《There Are No Heroes》


 Chapter 1: Sinister Plans

    Chapter 1: Nefarious Plans


    Point of View: Magnus Bridge


    "I have become the most powerful mage in this world; reality itself bends before my absolute power. Even the Gods fear me, and my power is immeasurable..." I was reflecting on my own existence when I was interrupted.


    "M-master, everything is ready... the ritual."


    I looked at the boy, who appeared to be around sixteen, with light brown hair and eyes. I did not like being interrupted. I glared at him, and he shrank before my presence. Today, I would not punish him.


    "Boy, do you know what immortality is?" I saw his confused gaze. His lips moved soundlessly. He had been my assistant for years, and yet he still feared me.


    "It is what you and I will achieve today in this ritual." I put a warm smile on my face to try to ease the confused feelings that coursed through the boy.


    "Do you know that even the gods are not immortal? Unable to escape the flow of time. They age, change names, but they continue to exist. Their essence is renewed only because people believe in them, in an eternal cycle of rebirth that depends on the faith of the people of this continent."


    The boy seemed calmer.


    "M-master, I don¡¯t understand..."


    I approached him slowly. I did not intend to be forgotten, nor did I intend to forget. I will remain in memory and essence. The idea of disappearing completely, becoming a blur in an uncertain future, brings a sense of emptiness that spreads like a suffocating shadow within me.


    "You see, boy, I have made many sacrifices to get here: elves, dwarves, nobles, slaves, humans. Even the commoners who cried out for protection, swearing loyalty for me to save them from disease and monsters, were touched by my existence."


    I said this to him, thinking of each face that vanished under my hand. A silent presence still lingers in my memory, one that never abandons me.


    But it was necessary ¡ª or at least, that''s what I tell myself to justify the unbearable.


    On my 284th birthday, after longs years of research conducted in this strange dungeon, I finally discovered the solution. I created an artifact capable of storing my soul and transferring it into an adequate vessel. I based it on the technique of demonic possession to develop a form of magical possession.


    This technique allows me to take control of the latent mana in a human body, using it as if it were mine. From there, I manipulate the mana to control the rest of the body like a true master.


    "Gods and mortals... They are still stuck in archaic methods, as if something meaningful could be achieved with those obsolete formulas. My creation, ah, this is refined magic! Simple, potent, unbeatable!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I moved around the circle, checking for any flaws. My assistant almost never let any mistakes slip by.


    "One day, will you teach me your magic?" The boy interrupted me again, but I wasn¡¯t angry. I felt sad. A loneliness took hold of my core. The truth is, he wouldn''t live long enough for me to teach him anything.


    Changing the subject to avoid my thoughts, I muttered: "Why does a dungeon full of decaying bodies have to smell so bad? It should be a glorious reminder of progress, but all I can think of is the damn stench. Well, nothing that a little extra mana can''t fix."


    I continued organizing the crystals on the table, which would serve as a battery to keep my existence alive. I looked at my assistant and asked:


    "Only the strongest should reach me. How are the traps, golems, gargoyles...?"


    "T-the traps are all ready, master. Once I leave this dungeon and the ritual is complete, the dungeon will begin to function. Any trace of mana will activate it."


    I couldn''t help but smile as I exclaimed energetically: "Let the most worthy come!"


    These measures would not only prevent insignificant individuals from advancing but also encourage the truly powerful to face the challenges, believing they had found a treasure of immense value.


    And indeed, they would. However, the real treasure would be mine: a body worthy of carrying my immortal soul.


    The walls of the dungeon, covered in moss and dark stains, seemed to pulse with the magical energy that infused the place. The torchlight flickered, casting dancing shadows that took on grotesque, almost lifelike forms. The silence was broken only by the occasional sound of drops falling into small puddles on the floor, each drop echoing as a reminder of time passing.


    As the echo of the drops dripped from the ceiling or ran down the walls, I couldn''t help but wonder if all that I had done and was doing was just. It was a thought that returned like a constant hammer, striking my already fragmented conscience. Was there no other alternative but to use people as instruments? No, I was sure there was no other alternative, not one that would benefit me at least. It was this or oblivion¡­ and the idea of disappearing forever was a prison far crueler than any dungeon.


    I placed the orb on the pedestal in the center of the room. The stand, made of stone in the shape of two skeletal hands, held it firmly in place. The ethereal glow of the orb cast a pale and cold light across the room, illuminating the runes on the floor. They pulsed softly with an unsettling energy, as if they were breathing. I stepped back to the outer limit of the magic circle, whose runes would ensure a constant flow of mana in and out of the orb to maintain the energy. Additionally, extra crystals were scattered across the table, enriching the atmosphere with abundant mana, as if the entire room were alive.


    The energy here should last several centuries before it fades. It¡¯s a damn shot in the dark, but it¡¯s the only sensible option ¡ª that or become some damn lich. Although I have no problem with killing in the name of magic, I feel that taking lives to extend my own would be an unbearable moral burden. This method, however, ensures that only a single sacrifice is needed.


    "Come here, boy. Stand in this spot. I¡¯ll need you to help me with this ritual."


    I called, indicating that he should stand at the outer edge of the magic circle. With the boy facing away from me, I drew my dagger and apologized:


    "I''m sorry..."


    Blood gushed from his throat and filled the magic circle.


    I began the ritual. My consciousness faded, and I watched my body fall as it was drawn into the orb on the pedestal. The sensation was like being torn from the fabric of existence, an abrupt rip that left a cold emptiness in my being. My memories paraded before me like images projected onto a blank screen. Each face, each moment of glory and regret, a succession of intense flashes.


    Then, I was there. I could see and feel everything in the room through the mana, I could communicate through my mind. But there was no one else. The world was now a dense twilight of black shapes. For a moment, I saw something that seemed to crawl on the floor, but I ignored it.


    And time continued to pass...</article>

 Chapter 2: Train Journey

    Point of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    London was everything I thought it would be: a truly magical city with beautiful architecture that blended the old and the modern in a fascinating way. The streets, full of life, were a reflection of centuries of history. As chaotic as urban life was, there was an intrinsic order behind it all.


    In truth, the whole world became more beautiful once I started traveling through it. When you''re not successful, things are much more depressing and complicated. As a freelance banker, the freedom to have clients anywhere in the world¡ªand, of course, the excuse to travel¡ªwas a privilege of the profession. London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, Seoul... One of the perks of being Brazilian is having one of the best passports in the world.


    I was at London St. Pancras station, a true architectural marvel. The curved iron beams of the ceiling seemed to dance as natural light poured through the glass windows, creating hypnotic patterns on the polished marble floor. The place was bustling.


    Muffled shouts, hurried laughter, people with heavy luggage and distracted looks. It was crowded, but at the same time, there was a strange harmony in the crowd, as if everyone moved in a rehearsed choreography. In the background, a violinist played a sweet and melancholic rendition of ¡°I Want to Hold Your Hand,¡± echoing through the station, blending with the sounds of train traffic and distant conversations.


    I was on my way to Cambridge, my next tourist destination. It was rush hour, and as I observed the people around me, something caught my attention on my left: a commotion. Desperate screams pierced the air, but still, my instinct was not to get involved.


    I wasn¡¯t there to get into trouble. My English was far from perfect, and getting involved in something in a foreign land wasn¡¯t part of my plan. However, one phrase reverberated in my mind: ¡°Thief! Catch the thief!¡±


    The crowd around me began to stir, but something inside me kept me rooted in place. This wasn¡¯t my problem. The station continued to be filled with the sound of a train to my right, the mechanical noise of the tracks mingling with the screech of brakes. But suddenly, the reality around me distorted.


    The commotion seemed distant, the sounds became muffled, and for a moment, all I could hear was the hum of something immense approaching. Suddenly, someone bumped into me so hard that I almost lost my balance. I stumbled forward, unable to steady myself.


    And then, the light¡­ It was intense and blinding, as if the sun itself had decided to descend to Earth. In an instant, the light shone so brightly that it enveloped me, and then¡­ everything went black. The world around me disappeared.


    ¡°Young hero, your wish will be granted: a magical world with magic and swords,¡± echoed a voice in the darkness, deep and distant. But that wish was old, something I had ten years ago when I was lost in life, directionless in my early twenties.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I had wanted adventures, a world with magic, with swords. Now, what I desired was something completely different: a comfortable life, filled with wealth, far from any suffering. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t verbalize that. I was simply floating, weightless, directionless, in absolute emptiness.


    My mind was confused, and a searing pain began to emerge in my head. Could the train¡­ have crushed me? An irrational thought crossed my mind: people were run over by trucks and transported to other worlds, not by trains.


    As time dragged on, my head began to throb more intensely. Something started to weigh on my back, and a strange sensation spread through my body. Something pointy touched my fingers, but at the same time, it felt soft.


    The air around me became fresh, and the scent of pure air, like that of a forest, filled my lungs. It was as if I were walking near a forest or park, yet I could see nothing around me. A soft breeze brushed my skin, bringing unexpected relief.


    With my head still throbbing, I finally opened my eyes. A clearing revealed itself before me. The trees around me were tall and imposing, their leaves covering the sky like a thick mantle, leaving only small cracks of light to pass through to the ground below.


    I was lying in a small clearing, about three square meters, surrounded by a dense forest that seemed to vibrate with life. The ground, covered by a thin layer of moss, was slightly damp, and the smell of wet earth mixed with the fresh air. The leaves, vibrant in color, swayed gently in the wind. The sound of distant birds and the rustling of trees were the only noises breaking the absolute silence.


    ¡°Why the hell am I naked?¡± I murmured, feeling a deep ache in my lungs. ¡°Living beings get transported to another world, but clothes don¡¯t?¡± Even with the mental confusion, the discomfort of being naked brought me back to reality.


    When I was younger, I read various novels, manga, and watched many anime. No matter how terrible a situation might seem, my concern wasn¡¯t exactly being transported to another world. What truly unsettled me was the possibility of not being in a safe position or the challenges I would face along the way.


    With great effort, I lifted the upper part of my body, propping myself up on my elbows. My stomach growled loudly, making it clear that the hunger I felt was immense. With the pain in my head slowly subsiding, I began to observe more closely what was around me.


    The forest seemed denser and more mysterious than anything I had ever seen on any trip. The trees weren¡¯t ordinary. Some of them seemed to emit a soft glow, as if they had a life of their own. The air was charged with a peculiar humidity that touched my skin gently, as if every breath I took was imbued with an invisible magical energy.


    I was in a completely different world, but part of me couldn¡¯t help finding it strange that everything was so¡­ simple. I should have been in a castle, with a new purpose in a magical land full of fantastical creatures, not in some random clearing in an apparently wild world.


    If there are swords, then there must be cities in this world...


    I stood up, letting my thoughts drift to the second thing I heard before wake here: magic. Immediately, I raised my hands and said, "Status." Nothing happened. I tried again: "Appraise, description, fireball." When I realized I was acting like a six-year-old, I stopped. I took a deep breath, feeling the warm sunlight on my skin.


    "Well, at least it¡¯s not winter," I muttered to myself.


    ¡°As funny as it might be to think about playing Tarzan, shouldn¡¯t I have been transported to a castle or something?¡± I thought, trying to make sense of everything that was happening.</article>

 Chapter 3: Survival I

    Point of View: Christopher Roosevelt


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    I was standing, sweat running down my face as I tried to get my mind to work. The adrenaline was coursing through my veins, but panic was also consuming my body. I couldn¡¯t stay here lying down; I needed to act.


    The first thing to do, for anyone who has watched the American series Naked and Afraid, was to find water. The human body can survive longer in a state of malnutrition than dehydration. But here, in the middle of an unknown forest, I felt completely lost.


    The sounds of the forest surrounded me, filling the air with the chirping of crickets, the croaking of frogs, and the occasional snap of a branch under some invisible weight. Each noise made me flinch. Still, the sound I was truly desperate to hear was the flow of water¡ªa stream, a river, anything to offer relief. The tension of the situation tightened my chest, and the fear of dehydration gnawed at me.


    Eventually, I reached a clearing and paused for a moment, trying to quickly assess the situation. The sunlight, which had been fighting to stay in the sky, was rapidly fading. Dusk was creeping in, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The air grew heavy and humid, clinging to my skin.


    As I checked my body, I noticed something strange. "Look at that, I¡¯ve turned into a bodybuilder from another world... This could¡¯ve happened earlier, right? Bet women would love it." Was this some sort of bonus for traveling between worlds? Then my focus returned: the lack of clothes and tools was a constant reminder of how critical my situation was. Another thing I noticed was the complete absence of body hair. "No hair? Seriously? I¡¯m a baby from the gym now?"


    Entering the dense forest with adrenaline pumping through my veins, I tried to take in my surroundings. The wildlife¡¯s sounds blended together, creating a disorienting fog in my mind. Then, in the distance, I heard it¡ªthe unmistakable rush of water. My pulse quickened as I stumbled forward, my desperation leading the way.


    In my mind, I imagined myself as an intrepid explorer, someone capable of overcoming anything. But the reality hit harder with each step. The weight of my legs, the growling of my stomach, and the heat pressing down on me reminded me of my limits. Frustration and anger bubbled up: why couldn¡¯t this be a normal isekai? I just wanted an easy life, not this fight for survival. Instead, I was here¡ªlost, directionless, and without a plan.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    After what felt like endless hours, I finally stumbled upon a riverbed. Relief surged through me at the sound of rushing water. Yet, as I stood there, another wave of worry took over. The river was wide, its waters churning and fast-moving. There were no signs of human presence¡ªjust dense vegetation and the endless murmur of the current. I didn¡¯t know where the river led, but I had no choice but to follow it.


