《The Phoenix's Magician: Revolt [LITRPG, Regression]》 Chapter 1: The End of the Road. Chapter 1: The End of the Road. Ark Light exhaled, the air that left his lips thin and laced with minuscule droplets of blood that evaporated under the extreme heat of the active volcano. He stood at five-six with broad shoulders and tanned skin laden with scars, his blonde hair draping down the sides of his head, his piercing blue eyes shining with a deep light. A warrior summoned from a place called Earth was charged with the mission to slay the Fell Phoenix and end the monster¡¯s tyranny over mankind. At least, that was what he was told before being shackled, branded, and made into a slave to fight for the Golden Throne of the Winterfell Empire. Five years had passed since then. Five years since he was whisked away from his cushy college life of partying and dnd. Five years since he lost his parents, friends, and those he loved. Five years of grueling combat and torturing of his mind and body. Yet, the journey itself hadn''t been all bad, despite the hardships of being in a foreign world, he wasn''t alone. He had companions, representatives selected by the countries of this world to be their champions against the monstrous scourge that razed entire cities. Behind him, Liliana Estelle, a raven-haired maiden of the Church of the Pyre of Heart. A no-nonsense priestess and capable healer from the sandy tides of the Sarcea Federation. To his left, Jasper Maze, an arch-magus of the Magitech-Foundation. A brunette happy-go-lucky boy genius with an affinity for all elements of magic and the first to break into the seventh realm of magic at the ripe old age of twelve. On his right, Alexios Tarduun, a stalwart half-dwarf of the Gyseria Mountain dwarf clans clad in fire-resistant adamantine armor. Contrary to popular media from earth, dwarfs in this world were tall, lumbering creatures known for their height, muscles, and fondness for holes. And lastly, at the rear, leading dozens of battle-hardened knights who surrounded Ark, Prince Roland Von-Winterfell of the Holy Imperium. The same nation whose King had torn him from his world and decreed Ark a slave. But now, he was ally andfriend, a white-haired prince who sought to fight his own battles and be a noble who led by example. An example that carved a bloody swath through the Phoenix¡¯s monsters. ¡°It''s¡­ over, Soliloquy is finally dead,¡± Liliana huffed, as she stood, bloodied and battered beside Ark to stare at the lifeless corpse of butchered black feathers and scores of simmering red mounds of pulsating flesh. ¡°Not yet,¡± Ark said as Jasper stepped forward, the boy¡¯s voice splintered into various echoes whispering scores of incantations. The young magician covered in injuries suddenly began to age rapidly, his fine brown hair growing long, his body elongating as his tattered robes shrunk, the consequences of harnessing chrono magic. As colorful glyphs of the arcane hung in the air, the remains of the massive Fell Phoenix began to vibrate angrily, the fresh gore attempting to resist the young mage¡¯s magic. But alas, the will of the Phoenix couldn''t contend with voices of the hundreds of magicians that used Jasper as their focus, offering their life force to seal the monstrosity¡¯s command over time to prevent its resurrection. A costly sacrifice, but a necessary one to end the threat. A hundred sacrifices to end one life. Ark stared at the skull of his kill, basking under the glow of a well fought victory. Soon his mission on this world would be over. Soon he''d be a free man. Able to return home. To see his family and to have the accommodations of a modern world he could enjoy with Liliana. Then the Phoenix moved, its one un-gouged eye snapping open to reveal a crimson iris that locked onto its killers. Immediately Ark¡¯s callous hand found the hilt of his longsword, the black demonic blade igniting with runic magic as its user prepared for battle. Yet no battle came, instead the butchered black bird merely opened its cratered beak as an ominous presence filled the space. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. An attack? No, this was something different, something ancient, more akin to a ritual yet Ark felt no discernable touch of mana on his skin. ¡°Outworlder¡­ with my passing,¡± Soliloquy spoke, despite her head decapitated from the rest of her body, its feminine voice, even on her deathbed, sounded regal with the air of authority, ¡°So too shall yours come to be, the fibers of our fates are intertwined into a tapestry-¡± What remaining words the Fell Phoenix went to speak were cut short as Roland pierced the monster''s skull with his spear. Suddenly laughter filled the air, an echo so vile it sent shivers down Ark¡¯s spine. ¡°What do you think she meant by her words?¡± Liliana asked with grim concern. ¡°Phoenix¡¯s are prophetic. But why try and warn us?¡± ¡°I don''t know,¡± Ark replied as Liliana found his hand, the pair sharing a look of genuine care despite the differences of their stations. Her emerald eyes shifted from his face to the obsidian collar around his neck. An attachment that would soon be gone once Roland ascended the throne. At least that was the deal. ¡°It merely meant to sow doubt and confusion, even in its deathtroes. You needn''t listen to the perfidious rantings of an agent of ruin,¡± Roland said, pushing between the pair and handing Ark a red vial, ¡°Here, a potion. I need you to keep your strength up just in case, I don''t want any surprises.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Ark uncorked the bottle, downing the contents so fast he didn''t stop to take in the bitter taste or leafy aromatic scent. Immediately he could feel strength course through his body, a renewed vigor that gave Ark relief. ¡°How long until the ritual is done?¡± Roland asked, his eyes focused on the massive feathered corpse. ¡°It''s done, Soliloquy can no longer resurrect,¡± Jasper rasped, the young boy now wearing the visage of an old man who nearly crumbled if not for Liliana rushing to catch him. ¡°Your life force is drained!¡± Liliana cried, raising the magician to stand on his feet, ¡°Don''t exert yourself. Roland, Ark, we need to get him to a chapel, his life signs are weak.¡± ¡°Why can''t you heal him here?¡± Roland asked, drawing Ark''s eyes to the man''s hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist. Bloodlust? Ark frowned. ¡°I''m out of mana! Stop talking and help me!¡± Liliana spat. ¡°All conditions are fulfilled then,¡± Roland said as his sword came out, the silver weapon merely an inch away from Liliana¡¯s neck. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Ark hissed, his hand wrapped around the Imperial Prince¡¯s wrist and preventing the attack. ¡°What needs to be done,¡± Roland spat as Ark¡¯s eyes tracked the knights closing in. Suddenly Ark¡¯s strength began to wane, his eyes going wide as Roland held up a black rod. ¡°You swore!¡± Ark yelled as he suddenly fell to his knees, his collar compelling his actions to obey the one who held his control rod. ¡°I lied,¡± Roland said before brandishing his sword at Jasper and Liliana. ¡°Alexios! Do something!¡± Ark yelled, turning to the giant who lay upon the floor still with twin cloaked figures standing above him. Ark attempted to move, willed his power to heed his call yet instead of strength, blood flowed from his lips as his body began to shut down. Poison? Ark could feel an insidious sensation course through his veins, a foreign substance masked by the healing potion offered to him by a friend. ¡°Stop! Roland! Stop!¡± Ark roared as Liliana attempted to flee, only to be caught by her hair and yanked back with Jasper collapsing onto the ash-laden ground. Liliana spun, cutting her hair with a dagger and attempting to attack Roland who merely side-stepped her attack. ¡°Why?! After everything we''ve been through?!¡± Liliana cried, raising her hand to fire a bolt of mana yet falling short as Roland''s blade easily severed her arm and pierced her heart. ¡°LILIANA!¡± Ark screamed, the pair making eye contact before her body slipped from the blade and fell. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Ark suddenly found a surge of strength, his body pulsating with power as he rushed forward, blade in hand, screaming murder for the man who betrayed him. ¡°You''ll do no such thing,¡± Roland said as he took a step back and several spears found Ark''s body. ¡°W-why? You¡­ promised to free me!¡± Ark gasped, hanging suspended by the knights who kept him away from their Prince. ¡°Why betray us?! Liliana did nothing to you! We fought for you! Are you all okay with this?!¡± Ark turned his head to the knights, the warriors he had fought beside, bleed with, and commanded, remaining silent. Roland paused, admiring Ark¡¯s hardy constitution that enabled the skewered man to continue reaching out for him. ¡°With the Fell Phoenix dead, this world has no need of heroes, my retinue understands this,¡± Roland said, turning his back to Ark and moving towards Soliloquy¡¯s skull. ¡°Especially one who would inspire the rabble to rise up. Make no mistake Ark, I intend to end slavery, but to do so now would throw the Imperium''s economy into disarray. And your existence¡­ Well, suffice to say, a populace deprived of their champions is a populace more easily controlled.¡± ¡°Roland¡­¡± Ark hissed, his vision darkening as a cold vice seemed to greet his heart. Roland spun, blade in hand, ¡°For what it''s worth, you have my gratitude. Thank you¡­ my friend. For the glory of humanity.¡± The edge of Roland''s Fateslayer found Ark¡¯s heart, the blade poking through his back. ¡°B-bastard¡­ this life or the next!¡± Ark screamed, his movements propelled by rage as he broke several spears and reached out for Roland, ¡°I will kill-!¡± Then the world spun as Ark lost control of his body and his sight was one of that fixed upon the earth staring at the sky. ¡°Goodbye Ark, may you-¡± Whatever words Roland said next were lost to Ark as his world darkened and his spirit passed. Chapter 2: Deal with the Devil You know. Chapter 2: Deal with the Devil You know. In the darkness of an infinite abyss, a light twinkled. ¡°Awaken,¡± A voice commanded, one that held no warmth of familiarity yet was still familiar to Ark as he drifted in the endless expanse. ¡°Awaken yee who would grasp the coattails of a divine being¡¯s grace.¡± ¡°Awaken!¡± Ark¡¯s eyes snapped open at the command, coming face to face with a woman with black wings sitting upon a gold rock in a vast empty expanse. ¡°IRIELEX!¡± Ark roared, rushing toward his archfoe with his fist raised, only to phase right through the phoenix and land on the purple cloud beneath his feet that constituted a ground. ¡°Cease your outbursts,¡± ¡°You! I killed you!¡± Ark spat with fury, turning to face the Fell Phoenix who merely glanced at him with indifference before shifting her golden gaze to her onyx talons. ¡°And yet, I remain,¡± Soliloquy replied coldly. Ark picked himself off the ground, extending his hand as Soliloquy raised a neatly trimmed brow. ¡°COME! BELLROG!¡± Ark roared, ordering his demonic blade to him. Even in the face of such a being, he wouldn¡¯t back down, not when the enemy of all of humanity stood gazing down upon him with her golden eyes. That look, that damnable gaze that viewed him as nothing more than a bug. An insignificant being that was little more than a mote of dust. The look of superiority. One way or another, he¡¯d wipe it from her face. A moment passed, then another, with no sign of his screaming blade. In fact, as Ark stood there wondering what was going on he realized he couldn''t feel the weapon at all, or anything for that matter. ¡°What magecraft is this?!¡± Ark demanded, furrowing his brow as he glared at the Empress of all phoenixs. ¡°Funny. I was going to ask you the same,¡± The raven-haired woman raised a brow as she tapped her black lips with her onyx-colored talon, adopting a look of deep thought. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Ark looked around, taking stock of his surroundings and looking for any signs of his companions, any sign of a way to¡­ ¡°Huhlk,¡± Ark let out, his vision pulsing as the events of his death flashed before his eyes. Everything that had happened, his decapitation of Soliloquy, his poisoning, and¡­ The glimmering metal of Roland¡¯s holy sword in Lilana¡¯s chest. ¡°Ro¡­¡± Ark growled, his body trembling, his fingers twitching as they curled, the very space around him shaking as if responding to his rage. ¡°Roland. ROLAND. ROLAND!!!!!!¡± Ark screamed, his voice laced with rage, filled with grief as the world around him quaked. He grabbed his head, pulling at his blonde hair as he fell to his knees. ¡°Liliana¡­ Liliana why? Why her? Whywhy! You bastards, YOUdamnbastards!¡± Ark whispered, grief taking hold of him as he recalled his body being skewered and his friends¡­ Friends... ¡°Why?¡± Ark asked to no one as he stared blankly at the floor as the sensation of being decapitated vividly came to the forefront of his mind, "Why?!" ¡°Because it is in your nature,¡± Soliloquy offered, drawing Ark¡¯s ire. ¡°You monkeys have always betrayed one another in pursuit of power. Frankly, humanity¡¯s only redeeming quality is your greed and rodent tenacity to strive for that which is outside your means.¡± ¡°Shut up¡­¡± Ark growled. ¡°Oh? Are you angry? ¡®I SAID SHUT UP BIRD!¡± Ark roared, causing the Empress to snicker. ¡®Cute.¡± ¡°Tell me phoenix, what is the meaning of this?¡± Ark demanded, gesturing out to the darkness that surrounded the pair. ¡°First you want me to be quiet, now you wish me to answer. Well¡­¡± Soliloquy flicked her gaze at the man who walked to stand before her before she shifted her gaze back to her talons. ¡°Which is it?¡± ¡°Speak you damn overgrown bird,¡± Ark growled. Soliloquy laughed at the warrior¡¯s demand, her golden eyes lighting up with amusement as she shifted a hand to cover her mouth. ¡°I am the Empress of all phoenix kind, the progenitor of If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. an entire species. I¡¯m a bit more than just a¡­ bird.¡± ¡°No. You are a bird. A fat, overgrown, disgusting creature that only feeds on the suffering of mankind. The Great Enslaver, The Destroyer, Mother of all phoenixs.¡± Ark said as he began walking up the steps, drawing close to the monument Soliloquy lounged upon. ¡°I watched you burn entire cities, turn innocents into ash and send down monsters that razed monuments that stood for thousands of years.¡± The phoenix rolled her eyes as Ark approached, standing in front of the indifferent woman in her raven dress. ¡°So answer me you foul terror of mankind before I gouge out your tongue and rip out your eyes,¡± Ark hissed, his rage barely contained. ¡°I killed you. So. What. Is. Going. On.¡± ¡®Are you done?¡± Soliloquy replied. Ark growled. ¡°Good boy,¡± Soliloquy said, speaking to Ark as if he were a pet. ¡°First off, you can¡¯t kill me outworlder.¡± Ark blinked, furrowing his brow. ¡°I¡¯m an immortal soul, a steward of this world. My vessel can be destroyed, but not my soul, I¡¯ll always come back, how do you think I reigned for so long? Did you really think a pathetic life form such as yourself could fell a guardian when so many others have failed?¡± Soliloquy smirked, causing Ark to go wide-eyed. ¡°You should feel honored that.¡­ hmm?¡± Soliloquy stopped mid-sentence, blinking as her eyes dulled in their color with her form suddenly shrinking. Something was wrong, the void beginning to flicker with images, pictures of scenes Ark both recognized and didn''t. His eyes averted, looking over to the strings of memories playing out all around him. Scenes of his adventures, scenes of his battles, his life, his first time with Liliana before the battle with Soliloquy, and then¡­ his death. These were his memories. ¡°Fascinating!¡± Soliloquy suddenly shouted, grinning madly. ¡°So that was your game! Ahahahahaha! Genius! GENIUS! Perhaps I gave your pathetic race too little credit!¡± Ark was confused, unsure what was going on as the phoenix stood up, splaying her arms to the side and laughing with a madness in her eyes as the void around the pair shifted, twisting from a dark purple to a golden light as Soliloquy unfurled her wings. Suddenly the video of his life shifted, revealing images unfamiliar to Ark. ¡°YOU!¡± Soliloquy pointed at Ark, her face twisted with joy and madness. ¡°You will be mine!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ark furrowed his brow, taking a step back as the woman suddenly accosted him, grabbing his face with a deranged look in her eye. Ark attempted to pull away yet couldn¡¯t, his punches and kicks merely phasing through the Mother of All phoenixes as she leaned in, bringing his face close as she clutched his chin. "Do you wish for power?" "What?" Ark replied, still attempting to get free. "Do you wish for a second chance?" Ark blinked, eyes wide at the implications. "You mean resurrection?!" Adam exclaimed with eyes wide. "Something like that¡­ With my power sealed, and my corpse butchered, it seems my tether to this world has been unbalanced," The phoenix grinned, licking her lips with her forked black tongue. ¡°But you¡­ you will be my new tether, and in turn, I will grant you a second chance.¡± A second chance. If I had a second chance! I could save Liliana! Ark blinked, clenching his jaw as the phoenix stared down at him and waited for a response. "This is a trap." "I assure you mortal, it is not." Soliloquy replied, the void around them suddenly seeming to coalesce, creating walls that were beginning to crack. "What I offer is another chance. To right a wrong done to thee and this world." "What does that mean? What is going on?!" Ark exclaimed, the walls beginning to break with blinding light flooding in. "Your soul is fading," Soliloquy replied, her wings shedding black feathers. "And consequently, so is mine since we are now one and the same. You poor pawn, a mere piece in someone else¡¯s schemes. Use to strike a blow at your betters. I suppose even ants possess a poison." Ark''s eyes narrowed, his bloodlust rising as he saw the glee in Roland''s eyes clear as day in his mind. Soliloquy drew close, the woman nearly touching him with her breasts, ¡°All you have to do is tell me your deepest desire.¡± Ark¡¯s eyes shifted upwards, his gaze one of a furious glare brimming with hatred. ¡°I want justice.¡± At the response, the Fell Phoenix raised a brow, ¡°Justice? Not vengeance?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want vengeance,¡± Ark seethed, barely containing the anger bubbling within like hot magma ready to explode, ¡°I want justice! For all the years of suffering, for all the lies, for the pain of watching those I love die and the years STOLEN from me!