM*


    It crashed against all of my barriers and prepared defences. I even crossed my arms in hopes of saving myself. It didn¡¯t matter, the explosion reeled me backwards sending me flying.


    Pain.


    As I landed, my back smashing against the stone floor, I coughed blood. Checking myself both my arms and most of my ribs ended um broken. My defences managed to save me from the fire, just my arms got themselves singed.


    I¡¯m done. I admitted.


    ¡°You think you are done for? That you are saved? Time to give up? No, my dear. You either break or I break you. Even if we are just playing you must pay for your weakness.¡± A voice from back where I came from¡­


    I heard steps through the cold slate floor. My brother didn¡¯t let up; he was already above me thrusting his sword in a lunge.


    He meant to impale me!


    I took the chance that he was already in the air and punished his stupid move. Shook wave!


    *FWOOOSH, BOOM*


    This spell is most powerful on airborne enemies. There is nothing to hold himself on, he would fly off in the distance only crashing against the walls and breaking every bone in his body.


    But it didn¡¯t happen! He pulled something like a fucking barrier out of his arse! He managed to parry the spell hardly flinching at all.


    Now I was done. His rapier aimed at my chest as he descended towards me.


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    Got her.


    Suddenly, my steel crashed against something. To my demise it wasn¡¯t tender flesh or bone. A shell, the boy Robin or whatever, was on me parrying my blade with some kind of turtle shield.


    I stepped back, measuring him.


    ¡°Sir, you went too far. This is only practice¡± He stood his ground, shield up. ¡°I WON¡¯T LET YOU HARM HER!¡± He shouted, anger and determination in his eyes.


    Ruth was behind him in pain. Still she managed to cringe at his words her expression clear.


    I chuckled and lunged at him, breaking his defence with a quick flurry of slashes. Was this shield all the magic he knew? I wonder¡­


    It didn¡¯t take long , his shield flew off and disappeared into the air. The boy was untrained, just toying with him made him exhausted.


    I lunged again, aiming for his shoulder. I wouldn¡¯t kill him or anyone, the old fool back then could take it. He will survive, as for this meek boy a little pierce in the shoulder would do the job, given that he would have medical attention ready beforehand, which he has.


    As for Ruth? A good beating should be a good lesson. That¡¯s one of the things pain is good for.


    Impressively enough the boy didn¡¯t just stay there like a bag of potatoes, he actually found a way to fight back!


    Electricity cracked up through his right arm and hand. And he took the stab into his palm, my rapier pierced his palm, and a powerful jolt of electricity was conducted by the steel¡­ electrocuting me! He even managed to cast some kind of rain cloud, spell leaving me drenched!


    This boy is good! Quite Smart too.


    I took in the pain as he melted me. And haa¡­ What a sensation! The pain even muffled due to my current state was sharp... There is nothing better to remind us that we are alive.


    I took a few moments to enjoy the moment. Soon I heard footsteps from behind. Maria was closing in.


    ¡°You¡­ Are enjoying this!¡± The boy exclaimed fearfully.


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I? ¡± I smirked. ¡°Wonderful job indeed, boy!¡±


    I pushed the sword with all my might, the electrical current rushed all over my body making me tired and weak. Still good enough to end him.


    I pierced his hand and then his shoulder. Leaving him pined and impaled on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

 009 - Tending the flames

    Maria¡¯s FOV


    Now it is my chance! His back is turned! With another flaming spear in my hand I rushed towards him, stabbing someone in the back is a little nonchalant; but effective all the same.


    As I raised it up he was finally free from the boy¡¯s impressive display! He turned around in a moment, parrying my weapon with another, a new one. A great sword! But this is one isn¡¯t solid steel¡­ A spectre! Like a ghost¡­ I had read about spectral magic! And he had it! A spectral sword.


    I had never really had any training with martial weapons aside from the basics that are taught here in the order, so I couldn¡¯t really pull out really anything, but I managed a flurry of well placed strikes with the flaming spear.


    He parried them, but with effort. The boy has managed to weaken him, I have a chance to end this devil here!


    Fire rang against ghost, against ghostly steel. He was now slow and I could keep up with him, my offensive now peerless.


    I was pushing him back.


    Ruth had already cast a second wind spell, I noticed. She had a plan, I just have to keep him busy. And I would do just that.


    Even as weak as he now is due to the sprain of electricity; he is a fearsome foe. He is so slow now and yet, still he manages to parry blow after blow. Time to stop playing around I decided. I urged the magic from my pact forward and empowered my spear; with a mighty lunge I surged forward!


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    Silly girl.


    I feign weakness and she believes it! Even knowing who I am. The foolishness of mortals never ceases to amaze me.


    She makes her move, silly pose and all. Nyraxis is Nyraxis, even as a shadow of the original sword it is still my permanent companion.


    Our skill unmatched.


    With a upwards slash I manage a perfect parry,  sending her spear reeling to the side and with a slash down; the tip of Nyraxis cuts her down. Just enough to make her fall leaving no real lasting injuries.


    She fell on her knees, bleeding with a shocked expression, her spear turning into embers and disappearing into the air.


    I looked into her eyes with a mocking grin. You are never  going to make it fool.


    She then just smiled! ¡°Checkmate.¡± She laughed as she fell down on the ground.


    I looked back. Ruth was holding a dagger against my back, this girl¡­ by some reason I never been able to detect her¡­ and she managed to sneak up on me! While I was otherwise preoccupied of course.


    She was smiling. She got me¡­


    ANGER


    Very angry- This for some reason reminded me of my daughter¡¯s betrayal¡­ It hurt a bit I must confess. I should accept defeat and tell her how well she performed¡­ Be humbled.


    But I can¡¯t. Defeat is not a part of me, not since a very long time¡­


    Ruth¡¯s FOV


    Got him. How the hells did he become so strong? He almost beat down four of us hardly with any effort; never seen such a thing. Still, numbers are powerful; i managed to sneak on him. There is nothing he can do. Any sudden moves and I go for the heart.


    Time to surrender, I said with my eyes as he looked back. The only way I could express it.


    He understood. Adam always understood what I wanted to say, he is my twin after all.


    Something is wrong. His eyes¡­ His face. He is angry, I have never seen such a expression in his face! Adam always been a coward but also kind, I admired that so much about him. A world of cruelty where everyone spat on him, he kept that silly side of him and his good nature.


    I flinched back. He scared me.


    He turned at me.


    Looking intently at me, he dispersed his sword.


    And stepped into my direction.


    I flinched and fell back in fear, pointing my dagger at him. Surrender, we won! I wanted to say.


    ¡°Are you afraid? Little Ruth? Are you? Are you?¡± He shouted as he crouched before me.


    He grabbed my head by both sides and squeezed with all of his might, face to face to me. What have I done!? Was victory so important to him? You are scaring me! You are hurting me! Stop!


    I struggled thrusting the point of my dagger at his hearth- Meekly enough to not to hurt him, I won¡¯t hurt him. He is everything to me! I refuse. Please stop.


    ¡°You fought well.¡± He said- ¡°But you aren¡¯t good enough¡­ good enough to carry things through the end are you?¡± He asked.


    End? What end? We are siblings we are just playing. Stop¡­ He was now squeezing my head harder. How is he so strong? I can feel blood running down my eyes and nose¡­ My consciousness fading¡­


    He lifted me up, my knees barely holding my weight. The injuries from before and now this torture!? What is happening¡­!?


    ¡°Do it.¡± He demanded with a shout. ¡°Do it or I will kill you. Do it now!¡±


    My survival instincts kicked in. The dagger¡­ Yes I still had it. I stabbed and stabbed. My hands became soaked with blood¡­ Black blood.


    He let go of my head, and went limp falling on me; we went to the ground. Together we fell; right now I feel¡­ nothing like myself, I intuitive crawled off from under him and got on top of him and¡­ kept stabbing. His hearth¡­ His guts¡­


    Stab.


    Stab¡­


    STAB!!!


    Tears mixed to the blood that ran down my face. What¡­ What am I doing!? I shouted with all I could¡­


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    Ruth screech woke me up. An unsightly screech, a mix a of panic, fear, confusion and despair. What am I doing!? She is not¡­ her. She doesn''t deserve this, neither does Nev! What devil got hold of me¡­?


    Am I finally mad!? ¡°HeHehehe¡± I chuckled lightly-


    She finally stopped stabbing and fell on me, Crying.


    I took her in my arms and embraced her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ It¡¯s not your fault. Ghosts of the past haunt me. Come here, it¡¯s alright, I¡¯m alright and you are too, you did great¡± I caressed her cheek. ¡°You bested me.¡±


    Her crying stopped. I could feel her expression as she pressed her face on the thin fabric of my robe¡­


    Daryle¡¯s FOV


    ¡°Can you believe it!? Grand Master! He took down four in a fair fight! And two of them were even masters! Master Yaspin was one of our most esteemed melee sorcerers and he took him down first, with ease even!¡± Master Doghead exclaimed by my side.


    Indeed. That little runt exceeded himself, it seems I finally have someone competent to shepard these lambs while I work on my project¡­


    ¡°Tend to their wounds. And send my son to my chambers¡­ I will tend to him myself.¡± I ordered and removed myself from the presence of these dirt licking mongrels.


    A few hours passed.


    The boy laid on my dissection table, his guts open. He had indeed underwent the process of undeath, but still an imperfect being. Not what I am searching for¡­ What a waste. I just wasted the last few precious hours in this foolishness¡­


    I¡¯m running out of time.


    I took another syringe. It helped me with the pain¡­ and the stress. And keep my head level enough to deal with daily with these fools, it¡¯s running low again though¡­ if it ends I swear. Heads will roll.


    I need to get back to my research.


    ¡°Hmph.¡± The boy stirred.


    ¡°You are awake. Finally.¡± I remarked.


    ¡°I have such a fucking headache¡­¡± The boy sat up and looked around then towards me. Fun, he wasn¡¯t afraid. Something I grew accustomed to in other creatures. ¡°Why are my guts spilling all over the floor?¡± He asked with a smirk.


    The fool. I wish I could spill mine all over it too.


    I threw a box at him. ¡°Sew yourself up. You are taking over.¡± I said as I turned around and started organizing my research. ¡°Where did I left off¡­¡±


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    I took the box and opened it. Inside was a useful tool kit. Happiness instruments, or torture for those who aren¡¯t civilized. A sewing kit too, let¡¯s fix this then.


    Not my first time sewing my guts back in place. A needle and a little magic, nothing big.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I looked around as I sewed my innards. So this is the grandmaster¡¯s chambers¡­ huh.


    Dank and musty, quite a big place too. He is clearly obsessed with some necromancy experiment, evident due to all de mutilated body parts around. The room is filled with jars of noxious-looking liquids, books and scrolls detailing the rituals of death magic, and a thick tome inscribed with the name ¡®The Doghead¡¯s Guide to Abominations.¡¯ propped on a wood engraved desk.


    Curious! I have a read that one once. I wonder where he got it¡­ Wait that someone¡¯s else name on it, did it get counterfeited? Quaint. It¡¯s actually called ¡®Grimhild¡¯s Guide to Animated Abomipets¡¯ I think.


    The air is filled with the sweet scent of of decay and rot, dust too; the silence is broken only by the occasional gurgle of something bubbling within one of the many jars.


    A sickly sweat odour seems to cling to the man, He moves about the chamber with a strange, shambling gait, his head tilted to one side as if listening to a voice only he can hear. He mutters to himself incessantly, his word too faint to make out with a hind of madness to them.


    His quarters are a cramped and cluttered place, filled with odd instruments and odd materials. The walls are covered in charts and diagrams, detailing all manner of occult knowledge and arcane lore. A small cot sits in one corner, covered in rumpled blankets and a tattered pillow. It doesn¡¯t seem like he uses it too much, the man clearly hasn¡¯t sleep for days, maybe weeks.


    I lay in the center of the room in a long oak table, the side covered with vials and strange jars. Tomes of dark magic scattered about the ground, after he laid me here.


    The center of attention, however, is a massive ritual circle lit by a scattering of flickering candles and torches. The light plays off the strange objects and instruments, casting ominous shadows on the walls and giving the space an otherworldly, sinister atmosphere.


    Ho! And the dozen of massive flesh colossus guarding the room. Sitting in the corners; They are huge humanoid creatures, clearly created by him; their limbs are long and patched together by flesh of different creatures and humans. Blind and huge, mouths both in their head and torso with rows upon rows of sharp teeth.


    Looks like he gave Abomipets a really good read!


    I can see the priest injecting himself. Looks like I did found that opium addict that Ruth wrote about after all.


    I finally finished my needlework. Everything in place, just left half of my guts on the floor. Not like I need them anyway- I got up and checked my balance. A little lighter, no worries.


    I walk closer to the ritual circle and inspect it. Hmm¡­


    A lich becoming ritual. Quite a poor one too, but it would work with the necessary arrangements.


    I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder from behind.


    ¡°You are still here!? Don¡¯t touch anything. You are free to leave. I gave you authority already, you are to be the acting grandmaster, while I¡¯m busy with my research.¡± Father said with a half-crazy heavy voice.


    It looks like he has been locked down here for a really long time. And he intends to keep it that way.


    I pointed at the circle ¡°This is wrong¡°. I pointed at another part too. ¡±That won¡¯t work either.¡°


    He moved to my side looking at where my finger was pointing. ¡°I had a guess. Yes.¡± Then he looked at me with his dim purple eyes. ¡°What could a fool like you know about greater necromancy I wonder.¡±


    I pointed at some parts of the circle and took a while explaining the inner workings of lichdom, he had most of the thing figured out already, just some loops and useless scribbling that would only make the circle unstable. I explained those parts to him and how he would have to fix them. Then I went over the point and explained what he was failing to see and do.


    Ritual magic could be compared to programming; in a world with machines like my original one. It can be messy  and a pain in the ass. But with the right knowledge, anything within the concept could be possible. Maybe a few tables up; with magic.


    ¡°And the final thing is that real liches bind their souls to an object which becomes a phylactery, they can bury it in concrete in the annals of the world and as long it remains intact; or your link unsevered the lich is practically invincible.¡±  I explained the final details.


    ¡°Genius! but for that I would need to delve into soul magic¡­ I have a connection. I guess I could call him over, untrustworthy son of a bitch. But he will do.¡± The man talked to himself.