    The last light of day faded as a cool breeze swept through the forest. The night was coming fast, and with it, new challenges. I couldn¡¯t afford to get sick, so I began searching for a way to make it through until morning. My thoughts raced as I prioritized finding shelter. Quick decisions were essential now. I pondered the situation as I kneeled by the river, using my hands to drink water.


    But the forest had other plans. Every so often, a rustle or a crack broke the oppressive silence, setting my nerves on edge. Something was moving in the dense underbrush. I couldn¡¯t see it, but the feeling of being watched clung to me like a second skin.


    Walking along the riverbank, I forced myself to stay calm and focus. Spotting some large, sharp stones, I began chipping one against another, attempting to craft a crude blade. My hands bled slightly, but the pain was a minor inconvenience. A blade could mean the difference between life and death¡ªwhether for hunting or defending myself.


    As darkness fully descended, I found a tall tree that could serve as shelter. Climbing it with what strength I had left, I secured myself to a sturdy branch using fibers stripped from a massive leaf. As I gazed down at the river below, loneliness began to creep in. The forest was vast and unforgiving, and a sense of unease settled in my chest. Was something out there watching me?


    Then, a faint crack of a branch in the distance sent a chill down my spine. I froze, straining to hear. The noises grew louder, accompanied by guttural growls and eerie cries that didn¡¯t sound human. My heart pounded as I clung to the branch. Suddenly, the noises stopped, replaced by an oppressive silence that seemed to stretch forever.


    And then I saw it. A humanoid figure emerged below me. Its skin was a sickly green, and its eyes glinted unnaturally in the faint moonlight. It rummaged through the underbrush, scanning the area with unsettling precision. That¡¯s when it hit me: it was looking for me.


    The tree¡¯s thick foliage provided some cover, shielding me from its gaze. "Okay, weird green creature, stay down there and I¡¯ll stay up here. Everyone¡¯s happy, deal?" I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. I prayed silently: "Go away, please go away..."

 Chapter 4: Survival II

    Point Of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    I woke up with a sneeze. My worries about catching a cold immediately came rushing back, along with my mental checklist of priorities: food and a decent shelter. My current inventory? A stone knife and a rope made from braided leaves. As I mentally went over my supplies, the ground trembled. A chill ran down my spine. I stayed in the tree but climbed higher, between the branches, hiding in the leaves. I struggled to control my heartbeat, which seemed to be ready to leap out of my throat.


    Then I saw it. Near the riverbed, a gigantic creature, about four meters tall. It looked like a lizard with wings attached to its front legs, resembling a pterosaur but with a bulkier head, similar to a Komodo dragon, full of sharp teeth. Its body was covered with dark, scaly skin that gleamed in the sunlight. Its claws dug into the ground, making a metallic sound as they crushed stones.


    The creature dipped its head into the river, fishing or drinking water. "I''ll call it Wyvern," I thought. If this thing can fly, it''s better I stay hidden in the tree cover. I descended the tree, my thoughts racing. The river was no longer safe; drinking water or building a raft to go down it would be a monumental challenge now.


    "Call me a coward, but I won''t fight that thing, no way," I muttered to myself, letting out a nervous laugh. Since I had already drunk enough water, I decided to move away from the river and head into the forest. "Time to look for fruits." I followed my own rule: if animals are eating something, it''s probably safe for me too, especially if they''re primates.


    As I walked, I found a small tree with a thin trunk. I broke it and began carving it while walking, trying to make it as straight as possible. Once the shaft was well worked, I used a piece of fiber to create a spear. "Now I have a weapon. It''s not very sturdy or deadly, but it''s a defense mechanism."


    My hands were calloused and sore from the rope I''d used to improvise the spear. Every step felt heavier than the last, and my stomach growled with hunger. I knew I needed to find something to eat, but my mind was scattered, my muscles were exhausted, and the simple act of breathing seemed to consume me.


    Loneliness tightened my chest with every step I took, and the sense of helplessness, with no one to back me up, haunted me. I was alone, just me and my restless mind. "Maybe there''s a busty elf lost around here?" I yelled, trying to chase away the weight of solitude. "Dwarves work too¡­"Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    After a few hours of walking, I entered a small clearing. In the center, there was a huge rock, twice my height and ten times my width. A crack separated the boulder, probably a result of years of erosion. Cautiously approaching, I inspected the inside. The inner part of the rock was eroded, forming a small cave with stalactites dripping water. "Looks like a safe place," I thought as I entered.


    "Where''s this water coming from, dripping from the ceiling?" Inside, the cave was spacious, with solid stone walls. There was enough space for a man to lie down, but most of the floor was covered by a pool of crystal-clear water. Around it, the stone floor was covered with moss, which would need to be removed. Lighting a fire here would be dangerous.


    I approached the pool and knelt. It was then that I saw my reflection for the first time. My brown eyes were lighter. I looked younger, maybe sixteen, and more athletic than I remembered. I was never much into sports. I ran my hand over my muscles. "I''m going to have a lot of fun with this body," I said, amused.


    My hair was dark brown, completely messy and short, and my skin was white, but a bit yellowish. "Anemia?" I commented to myself, chuckling.


    Setting that aside, did I rejuvenate, or is this a new body? I wondered curiously, what kind of being would have the power to do such a thing? "Hero, huh? Let''s see who''s going to play the hero here!" I said aloud, looking at the ceiling. Talking to myself was something I had done in my old world. Now that the panic had subsided, I was starting to return to that habit. It would definitely help me cope with this situation.


    Just as I was about to stand up, my foot slipped on the moss, and my body fell into the pool. I tried to brace myself with my arms, but it was deeper than it seemed, and soon I found myself completely submerged. My whole body sank into the water. I tried to swim desperately, but I¡¯m a terrible swimmer. You can¡¯t be good at everything, after all. As the scarce light from the cave faded above me, I realized I was running out of breath. Then, my feet touched the ground. With a push, I sprang up, flailing my arms. My head surfaced, and I leaned on a flat surface, coughing and spitting out the water I had swallowed.


    When I looked around, I realized I was no longer in the cave. "Oh, great. Random isekai event. Is this some sort of dungeon?" I muttered. I mentally began humming the opening song as if this were some kind of crazy anime.


    A corridor stretched ahead of me. Shivering from the cold, I got up and started walking, each step echoing in the darkness. This wasn''t a game, and I had no interest in being the main character. I looked ahead, surrendering my sanity. The air was thick, and the only sound was the dripping of water somewhere.


    "I¡¯ll kill a dragon with this pointy stick," I proclaimed, joking about the situation, if I found one. I would beg for my life.

 Chapter 5: Summoning of the Heroes I

    Point of View: Lorian Vellorn


    The ritual was about to begin, and in the crowd, a handful of eager nobles tried to win the favor of the heroes. I couldn¡¯t blame them; after all, the summoning method created by the infamous Magnus Bridge brought to this world super soldiers¡ªpowerful weapons capable of destroying entire kingdoms. The excuse used to justify such power? "We need heroes to face the Lords." Pure nonsense, masking the greed of the King and the Nobility.


    Valion, son of the Count of Taldrin, approached me, his heavy hand resting on my shoulder. ¡°Do you believe these heroes will be good? Or just more pawns for the war?¡± he asked, his eyes fixed on the circle formed by the priests, where three lifeless children lay.


    Valion, my childhood friend, had been corrupted by the rotten structure of Calyndor. I wondered what was left of him. A once idealistic young man now sought ways to accumulate power, regardless of the cost. He had been one of the greatest influences in my life, motivating me to become who I was today. But over time, he had lost his way, and the reality he embraced now seemed unrecognizable.


    Someday, I hope to save him from this spiral of destruction. But if that¡¯s not possible, I will be the one to end his life. It terrifies me, but the idea of seeing him as an enemy to be destroyed also seems inevitable. The truth is, as long as he¡¯s alive, his corruption will be a threat to everyone around us.


    ¡°Actually, you want to ask if they will be easily manipulated,¡± I replied, my tongue sharp as a needle, casting a brief glance at my friend before returning my attention to the children in the circle. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this ritual is cruel? I mean, they¡¯re just children. Where do their memories, their feelings, their souls go?¡±


    ¡°One life for another. Anyway, this is something that needs to be done. Without defense against the Lords, the kingdom of Calyndor will... no, I dare say the entire continent will fall, from the dwarves in the Grimdal fortress, the elves in the hidden kingdom of Aeloria, to the Veridian Empire. Nothing has the power to resist the Lords.¡±


    To avoid being accused of treason, I remained silent. As much as I had a friendship with Valion, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was brainwashing or a justification for the cruel greed. That psychopath of a mage is treated like a legend, when everything he created should be considered taboo. I glanced briefly at our king, Eryndor Valier of Calyndor, as the mages began chanting in an ancient language I didn¡¯t understand. The bastard had a smile on his face...Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    A blinding light filled the hall, blinding everyone present. The magical circle, now animated, began to pulse with energy from another dimension, vibrating like a dark heart. Runes glowed ethereally, appearing on the children¡¯s bodies with a supernatural intensity, as if each mark was a branding, a seal of something much larger than they could comprehend.


    The sound of the chanting echoed in the room, deep and rhythmic, reverberating against the stone walls and making the atmosphere heavy, dense with the weight of a fate that couldn¡¯t be avoided. Each vibration of energy seemed to pierce the skin, invade the senses, until the air became thick and suffocating, as though the very essence of the world was being altered.


    It was as fascinating as it was disturbing. Intricate runes appeared on the bodies of the youths, glowing with a supernatural intensity. According to ancient studies, these marks would serve as catalysts, allowing the energy of reincarnation to bestow extraordinary abilities upon the heroes: immense physical strength, superhuman agility, impenetrable resistance, and a natural affinity for magic¡ªeverything that mages and warriors of this world could only dream of achieving.


    However, something seemed wrong. When the light finally faded and the runes disappeared from the children¡¯s skins, an uncomfortable silence filled the hall. Anxious whispers began to spread among the mages. The tension was palpable, and the normally imposing mages were agitated. Their gazes met with unnerving speed, and even Abimael, the royal mage, seemed to have lost control. His trembling hands, his rigid posture¡ªeverything betrayed the error. Something was wrong. He approached King Eryndor Valier of Calyndor, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.


    The confident smile that adorned the king¡¯s face vanished instantly. For a brief moment, a grimace of frustration appeared, but it was quickly replaced by the stoic, calculating expression he always wore in front of the court. ¡°The ritual was a success,¡± he announced loudly, hiding any trace of concern. ¡°Now, I ask the mages and priests to take the children to a place where they can rest and recover their strength. Guards, please escort the nobles out of the palace.¡±


    Since Magnus Bridge¡¯s disappearance, the royal family had been desperately trying to recover their lost prestige. The mage who once defied the limits of magic was now just a memory, but his legacy of madness left a deep mark. His absence didn¡¯t bring stability but generated rulers increasingly obsessed with power.


    Eryndor, the current king, is the embodiment of this obsession, a distorted reflection of Magnus. He hides his insatiable thirst for control under a facade of nobility, but his eyes reveal the emptiness and destruction he is willing to bring. The most ironic part is that, instead of learning from the past¡¯s mistakes, the kingdom remains trapped in the same cycle of greed, where one monster is replaced by another, hungrier and more dangerous. Eryndor doesn¡¯t care about the costs of power; he just wants to stay in control, no matter the price.


    As the crowd began to disperse, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the tension in Abimael¡¯s gaze and the contained nervousness in the mages¡¯ movements. Something had gone wrong, that much was clear. The king could mask his emotions, but I wasn¡¯t a fool. Something about this ritual didn¡¯t go as planned, and I intended to find out what it was¡ªno matter the cost.

 Chapter 6: Summoning of the Heroes II

    Point of View: Kaori Tanaka


    The morning sun touched my skin, and footsteps echoed in the room as I curled deeper into the blanket. The sound of blinds opening made the light even more unbearable, forcing my eyes to squint. The fresh morning air filled my lungs, but all I could think was, ¡°Mom, just five more minutes¡­¡± I grunted and buried my face in the pillow, which, for some reason, felt softer than usual.


    ¡°Miss, His Majesty is waiting,¡± a completely unfamiliar voice echoed beside the bed.


    ¡°Whose Majesty?¡± I murmured, confused. I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up in bed, staring at the surroundings around me. This wasn¡¯t my room.


    I was in a large bed, in a gigantic room. The ceiling and walls were made of gray stone, while the floor gleamed with a white, smooth marble-like stone. To the left of the bed was a polished redwood desk, and at the center of the room stood a small table surrounded by two velvet red armchairs.


    ¡°Was I¡­ kidnapped?¡± I gasped, quickly rising and using the bed as a barrier between myself and the strange woman. She was dressed like a maid, in an outfit that reminded me of those themed caf¨¦s that otakus love to visit. However, she wasn¡¯t young like the staff at those caf¨¦s. She appeared to be around forty, with blonde hair neatly tied up in a bun, and her eyes conveyed a sense of severity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young lady. Everything will be explained shortly,¡± the woman said, her tone firm yet respectful. ¡°Please, follow me.¡±


    I hesitated for a moment, my heart pounding. My gaze scanned the room again, trying to find any clue of where I was or how I had ended up here. Feeling that I had little choice, I took a cautious step forward, still keeping the bed between us.