¡± "Phoenix¡­" Ark said, accepting that he was making a deal with the devil. But nothing mattered if the love of his life was gone, if all his efforts were of no benefit to himself. "Give me your power." "Excellent choice," Soliloquy smiled, drawing Ark close, too close. Soliloquy''s mighty wings unfurled, moving until they encompassed all of Ark''s body, drawing him in with their faces nearly kissing and Ark recoiling. ¡°Relax. I promise you¡¯ll enjoy this,¡± Soliloquy hissed, locking lips with Ark as the entire world exploded in brilliant light. Chapter 3: The Nooseman Chapter 3: The Nooseman Ark gasped, waking from his nightmare unable to breathe as a vice clenched around his throat. Struggling, Ark¡¯s body spasmed, his eyes rapidly darting to and fro as he attempted to make sense of his new-found surroundings. Immediately he tried to rouse his ki, to strengthen his arms and break the rope around his neck, yet try as he might, his body didn''t respond. Shit! Am I seriously about to die again?! Ark hissed internally, his feet furiously attempting to reach out to the thin metal shelves lining each wall. Finally Ark''s foot found purchase, the tip of his black boots just barely grazing the edge of the shelf. C¡¯mon! C¡¯mon! Ark hissed internally, his eyes bulging, heart-rate pulsing as his vision darkened and his fingers sluggishly dug into the noose around his neck. *Clang!* Finally the shelf tipped over, giving Ark a foothold to catch his breath with an audible gasp. Quickly Ark reached up, removing the rope around his neck with thin trembling fingers that bleed from the blisters bursting from his rope burns. Ark winced, losing his balance and knocking down another shelf in the process and scattering random jars and brooms about. ¡°What¡­ what the hell?¡± Ark murmured, rubbing his head before realizing that his voice came out¡­ Different. In fact, his fingers weren''t the same that he knew. Gone were the calluses and rough tanned texture of his strong hands, instead, they were replaced by soft unblemished skin that bleed from simply pulling at ropes around his neck. Ark glanced around, taking in his cluttered enclosure with his eyes darting to the nearby window before he glanced down at his new¡­ form. He frowned, observing the pristine white uniform with gold buttons and cuffs that adorned his body. Ark brushed back the hair in his eyes, taking in the coarse feel of unwashed fiber that left black strands laced through his fingers. That''s when he noticed his wrists were scrawny, poking out from his expensive outfit to reveal parts of his emaciated form. Black not blonde? What the hell am I wearing? Ark narrowed his eyes, attempting to piece together his current predicament when suddenly the door of the closet burst open, casting a blinding ray of light on Ark who moved his hand to shield his eyes. A moment of silence passed before Ark''s eyes adjusted to the light, allowing him to meet the gaze of the white-haired girl wearing a similar uniform as him. With gold iridescent eyes, soft face, puffy hair adorned with jewels, and body laden with fine metals, the woman before him was a model image of a spoiled noble brat. She looked down at Ark, then her eyes drifted to the rope dangling from the ceiling and the mess of scattered shelves. ¡°Pathetic, you can''t even kill yourself right,¡± The girl spat, her narrow face contorting into one of disgust before she turned, walking away on white high heels through the crowd of students that had gathered. Now Ark sat at a loss for words, attempting to process the turn of events that now involved a dozen sets of eyeballs focused on him. **** Eventually, four students with white arm bands appeared and grabbed Ark, dragging him from what he came to realize was a janitor''s closet of an academy of sorts. Paraded through the crowd of students, Ark kept his head low, his eyes observing every detail of the red ornate halls he was dragged through until he was pushed past the double doors of a lavish office. ¡°Sit there,¡± One of his captors growled, shoving him forward and pointing to the maple-wood chair beside a desk made of solid gold. With no ki to call upon, Ark stumbled forward, each movement he made sluggish as his new body attempted to heed his commands. He paused, Ark''s eyes focused on a nearby gold bust of a stranger that reflected his appearance. At six feet, clad in white and gold, the visage Ark saw of a black-haired man with thin cheeks and snow-white skin was an image foreign to him. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Soliloquy? Is this a part of your schemes? Ark called out yet was greeted with silence. However, it was evidently clear that he was no longer in his body, and judging from the various emblems unrecognizable to Ark, he might not even be in his world. Had he been played? Sent to a different world again? No, Ark understood their language, it was Ambrosian. The basic tongue spoken by all countries of El Gia. A language that had been beaten into him to ¡®improve¡¯ his efficiency. So where the hell was he? Finally reaching the chair, Ark took a seat upon the soft red cushion as the group of white-bands stared at him with an uncomfortable eagle-like focus. In their gazes he saw contempt and disgust, dispassionate expressions that saw him as nothing more than a nuisance. Another question in Ark''s mind, whose body was this and why did everyone hate him? A few moments of uncomfortable silence passed before the double door slammed opened. ¡°Leave us,¡± A balding man in gold-lined archmage robes ordered, entering the room with a clergy woman following closely behind. ¡°Hospitaller,¡± Ark muttered, the woman¡¯s robes familiar to him as a member of the Church of the Pyre Heart. The same church Liliana was a priestess of. Or¡­ had been a priestess of. Flinching from her touch against his bruised neck, Ark relaxed as the gentle flow of healing magic channeled from the pink-haired priestess and into him. Enraptured by the memories of his time with Liliana, Ark found himself slow to answer the man snapping for his attention. ¡°Loyd! Do you realize the stain your selfish action has placed upon this academy?!¡± The bald man barked, slamming his wrinkled fist against his gold desk. So this body is named Loyd¡­ Unsure of what the exact circumstances of his situation were, Ark elected to remain silent while the man fumed and sent the cleric away. Ark frowned, This boy commits suicide and the only thing he can talk about is this academy''s tarnished prestige? ¡°I have sent for Baroness Fey, who will certainly have choice words for you once she arrives, do you have anything you wish to say for yourself?!¡± Once more, Ark remained silent, his eyes more focused on the five ring patterns on the archmage¡¯s cloak. Six rings, sixth tier. This man was a talented mage! A step below Merlin even. But if such a mage existed when he was alive then Ark would have been familiar with him. But he wasn''t, so now he had more questions than answers including wondering who this Baroness Fey was. ¡°Are you daft boy? Answer me! I should have you expelled!¡± Ark cast his eyes to the side, his focus on a bookshelf and pondering what knowledge he could gleam from its tomes. Illicating no reaction from Ark, the archmage sat back in his large leather chair, choosing to scowl at Ark instead of yelling. Finally the silence was broken by the sound of the doors opening to reveal a tall brunette woman with a gaunt face caked by makeup to hide whatever illness racked her body. Strolling across the office on black heels, the baroness set off a flurry of alarms that ignited inside Ark, almost as if his body was reacting to the sight of the woman. Is the host¡¯s spirit still here? ¡°Baronesses Fey,¡± The old mage said, not bothering to rise from his seat as he gestured to the adjacent chair beside Ark. ¡°Headmaster Bruno,¡± The woman bowed, her voice laced with the hints of the seductress she had once been as she calmly took a seat beside Ark. ¡°Given the nature of Loyd¡¯s special situation I will cut this short,¡± Bruno said, his face unable to mask his contempt, ¡°Your charge here attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in a maintenance closet.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Baroness whispered in disbelief. Ark studied her reaction, besides the quiver in her voice, slight widening of her eyes and loss of color around her neck, one would almost believe she wasn''t disturbed by the news. ¡°Fortunately he was found by several students including Princess Winterfell.¡± PRINCESS?! Now it was Ark¡¯s turn to lose his composure with his mouth drooping. There was no Princess of Winterfell, not to his knowledge. Winterfell had only one heir, and that was Roland, the bastard that had betrayed him! But now there was a princess? Something was wrong. Something was very very wrong! ¡°My recommendation is expulsion.¡± At the word expulsion Ark¡¯s focus was drawn back in. ¡°Please, you can''t expel him!¡± The Baroness exclaimed, suddenly rising to her feet as Ark remained numb. ¡°Loyd doesn''t get along with his peers. He''s unkempt, failing at magic, and doesn''t even possess the capability of utilizing ki. Worse still, this latest fiasco has only driven his and House Fey¡¯s standing further into a downward spiral, not to mention this academy''s prestige. Perhaps time away from the academy would do well to ail him,¡± The Headmaster replied dispassionately. Can''t use ki? Ark inwardly frowned. ¡°Please reconsider Headmaster, Loyd needs this academy. The crown may have given up on Loyd but I assure you House Fey has not. This was¡­ a lapse in judgement. I beseech you to give Loyd another chance,¡± The woman said, her hands on the gold desk with her body leaning forward in a manner removed of all dignity of a noble. ¡°And what assurances can House Fey give to the Rokugin Academy that an incident such as this will not occur again? Please Baron Fey, you must realize the position you''ve placed me in. It is regrettable enough that he possesses the stigma of being disowned, but would you make this academy his tomb and tarnish this institution as well?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Silence took the room, neither of the adults speaking as Baron Fey¡¯s hands clenched into fists. ¡°Loyd,¡± The woman said, her jaw clenching and unclenching repeatedly, ¡°Sir Welkin is outside and will escort you home. We will talk later.¡± Without a word, Ark rose to his feet, allowing the pair to discuss the fate of his future as he exited the room, both unaware that the person they were talking about no longer existed. Chapter 4: Clarity of the Situation ¡°Young master, Loyd,¡± An elderly man wearing the garb of a knight errant bowed to Ark as the latter stepped through the dual doors of the Headmaster¡¯s office. ¡°Welkin,¡± Ark replied, more of a question than an acknowledgement of the knight. On first appearance, Welkin held the look of a man well past his prime. Late fifties at least, the man''s left side of his face was burned, his tanned skin flushing out the scars that coated his body. Ark frowned, Is everyone from House Fey sick and maimed? Following the limping knight, Ark was led through the velvet hallways of the academy that echoed with whispers of hundreds of students. Gossip traveled like wildfire, with every step he took and students he passed, Ark could feel what was on their mind as their condescending gazes focused on him. Fucking nobles¡­ Eventually Ark was led outside and brought to a black lamer-lined carriage drawn by a pair of eight-legged black-haired horses known as sleipnirs. ¡°Young master?¡± Welkin said, opening the door of the carriage for Ark who stood stunned as his eyes focused out on the horizon of the gold metropolis that filled the expanse of land in the distance. ¡°This¡­ impossible¡­ no! NO!¡± Ark yelled as the realization dawned on him that he¡¯d been tricked. This wasn''t his world! Not like he remembered it, El Gia had no cities this massive, no academies so prestigious, and there definitely wasn''t a princess of Winterfell so where was Ark?! Ark¡¯s breathing began to grow rapid, his vision blurry as his body struggled to process the rage building in his heart. A different timeline? The future? Another world? No! Liliana! That damned bird! You was supposed to grant me another chance! Suddenly Ark found himself forcefully yanked back by Welkin, the old knight leaning over Ark with a firm hand gripping into his shoulder. ¡°Young master,¡± Welkin said, his stern voice almost a growl, ¡°It is time to go.¡± Then Ark realized he was being watched. From a balcony of a nearby building, the same woman who had discovered him in the closet stood looking down at him with a retinue of students. ¡°So¡­ it is,¡± Ark said through clenched teeth, reeling in his boiling emotions and boarding the leather interior of the cramped carriage. Welkin drew the covers over the window of the carriage, blocking Ark''s view of the outside before the carriage lurched and began to move. Ark sat back and relaxed, his mind racing with thousands of questions as he contemplated his current situation and his frail body devoid of the vigor he had grown so accustomed to. He attempted to circulate mana, to awaken the ki pathways that seemed defunt and crippled. Ark had never been good at commanding external mana known as magic, but one thing he knew for certain was how to effectively handle his bodily energy. Or so he thought before realizing how poorly his body seemed to handle mana. Something was blocking his control, like his circuits weren''t active at all. ¡°Cheep!¡± Ark jolted, his eyes rapidly scanning the carriage. ¡°Cheep! Cheep!¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Ark frowned before his focus shifted downward to black baby chicken at his feet. ¡°Cheep!¡± Ark narrowed his eyes, a sudden feeling of annoyance creeping through his veins. ¡°Please tell me you aren''t what I think you are¡­¡± ¡°Are you disappointed Featherling?¡± Soliloquy cheeped, her voice high pitched and absent of the regal authority she once held. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Immediately Ark''s foot cast a shadow over the bird with the once mighty phoenix realizing too late what was about to happen. Soliloquy perform an about face, attempting to scurry away only for Ark to stomp on the bird. Pain shot through Ark, his body seizing for a moment as Soliloquy screamed. ¡°WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!¡± Soliloquy yelped, squirming as Ark continued to press his foot down on the chicken. Ignoring the irritation burning within, Ark attempted to flatten the bird completely, yet try as he might he couldn''t, his body seemingly unwilling to heed his command. ¡°Stop! Cease your incessant assault at once!¡± Soliloquy squawked, her voice muffled from Ark''s boot on her face. ¡°This isn''t what you promised! Where am I?!¡± Ark demanded. ¡°Whose body is this?!¡± ¡°How should I know?! I only picked the strongest tether I could locate after looking through time!¡± ¡°What does that mean?!¡± Ark yelled, his voice coming out coarse. ¡°Meaning I required a vessel strong enough to hold our souls with enough commonality we could inhabit it! Many years have passed Outworlder, the El Gia you knew is no longer the same!¡± Princess Winterfell¡­ Ark''s face twisted, connecting the dots. ¡°How long?¡± The Phoenix went silent. ¡°HOW LONG?!¡± ¡°By my estimate, it took one hundred and thirty five years to find a suitable host.¡± Ark fell silent, his eyes quivering as he took in the news. One hundred¡­ one hundred years¡­ mom¡­ dad¡­ Ark thoughts turned to his parents, his family back on earth that were now long gone. ¡°Send me back¡­¡± Ark muttered, his expression downcast. ¡°I cannot Outworlder,¡± The Phoenix chirped with a sincere finality. ¡°Send me back you overcooked nugget!¡± Ark yelled, raising his foot. ¡°Back? I can''t send you anywhere! I delivered your soul out of oblivion for a second chance! This was our agreement Outworlder!¡± Soliloquy spat, fleeing across the cabin on her tiny yellow feet. ¡°Not like this! How does this constitute a second chance?! Liliana is gone! The world I knew is gone! Even if I went back to earth everyone I know is dead! You promised me revenge! Does this look like revenge?! Does this look like a second chance?!¡± Ark spat, pointing down to his emaciated body. ¡°I concur this situation isn''t ideal, but you have been given a new lease at life. I have kept my word Featherling. Now you will do something for me.¡± ¡°You screw me over and now you want to make demands of me?¡± Ark spat as the carriage stopped. ¡°That is the nature of a deal is it not? The monkey you call Roland is still alive, worst still, he possesses the power of a guardian. My power. Which means he is aware of my presence on this plane.¡± ¡°Which means he''ll be coming for me, right?¡± Ark spat, wondering how could Roland still be alive, ¡°With this body I might as well have stayed dead!¡± ¡°He doesn''t know who you are, merely that I exist again. You have the comfort of anonymity and a new body. As well as a fraction of my power which will grow as you become accustomed to your new form.¡± Ark clenched his teeth, his eyes darting to the door beside him that began to open. ¡°Young Master Loyd, are you well?¡± Welkin asked, the old man furrowing his brow at the composed Ark before his gaze shifted to the tiny black chicken. ¡°A chicken?¡± ¡°This is my¡­¡± ¡°Familiar.¡± Ark blinked as Soliloquy''s voice echoed through his mind. ¡°Familiar,¡± Ark said with the old Knight''s eyes widening in surprise. ¡°This¡­ I wasn''t aware that you-¡± ¡°I''m fine Welkin, continue with the ride,¡± Ark ordered, dismissing the man. The old knight seemed to hesitate, his eyes shifting from the scrawny teen to the chicken nearby and then back to Ark. ¡°As¡­ you wish young master,¡± Welkin said as Ark sat back and the door closed allowing the carriage to take off once more. ¡°You can speak into my head?¡± Ark asked, looking down at the chicken. ¡°We''re bonded you and I, what harm befalls me shall harm thee too as you''ve been so eager to find out,¡± Soliloquy replied, her little voice one of clear irritation as she stared at Ark. So where does this leave you and I? The chicken blinked, ¡°I will aid your growth. Teach you magic. Command over flame and time.¡± And in return? ¡°You will destroy the one you call Roland and restore balance to this world. This is our covenant. A mortal man was never meant to have dominion over time.¡± Yet you give it to me? Soliloquy chirped, ¡°Out of necessity. Humanity left unchecked will ruin this world. Much as it has done to your own Outworlder.