    ¡°Right¡­ I had a book about that I guess you could borrow it too. I will hand it over to you when I find it¡­¡± I nodded to him. Now I really wanted to help the poor man.


    He explained that he used necromantic magic to extend his lifespan and now he was over two-hundred, ten years ago the spell died off and he has been rotting from inside out ever since, keeping himself alive with profane spells that where more of a hassle than a boon. He also explained that the opium helped him out with the pain.


    ¡°Son¡­ You have been a great help to me. Once the ritual is done and I become all powerful. I will be sure to richly reward you!¡± He crossed his arms staring at the circle. ¡°Go and take care of the order. After I¡¯m done, I will help you become a lich too. We will take over the whole fucking world together!¡± He laughed. Quite Crazily too.


    What fun.


    I walked to the door.


    ¡°You mean I get to be the boss? That was easy.¡± I commented.


    ¡°Do not disappoint.¡± He said as I stepped out and closed the door.


    Hmm, guess we really ended up getting along quite quickly. How quaint, I was expecting that I had to beat him up into submission; turns outs that he didn¡¯t need any motivation. He did it to himself.


    He was just looking for some fool do dump all the unimportant crap; he is indeed quite desperate though. The way he was needling himself, he will overdose faster than he would rot at this rate.


    What a fool. Still, I wonder what will happen. I had been truthful with my explanations and helped him out well enough so he could succeed. That will likely end up working against me, but¡­ Well


    I am a big fish in a small world, got to make things interesting, otherwise¡­


    Stepping out of the great master¡¯s chambers I find myself staring at something remarkable.


    This fellow¡­ He has a cane corso¡¯s head stitched down his neck. A dog, he has a dog¡¯s head for a head, literally! His body is a lithe thing it¡¯s skin patched together by different types of pelts and his legs!? Are those horse legs?


    I started pacing around him sizing him up and taking in the details. He is over two meters tall! And he smells of puppies!? Why am I sniffing a dog person?


    Suddenly a sound came out of the creature.


    ¡°Are you done gawking?¡± It didn¡¯t move its lips nor at all, the eyes were  dark brown and dead things like a long gutted fish.


    ¡°Not yet.¡± I answered.


    I took hold of its arm, it ended in an impressive assortment of high end claws. Sharp as knives, I felt the muscles of the arm¡­ It was an impressive assortment of varied tissue. All patched up¡­


    ¡°This is butcher¡¯s work at best.¡± I finally commented. ¡°Why the dog!?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I should set an entire pack of my pups on your ass, feel what real butchery is¡± The voice was a rough callous thing. ¡°The dog is a loyal creature¡­ fearsome and soft, their eyes shine with love and when I cut them so much can be learned¡­ so many breeds truly a gifted¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± I cut him. This one is off the deep end. ¡°Stay away from me, go cut your puppies and don¡¯t annoy me.¡±


    ¡°Young master doesn¡¯t get¡­¡± The dog man moved at a unnatural speed and leaned his head sideways in front of mine; staring deep into my eyes, with whatever that was.


    ¡°I am the master in charge of transfiguration¡­ mutation and beast taming.¡± He placed his head upright again.


    ¡°And?¡± I asked in annoyance.


    ¡°I am also the appointed steward in charge of the order. Now that you have been appointed Acting Grandmaster, I must serve under you.¡± I walked and the dog walked alongside me, in these dank underground corridors.


    ¡°I have watched part of your fight just like every other master who comes out of their hole every now and then.¡± Its purple tongue waggled out. Excitement? Whatever it is. This fellow is making me uncomfortable. And I met my fair share of lunatics.


    ¡°I must say, most impressive. Truly, Grand Master Adam has a nice ring to it. Perhaps it sounds has a gentler notion in your mind? I wonder.¡± The dog conspired.


    Now I used my most cold voice and expression. This feller¡­ Not subtle at all.


    ¡°You are a dog. Dogs bark and watch, when I tell you roll; you roll. Now I tell you sit. Be a good boy and do what you do best. Obey. Otherwise I will carve out the love in your eyes.¡±


    ¡°WOOF¡± The dog barked in surprise. ¡°You puffed up fool, still stinking of milk¡­¡± He bit his tongue; before he gave me a reason to react. ¡°Master is wise¡­ The Doghead will obey.¡± He moved the motionless head away.


    Look like my reputation his doing wonders even down here.


    ¡°Go back to your duties¡­ and make arrangements to gather every master and acolyte in the main church. I have words to say.¡± I paused and looked at the creature¡¯s dead eyes. ¡°My father is not to be disturbed in any way; his research has reached a critical standpoint, set guards in his quarter¡¯s door. Not even a whisper is to go trough there.¡± I commanded as we walked.


    We are reaching the exit, many eyes upon us. I cant tell this one is some of the most important ¡®masters¡¯ down here.


    Indeed, just a little show off- It can go a long way.


    After what seemed an eternity of walking I have reached the outside, I looked around and found that nothing had changed. Where are those sisters of mine¡­


    The dog already left my side a while ago.


    I went over to their dormitory.


    Reached Ruth¡¯s room and knocked. The door was locked.


    ¡°Open up it¡¯s me.¡± I called out.


    No answer.


    Is she mad at me? I guess I gave her reason to. Maybe¡­ she is still healing.


    I went over to another room, Maria¡¯s and knocked.


    ¡°Who dares!¡± A familiar voice came out trough the door. ¡°Interrupting my studies! I will have you flayed!¡±.


    She opened a door holding a thick book.


    She looked at me, and I looked at her.


    ¡°Hoo, How!?¡± She shouted.


    ¡°Surprised? Let me in.¡± I pushed the door.


    She resisted a little at first but then she walked away and took a seat on a book pile. Her usual spot, I sat nearby looking at her.


    ¡°You stink.¡± She commented.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I do. Listen about the fight, I confess that I went a little overboard. Some things happened and, well how long have I been out?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Three days.¡± She answered expressionless as she read her book.


    As I suspected. That father of mine really did something to my body- Took his while too. I need to investigate it in the future¡­


    For now I need to deal with the raid. Being acting-grandmaster and all¡­ There must be some way to turn it to my advantage. I thought for a while.


    I roamed about the room. Thinking¡­ And noticed the mirror.


    White as a wight¡­ The hair Is starting to fall, my hands and feet turned black. There isn¡¯t a pulse. I can keep feeding this body magic to keep it moving, but this is a problem; soon I won¡¯t be able to interact with normal humans. I am rotting visibly, the electricity from that boy¡¯s spell and the stabs did their damage.


    And it won¡¯t heal. The skin is cracked and my stomach is a sewed up mess; also have a few holes in my thorax that stopped leaking a while ago.


    This body won¡¯t last¡­


    ¡°I see you healed quite nicely.¡± I noted.


    She threw me a sideways glance. A really cold one.


    ¡°Our master healers spared no effort In setting us right again. Not you though, you look like shit. More than usual.¡± She said.


    ¡°Listen¡­ How is Ruth doing? She didn¡¯t open the door when I went over to her room. We have work to do.¡± I got close to her and asked.


    ¡°How do you think? You almost killed her; even tortured her.  Her wounds are fixed but I¡¯m afraid you hurt her in a different way. Nothing like someone you love to break you¡­ She hasn¡¯t come out of her room for the whole three days, also I¡¯m quite sure she hasn¡¯t ate anything.¡± She explained.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°No you don¡¯t¡­ You are what you are. But if you wish for people to follow you, you can¡¯t act the way you do.¡±


    ¡°Spare me the lecture.¡± I took her book from her hands and threw it on a pile.


    ¡°Get off your ass. Get dressed and come with me, we are going to town.¡± I commanded.


    She tsked and did has she was told; we walked side by side in silence for a while soon exiting the monastery.  We were going back to town.


    I decided to break the silence halfway there.


    ¡°Tell me Maria, why do you do the things you do?¡± I asked.


    She looked at me and spoke as we walked. ¡°I already told you.¡±


    ¡°This path¡ª it is not for you¡­ You are weak. Soon you will be broken, it has it¡¯s ways to do that.¡± I said.


    ¡°What-¡­ Listen! You don¡¯t know the first thing about me. This is what I want, and what I know. That¡¯s it.¡± She answered angrily.


    ¡°You should find yourself a sweetheart and lead a peaceful life somewhere nice, picking mushrooms with the wind on your hair. With your skills you won¡¯t lack comfort.¡±


    ¡°I already had one once¡­ I killed her. This was my sacrifice, I chose this path do you understand?¡± Her voice now solemn.


    ¡°I have led a long life.¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Later on I found that the path of power¡­ You don¡¯t chose it. It chooses you, You will be broken soon, and if you won¡¯t break you will burn. That will be your punishment for overreaching.¡±


    ¡°Take my advice. Run for the hills, while you can.¡±


    She frowned and didn¡¯t speak.


    She doesn¡¯t understand, neither did I back then. And honestly¡­ If I could choose again I would make the same choice. For all the misery the small moments that mattered made it worth it.


    I burnt and broke by choice, the path of power didn¡¯t chose me; I chose it instead and in the end reaped the bloody rewards from it. Even through all the sacrifices I had to go through in the end I found that walking it was it¡¯s own reward.


    As for this girl? Who knows. It¡¯s her choice.


    ¡°Take my advice girl, from someone who existed for thousands of years went through more despair than anyone would bear considerable.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Never regret a thing. That will be your victory.¡±


    She nodded. She didn¡¯t understand that either. But she will, if she lives long enough.


    We entered town; now I must find out where those prats are hiding and¡­ Well find an apology for Ruth; I will have uses for her now that I¡¯m the boss.


    And well¡­ it would make me feel just a tad bit bad.

 010 - Built up hell.

    I looked like a corpse, which¡­ well I was. But good enough to still walk around. Just had to wear  a pair of shoes and gloves both.


    As for the face. Well ugly people we quite varied in human society, I didn¡¯t look that bad.


    We entered a local pub that I got a tip from one of the muppets back from the opera. Well it wasn¡¯t quite a pub; more like a underground gathering of¡­ Well cultured people.


    Yes, I could sit at the bar and get a drink here. But the original purpose of this place was to gather information and set up¡­ odd jobs.


    We quickly drew glances from all over. These people were mostly well dressed rich folk up to some ¡®good¡¯, so I could fit in. What drew the most attention was Maria; she was¡­ well a tad bit overdressed for this place.


    I¡¯m the new guy¡­ I can work with that.


    I sat at the bar¡¯s lounge and Maria stood behind me; looking quite uncomfortable too. She hasn¡¯t put much conversation on the way here. Wonder why is that.


    ¡°Two of whisky over here!¡± I orderer the barkeep who swiftly go on pouring.


    ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± Maria  quickly remarked.


    The barkeeper ignored her and poured all the same from the bottle. When he finished I placed an hand on his wrist.


    ¡°The bottle stays.¡± I said.


    He just nodded.


    I moved on cup to my side and motioned her to sit.


    ¡°No.¡± She said.


    ¡°Sit.¡± I commanded annoyed.


    She sat by my side uncomfortably. This chick is getting on my nerves.


    ¡°Drink.¡± I motioned to the cup.


    She frowned ¡°I have never partaken in alcohol, nor which to.¡± She complained.


    ¡°Drink!¡± I said more loudly now. I¡¯m just toying with her; but then again boundaries must be set.


    ¡°Why would i!? Father ordered me to keep an eye on you; and that¡¯s why I came with you here. You can¡¯t make me do anything I don¡¯t want to. Remember I outrank you!¡± She growled. Doubt clear in her voice. She is faltering already¡­


    ¡°¡¯Father''" appointed me acting grandmaster during this new ¡®delicate period¡¯ of his research.¡± I smiled at her mockingly. ¡°I outrank you, girl.¡±


    She smashed at the bar with both fists. Good she can tell I¡¯m not lying.


    Now she was was somewhat trembling; cold sweat too. ¡°Fo¡­ For how long¡­?¡± She asked.


    I threw her my most devilish smile. ¡°Long enough.¡±


    She froze and stood upright as she sat at the barstool. Her expression a cute thing to behold; she muttered something under her breath.


    Funnily enough after a few seconds she came back to it and¡­ well she took the cup and drank it down in one go! Didn¡¯t even cough and nothing!


    ¡°Hahaha! Atta girl!¡± I laughed aloud. I took mine and drank the same way. ¡°To the future!¡± I said as I poured another round for us both from the bottle.


    She drank, and then so did i. She just kept quiet.


    And so we kept drinking.


    After a few rounds i felt a strong grip on my shoulder; I looked sideways back. A tall man with a somewhat darker skin than the average local seized my shoulder. Early forties; a little more than two meters tall¡­ he wasn¡¯t bulk, quite thin actually. His head was bald and the most evident thing about him was a scar across his whole face.


    The man was a rogue.


    ¡°I think the little lady had enough.¡± The big man spoke with a rough voice.


    I turned around the barstool and leaned back into the counter. Took the bottle of whisky and drank the remaining contents as I sized him up.


    A gang of others well¡­ ganged up on me. The place¡¯s clients just spread around watching the commotion. How fun.


    Maria hardly noticed us, she just leaned her head between her arms on the counter not paying any head to the commotion. She was already quite plastered.


    ¡°This place belongs to you I assume?¡±  I smiled at the men as I questioned him.


    Some of the goons had wooden bats; and leader cracked his fists. ¡°You assume right. Now get out, while I am still playing nice. And pay for that.¡± He pointed to the bottle that I was holding casually in my hand.


    I smirked. ¡°We came to find you actually. Business; hmm¡­ sneaky stuff¡ª. You know what the kind.¡±


    ¡°Does this involve that poor girl over there?¡± He frowned.


    What is this guy about? Is he a feminist or something?


    I couldn¡¯t help but laugh aloud. He thinks I¡¯m here to sell her to a bloody brothel! ¡ª¡­Tempting but¡­ she do is a looker and all, but I have other uses for her.


    I gently placed my gloved hand on Maria¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°This here is my sister¡­ You place a grubby paw on her and I will rip it off.¡± I sent a stare over to the big man. The shiver the timbers kind; works on mortals.


    ¡°Your¡­ sister, heh? and what why does your kind bring his sweet innocent sister to a place like this for?¡± The thug asked with a hint of sarcasm, he was somewhat affected though. Too dumb to catch a hint it seems.


    ¡°What for¡­?¡± Good question, I¡¯m starting to ask myself that very same thing; I just want to cheer her up I guess.