    ¡°If this is some kind of joke or prank, I swear it¡¯s not funny¡­¡± I muttered, trying to stay calm, though my trembling voice betrayed me. The woman didn¡¯t respond. She simply turned and walked toward the door, gesturing for me to follow.


    The hallway was well-lit; statues of armored figures and framed paintings adorned the space, showcasing figures I had never seen before in my life. After passing through the hallway, we descended a staircase that led us to an exit. As we walked through a stone archway, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the courtyard¡¯s decorations, with fountains and flowers arranged artfully.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    But something felt off. I felt strange, like I wasn¡¯t myself. My hands seemed smaller, my height different, even the way I walked felt abnormal. I was wearing a white tunic that the woman had provided. Moreover, this place didn¡¯t resemble Japan in any way. Maybe it was some ancient castle in the West.


    We entered another building, walking through another beautifully decorated corridor. However, the people in the paintings of this space were all men, and they shared physical similarities. I noticed that the frames had inscriptions written in a language that wasn¡¯t Japanese, but oddly enough, I could understand it.


    The guards in the hallways watched us with curious gazes, but none of them spoke. It was as if I was a stranger, someone who didn¡¯t belong here. Their silence only heightened the feeling that I was trapped in a nightmare.


    Stopping in front of an ornate door, the woman pushed it open firmly and gestured for me to enter.


    Hesitant, I stepped through the entrance, scanning my surroundings. There were people dressed extravagantly, as if in an old-fashioned ball. The hall was vast, with six marble pillars extending from floor to ceiling along the sides, leaving a red carpet that led directly to a throne at the end of the space.


    The man seated on the throne was tall and robust, appearing to be about fifty years old. His hair was completely white and spiked, and he wore a gray tunic adorned with golden details, with white feathers around his neck.


    ¡°Welcome to Calyndor, great heroine. I am King Eryndor, of the Valier royal family.¡± His eyes locked onto mine with intensity. What was I supposed to do in a situation like this? Kneel? King? Heroine?


    ¡°What kind of nonsense is this?¡± I questioned, even more confused.


    ¡°Oh, great heroine, you have been chosen to save this world from a dark threat. They call themselves the Lords. For this fight, you have been blessed with a new body that possesses abilities beyond those of an ordinary human. We offer you all the necessary support to help you develop and become strong enough to face our adversaries.¡±


    What was he saying? None of it made sense. What place in the world was Calyndor? Why was he doing some kind of fantasy role-play?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to play this game. I want to go home.¡±


    ¡°I understand your confusion, but if you are here, it means you died in your world. There is no home to return to.¡± He gestured with his hand, and the maid approached, carrying a cushion with a small silver mirror.


    ¡°Take it,¡± she said, extending the mirror.


    Reluctantly, I took the object and looked at my reflection. A blonde child with green eyes stared back at me. There was no trace of my old brown hair. This person¡­ isn¡¯t me.


    Did I really die? What happened to my mom? I never got to say goodbye¡­ Does she know what happened to me? The thought of never seeing her face again, of never feeling the warmth of her embrace¡­ made me feel as if a part of me was disappearing.

 Chapter 7: Rebirth

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    Point Of View: Magnus Bridge


    How much time has passed? Well, I¡¯m not sure. The room around me was still. In the dim shadows that my vision could reach, figures danced in the darkness. Sometimes, an insect or bat crossed the space silently. I made the most of my time thinking about magical formulas, spell structures, runes, invocations, curses, and other things of that nature. However, there were times when I felt I was forgetting some of these things. Perhaps it was due to time¡­ memory does not endure over centuries.


    Although I no longer had a physical body to feel anxiety, the idea of no adventurer passing through the doors troubled me. What if the energy runs out? What if I lose all my thoughts? How much time has passed?


    If I had transformed into a Lich, I would only need to massacre one or two civilizations. Did I make the right choice? As I lost myself in daydreams about past decisions, a crash echoed through the room. A humanoid figure entered the space. Although I could only see distorted shapes in the shadow, something about the mana around this being seemed strange.


    ¡°Welcome, young adventurer. Congratulations on completing this dungeon. I am the Dungeon Master, and as a reward, I will grant you the highest knowledge.¡± I spoke theatrically, as I had rehearsed countless times.


    A sneeze echoed in the room. ¡°Why are there so many corpses here?¡± asked a male voice. At least now I knew the gender of my guest, I thought.


    ¡°Do not fear. These corpses are of researchers who died in a magical accident long ago. I am the remnant of the knowledge from those studies. Now, come closer and place your hand on the orb. I will transfer the knowledge so that you may become the most powerful wizard.¡± It was partly true: they really died because of mistakes and accidents I caused. But he didn¡¯t need to know everything.


    The shadow moved. His arm lifted. Just a few more centimeters, I thought, watching anxiously. Then, the hand stopped and recoiled. ¡°I refuse. This is clearly suspicious.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, refuse?¡± I wasn¡¯t expecting this. I couldn¡¯t let him leave; who knows how long it would take for another adventurer to pass through the dungeon. And what if there was no one else? ¡°Young adventurer, is there anything else you desire besides knowledge? Perhaps treasure?¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Uh, well... think about it: a room full of corpses promising absolute power inside a dungeon? It¡¯s kind of, how should I say it? Suspicious?¡± I couldn¡¯t read his expression due to my visual limitations, but his words carried distrust. ¡°But is there any treasure in this room? Where?¡±


    ¡°I see that this caught your attention, young adventurer. Allow me to propose a deal: I¡¯ve been trapped in this dungeon for centuries. Take me with you on your adventure, and I¡¯ll show you where my treasure is hidden.¡± Now, I just had to wait. As soon as he touched me, his body would be mine. Muahahahahaha!


    Silence filled the room. The figure remained motionless. ¡°My name is Christopher. Do you have a name, talking ball?¡± The voice echoed again. As if that mattered! I thought to myself. After all, his consciousness would be supplanted.


    ¡°I am the supreme wizard Magnus Bridge. You must have heard of me.¡±


    Silence returned. Impatient, I dared to speak again: ¡°So, what now? Do we have a deal?¡±


    The figure began to move, extending his arm toward the orb again. ¡°Ah, alright. Not like I have anything better to do, after all.¡± He sighed. ¡°But I swear, if this is a trap, I¡¯ll break you in two.¡±


    A wave of energy swept through the room as his fingers touched the surface of the orb. I felt my existence flowing toward the figure. There I was: I could clearly see the environment around me. The glowing orb had lost its light, and the room was lit only by the mana crystals scattered across the tables. But something was wrong. The torches that were supposed to light up when the dungeon was activated remained extinguished.


    ¡°Did the talking ball run out of energy?¡± The voice came from my mouth, but it wasn¡¯t me speaking. I tried to move my arms and legs, but nothing happened. Something was wrong.


    ¡°Now, how am I going to find the treasure and get out of this damn dungeon?¡± Once again, I spoke¡­ but it wasn¡¯t me.


    Then, a realization came to my mind: this body didn¡¯t have enough mana to be controlled. How the hell did this guy get through the forbidden forest and complete the dungeon? Then, I understood: the dungeon hadn¡¯t been activated. He had no mana. No trap or monster had been triggered. But that didn¡¯t explain how he made it through the forest.


    He ¡ª or rather, I ¡ª began to move, inspecting the room. He stopped in front of my corpse, bent down, and started removing the cloak I was wearing: a black cloak ornamented with golden threads on the edges, giving the outfit a royal and dark air. He was looting my own corpse. That¡¯s when I noticed something else: I was completely naked.


    My realization hit immediately, reducing me to a shadow of my former greatness. A dungeon, a prison. This wasn¡¯t what I had planned when I started my journey for immortality. Yet, here I was, trapped in a body I couldn¡¯t control, a body of a crazy man who was naked. I searched his mind to try to understand how I ended up in this situation, which seemed at least ridiculous. And then I saw it, a completely different world. A hero from another world, but he was weak. Who summoned someone so weak to this world?

 Chapter 8: Useless Power

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    Point Of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    The cloak looks expensive; I¡¯ll probably regret doing this, but it¡¯ll have to do. I took it from the corpse and tied it around my waist, making a sort of skirt.


    ¡®My cloak! You are insulting centuries of arcane dignity by wearing it like this!¡¯ A voice hissed in my mind. I was completely stunned.


    "Now you''re speaking inside my head? Don''t tell me you''re some kind of parasite?" I replied sarcastically.


    ¡®Tsk¡­ useless bastard,¡¯ I heard the voice, sounding furious.


    I inspected the other bodies and found nothing of importance. They were poorly dressed compared to the body with the black cloak. I said aloud, "They weren¡¯t assistants or researchers. What really happened here?" No response.


    I went over to the tables where dozens of crystals were glowing with a bluish hue. ¡®Are these valuable?¡¯ I thought to myself.


    ¡®They are magical crystals of the highest value, perhaps not for you, since you¡¯re a useless one without magic,¡¯ Magnus¡¯s voice, the orb, answered in my mind.


    "Now you can read my thoughts? Is that an invasion of privacy? Why don¡¯t you go back to that orb?" I pointed to the sphere still on the pedestal.


    ¡®Even if I wanted to, your body doesn¡¯t have mana to cast a transfer spell. What resides within you is only memories and essence of what was once my power.¡¯


    "I get it, you''re the useless one here! So, is there really a treasure, or did you trick me to parasitize my body?"Silence took over, followed by what seemed like long seconds.


    ¡®On the wall opposite this room, one of the bricks is loose. Pull it out, there will be a space with a Dimensional Ring, but guess what?¡¯ While he was describing this, I was already moving.


    "I can''t access the ring, can I?" There was no answer, but I didn¡¯t need one. I moved toward the detailed wall and started punching lightly until I found a loose piece. When I found it, I pulled it, and there was the ring. My attention shifted to the crystals; they must be valuable. I went over to one of the corpses, took a long piece of cloth, laid it across a table, and arranged the crystals I managed to gather in the center, tying the ends together, turning it into a sort of pouch. I mentally noted the things I had: "37 mana crystals, a rustic spear, a black cloak, and probably expensive."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Now tell me how to get out of this damned dungeon," I yelled. "I haven¡¯t eaten in two days." After a few seconds of silence, then, in my mind:


    ¡®Third torch to the right, turn it clockwise, it will open a tunnel to the outside of the forbidden forest.¡¯ I felt the mental eye roll inside my head.


    I followed the instructions, heard a mechanism through the walls, and the floor and ceiling trembled. Then the ground opened up with a small hatch and a staircase of no more than ten steps, leading to a cavernous tunnel. I had to crouch; the tunnel was about twenty centimeters shorter than my height, approximately one and a half meters. I kept walking, lost in my thoughts.


    ¡®Magnus, are you there?¡¯ I mentally prodded, and there was no answer. I was being ignored. ¡®For a parasite, the least you could do is respond,¡¯ I provoked, mocking. Then:


    ¡®Shut up, you magicless failure, you ruined my plans that took nearly a century to devise.¡¯


    "Wow, a century, that¡¯s quite a long time..." There was no response. After what seemed like several minutes, I continued: "Look, I was randomly thrown into this world, it wasn¡¯t my intention to mess with you, but whatever you were doing in that dungeon didn¡¯t seem like good stuff."


    No response again.


    After a long time, what seemed like a mental sigh: ¡®You really don¡¯t understand anything¡­¡¯ Another pause. ¡®I made so many sacrifices, just for¡­ it all to go right. This was my one last shot, and I lost everything¡­¡¯


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. What was he planning? The bodies, the crystals, the orb, what was he talking about? Did he want to get out of the dungeon? No, that was the second thing he told me... the first was that he wanted me to touch the orb to receive knowledge.


    ¡®Looks like you¡¯re starting to connect the dots¡­ that¡¯s right, your body should be mine now.¡¯


    I stopped walking and spoke mentally:"But it went wrong, why did it go wrong?" There was no response. I stood still thinking and began moving again. "Magicless failure," I said aloud, unable to stop laughing. I felt the internal rage that wasn¡¯t mine.


    "Look, I know your attempt to steal my body failed, but whatever, now you¡¯re inside my body. If I die, you die. Your knowledge could be useful to me. Besides, think of the positive side. You can interact with the world through me; it¡¯s better than being trapped inside a ball." I said in a soothing tone, and again, no response.


    After some time walking, my stomach growled. I¡¯d never gone so long without eating. My nose was clogged, probably because of the humidity I¡¯d been through. It must have affected my sinusitis. When I came out of the narrow tunnel, I realized I was on a beach that stretched for miles. The exit was hidden by rocks.


    ¡®Where to now, master of mages?¡¯ I thought in my mind, expecting no response.¡®There¡¯s a map inside the Dimensional Ring.¡¯ I felt an ironic tone, which annoyed me a bit.


    As I began to walk, a voice sounded in my mind:¡®Keep walking, just turn around from the direction you¡¯re heading. Let¡¯s go to Valdora, a port city in the kingdom of Calyndor. By the way, wear the cloak.¡¯


    I stopped my movement and turned around."Finally decided to be useful?" I finished with a sneeze.