¡± What do you mean by that? Ark furrowed his brow. ¡°I have gleaned your memories. Seen what lies beyond the confines of this plane of existence. I know the world you hail from and what your kind have done to it...¡± Ark closed his eyes, taking a moment to process everything he''d been told and the circumstances of his situation. It seemed he¡¯d been lied to about Soliloquy''s purpose. ¡°Okay,¡± Ark said, swallowing the raging inferno trembling within as the carriage stopped once more. ¡°Young Master,¡± Welkin said, opening the cabin door. ¡°We''ve arrived home.¡± Ark quickly got up, exiting from the carriage to get a view at his home and surroundings when his eyes widened. ¡°Young master are you well?¡± Welkin asked, attempting to garner Ark''s attention away from the people working the fields beside a massive mansion of ivory and gold. ¡°Slaves¡­¡± Ark muttered, focused on the tanned-skin people that surrounded his manor as his hands balled into fists. ¡°You have slaves¡­¡± Chapter 5: System ¡°Is something the matter with our help, young master Loyd?¡± Welkin asked, taking Ark from his stupor of the sight of so many of them cultivating the crops that surrounded the manor. So much for ending slavery¡­ Ark¡¯s face twitched, barely able to hide the disdain of another lie told to him. A slave turned his head, making eye contact with Ark and immediately paling with the former not realizing he was staring at a singular person. ¡°No¡­ nothing is wrong. Show me to my room,¡± Ark replied, eager to be alone and plan his next set of actions. Of course, beneath the veneer of a troubled youth, Welkin couldn''t see that Ark, in fact, did have a problem with the slaves as his hand subconsciously touched his neck. The old man looked at Ark inquisitively but did as ordered, limping forward towards the towering oak-like doors of the gilded mansion as Soliloquy climbed onto Ark¡¯s back to stand on his shoulder. Bit much for a baron¡­ With this much gold you could buy out an entire town. Ark frowned, astonished at the exterior of the lavish building supported by pillars of solid gold. However, his impression of the building quickly faded as he entered the interior. Within the mansion wrapped by gold and silver, was a barren and empty house, completely devoid of furniture, paintings, or any of the amenities of a home. In fact, now that Ark was up close to the building, the gold columns were worn, almost chipped in some places that were unnoticeable from a distance. It seems they must not get many visitors. Ark noted, following the old knight through the halls of the cream-colored facade marred by occasional water stains and chipping of paint. Finally, the pair arrived at a door of the west wing of the building that had the words, KEEP OUT! written in with white paint. Is House Fey in debt? What kind of noble household is this¡­ ¡°Is there anything else you require of me milord?¡± Welkin asked, the old man¡¯s eyes seeming to study Ark. ¡°Nothing, I would like to be alone,¡± Ark replied before opening the door of ¡°his¡± room. Within, Ark scanned the decrepit quarters, his gaze darting around the room littered with clothes, papers, and books strewn about in an unorderly manner. There was also an¡­ odor. A scent akin to mildew or wet blankets that had been left to stew too long. Ark wrinkled his nose, his eye twitching as he took in the life of his body known as Loyd Fey. ¡°Disgusting, how could any creature allow their nest to be so polluted.¡± ¡°Well¡­ it''s clear he was depressed,¡± Ark muttered, leaning down to pick up a book titled Ki 101. A learning manual that Ark had no use for, ¡°Neither of us know his life, but if this is who we are we¡¯d better learn it.¡± Ark tossed the tome to the side and wadded through the garbage on the cluttered floor to sit upon the king-sized bed whose wooden frame appeared to be rotting in certain places. ¡°So¡­ chicken, what do you have to offer me in your current state?¡± Ark asked, moving the sheets of crumpled paper on his bed that held various complex equations and occult symbols. Soliloquy twitched at being called a chicken with her talons nipping into Ark¡¯s flesh. ¡°I dislike being called a chicken, monkey.¡± [IDIOT INTERFACE FOR HARNESSING MY POWER] [Level 0] [EXP: 0/100] -[HP: 25/25] [Phoenix Points: 0] [Stats] -[STR: 7] -[DEX: 5] -[VIT: 5] -[WILL: 18] -[SENS: 7] [SPELL USES] T1: 3/3 [Spell Book: [T1 Grasp Flame: Bind and move targeted flames(Fire)] [T1 Spark: Light a flashing spark of fire, the more ambient fire mana in the air, the bigger the spark(Fire)] [T1 Push: Harness wind to push targeted object(Wind)] The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [T1 Slow LvL 1: Slow down targeted object(Time)] [T1 Restore LvL 1: Rewind the flow of time to restore an object to previous form(Time)] Ark flinched as the translucent words suddenly popped into existence. ¡°What is this?¡± Ark frowned, looking over the interface before him and spells. Time magic? ¡°A compilation of your abilities I have simplified in a way you may adequately perceive, I believe your world calls it a character sheet,¡± Soliloquy explained with Ark unsure about the Phoenix diving through his memories, ¡°After looking over your memories, it''s clear to me that you lack the intellect required to actually process magic. Nevermind the talent. So I will be your focus.¡± ¡°Are you calling me stupid?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The pair sat in silence for a moment, neither speaking as they stared at one another. A knock at the door finally interrupted their staring contest. ¡°Young master Loyd, Vermel is preparing dinner, what would you like?¡± Welkin asked. ¡°Chicken,¡± Ark replied, swatting Soliloquy off his shoulder. ¡°Very well sir,¡± Welkin said with Ark waiting for the sound of the man''s trailing footsteps to cease before focusing on the system. ¡°So how does this work? I kill things? Gain experience? Unlock new abilities? Seems very gamified.¡± ¡°In simpleton terms¡­ yes. I will handle casting magic and act as your focus. In return, you will hunt and steal the time from your foes to augment my reservoir. The more time you consume, the more of my magic and abilities you''ll gain,¡± Soliloquy explained before suddenly vanishing as Ark reviewed the list of spells available to him. ¡°Sounds easy enough¡­¡± Ark muttered and he closed his eyes, attempting to awaken his mana circuits to no avail. But there was a spark. A faint feeling of muffled vitality coursing through his veins. A telltale sign that he''d been- ¡°Poisoned¡­¡± Ark frowned, finally sensing the level of damage that plagued his host. Half of my mana circuits are necrotic and poorly developed¡­ months of damage? No¡­ years. Ark opened his eyes and gazed down at the score of books around him on how to utilize ki. ¡°Poor bastard never stood a chance¡­¡± Someone had sabotaged Loyd, robbed him of whatever potential he may have had and stunted the boy¡¯s growth. But why? The level of poison this advanced to destroy ki channels while leaving the host alive was too costly to use on a mere baron''s brat. Punishment? No, if it were the case why bother with so many books? Who studies so hard to try and awaken your ki if you knew you''d been punished and your circuits were destroyed? A picture was forming of Loyd''s life in Ark¡¯s mind with the culprit pointing towards that white-haired princess¡­ ¡°Even his seed is tainted¡­¡± Ark hissed before the door of his suddenly burst open. ¡°YOU!¡± Baroness Fey shouted, red in the face and marching through the refuse upon the floor and suddenly smacking Ark. ¡°DON''T YOU EVER TRY TO KILL YOURSELF AGAIN! What were you thinking?! Why would you try to kill yourself? Do you have any idea how selfish you were?!¡± Ark sat stunned, holding his red cheek as the woman screamed at him with tears streaming down her face. The baroness went wide-eyed, realizing what she''d done and moving in to try and comfort Ark. Then she coughed, spewing blood, her hand catching the spittle before it could run down her thin chin. ¡°I¡­¡± Ark began, at a loss for words and dry swallowing before the baroness hugged him. ¡°I''m sorry mom.¡± The woman abruptly released him, backing away with her eyes quivering as she stared at Ark who couldn''t meet her gaze. ¡°I''ve wanted to hear you call me that for so long,¡± Lady Fey said, embracing Ark once more and sobbing between her coughs. ¡°But please, please tell me why? Speak to me.¡± Is¡­ she not Loyd''s mom? Ark said to himself, realizing he''d made a mistake. ¡°I¡­ I''m just going through a lot¡­¡± Ark said, giving a generic response which wasn''t quite a lie. ¡°Is it your sister?¡± Ark blinked, Sister? Unsure of how to respond, Ark looked away. ¡°I know¡­ that seeing Cecilia can be hard given your status. You have none of the protections or amenities of your siblings, and that you''re struggling with your ki. But Loyd, I promise you! That suicide isn''t the answer,¡± Baroness Fey said, dabbing her mouth with a cloth. ¡°Whatever you''re going through, whatever is hurting you, you are not alone. I''m here for you. Please, please promise me you won''t ever do anything rash like that again. You have an entire life to live. Please...¡± Ark finally made eye contact with the woman, ¡°I''m sorry¡­¡± ¡°Promise!¡± Fey snapped, her sunken eyes moving something in Ark who found himself overcome with guilt. ¡°I promise,¡± Ark said, taking the hand of the woman completely unaware that the boy she knew was gone. He rubber hand callous hands, skin that was rough and unbefitting of the nobles he knew. ¡°Okay¡­ I''m sorry for striking you,¡± Fey said, rubbing Ark''s face where she had hit him. ¡°It''s fine¡­ I''m okay,¡± Ark said, attempting to placate the woman. ¡°What do you need from me to make this better?¡± Fey asked, her eyes full of sincerity that caught his attention. ¡°Just¡­ time,¡± Ark said after careful consideration. The Baroness stepped back, examining Ark for a moment who had numerous questions plaguing his mind. ¡°Okay, I can do that. I talked with the Headmaster and we''ve agreed that you can spend your summer off campus. Away from the academy. If you want to continue you''re enrollment at a later date, you''ll be allowed to,¡± Fey explained. ¡°I think¡­ I''d like that,¡± Ark replied. With time to be in isolation, he could get a better grasp on the situation and maybe find a fix to unlock his ki. ¡°Okay, I''ll give you some space,¡± Fey said, hugging Ark tightly as her bodily aroma akin to tea leaves entered his nose and seemed to soothe his tension. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ark said, watching the baroness leave. As the door closed Ark wasted no time and turned back to the translucent screen that was unseen by his guardian. *** Elsewhere, a woman with curly black hair, and bushy eyebrows wearing cured leather armor observed the manor from the tree line of the shrubbery and forests that concealed her group of bandits. Her eyes were dark with no ounce of light as they in took in the plantation filled with slaves being watched by their overseers. ¡°I don''t know about this boss, mugg¡¯n¡¯s one thing, but kill¡¯n nobles?¡± A brigadier asked, the ruffian one of six that followed the black-haired barbarian woman. Karlja licked her lips stained with pink gloss, before rubbing her tongue piercing using the tip of her teeth. ¡°Contractor wants em dead so they gotta die. Just make sure to leave the girl alive otherwise it''s all us''s heads,¡± Karja said, the large woman signaling to her scouts. ¡°Circle the perimeter, I want the numbers of all the guards, overseers, and knights on the premises.¡± ¡°Aye boss,¡± The ruffian said, blending into the forest as Karja watched a carriage unload another group of slaves onto the Fey property. Chapter 6: Shedding Under the candlelight, Ark ate in silence, hungrily devouring the meat as his body gave in to the seemingly insatiable hunger. From opposite ends of the table, the baroness and her knight Welkin, both looking on in silence as they focused on Ark who paid them no mind despite coming out of his room to join them. Ark didn''t intend to be rude, rather he was preoccupied by the meal and the see-through screen in front of his face. Is it just me or are these stats very low? Ark lamented, focused on his stats. [EXP: 0.2/100] -[HP: 25/25] [Phoenix Points: 0] [Stats] -[STR: 7] -[DEX: 5] -[VIT: 5] -[WILL: 18] -[SENS: 7] ¡°This is a representation of your current form. Your host is weak ergo, so are you.¡± Ark''s eyes drifted to the experience. So even eating can gain me experience? Ark sent to Soliloquy as he quickly realized he was gaining experience for every chicken drum he finished. ¡°The tapestry of time is interwoven of all things. Consuming another is the most efficient method of taking their time, the fresher the prey, the more ¡®exp¡¯ you can obtain if you eat them instead of perversely playing with your food.¡± Ark paused, sensing a hint of disgust from the Phoenix. You think cooking is us playing with our food? Ark replied through their mind link. ¡°Is it not? Only humanoids take the time to pretty up and desecrate corpses with other corpses.¡± Ark frowned, a sudden image of himself gorging on a corpse. How does this work if your my familiar? Don''t you need to eat? ¡°Phoenix physiology is sustained by the chronology of other species. As your familiar, I subsume from the essence of time you collect, so I need not hunt myself.¡± So¡­ you''re a parasite¡­ ¡°Symbiote. You are the tether that binds my consciousness to this plane and I, your talons. You would do well to correct your tone with me monkey, I find it¡­ wearisome. Do not mistake my patience for weakness.¡± Ark sighed, setting down his utensils. He didn''t want to admit it, but he was being intentionally rude. After five years of hunting the beast, he was still wrapping his mind around everything that had transpired. You''re right. Still getting over the fact that we''re not trying to kill each other¡­ Ark sent back, his thoughts turning to the years of conflict shared between the two. ¡°The feeling is mutual. But for this relationship to prosper, we must be at the very least amicable to one another.¡± ¡°Master Loyd.¡± Ark looked up, turning his attention to the maid girl waiting patiently beside him. Vermel, a slave who was in charge of food preparation for House Fey. An oddity Ark found curious but didn''t comment on as to not elicit unwanted attention. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. At five six, Vermel was a young woman with thick black curly hair and a slim figure. Not very noticeable at a distance but she had a bookish charm about her which, mixed with her thick rim glasses made Ark look twice. ¡°Would you like more?¡± The woman asked in a refined and polite manner. If not for the brand she had around her neck, Ark would have thought she was a simple servant. ¡°Yes please,¡± Ark said, sending the girl away with his empty plate, his eyes tracking the woman who was both skilled in cooking and etiquette. How is it House Fey can afford high quality servants but live in squalor? Ark wondered. ¡°It''s good to see your appetite is back,¡± Lady Fey said, a soft smile on her pale face. ¡°Just very hungry is all¡­¡± Ark replied as Vermil returned with a plate of food. ¡°Is it fine if I eat in my room?¡± ¡°By all means,¡± The baroness said with Ark rising as Welkin moved to help the woman from her chair. ¡°Thank you for the meal,¡± Ark said to Vermil whose ears seemed to twitch in response. Leaving the trio behind, Ark quickly asconded to his room, leaving the plate on a nearby dresser as he surveyed his filthy dwelling with a chicken drum in his mouth. ¡°I dislike the odor in here.¡± ¡°Trust me, the feeling is mutual,¡± Ark said, kicking a moldy object of unknown origin away. ¡°Might as well get some exercise in.¡± Ark moved, picking up various clothes, pushing trash into a pillowcase, and stacking books until he came to a textbook labeled Ki 101. A feeling of scorn and forelonging bubbled up in Ark as his hand subconsciously tightened around the moldy cover of the book. ¡°Princess Winterfell huh¡­¡± Ark muttered before eyeing himself in a nearby mirror and the uniform he still wore. ¡°I can sense your scheming monkey.¡± ¡°Because I am¡­ I think I have my way to get at Roland,¡± Ark said, the expression on his face insidious in nature. ¡°Fortunately this host is a noble. If I ascend the ranks, I can get close and kill him.¡± ¡°You make it seem so simple,¡± Soliloquy chirped, materializing atop a desk where she began pecking and dragging pieces of paper into a pile. ¡°It won''t be,¡± Ark said as he stood in front of the mirror and examined his scrawny body. He made a fist, his shaking hand a far cry from a symbol of strength. ¡°Whoever Loyd Fey was, he''s gone. And he has to become Ark Light. Both in mind and in body. I''ll use House Fey as my stepping stone and infiltrate the noble circles, rebuild this fallen House and use it as a front for my operations.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Soliloquy said, sitting upon a nest made of discarded paper. ¡°However a too grandiose show of things may attract unwanted attention.¡± ¡°That''s why I''ll work in secret, learn everything I need to know about Loyd and live his life. Fortunately a near death experience is just the excuse needed to justify such drastic changes,¡± Ark said as he took a break from cleaning and began undressing until he was naked. ¡°Huh¡­ not bad,¡± Ark said, looking at his naked form. Although he was scrawny, he had the bones to build something better. Turning away from his emaciated appearance, Ark closed his eyes, sitting in silence as he turned his attention inward and began circulating his ki through all forty-one of his body''s arteries. With his circuits fried and necrotic from poison and neglect, if Ark wanted to use ki he was left with little choice than to purge his body of the impurities and rewrite his internal circuitry. A feat that would take time and concentrated effort. Fortunately his body wasn''t completely ineffective at welding ki, but it was sluggish, and unwieldy. However, what energy that answered his call was just enough to scrub away at the stagnant magicil particles that lay dormant within him. Ark winced, feeling the pain of his nerves reacting to the flush of ki and dead cells reawakening. Fire spread through Ark¡¯s body, his heart beat rising as his toes clenched and his body locked up. ¡°Shit¡­ I forgot how much doing this hurts!