    ¡°She needs to get out of her shell and such. Learn to get her hands bloody, princess routine is making her delusional.¡± I  answered casually as I looked at her.


    Pigtails over here was clenching blood from her delicate hands¡­ It has gotten that far heh? I wonder...


    ¡°Get out. Both of you, I¡¯m used to deal with freaks¡­ But you, you beat my quota.¡± The man said as he moved aside opening way.


    I got up. Smiled and took a pouch from my pocket.


    The scar men eyed it. Then I casually opened it and let its content fall onto the ground; just a bunch of goodies I ro¡­. Eeeer collected from the monastery on my way here. Its all taxes of course!


    Emeralds¡­ Rubies, sapphires; even a diamond or two.


    ¡°Clear the place out off rabble and collect all the gemstones. Bring them to me!¡± The boss man quickly reacted and ordered his henchmen.


    Hehe¡­ They will steal; this will cause quite a good amount of friction in his ranks! What fun!


    Maria was already up looking at the scene; quite dazed it seemed.


    ¡°You crazy corpse looking fool, follow me bring your sister too.¡± The boss man said.


    I nodded. And walked behind him; he lead us to a private booth in another room. He took a seat and motioned us both to sit; me on and old chopped up stool and Maria on the couch¡­ amusing; so I did as he said.


    ¡°I¡­ I need to use the restroom.¡± Maria broke her silence.


    ¡°Sure lass; door on the left here, there is one.¡± The bald man said.


    I cracked my fingers¡­ Time to do business. Silly girl, she will miss a few tricks.


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    I closed the door behind me. And sat against the door.


    The ground is cold. And this thin red dress doesn¡¯t help at all, silly girl¡­ all I bothered to do was looking pretty. It would be fun I thought even fully knowing he was¡­ a jerk. I just had to keep an eye on him and even in that I failed¡­


    He went¡­ took my place. Acting grandmaster¡­ Father is not well, maybe his corpse is rotting over in that dank room. While this fucker sits around talking with nobodies; his claws still dripping red with his blood.


    It was my dream¡­ Grandmaster. I was so close too¡­


    And he took it from me¡­ just like that! I have to bow to his every whim now¡­  I was so close.


    ¡°FUCK!¡± I shouted.


    I got up; and leaned on the sink and looked at mirror in front of me. I saw¡­ someone else¡­ from the past.


    ¡°Mother¡­¡± She is dead.


    ¡°I don¡¯t look nothing like him¡­ I have nothing in common with him. I¡¯m not like him! I cannot be!¡± I smashed my fist against the Mirror¡¯s glass; making it bleed even more.


    ¡°HE KILLED MY MOTHER AND NOT EVEN REVENGE IS ALLOWED TO ME!¡± I punched it again. Now shattering a bit of the bloody mirror.


    Why doesn¡¯t it break¡­ that stupid face! I hate you! Hate you¡­ Hate¡­


    I punched again.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    And again¡­


    Again.


    And still it didn¡¯t break.


    He locked up my mother and raped her¡­ countless times through a whole decade¡­ Made her go through so much misery.


    She was the only one. THE ONLY ONE¡­ who ever¡­ Tears ran down my cheeks, my make up all ruined now; I noticed in the mirror.


    ¡°Rosy¡­¡± He killed her too¡­ Made me do it¡­ Rewarded me even, to be a master¡­ it was all that I ever wanted. How meaningless this title was i came to find. I would throw all away just to be with her again.


    Now all that what I want Is to be grandmaster¡­ another meaningless title.


    STUPID


    STUPID


    ¡°Stupid¡­ little girl¡°


    I punched the damn reflection over and over again.


    ¡°And now he is dead! That monster took it away from me!¡± I punched again. I could hear the bones of my hand crack.


    ¡°Hahhahahaha¡± I laughed¡­ as I stood still glancing to my reflection in the shattered mirror.


    ¡°My make up is ruined¡­¡± I muttered.


    I am pathetic¡­ why is this stupid make up bothering me so much?


    I punched with my broken at the sink. It hurt. I muttered an incantation spell. It fell apart¡ª it could not stand against the might of magic. All these mirrors¡­


    I shattered them all¡­


    I couldn¡¯t look any more¡­ I can¡¯t think any more.


    Adam¡ªZoldassim¡­ Whatever his name is¡­ Its all your fault.


    I shattered everything. Mirrors, sinks¡­ wooden frames even the FUCKING TOILETS.


    I was standing on my knees screaming when I came back to it. All bloody¡­ Hands, feet, legs¡­


    Then I saw my reflection in some other mirror shard¡­ I tore it out with my nails from my face; ripping it out¡­ this disgusting fa?ade.


    It all came out with the strength of my spells¡­ skin, eyebrows¡­ All this useless crap that makes me the pathetic thing that I have become.


    I stopped and sat on my knees looking at the ceiling. There was a lamp burning there¡­ the only light.


    Suddenly a gorge came to me. I threw up all over the floor¡­ My dress is all brown and yellow now¡­


    ¡°My beautiful dress¡­ Hahahaha¡­¡± I lied on the floor laughing as a shiver went through my spine.


    I can¡¯t help but laugh In disgust; crying didn¡¯t do much for me so far so why not? Why not laugh¡­


    DISGUSTING and weak pitiful thing¡­


    I aimed a spell at the candle and just let it fall over me.


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    ¡°Its all I know; I fuckin swear man! You mad bastard¡­.!!!¡± The big man spoke between jagged breaths as I cut with a new shard of glass from the bottle.


    After that i took the bloody shard, and what remained from the broken beer bottle and placed it casually on the table.


    ¡°So let¡¯s get this straight¡­ This fucker came to town to investigate the murder of a ex-senator, one that was murdered the very same day that some, I quote you ¡®lunatics¡¯ came down from the old monastery uphill? Right¡­¡± I resumed the shambles this little man blurted out as I cut him.


    He thinks he is doing me a favour by adding this last tip. Hoping to save himself? Haha; knowing that you know this will only give me the more reason to end you fool.


    ¡°Ye¡ªyeah¡ª-¡± He coughed blood. ¡°The holy church sent him and his cronies to investigate the old monastery¡­ He is some kind of legendary hero with otherworldly powers or some bollocks! I swear it¡¯s all I know!!!¡± The man was on his last stretches.


    He now found himself nailed on nearby wall¡ª The reaches of his skin flayed and holstering him up as he held his weight on a stool.


    I kicked him in the guts.


    And he coughed some more blood. Well what did I expect; this bloody idiot is two meters tall and can only endure half an hour¡­ Almost dead. I¡¯m actually losing my touch¡ª Then again interrogating an holy monarch from hell and torturing mortals are different things to some degree.


    ¡°Fine¡­ you made yourself useful. I believe you.¡± I cracked my shoulders.


    ¡°You¡­ Will let me down?¡± The man asked.


    ¡°Let you down? Well sure. I¡¯m such a kind fellow and all; I will even¡­¡¯let you go¡¯ Heh¡± I game the stool a good back kick.


    *THUD*


    The man fell on the ground as his skin was audibly separated from his body.


    ¡°Off you go then.¡± I said with a smirk.


    I exited the room. There was an oddly familiar thing in the air; smoke. Maria has been silent for a couple minutes now¡­ I could hear almost everything, that restroom was right the next room and wood walls and everything¡­


    We all have our demons.


    I opened the room¡¯s door, and gazed at the scene.


    Goddammit; I¡¯m never giving you hooch again¡­ silly girl. I cast a protection charm and walked into the flames taking her into my arms.


    She reminds me so much of Dae¡­


    But this wasn¡¯t Dae¡­ Dae would set the whole country on fire to make a point¡­ not this.


    She was pretty much all burned up. But still alive to a certain degree.


    ¡°You are lucky¡­ Very lucky that I am around.¡± I muttered unimpressed.


    Walking out was easy¡­ the bodies of the goons ended up decorating the whole place; they intended to lock me down here¡­ shame that the only ones that ended up locked were them, with me. Also they gathered the gemstones back into the pouch, how nice of them.


    I cleaned up a nearby table and placed Maria on it. She was badly burnt, but it seems all her training and the resilience that her new contract provided her managed to grant her about just enough vitality to survive that.


    My assort of spells is nearly limitless in this context, I wasn¡¯t a mage exactly never really focusing on magic; but given my status I had no choice but to master it in a more general way¡­ of course.


    Just enough to be able to actually understand what my various opponents were doing in fights.


    Even if they were masters of that specific kind of magic and used it on a deeper level, just knowing it¡¯s basics was enough to have a general idea in how to break its efficacy. Most of the time anyway.


    I knew healing spells. And no, the contract just provided me the power that said the magic to use these spells; which I already knew. In case of Maria¡¯s flaming spear or Ruth¡¯s shockwave well they didn¡¯t even knew the basics through these.


    That was why these contracts were generally quite popular.


    A way to use magic without having to actually understand the underlying principles of it? without putting in the effort or spend time to actually comprehend its workings?


    Truly an unambitious and distasteful thing. Worthy of humans indeed.


    Not to say that humans aren¡¯t ambitious, they are. But they usually tend to skim over the contents. Given they are such short lived creatures that is excused, most of them don¡¯t have much of a choice and that¡¯s why they are the bottom of the food chain in terms of power at most worlds were other races are prevalent.


    Being numerous is quite a boon compared to elves and higher demons but rarely worth anything in the face of true arcane might.


    I looked at Maria¡¯s burns and cuts and decided to cast a healing spell repairing the damage. She sure had fun in there.


    It took about ten minutes, she now looked good enough; her hair and skin now restored back to normal. I could keep at it and finish the job but given the nature of healing spells it isn¡¯t safe to stimulate her body much longer, otherwise it might die of¡­ well healing overdose.


    A common mistake among amateur healers. She just needed to sleep it off.


    Her burns were gone and also the cuts, the only thing remaining was a nasty burn that she had on her shoulder most likely because that was where the fire started and were it burned deeper. A nasty scar¡­ may it serve as a memory of whatever she had learned inside that restroom.


    I took a cloth from one the nearby tables and covered her naked body in it, then took her unconscious body in a piggy ride out of this place.


    None of the clothes that she was using survived the ordeal.


    I actually committed a little massacre over this way and without a doubt someone would be due to come over and investigate the spreading fire... I wouldn¡¯t mind another round; but then again I have much to do today and its already noon.


    Casually walking out of the underground bar with the unconscious girl I entered the streets some locals threw me those weird glances but none of them actually came over and bothered me, the local authorities were coming to the place, I noticed as I had already walked far into distance.


    The girl breathed against my back, and that allowed me to know that she had stabilized, that¡¯s good I will be able to put her to work soon.


    I found some sort of hotel and rented a room, throwing a gemstone to the servant and no questions were asked.


    It was a simple place, mostly made of wood a single bed and a small fireplace, a desk by the window.


    I laid Maria on the bed she would wake up soon enough, still it is better if I watch over her in case any anomalies occurred. Healing¡­ well it wasn¡¯t my speciality.


    So I pushed over the nearby chair and sat facing her;  I told the local servant to get some clothes for her.


    Maria¡¯s FOV


    I had a bad dream¡­ I cut myself and screamed at my reflection then the flames engulfed me. I thought I had died in there. But consciousness was coming back to me.


    I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar roof. Wait¡­ this isn¡¯t my bedroom. Where am I?


    I looked to my side and saw a corpse like figure. Long grey hair and an somewhat wrinkled face¡­ his eyes were closed, was he sleeping? Wait¡­ the stench. He spells like a corpse.


    Adam! I mean¡­ The devil that took his place.


    I sat up.


    Suddenly a flush of memories rushed into my mind¡­ the bathroom. And that he made me drink¡­ That he killed father and took his place! I should be dead. Why am I not dead?


    Wait¡­


    Did he save me? This devil? Impossible.


    I looked down¡­ why, why¡­ am I naked. What has he done to me!?


    Calm down¡­ Think Maria. Think. My clothes must have burned¡­ But it doesn¡¯t make any sense! I should be dead at that point!


    I looked at my right shoulder. A burn scar¡­ it seemed quite well healed but it still stood out quite a lot. It did happen!


    I feel so stupid¡­


    He did save me.


    Why?


    The bedclothes were under me and in instinct I hid under them. He woke up, his purple eyes stared right into me. He had a sombre and strange expression.


    What is this feeling?


    He poked me at my shoulder with a finger where I was burnt. And that did hurt a lot! ¡°Slept well?¡± He asked.


    I instinctively blushed. What is going over me!?


    ¡°What? Are you angry? I am the one who should be angry? Having a breakdown in the middle of a job? What went over you you dumb cow?¡± He asked with a cruel and¡­ at the same time playful expression. Something I only saw him do.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me while I sleep¡­ Naked? You degenerate! Pervert!¡± I angrily threw a pillow at him.


    But he did save me¡­ I¡­ didn¡¯t want to die. I am actually a little grateful. Even if he is the reason that happened¡­ This mad bastard.


    Why does he have to be so queer about everything he does?


    As I threw the pillow he dodged it with a motion backwards and¡­ almost fell off his char.


    ¡°Hahaha! Who is dumb now!¡± I pointed at him, as he recovered and removed the pillow off his face.


    ¡°Good that you got your sense of humour back. As bad as it is¡­ Anyway I didn¡¯t bother to dress you up. You got a perfect good pair of hands.¡± He spoke as he got up.


    ¡°And¡­ as for me seeing you naked. Well¡­ I have been with many much fairer maidens than you. If that brings you any comfort.¡± He said with a smirk.


    It doesn¡¯t. Prick.


    He actually ended up saving me¡­  I feel grateful¡­ even thought I hate his guts. He is unforgivable but¡­ i almost died so many times even before reaching adulthood and no one ever lifted a finger to help me as they watched¡­ Father, Ruth¡­ Dough and Rob.


    The people I always thought that cared about me. But they never did.


    Just this demon.


    I remember the restroom¡­  I realized what I felt. All those emotions that I bottled up along the years, even thought he did it an cruel way he made me vent¡­ And I realized what I was actually about.


    This demon will burn the monastery down along with those monsters and fuckers who made me miserable all my life? Well then. Let him.


    They deserve nothing better. I will even help him out, I just don¡¯t care about it anymore.


    Once I dreamed of making that place somewhere better¡­ where we all could smile be a family. But these dreams are dead now that I realize what that place truly is¡ªCorrupt. Disgustingly so.