    ¡®A weak body, no mana, no name. You are the epitome of what can be called bad luck.¡¯


    I put on the cloak, couldn¡¯t disagree with the comment, and began walking.

 Chapter 9: No Heroes

    Point of View: Lorian Vellorn


    It was dark. Difficult to see for an ordinary person in the low light, but I had grown accustomed to it. Years of doing the same work will do that to you. Dressed in a black overcoat, I scaled the walls of the palace quarters. The cold breeze tugged at my auburn hair.


    No matter the risk of the mission, this was something I had to do myself. I couldn¡¯t leave it to my associates. If you want something done right, do it yourself. My aching fingers had long since grown used to the pain of climbing.


    If only I could fly, this would be so much easier¡­


    After passing two more floors, I finally reached my destination¡ªthe heroes'' quarters. Something was off about the ritual that took place the previous day.


    Three children had stood in the circle, but only one hero was presented to the high nobles.


    The excuse was that the other heroes were still unconscious. I was here to verify that claim. Entering through an empty room attached to the heroes¡¯ floor, I forced open the window.


    The room was simple: a desk, a single bed, a chair, and an office table. It looked like a servant¡¯s quarters, currently unoccupied. I activated a necklace enchanted with a complex deterrence spell. It didn¡¯t make me invisible; it was simpler than that. It cast a magical hypnosis, making me unnoticeable. No one would remember my presence.


    I hope I don¡¯t run into a powerful mage or someone particularly perceptive, I murmured, opening the door to the room.


    The corridor was immaculate, with red carpets muffling my footsteps and magical torches lining the walls. Every detail screamed the kingdom¡¯s opulence, but there was tension in the air as well. This was a place of power and intrigue, where any misstep could be costly.


    I walked calmly to the first room I needed to check. A soldier stood guard outside the closed door. He couldn¡¯t see me, of course, but there was no way to open the door and check inside. I retrieved another magical item from my pocket: a keystone with a small hole in the middle. Bringing it to my right eye, I could see a mana signature covering the entire room. Alarming¡­


    I moved to the next room. Another soldier stood guard. Looking through the keystone again, I saw another mana signature, but something felt off. The intensity seemed like that of an average mage. The next room revealed a similar situation.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    What is going on?


    A creaking door interrupted my thoughts. I looked in both directions down the corridor. The sound came from the first room. Light spilling through the door¡¯s gap illuminated the surroundings slightly.


    ¡°Oh, Miss Tanaka, still awake?¡± I heard the guard speak.


    A soft voice responded, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I thought I¡¯d go for a walk.¡±


    Still holding the keystone, I examined her mana signature. Aberration was the only word that came to mind.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accompany you,¡± the guard offered quickly.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m not fond of being followed around. I¡¯ll be back shortly,¡± she replied, beginning to move. Her blonde hair was tied back; she looked like a twelve-year-old child yet carried the air of a seasoned general. She wore leather pants and a white shirt, a departure from the ritual¡¯s ceremonial attire. The direction she was heading in¡­ was towards me.


    I quickly pressed myself against the wall, making room for her to pass, and waited. Her footsteps, for some reason, filled the moment with tension, growing heavier with each step. She wasn¡¯t a concern; she wasn¡¯t a trained mage. I just needed to wait. I pocketed the keystone.


    When our eyes met, a chill ran down my spine. It wasn¡¯t just her abnormal mana signature; it was the way her gaze seemed to pierce through more than what was visible. There was something deeply unsettling about her, something that urged me to stay as far away as possible, even as my curiosity screamed to do the opposite.


    Did she see me?


    Then, looking toward the end of the corridor, she walked past me. Not a word was exchanged. My heart raced.


    She didn¡¯t see me. It was a coincidence.


    I began moving toward the room I had entered through.


    But what if she did see me? Should I kill her? That would surely make things worse.


    I needed to stay focused. The most important thing now was to understand what was happening. The mana signatures in the other rooms belonged to ordinary people. This shouldn¡¯t be the case.


    I could think of three possibilities. First: only one hero was summoned to this world, and the king is pretending there are three to gain political power. Second: the heroes were summoned, but only one is truly skilled¡ªan aberration, to put it bluntly. Finally: this kingdom has a long history of magical research that other nations deem unethical. Perhaps the other two heroes, unlike Kaori, aren¡¯t as impressive and are being dissected. The signatures in the rooms might just be decoys.


    I have to get to the bottom of this. Such information could undoubtedly be used to pull some of this kingdom¡¯s strings or even traded for other favors or intel. It¡¯s only a matter of time.


    I began descending the walls. If it weren¡¯t for those damned mages, I could come and go as I pleased. One thought kept nagging at me, no matter how much I tried to push it aside.


    Did she see me?


    If she were an ally, my mission would become infinitely easier. My routine of espionage and sabotage had taught me to deal with dangers, but her presence was a threat I couldn¡¯t ignore. Could she be convinced to fight for the people rather than serve the royalty and nobility blindly? Evaluating her character would be indispensable.

 Chapter 10: First Impressions I

    Point Of View: Kaori Tanaka


    Mentally exhausted, I couldn¡¯t sleep. It was just too much information to absorb. I had died and ended up in another world; anyone would be in absolute shock. On top of that, people I didn¡¯t know were asking me to save them from a threat I didn¡¯t yet understand. "The Lords," from what little I understood, were beings who had transcended mana, controlling the fundamental aspects of nature and reality.


    The last thing I remember from my previous life was the sound of sirens and the ground shaking as if it were alive. I was in an underground bunker, holding my little sister in my arms, trying to protect her while she cried silently. Every solution mixed with the chaos around us, making the scene even more desperate.


    The air inside the bunker was thick, heavy with the metallic scent of destruction. With each tremor, I wondered if Hiroshima still existed or if everything had ended. Holding my sister was my only way of coping with the fear, a silent promise that we would be together until the end.


    Then, the shelter couldn¡¯t hold up? What happened to my family?


    The gardens around me reflected the touch of the full moon on the flower petals. The atmosphere was quiet. The only sounds were the cool breeze ruffling my now blonde hair and my own breath. I was sitting on a bench, lost in my own thoughts.


    In addition to the sense of not being myself, there was another thing that made me uneasy. Some kind of fabric covered me, an invisible fabric. There were no physical or mental sensations about it. It was more like a sensation beyond the body.


    After the meeting with the king, I had a lengthy conversation with Abimael, the Supreme Mage of the kingdom that was now my home. I learned a few important things: I had abilities beyond the ordinary, there were two other heroes who had been summoned but were still recovering, and the Lord representing the greatest threat was Demon Lord Drakir, though there were others. These were the three most important pieces of information from everything that was discussed.


    ¡°How do these idiots expect a child to fight one of the Lords?¡± I heard a voice from the direction of one of the garden trees. I stood up in a defensive stance.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± I asked, a bit distressed.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fear, girl, I didn¡¯t come here to harm you.¡± The voice resonated.


    I looked at the tree, trying to locate the source of the sound, but couldn¡¯t find it. A black cat jumped out of the leaves. Its eyes were like black pearls filled with stars. A talking cat? Was I really in a fantasy world after all?


    ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked more calmly.


    ¡°I felt a great magic signature appearing in this world and came to investigate.¡± The cat sat down, its tail swaying back and forth as it stared at me.


    So cute.


    ¡°Magic signature?¡± I asked, more curious than scared. The feline in front of me didn¡¯t seem too frightening. And though I was eager to learn about my abilities, I was still interested in hearing what it had to say.


    ¡°A magic signature is a particularity. Every individual has one, and it varies in intensity, density, and thickness. Even though your signature isn¡¯t intense, it is dense and thick.¡± The cat replied. I noticed that it didn¡¯t move its lips when speaking. The sound simply spread through the air. So that was the sensation I had been feeling around me¡ª a signature.


    How is it speaking? Is it using magic?


    ¡°I see, but you didn¡¯t answer who you are. A spy?¡± It seemed plausible that someone might take the form of a cat to spy on other realms. That was the first thing that came to mind.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯m just a black cat. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I must leave.¡± The cat climbed the tree and disappeared into the foliage.


    What just happened here?


    I had many strange encounters today. Besides the mysterious cat, I encountered another peculiar figure: a red-haired man standing in the hallway outside my room. When our gazes met, I saw the purest fear in his eyes, as if he feared me deeply. I couldn¡¯t blame him; ever since I arrived here, I felt different, more powerful. It was an uncomfortable power, like a burden I hadn¡¯t asked for, but at the same time, it gave me a strange sense of security.


    What am I capable of?


    After failing to understand the situation, I returned to my room. I sank into the bed; I was terrible with puzzles. My body and mind felt heavy. From what I understood, the coming years would be filled with intense magical, physical, and intellectual training. I felt lonely. I just wanted to go home¡­ Tears ran down my face. I was crying, my chest aching. I didn¡¯t want to be here¡­


    I closed my eyes, trying to bring the faces of my family to mind. A sweet memory took form: a normal breakfast before going to school. I saw my little sister¡¯s mischievous smile as she made a mess with her food. My dad, always in a rush, barely had time to eat, and my mom, patient as always, cleaned up the mess they both made. It was a chaotic scene, but full of love, and just reliving it made my heart tighten.


    I knew I couldn¡¯t keep crying forever. The world ahead of me was vast, filled with mysteries and promises of something new. I had lost so much, but I also had the chance to start over. I wasn¡¯t going to let fear and pain define me. I would explore, discover what this new world had to offer, and make the most of the opportunities that arose. I couldn¡¯t afford to remain stuck in the past. The future was right there, waiting to be conquered, and I was determined to see what the best of it had in store for me.

 Chapter 11: First Impressions II

    Point Of View: Kaori Tanaka


    The morning began with sword training. I spent long hours swinging a metal rod. My arms trembled, sweat dripping from my forehead. Who would have thought such a simple exercise could be so exhausting?


    "How much longer do I have to keep swinging this thing?" I asked, my voice heavy with the strain of the effort. Captain Gregor Olindar had a stern look. A scar ran across his left eye, and his white hair betrayed his age. He wore silver armor and exuded a heroic dignity that far surpassed mine.


    "You¡¯re weak. We need to build your muscles before teaching you any technique," he said in an almost brutal tone. "You¡¯ll keep swinging that sword day after day until its weight feels like paper to you." His eyes were intense, as if he could see right through me.


    Do I really have to go through this? What if I just ran away? It wasn¡¯t like I had any moral obligation to these people. I didn¡¯t ask to be reincarnated. A smile crossed my face as I realized I was thinking like a child. The best thing to do was to make the most of this opportunity and absorb as much knowledge about this world as possible.


    In the afternoon, I had lessons with the Supreme Mage. His vast laboratory was filled with various tubes and strange creatures inside them¡ªcreatures that didn¡¯t exist in my world. Abimael and his team wore white robes. As I approached, I noticed his thin frame, triangular face, and pearl-like eyes. His long, black hair was tied back in a ponytail.


    "Miss Tanaka, you¡¯re here!" He spread his arms as if to embrace me, but I took a step back. "I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing well. How was your sword training?"


    "Excruciating, pure torture," I replied, crossing my arms and wincing at the memory of the pain.


    "Well, Gregor can be a bit harsh, but it¡¯s for your own good. Your magic training will be basic for now. I¡¯ll teach you the fundamentals and give you an exercise to practice."


    He walked to a whiteboard and gestured toward a corridor formed by two long tables. With a wave of his hand, one of the assistants brought me a quill, ink, and a small notebook. I sat down, opening the blank notebook.


    "Let¡¯s start with the basics. Mana is the essential component of magic; it¡¯s what mages use to cast spells. This world you now live in is filled with mana, but don¡¯t be mistaken¡ªit¡¯s not a particle. It¡¯s more like a fabric that envelops the world." He paused and sighed, signaling for me to continue taking notes.


    "This is because the world itself is alive, and all living things have mana. The fabric of a mage, monster, magical item, or anything else is called a ¡®magical signature¡¯ because mana varies in intensity, density, and the space it occupies. Of course, this signature, like the mana covering the world, is mutable, but not instantly¡ªit takes long periods. In monsters, mana changes more slowly due to their lack of rationality. More rational monsters are dangerous because they can grow stronger." He paused again. "Kaori, what do you think a mana signature represents when we analyze and compare it?"The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    It was a lot of information at once. My attention was split three ways: writing, listening, and thinking of an answer.


    "Power?" I asked, uncertain.


    "The ability to manipulate magic¡ªthe capacity to interfere with reality itself. Other aspects are also essential to define a mage¡¯s power, such as physical and mental resilience. Magic is taxing, after all, much like contracting a muscle. All these aspects together form a mage¡¯s power." He smiled. "In that sense, you¡¯re still weak. But don¡¯t worry; that will change."


    After what felt like nearly an hour of explanations, he picked up a wooden box from one of the tables. Opening it, he took out a quill and a scroll.


    "Our lesson is coming to an end. This scroll discusses magic and intention. Read it, and we¡¯ll discuss it in the next class. Use the quill to practice your magical intent. I want you to learn to move the quill from one hand to the other."


    Point Of View: Abimael


    The girl simply didn¡¯t seem interested in what I was saying, as if she were there out of sheer obligation. This could be a problem in the future if it hindered her true potential. I walked down the white corridor. Today was the day to collect reports from the artificers and inventors. The two most important research objects on my list were the soulless bracelets.