¡± Ark hissed as Soliloquy chirped, the tiny chicken nestled in her nest and shaking violently in reaction to Ark¡¯s pain. The last time Ark had done this was when he had been summoned to this world and taught to clear his pathways by Jasper. As a human from earth, his entire body had been clogged by impurities brought on by living in a modern world of micro plastics and pollution. In order to fulfill his duty as a hero, Ark had been taught to purge these impurities before he was collared and branded, shackled before he could become more of a threat. But this time¡­ this time he had no restrictions. Ark groaned, his body heating up with sweat rapidly coating his nude body. Mastery of external magicil known as mana labeled a person a magician while the utilization of internal magicil known as ki made one a knight. The combination of both, while rare, labeled the few gifted with such an ability as magic knights. In Ark¡¯s previous life, he was a knight, a powerful one at that but magic had always eluded him. But with Soliloquy''s help, If Ark was going to get justice, he would do so in this life as a magic knight. Suddenly the pain began to drastically fade, his muscles contracting as acidic black slime oozed from Ark¡¯s pours. The impurities slid down Ark''s skin like tar, running down and collecting in the bed sheet where it stained them black. Ark opened his eyes, his breathing clearer, body lighter, and vision feeling better as he eyed his system screen that he quickly learned he could close and open at will. [Stats] -[STR: 8] -[DEX: 6] -[VIT: 8] -[WILL: 18] -[SENS: 8] Ark eyed the increase in his stats, a tangible reward for shedding the poison clogging his body. ¡°Nice¡­¡± Ark muttered, sensing the faint hum of ki coursing through his body before his shoulders slumped and his eyes closed from the exertion. Chapter 7: Testing Magic At the sound of a knock, Ark shot up, blinking rapidly as he patted his body and reached over to cover his unmentionables. ¡°Master Loyd?¡± Vermel asked, her voice echoing through his bed chambers. ¡°One moment!¡± Ark spat, grabbing a random assortment of strewn-about clothes and getting dressed. ¡°Enter!¡± ¡°Master Loyd, Lady Fey I-¡± Vermal paused as she entered the bedchamber and her eyes settled on the black muck releasing a foul odor into the room. ¡°-ehem, Lady Fey wished for me to check up on you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ark said, his eyes shifting to the sleeping Soliloquy in her nest. ¡°If you would like, young master, I can clean your soiled sheets.¡± ¡°My what?¡± Ark spun, looking at his stained bedsheets reeking of the impurity forced from his body. ¡°Y-you needn''t be ashamed sir! Accidents happen to the-¡± ¡°It''s not! It''s not what you think it is.¡± ¡°...¡± The woman remained silent, her nose wrinkling at the smell. Ark sighed, ¡°Yes, thank you. Please take care of them.¡± The maid bowed before wading through the trash of the room and taking off the sheets and blankets. ¡°If possible, can you bring me some burlap bags, a pail of water, a broom, and some cloth?¡± Ark asked, stopping the woman who carried his cloth. ¡°Are¡­ are you planning on cleaning? I can take care-¡± ¡°That won''t be necessary,¡± Ark said, cutting the woman off, ¡°I can handle that much.¡± ¡°Very well milord,¡± Vermel said, bowing and leaving Ark to his own devices. Before long, the requested items were delivered to his room, along with a plate of cooked eggs and small green fruits known as robberries. Ark flexed his hand, calling upon his Ki. ¡°Remarkable what even a little bit of ki and sleep can do,¡± Ark said, his body more invigorated than usual. He''d still have to purify himself a few more times but for now, it was a start. ¡°Well, it''s time to get to work.¡± Ark spent the entire morning cleaning his room and circulating his ki, using the time to try and familiarize himself with his new body by performing various tasks. Hours passed, with Ark finally seeming to synchronize his thoughts with his actions. Still, try as he might, there was still a millisecond delay in his movements which, while not noticeable to an outsider, was extremely noticeable to a warrior like Ark. ¡°Hm. This domicile appears to be somewhat more habitable since last I was conscious¡­¡± Soliloquy said, the tiny chicken stirring from her nest. ¡°If I didn''t know better, I would have almost thought that was a compliment,¡± Ark replied as the chick shifted her weight. ¡°By the way¡­ thanks.¡± ¡°For?¡± ¡°Taking the brunt of the pain. I could feel you dulling the sensations as I purged my impurities,¡± Ark said. ¡°Yes well¡­ If it helps us grow I do not see why I shouldn''t partake in the burden of pain,¡± Soliloquy said, shimmying her tiny body and turning her back to Ark. ¡°Are you blushing?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Soliloquy chirped as Ark grabbed a burlap bag filled with trash. ¡°Well, if you''re not busy, I want to test out this spell business,¡± Ark said, holding out his hand for the Phoenix that hopped aboard. ¡°It''s still odd.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Us not trying to kill each other,¡± Ark said, wondering what Liliana, Jasper, and Alexios would have thought of the situation. Would they hate him for siding with their enemy? Hate him for helping a creature that had murdered so many and burned down several cities? Or would they understand? Understand that he was using the Phoenix as she was using him. To what end? He didn''t know, all Ark knew was that for now, she was the only ally he had against a mutual foe. ¡°Hm.¡± Soliloquy let out, not replying to Ark. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Dragging a burlap bag, Ark needed both hands to bring his trash to the front of the house. ¡°Master Loyd,¡± Welkin said, the old night sweeping the steps of the porch. An odd action considering they had slaves. ¡°Knight Welkin,¡± Ark replied, acknowledging the man whose eyes kept staring at the chick Ark¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you require assistance milord?¡± ¡°No, I''ve got it,¡± Ark said, bringing the garbage to a burn pit. Ark scanned his surroundings, besides the occasional slaves shooting him a glance, he was practically alone. ¡°So, how does this work?¡± Ark asked, pulling up his system. [SPELL USES] T1: 3/3 [Spell Book: [T1 Grasp Flame: Bind and move targeted flames(Fire)] [T1 Spark: Light a flashing spark of fire, the more ambient fire mana in the air, the bigger the spark(Fire)] [T1 Push: Harness wind to push targeted object(Wind)] [T1 Slow LvL 1: Slow down targeted object(Time)] [T1 Restore LvL 1: Rewind the flow of time to restore an object to previous form(Time)] Typically, using magic required calculations, focuses, chants, appeasing spirits, and something Ark hated more than anything else¡­ Math. So it was no secret among his former peers that Ark lacked the capability to be a mage. ¡°Do I just point and say spark-¡± Suddenly a flame ignited where Ark pointed, the burlap bag now on fire. A moment passed in silence, Ark¡¯s eyes reflecting the bright red flame that burned his garbage. ¡°Oh¡­ oh I can cause some damage with this,¡± Ark smirked. Not only was the spell instantaneous, it was also chantless! ¡°It''s not chantless. Nor is it instantaneous, I am performing the calculations and spell for you,¡± Soliloquy said. ¡°A feat, which I can only perform a limited times per day until I shed this adolescent form.¡± ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Ark said, watching the garbage burn. ¡°If I had this kinda of magic-¡± ¡°You''d what? Be able to murder more of my kin?¡± ¡°In a manner of speaking¡­¡± Ark said before putting his palm out towards the fire. ¡°Grasp flame.¡± The flickering flames began to move, pulling towards Ark who waved his hand back and forth, observing the skill. He began to walk backwards, a sensation of warmth wrapping his hand as he pulled the flame away from the burlap. ¡°Some range¡­¡± Ark muttered before narrowing his eyes. ¡°Slow.¡± Upon his command the sensation of warmth around his hand faded as flames of the sideways pillar began to flicker less chaotically. ¡°So you can only cast one spell at a time?¡± Ark noted, standing to the side and watching the fire slowly retract to the source. ¡°For now. Just as your powers have regressed, so you have thy own.¡± ¡°Loyd!¡± Ark spun, eyes wide as he was suddenly accosted by the Lady of the House. ¡°Magic! You''re casting magic!¡± The Baroness exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she embraced Ark. ¡°When? How! You can be a mage! You can reclaim your title! Oh Loyd I''m so proud of you!¡± My title? Ark raised a brow, unsure of what the woman was talking about. She pulled away, eyeing the Soliloquy on Ark¡¯s shoulder, the little black chicken staring at her. ¡°Is¡­ Is this your familiar Welkin spoke of?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah¡­¡± The baroness leaned down, placing her hand atop the chicken''s head. ¡°Wow¡­ it''s adorable! What''s her-¡± Fey coughed, a little bit of blood leaking from her lips as she turned her head away. ¡°-adorable, what''s her name?¡± Ark frowned, every time he saw Fey cough a feeling of guilt and worry bubbled up within. Residue emotions from the body''s former owner? Maybe, but Ark didn''t know how to inquire about the woman''s illness without drawing suspension. ¡°Uh¡­ her name is-¡± DON''T YOU DARE! Soliloquy screamed through their telepathic link. ¡°-Nugget,¡± Ark said, a smirk on his face as the baroness picked up the tiny chick. ¡°It''s so pretty! And black! What kind of chicken is it?¡± The baroness asked, bringing Soliloquy to her cheek and rubbing the tiny Phoenix that let out a coo. Realizing what she''d done, the Phoenix chirped loudly and hopped out of the woman''s hand, vanishing into black smoke much to Fey¡¯s amazement. ¡°Incredible! Magic creatures are so rare! And to think the third prince is not only able to cast magic but also possesses a familiar!¡± ¡°Yeah I¡­¡± Ark''s thoughts came to a screeching halt, his mind blanking for a moment as his gaze stared at the woman. ¡°I''m a prince?¡± The world seemed to come to a screeching halt, the baroness talking with the words unheard by Ark. Prince¡­ I''m the son of that bastard?! Disbelief and shock course through Ark¡¯s body, his eyes bulging as he tried to reconcile with the fact that the flesh he inhabited was born from the seed of his mortal foe. ¡°When we send word to your father he''ll be so overjoyed he''d have to reinstate your title!¡± Lady Fey exclaimed excitedly before her expression quickly turned from excitement to concern. ¡°Loyd, what''s wrong?¡± Fey said, taking Ark¡¯s cheeks into her hands. ¡°I''m a prince of Winterfell?¡± ¡°You were¡­ honey what''s wrong? Are you feeling well?¡± Ark blinked, taking a moment to process and reevaluate the absurdity of his situation. Soliloquy, did you know? Ark asked. ¡°I did not. This may complicate things if he were to see me directly. We cannot allow a meeting.¡± Ark clenched his jaw, the only sign in the surface that he was fuming within. ¡°I uh¡­ I think. I don''t really-¡± Ark said before realizing he had a perfect excuse to get some answers he needed. ¡°-remember, after failing to¡­ ya know¡­ I think my memory is a little fuzzy.¡± Alarm spread on the baroness¡¯s face, her rough hands checking Ark. ¡°The hospitaller healed you at the academy did she not? Maybe we should see an apothecary? Have you further examined? I can bring you-¡± ¡°I''m fine, just some issues remembering some things,¡± Ark said, putting on his most convincing smile despite the turmoil churning within. ¡°I''m sure I''ll be okay.¡± ¡°Mental trauma is no joke, Loyd!¡± Fey exclaimed, panicking and taking off through the plantation fields calling out for her knight. ¡°Hells Bells¡­¡± Ark said as he sat on the field. ***** Chapter 8: Featherling While the baroness of the house was frantically looking for a healer for Ark, Ark was in the library of the Fey Mansion pouring over the contents of the various books and texts he could find about the world he was now apart of. That is, until he found one that stopped him cold in his tracks. Standing over a desk with a book about the royal family, Ark¡¯s jaw clenched, his eyes shaking with anger and disbelief as he glared at the image of Roland. Roland¡­ The man that had taken his life, stolen him from his world, and killed those he loved. Now he was a king, one with a wife, and three children, one of which was the very body Ark inhabited. Ark placed his hand over the picture of his host, a sense of frustration bubbling up within as he compared his current appearance to the photo that had to have been at least five years old judging from Loyd¡¯s size. ¡°Hells bells¡­¡± Ark seethed. His eyes drifted to the princess and the other sibling, the two white-haired nobles sporting the signature white hair of the Winterfell. Everyone had white hair save for the boy who stood with his eyes cast to the side. Even from the photo, Ark could tell the boy was estranged, left out and out of his depth as he stood beside the cluster of nobles. Was Loyd a bastard child? Ark frowned, turning a page that began describing something known as the Throne games. Questions poured into Ark¡¯s mind as he turned his head to his reflection on a nearby bust of some unknown figure. ¡°How the hell did this happen¡­¡± Ark muttered before sitting down in the nearby chair, releasing a sigh and a chuckle that contained a hint of madness. Soliloquy appeared, materializing to stand upon the open book. ¡°I assure you, this was not intentional.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Ark raised a brow, his voice one of skepticism. ¡°Then explain it to me what this is?¡± The little chick rolled her shoulders before she chirped, ¡°In order to bring our souls back to this realm, I required a compatible host. One that was ripe for our co-habilitation but also possessing of similar desires and motives, the deeper the emotion, and connection to your memories the better the synchronicity. From my estimate, this Loyd boy was wronged deeply and also possessed a desire for¡­ Justice.¡± Ark paused, his gaze shifting from the phoenix to his hands, ¡°Justice huh¡­ Tell me, I keep feeling various emotions when I look at things, is he still inside this body?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°How are you sure,¡± Ark said, turning to Soliloquy. ¡°Because I witnessed his soul past personally before choosing it.¡± Ark blinked, ¡°You mean you watched him die?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Ark clenched his jaw, unsure of what to say. On one hand he was furious that the Phoenix could have probably done something to save the boy yet on the other hand¡­ He needed this body. Ark turned, his eyes looking out the window to where Welkin stood in the mansion¡¯s inner courtyard speaking with two guards and demonstrating sword techniques. The man, although wounded and lame, seemed to perform expert slashes with the broadsword in his hand. ¡°Fuck,¡± Ark said, rising to his feet, ¡°I need something to distract me.¡± Closing the book, Ark made his way from the library and towards the courtyard, entering the training yard where the old man raised a brow in surprise before bowing and ordering the others to do the same. ¡°¡±Milord!¡± The trio said in unison. ¡°Welkin, I would like to train with you,¡± Ark said, much to the old knight''s surprise. ¡°Train¡­ with me sir?¡± Welkin asked, observing Ark picking up a wooden training blade. ¡°I don''t see why not? You''re a capable man and I''m in need of exercise,¡± Ark said. ¡°I see¡­¡± Welkin said before turning to the pair nearby. ¡°May I perhaps offer one of our new hires to spar with you milord? I fear I do not hold up to the Lord''s expectations and the lads could use the training. It would be an honor for you to demonstrate your academy techniques.¡± Ark didn''t miss the tone in the knight''s voice, something had happened between him and Loyd. With a sigh, Ark eyed the two guards equipped in leather and simple iron chest plates. One was a green-haired man with matching green eyes while the other was a red-haired man with brown eyes. They were both young, but each wore the complexion of people who had spent ample time in the sun. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Very well,¡± Ark said, stepping into the nearby sandpit surrounded by flowers. ¡°Sain, you''re up,¡± Welkin said, the green-haired man stepping forward with a wooden sword. ¡°Milord, thank you for your guidance,¡± Sain said, striking a balanced stance with the blade held center with the edge pointed at Ark. Imperial style? Ark narrowed his eyes, readying his blade as he circulated his ki and adopted a low stance, weapon cast out to the side with his chest exposed. Welkin observed Ark intently, recognizing the boy''s stance as an aggressive style that he was unfamiliar with. ¡°Begin!¡± Welkin said with Ark taking off, blade in hand, his body rocketing forward with explosive speed only to trip and land in the sand. ¡°Young Lord!¡± The trio of soldiers immediately came to Ark''s aid, helping the latter up whose body was shaking from the exertion. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Ark muttered, feeling tired, and hungry, his body ill-equipped to handle all the exertion he''d done throughout the day. ¡°I''m fine, fine! Leave me!¡± Frustration began to set in, but Ark quickly reeled back his emotions and dismissed the others away so he could stumble back into the manor. ¡°Milord,¡± Vermel asked, spotting him limping his way through the hallway. ¡°Do you require assistance?¡± ¡°No, just¡­ Can you get me something to eat?¡± Ark asked, the woman bowing as he continued off to his room. ¡°Well that was quite a show.¡± ¡°Yes, don''t remind me,¡± Ark sighed, stepping into his now neat and tidy room. Besides the furniture that needed to be replaced and the bed tossed out, the room was significantly more habitable. ¡°It was just me being arrogant, even with ki, it looks like I''ll have to do this the hard way. Exercise and conditioning¡­¡± Ark leaned back against the bed, sighing as he contemplated his next actions. He had four months to learn everything he could about Ark and change his body around before classes began, atop of which he had to conceal Soliloquy and avoid his father. Then there was Baroness Fey making missives to call for healers and from the excitement on her face, it wouldn''t be long before the royal family were informed of Ark¡¯s ¡°recovery¡¯. ¡°If you hunted, you could elevate this body to a higher psychique, even allow me to adopt a more suitable¡­ form,¡± Soliloquy chirped. ¡°Which is a swell idea except there''s no monsters out here to hunt,¡± Ark replied, preparing to do push ups. ¡°There are a number of humans on this property, many of whom are ow-¡± ¡°Absolutely not. I may want revenge but I''m not killing a bunch of innocents just to get what I want.