    They were the reason I lost mother and Rosemary. Maybe it was father¡¯s fault; but now that he is dead I will end what he started.


    I vow this.


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    I rested my head against the door. Damn¡­ I dreamt again of Qhavelia. Why does she torment me so? Even after a thousand years maybe more. I miss her¡­


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Maria asked from behind me.


    ¡°Hmm? Hah yes¡­ get dressed and come down the stairs,  I will have them arrange a meal. We have much to do today. I hope you are feeling better.¡± I answered as I opened the door to leave.


    ¡°Alright.¡± She answered.


    ¡°Maria¡­ Well, thanks. Others don¡¯t often ask me if I am alright¡­ At least not when it matters or by some genuine feeling.¡± What exactly am I saying¡­? What is going over me?


    Qhavelia do is really getting into me¡­ Damn I miss her. These dreams make me realize just how much.


    I went down the stairs and took a seat by the table. The same servant that brought the clothes for Maria addressed me. This was but a modest country hotel after all.


    ¡°Make you best dish for two¡­ and water.¡± I ordered after I sat.


    ¡°Right away sir.¡± The servant went about his business.


    I gathered my thoughts. That fool I interrogated¡­ He told me many things, he did had a good network. I found out were the goons who were planning an attack to the monastery were holing up and even served me the name of who they worked for.


    Some noble by the name of Cornelius. He had an ill repute in town and it seemed that the boss of the local militia, or the police in charge of this town was his cousin or some such; that¡¯s why he could carry on with pretty much any business he wished without having much repercussion.


    Humans and their silly power systems¡­ Trying to uphold righteousness and all of that by leading with tyranny. And what was funny was that it mostly worked.


    Well, not that I can talk much about that back when I ruled over my land I was by all means a tyrant. And everyone loved me for it. I mean¡­ mostly everyone. Just the locals; I¡¯m not getting into that.


    Just saying that it worked, as long as I ruled it. Now I wonder what happened to my wonderful kingdom; it probably fell into chaos. Well¡­ I just have to go and do it all again.


    He was also talking about some fools who came over from the church to investigate a murder that I happened to commit. I will need to get into that¡­


    Who would guess that creature was an ex-senator? I murder a few peasants no one gets around, I murder a pig and out of nowhere suddenly there is a crisis! Lucky me.

 011 - Walk of the mind.

    We sat together as we finished our meal. A local roast.


    Maria seemed to like well enough. As for me, well food doesn¡¯t seem to have any effect on this body nor drink¡­ It was the same in my last one too. At some point alcohol loses its effect once one develops resistance to mundane poison. All manners of drugs too.


    As for food, its more of a social thing. At the level that I was it would be logic that one would have to eat an entire buffalo to keep satiated, but what we end up feeding on it¡¯s magic, something the world itself provided so I didn¡¯t really know hunger for a very long time.


    As for now¡­ well an undead can¡¯t really partake in the joys of the living. That is the deal after all, to be an undead is to spit on the laws of the universe so the universe spits on you.


    It Is a path to power, yes, but for me well¡­ ambition lies in conquering your weaknesses not cowering from them like the undead do.


    Then again if I eat doesn¡¯t the food just spill out of my guts when one would ingest it or drink? That would be the logic yes, considering I have ripped out pretty much the whole part of the body that took care of that. There is a literal hole from my ribs below held only by sewn skin.


    But like I said, when you spit in the laws of the universe the universe spits on you. It doesn¡¯t adhere to logic, only the ridiculous thing that it is magic¡ª when I place food an drink in my mouth it all simply turns to ash. It is a punishment.


    To deny life is to deny its perks. That is why most undead are mindless and roaming freaks that plague the worlds in search of sustenance that wil never satiate them; this cold logic breaks them and they end up wasting their time trying to get back something they themselves threw away. It is a curse, and at the same time something popular that way too many beings embrace.


    That being said. Well, being an undead requires a serious amount of self-awareness and willpower to be able to keep any semblance of self. I will give them that at least.


    As for me, well I can¡¯t wait to get rid of this carcass.


    ¡°Adam? something wrong?¡± Maria asked as she ate at the other end of the table.


    ¡°Just contemplating the next steps.¡± I got up. ¡°Come find me outside once you are done.¡± I said I walked towards the door.


    She got up. ¡°I¡¯m done, let¡¯s go.¡± She followed close behind.


    ¡°What are we¡ª, well scheming now?¡± She asked as she walked behind me.


    ¡°We are heading to a local warehouse.¡± I answered.


    ¡°To do what?¡± She asked.


    ¡°To leave a note. A very interesting note.¡± I hope those fuckers can read.


    ¡°O¡­okay¡± She replied.


    We walked around town. As I searched for this warehouse, which was meant to be on the west side of the town; the other side given we were now located in the east where the monastery was located in relation to this beacon of civilization.


    We passed by many and array of shops, houses, and pubs. As many horse-drawn carriages rattled along the cobblestone roads. Maybe I should rent one¡­ better not as I think about it, I already drew too much attention for a day.


    The smell of tobacco and ale wafted through the air as we walked. Maria stepped up and started to walk by my side. Good to see that she isn¡¯t entirely lacking in social skills; well given her background it is to be excused. Those who walk behind us are followers after all, this simple gesture means nothing. But it is good to see that she knows how to stand up for herself.


    I gave her a simple nod of approval as she did that.


    The local pedestrians were clad in old fashioned but¡­ somewhat elegant clothes as they meander through the streets, as we walk we hear people talk in the local accents. This town is alive and with a rich history, signs of the past still evident in the buildings and streets.


    As we continued our our walk Maria just looked around somewhat in awe to the place. Clearly she didn¡¯t get out of the monastery often.


    She turned a little red as I gave her a little look. She is acting a little weird¡­ like she feels more comfortable around me now. Wonder why is that.


    ¡°What?¡± She asked, then quickly added. ¡°When we went to the opera last time it was actually my first time over in town in many years¡­ I always wanted to come back and see it again.¡± She answered with a little smile.


    ¡°Father didn¡¯t let you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°No¡­ I was forgiven, all of us were. The monastery was on full lock down, still is. I don¡¯t know how you do whatever you please and never suffer any repercussions.¡± She commented.


    ¡°I already show you how.¡± I looked at her, before she said anything. ¡°I deal with them before they happen or once they do, I make sure they don¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°But what about¡­ the monastery? Law and order? Stability? Safety.¡± She asked.


    I smiled. ¡°It is a stupid thing, to give out your freedom in exchange of useless things like those. It is something many refuse to learn too.¡±


    ¡°Freedom is an illusion¡­ and a lie. It is one of the many of the teachings of our order. The church too.¡± She mumbled somewhat uncertain.


    ¡°So is law, order, stability and your precious safety. You know what isn¡¯t a lie? You are either happy or you aren¡¯t. That¡¯s something up to you to decide and take it.¡± I shared with her my thoughts on the matter.


    ¡°How can I be happy if I am not safe?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Is it a requirement of your happiness to be safe? Considering your story¡­ I doubt it¡± I answered.


    ¡°Why¡­ Why do you say that?¡± Maria questioned with a pout.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want power? To kill your father and be respected by everyone? You contradict yourself; to be happy is on par with your goals. How can you be safe if you choose such a path? One where you take risks.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ How¡­ do you know that?¡± She looked down.


    ¡°Well¡­ The walls were thin. I could hear your drunken ramblings.¡± I chuckled.


    She stopped and turned beet red. I turned around to look at her.


    ¡°Listen Maria, there is nothing more important for a man or¡­ in your case a chick. You get it. It¡¯s our goals no matter how stupid or meaningless they turn out to be. Never, and I say never allow anyone to mock them or look down on them.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ Why? It¡¯s their opinion¡­ Should we not respect it?¡± She mumbled as we kept walking.


    ¡°It is the highest form of disrespect one can give you. You can tolerate an insult, even to your own family, but yo your goals? That¡¯s something you can never forgive. A person¡¯s dreams or goals are the most important and holy thing anyone should hold.¡±


    ¡°I can sympathise but¡­  I don¡¯t get it.¡± She replied.


    ¡°One day perhaps you will understand.¡± I looked down and remembered a few parts of my long sordid past. ¡°Once I was in a very dark place. I had lost everyone I ever loved and things many a person could not bear to lose, I was desperate and deeply broken.¡± I said with a sombre voice; it still hurt to remember things even after many centuries.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry?¡± She was somewhat bewildered.


    ¡°The point is that, the thing that brought me back were my desires. The things that I wanted and hoped for; something better... My goals I mean. In some points in life it is better to hold on to these silly things than the emptiness that life can make us go through and feel.¡± I looked ahead. We were reaching the town¡¯s center.


    ¡°That is why our goals are so important to protect and work towards. To escape darkness, well you reach for the light. To reach for darkness is to get even more darkness. It can feel good¡­ To let yourself go to rage and misery. But that can be considered a form of ¡®masturbation¡¯; weakness in one of its purest forms, no matter how forgone you might end up feeling¡­ to accept that and keep at it; not to even bother to escape it. That is the definition of weakness and that is something that cannot be tolerated. It is to deserve death.¡±


    ¡°What about those who just wish to live in peace? settle down and farm? be with their families? They aren¡¯t fighters¡­ they aren¡¯t strong so they get slaughtered and oppressed by the daily basis. Would you call them weak for it? Do they deserve death?¡± She asked.


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance. ¡°You have taken a complicated subject and trivialized it with your answer... and lack of experience. To have power and not have it, to be able to affect the world and the people around you. That is not strength nor weakness, to be strong is to realize your own weakness and be better. To be weak is to recognize it and stay that way.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡± Maria whispered.


    ¡°You will some day.¡±


    ¡°Is it worth it? To seek revenge, I mean¡­ won¡¯t I feel empty after I get it? I have given it some thought.¡± She asked another question after a while.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Will you stay empty or find yourself a new goal? Something else to work towards? It is up to you.¡± I replied.


    Soon we entered the town¡¯s square. And Maria remained silent. We noticed the several social classes that made up this old town. Wealthy merchants and nobles often driving by in their carriages, while the working class walked along the streets, engaged in their daily tasks. We saw children playing in the streets too.


    Maria even waved at them drawing some attention. She is a kind soul on a ruthless path¡­ Like so many before her.


    Hawkers sold their wares, and street musicians entertained the passersby with their music and instruments. This truly is the heart of the town.


    Soon we reached our destination. An old and big warehouse. Its purpose unknown. It seemed abandoned by all means. We stopped by a big wooden gate which I just politely knocked.


    It took a minute but finally someone opened the peephole. It was a thug, with a thug''s face.


    ¡°What de ye want?¡± He said with that funky accent.


    I just casually flipped him the bird.


    He immediately smashed the peephole shut.


    I took a note and slided it into the thing. Then knocked again, more roughly now; to draw attention again.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± I motioned the girl.


    And so we went another long walk to back to the monastery.


    Then It struck me. I had originally come over to town to buy something for Ruth. I needed her; and that meant I had to cheer her up. Well¡­ that meant that I had to go to the weapons shop.


    What kinds of gift would that girl like? I had no idea. So I decided to get her something that I would like to receive. It is quite simple this kind of thing, after all my tastes are impeccable.


    We walked a while longer and some hours did pass. I had set up a gathering in the monastery with the freak to announce my new position and handle some other things so I had to hurry, to actually get there on time. Well they could wait¡­ that would be fun actually.


    ¡°Hey Maria.¡± I asked the girl who was casually keeping quiet.


    ¡°Mmm!? You need something?¡± She looked at me surprised as we walked, she was clearly lost in her own world-


    ¡°What kind of things does Ruth like? I want to get her something.¡±


    She lifted an eyebrow up. ¡°No idea. She is weird.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon, you can think of something¡­ you are her sister after all!¡± I replied.


    ¡°Half-sister actually and¡­ I don¡¯t know, a book perhaps. She does read a lot.¡±


    ¡°Considering the size of the library back home¡­ she can easily get any book she wants, so¡­ I will get her a weapon then.¡± I muttered.


    ¡°What is it with the half-sister thing anyway?¡± I suspected something actually.


    She held her own shoulder. ¡°Right¡­ sometimes I forget that you aren¡¯t actually my brother. There isn¡¯t much of a thing. Me and our other brothers share the same mother and father, while you and Ruth are twins from a different mother and the same father. Is that¡­ easy to understand?¡± She replied.


    I nodded ¡°I see. Well I might have mentioned it, but you hadn¡¯t noticed it. ¡®Father¡¯ is actually alive, he appointed me acting grandmaster out of sheer convenience for him. You can still go and brutally dismember him tough.¡± I mentioned.


    She suddenly jerked up. ¡°W¡­WHAT¡ª I¡­I thought that. No¡­ Why didn¡¯t you said it earlier! After all that goal talk¡­ You are impossible.¡± She pacepalmed.


    ¡°How do you feel about that revelation?¡± I casually asked.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Thinking he was dead sort of felt that a really heavy weight was off my shoulders, but¡­ knowing he actually is alive. There is some sort of fire in me¡­ Something I carried my whole life in many different ways.¡± She suddenly made an expression. A new one.


    ¡°It feels good¡­¡±


    ¡°You hold on to that.¡± I replied with a smile.


    Soon we found the local smithy, at its side there was an whole shop with all kinds of melee weapons. It seems that good old steel still hadn¡¯t died out entirely due to the far ¡®superior¡¯ guns.


    The person in charge was a girl in her early thirties, clearly hired for shopkeeping. The master must work on a forge somewhere else.


    Maria and I perused a while. She did not show much interest in anything and neither did I either¡­ Have I grown spoiled from all the power I possessed? All the things are top notch to this world¡¯s standards, but for mine? Not really. Were are the big ass cleavers that can chop a person in half in a single swing?


    For normal people that kind of thing is preposterous. The most popular ones and what was being sold in greater numbers here was mostly sabres and rapiers. A few long swords too.


    This felt like an antique shop¡­


    Noticing our lack of decidedness, the clerk came over to us.


    ¡°Greeting sir, and madam. Are you perhaps looking for an officer sword? We have many of those out on the back fit for any kind of high ranking officer!¡± She said with cheeky saleswoman tone.


    I nodded and Maria told her to show us the way.


    We went through a door out back and another compartment of the shop was presented to us. This seemed to be the real shop! The steel was all higher quality and had all kinds of engravings¡­ And fancy pommels.