    I entered the room where the experiment was being conducted. A gray-haired man in his sixties was standing in front of one of the test subjects. An elf?


    ¡°Professor Richter Vans March,¡± I called out, looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m here to check on the experiment. Have you made any progress?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Supreme Mage! We¡¯re gathering data. These divine artifacts are truly unique. Due to the differences in how we, the lesser beings, cast magic, it may take some time. But as you instructed, I¡¯ve switched the test subjects to girls who are approximately the same age as the final user.¡±


    He walked over to a table covered with scrolls. I glanced at the elf, who had a lifeless look in her eyes and was dressed in a plain white tunic.


    He rolled up a scroll that had been open on the table. ¡°Here, take this. It¡¯s a report on the current progress. We¡¯re analyzing the different effects under the perspective of varying amounts of mana. The runes on this magical item certainly seem otherworldly. While replicating them isn¡¯t possible, it¡¯s still feasible to understand enough to control them.¡±


    I accepted the scroll. There was no need to reprimand the researcher or rush him; we had time. ¡°Do you think you can finish this work within two years?¡±


    As I asked this question, a loud crash shook the walls. Beakers rattled and fell to the floor. Richter lost his balance and steadied himself on the table.


    ¡°What was that?¡± I asked, alarmed.


    A boy burst through the door, his face pale with urgency. ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡±

 Chapter 12: The Supreme Mage I

    <b>Point of View: Magnus Bridge</b>


    The sun was nearly setting when we arrived. I had spent most of the time rummaging through the memories of this vessel. There was an abundance of information and knowledge, much of which might take eons for the people of this world to achieve. While most of the memories revolved around money and wealth, there was still a significant amount of advanced knowledge.


    In one memory, we were in what looked like a library. He was reading a book about something called "Chemistry," a science from a more advanced world. The people of that world had studied the essence of nearly everything that existed. Such knowledge could completely transform the continent of Valezion if it ever reached here.


    The memories shifted again. This time, we were in a caf¨¦. He was talking to a man about something related to financial investments. I couldn¡¯t fully grasp what it was about.


    Reality seemed to crack. Suddenly, the memory changed once more. We were back in the dungeon. My assistant was on the ground, bleeding. I couldn¡¯t help but notice the resemblance between the two.


    <i>What a cruel joke...</i>


    The cracks intensified, and our consciousnesses began to merge. It was clear that this body would not withstand such pressure. But the worst part was the idea of losing my sense of self. I couldn¡¯t let that happen.


    With effort, I retreated into my own mind and visualized a massive wall rising between us. A solid barrier, separating what was me and what was Roosevelt. As I built it, it crumbled repeatedly, but after what felt like a hundred attempts, I managed to keep us partially separated.


    Then, the world, which had been on the brink of collapse, finally calmed down...


    ¡®Magnus...¡¯ he called me again, pulling me out of my trance. It was starting to get irritating; I hated being interrupted when I was learning something new. ¡®Magnus, why is everyone staring at me? Even the guards at the port entrance backed away when they saw me...¡¯


    Well, the truth was that the cloak he was wearing was a symbol of authority. Anyone on this continent would recognize it, especially in Calyndor, where I was born. But that¡¯s not what I told him.


    ¡®They¡¯re staring at you because you¡¯re incredibly ugly,¡¯ I replied sarcastically. ¡®In any case, take advantage of the situation. Someone weak carrying numerous treasures can be robbed at any moment. It¡¯s good that they fear you.¡¯ I could feel his irritation before he sighed in reluctant agreement.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡®So, where should I go now? I need food, a place to sleep, and most importantly, money,¡¯ he asked. The shared mind made me feel a bit of empathy. He was lost. ¡®I¡¯ll guide you to a blacksmith where you can sell the magical crystals and get some resources. But we won¡¯t sell all of them; they might come in handy,¡¯ I replied. It wasn¡¯t a lie. To keep this body alive until I resolved the situation, we needed power. Even though he didn¡¯t have magic, there were magical alternatives that could put him on par with a weaker mage.


    As we walked, he looked around, attentive. The city was as lively as ever. The smell and noise of commerce mingled with the salty ocean breeze. Valdora was a good starting point because it was somewhat isolated from the capital, but we couldn¡¯t stay here for long. The cloak we wore drew attention, and rumors spread quickly. We might have a few weeks to get organized.


    Everything seemed to revolve around the port: fishing boats arriving with full nets, merchant ships unloading crates from distant lands, and sailors sharing tales that sounded more like legends.


    The wooden and stone houses climbed the hills, offering views of the endless ocean. Taverns were lit and bustling with life. Merchants shouted their offers, while children ran between the stalls, laughing and hiding behind barrels.


    ¡®Stop,¡¯ I said abruptly. ¡®Turn your body 90 degrees counterclockwise.¡¯ Then, the blacksmith¡¯s shop came into view. The best place to sell magical crystals was to a craftsman.


    ¡®Is it there? What does the sign say?¡¯ He was looking at a sign above the reddish wooden door. Through the windows, weapons reflecting the sunlight gave the shop a magical aura.


    ¡®You can¡¯t read?¡¯ I questioned. That was odd. Summoned heroes received basic information about this world, such as languages and mathematics. Whatever brought this boy here did so with complete negligence and irresponsibility.


    ¡®Magnus... shouldn¡¯t there be some kind of automatic translation? How can I even understand you?¡¯ As expected, this vessel was intelligent. If we couldn¡¯t communicate, everything would be exponentially more difficult.


    ¡®Intention. When we were in the dungeon, the intention behind my words went directly into your mind through magic. And, well, now that I¡¯m inside your mind, there¡¯s no need for magic for that,¡¯ I paused. I could translate the information for him, but that would be a hassle. ¡®Let¡¯s do this: I¡¯ll translate what people say to you and replicate the sounds you need to make so they understand you. After that, we¡¯ll take a few weeks for you to learn the language used in Calyndor.¡¯


    ¡®And what exactly do I have to do in return?¡¯ His mental question was filled with distrust. I found it strange; I was probably the most trustworthy person in this world. I took a deep breath¡ªit¡¯s not like I could punish him.


    ¡®You¡¯ll help me rid myself of your miserable existence. I need to find a vessel for myself. I don¡¯t want to be stuck inside your worm-brained head,¡¯ I replied, exchanging barbs as the only possible punishment for now.


    ¡®That sounds fine to me, but I have one condition: the vessel must be someone rotten inside. I don¡¯t want to punish an innocent person. As for the language, it seems completely different from my world. It¡¯d be like learning Russian or Mandarin,¡¯ he remarked. I searched his mind for information about what he just mentioned.

 Chapter 13: The Supreme Mage II

    <b>Point Of View: Christopher Roosevelt</b>


    I entered through the door, and the room had walls decorated with swords and armor. At a counter on the opposite side, a man was resting his head. His ears were rounder than usual, and he seemed short¡ªperhaps ten centimeters shorter than me.


    ''I imagine this is the first time in your life you''ve seen a dwarf,'' Magnus spoke in my mind.


    ''I must admit, it''s a bit different from what I imagined¡ªless fat and chubby,'' I replied.


    I placed my hand on his shoulder, shaking him slightly with the intention of waking him up. He murmured something inaudible that Magnus didn''t bother to translate, but I had a feeling it was an insult. The dwarf lazily opened his eyes, bringing his index finger and thumb to the space between his brows. When he saw me, his eyes widened completely, and I noticed a slight tremor in his hands, which came together in a placating gesture. He said something again that Magnus didn''t translate. Growing impatient, I commented, ''It would be nice if you started translating.''


    "S-Supreme Mage? To what do I owe the honor?" Once Magnus translated for me, I took the improvised pouch of crystals, placed it on the counter, and untied it. Immediately, I told Magnus mentally to focus on simple communication.


    "@#*$#@..." I uttered something incomprehensible, trying to repeat the sounds Magnus projected in my mind. I immediately felt an irritation that wasn¡¯t mine.


    ¡®Not like that, idiot, it sounds like you¡¯re insulting every generation of this poor dwarf.¡¯ Magnus told.


    "I-I don''t understand, S-Supreme Mage," he said, clearly frightened. I raised my hand in a placating gesture, and he flinched.


    ''Magnus, simple language, please. Let''s settle this with a few words.''


    "Sell... crystals..." I pronounced, doing my best to repeat what Magnus projected. The dwarf looked at me and quickly nodded. I think he understood.


    The dwarf moved back. "Please wait here, Supreme Mage. I will fetch a proper price for you." Then, he entered a door behind the counter.


    A few minutes passed. I looked at the weapons on the walls. ''Should we buy something? A dagger, maybe?'' I asked. The response came almost immediately.


    ¡®That¡¯s a good idea. That way, you can get rid of that stick with a rock on the end.¡¯ I had forgotten I was carrying a spear¡ªperhaps it could be mistaken for a staff. I picked up one of the daggers from the wall just as the dwarf returned.


    "S-Sir, here, everything I have." A pouch the size of a child''s head was placed on the counter.


    I had the feeling I was robbing the poor dwarf. ¡®And does that matter?¡¯ Magnus echoed, amused, in my mind. I pointed at the dagger in my hand while looking at the dwarf. There was a small engraving near the handle¡ªa signature.


    "You may take it. It¡¯s a gift," said the dwarf, exasperated. Feeling completely guilty, I thought to myself:If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    <i>I will repay you, poor dwarf. This is a promise.</i>


    I took the pouch and walked out the door. It was getting dark quickly, and the streets were becoming quieter. ''Magnus, there are some things I want to buy: paper, ink, a backpack, clothes,'' I directed my intention toward him.


    ¡®I was beginning to think you were a naturalist. We¡¯d better hurry,¡¯ he replied.


    Point of View: Magnus Bridge


    After purchasing the items Christopher requested¡ªwhich felt like communicative hell, whether due to his lack of language knowledge or the fear his cloak instilled¡ªwe fed the vessel with a meal at an inn near the port. The amount of paper and ink the idiot bought took half of our resources. Additionally, we bought a book from a local bookstore. Although I wanted an illustrated book that would make it easier to teach him Calyndor''s language, the fool insisted on a book about theoretical magic: Runic Language: Basics I.


    ''It''s going to be excruciating to teach you the kingdom¡¯s language using this book,'' I said irritably. The vessel was looking at himself in a metal sheet placed in the room. He wore a simple long-sleeved white shirt, brown leather pants, and dark shoes. His short, slightly messy dark brown hair was swept to the side.


    ''If I''m going to learn to read, it might as well be something useful,'' he replied. ¡®By the way, paper in this world is outrageously expensive. I don¡¯t fully understand this kingdom¡¯s monetary conversion, but it took half of everything we had.¡¯ That comment annoyed me.


    ''Why did you buy so much? There are nearly fifty sheets here. That was a complete waste of resources,'' I let my irritation seep into my voice. Well, perhaps the first thing to do was to teach him about Calyndor¡¯s currency. I mentally sighed. ''Take some coins and place them on the table. I¡¯ll teach you the differences and values of each one.'' He sat at the desk, separating a handful of coins and placing the different ones apart.


    ''The coins of this kingdom are called Lyndors. Fortunately for us, this system hasn¡¯t changed since I was gone. The gold coin is worth 10 Lyndors, the silver one 5 Lyndors, and the copper one 1 Lyndor.'' Without needing further prompting, he started counting the coins in the pouch.


    "We have 370 Lyndors. One night in a inn costs a silver coin. The meal we bought cost a copper one, and the amount needed for thirty days is 180 Lyndors," Roosevelt spoke aloud. His thoughts seemed clouded as if he were thinking about many things at once. ''Magnus, is there a mineral in this world that looks like gold but isn¡¯t? In my world, it¡¯s called fool¡¯s gold.''


    What was he planning? ''Give me a moment to look through your memories.'' I spent a few seconds searching. ¡®We do have this metal in our world, but it has no value and is completely useless. What do you have in mind?¡¯


    "You¡¯ll find out, oh great Supreme Mage," he replied sarcastically, storing the coins and grabbing the paper, ink, and quill. A drawing? He spent a fortune just to draw? I was irritated.


    "This will do. I¡¯ll also need to turn it into powder. We¡¯ll need to go back to the dwarf." He stopped and looked at the drawing. ''Magnus, do you think we could find a craftsman to make a clay pot in this shape?'' It was a pot with two chambers: a lower and an upper one. The lower chamber had a side tube; he drew a cork, possibly wooden, and a hole connected both chambers. The upper chamber had a lid.


    ''It¡¯s possible, but if you don¡¯t tell me what you¡¯re planning, I won¡¯t help you waste our resources,'' I said, demanding an explanation.


    "We''re going to make gunpowder, Magnus. You¡¯re really annoying, you know that?"


    I searched through his memories. ''But this is... don¡¯t tell me you plan to commercialize this? It¡¯s dangerous; it could cause uncontrolled changes in the world,'' I said, my mind filled with concerns. The relationship between mages and non-mages would definitely change, not to mention the potential wars this could cause.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I understand the consequences. It¡¯s funny, isn¡¯t it? In my world, gunpowder was discovered because the Chinese were searching for the elixir of immortality. You wanted to extend your life and found someone who will produce gunpowder. Almost comical." His thoughts seemed distracted. "Anyway, we need to make money. And what makes more money in this world than greedy people wanting to blow up their enemies?"