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Soliloquy asked, the black chick resting up on his back as his wobbly arms pushed his body off the floor. ¡°Is it not the right of the strong to devour the weak? To make use of lessers?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ for your kind!¡± Ark groaned, already feeling an ache reverberate through his joints. ¡°But it''s wrong¡­ to kill another man without due cause, let alone for a man to own a man.¡± ¡°Nonsense. From your memories it seems although many of your kind don''t wear shackles, you''re all slaves.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Ark hissed, barely hitting his fifth push up, ¡°How''s that?¡± ¡°Money. Power. Vice. Desire. The folly of your species is the drive that compels you to act. You''re all slaves to something, although most of your kind never realize it.¡± ¡°I''m not killing innocent people just to improve myself. If I did I''d be no better than Roland!¡± Ark hissed before falling to the side at his tenth push up. It was time for sit ups. ¡°Hm. Your desires and actions perplex me.¡± ¡°Yeah, well that''s because you aren''t human.¡± ¡°Neither are you.¡± Ark stopped cold, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The strands of our time are tightly bound as one. As you grow in strength, your shell will inevitably change to reflect the soul within.¡± ¡°Are you saying I''m a phoenix?!¡± ¡°Not yet, but given time.¡± Ark frowned, finishing another set of sit ups as a knock on his door sounded and Vermel announced herself. ¡°A phoenix with a human consciousness¡­¡± Ark scoffed, opening the door. ¡°Here you are master,¡± Vermal said, curtsying before she rolled into the room with a silver cart laden with dishes.r ¡°What''s all this?¡± Ark asked, surveying the assortment of soups, meats, fruits, and vegetables. ¡°Milord, you did not specify what you would like, so I brought what was available,¡± Vermel said calmly. ¡°This¡­ is too much,¡± Ark replied while grabbing a chunk of meat with his hand. ¡°If you are worried about the quantity, what you don''t eat will be given to the serfs and workers,¡± Vermel explained. ¡°I see¡­ very well,¡± Ark said, already reaching for another chunk of meat now that his hunger kicked in. ¡°Wait!¡± Ark called out, stopping Vermel. ¡°Yes milord?¡± ¡°Join me.¡± Vermel blinked, her eyes momentarily widening with fear before she composed herself, ¡°A-as you wish sir.¡± Ark took a step back, walking instead towards his window with his back turned as Vermel sat upon his bed. ¡°Tell me about yourself,¡± Ark said, opening the window curtains to stare at the slaves working the fields and the green-haired man known as Sain speaking to a fieldhand. ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Vermal let out, hesitating as she tried to piece together words ¡°I want to understand the situation with the slaves here. Does the baroness treat you right? What about Sir Welkin and the guards?¡± ¡°Sir?* ¡°You see, I was in a bit of an accident, so my memory isn''t what it once was¡­ so if you could feel in the blanks for me¡­¡± Ark asked, turning to face the woman with his most worried expression. ¡°Oh! Oh yes, the guards treat us swell and Lady Fey is all too kind to us!¡± Vermal exclaimed, seemingly eager to now talk about the Baroness. ¡°Really?¡± Ark said, sitting across from the woman, ¡°Tell me more.¡± *** ¡°There are ten guards and five ourseers,¡± A brigand explained over a crude drawing of the Fey estate''s perimeter made in the sand. ¡°That''s it? No personal men at arms?¡± Karja asked, tapping the pole of her axe on her shoulder. ¡°None besides the old man. The guards themselves seem to be recruited slaves.¡± ¡°Hrn¡­¡± Karja pursed her lips, mulling over a plan in her mind. Nine to fifteen plus the old man, then there were the overseers and the baroness herself. ¡°We can take em, boss.¡± ¡°You think so? That''s good because if you lot couldn''t take a bunch of slave hands n ah cripple what use are you lot,¡± Karja said to an applause of chuckles. ¡°Ain''t lads, get ready, I know what we gonna do.¡± Chapter 9: Night Raid Chapter 9: Night Raid Reading a book by candlelight in the quant and nearly barren office of the baroness, Ark furrowed his brow as he went over the details of the ledger before him. After talking with Vermal for two hours straight, Ark reached a better understanding about the Fey household and his current predicament. For starters, Baroness Fey wasn''t a noble, not originally at least. She had worked in Roland¡¯s palace as a servant, an attendant to the Queen and babysitter for Loyd before tasting a soup meant for the young prince that left her with a life-long disease. As compensation for her actions and saving the youngest prince, she was awarded a barony and the company of an old knight to be her steward. And what did she do with that reward? She created a home for slaves and prostitutes, buying young girls like Vermel and various slaves to put to work on her fields where they wouldn''t be beaten and mistreated. A noble deed, but one not without consequences. Ark looked over the various documents and ledgers of slaves who had been bought and freed as well as the costs of smuggling and sending slaves out of the country. In short, there was a reason the house was falling apart. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Ark said, a newfound respect for the baroness despite breaking into her office. From what Vermal had disclosed, nothing the baroness did was illegal, after all the people she bought were considered her property, but it did eat up an astronomical amount of money. In fact they were hermorging money in pursuit of this goal. Ark sat back in Lady Fey¡¯s chair, a small smile on his face. ¡°Guess there''s still some good in this world,¡± Ark mused to himself before turning his attention back to the books and reading the names of the various merchants. ¡°Mr. Yellow, Mr. Green, Mr. Red¡­¡± Ark muttered, turning the page. ¡°Aliases no doubt¡­¡± Maybe he could use them. Suddenly an orange glow began to peak into the room, catching Ark¡¯s eye who turned and looked out the window. ¡°The hell?¡± Ark frowned, eyeing the fires raging at the edge of the plantation. Suddenly a bell began to ring a long with shouts and screams of distress as those outside woke up to the flames. ¡°Shit,¡± Ark closed the ledger and raced out of the office, moving towards the foyer where Welkin stood in his bunny imprint pajamas speaking to the guard named Sain. ¡°What''s going on?¡± Ark demanded, quickly descending the stairs. ¡°Milord, nothing to worry about, seems a serf left a fire unattended, we''re currently handling the situation right now,¡± Welkin said as the double doors of the manor burst open. ¡°Sir Welkin!¡± The red-haired guard from the training yard yelled, fear on his face and out of breath as he entered the domicile. ¡°The fire is spreading rapidly! We don''t have enough buckets!¡± ¡°Kent, take a sleipnir and ride out to Chelsea manor and request Lord Chelsea for aid,¡± Welkin ordered before turning to Sain, ¡°Wake all available serfs, have them organize into fire lines from the wells to rush water to contain the flames.¡± ¡°Welkin?¡± Lady Fey asked, shuffling down from a corridor with Vermel¡¯s help. ¡°What''s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing you need worry about milady,¡± Welkin said as the two guards took off. Using the Baroness¡¯s distraction, Ark stepped outside to observe the growing blaze in the distance. ¡°At that rate the flames will consume the domicile,¡± Ireliex stated as Ark pursed his lips and opened his spell list that had almost recovered. Got any idea how to help? Ark asked, at a loss of how to combat such a fire without the aid of a mage. ¡°The flame isn''t magical in nature, if you grasp the flame, you should be able to delay the spread at its current size.¡± Ark blinked, looking down at his palm. Alright, let''s do this. Ark took off, alarming Fey who sent Welkin after the teen racing through the fields. ¡°Get more pails! Anyone that can hold a pail bring them here now!¡± A serf yelled, throwing water at the blaze that seemed to have little effect on the fires consuming the crops. Upon approaching the blaze Ark stopped and gawked, admiring the wall of fire that stood before him and the crowd hard at work fighting the fire. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. How the hell am I going to stop that? ¡°We must position ourselves on the opposite end.¡± You want me to run through it?! ¡°Mortal flames shan''t harm your vessel featherling.¡± Are you saying I''m fireproof?! ¡°Fire resistant,¡± Ireliex said, the chicken on his shoulder seeming to be mulling over something. Well am I resistant enough to run through scorching flames?! Ark sent, doubting the phoenix as the flames inches closer. ¡°Trust thee or don''t. If thou wish to save your nest then you must brave the flames as all featherlings do.¡± Ark grit his teeth, the fire reflecting in his eyes as Welkin finally caught up. ¡°Young Lord! It isn''t safe! You must away from here!¡± Welkin barked, approaching Ark who turned and flashed a smirk. ¡°Fuck it. We ball,¡± Ark muttered. The old knight went wide-eyed, jaw agape, his heart skipping a beat as the disowned prince suddenly leapt forward into the flames. ¡°MASTER LOYD!¡± Welkin reached out yet, froze his hands snapping away from the flames. Ignoring the numerous panic screams and shouts of disbelief, Ark raced forward, the flames biting his skin and setting his linen clothes alight. ¡°Resistant huh?!¡± Ark yelled through gritted teeth before his body suddenly became filled with energy. [Status: Ignited] His breathing became easier, body lighter, his muscles stronger as he sailed through the flames. Out of the flames Ark soared, landing on the opposite end of the raging inferno with his body flooded with vigor and vitality. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Ark muttered, his body oozing out impurities as his ki became energized. ¡°Now or never featherling,¡± Ireliex said, snapping Ark from his stupor with the latter throwing out his palm towards the heat. ¡°Grasp flame!¡± Ark yelled, the blazing inferno twisting and heeding Ark¡¯s beckoning as Ireliex opened her beak. The fire began to move exponentially, the flames spiraling towards Ireliex''s mouth whose tiny body began to emit black flames. ¡°Pull harder!¡± Ark dug his heels in and pulled at the air, the heat that wrapped around his hand intense as the fire succumbed to his will. Before long, the flames began to wane, the heat in the air dying down with Welkin stepping forward along with a number of guards to eye Ark who stood with a flaming chicken in his hands. ¡°A phoenix¡­¡± Welkin muttered, fear and disbelief clear in his old eyes. Ark frowned, ¡°I can exp-¡± ¡°This fire is not natural.¡± What? Ark blinked looking down at the Ireliex. ¡°There is accelerant. Naturally occuring flames spread rapidly but not as fast as this.¡± How can you be sure? Ark sent, ignoring Welkin attempting to speak to him and looking around. ¡°I am the mother of all phoeni, featherling, I know flames.¡± Ark pursed his lips, the edges of his eyes crinkling as he tried to piece together why someone would lay out accelerant and start a fire unless- ¡°A diversion¡­¡± Ark muttered, eyes wide. ¡°What?¡± Welkin asked. ¡°A diversion! The fire was a diversion! Get to the house!¡± Ark yelled, taking off towards the manor with new found energy coursing through his small frame. Arriving at the manor¡¯s foyer, Ark felt a pang of pain shoot through his body as his eyes settled on the fresh blood staining the floor. ¡°Lady Fey!¡± Welkin barked, drawing his sword and rushing after Ark who followed the trail of blood leading down the corridor towards the Baroness''s room. However, contrary to their fears, the path of blood led not to the Baroness, but to a dead stranger garbed in leather with his throat cut. ¡°Assassins!¡± Welkin hissed before a scream sounded and a loud thud echoed through the home. Ark and Welkin were off, racing through the hallway where they were met by a band of intruders. At the forefront, a woman with purple hair wielded a bronze axe with a handguard on it. ¡°Shit,¡± The woman scowled as Ark¡¯s eyes went round, his gaze focused on the bloodied Vermel who lay unmoving with a dagger beside her body. Beside her, the baroness doing her best to stem the bleeding from the injured slave as two red-haired women brandished makeshift weapons of a table leg and a curtain rod to protect the noble. ¡°Fiend!¡± Welkin spat, rocketing forward so fast Ark''s eyes could barely register the man''s movement until his weapon clashed against the purple-haired assassin''s axe. ¡°Kill the bitch! I''ll keep the old man company!¡± The woman spat before she was sent flying out the window but not before grabbing ahold of Welkin and taking him with her. The bandits moved on the noble, completely ignoring Ark who they disregarded. But this was a mistake, Ireliex jumped up, illuminating the room, her tiny frame ballooning for a moment before spewing hot flames that disorientated the ruffians long enough for Ark to grab a hold of Fey. ¡°LET''S GO! GRAB VERMEL!¡± Ark roared, ordering the two slave girls as Ireliex set the entire room alight. ¡°Go! I will cover our rear milord!¡± Sain yelled, the young guard brandishing his blade as Ark and the others ran with the injured woman. Racing out of the manor Sain shut the double doors, locking the intruders inside while the Baroness called for her guards. ¡°Get in! Go!¡± Ark ordered, bringing the baroness to the sleipnir carriage that had been set up to retrieve House Chelsea mage. ¡°Loyd! What are you doing? Get in here!¡± Fey demanded as Ark waited until Vermel was inside before shutting the door. ¡°Take the baroness away from here! Now!¡± Ark ordered, the young guard named Kent hesitating for a moment before nodding and taking off despite the baroness screaming. ¡°Go! Go!¡± Ark clenched his jaw, his brow furrowed with anxiety as he watched the carriage depart and Sain scream out as the sound of shattering glass sounded. Then, a moment later, Ark spun, turning to face the group of bandits forcing their way out of the manor as Sain and the other House Fey guards readied themselves for a fight. Ark inhaled, holding the scent of ash in his lungs for a moment before exhaling. A smile descended on Ark¡¯s face, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous glint as he wet his lips. ¡°I don''t need to eat them to steal their time right?¡± Ark asked, seemingly to no one as the Fey guards rallied to defend him and face off against the intruders. ¡°You need only claim a life to steal it''s time. However it would be more efficient to eat them.¡± ¡°How about I let you feast their corpses?¡± Ark asked, holding out the iron dagger that he''d picked up from Vermal. ¡°... That would suffice.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Ark said before giving the order to attack. Chapter 10: Captured Chapter 10: Captured As warm splashes of crimson liquid touched his skin, Ark''s face widened into a sadistic smile as the iron edge of his dagger found the throat of an assassin. Fueled by his energized state and adrenaline pumping through his veins, Ark ignored his body''s screaming fatigue, instead giving in to his rage as he fought not like a noble he was expected to be, but rather like the savage slave he once was. Throwing dirt, kicking crotches, headbutting his opponents, and at one point, picking up Ireliex and shouting ¡°Flamethrower!¡± Ark became a threat the ordinary bandits couldn''t handle. ¡°Ark! Compose yourself!¡± Ireliex shouted, attempting to rein in her host who was giddy and high from his first ignition. However, Ark was ecstatic, giving in to the aggression he had pint up since his execution at Roland''s hands and the high that flooded his veins with euphoria. He needed blood, demanded it! His bottled and pent up rage coming out as a furious roar that was answered with blood. The Fey guards stood back, watching in abject horror as their naked noble straddled the last survivor and began to stab him repeatedly despite the man''s pleas. Yet, all Ark heard was Roland''s voice, all he saw was the memory of Liliana being cut down as images of his friends were murdered and his soldiers turned on him. In that moment, he could see it all, an entire lifetime of lies, false friendship, and sacrifice that he''d been a victim to. It wasn''t fair! Wasn''t fair! Ark never asked for this life, never wanted to soak his hands in so much blood the faces of those he slayed nothing but numbers to his mind. Eventually, as the sound of the man''s screams died down, the mania in Ark¡¯s eyes finally faded, leaving him out of breath, panting, and hungry with fearful eyes staring at him. ¡°Are you done?¡± Ireliex asked. Ark wiped the blood from his face, his eyes focused on the terrified expression on his victim¡¯s face. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Ark let out, realizing what he''d done as he turned his attention to the crowd of serfs and guards. ¡°Sain!¡± ¡°Uh! Yes milord!¡± The green-haired guard shouted, jolting from his stupor. ¡°Find sir Welkin! The ki user has to be their leader. Assist in capturing them!¡± Arm barked, when the guards continued to stand around Ark rose to his feet, ¡°Stop gawking and do your jobs!¡± At the order the crowd dispersed, racing towards the area the old knight had been spotted while Ark tried to get orientate himself. ¡°Ireliex, what the hell was that?¡± Ark hissed, wiping the blood leaking from his mouth that showed internal damage. ¡°You experienced ignition. A rite of passage all featherlings undergo during adolescence when exposed to fire.¡± ¡°To act all psycho? You could have warned me before I jumped into a sea of flames and became a fucking lunatic!¡± Ark spat, surveying the corpses and lamenting that he had no one to interrogate thanks to his own actions. ¡°If I had stopped to explain the effects, the fire would have engulfed the entire nest. Your benefactor would be dead and the assailants unpunished. Although¡­¡± Ireliex trailed off, almost as if in deep thought as she hopped onto the body of the bandit and began nibbling on him. ¡°The euphoric symptom is an uncommon trait. Perhaps it is your morphology as a human-hybrid. This will require more testing.¡± Ark ignored the phoenix gorging herself, instead turning his attention to the sound of a loud detonation that echoed through the night. He was off, utilizing whatever ounce of strength his frail body had to round the corner of the manor to observe the fight taking place. The purple-haired woman was surrounded and locked in combat with Welkin, the pair trading thunderous blows with neither backing down. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Aye! You''re very spry for an old hand!¡± The woman spat, dagger in one hand while her other pointed her brass axe at Welkin. ¡°Even more impressive that you''re handling the poison so well.¡± The old man was panting, visibly sweating while the woman appeared lax and prepared to kill them all. ¡°Lay down your arms and surrender! Your companions are dead!¡± Sain bellowed, taking a step forward to stand beside Welkin who was down on one knee. ¡°So me boys are all dead are they? And you''ve got me surrounded?¡± ¡°Yes! Final warning! Surrender yourself!¡± The intruder narrowed her eyes at the men that surrounded her before her violet gaze settled on Ark. ¡°Shame that.¡± The woman moved, knocking away the unaugmented guards who stood no chance against the ki user barreling her way towards Ark. ¡°Well, I guess a magickless princeling can still make for a good hostage,¡± The woman said, grabbing Ark much to the crowd¡¯s dismay. ¡°Might even fetch a good price!¡± ¡°Unhand the young master!¡± Sain yelled, charging forward only to get blasted by a bolt of ki that shot out of the woman''s weapon. ¡°Anyone else?¡± The assassin said, pointing her bronze axe at the crowd who hesitated to move. ¡°Don''t follow me! Otherwise the lame one gets it!¡± ¡°Young Lord!¡± Welkin shouted, attempting to rise only to fall to his knees. Sain move forward, weapon drawn at Welkin¡¯s behest yet froze as the assassin placed her dagger beneath Ark¡¯s neck. ¡°Don''t do it gents, if I were you I''d focus on circulating you ki. As for the rest of yous, one wrong move and I''ll open the lame one¡¯s his throat. Even if the King¡¯s disowned him he¡¯s still royal blood!¡± Ark winced at the words. The woman began to move, dragging Ark with her towards the woods who willingly complied. ¡°Who is your employer?¡± Ark asked his captors as the two made it to the treeline. ¡°Shut up,¡± The woman spat, pulling Ark along. ¡°Why did you attack the baroness?¡± ¡°I said shut up!¡± The woman turned, backhanding Ark. ¡°If yous know what''s good for ya princeling, you''d be quiet.¡± Ark held his tongue, following along with the woman until they were deeper into the forest. ¡°This is the last time I''m going to ask nicely,¡± Ark said, glaring at the woman under the glow of the moon. ¡°Who hired you?¡± ¡°Will you shut it?¡± The woman turned and hissed, this time holding a dagger to Ark''s throat. ¡°I ain''t in a chattin mood, one more word and I''m sellin yous to an arkan slaver.¡± Ark lifted his neck, eyes unwavering, ¡°That''s too bad, because I definitely want to have a chat. Maybe you should slow down.¡± ¡°What are you on about- a chicken?¡± The woman turned and blinked, eyeing the baby chick atop her captive¡¯s head before her body was suddenly hit with an invisible force. ¡°What is this?!¡± Ark wasted no time and dropped low, his hand brandishing the dagger concealed beneath the tatters of his tunic that he used to stab his kidnapper¡¯s achilles tendon. He could feel resistance as the weapon went through the woman''s boot, his assailant, utilizing ki to strengthen her now sluggish body and attempt to block the blow. Yet it was too late as Ark ran his ki along his blade, miniscule as it was, it was enough to inject into his captor who let out an ear-piercing scream and kicked Ark away. [Skill Acquired! Ki Injection] The bandit made to move, managing to take a singular step forward before her foot gave out and she collapsed to the floor and began seizing as if being electrocuted. ¡°You! Mage! What did you do! To me!¡± The woman shouted between desperate gasps for air. Ark brushed off the foliage and debris from his body before picking himself off the floor. ¡°Funny thing about ki, just a bit of obstruction and it can send the entire body into shock if you''re unprepared,¡± Ark said, standing over his victim. ¡°You''re a what? Rank C? Surprise you got one over the old man. But looks can be deceiving huh?¡± Ark crouched down, feeling his energy mingle with the woman whose own ki was trying to expunge his like an immune system reacting to bacteria. Ki injection was a rare skill, one not widely known but easy to defend against if you knew what you were up against. Hard to use and easy to dispel, those that knew amount it didn''t bother with the skill, but if one injected foreign ki beside specific major magicil circuits¡­ ¡°I''m going to ask you once nicely,¡± Ark said, stabbing the woman''s outstretched palm where another magic circuit lay. ¡°Who sent you?¡± ¡°G-g-g-go to h-hello!¡± The woman hissed, face fully red as Ark injected more ki despite his body absolutely craving rest. ¡°Hello to you too,¡± Ark said, ripping his dagger from the woman''s hand. ¡°Don''t worry, with your level of ki, you''ll heal in no time¡­¡± Still, he had an image to put on, and questions he needed answering. So he pushed through the fatigue and weariness that coursed through his body. ¡°But what happens if I destroy your magic circuits completely?¡± Ark said, alarm and fear appearing in his victim''s eyes as she gazed up at the glowing gold irises staring back at her. Of course Ark didn''t possess such an ability, but she didn''t know that. ¡°You aren''t going to get this, but I just went through a very harrowing experience. You could almost say it traumatized me. In fact¡­ I''m feeling a little vindictive.¡± ¡°No! G-g-go away! Stop! S-stop!¡± The woman screamed as Ark went to work collecting data. Chapter 11: Reversion Chapter 11: Reversion Stepping back to observe his handiwork, Ark wiped the sweat from his brow as he eyed the woman bleeding profusely from her broken legs and arms. Her breathing came out shallow and ragged, her voice, long since lost from the screams she let out as Ark broke her. Cruel? Probably, but Ark decided to take no chances with the bandit until he could secure her some place safe. Still, he got the answers he wanted, just not the type of answers he actually wanted. The woman was a sell sword, hired to eliminate Ark¡¯s benefactor who had been buying up the slaves and interfering with the local underground market. More specifically, that was her secondary objective, her primary goal had been to kidnap the twin girls Ark had seen in the woman''s bedroom. Apparently someone didn''t take too kindly to the baroness shadowing their bid on the twins and while the bandit named Karja didn''t have a name on her employer, she had something almost as good. Access to the Black market. All Ark needed to do was make sure she was alive enough to lead him to where he needed to go. However for now, he was too tired, in fact, he was struggling just to keep his eyes open. ¡°Keep circulating your ki, your injuries will heal¡­ eventually,¡± Ark said, rising to his feet. Of course the severity of the woman''s injuries would take days to fully recover, long enough for him to find a place to secure her. Satisfied that the bandit couldn''t go anywhere, Ark turned and left, moving swiftly through the foliage but not before marking his path. Stepping from the forest, Ark frowned and rubbed his head, ignoring the migraine at the back of his eyes as he watched the manor burn from the fire he had created. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Ark muttered, his body racked with fatigue and falling to one knee. ¡°Young master!¡± Sain appeared a moment later, the green-haired guard picking Ark up to carry him towards the baroness watching her home burn. ¡°Loyd!¡± Fey cried out, rushing towards him with tears and worry evident on her face. ¡°Healer! Healer!¡± ¡°I''m fine! I''m okay¡­¡± Ark said, waving the woman off lethargically, ¡°Sorry about the fire¡­¡± ¡°Don''t worry about that, are you okay? Oh goddess, you''re covered in blood!¡± Ark opened his mouth to speak, yet weariness claimed his voice, instead, in the safety of his allies, he simply groaned while his eyes fluttered to the woman wearing vestments of a mage and carrying a wooden staff. She began to chant, raising her focus into the air to command the magicil particles to bend to her will. Listening in, Ark couldn''t make since of the words, but he could feel it''s power and the shift in the air as small clouds formed above the ignited manor. Then it rained, a torrential storm isolated above the Fey household that swept away the fire. Satisfied, Ark closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to finally fade away as the Baroness screamed his name. **** Ark woke with a jolt, his eyes snapping open as he felt his body touched. ¡°Oh, forgive me milord! It wasn''t my intention to wake you,¡± Vermel said, the young slave girl retreating from Ark¡¯s half-naked form. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ark asked, attempting to sit up only for a sharp pain to shoot through his core and lay him out. ¡°Oh! Please don''t strain yourself milord,¡± Vermal said, ¡°I was merely trying to change your bandages.¡± Ark looked down, eyeing the burns that covered various spots of his body. ¡°Last time I trust a bird brain¡­¡± Ark growled. ¡°What was that milord?¡± ¡°Nothing, continue,¡± Ark said, closing his eyes, unable to muster the strength to protest even if he wanted. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Ark winced as the woman went to work, unaware that the injuries she was treating were already healing thanks to Ark circulating his ki. Well¡­ I guess I can chalk this up to ¡®training to failure¡¯. Allowing his tense body to relax, Ark decided to open his system to pass the time. [Level 1] [EXP: 45/200] -[HP: 10/15] [Status: Fatigued(-2 to all stats)] [Phoenix Points: 1] [Stats] -[STR: 7(-2)] -[DEX: 5(-2)] -[VIT: 5(-2)] -[WILL: 18(-2)] -[SENS: 7(-2)] Seems like killing those bandits gained me a level¡­ Ark said to himself before frowning at the debuff affecting his entire body and the new icon on his system. I added it after reviewing our battle last night. Ireliex explained, sitting on the pillow beside Ark¡¯s head. I believe this would be useful when you woke. It is. Ark replied, attempting to move his head to the window. He could barely move, everything from his neck down seemed to burn with his entire body fatigued and unwilling to move. ¡°What time is it¡­?¡± Ark asked, noticing the lack of daylight streaming through his window. ¡°It¡¯s watersday, you''ve been asleep for nearly twenty hours,¡± Vermal said with Ark''s eyes going wide. Shit. ¡°How''s the baroness?¡± Ark asked, quickly recovering from his shock. ¡°She is well, shall I notify her that you''ve woken?¡± ¡°No¡­ don''t disturb her,¡± Ark said, attempting to recover from an unforseen oversight caused by his body, ¡°Find me the guards named Sain and Kent.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Do it. Let know one else know I''m awake.¡± Vermel bowed and left, fulfilling Ark''s orders and bringing forth the guards. ¡°Sir, you''ve asked for us?¡± Sain said with a genuine look of concern while standing at attention. ¡°Yes, Vermel, leave us,¡± Ark said, barely able to turn his head. ¡°Very well milord,¡± Vermal bowed and left, leaving behind the guard who kept tightening his jaw. ¡°Sain, Kent, listen closely. I need you two to do something that you can''t tell anyone else about,¡± Ark said, hedging his bets. It wasn''t that he trusted the pair, rather they were the only two names he knew other than Welkin, Vermel, and the Baroness. ¡°Sir?¡± Sain said, sharing a look with his companion. ¡°Promise me, no one outside this room can know. Not even the baroness. Do this for me and I''ll consider it a personal favor. And you two no doubt heard that the ¡®lame¡¯ prince might not be so lame after all,¡± Ark threw in the last bit to sway the pair. Sain blinked repeatedly, his eyes widening for a moment before dry swallowing, ¡°I live to serve sir.¡± ¡°By your will, Milord,¡± Kent replied. ¡°Good,¡± Ark sighed, ¡°I left something in the forest. And I need you two to get it and secure it somewhere safe.¡± ¡°Is¡­ that all sir?¡± Sain asked. ¡°Pretty much. Are either of you trained in first aid?¡± ¡°I am sir,¡± Kent said, standing just a bit more upright as if proud, ¡°I served at Roeckfiels as a stretcher boy.¡± Ark didn''t know what any of that meant but he nodded nonetheless, ¡°Good.¡± ¡°How will we know what we''re looking for sir?¡± Sain asked. ¡°You''ll know when you see it. I left a trail from the manor to the location. Hand me that parchment and inkwell¡± Ark ordered with Kent hastily doing so, ¡°Head west and look for this symbol and follow the trail, you''ll find it and understand what I''m asking you to do. Be quick, lives depend on this.¡± The two shared a look. ¡°We won''t disappoint sir,¡± Kent said, the pair bowing and quickly going about their task. ¡°Fuck,¡± Ark muttered laying back down. ¡°Well, let''s hope the pair find her before a warg or goblin does,¡± Ireliex chirped. ¡°I hadn''t intended to be asleep for so long but it is what it is,¡± Ark groaned as Ireliex sat upon his chest. ¡°Is there a reason you didn''t outright tell them that you captured the bandit?¡± ¡°I like a little mystery. Speaking of mysteries, this phoenix point, how do I use it?¡± ¡°Focus on the words and decide on what stat you wish to upgrade. You can also use the point to restore yourself if you wish.¡± ¡°You mean heal myself?¡± Ark said, pondering the applications. ¡°Is this how you kept regenerating?¡± ¡°In a manner of speaking. Revitalization is rewinding of time, placing yourself in a previous state. However be warned, your progress will be reverted, although in this instance there would be no significant progress lost.¡± ¡°Let''s do it then, I need to be up and about.¡± Eager to rid himself of the fatigue and to experience the sensation of a phoenix''s power, Ark willed the phoenix point to restore himself. Suddenly, Ark could feel his body shimmering, his entire form violently shaking as primordial energy emanated from his core and took hold. Then it stopped, with all the pain Ark felt vanishing completely as his being was reverted to state before the burns. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Ark muttered, sitting up and undoing the bandages that bound him just as the door of his room opened up. ¡°Loyd! My baby boy!¡± Fey shouted, hugging Ark before he could react. ¡°Are you okay? How are you feeling? Are youwellareyou-¡± Ark winced, the woman''s string of words seeming to meld together as she cried and became inconsolable. ¡°I''m fine! I''m fine!¡± Ark yelled,blushing the woman attempting to smother him. ¡°Ehem¡­¡± The baroness relented her assault as Welkin cleared his throat. ¡°Your wounds! Your burns are gone,¡± Fey said, realizing underneath the loose bandages that Ark¡¯s injuries were gone. ¡°Okay, I need you to not freak out,¡± Ark said as Welkin neared. ¡°I was wanting to keep this a secret, but¡­ I''m-¡± ¡°A mage knight¡­¡± Welkin said, his eyes wide at the boy before him. Chapter 12: Quid Pro Quo Chapter 12: Quid Pro Quo ¡°A mage knight¡­¡± Fey said, pacing around her office. ¡°This is big. Huge! Being a mage is rare enough but to be able to utilize ki at your age is¡­ is- I don''t know what it is! Even your sister isn''t a mage knight and your brother only recently began utilizing magic! Do you know what this means? You have a real shot at obtaining the throne, once your father-¡± ¡°He won''t hear about any of this,¡± Ark cut in, shocking the Baroness. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don''t have a desire for the throne-¡± ¡°How can you say that?!¡± Fey exclaimed, slamming her hands on her desk, ¡°All your life you''ve talked about claiming the crown, of making-¡± ¡°Some things change¡­¡± Ark said, looking away as a tense silence fell upon the room. The baroness looked towards Welkin, the man''s focus on the teenager. ¡°I¡­ it''s your life, Loyd... But are you sure? Once your father learns that you''re a mage knight, he''ll no don''t rescind his banishment. Your mother would also be elated.¡± ¡°He''ll know eventually,¡± Ark said, his voice barely containing the insidious nature hidden in his words. ¡°But¡­ I''ve had assassins after me for a long time. The less people that are aware that I have my strength back, the better. I prefer to use this time to train and build myself up.¡± ¡°You''re talking about the poisoned stew?¡± Fey said, referring to the incident that had earned her her title and land. ¡°No, someone poisoned my ki circuits,¡± Ark said much to the woman''s surprise. ¡°Are you sure young Lord? Disrupting ki circuits is a rare skill and poison capable-¡± Welkin began but was cut off by Ark. ¡°I''m sure, I had an expert tell me and teach me how to purify myself. As you can see the results speak for themselves.¡± ¡°Then we should reward this expert at once!¡± Fey exclaimed. Ark shook his head, ¡°He''s a recluse. Besides, I don''t think we can afford to with the damage done to the manor,¡± Ark said with the baroness deflating. ¡°Have we figured out who attacked us?¡± ¡°Nothing yet, the constables have identified the assassin as a local robber gang but the rhyme and reason for their sudden aggression remains a mystery,¡± Welkin reported, ¡°Is there anything you may have heard from their leader we should know about? Anything she may have mentioned while she held you captive?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Ark lied. Of course she had talked, but he had other plans for her that didn''t include the executioner¡¯s block. At least not yet. ¡°Unfortunate,¡± Welkin said, his expression weary as if sensing that Ark wasn''t sharing more than he knew. ¡°Although¡­¡± Ark said, ¡°She did mention something about slaves¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ It could be someone disgruntled about the freedom project,¡± Fey said before coughing into her handkerchief, ¡°But I don''t believe anyone would attack me so brazenly just because I''m freeing slaves. Children deserve to have a future, especially those who find themselves shackled for no fault of their own.¡± Ark found he was liking the baroness more and more. ¡°Could it be because of a recent purchase?¡± Ark asked, the word ¡®purchase¡¯ leaving a bad taste on his tongue. Welkin and the Baroness shared a look. ¡°There is a possibility¡­¡± Welkin frowned, ¡°The last auction was fairly rowdy. We barely managed to secure the twins without going bankrupt.¡± Ark frowned, wondering why they were spending so much on such a project. While he admitted it was a noble cause, it didn''t make much fiscal sense. ¡°What''s so special about these twins?¡± Ark asked, drawing a look from the pair. ¡°Oh¡­ you don''t remember?¡± Lady Fey asked. Ark pursed his lips and raised his brow, sensing he made a mistake, ¡°No?