    Maria picked up a rapier that caught her eye. And I just looked around for daggers, they more likely seem to be Ruth¡¯s style anyway.


    ¡°I always wanted to buy myself a custom rapier¡­ this one will do nicely!¡± Maria said as she showed off one that she chose.


    ¡°And you want me to pay for that overpriced eye-candy, is that it?¡± I asked with a smirk.


    ¡°No¡­ actually.¡± She reached for a pocket of hers and showed me a gem. One that belonged to me actually.


    I chuckled. I really haven¡¯t noticed her doing it¡­ ¡°No honour amongst thieves.¡± I winked at her.


    She just giggled. Clearly proud of herself.


    I would not get angry about such a thing. If I caught her in my pocket it would be a different matter; but she actually got it without me noticing it. I don¡¯t need a reason to punish this girl. So why would I get it? And after all this is something I stole¡­ with ease actually, and for someone like me. Well money isn¡¯t really a big deal. I can just as easily get more.


    After a little perusing I finally found a good dagger. A bayonet; something often mounted at the tips of muskets. Considering the year I find myself, that is the most popular weapon actually.


    This one was just the knife with a leather hilt and good old spring steel. Also a small engraving of a snake baring its fangs at the blade¡¯s tip.


    Ruth was going to love this. I chose it so of course it would be a perfect gift.


    We paid in gems and Maria actually asked for change. She was quite happy at when she received it too.


    Was this the first time she actually got money of her own? It seems so.


    ¡°Careful, money is the root of all evil.¡± I grinned at the smiling girl.


    ¡°Careful you, now you are sounding like an actual priest.¡± She replied with a snarky comment.


    We got out of the shop and headed back to the monastery.


    It was a sunny day, a few clouds out and about but still my mood was great. I have great plans for these cultists and today is they day I will set them to motion. We reached the monastery¡¯s premises and in no time the clouds formed up and the colours of the day grew dimmer.


    In clear contrast to the lively town the monastery that wasn¡¯t actually very far away possessed a completely different aura¡­ or something like that. Perhaps mother nature wanted to make a point. Maybe there is something more odd going on there.


    As we neared the place, the trees started dying, the earth turned infertile and things just seemed more broken. The deep clouds blocking most of the sun¡¯s light.


    Maria seemed to notice my reaction and what is was looking at and just made the single comment.


    ¡°Home.¡± A sad tone in her voice.


    ¡°Nice and gloomy.¡± I replied her with a smile.


    She just nodded.


    We got into the monastery easily enough again.


    ¡°You are free to go now. Hope you get better.¡± I said.


    ¡°Hm!? Ahh¡ª yes thank you¡­ I was actually needing this. Thanks¡­ again for saving my life. It meant a lot to me.¡± She said not really paying much attention to her own words. Then she just added. ¡°Good luck with Ruth, its better if you speak to her without me. We¡­ aren¡¯t on the clearest terms either.¡± And then she walked.


    I nodded. ¡°See you later.¡± And went over to the dormitory to see the other troublesome sister.


    ¡ª


    I big girl with a shaved head lost no time to stop as I walked into the place. She¡­ or¡­ whatever this creature was could pass as a cave troll with ease. Big, burly and plain dumb.


    ¡°No boys allo ed in ere!¡± She immediately blurted once she spotted me.


    I looked at her and stared deep into those things she had on her pox ravaged face. Eyes I think. And she just stood there. Looking back at me.


    ¡°No paassin! Away! SHOOO¡± She kept saying.


    Dumb thing is too stupid to be afraid!


    Should I kill her? It would be a favour. Yes I should. I quickly took no time and cast the quite popular dismembering spell on her.


    The vortex surged on her chest¡­ and. It just marked her! Nothing. No effect!


    ¡°GRAWHAHWHAHA¡± With a burst of speed the creature lunged at me and with a smack sent me off. I actually took off and flew away with a mighty pounce. I ended up landing three meters away from were I was standing.


    I looked at her impressed. And casually got up brushing off the dust off my clothes, this was an actually somewhat expensive suit. This thing almost ruined it!


    She started walking towards me with her fists closed, she was so fat that I could feel the ground shaking! Or was that just my imagination?


    ¡°Listen here creature. If you keep this up I might actually try to kill you. Out of the way!¡± I Shouted.


    ¡°NOO DUM DUMBS ALLO ED!¡± She shouted.


    This is why I hate porters. Goddammit.


    She actually went for a hammer punch right at my head. It would be pathetic if I just died like this. Heh, so dodged aside with ease. Making the creature angrier; alright I¡¯m going to end you now. I decided.


    I prepared myself for a bigger spell.


    ¡°GROM, stop!¡± Another girl¡¯s voice came off from the distance.


    The troll looked back and stared at the girl. And I just casually nodded as I walked inside.


    ¡°DUM DUM INSIDE?¡± The troll asked.


    ¡°Yes Grom, he is a very important person and you must do anything he says.¡± The girl said to the troll.


    I was already walking away to my destination when I could hear a taping behind me.


    ¡°Wait up master!¡± The girl said.


    I looked back at her.  A tall one, she had a ponytail and looked rather spindly. She had a big sharp nose and even sharper eyes. Her hair was raven black and her eyes were dark brown.  What stood out the most was that she limped as she ran towards me with a crutch. She was using a wooden splint on her leg. Maybe she broke it or something? She was on her late twenties by her looks.


    I allowed her to reach my side and walk beside me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Grom; well she is very serious about her duties. Thank you for not killing her, your mercy is¡­ legendary.  She, well is actually quite respected among the women of our community. She keeps us safe. And all that¡­¡± Noticing that i was not paying her any attention, uninterested in the subject. She quickly changed it.


    ¡°Master Adam¡­ My name is Cornelia, I am honoured to be high master Doghead¡¯s apprentice. He sent me to find you, and deliver a letter, your hands only.¡± She rummaged through her pockets.


    ¡°I¡­ also want to congratulate you on becoming the new grandmaster¡­ eeer acting grandmaster.¡± She said as she walked closer to me and handed me the letter.


    I took it. ¡°Very well, you are dismissed.¡± I waved her off.


    ¡°Is¡­ is there something I can do for you? I mean¡ª with you?¡± She approached me, leaning towards me and¡­ unbuttoning her robe.


    I stood in place as she pressed her chest against my arm and her hands around me.


    I looked up into her eyes,  she a head taller than me. I gave her a serious frown.


    ¡°You ¡ªnow you are grandmaster any girl would do anything¡­ and I mean anything to earn your favour.¡± She reached down. Other girls were looking at the scene as she whispered into my ear.


    I held her wrist in place.


    I find myself utterly disgusted. This kind of attitude¡­ pathetic. Does this actually work? What kind of men wouldn¡¯t be repulsed by such attitudes?


    I griped it you enough strength to shatter it.


    The girl quickly backed off and noticing that I would not let go went down on her knees.


    ¡°Master Adam¡­ You are hurting me! Something wrong? Please let go!¡± She said amidst clear fake tears. I had shattered her wrist after all.


    ¡°Worm.¡± I said in a deep growl. ¡°BEG! BEG! FOR YOU MISERABLE LIFE!¡± I shouted in anger as I unsheathed the dagger meant for Ruth as a gift. A few stains on it would be charming¡­


    I found myself a little pissed off at the moment.


    ¡°I am sorry!¡­ Please I won¡¯t do it again! Please¡­¡± She smashed her head against the floor in fear. Begging.


    I let go of her wrist and kicked her out of the away.


    As I walked I could not help but think. Damn bootlickers, I can think of few things more disgusting.


    Having to surge all these emotions¡­ And for what?


    I walked a while and soon found myself standing in front of Ruth¡¯s room. Her door was locked. I courteously knocked.


    No answer.


    So I knocked again. ¡°Ruth, it¡¯s me Adam. We need to chat.¡±


    No answer yet again.


    Dammit. She is acting like I tried to murder her or something! Well¡­ I sort of did now that I think about it¡­¡ªAnyway, I¡¯m trying to make up for it. I usually go through it.. well¡­


    This is new actually.


    So I knocked again. I could hear movement on the other side, she was in there. But she wasn¡¯t unlocking the door.


    So I did what any perfectly courteous gentleman would do in this situation.


    I gave the door¡­ A GOOD FUCKING KICK.

 012 - Pillow Massacre

    Ruth¡¯s FOV


    I sat, leaning against the wall wearing my nightgown. Right now I found myself occupied reading a book. One written by none other than high master Doghead himself, titled ¡®The Doghead¡¯s Guide to Abominations.¡¯


    It demonstrated and theorized about the art of mutations and taught how to create obedient chimeras perfectly loyal to their master.


    Really Master Doghead is an unprecedented genius in this field. Perhaps one of the most talented being to have existed throughout history, not like many of these fools who would call themselves ¡®Masters¡¯ and think themselves the same as him, really the gull! Putting yourself in the same pedestal as such a person and at the same time being as useless as a solar powered torch!


    That bitch Maria¡­ I could rant about her for hours! Arghh.


    Still¡­ I wish Master Doghead was more approachable, lately he has been so busy with the monastery¡¯s finances and keeping everything running that he won¡¯t even give classes or take any more apprentices.


    I made the request to father¡­ But he just waved me off telling me I was wasting his time.


    How long has it been¡­ I wondered. I checked my body, the burns had already faded thanks to healing spells even thought it still felt a little sensitive to the touch. As for my head¡­ what he has done to me¡­


    Hah! it has healed quite nicely too¡­ I¡¯m good now I think. I placed my hands on these injuries, there was nothing now; everything perfectly normal. Master Coleman did an wonderful job putting me back together, like he always did.


    So why?


    Why can¡¯t I bring myself to go out of the room? I am so hungry¡­  yet I can¡¯t bring myself to eat nor have the desire to.


    Adam.


    I killed him¡­ It was a reaction! Why was he acting like that? I gutted him¡­ he wanted to kill me. I even did not know why, so¡­ I just defended myself¡­ so why I feel so guilty? I loved him¡­ he was my brother, my twin. My life companion¡­ and now he is dead.


    What happened to him? He wasn¡¯t the same person anymore¡­ clearly, something took his place didn¡¯t it? What replaced my kind and unassuming brother? If¡­if it really is him, why has he done those things to me? Why did he made me hurt him? Why¡­


    He apologised¡­ I can forgive him. No! What he did¡­ was unforgivable! I can¡¯t be so soft! But now he is dead¡­


    He was everything to me!¡­ we always were so close¡ª But it wasn¡¯t him! But what if it was!? This nagging feeling is taking away my sanity. I don¡¯t know what to do¡­ or what to think.


    I came back to myself. I had already flipped three pages of the book and I wasn¡¯t'' even reading it¡­ Just looking¡­ but actually not paying any attention. Where was I again¡­ I flipped the pages back.


    One, two, three¡­ four¡­


    I don¡¯t remember reading any of this! Why am I already that far ahead? Darn it¡­ I can¡¯t even read properly. My dead brother¡­ is really getting into me.


    I placed the book back in my shelf and walked towards the door. I should go¡ª go¡­ and find myself something to eat. I moved my hand towards the handle.


    And¡­ I just couldn¡¯t¡­ Why¡­? why can I not leave from here? Am I afraid? It¡¯s been three whole days I think, maybe more.


    I¡¯m getting signs of malnourishment¡­ I need to go and get something. But every time I walk towards the door I get this feeling¡­  And just rush back and cower under the bed sheets.


    What is wrong with me?


    *THUNK*THUNK*THUNK*


    As I was staring a the door, suddenly I heard pounding at it. Someone¡­


    ¡°Ruth, it¡¯s me Adam. We need to chat.¡± I heard him through the door¡­


    I quickly rushed back to bed and hid under the covers. Go away I wanted to say¡­ After what you did to me¡­ I want to, but I can¡¯t forgive you!


    Wait! It is his voice! He is alive! No, it¡¯s a ghost! It must be!


    *THUNK*THUNK*THUNK*


    *THUNK*THUNK*THUNK*


    He kept at it. And I gave him no answer¡­ strange, why am I shivering? I noticed that...


    *BOOOM*


    Suddenly I heard a loud bang¡­ and the door fell down.


    And he just entered my room. Hands in his pockets like nothing had happened; the only thing lighting the place was my candle and what came from the crevice where the door was supposed to be.


    He walked towards me¡­ his face pale and his hands black. He looked¡­ different. Frighteningly different. My only instinct was to rush to the corner clutching my blanket. And shiver¡­


    Is this a nightmare? Am i¡­ going to die?


    He kept casually moving through the room¡­ was he¡­ he came kill me¡­ ¡ªEnd what he had started? He wanted to win¡­ Maybe he still does. Will he take his victory from me? Why can¡¯t I move?


    I¡¯m still shivering¡­


    I can¡¯t think.


    He moved towards the window and opened it¡­ they rays of light invading the room and immediately blinding me. I guess¡­ I had spent a little too much time in the darkness.


    The sun wasn¡¯t too strong over here in the monastery¡­ but still.


    ¡°There you are!¡± He said.


    His pale face revealed by the light.


    He move towards me and sat in the bed. Placing a hand in my knee, even through the blanket I could feel it¡­ cold¡­ like he was dead.


    He is dead! It¡¯s a ghost!


    He came to end me!


    ¡°Haaa¡­¡° I could only shriek, and with all my might I got up and stumbled down the bed rushing for the exit.


    He grabbed my wrist in my attempt. And¡­ pulled me towards him. So strong¡­! I could not resist. Like some rag doll he pulled me into him and held me in his arms against his cold chest and¡­ embraced me. This was the coldest embrace I ever felt¡­ and all the ones I ever had were his.


    And now it¡¯s so cold¡­ Death¡¯s embrace.


    I just shivered. Fine¡­ Let it be so. I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t think I can go on without you either way¡­ so just take me.


    Take me to the other side¡­ with you. Whatever I have done, I must deserve it.


    ¡ª--¡ª--¡ª¡ª--¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°There, there. Good girl¡± He said.


    Why¡­ why is the ghost of the dead comforting me? Why is this¡­ why does it feel good?


    Adam¡¯s FOV


    This girl¡­ is clearly going a little crazy after a some isolation with¡­ well whatever is going on in her head. And I can¡¯t help but think that it is my fault. I just¡­ well had a reaction. Not something I¡¯m proud off put it was what it was¡­


    Anyway, I¡¯m making up to her.