    Roosevelt continued making plans while drawing objects on the sheets. I didn¡¯t ask any more questions.

 Chapter 14: Sabotage I

    <b>Point of View: Lorian Vellorn</b>


    The gardens were bustling today. I saw a few noble children playing with swords¡ªor perhaps training. I walked through the corridors with serenity. What I was about to do would be dangerous. My associates would create a distraction so I could move undetected. The morning sun warmed my skin, while the scent of flowers drifting through the gardens filled my breath.


    <i>This is going to be fun¡­</i>


    On my way to the tower that led to the lower facilities, a blonde girl passed by me. That blonde girl! Our eyes met. So far, I hadn¡¯t done anything too suspicious, so I had little reason to worry¡ªunless she had seen me last night. ¡°You must be the heroine everyone¡¯s been talking about. Miss Kaori, correct?¡±


    ¡°And you would be¡­? Oh, wait, I¡¯ve seen you before. You were in the dormitories." I was caught off guard. She had seen through my magical artifact.


    This girl¡­ Either she was very intelligent, or very powerful. Maybe both. I took a deep breath, calming my heart as it began to race. Denying it now would only raise suspicions. ¡°I was checking on the state of the heroes. I was concerned their condition might not be ideal after the ritual,¡± I said, watching her face closely to gauge her reaction.


    ¡°And what exactly could go wrong?¡± That was the question I had been aiming for. Now, I would use this moment to assess the nature of this girl.


    ¡°The ritual that brought you here is highly complex. It was developed by an ancient and powerful mage who lived about five hundred years ago. While this is confidential information, if you promise to keep it to yourself, we could have tea after your training, and I could explain it in more detail. What do you say?¡±


    I had planted the seed of curiosity. I would slowly poison this girl¡¯s mind against this kingdom. The seed of revolution¡­


    She stared at me for what felt like an eternity. It was as if she was analyzing my very soul. I never thought I¡¯d feel fear from a twelve-year-old until today. My heartbeat quickened again, and my breathing grew heavy. Her gaze was deep¡ªI felt as though I was staring into an abyss.


    ¡°How about in the city? I¡¯d like to learn more about this place you call Eryndell.¡± She had taken control of the situation, deciding the meeting place herself.


    ¡°Very well. When the sun begins to set, I¡¯ll come to your quarters and take you on a tour of the city. Be prepared.¡± I shifted my gaze toward the tower. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to.¡± I started walking away, trying to appear in control, but in truth, I just wanted to get away from her.


    ¡°I can smell your fear.¡± Her sweet voice sent a chill down my spine.


    <i>Was I afraid?</i>


    I turned my face toward her, but she was already walking toward the dormitories. Who the hell was this girl? I couldn¡¯t see through her. I couldn¡¯t understand her.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    I entered the tower and descended to the lower levels. The atmosphere here was completely different¡ªthe tower above felt like a decrepit prison, but the underground floors had white walls and glass, an expensive material. I moved quickly, searching for an empty room where I could hide with my dissuasion amulet activated. I would only have trouble if I ran into Abimael.


    After a few minutes of searching, I slipped into a storage closet filled with brooms.


    Point of View: Abimael


    We had been fighting for almost an hour. Three hooded and masked individuals, dressed in black, were invading us.


    "What do you want, you bastards?" I shouted, frustrated. I was the Supreme Mage, my power and arcane knowledge were unmatched. But they were fast, wielding daggers and constantly disappearing.


    "Professor Richter, they are using a cloaking device to disappear and reappear," I looked at the old man beside me. My black cape had a slight cut on the side of my chest.


    "And how can we deal with this?" the professor asked.


    "I know! Supreme Mage, I have a pla..." A knife pierced his chest. He collapsed to his knees as the assassin stepped back.


    "Cough... Cough..." The professor spat blood and then fell face down on the ground. I felt his mana signature fade.


    "CURSED ONES, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!" I screamed. <i>In the name of my own power and the gods, I summon the flames that burn my enemies and destroy the foundation of the world¡­</i>


    Two of the invaders moved toward me, but it didn''t matter. I had lost my patience. <i>Ignition and Destruction.</i>


    With my arm extended upward, a fireball formed, creating a vortex around it. The flames writhed. My opponents halted and started maneuvering to dodge the dozens of flaming whips that crashed into the area. I pointed my palm, which held the fireball, in the direction of the invaders and clenched my fist.


    The spell collapsed. An explosion radiated outward, burning everything¡ªtables, doors, chairs, carpets, and melting glass. A bright orange flash incinerated everything, including Richter¡¯s body, making it vanish. Not even ashes remained. When the magic subsided, the room was empty, blackened by the smoke swirling in the air. I had burned everything. No one could have survived that. I fell to my knees. My body and mind were exhausted from collapsing a spell. Few people used magic in this way.


    <hr>


    Point of View: Lorian Vellorn


    After waiting for the signal from my associates¡ªwhich, in reality, was a massive explosion¡ªI moved toward the deeper rooms in the underground levels. I was searching for the children, or rather, the heroes¡ªthe true ones, not the puppets in the chambers. I wanted to know what had happened and, if possible, rescue them.


    On the table inside the room, a body lay still. A child, approximately twelve years old. The chest was open, the head shaved. A girl, I thought. One of the children from the ritual. Her torso had been cut open. I felt disgust. These bastards¡ªhow dare they do this to a child? I extended my hand and began to mentally recite the spell.


    <i>In the name of my own power, I summon the flames that burn my enemies. Ignition.</i>


    A blaze engulfed the body. I turned and set fire to the rest of the documents. If I could burn the information they had gathered, it would be a huge advantage. I ended the spell by closing my fist. There was still another child to find. I left the burning room. I had to make the most of the time my subordinates could buy for me.


    I searched room by room until I reached a dark cell. The bars on the door didn¡¯t allow much visibility. I brought my hand close to the lock.


    "<i>Ignition</i>," I whispered. The shorter the spell, the weaker it would be. The lock melted slowly. I pushed the door open, and the corridor light flooded the space. A filthy room with a wooden bed. In the corner, with his head between his knees and curled up, was a brown-haired boy, around twelve years old. He looked pale and thin.


    "Boy, what¡¯s your name?" I asked without wasting time. He lifted his head and looked at me, his eyes completely empty. "We need to get you out of here. Come with me." I extended my hand, waiting for a response. The boy curled up even more. I couldn¡¯t leave him here. I stepped closer and grabbed his arm. "Let''s go."

 Chapter 15: Sabotage II

    Point of View: Lorian Vellorn


    I pulled the child by the arms as we moved through the corridor. He was wearing a perception inhibitor collar I had brought as a backup. His eyes looked apathetic, lifeless, devoid of energy. The hallways were empty; the floors had been completely evacuated. Apparently, Abimael had decided to face my associates personally. A courageous mage, no doubt. As I dragged the boy, who barely seemed able to move, the smell of smoke filled my lungs. It was a mix of burning wood, flesh, and melted glass.


    I approached the room from which the stench originated¡ªa large open space between the corridors. The center of the room was used for magical circle experiments, so it was spacious and had a shallow pool filled with mana-conducting ferrous sand. The walls were lined with shelves that had once held beakers and hundreds of mixtures and components, now reduced to ashes. What remained had turned into a black, melted paste.


    At the center of the room, lying on the pool, was Abimael, completely unconscious. This would be a good moment to get rid of him. But what would be the consequences? I looked at the boy trailing behind me. Killing him would make the guards and other mages search for the attackers.


    I glanced at Abimael. "You''re lucky." I resumed pulling the boy through the corridors¡ªI needed to get him out of the palace. If we moved quickly enough, we wouldn''t have any trouble.


    After nearly an hour of almost constant movement, we exited the tower and made our way toward a grove located at the back of the city, enclosed by the walls that protected the palaces. The nobles used it for recreation. I felt the boy''s weight increasing. He had lost consciousness, likely dehydrated and malnourished. I let out a deep sigh.


    "I suppose we can slow down from here." I lifted him into my arms. The child was heavy, but I was a grown man. I moved through the grove. There was a tunnel leading to my hideout. Its entrance was hidden beneath a rock.


    I found it quickly. I was used to sneaking in and out of the palace, after all, I thought amusedly. I placed the boy on the ground and slid the stone hatch aside just enough for two people to fit through. The stone, after all, was fake.


    After entering with the boy in my arms and closing the false hatch, I took a moment to appreciate the stone corridor, which twisted and stretched to every corner of this city. A labyrinth. Its center was the Vellorn Merchant Guild.


    When I reached my office, a gray-haired elf with green eyes, as straight as a board, was waiting in a nearly military posture. She was wearing a classic butler¡¯s outfit.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "Agent Six, please go fetch Agent One."


    She didn¡¯t respond, simply leaving my office.


    I placed the boy on a brown leather couch and lit the fireplace. I walked to my desk and picked up a silver tray holding a jug of water, cheese, and bread. A simple meal, but it was what I had at the moment. I woke the brat with small taps on his face and shoved the bread into his mouth. He started with a slow bite. Tears rolled down his face. His eyes filled with life, and he began devouring the meal.


    The boy was eating bread and cheese, trembling as he devoured it with desperate hunger. I noticed several scars on his skin, possibly healed by an emitter¡¯s magic. "Boy, what¡¯s your name?" He stopped eating and looked at me.


    "T-thank you, sir. They¡­ they hurt me." Tears streamed down his face. I couldn¡¯t imagine what he had endured. The mission¡¯s goal had been to gather information, but when I saw the girl''s dissected body, I couldn¡¯t hold myself back. As a noble, I had an obligation to act. I sighed and looked at him. "Since you don¡¯t have a name, from now on, you¡¯ll be called Seven." He looked at me and nodded. His name no longer mattered; it was better this way. It was highly likely his own family had sold him.


    "Lord Zero, Agent One reporting for duty." The voice coming from beyond the door sounded tired.


    "Enter," I said while looking at the boy. "Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine, Seven."


    The door opened. Stella entered¡ªshe was enormous compared to when I had first brought her here. A slender body hidden beneath a cloak, a long-sleeved shirt, dark cotton pants, and a blackened leather armor dusted with ash. Her face was concealed by a mask; even here, for security reasons, I made my subordinates hide their identities. Stella was the only one who truly knew who I was.


    "I have come to present my report, Master Zero." I gestured for her to stop. That wasn¡¯t why I had summoned her.


    "This boy here is a vessel for a hero. His name is Seven. I found him while searching the research facilities." She looked at him curiously. I saw him shrink under her gaze. She was quite intimidating for a woman.


    "He will likely become a target, which is why I want him taken out of Eryndell." Now came the hard part. "I want you to accompany him," I declared.


    I saw her lips tighten. "But Master Zero, I am needed here..." I immediately interrupted her: "This mission takes priority over all others."


    Silence filled the room. She stared at me intensely. For a moment, I felt threatened. Was she going to slit my throat?


    "Where should I take him?" She seemed calmer. I carefully considered my next words¡ªI was good at sneaking around. If I irritated her, I would surely lose my life.


    "Valdora, a prosperous port city along the coast, famous for its spice market and merchant navy. I have a small property there. You are to train him and assume a new identity." I felt her furious gaze on me. She took a step forward, and I leaned back in my chair.


    "Lorian, are you discarding me?" She certainly seemed furious, but that wasn¡¯t it at all.


    "Be careful using our real names. Remember the golden rule: never trust anyone. And I¡¯m not discarding you. I want you to watch over the boy and keep him safe until things in the capital settle down." I braced myself for the worst, but she walked over to the boy, who was still eating bread, and pulled him by the arm. "Come on, kid, it¡¯s at least a two-week journey." The boy looked scared, but I wasn¡¯t worried. She wouldn¡¯t harm a defenseless child.


    "Goodbye, Seven," I said with a warm smile.

 Chapter 16: Practical Training I

    Point Of View: Kaori Tanaka


    I spent the previous night trying to levitate the feather. If I were in my world, I would think all of this was madness. But with every attempt, failure after failure, as I focused, I felt something. There was a presence, a power, a source of energy. I knew it was possible.


    Professor Abimael was unwell. The lesson took place in his office. From what I heard, one of the experiments had gone wrong, causing a huge explosion in the research facilities beneath the palace. He seemed both sad and enraged¡ªit must have been something important¡ªbut even so, he conducted his teachings with mastery. Little by little, that magical universe captivated me more. I discovered that I had an affinity for wind and water magic.


    ¡°Complete spells are mental representations of sets of basic runes used in spells,¡± he explained, snapping his fingers to get my attention. ¡°Focus. You can manipulate the text of the runes to define the intensity of your spells. As for the effects, it is up to you, through your intention, to master them. The important thing is to have knowledge of the runes to make clear mental connections.¡±


    He paused, moving from the blackboard in his office to a table where there was a glass flask. He poured the light brown liquid into a cup and took a sip. ¡°The more complex and grandiose the spell, the more runes are needed and, consequently, the more concentration, familiarity with mana, and physical and mental energy are required.¡± He took a small pearl-colored sphere from inside his cloak and extended it toward me.


    ¡°What is this?¡± I asked.