¡± The Baroness took on a concerned look, ¡°They belonged to your sister. You sent me an engram begging that I purchase them no matter what. I was wanting to surprise you but¡­¡± Well shit¡­ Ark did his best to keep his emotions intact, choosing to put on a confused expression rather than the frown that wanted to come out. Wait¡­ a picture was beginning to form in Ark''s mind. Was the selling of the girls the final straw that drove Loyd to commit suicide? The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Ark didn''t know, all he did know was that he was now dealing with a problem created by his host. ¡°I see¡­¡± Ark replied, his periapical vision spotting Sain and Kent walking towards the manor through the nearby window. ¡°Sorry, I don''t really remember too much¡­¡± ¡°Are you sure you don''t need an apothecary? We should really get you checked out,¡± Fey said with Ark waving her off. ¡°No¡­ I think I''m fine. I rather not remember too much,¡± Ark said, his words carrying more truth than lies. ¡°But¡­ let me know if there''s anything I can do to help.¡± ¡°Don''t you want to speak to the twins?¡± Fey asked. ¡°Soon¡­ I need to purify my ki circuits to expunge the poison,¡± Ark said, getting up from the chair and leaving the office. Welkin shook his head with a frown, ¡°I can''t believe we spent eighty-five thousand fluers and sold all our furniture for those girls and he doesn''t remember.¡± ¡°He''s going through a lot Welkin,¡± Fey said, sitting down with a sigh. ¡°Nonetheless, it was still the right thing to do, even if it emptied our coffers, you know as well as I what would happen to them.¡± ¡°I do, but now the question is what does He plan to do with them,¡± Welkin said. ¡°The boy is¡­ different. The lads are terrified of him, and the way he speaks... Something is different.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine Welkin, his mind is just a bit jumbled.¡± Welkin pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, the knight completely unconvinced. ***** ¡°¡°Sir,¡±¡± Sain and Kent stood at attention, the latter bearing a freshly broken nose as the pair stood beneath the moon and lanterns in their hands. ¡°I take it you found it,¡± Ark said, brow raised as he picked up a leaf off the ground, an idea already forming in his mind. ¡°Aye sir,¡± Sain said, barely able to hide his smirk as he glanced over to his friend holding his nose. ¡°It, gave Kent here a nice shiner.¡± ¡°We''ve secured her in an empty hovel and have instructed the serfs not to enter,¡± Kent reported between painful wheezes. ¡°We''ve tended to what wounds she had and bound her with what we could find.¡± ¡°Then lead the way,¡± Ark said, following the pair across the plantation with torch in hand until they were before a shack made of thatch and mud. ¡°Here we are sir,¡± Kent said, opening the wooden door to reveal the bruised and broken prisoner bound I''m with chains who shot a glare up at Ark. ¡°Thank you gentlemen, that will be all,¡± Ark said, dismissing the pair. ¡°Oh. And one more thing. Not a word of this to anyone. You saw what I did to a knight, imagine what would happen to a regular person.¡± The two shared a look before bowing and taking their leave, eager to flee from Ark. ¡°Evening,¡± Ark said, closing the door gently, to step in the structure of dirt and straw, ¡°How are you doing?¡± The bandit¡¯s threats came out muffled against the gage of cloth wrapped around her mouth. ¡°Aren''t you tough? A day later and you''re nearly recovered,¡± Ark said, grabbing a chair and sitting before the disheveled woman who had definitely seen better days. ¡°That just means I''ll have to break your legs and arms again huh?¡± The fight in the woman''s eyes immediately evaporated, replaced instead with fear as Ark reached over and undid her gag. ¡°You''re supposed to be a gimp!¡± Karja spat. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, looks like we''re both failures huh?¡± Ark said, wondering how widespread the knowledge of his host¡¯s condition was. Then again, if it were printed and books and told by even bandits¡­ Ark smiled, his expression so insidious Karja flinched. ¡°So¡­ Karja, here are your options,¡± Ark said, running his hand along the woman''s chin before forcing her to look him in the eye. ¡°I cut your throat open and bleed you out like cattle, or, and personally, what I think is the most exciting option, you get a chance to serve me.¡± Silence, the bandit staring at Ark as he held her gaze, their world, consisting of nothing but each other''s eyes. Karja opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly as if lost for words, ¡°.... Fine, but no butt stuff.¡± Ark blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ark, let me eat this one. Her time will garner us a level,¡± Ireliex said, standing atop Ark''s head. Ark pinched the bridge of his nose and sat back with a sigh. ¡°It''s a fair assumption you''d be after me body!¡± Karja protested, ¡°Everyone know yous nobles are a debaucheries lot.¡± ¡°I''m going to shut you up right here,¡± Ark said, his expression non-humorous, ¡°First off, not interested-¡± ¡°Ow.¡± ¡°Second, I need access to your Black market dealer and contractor.¡± ¡°No. I can''t do it, they''d kill me if theys know I brought in a spy.¡± ¡°What do you think is going to happen if you don''t bring me?¡± Ark said, cocking his head to the side. The bandit paused, thinking it over for a moment. ¡°Why do you want to be wheeling n dealin with the crime world?¡± Karja asked, narrowing her violet eyes. ¡°That¡¯s my business, yours should be focused on whether or not you want to continue living,¡± Ark said, causing the woman to scoff. ¡°And what''s ta stop me from ratting you out when we get there?¡± Karja snickered. ¡°Simple,¡± Ark said before shoving the leaf he had found earlier into the woman''s mouth, forcing her to swallow as her eyes went wide. ¡°What you''ve just ingested is a special poison.¡± ¡°Y-y-yous poisoned me?!¡± Karja coughed, attempting to hack up the leaf as Ark sensed the woman¡¯s ki circulating. ¡°I did. And not just with any poison, but poison that is destroys ki circuits if left untreated for forty-eight hours,¡± Ark said, ¡°But worry not, I have the cure.¡± ¡°Yous be bluffing!¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Ark said, lifting his lantern to his face, ¡°Think of it as a little incentive. This type of poison is rare, and very expensive, how much do you think a cure would cost you?¡± The woman paled, eyes wide. ¡°That''s right¡­ let it sink in,¡± Ark said, before re-gagging the woman. ¡°I''ll give you the rest of the night to figure it out.¡± With those words, Ark left, leaving behind Ireliex to watch over the woman left to stew with his threats. Chapter 13: Run In Chapter 13: Run In Opening his eyes, Ark¡¯s nose twitch at the foul scent permeating his room. ¡°So you see why I need the hovel, purging the poison makes all this toxic sludge,¡± Ark said, his eyes shifted to the Baroness and Welkin looking on with barely disguised disgust. ¡°I¡­. I see,¡± Fey said, holding her handkerchief to her nose, ¡°I''ll have Vermel clean it routinely then¡­ and burn your sheets in the process. Is it safe to burn?¡± ¡°Maybe safer to burn the entire wing,¡± Welkin grunted. While purging impurities was a common core skill for all ki users, the quantity of byproduct that Ark was outputting was intense, more than he knew from any of his cadre. ¡°Yeah, it isn''t toxic to the touch, it should be safe,¡± Ark said as he stood up and grabbed the wet towel and pail of water he had prepared beforehand. ¡°And don''t worry about the cleaning, I''ll take care of it. I just need cleaning supplies.¡± ¡°I''m glad to see you''re taking care of yourself, Loyd,¡± Fey said with a warm smile, dropping her hand from her face which quickly proved to be a mistake as the stench of feces and fumes reached her nose. ¡°Right! Ehem! ust let us know if you need anything else! I''ll send Six and Seven to help get the supplies!¡± Six and Seven? Ark raised a brow. ¡°It should go without saying, but I hope you will exercise caution milord,¡± Welkin said, pausing at Ark''s door. ¡°I don''t recognize the ki circulation technique, whatever it is, it is non-conformal to the imperial styles.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern Welkin,¡± Ark said, cleaning himself before getting dressed as the knight left. Wrinkling his nose, Ark opened a nearby window before summoning his system. ¡°Non-conformal huh¡­ did Old Man Wu stop teaching it?¡± Ark muttered. [Level 0] [EXP: 45/100] -[HP: 30/30] [Status: ] [Phoenix Points: 0] [Stats] -[STR: 8] -[DEX: 6] -[VIT: 6] -[WILL: 18] -[SENS: 9] With just a few ki circulations, his stats were slowly improving with his mind synching better to his movements. It would still take some time, but at the very least he wasn''t as helpless as he''d been a few days ago. However, he was back to level zero, the use of the phoenix point not only healing him but reverting his stats. Fortunately, he didn''t lose any progress save for the phoenix point but in the future he''d have to be weary about full healing himself again. ¡°Was it really necessary to do this again in an enclosed space? Your disgusting byproduct is fumigating the entire nest,¡± Ireliex cheeped. ¡°Well it convinced them didn''t it? I need isolation and less eyes on me,¡± Ark replied as a knock upon his door sounded. ¡°Enter.¡± The door opened to reveal the aforementioned Six and Seven, the twin red-headed girls that his host had bought entering his room. Malnourished, the girls stood no taller than five four with their scrawny frames, obscured by their tunics, closer to Ark¡¯s body weight. However, unlike most other slaves, their skin tone was snow-white, nearly pale as if they were undead. Ark didn''t know what made these two special to Loyd, but he did know that they were his problem now. Former slaves of my sister huh¡­ Ark thought, his eyes tracking the two removing his rancid bed sheets with no complaints. ¡°Master Loyd,¡± One of the girls said as she and her sister held his bundled up cloth and stood at his door. ¡°Thank you for saving us.¡± With that the pair left, leaving Ark stewing in his thoughts as he eyed his reflection in a mirror. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± *** Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Freshly dressed, Ark exited the manor just in time to see an ornate carriage of gold and silver pull up through the driveway by armored sleipnirs. Oh what fresh hell is this¡­ ¡°Announcing, Princess Cecelia of Winterfell, who danes to grant us with her presence!¡± A servant in golden garb of a butler shouted as a pair of knights opened the lavish doors of the expensive carriage. Out of the carriage, a haughty woman with white curly hair exited on gold heels, the same familiar face that had discovered him in the academy closet. Loyd''s sister, and Roland''s daughter. ¡°Fuck,¡± Ark muttered as the baroness spared past alongside Welkin. ¡°Your highness Cecelia! Forgive the state of the manor, we were not expecting your presence!¡± Baroness Fey said, the woman kowtowing to the princess in a way that irked Ark to his core. ¡°Raise your head! Raise your head Lady Fey, you need not bow to me,¡± The princess said, all smiles despite the ugliness that stewed within. ¡°May I ask what brings you to my humble home?¡± ¡°To see you of course! After I heard that my former nanny was attacked and her home burned, I had to make an appearance! It''s unconscionable that in this day and age the bandits could be so bold!¡± Cecilia exclaimed. ¡°Please, let us go in so we can inspect the damage.¡± ¡°I¡­ forgive me your highness,¡± Fey said, the baroness obviously flustered,¡±But I don''t believe my home is fitting for your company.¡± ¡°Nonsense, if it''s good enough for you, it''s¡­ well, acceptable to be graced by my presence,¡± Cecelia said, ushering the baroness towards the door while her knights held open the doors. ¡°Please, I insist. You can tell me all about this harrowing attack.¡± Ark frowned, unable to turn his gaze from the woman. ¡°Commoner, don''t you know better than to stare at your betters?¡± Cecelia said, her tone suddenly adopting a cold vice that stabbed at Ark who unconsciously looked away. The hell? Ark said to himself, his body not heading his commands as the woman and her entourage moved into the manor. Finally Ark went to follow the group in but was stopped by Welkin''s arm blocking his way. ¡°For your own safety,¡± Welkin said before closing the door in Ark''s face. Ark scowled, he didn''t like this, he didn''t like the princess¡¯s arrival one bit¡­ but of more concern was the fact his body had moved unwillingly. Ireliex. ¡°Residual feelings from the former soul. Nothing you need to worry about,¡± ¡°Sure as hell doesn''t seem like it,¡± Ark hissed as he made his way across the plantation to occupy his mind. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± Ark said, arriving at the hut that Karja was kept in that Sain and Kent stood outside of. ¡°Is there something inside that interests you?¡± ¡°We were just making sure the prisoner was secured and taken care of sir,¡± Kent said while holding a roasted pheasant in his arm and a pail of water, ¡°We can never be too sure with knights.¡± ¡°How''s the nose? Did Welkin not mind?¡± Ark asked, looking over the guard who didn''t seem too bothered by his broken nose. ¡°I told Sir Welkin that my injury was obtained during a training exercise milord,¡± Kent said as Ark gestured to the platter the man held and took it from the guard. ¡°Kent, how old are you?¡± ¡°Twenty sir.¡± ¡°And how long have you served the Fey House as a guard?¡± ¡°For two years sir, both Sain and I were bought four years ago by her ladyship and Sir Welkin deemed us suitable as guards,¡± Kent said with Ark furrowing his brow. ¡°Two years huh¡­ Why hasn¡¯t Sir Welkin taught either of you ki?¡± Ark asked. At the question, Kent took on a confused look for a moment before being tapped on the shoulder by Sain who leaned in and whispered, ¡°Member what Lady Fey said, his heads all fogged,¡± ¡°Uh, right,¡± Kent said before wetting his lips, ¡°According to the imperial tenets, it is illegal for any slave or former slave to be taught ki or magic by any noble, imperial knight or imperial magician.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Ark said, ¡°Do you know why that is?¡¯ ¡°I dare not question his majesty¡¯s order. Only that the Emperor decreed it so,¡± Kent said, ¡°We are allowed to learn such skills from a guildsman or master, but the entrusting of such secrets tend to come with exuberant costs.¡± Oh I reckon why that is¡­ Ark couldn¡¯t help the expression that donned his face, a look that was of furious disgust unintentionally directed at the two commoners. ¡°We¡¯re quite happy with our lot though! Lady Fey treats us right, and Welkin doesn¡¯t act like we¡¯re no good!¡± Sain cut in. ¡°Before this we were fighting in the gladiatorial pits!¡± Contrary to the green-haired man¡¯s intentions, his words didn''t improve Ark¡¯s mood. ¡°Right¡­¡± Ark clasped his hands together, ¡°How would you two like to learn ki?¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Kent said, bushy eyebrows raised. ¡°You heard me.¡± ¡°I¡­ uh¡­¡± Sain muttered, turning to his friend. ¡°It''s illegal sir, we could be executed,¡± Kent said. ¡°The law states that it''s illegal for former slaves to be taught by noble, imperial knights, or imperial magicians right?¡± Ark said, ¡°Well as far as I¡¯m aware, I¡¯m none of those things. I¡¯m not even a noble anymore despite you all treating me as such.¡± Sain and Kent stared at Ark, unsure of what to make of his words. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Sain asked, a look of incredulousness on his face before being elbowed by Kent. ¡°-ehem, milord.¡± ¡°If you two prove useful to me,¡± Ark said, opting to use a carrot and stick method to lead these two men around. ¡°I don''t see why not. Now off with you, make sure no one disturbs me.¡± ¡°¡°Sir!¡±¡± The pair barked with enthusiasm before taking off. ¡°So, have you thought about my proposal?¡± Ark asked as he entered the hut and set the platter beside the chained up woman''s feet. ¡°By now, you''ve no doubt felt the effects of the poison, your lethargic state, tiredness, achiness, maybe even body burning up just a bit?¡± Of course these were all symptoms of dehydration and starvation, but in her state, Karja could probably be gaslight into giving in to his ruse. Ark stood for a moment, allowing his captive to bask in the scent of the roasted meat. After two days of not eating and having to heal her injuries, the woman was no doubt famished. A hypothesis of which was proven true by the growl that emanated from the woman''s stomach. ¡°Hungry?¡± Ark smirked, undoing her gag as Karja glared at him. ¡°Enjoying yourself?¡± Karja spat, her brow wet ¡°Very much,¡± Ark said, holding up the chicken leg for the woman to eat. ¡°So, will you give me what I want or not?¡± Karja¡¯s frowned, ¡°You''ve got a funny way of speaking¡­¡± ¡°Eat the damn chicken.¡± ¡°How do I know the chicken ain''t lousy with more poison?¡± ¡°Why would I waste more money on you? The poison I''ve given you is enough,¡± Ark countered. ¡°Tch, I guess being fed by a princeling ain''t so bad, even if you are a bastard,¡± Karja hissed before snapping a bite of the roasted leg. ¡°But yous got yourself a deal.¡± ¡°Good, because we''ll leave tonight,¡± Ark said. Chapter 14: Ki Integration Chapter 14: Ki Intergration Returning to the manor after speaking with Karja, Ark arrived just in time to see witness his ¡®sister¡¯ and the baroness speaking beside one of the ¡®gold¡¯ pillars that supported the home. ¡°-honestly why even use this cheap knock-off material, it''s not impressing anyone Fey,¡± Cecelia said as she ran a gloved finger over the gold column that left her glove stained with gold, ¡°Personally I''d have this whole front of the mansion torn down and replaced, never mind have the man who sold you such terrible work executed. Maybe you can sell a few of your slaves to afford copper pillars? I understand silver is a bit much but -¡± Upon noticing Ark Cecelia stopped mid sentence, her face barely able to contain the disgust rolling inside her. Ark kept his head down, his eyes away as the woman approached and then suddenly shoved Ark to the ground. Immediately Ark''s hands balled into fists, his first desire to beat the brat to death yet he restrained himself. Outnumbered ten to one with her retinue of knights and magicians, an attack at this time would spell his death. ¡°There, that''s better, I never did like that you were taller than me,¡± Cecelia said, ¡°Be lucky that mother still cares for you, otherwise I''d have removed a few inches of your skull for offending me with your presence.