    I held her in my arms as she shivered. The mute girl who would naturally not say a word calmed down in time as her shivering started to recede. Eventually staying still, she fell asleep. I held her for an whole twenty minutes, then gave her a gentle nudge making her wake.


    She inhaled deeply as she saw my face. What? I¡¯m not that ugly!


    ¡°C¡¯mon we have much to do get dressed and let¡¯s get you something to eat¡ª I have some crazy news for you.¡± I said casually, as I let her go.


    She pinched my cheek. What? did she think I was dead or something? Wait¡­ is this why she is having this whole reaction?


    ¡°I¡¯m not dead if that¡¯s what you are asking. And about the fight¡­ well I got a bit emotional. Please forgive me for that. Look at me! Everything is fine¡­ I keep being the regular old handsome me that I always been.¡± I said as walked on front of the little girl who was just sitting in the the bed in disbelief.


    ¡°Thanks for mourning me¡­ And come on. I¡¯m alive, remember the opera? we will have more adventures like that one, so quit your sobbing and get off your arse!¡± I reached for her hand pulling her over out of the bed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, get dressed¡­ we have a long day ahead!¡± I looked into her purple eyes. And she nodded, it seems she did get out of it.


    I¡¯m such a good psychiatrist! Curing trauma has I cause it. Truly a wonder for society!


    She started moving, even thought she was still shaky she possessed some newfound vigour as she dressed up.


    I leaned by the door looking away. Girls don¡¯t like being watched as they dress I found out recently.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Once she was done, she called me over with a little knock. Close to the bed.


    I was curious so I went.


    ¡°Doghead¡¯s Guide to Abominations, that¡¯s a fak¡­ haaaa¡± The girl took a pillow from the bed and smashed it against my head relentlessly.


    She decided¡­ ¡ªTo beat me down into submission.


    *POOF*


    ¡°ahhh, STOP HAAAA.¡± I shouted in panic.


    *POOF*


    And *POOW*


    After what felt like an eternity of being pillowed till my head hurt the thing was ruined, feathers bloody everywhere.


    She hyperventilated as she grinned at me.


    ¡°I deserved that I think.¡± I said as I laughed awkwardly.


    She nodded with a wry smile. I guess It made her feel better?


    What is it, with girls wanting to murder me with darn bloody pillows? At least do it properly¡ª!


    After we laughed a little together and got our breath back. We got out of the door-less room and went off. Duty called, and Ruth was in to hear some news.


    She looked back at the door and tugged at me pointing at it. Then she took her pen and wrote on a notebook she had.


    *You are going to pay for that door.*


    ¡°Of course.¡± We walked our way towards the cantina.


    Nothing much happened in our way there. Maria seemed to have gone underground to take care of a chore or another, just the casual master showing his face on the surface and trying to butter up with the new apparent heir.


    I wondered if Maria went through this¡­


    Other acolytes, the ones that have the same rank as me in this den of stupidity of society; well they used to look at me with fear and respect. Now seeing respected masters casually going out of their way and coming out of their dens to greet me, gave them new things to think about. Like¡­


    More fear and respect.


    I even caught a glimpse of the brothers who I casually nearly brutally murdered. They both did a great job avoiding me. So far¡­


    Having these masters going out of their way to talk to me was actually a big deal¡­ after all these were some of the most powerful, wisest, long lived and dangerous beings in the whole wide world. Even someone who lived cloistered in this little society would be aware of that.


    We took in the familiar place of the cantina where Ruth simply ordered a lot of food and ate¡­ not holding back anything. She really did work out an appetite. The girl looked like a starved hound¡­ even with me remarking that eating that fast and especially after a long time without eating anything could make her sick.


    She didn¡¯t care.


    I made use of my time and read the letter that other strumpet handed to me. It was just a bunch of fancy writing¡­ The only thing it said was that I was assigned new quarters in something they called the ¡®Underdimension¡¯ It seems the monastery¡¯s basement had a magical nature to it. Some kind of pocket realm? It was not that advanced magic. But to this world¡¯s standards it must be.


    I was waited there to receive some kind of garment and prepare for the appointment ceremony.


    I waited nearly twenty minutes, eventually Ruth announced that she had finished her meal with a loud *burp*. I motioned her to come and as we walked I handed her the letter, so she would not be so out of the loop.


    She read it it wide eyes and pulled at me, pointing at the paper. Clearly asking if wasn¡¯t joking.


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not joking. I do am that great, you always knew that.¡± I gave her a wink.


    She just gave me a thumbs up. She seemed actually quite excited for this news, I just wondered what she was plotting now.


    And threw my mind back to my own plots.


    We went together, the same path I had walked with that other boy. Funny¡­ his name was quite forgettable.


    The porter did not dare to stand in my way this time. Somehow he had anticipated that I was coming over and arranged for everything to be to my liking, like¡­ the door being open and him grovelling out of the way.


    Truly being an overlord of a evil organization had its perks.


    After many masters had seen me casually talking to the Doghead they quickly assumed what was going on. It seems that freak rarely came out of isolation, but they all knew that he was in charge of the order¡¯s finances. And why he would go out of his way to talk to anyone directly.


    It seemed he only did talk to Daryle and his own apprentices.


    Out of that he was an aloof recluse. A quite feared one.


    I walked a while alongside Ruth. This pocket dimension was quite big, of course I had seen much better, anyway this one would do. Perhaps I will make a few adjustments to it in the future like¡­ phasing. That would be useful.


    My new quarters were created quite close to the library, near Daryle¡¯s own chambers. I found myself face with a pair of big double door made of dark oak, this is meant to show off status? It looks like the entrance to Daryle¡¯s chambers too. How considerate.


    Ruth just motioned me to push them.


    So I did. And they opened with ease, like they had no weight at all. They recognized me and let me through. Ruth too as she was with me.


    These were living quarters, and ones immensely grand at that, it seemed whoever arranged this for me was truly tempting my good graces. I paced around along with Ruth, taking in the place.


    She just gasped and pointed around in wonder.


    These had high ceilings and massive stone columns that supported the structure.. The walls are covered in a deep purple velvet material, and the flooring was made of intricately-layered stone mosaic tiles. The room filled with a variety of furniture, including plush armchairs, divan couches, ornate tables, and a central area devoted entirely to magical practice. An immense fireplace lines one wall, radiating heat through the room and filling the air with a strange magical fragrance.


    To conjure such a space inside a pocket realm¡­ I wonder how many willing masters gave up space from their own quarters to add to these chambers. That also helps explaining why they were so keen in buttering me up up there¡­ Well how quaint.


    I tried one of these chairs and¡­ Truly remarkable! These cushions, gods! Now I am truly starting to wonder why was so keen in making everything in my original palace made of stone¡­ I will have to revise that once I get back there.


    I looked around from where I sat, Plush armchairs¡­, divan couches¡­ Ample space for both relaxation and contemplation. Shame I had no time for any of that.


    I examined the centre of the room. A workspace.


    This workplace¡¯s area was adorned with a large workbench, surrounded by the tools of the trade, some high quality stuff too. Numerous alchemical flask, spell books filled with arcane runes, and various arcane symbols adorned it.


    Ruth lost no time to rush over to the place and start messing around with everything. She immediately became lost in some tome that had caught her eye.


    It truly created a setting of a dark magical wonder and arcane power. Candles burnt constantly in a white hue blending in with the purple decor on the walls casting an ethereal light upon the area, as if the very flames themselves served as conduits to the place¡¯s magics.


    Maybe they did. I would certainly take some time off to test this place out thoroughly.


    I went over to Ruth¡¯s side who was engrossed on a spell tome, sitting by the fireplace. She noticed me and quickly wrote a note.


    *It¡¯s official, I¡¯m moving in!* It read.


    I did really not mind the girl. She was silent, unlike the other sister.


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡± I gave her a nod and turned around to examine the alchemy station. This used to be an hobby of mine at some point in my life¡­ Qhavelia was truly a master in this field and taught me much. It was her passion, both alchemy and herbalism. She kept the most dreamy gardens back in our little home.


    Long before I became ¡®The overlord¡¯ and did many, many things that would make her not too proud. Still...


    It feels like a thousand years ago that¡­ maybe it was. I hadn¡¯t been counting. After all it¡¯s something I can never get back, I knew of that. For so much I wanted to. It won¡¯t.


    I truly treasured the memories and often dreamed of them. But it only brought me pain, to really wish to have something that you once cherished and truly loved back¡­ but at the same time knowing that it is impossible. Well that is painful.


    *Thunk* *Thunk*


    Someone knocked on the door. There was that meeting¡­


    I moved to the door and casually willed it to open.


    The freak with a dog for a head entered along with another fellow in black robes. Another master. Behind them a couple of young girls walked shyly.


    Ruth also came over to watch who it was. Strangely enough she fixated on the dog. I wonder what she wanted with the wretched creature.


    ¡°The Doghead salutes the¡­ acting grandmaster. I hope that your new quarters are to your¡­ satisfaction.¡± The dog let out a growl¡­ clearly unintentional by his following reaction. He was quite the character and due to his uniqueness. Well, hard to read¡­ also almost two and a half meters tall. Truly a freak.


    He looked down on us and then at the master beside him.


    ¡°This great master Mace. He specializes in dimensional magic and he created this room for you. He also is in charge of the whole ¡®Underdimension¡¯, to make it work as it is intended and maintain it.¡± The Doghead introduced and explained. He seemed¡­ really out of his element, yet he spoke with an eloquence quite odd to ones such as him.


    The other master looked at me and at Ruth and quickly spoke. ¡°There is no need to introduction my friend! Adam and ¡­Ruth! These little one are Daryle¡¯s kids, I pretty much raised them both.¡± Ruth just winked with both eyes to his statement.


    ¡°Adam dear boy! I remember when you hardly could cast a fire bolt! ¡­It feels like it was last week even! I taught you many things remember? When you were this little¡± He made a motion with his hand reaching for his knee.  ¡°We were inseparable!¡± He quickly added.¡ª ¡°Ruth there, always tagged along too! You both are like son and a daughter to me!¡±


    He whipped a tear off his eye ¡°Truly to see the lil ones surpassing us¡­ ¡ªa wonder¡­ even a miracle!¡± And then he finally stopped talking.


    I don¡¯t know what to make to this kind of bootlicking, he was even being rude with it¡­ but keeping someone good with space magic around could be useful; so I decided to just play along with it.


    These two¡­ well they aren¡¯t something the current me can easily bully. So It¡¯s best if I act accordingly.


    ¡°Great master Mace¡­ it truly has been a long time! You built this room for me did you? Truly an work of art! I will cherish this gift! And remember it!¡± I  responded to this new acquaintance with the most jubilate tone I could muster.


    I looked at this fellow¡­ He seemed to be in mid forties. Blonde balding hair, average height. What stood the most out were the amount of piercings he had. His ear had those fancy things too¡­ flesh tunnels I think they are called. Anyway, I will make use of him now that he serves me.


    ¡°And greetings to great master Doghead too¡­¡± I motioned to four nearby seats. ¡°Let¡¯s take a seat and get down to business.


    ¡°Ruth, join us.¡± I motioned the mute girl to come too.


    So we all sat. The Doghead looked at the seat that was clearly too small for him and made a resemblance of a frown.


    The great and kind person that I am, I did him the favour and cast a morphing jinx on the seat making it bigger, fitting for the giant. He could be called a giant to this world¡¯s standards¡­ but well.


    Back at Eralenir where I lived with Qhavelia before becoming the overlord, also the realm akin to heaven. Everyone with divine favour naturally grew up to four meters tall. It was the standard; not bulky and fat muscle creatures either. Elegant and slender ones, perfect both in mind and body; aloof from  a mortals¡¯s worries on looks, diseases and such. The perfect race. A god, would be close to the right term.


    I married into that family. And they bestowed me with their lineage, something that gave me much trouble later on¡­


    Beings of such power could freely chose what and how big, what they looked like at will. Of course¡­ holding to one¡¯s identity was an important thing.


    So this was a little feller for my standards.


    He nodded in thanks, was he impressed? Surely not¡­ such a little jinx required absolutely nothing.


    The four of us sat, then I noticed two other figures, looking at the ground. They had followed the masters inside. Two girls in black and white dresses. Maids it seemed.


    ¡°And who are they?¡± I asked casually.


    The Doghead quickly replied. ¡°No one. They are servants, enslaved since a tender age and trained to serve the masters in this dimension. And maintain it.¡± He threw a look at them. Which they quickly responded with a fearful bow. ¡°These too are newly trained. I have chosen to appoint them to you¡­¡±


    ¡°To serve the acting grandmaster. For as long as you serve at this station.¡± He added at the end.


    I raised an eyebrow towards him. ¡°Very well. They may attend to me.¡± And spy on me¡­ keep the dog in track with all my moves. Truly? Did he think I would not see it? Still¡­ clever, even if I sent them way, it would be rude from me to refuse him. That would work in his favour too, in this wonderful game that is power and politics such tricks were very effective.


    ¡°I have arranged for your new garments to be created.¡± Master Mace spoke. And clapped his hands. One of the serving girls approached me with shy steps handing be a box with both hands an in a bow.


    I casually took it and opened it.


    A Purple robe.


    And a pin.


    ¡°This robe is enchanted to be extremely durable and protect you against elemental hazards. The pin is a treasure from our order; it amplifies the power of most spells and reduces their expenditure to a degree.¡± Master Mace took no time to explain these as he clasped his hands.


    ¡°It would be unbecoming for the new grandmaster to walk around in such an unbecoming garments and nothing to represent his exalted status.¡± He added as he looked at what I was currently wearing.


    A cheap black suit that I had bought back at town¡­ and if it wasn¡¯t this it would be the old Adam¡¯s smelly grey robe.

 013 - Enemies are friends that you havent murdered yet.

    I took the box casually into my lap and unfurled the robe. It was coloured in a deep purple shade all around, with silvery alloys serving as engravings. It was indeed quite a fancy piece of attire. I liked it, even though I never been much of a fan of skirts¡­ robes¡­ or whatever these magical types consider fashion.


    Suddenly I heard a gasp.


    ¡°Master Adam! Be careful! That¡¯s an heirloom of our order. A relic of great power!¡± Master Mace was bewildered as he pointed down to the ground were I *accidentally* dropped a fancy pin.


    I raised an eyebrow in curiosity and willed it to float above my palm with telekinetic magic.