    He looked at me with a hollow smile. He sat down and crossed his legs. ¡°It is a magical item, a physical manifestation of a spell or magic. This item contains a set of runes that activate a specific magical effect.¡± He took my hand and placed the sphere in my palm.


    ¡°What effect?¡± I asked, curious, analyzing the object. It was completely smooth. Where were the runes?


    ¡°It allows one to discover a mage''s basic affinity. The runes are cataloged into four basic elements and their variations: water, fire, earth, and air. Insert your magical intent into the object.¡± He watched while crossing his legs to the other side and taking another sip of his drink.


    I did as instructed. I felt my mind wander into the sphere, my breath growing heavy, and my concentration being consumed. The sphere glowed. Its internal light moved, illuminating the surrounding environment. Then, it took on color: first, a dense white like water, enveloping the sphere. Then, the water seemed to divide, as if cut by something. The air around me grew cooler.


    ¡°Excellent! You have two affinities: water and wind. Very talented. With these two affinities, you have a sea of possibilities to explore. Of course, if your hunger is insatiable, you can go beyond your natural affinities.¡± He stood up as I sighed in exhaustion. Something so simple, yet incredibly draining. Abimael moved through the bookshelves. ¡°There are various ways to catalog runes: by complexity, affinity, alphabetical order. My favorite is by affinity; it simplifies things greatly.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    He placed three books on my desk: Runes by Affinity: Wind, Runes by Affinity: Water, and Practical Guide to Spells and Their Sets.


    When the lesson ended, I was overloaded with tasks. I still had my sword training. Would the next years be like this? Would I be trapped in the castle? As I walked towards the courtyard, I had already decided: I would see the city, no matter the cost.


    Captain Gregor was there, looking at me sternly.


    ¡°You are late!¡± he barked in a sharp voice. His gaze evaluated me imperatively.


    ¡°Sorry, professor. The magic lessons took longer than I expected.¡±


    He seemed irritated. He tossed me a sheathed sword.


    ¡°Tie it to your waist. Today, you will run around the palace.¡± He gestured with his hand. What was his problem? He hadn¡¯t taught me anything useful so far, just torture... I let out a muffled sigh and followed his orders. They had changed the class schedules so that I wouldn¡¯t be too exhausted to learn magic. Anyway, running was something I could do.


    I started running at a slow pace. Unexpectedly, Captain Gregor appeared at my side and began running with me.


    ¡°I will accompany you so you have no chance to rest.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was wrong with this old man.


    After two laps around the palace, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Gregor Olindar, even with his heavy armor, didn¡¯t have a single drop of sweat. I felt the veins in my neck throbbing, my chest heaving. I stopped.


    ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± I gasped, using the last breath left in my lungs.


    ¡°It was only two laps, Ms. Tanaka. To endure the journey that awaits you, you need to become more resilient.¡± The rigidity in his voice was evident. I wanted to argue, complain, protest, but I couldn¡¯t. I was exhausted.


    ¡°I need some time to rest,¡± I panted.


    Point Of View: Lorian Vellorn


    I had decided to bring the girl to my side. The people in this kingdom were not trustworthy. Corruption spread through every person or animal in Calyndor. Centuries of impunity ensured the survival of the most corrupt. An evolution, but in reverse.


    The sun was almost setting when I knocked on the door. Compared to the scorching sun that flooded summer afternoons, a cool breeze touched my skin. The room remained semi-lit by the moon''s pale light. Before knocking, I observed through the door''s gap that an oppressive silence permeated the environment. Kaori was sprawled on her bed, her breathing heavy; she was in pain. I watched attentively, pondering whether I should call her.


    ¡°My... body...¡± she murmured between groans, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. What kind of evil experiments had they done to her to leave her in this state?


    I knocked lightly on the door to indicate my presence. It might seem inappropriate to invade a lady¡¯s room, but it was better than waiting in the hallway and letting rumors spread.


    ¡°Miss Kaori, are you ready for our afternoon tea?¡± I said, making my presence known.


    Startled, she propped herself up on her elbows, her eyes fixed on me. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re already here.¡± I saw her brow furrow as she lay back down. She took a deep breath and asked me, ¡°By the way, what was your name again?¡±


    "I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Lorian Vellorn, son of Count Ismael Vellorn and current leader of the Vellorn mercantile company."


    She quickly got up from the bed, gesturing for me to turn around while she changed clothes.


    "Training... a true hell." The moment was followed by a few minutes of silence. I heard her steps towards the door. "Since you seem important, I imagine you brought a carriage and a lot of money."


    "Clearly, Miss Kaori. I couldn¡¯t disappoint your expectations." I walked towards her. I was already getting used to her overwhelming presence. She seemed more like a little girl than ever.

 Chapter 17: Practical Training II

    Point Of View: Kaori Tanaka


    I was completely excited; I would finally leave this imposing palace and get to know a little more about the city. The carriage had small golden serpents circling its roof. The animal pulling the cart surprised me; it was not a horse. It looked like a bipedal lizard, its eyes were like razors, and its front limbs had claws.


    "What is that thing?" I questioned, looking at the red-haired man accompanying me.


    "Ah, that animal? We call it a horse." It looked nothing like a horse. I wondered if it was the universal translator in my mind trying to assimilate the basic knowledge of this world. I could understand all the languages of this place.


    "Ladies first..." Lorian Vellorn had the carriage door open, indicating for me to enter.


    The interior of the carriage had plush red seats, and a small window allowed light to enter. The nobleman entered right after I settled in, closing the door behind him. He had an elegant air and exuded knowledge, but his presence was weak and pathetic.


    "So..." I opened my mouth to speak, but I was interrupted by a gesture of his hand. His gaze seemed venomous.


    "I know you have many questions, but I need you to wait until we are away from the castle." Why so much caution? I couldn''t help but wonder.


    The carriage started moving. The further we went, the more I realized the enormity of the castle. It was so large that it could easily house a thousand people. The houses around the palace looked like small mansions with spacious yards.


    "The winter homes of the nobles. Most of them live in their own territories. These mansions are just ornaments used in winter, a waste of space, don''t you think?" He rested his face on his fist and smiled.


    The rest of the journey continued in complete silence. The city was vivid, as expected of a capital. People walked back and forth. There were stalls of all kinds: food, trinkets, equipment, fabrics... I was eager to visit one of the stores I could see through the window, but the carriage did not stop.


    "Where the hell are we going? Look, I''m already tired of kidnappings!" I glared at him, letting my anger seep into my signature. His body shrank, and I saw his face pale.


    "Calm down, Miss Kaori. I''m taking you to a place where we can talk freely." I looked at the window again. We were leaving the city. Would I be able to face a mage from this world?


    The area outside the walls contained poorly built houses, piled up and crooked, made of mud, straw, and wood. The streets were narrow and muddy, wooden walkways connecting some of the houses. The stench of filth entered through the window. My stomach tightened. I looked at the redhead in disbelief; he seemed unfazed, staring at me.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "We''ve arrived." The carriage stopped. He had a smile on his face as he stood up to open the door. "Let''s have our tea now."


    The people on the streets were skeletal and pale, some lying in corners. The strongest among them did not seem to be good people.


    "Why did you bring me here?" I asked. I didn''t want to see this situation; I expected a magical world full of wonders.


    "I already told you: we are going to have tea." The redhead moved towards one of the houses, opened the door, and extended his hand to me, signaling for me to enter. "Ladies first."


    "But why in this place?" I questioned. What was his goal in showing me all this? Why did he bring me here? The redhead still seemed unbothered, as if the sight around us did not affect him.


    The place was dusty. He walked to a table in the room, which actually looked more like an improvised barrel. He pulled a crude stool and sat down. An old man with graying hair, thin, dressed in a butler''s uniform, entered through the door carrying a teapot and cups on a tray. He placed everything on the barrel.


    "Come on, sit down. The tea will get cold," the redhead said casually. I was not enjoying this at all.


    "I imagine you have many questions."


    "What are you planning? Look, the first time I saw you, you were scared. I thought it was because of me, so I ignored it. But the second time, you seemed distressed, wanting to get rid of me." I paused. "You look like a frightened rat scurrying around."


    "Oh, you are being disrespectful, Miss Tanaka." He took a deep breath while sipping his tea. "What do I intend? To protect the people of this kingdom, nothing more."


    That answer was too vague, but I felt I wouldn''t get a better one. He certainly had more hidden behind that good nobleman''s face.


    "You mentioned the ritual..." I changed the subject. I didn''t want to get involved in political intrigues, just gather some information.


    "Ah, yes, the ritual... A long time ago, an extremely powerful and benevolent mage was born in this world." His face seemed full of mockery, but I made no comments. "This mage revolutionized the laws of magic and created various spells, spells that to this day elude human understanding."


    "Okay, and what does that have to do with me?" Could he just be stalling? I''m not that stupid.


    "Impatient young one. The magic that brought you here is a spell composed of two others: soul abduction magic and soul substitution magic. But, as I mentioned before, the spells created by the mage Magnus Bridge elude our understanding, so the results were inconclusive." He paused and looked directly at me.


    I reflected on his words. Substitution, abduction, inconclusive...


    "Substitution? What does that mean?" I asked the question already knowing the answer. His face remained smiling like a snake. This redhead was not a good person.


    He pointed at me while sipping his tea. "Beatriz, a nameless slave, was purchased about six months ago. I don''t know her story."


    I should have felt bad, but I didn''t; I didn''t know her, so I didn''t care about her. But my conscience weighed a little for having stolen this girl''s body.


    "What did you mean by inconclusive?"


    "Well, the spells Magnus created are so complex that no mage can reproduce them. He has his own runic system. In the end, only a hero... Unfortunately, they were sacrificed in vain." He seemed to be hiding many things; everything seemed very vague.


    The conversation continued for a few more hours. He avoided or gave no precise details in all my questions, and in the end, he asked me to keep everything a secret.


    "And why should I? You are clearly hiding details from me." His face seemed as calm as a snake.


    "I will simply trust you." He stood up. "Come on, it''s getting dark. You don''t want to be in the slums at night." A smile was stamped on his face...

 Chapter 18: The Supreme Mage III

    Point Of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    ''You''re doing it wrong, idiot,'' Magnus spoke in my mind. ''If I''m going to teach you, at least make an effort to pronounce the words correctly.''


    The week had been exhausting. I spent my mornings and nights studying the language of this world. In the afternoons, I searched for skilled artisans capable of producing the objects I needed to conduct my business. We had 160 Lyndors left after all the orders I placed, but there was still much material to be purchased and labor to be hired, not to mention the funds needed for my own subsistence.


    The morning went as in previous days, with Magnus acting completely arrogantly while trying to teach me. He was a terrible teacher.


    ''You''re just a terrible student,'' he replied, reading my thoughts.


    The lack of privacy in my own mind irritated me. "That''s enough, Magnus. Let''s have lunch and then deal with the rest of our business."


    ''Are you really going to waste the rest of our resources on horse crap?'' he asked provocatively. It was obvious he wanted to ruin my appetite. I rolled my eyes and left my room, heading to the lower floor of the building, where a small tavern operated.


    The smell of roasted pork and beer filled the air. I took a deep breath, letting the aroma of food fill my lungs. My stomach growled. I walked to the counter and sat on a stool. The bartender, a tall, bald, and muscular man, was shirtless, wearing only an apron. A scar crossed one of his eyes. A former adventurer, perhaps, I thought. By the way, his daughter was very beautiful. A red-haired girl, blessed with a slender body. She wore a simple beige dress and seemed about my current age. She served and cleared the tables.


    "Your daughter is very beautiful..." I let slip aloud.


    The noise in the tavern ceased instantly. Everyone looked at me. The man in front of me, the bartender, frowned. Magnus laughed in my mind: ''You''re such an idiot.''


    I immediately tried to remedy the situation: "Sorry, I meant to say I want a portion of pork with apples, a glass of water, and bread with butter."


    He stared at me for what felt like an eternity and then turned toward the kitchen.


    ''I bet he''s going to spit in your food,'' Magnus commented again. I worried he might be right. The murmurs in the tavern resumed until they became the usual noise. Fortunately, my lunch proceeded without major complications.


    <hr>


    Reeling from the embarrassment I had endured during lunch, I went to the streets wearing Magnus''s cloak.


    ''Are you sure wearing this is a good idea?'' I asked mentally.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    The response came quickly: ''It''s good to be respected, and fear is respect. Besides, we¡¯ll only be in this city for a few weeks. Drawing attention isn''t a problem.''


    He was almost entirely right.


    ''I am always right,'' he replied with evident arrogance.


    "You don''t need to respond to every thought of mine," I thought angrily.


    When I arrived at the stables on the outskirts of the city, I saw an old man with a long beard and hunched posture, leaning on a wooden cane.


    "Supreme Mage," he bowed. "Do you need a horse?" His hoarse voice denoted his seniority.


    "Actually, I came here to negotiate something else..." I paused to think about how to explain what I wanted. "I want to buy the soil where the horses stand."


    Magnus hardly needed to help me with the translation at this point. The old man seemed completely lost.


    "T-the soil?" he questioned, and without waiting for an answer, he added another question: "Oh great sage, I do not wish to question your wisdom, but could you satisfy this old man''s curiosity? Why do you need the soil?"


    This was the moment I feared: the moment he would think I was crazy. I took a deep breath and gathered courage.