    It was indeed quite an interesting item. To this world¡¯s standards something that could be even considered a great relic. It was a pin, the kind that one would wear in his chest as a representation of status.


    It had the shape of a simple cross and it was made of a black glass. One would think it obsidian, but it was actually heavier and sturdier than that. Another fancy material from a far way plane mayhaps? I recognised the cross. It was the symbol of our order, the Eryzirity. The cult, not the actual priests that we were meant to pretend that we were, those sillies are the worshippers of Ahdon and their sigil was a stake with a man on it.


    They have an actual church and all that it seemed.


    Atop of all that I could clearly see that it carried an simple yet powerful effect that could help with spell casting overhaul, like Mace had explained before.


    And atop of the top I could ¡®smell¡¯ a subtle spell. It served as a little jinx or akin to a curse, whoever touched it and didn¡¯t realize it would become something like a modern day ¡®camera¡¯. The caster would be able to see and and hear anything that the cursed individual would have in a range.


    A spatial spell.


    It seems this Mace fellow has intentions too¡­ Maybe he is working with the dog. How quaint.


    I unmade the jinx with my will and casually threw it in Ruth¡¯s lap. Which in turn yelped in excitement as she pointed at it and grinned. Had the girl never seen an enchanted item?


    ¡°Master Adam¡­¡± Mace game me a dejected look, and of course I could see behind his acting¡ªhis sly smirk and disappointment. Hehe¡ª Get used to it, fool. I thought inwards. ¡°That is a really powerful item¡­ you should keep it close, and of course it represents your grand stature within the order, after all that pin was made by Eryzirity herself! Made to be worn only by her holiness''s most trusted aide.¡± The blond man with the fancy ears quickly said in answer to my disinterest.


    The dog gave him a subtle look, which I did not fail to notice. Were these two on league? Or was that a move by Mace alone? Curios that. Meanwhile Ruth was playing with pin an casting rudimentary spells, testing them. Completely oblivious to our conversation''s subtleties.


    I can¡¯t blame her. She is young, I mean she is literally seventeen. And atop of that she is mostly a recluse who knew nothing of the games that are politics.


    ¡°I deeply thank you master Mace. Both the robe and the pin will serve greatly during the time that I will serve father in his place, as for the pin , well Eryzirity made it to fit a servant. Not me. Ruth here is my most trusted aide, she will make best use of it¡­¡± I elaborated.


    He was about to reply. But I raised my hand in annoyance.


    ¡°As for you, there is much to be said for a servant who plots and attempts to spy on his master.¡± I smiled mischievously. ¡°Some would call it treason even¡­ but I am nothing but a magnanimous master. And will allow you to retire from my presence without the due repercussions.¡±


    He jerked up from his seat. Looking at me and then at the towering Doghead between us, who had something resembling a growl in his ugly snout.


    The man with the fancy ears flinched.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kick out a space master from his own dimension¡­¡± He muttered.


    ¡°My patience is wearing thin.¡± I growled.


    ¡°Leave.¡± Doghead added.


    The bulgy older man had a grimm look and nodded. Vanishing in thin air.


    Ruth was just looking around, with an. ¡®What the hells is going on?¡¯ expression.


    ¡°Like you said once before... Not subtle at all.¡± The dog commented.


    I leaned on my chair looking up at the doghead, my head resting against my fist. ¡°Tell me dog. What is it, you reckon would be a proper punishment for treason you say?¡± I casually asked, giving him a knowing smile.


    He looked at me sombrely. A stare that made Ruth uncomfortable even though she somehow worshipped him.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He said.


    ¡°Nothing?¡± I asked. ¡°Treason?¡±


    ¡°There is nothing you can do. He is the space master, there aren¡¯t any fitting replacements to him and all who are trained in the art pretty much learned from him. Worship him even¡­ And you need him. Just like you need every other great master of any field.¡± The dog explained his view.


    I smiled knowingly. ¡°You are correct.¡± I answered.


    The he continued. ¡°You get rid of one, then you become weaker. Along with the order as an whole; making every other master have a easier way to overthrow you and making them restless. You who are master of nothing. ¡ªExpendable even.¡± He held his paws forwards and leaned towards me with a threatening frown.


    ¡°The only thing holding in your seat right now is your father, and today is just day one.¡± He finished.


    I smiled.


    ¡°You overestimate your worth¡­ still, you are correct. We are all at an impasse. You all want to lead, but you all are smart enough to know that the first one to move will take the fall.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    The dog relaxed and nodded. ¡°You are no fool. Even tough all your life you had proven a disappointment, I wonder how long you will be able to keep that steel grip that your father has over us.¡± He ¡®scowled¡¯.


    ¡°Long enough.¡± I gave him a sly smile. And moved on¡­ ¡°Now to business, if we are done with pleasantries.¡±


    ¡°It is simple, as the steward I am obliged to organize a ceremony amongst the order¡¯s members. To¡­ celebrate and acknowledge our new leader; even tough temporary. How would you like to proceed?¡±


    That justifies the garment¡­ and the pin.


    ¡°A speech. I would like to give out a pretty speech, as for everything else is up to you. Follow tradition, I don¡¯t care.¡± I ordered.


    Doghead got up and nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s all, you are dismissed.¡± I waved him off.


    And he walked out, I casually willed his chair back to its normal size to blend with the decoration.


    Ruth looked at me flabbergasted.


    ¡°I was great wasn¡¯t I?¡±


    She chuckled and wrote with her pen. Then showed it to me.


    *You do know those two are only seconds to father right? Master mace now despises you and Doghead¡­ well he dislikes everyone but he does seem keen to get rid of you too¡­ Are you aware of how much shit you actually got yourself into?


    PS.: Mace can see everything inside his own realm. Every room and all that¡­ are you sure that just taking the pin might have not been the best move? I mean¡­ I don¡¯t mind keeping it, its not like I talk much, or anything like that... ¡ªand I will just keep it in the closet when I sleep. I guess.*


    I got up and sat in the armrest of Ruth¡¯s chair.


    ¡°You sure write fast¡­ ¡± I smiled. ¡°I can handle all of this politics bullshit, I have them all eating from my hand and I just met the two of them. As for the pin, just keep and don¡¯t bother; I removed the spying jinx. And this room¡­ I will set something up.¡± I casually played with her soft silver hair.


    She nodded¡­ appreciating the gesture even.


    I looked around, taking in this grand room.


    ¡°What do you think? We are moving up in life¡­ finally we earned a place fit for royalty, like we are supposed to be. Isn¡¯t father like the king of this whole place? Does it not bother you that we¡­ his sires live among the raft? In a cramped little room without space enough to even fart in?¡± I commented with a wry smile.


    And she wrote.


    *No. Father was an orphan from a big war¡­ he grew up in really rough conditions without a roof over his head until he turned twenty. He lived rough and the cruelty of the world made him the powerful person he is today. We get an entitled place to sleep? How nice is that in comparison to what he had? My goal is knowledge, and power. Magic is all that matters to me, to keep you safe. Comfort? what good is that towards my goals?* She wrote.


    I laughed.


    ¡°You are adorable¡­ adorably wise. The truth is that no one is better than anyone. We are all the same towards the face of death. Unless we have the power, the strength to fight it. Still¡­ it pains me to think you don¡¯t appreciate the comforts of a luxury room, after all I did to get it.¡± I smirked.


    *Really? You became head of the cult just for a fancy room? How cute¡­ anyway, those great masters are really strong. I am getting strong by leaps and bounds every day thanks you your pact¡­ but I am not sure I can¡¯t keep you safe from all of them¡­ at the same time I mean. Be careful¡­ alright? ¡ª Brother¡­*


    Her writing was just adorable.


    I left Ruth to her own devices. She found a lot of rare tomes in the room that she never saw and was really keen into them. She was real bookworm after all.


    I got out of my old robe and admired the new one. It was all purple and fancy.


    Suddenly I heard a startled yelp. And looked around.


    Those two young maids that the Doghead left in my care were staring at me. The little spies¡­ One was a taller than the other, she was a ginger with many freckles, a really cute one by most man¡¯s standards, the other was short with straw blonde hair and a pair of cute brown doe eyes.


    The freckled one was standing upright with an uptight look. While the shorter one was covering her face with both hands, shy at my naked visage. No doubt.


    Maybe I should start wearing underwear.


    They were wearing a simple black and white dress. Popular among maids no doubt.


    ¡°You two. Come closer!¡± I said as I motioned.


    They both came. The freckled one was the first to react giving a bow, when she noticed that the other one wasn¡¯t following she gave her a nudge. In awkwardness, the shorter one did the same. A more unpractised bow, but still a bow.


    These two were regular humans. Not a hint of magic on them, aside from a slave chocker around their delicate neck. It was made of cloth, but still deadly, instead of a bomb it had an enchantment that did just the same; in case of escape or disobedience¡­ or even for the fun of it; one would guess.


    A cruel fate¡­ Still I knew of crueller ones. These two were able to be keep quite a pretty shape and had some fat on their cheeks.


    After the bow. The first one to speak was the ginger, she seemed to be more driven and experienced unlike the blonde who was actually quite shy.


    ¡°Master, my name is Tina. I was trained since a tender age to serve and help your highness with every need.¡± She looked at my naked self respectfully. Even with all that practise, still I sensed a hint of awkwardness in her voice.


    She nudged the other one again, with her foot.


    ¡°Haaa, herm¡­ my name is¡­. M¡­ M¡­ Marta¡­ and I ermm I¡¯m also a a serf¡­. Servant. To serve every¡­ Every need.¡± She quickly spoke timidly and with a stutter.


    She was afraid of me. They both were.


    ¡°Very well.¡± I nodded.


    ¡°Please let us help with your garment. ¡± Freckles said.


    I just nodded. What the hell am I to do with these two?


    I noticed Ruth at the other end of the room looking up from the tome in my general direction. Smirking.


    They both opened up the fancy robe with practised ease and donned it over my body. Making every button and adjusting pretty much all the folds.


    ¡°Does master require any¡­ under.., small clothes?¡± Ginger asked.


    The blonde just looked away clearly flustered.


    ¡°Yes, do go and find me some¡­ small clothes for my royal self if you would¡­¡± I waved the both off¡­ ¡ªwith practised ease.


    I could feel Ruth laughing from the other side of the room.


    Dammit. I¡¯m off. To greener pastures, it is best to let these two get acquainted with the place and get their bearings¡­ and all that. I will deal with them later.


    I decided to walk out of the room and decided to tour the grounds. Turns out that this ¡®underdimension¡¯ was quite big. Those stairs I used before, were one of the many entrances; these more specifically lead to the deeper layer of the place. Were the grand library and the chambers of masters were found. Which was forgiven to anyone who did not possess the rank of master or had special permission; like house servants or apprentices that had special jobs here.


    The middle layer of the dimension was the smallest, only housing a big corridor and many rooms, it served pretty much as apartments to apprentices and novices who were born into the order.


    Those who lived on the surface actually lived there by choice or were otherwise outsiders taken in the monastery from the exterior to be indoctrinated. They did not have access to said second layer without a special residence permit.


    And finally, the first layer; it was mostly a school. It had a cantina, many schoolrooms and wide and open spaces for many evil cult purposes. Everyone in the cult could go there, most were required to go even. They had a special currency in this place, something akin to merit points.


    Some masters would give lessons there to the younger generation in exchange for these points, something like a job. Apprentices could teach too, once they proved to actually have the knowledge and the prowess.


    They could buy food, pay rent¡­ even buy magical items and tomes from each others. That explained why Ruth and Maria lived up there on the surface. No rent expenses it seemed.


    Those two¡­ actually I think Maria mentioned liking it more up there for some other reason. Who knew.


    After an hour of walking around and making subtle inquiries I gathered that much. Everyone gave me odd glances due to the colour of my garment which stood out to norm. But most actually knew who I was, so I had no real trouble going around.


    Soon I found myself in the first layer. In front of a door which read *Theory of magical prowess* they were having class, so I casually opened the door. To see¡­ what these people were actually teaching each other.

 Extra Chapter: The quest for masters undergarments.

    ¡ª


    Marta¡¯s FOV


    ¡°This is it¡­ we are dead!¡± I said to my co-worker, far from the creepy girl.


    This girl was a way more experienced maid than me. It seemed that she survived two different masters so far. And she is not even twenty! I don¡¯t know her from anywhere¡­ but still we are stuck in the same boat right now.


    I have been in maid school since these¡­ people kidnapped me from my village when I was five. Killed my parents, beaten me bloody¡­ and dragged me here to serve.  Just like most of the others; they make us wear these chocker that kill us if we disobey; sometimes they even make them go off for a laugh.


    While at maid school I managed to survive¡­ only just. By avoiding most people and keeping to myself, but now? I haven¡¯t even been properly admitted as a maid. That monster, with the doghead just went to the place and dragged me here.


    I tough I was dead¡­ There were rumours about him.


    Terrible experiments.


    By looking at him one could imagine¡­ But no, he just made me serve this person. ¡®Adam¡¯


    It seems he is above the monster¡­ Not just in cruelty I would guess.


    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad¡­ we just have to find him something he likes and all will be well.¡± The pretty ginger tried to comfort me.


    Too bad I know better.


    ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t like it? What if¡­ If he is offended? Wha¡ª¡­ what if he forgets what he asked of us and thinks we are mocking him¡­ And were on hell are we supposed to find small clothes for him!?¡± I whispered loudly in panic. Because I was!


    ¡°Calm down¡­ You are stuttering to much. I can¡¯t comprehend you. Look I know you aren¡¯t ready to serve¡­ ¡ªBut you have no choice, they will kill you understand?¡± She explained as she looked around.


    ¡°It¡­ It is only a matter of time!¡± I rebuked.


    ¡°Yes it is. But we made it so far haven¡¯t we? Just keep at it¡­ perhaps something good will come of it. ¡ªhave hope¡­ someone once said that to me.¡± She replied, a somewhat far off look in her eyes.


    I noticed myself chewing my fingernails¡­ something I would do when nervous. All the time.


    The girl noticed it took my hand. ¡°Marta isn¡¯t it? My name is Tina. You need to control that¡­ these people are¡­ well. If they see something they don¡¯t like in you. Well you know.¡±


    Once during class I heard a conversation between two teachers maids, too. About a girl who had disobeyed her master, they spent weeks cleaning the brain matter of the¡­ Well.


    I nodded. Damn, these nails had no salvation I noticed as I looked at them.