    "The urine and manure of the horses are valuable to me, but they cannot be obtained just any way. They must be those that have remained underground for long periods."


    The old man listened to my response in silence. Magnus interrupted: ''I can already see the rumor spreading that the Supreme Mage is interested in horse crap.''


    Impatient, I continued: "I will pay 10 Lyndors for the soil, but I am willing to negotiate. Do we have a deal?"


    The old man seemed stunned. One gold coin for the land should be a good deal.


    "Where do you want the soil delivered?" he finally responded. I was satisfied.


    "I reserved a small warehouse on the western edge of the city. You can dump it in front. Can you manage that?"


    "I may be old, but I can still get the job done," he responded confidently.


    I smiled warmly, handing him the coin, and headed toward my dear dwarf¡¯s shop, the one who welcomed me to this city.


    <hr>


    I took a brief walk, paying attention to the movement on the street. There were several stalls scattered along the sidewalks, selling products from various places across the continent. Despite being a city far from the capital, it was rich in culture. When I arrived at the weapons shop, I gracefully entered through the door, announcing: "Thrain Forgebeard, I have arrived!" I had visited him a few times the previous week, and his animosity towards my presence seemed to have diminished.


    "Su-Supreme Mage?" He still stammered. "You arrived earlier than expected." He gave a brief bow.


    "I came to check on the status of the order I placed with you and also to request your services." I placed my arms on the counter, letting my weight rest on it.


    "The pyrite has already arrived. I am working on grinding it into powder, as you requested." He paused, looking at me with some distrust. "In two more days, the job will be done. Is there anything else you need me to do?"


    "Yes, I will leave fifty Lyndors with you. I ordered a softwood delivery. Half of the wood should be burned into charcoal, and a small amount of this charcoal should be burned further until it turns into white ash. I need you to deliver it to the warehouse I rented." I handed him the warehouse key.


    "Su-Supreme Mage, if I may be so bold, what are you working on?" he asked, suspicious.


    I smiled warmly, wanting to build a good relationship with Thrain. "Something that will put a lot of money in your pocket." I paused, turned toward the door, and finished: "I''m counting on you."

 Chapter 19: The Supreme Mage IV

    Point Of View: Magnus Bridge


    Almost ten days had passed, and I was still trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible from that child''s mind. But there were linguistic blocks in most of the text. I concluded that if he didn¡¯t tell me on his own what was written, it would take me years to translate and understand everything.


    The boy was there, naked, behind the shed, with a cloth covering his face, stirring a gigantic copper pot with a wooden spatula. If you were a normal person, you would probably expect him to be preparing some delicious food, but it was shit with hot water.


    "Look, Magnus, the potassium nitrate obtained through this method can be used to preserve meat." I wondered who the hell would eat meat with shit.


    ¡®Right, why are we naked?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but question. This boy was certainly some kind of naturalist.


    "I don¡¯t want to dirty my clothes. We have half a ton of shit to boil and filter." He seemed happy with the whole situation. What an outrage! The body of this supreme mage being used for such menial labor.


    ¡®Why don¡¯t you just buy some slaves to do this?¡¯ I tried to shed some light on the boy¡¯s mind.


    "We¡¯re low on funds, Magnus. Besides, slaves have very low productivity and make labor more expensive overall." He paused, his arms stopping their movements. What he just said actually made a lot of sense. "You see, people and the economy are intertwined. Slavery only works in the short term."


    ¡®Isn¡¯t the short term what we need now? We just need to gather enough resources to get out of this city.¡¯ As much as he understood more than I did about many things, I was the one with knowledge about this world and magic. ¡®We need to speed things up around here, or we¡¯ll have problems.¡¯


    The rest of the morning went by in silence. He filtered the boiled shit into a barrel using some cloths and left it open, exposed to the sun. Then, he fetched more shit and repeated the process.


    "Alright, let¡¯s have lunch." I felt the concern in his mind. He was restless. "How much does a slave cost, Magnus?" he asked while getting dressed.


    ¡®I have no idea. So far, I haven¡¯t had the opportunity to know how much time has passed since I used that spell, but I imagine a few centuries.¡¯ I spoke, expecting a mocking comment, but there was no further conversation.


    Lunch passed in silence. Apart from the people''s discomfort due to the unpleasant smell, Roosevelt seemed introspective. His thoughts were clouded, as if he were thinking about a million things at once. I wished I had that mental capacity, I thought to myself.


    "You know, Magnus, at the port, when we returned for lunch, I saw some people in chains..." I already knew what he intended. He moved toward the ships.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The port was bustling. Various cargo was being unloaded from the ships: spices, wood, metals, fish, and slaves. As the slave samples ran out, the merchants brought more from inside the vessels.


    "This lovely girl was obtained in the Veridia Empire. A noble, I am sure she can satisfy all your needs." A short, fat man announced. He had long hair and a chubby face. He licked his lips as he spoke. I felt Roosevelt¡¯s disgust rising.


    "Oh, Supreme Mage! Have you come to pick up some test subjects for your experiments?" The man pointed at Roosevelt, who was approaching.


    "Is this all you have?" Roosevelt asked dryly, not bothering to respond to the provocation.


    "I see you have sharp eyes, certainly. This is not my best merchandise." He gestured toward the ship. A skinny boy, with a red cloth tied around his short blonde hair and dressed in a dirty white shirt, approached. "Take the Supreme Mage to the interior of the ship."


    We followed the boy in silence onto the vessel. He led us to the cargo hold. The environment was filled with the smell of sweat, salt, and oil lamps. Roosevelt pinched his nose. I was grateful for that since our senses were shared. Crates and boxes were scattered around. Cages were distributed throughout the place, overcrowded.


    Point of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    I was feeling disgusted. People were piled on top of each other like merchandise. The environment was rotten. There were elves, humans, dwarves...


    "This has completely ruined my day." I let my dissatisfaction slip out loud. As much as I was struggling with my little projects, I was excited.


    "I apologize for the environment. These slaves are so filthy that they infest the place." Our guide spoke so amiably that I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes.


    Inside one of the cages, a boy of almost twelve years old, with brown hair and eyes like beeswax, whispered exhaustedly: "S...te...lla." The guide stepped between me and the boy. "I¡¯m sorry. He is newly acquired merchandise and has not been educated yet."


    His eyes seemed full of despair. I wasn¡¯t very good at reading people''s emotions, but I understood the basics of business well enough to recognize someone¡¯s desperation. Understanding money was ultimately understanding people.


    "How much for the boy?" I pointed at him. A little girl with silver hair and pointed ears stood up from the darkness and placed herself in front of him, arms open. Tears streamed down her face.


    An elf?


    "Leave Seven alone!" I looked at the boy still huddled in the corner. Our young guide pulled out his whip and opened the cell at the same time. Quickly, to prevent the situation from getting out of control, I raised my arm to stop him.


    "I¡¯ll take both." My voice made him look at me, incredulous. His mouth opened to argue and then closed into a smile. He was a merchant, after all. He wouldn¡¯t ruin his own sale.


    "80 lyndors for both, great Supreme Mage." He looked at me, ready to strike, but this was where my skills stood out the most, not in science.


    "Look, they are twelve-year-old children. It will take some time to train them or put them to heavy labor. Moreover, they are quite malnourished, which shows that you haven¡¯t taken good care of your merchandise. Let¡¯s settle for 60 lyndors, considering my future expenses." I looked at him, waiting for his response.


    He had a smile on his face. Had I been tricked? Had he set a much higher price than normal in the hope that I would try to negotiate? Damn bastard. He extended his hand toward me. I had made a foolish mistake.


    ¡®Damn it, Magnus, why didn¡¯t you inform me of the slave prices?¡¯ I criticized.


    ¡®I already told you that my knowledge about this is useless. I¡¯m a few centuries out of date.¡¯ His answer didn¡¯t please me. I extended my hand back.


    "Deal," the guide said as I shook his hand. "I¡¯ll go fetch the collars."

 Chapter 20: Adoption I

    Point of View: Perucia


    "Listen up, kids. I don¡¯t like slaves, and I don¡¯t have money to pay salaries either." The brown-haired young man spoke. He stood in front of the door, blocking any chance for Sete and me to escape. The windows were also closed. Surprisingly, he had removed the ropes from our necks.


    "Perucia will not work." I stated firmly, making it clear that I would never be his slave. Death was better than slavery.


    "Oh, great. Did you hear that, Magnus? The little elf girl speaks in the third person." He said, but not to me. Was he talking to that Magnus? Magnus, the one who sneaks around at night and devours the feet of naughty elves? My mother used to torment me with that folklore, but I wasn¡¯t a child anymore.


    Sete was completely withdrawn in the corner of the room, his head buried between his knees. Every time he faced a critical situation, he would shut down like a turtle. I couldn''t help but notice the resemblance between him and the young man now trying to impose his will on us.


    "Perucia is not afraid of Magnus, the foot eater. Perucia is not a child anymore." His eyes widened at my words. I quickly placed myself in front of Sete and shrank back, expecting to be punished. But instead, the young man fell onto the floor and burst into laughter. I was completely confused. Why was he laughing? There was nothing funny about this.


    "Sorry, sorry. Well, Perucia, how old are you?" He was still sitting on the ground, looking at me curiously. I hesitated to answer. At least he didn¡¯t seem violent like the men on the ship, I thought.


    "Perucia will turn 41 next month." His face froze completely. He stared at me, blinking. Did I say something wrong?


    Point of View: Christopher Roosevelt


    Was this brat messing with me? Was she older than me? Could she be a reincarnated soul? I searched my brain for answers, calling out to Magnus, and he didn¡¯t take long to respond. His tone was amused.


    ''I don¡¯t blame you for the shock. Most humans, not understanding much about elves, assume their lifespan is similar to ours, but that¡¯s a mistake. They live for about two hundred years on average and only reach maturity after seventy. Essentially, her mental age is equivalent to that of a twelve-year-old.'' Apparently, Magnus had already forgotten about being called the foot eater.


    "Alright. And that boy, his name is Sete, right? What happened to him?" She looked at me suspiciously but didn¡¯t hesitate to answer.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Perucia met him a few days ago. He was traveling with a woman, but they were attacked. Perucia¡¯s father taught her to protect the weak. Perucia is taking care of him." She spoke with a proud tone, but she didn¡¯t seem like a hero¡ªjust a child.


    "Look, to be honest, I bought you two because I want to offer a deal. But if you don¡¯t want to listen, you¡¯re free to go." I stood up, opening the door to show them I wouldn¡¯t force them to stay. But deep down, I was worried about the financial loss.


    Her expression remained suspicious, but what could children do on their own? She crossed her arms in front of Sete. "Perucia allows you to speak."


    I felt like absolute garbage, being looked down on as if I were some kind of servant. What an arrogant girl. ''At least she has personality,'' Magnus said in a calm tone in my mind. I took a deep breath, calming some of my frustration before speaking again.


    "I make money, you help me with my work, and in exchange, I provide shelter, food, clothes, education, and everything a child might need. Additionally, I will help you achieve one wish. You can ask for anything, and even if it takes time, I will make it happen." Perucia¡¯s face twisted, her brows furrowing. She seemed even angrier now.


    "How is this different from slavery?" Her fists were clenched, and she leaned forward, speaking loudly. She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong¡ªthis girl had potential as a negotiator.


    "I¡¯ll also include an allowance. You¡¯ll have the freedom to go wherever you want, as long as a trusted adult is nearby. I don¡¯t want you getting kidnapped again. Look, you want something, don¡¯t you? To see your family? You mentioned your father and that boy, someone named Stella?" I noticed Sete¡¯s eyes light up as he raised his head. He crawled toward me.


    "Mister, can you help find Stella?" He tugged at the hem of my pants, tears streaming down his face. Could I find Stella? Probably not. As for the girl, I could just send her off to some elves.


    "Oh, yes, of course. I can help find this woman. I am the Supreme Mage, after all." The boy immediately backed away, his eyes widening. Silence filled the air, and Perucia¡¯s mouth hung open in shock.


    "You¡¯re a liar." Perucia stated. I smirked, walked over to the dresser beside the bed, opened a drawer, and pulled out Magnus¡¯s cloak, draping it over my shoulders.


    ''Your character is awful, lying to children,'' Magnus chastised me mentally. What a hypocrite.


    ''At least I don¡¯t dissect them,'' I retorted instantly, sharp-tongued.


    "If Perucia helps you, I want to go to the Elven Forest." As expected, even with a child¡¯s mind, living for four decades makes anyone smart.


    "Mister, what kind of business do you run?" Sete¡¯s question surprised me, but it also excited me. Although I knew how to make paper and gunpowder, I had never actually done it in real life. It was just useless knowledge accumulated from living in the 21st century and receiving a good education.


    "I¡¯m making gunpowder and vellum paper¡ªboth use wood." Their faces were filled with confusion, but I didn¡¯t mind. It¡¯s not like they¡¯d understand a thing I was talking about. "I¡¯ll arrange some meals for you, and we¡¯ll spend the afternoon working on this. After that, bath and new clothes. That¡¯s our plan for today."


    Perucia sniffed her own armpits. "Perucia doesn¡¯t need a bath." I raised an eyebrow. Kids will always be kids, after all.


    ''Actually, elves don¡¯t sweat, which is why they don¡¯t develop body odor,'' Magnus added, sounding like an elf enthusiast.