    ¡°Here.¡± She took her gloves off and offered them to me. ¡°We must be careful and clever, if we are to survive a little while longer.¡± She gave me a soft smile.


    Funny that. A smile here¡­


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I nodded, grateful.


    ¡°Listen¡­ now that you calmed down, we must get our task done.  Before he comes back. ¡ªUnderstand?¡± She explained.


    I nodded and walked towards the door.


    ¡°Wait!¡± She placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Haven¡¯t they taught you anything? We must ask our masters for permission. Always!¡± She said.


    It was true. They taught me that.


    Wait¡­


    ¡°Do you want me to go and talk to her? She scares me¡­¡± I gave a subtle glance towards the girl on the couch. She was so¡­ little older than me, yet the fear she gave me was real. A sorceress, a evil one.


    A real one.


    I still remember that night back when they came to take me. So much blood¡­ My parents. My brother. A sudden retch came over me¡­


    The other girl noticed it. ¡°We will do it together alright?¡±


    I nodded. She was kind.


    We walked together to the petite girl, who was immersed on her book. I didn¡¯t knew her nor ever heard of her. Still I didn¡¯t knew any emotion other than fear.


    ¡°Mistress.¡± Tina spoke. The girl frowned and looked up from her book; She made a motion with her hand. That was! ¡­


    We all maids knew that gesture. She was activating it¡­ the bomb.


    Suddenly¡­! she just stopped with a weird expression on her delicate face; her purple eyes glimmered.


    Tina went down on her knees and I knew to follow along.


    ¡°This servant thanks you, for your clemency.¡± She said. All I could do was nod. ¡°We were tasked by master Adam. We would like permission to leave the chambers.¡± She had as shaky voice.


    The girl was clearly annoyed, but sent us out with a wave. A thumbs up it seemed.


    So we walked out of the room, the huge doors weightless as we both gently pushed them. I don¡¯t know what passed through her head, but I am thankful to that stray thought. It save both of our lives. It was just like that, this life. We were dead just because of a whim of any of these monsters. There was no escape. It never happened, all thanks to this thing in our necks.


    Exits? Those were secrets. Servants weren¡¯t allowed to leave this place, we are slaves. We weren¡¯t allowed to know secrets.


    The ginger girl gave me a smile as we walked. She seemed to know were she was going so I just followed her.


    I knew about the floors. They taught us that at school. Along with manners, cooking, cleaning. All of that¡­ and some more.  Supposedly there was a little market in the middle floor. The residential area. Were most of these monsters lived.


    Yes, down here only the most dangerous lived. But they were mostly old and disregarded us lowly servants; funnily enough servant survival rate was higher among the masters. There was just¡­


    Well sometimes a subtle mutation, sickness. Mutilation, results of odd experiments. When they had no one worse than their own servants to practice on¡­


    The younger ones were wilder it seemed. Lucky me¡­ I was assigned to a master and a young one at that. At the very least he had a mistress¡­


    We were both used to walking so the long corridors were nothing. We entered the middle floor. Many people walked here, other servant girls, grey robed sorcerers along with little ones wearing white ones. Doubtless no less cruel.


    The corridors in this floor were much more lively, pretty much every door had a stall on the outside. With other servants selling their master¡¯s wares at their bidding. Some gray robed sorcerers and white ones sat at their stalls too.


    Not everyone had the luxury of a servant. At least we were expensive¡­ that¡¯s a little comforting, I guess.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    There were no male servants.


    I was taught that many decades ago, there used to be before¡­ ¡ªBut their mortality rate was too high. They were mostly used as bed slaves by the sorceresses here, it ended up causing much ruckus among the males. If a girl got pregnant they could just chop her head off. Now if a girl sorceress got pregnant; well that was a much bigger hassle. They had a hard time knowing who the father was. And there was also some stupid rumour of weakening magical bloodlines.


    So it ended.


    *thud*


    Suddenly I crashed against something. Someone. ¡ª I violently fell on butt. Luckily Tina held me, otherwise I could  have gotten really hurt. I brought my hand to my head feeling my hair on reflex and as I looked¡­ ¡ªThere were two figures.


    Tina was on her knees. Apologising, I did the same.


    They both had  gray robes.


    ¡°This should be good.¡± I heard from someone from the background. A crowd was gathering.


    ¡°You shit, I will kill you! ¡­After I¡¯m done with you!¡± One of the sorcerers said with a wicked expression, licking his lips. They were both males. One had a limp. ¡°Look at where you are going dumb slut!¡± The other one said.


    Ho no¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t care if I die. Just that Tina; she is so kind¡­ and now she is going to pay for my stupidity.


    The Crowd was cruelly jeering us.


    ¡°How do you plan to repay us, miser?¡± The other one, the one that I hadn¡¯t bumped into spoke.


    Tina was quiet.


    The one who I had bumped into, the one with the limp. He Lifted me up by the hair, he was strong. I saw his face. Gray hair and dark eyes, he was really ugly tough. It didn¡¯t help to try and appease him; and there was also the fact that I was scared shitless of him.


    ¡°Considering that one wanted you so much, I will take the ginger. You are a naughty dog Dough!¡± The other one who seemed to be older said. They were brothers, judging by the similarities.


    I felt something moist by my neck. He was licking me, a hand reached towards my chest. All I could do was surrender. There was no escape¡­


    I noticed Tina. She was so kind to me. She was going through the same thing. They didn¡¯t even had any decency from being amongst a crowd,  it even¡­ seemed that the crowd was keen on joining in the ¡®fun¡¯.


    She is going to die. It¡¯s my fault, if only I wasn¡¯t so stupid¡­ such a stupid girl. All of this for what? She didn¡¯t even fight back¡­ she was broken too.


    Seeing what she was going through, something came over me. Some inexplicable rage. I fought back.


    I pushed him away.


    And he flinched.


    ¡°You stupid cow!¡± He shouted angered. The crowd was starting to close in slowly.


    He slapped me; making me fall to the ground, and took hold of me from behind grabbing my neck with his huge hand.


    Tina noticed it and suddenly attacked his brother, a knee to the crotch. Making him bend over in pain and rushed towards me, pushing the freak away.


    ¡°Now you done it¡­ We are going to break you two after this crowd takes their turns on you. Raising your hands to your masters? There is no forgiving.¡± The one who was on Tina spoke; as he recuperated from the blow.


    ¡°Rob. I¡¯m going to kill these bitches!¡± The limp said, and punched Tina square in the jaw making her topple over; falling on the ground with a thud, spitting out blood.


    Then he came over at me. He punched again, ¡ªsomehow, I managed to dodge and get to Tina¡¯s side¡­ She was alive, still conscious.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I screamed at them. ¡°We serve master Adam! He will know about this¡­ So stop¡­¡± I shouted amidst tears. I doubt he would care, even that he would heard what I just said¡­ But I had to do something!


    The limp rushed at me and dragged shoving me against the wall. He punched me in the face, I felt a surge of pain, dizzy even. Then came another¡­


    But it did not hit.


    I managed to come back to my senses. His brother was holding the limp¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What did you just said?¡± The older brother pushed his brother out of the way.


    ¡°Wha¡­ wh¡­ what?¡± I stuttered.


    ¡°WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID? I MADE YOU A QUESTION DUMB COW.¡° The crowd was receding. As he was shouted; angered somehow.


    ¡°He will know¡­¡± Suddenly pain rang out. I could not overpower him, he was a trained fighter and much bigger and stronger than me. A fifteen years old girl.


    He slapped me.


    I almost passed out.


    ¡°M¡­My¡­Ma¡­Master Adam!¡± I said.


    He suddenly let me go.


    ¡°You¡­ you heard that Dough?¡± He asked.


    ¡°You thinks these bitches serve him¡­?¡± Dough the one with the limp calmed down, he seemed uncomfortable. A strange look in his eyes. ¡°We can get back to him! We kill them and make him pay for what he has done to me!¡± The limp said.


    Rob, the elder one; suddenly slapped his own brother. Making him take a step back.


    ¡°You idiot. We must stay out of his way¡­ You heard father¡¯s orders! He is mad, crazy. You know what he did to you! You still have your leg just because father told master Doghead to solve the issue.¡± He looked away, terrified.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± The older brother said. Dough looked back at us with crazed expression, a mix of anger and fear. And nodded.


    They walked away. Just like that.


    The crowd dispersed.


    Who is Adam? ¡ªWho is our master?


    No matter¡­ we were safe.


    I reached for Tina. She was a little hurt. But she managed to get back on her feet. Even I had trouble walking. Thankfully I could not see my own face¡­


    ¡°Ahh¡­¡± She grimaced in pain ¡°You¡­ saved us both! I don¡¯t know how, but¡­ thank you.¡± She managed to speak.


    I nodded.


    We were both standing against a wall in the corridor side by side; the crowd lost all interest on us, they even seemed to be avoiding us altogether.


    I couldn¡¯t help. I started laughing aloud. Noticing it, Tina just said. ¡°You are mad.¡± Then she started laughing along with me. ¡°No¡­ no¡­ You are! Helping me in that situation? Do you have rats for brains?¡± I rebuked.


    ¡°Who says that!?¡± The ginger laughed again. So did i.


    We sat alongside each other. Taking our time to calm down, and adjust. We were battered, both missing a few teeth I think. But alive.


    How good it is to be alive¡­


    ¡ª


    ¡°Crap.¡± The ginger suddenly said.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Master¡¯s new undergarments! We don¡¯t know when he will be back, we have to get them quick!¡± She got up taking my hand.


    ¡°Y¡­Yeah that!¡± We ran together, managing for a while until we both lost our breath. Thankfully¡­ Tina found it. A clothing stall.


    A boy a little older than me was taking care of it. Gray robes¡­ he was one of them.


    I looked around seeing nothing resembling small clothes, they had shirts, pants and mostly robes. There was a dress code, even maid uniforms. These came in all shapes and sizes¡­ some were very, well skimpy. I can¡¯t believe they make us wear this¡­ What kind of pervert! Shameless.


    Funnily enough, the robes just had the three colours. White; for children mostly. Gray, and black. The black ones were more expensive and fancy. It seemed that these sorcerers could wear their robes whatever way they wanted. As long as they represented their standing; the correct colour, and were actually robes.


    What mostly varied between them were the quality of the fabric, and the embroidering. None of these matched master¡¯s purple robe. That one was something else. Magical even.


    ¡°Stop dozing off!¡± Tina suddenly nudged me.


    I don¡¯t doze¡­ I just get distracted!


    She addressed the young sorcerer standing over the stall. He had short brown hair and a unremarkable face; he was wearing reading glasses as flipped through a book.


    ¡°Master¡­ If I may. Are there, errr male undergarments in this stall? Not for us¡­ our master!¡± Tina asked the young man.


    He gave her a look and pointed towards a wooded box to the side.


    ¡°This humble servant thanks you!¡± She said.


    I nodded along. Honestly I don¡¯t know how she does it! I have trouble talking to other maids imagine talking to sorcerers!


    He just nodded.


    We rummaged the box. They weren¡¯t organized, just a pile of clothes. Luckily these didn¡¯t seem to be second hand.


    Searching its contents¡­ What is this? A man wear this? How would I know what master would like? I took the first set that came to hand.


    ¡°Will this do?¡± I asked Tina.


    ¡°Too small.¡± She immediately answered. I took another set, a bigger one. ¡°And this one?¡±


    ¡°SMALL.¡± She was quick again.


    ¡°These are prettyish¡­! And how would you know!¡± I immediately asked.


    ¡°I had a male master before. He was old, then he died. But still he was quite sensible about his undergarments. I think all men are!¡± She answered with an awkward expression.


    ¡°So bigger¡­ Better?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    ¡°You are¡­ a genius!¡± I quickly nodded along.


    We ended up buying ten sets of small-clothes. Eerrr big-clothes.


    But how would we pay? Do we have any currency? I will just well, let Tina handle it.


    ¡°That would be¡­¡± The boy looked to our contents. ¡°Twenty points.¡± He said after some consideration.


    ¡°Put it in Master Adam¡¯s tab.¡± Tina said. Even telling him were master lived.


    ¡°Wait¡­ Adam¡­ like Grandmaster Daryle¡¯s son?¡± He got up and asked, he seemed enthused; but he scared Tina a little.


    ¡°Yes. I mean¡­ his name his Adam, and he live on the th¡ª¡­ the third floor. Wait!? Grand¡­Grandmaster!?¡± I spoke up.


    ¡°Purple eyes? White hair? Scary as hell?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Tina answered.


    ¡°I see. Tell him to come here. He owes me a favour, tell him this address.¡± He pointed to the door. That was were his room was. ¡°Tell him that Torin wants to speak to him.¡±


    Tina nodded.


    Then we walked back home.


    ¡°Grandmaster Daryle!?¡± Tina suddenly spoke up¡­ ¡°That¡¯s why master Doghead¡­ Ahh.¡± That last part was a little hard to hear.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± I asked casually. ¡°Master Daryle? What, you don¡¯t know who that is?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°He is the leader of all of them. The most cruel¡­ The strongest. They are all afraid of him, even The Doghead who everyone fears. He is his dog.¡± She answered. ¡°Don¡¯t let him hear you say that.¡± She quickly added.


    ¡°And Adam, our master is his son, and heir apparent.¡± She finished.


    ¡°Hooo!.¡± I said.


    What have I gotten myself into?


    After a long walk, we reached Adam¡¯s chamber; on the third floor.


    We walked in. And there he was¡­ playing cards with his mistress? We approached them and bowed,


    Tina showed him the contents that we bought.


    He took his eyes from the game and looked us over.


    ¡°What happened to you two fools?¡± He then looked over to the box and picked up a¡­ thing. ¡°Ho! what is this¡­ wait! I told you to go buy this; i remember!¡± Then he looked at his Mistress with a smirk and laughed. ¡°At least you got the size right!¡± She laughed too. It was a strange; her laugh¡­


    I tough she was just acting arrogant¡­ But is she¡­ mute!?


    Wait¡­ I know her. She is the Silent singer! Adam¡­ and then¡­Ruth! That¡¯s her name.


    They are siblings!


    Tina was all shy and respect¡­ ¡ªBut i actually laughed a bit.


    I looked up to him. Tina too; and¡­ he just gave us a thumb up.


    ¡°Good girls!¡± He added. I never expected that my first assignment would be like this! I feel¡­ what is this?


    Happy?


    ¡ª