¡± Ark remained silent, not a word said as he made a mental note of the woman and her guards. ¡°Princess Cecelia, I believe you had other plans you needed to attend to?¡± Baroness Fey piped in, stepping forward to draw the ire of the noble. ¡°Hm. Thank you for the reminder. Do take care of yourself Fey, if bandits are so brazen to attack once, it may yet happen again,¡± Cecilia said smugly before leaning down and whispering in Ark''s ear, ¡°Have fun with my sloppy seconds. Bastards and bitches do belong together after all.¡± With that she sauntered past Ark, her heels clacking loudly against the cobblestone until she boarded her carriage alongside her guards. Ark waited before dusting himself off, carefully observing the princess''s entourage until they were out of sight and past the treeline before finally moving. ¡°Oh Loyd! Are you okay?¡± Fey asked, immediately moving to help Ark off the ground who simply brushed her off. ¡°I¡¯m fine, is everything okay?¡± Ark asked with Welkin and the Baroness sharing looks of frustration. ¡°What did she want?¡± ¡°To know how we survived the attack,¡± Welkin said flatley, his gaze shifting to Ark, the man responsible for butchering the majority of the bandits and dousing the majority of the fire on the plantation. ¡°What did you say?¡± Ark asked, a sudden feel of alarm blossoming within. If the pair suspected that the Loyd they knew was gone¡­ ¡°That our guards were fortunately very effective,¡± The Baroness said, eyeing Ark, ¡°She also offered to buy the twins from me despite putting them on auction in the first place.¡± Ark pursed his lips. It was clear to Ark who the mastermind behind the attack was, but to do so and brazenly show themselves and to taunt her victims? Ark had a better understanding of what kind of person he was dealing with. Fortunately, the baroness was also keen on who Cecilia Winterfell was. ¡°I think¡­ it would be best if we moved. It''s no longer safe here,¡± Fey said. It didn''t take a rocket scientist to understand what the baroness was saying, or who she was pointing fingers at for the attack. However, there was one thing Ark was confused about. ¡°Moved?¡± Ark said, brow raised. ¡°The lady owns a plot of land in the Nerevar frontier. It''s where most of our revenue stems from,¡± Welkin explained. ¡°The constables won''t be of any help here. They''re all eager to try and cozy up to the princess.¡± Ark eyed the plantation, sweeping his gaze over the numerous serfs and crops that weren''t exactly the cash cow that could afford the purchase of so many slaves. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I agree, it isn''t safe here¡­ how long will it take for us to leave?¡± Ark asked. ¡°With the management of the property and serfs, it will take three weeks or so for Howard to take stewardship. Of geezer won''t be so thrilled I imagine,¡± Welkin replied, the man crossing his arms with a scowl. Perfect, plenty of time to get my bearings. ¡°Are you okay to leave the city?¡± Fey asked before coughing into her handkerchief. ¡°Whatever needs to be done,¡± Ark said before entering the manor. **** ¡°How do I look?¡± Ark asked, standing before a mirror that displayed his form bound by bandages that covered his entire form save for his eyes. ¡°You look like an idiot,¡± Ireliex said, observing from her nearby nest of cloth and straw on a desk. ¡°Thanks, can always count on your cheery attitude.¡± ¡°This hardly counts as an disguise. Why do you even want to consort with the scum and lowlifes of your kind?¡± ¡°Simple,¡± Ark said, tightening the bandages and grabbing a satchel laden with coins, something Ark had found after digging through Loyd''s belongings. ¡°There are ingredients and materials I need to improve my ki. Circulating and purification will only get me so far, and by going through the back channels I can procure what I need without arousing suspicion. If my theory is correct, the princess is watching the estate. Presumably monitoring the Baroness''s purchases and any supplies. If I were a betting man, I''d say she would be using this time to ambush us when we leave.¡± Ireliex turned her head to the side, almost as if deep in thought. ¡°I see. Perhaps I''ve given you less credit than you are due.¡± ¡°Careful, that almost sounded like a compliment,¡± Ark said, opening his window to the cold night air outside. ¡°Alright¡­ let''s see if I''ve shaken off some of this rust¡­¡± Ark inhaled, taking in the brisk air as he will his ki to circulate. For the last twenty hours he''d been circulating his magicils, preparing for this very moment when he''d finally attempt a ki technique. A simple augmentation technique of the Wu variety that turned his ligaments into pistons and his skin like stone. Ark opened his system, observing the translucent screen until new words hovered over the interface. [Skill Acquired! Ki Reinforcement] ¡°Interesting, guess I wasn''t hallucinating after all¡­¡± Ark muttered, recalling the translucent words he had seen when Injecting his ki onto Karja. ¡°Ya know you could have told me that this system thing would pick up my ki skills,¡± Ark said, expanding the new skill list beneath his spells and the ki stat now beneath his HP pool. -[HP: 30/30] -[Ki]: 20/30 [EXP: 23.4/100] [Status: ] [Phoenix Points: 0] [Stats] -[STR: 8] -[DEX: 6] -[VIT: 6] -[WILL: 18] -[SENS: 9] [Spell Book](Open) [Skill List]- [Skill: Wu-Style Ki Reinforcement(Utilize Wu-Style Ki to strengthen the body and reduce sound profile when moving(+5 Str +10 Dex +2 Vitality.{10kp]. Cannot stack with other ki reinforcements.) ¡°Admittedly this was not intentional,¡± Ireliex chirped, appearing on Ark''s shoulder. ¡°The system itself was designed as a tool to track your progress and to grow with you. With your ki and my magic, there may be unintended outcomes due to our¡­ morphology and symbiotic partnership.¡± ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Arm pondered how he could best utilize this. ¡°Milord?¡± Sain called out, knocking on Ark''s door. ¡°Enter,¡± Ark directed, the guard tiptoeing into Ark''s quarters a moment later wearing pajamas and a wig made of black sleipner hairs. ¡°Remember, you have one job. Don''t mess this up.¡± ¡°Y-yes sir!¡± Sain said before climbing onto Ark''s bed and burying himself in the blankets and pillows. ¡°I''ll do my best to pretend you''re here while you''re gone!¡± ¡°Let''s hope I''m not gone for too long,¡± Ark muttered before leaping from the two-story balcony and landing quietly upon the grass of the estate. ¡°Ah¡­ I''ve missed this feeling¡­¡± Ark frowned, his mood suddenly souring as his thoughts turned to the night he snuck out of the castle with Roland after they had both mastered the Wu-Style technique. ¡°Featherling. I have a request.¡± ¡°What?¡± Ark replied as he absentmindedly made his way across the plantation towards Karja''s but. ¡°I would like for us to hunt.¡± ¡°I thought you didn''t need to hunt? Couldn''t you live off my time?¡± ¡°This is true. But I am bored,¡± Ireliex said flatley. ¡°I demand bloodshed.¡± ¡°Right, don''t worry, I''m sure they''ll be plenty of blood to go around soon,¡± Ark said, opening the door where Karja awaited him. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Aye boss,¡± Karja said, the bandit fully armored in her gear including her bronze axe. She raised a brow upon seeing Ark, a small smirk on her face at the noble brat bandaged head to toe in linens. ¡°Nice disguise.¡± ¡°Shut up and let''s go, we''re burning our moonlight,¡± Ark said before taking off into the night with the purple-haired knight leading the way. *** Sain smiled, the young man melting into the bed, ¡°Ah¡­ this is nice.¡± Chapter 15: The Great Betrayer Chapter 15: The Great Betrayer Moving swiftly through the forests on legs augmented with ki, Karja was surprised to see the noble brat keep up with her so effortlessly despite running at full steam through the shrubbery. More impressive, he was able to see her in the darkness of the forest. Eventually what would normally take four hours to cross was done in half the time as Ark and Karja neared the bright glow of the city limits. ¡°So this is Lunacrypt¡­¡± Ark muttered, taking in the sight of the city powered by magic. From its highrise towers, large walls crested by glowing blue lights, and a stream of traffic leaving the city even at night, the city was a jewel that put all other cities in his time to shame. Thanks to Welkin''s discretion, Ark hadn''t seen much of the city during his escape from the academy, but from what he knew from cities this size, there was no doubt a healthy thriving underworld. One that would be perfect to suit Ark''s needs. ¡°How do you plan to get past the guards?¡± Ark asked, noticing the checkpoints and soldiers that patrolled the highways and walls. Even at a distance and low visibility, Ark could make out the shapes of magical golems patrolling the parepits and crowd gathered at the highway of cobblestone laden with merchant wagons. ¡°There, down to the left,¡± Karja said, pointing to an unilluminated section of the wall, ¡°As the home to the Mags Foundation, the city sports a strong defence, lots of fancy magecraft and constructs, but nothing an ol pick axe and a bribe or two can''t solve.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Ark said, following the woman quietly through the night and approaching the towering wall. ¡°Hm. There are defensive enchantments on this, very complex. But nothing too impressive,¡± Ireliex said smugly as Karja suddenly changed course, heading back to the tree line. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ark asked, weary of his guide. ¡°Don''t worry, it would be painfully obvious if we just dug a hole at the wall, the blackout zone is just a landmark, the actual entrance is over here,¡± Karja said, although her words didn''t give Ark comfort. The pair kept walking, moving quietly until finally coming to an abrupt stop. Suddenly Karja spun, her axe swinging at Ark only to be deflected by his iron dagger. ¡°You didn''t really poison me did you?¡± Karja hissed, glaring at him, her murderous aura clear as day to Ark. Shit. Now Ark was left with a choice. Come clean or lie. The last time he had fought Karja he had the element of surprise, but now¡­ well, he''d be hard pressed in a direct conflict. ¡°I did poison you,¡± Ark lied, his voice calm, ¡°And I do have the cure.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡°Want to test those waters? By my estimate you''ve got ten hours left.¡± ¡°Then why don''t I feel anything?¡± ¡°Any good poison isn''t immediate. Less time to find a cure if you don''t know you''re poisoned,¡± Ark said, taking a step forward, ¡°Ask yourself, would a noble brat really step out here if he wasn''t so sure?¡± Karja clenched her jaw, her expression twisting as the gears in her mind spun. ¡°Now, either I get what I want,¡± Ark pressed, ¡°Or you die Its really that simple.¡± ¡°And what''s to stop me from cracking your skull until I get what I want?¡± Karja said, her body radiating small sparks of lightning. ¡°Oh, you''d be surprised. I don''t break easily,¡± Ark said coldly, staring the woman down. ¡°Tick tock. You''re burning your life away, Karja.¡± Of course the barbarian wasn''t aware of how badly Ark needed her. Although he had the Baroness¡¯s backing, if he was going to accomplish his goals he needed subterfuge, money, and perhaps most important, contacts. Karja just happened to be one of the contacts Ark was hoping to poach. ¡°Well¡­ aren''t you just full of surprises,¡± Karja said, sheathing her axe on her hip holster. ¡°The entrance is below your feet.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Ark raised a brow, his eyes still on Karja as his foot tapped the ground beneath his feet. A hollow echo replied, leading credence to Karja''s words as he stepped away and allowed the woman to shift the foliage away and reveal a wooden plank. ¡°Well? Yous coming?¡± Karja asked, opening the panel. ¡°Ladies first,¡± Ark said with Karja shrugging as she entered the underground passageway. Bold move. Ireliex sent, the chicken not visible but speaking in Ark''s mind as he moved through a wide tunnel supported by iron beams. You disapprove? Not at all. I do find it intriguing that you are able to lie so easily as you breathe. It is impressive. Yeah well¡­ you learn a thing or two as a slave. Ark sent back, his thoughts turning to a lifetime that almost seemed as though it had occurred yesterday. The fighting pits¡­ The rebellion¡­ Irielex¡¯s attacks.. Liana¡­ After a few minutes of walking, a foul odor began to tickle Ark''s nose, drawing him back from his painful reminiscing. ¡°I take it this connects to the sewers?¡± Ark asked. ¡°Right yous are, can''t get anything past you,¡± Karja said as the pair came to a wooden door reinforced by iron. ¡°So, Karja, tell me about yourself. What''s a C class knight doing running around with bandits?¡± Ark said as they passed through the door. ¡°Surely you could have gone into more honorable work.¡± ¡°What is this? A date?¡± Karja replied, confusion on her face as she grabbed a blue glowstone off a nearby scone. A rare and expensive magical material, glowstones reacted chemically to oxygen, allowing them glow without ever needing to be charged. And in a space filled with toxic fumes where one bad spark could ignite a big boom, glowstones were crucial to navigation. Seeing as there was a glowstone readily available within a smuggling route, hinted to ark at the level of coordination between the thieves. And they say honor is dead among thieves¡­ At least if I need a quick exit I can ignite the fumes¡­ Ark made a mental note of the tunnel before turning to the barbarian clad in bronze, ¡°Think of it as a job interview.¡± ¡°For what? You trying to save lil ol miss bandit?¡± ¡°On the contrary, I''m on the pathway to hell and looking for company. Although the journey might even earn you some coin,¡± Ark replied. ¡°If you fancy taking chances.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Karja let out, flicking her violet eyes to the man covered in bandages beside her. ¡°Say, if you have a kid, does that make them a princeling too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m disowned, any claim to the throne I have is mute,¡± Ark said, following his guide casually into the rank and sewage-filled water that flowed beneath the town, ¡°Though that may soon change.¡± Karja looked over her shoulder, eyeing the noble who held not disgust in his eyes at his surroundings but singular focus. ¡°You handle yourself well, not many nobles I¡¯ve met would ever dane to get themselves all mucked up,¡± Karja said while carefully wading forward. ¡°Is what it is, no sense complaining when a job needs doing,¡± Ark replied while circulating his ki. ¡°Fine, you¡¯ve got my interest princeling-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, especially within unknown walls,¡± Ark cut in, ¡°If you have to address me, call me¡­ Ark.¡± ¡°After the Great Betrayer?¡± Ark ceased walking, the only sound in the dimly lit tunnel being the rushing sound of fetid water and rats scurrying about. ¡°The Great Betrayer?¡± Ark repeated Karja¡¯s words, the syllables that left his mouth slow as he tried to wrap his mind around the title. ¡°What? Whats got yous tongue?¡± Karja asked, unaware of the flame she had ignited within Ark. ¡°Ark the Great Betrayer huh?¡± Ark asked, pushing forward, ¡°Why is he the great betrayer?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? It''s a common child¡¯s story, even the gutter rats and goblins knows.¡± ¡°Humor me, think of it as a request from your future employer.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Karja barked, ¡°Yous got jokes¡­ Ark was the name of the slave that fought beside the emperor, back when he was a prince mind you-¡± Emperor, the word making Ark feel ill. ¡°-During their fight against Ireliex, he was tempted with the prospect of freedom and sided with the Fell Phoenix to strike down the Emperor¡¯s party-¡± Ark clenched his jaw, his breathing coming out shallow and steady. ¡°-The Big E managed to cut him down and slay the giant bird, but not before the Saintess and the Shield were slain by Ark¡­ Yous okay? Why are yous just standin there?¡± Ark swallowed his rage, the Saintess referring no doubt to Lilian and the Shield being Alexios. The image of both lying dead played in Ark¡¯s mind, his fists bawled into fists, yet, despite the anger seeking an outlet, Ark still possessed the clarity to ask about the last member of his former team. ¡°What happened to Jasper?¡± Ark asked. ¡°The Wizard?¡± Karja replied, ¡°He survived, although barely. Went on to found the Magitech Foundation. Still alive too apparently if you¡¯d believe it.¡± ¡°Jaspers alive¡­.¡± Ark muttered, his mind trying to make sense of the child prodigy being alive and well despite being there during Roland¡¯s betrayal. Was he in on it? No¡­ The boy was just that, a boy. A child who didn¡¯t possess such malice and joined the party mainly out of curiosity¡­ But then again Ark had been wrong about Roland. Perhaps we can find this Jasper and ask him ourselves. Ireliex offered. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ark replied with Karja confused about his mumbling. ¡°Yous a pretty strange fellow,¡± Karja said as Ark pushed passed her. ¡°Trust me, you don¡¯t know the half of it,¡± Ark hissed, now motivated more than ever to seek vengeance against the man who had wronged him and rewrote the truth to hide his crimes. Chapter 16: The Underworld Chapter 16: The Underworld ¡°You''re suddenly not very chatty,¡± Karja said as she walked in step with Ark through the sewer. ¡°Hm,¡± Ark replied, stewing in his thoughts about Jasper still being alive. ¡°Just thinking.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Karja said, the rancid sewer air somehow now awkward as the pair moved in silence. If Jasper is alive¡­ Roland must have coerced him. One could hope. Ireliex said, surprising Ark with her certain display of empathy. If he''s still alive, devouring his corpse would go a long way to recovering my strength. Right. Why did I expect anything more? Ark sighed. ¡°I was framed.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Ark looked up. ¡°You asked why I became a bandit,¡± Karja said, ¡°I used to be a guilder, recruited n trained, learned to read n right too. All went tits up when I got framed by some noble brat.¡± ¡°Is that the true story of Karja the bandit? Or just a lie?¡± ¡°It''s whatever yous want it to be,¡± The woman replied before climbing onto a cobblestone outcrop that led into a dim hallway. ¡°Maybe I''m a nobleman''s estranged daughter, maybe I''m a gjin in disguise, or maybe I''m your long lost sister.¡± ¡°Doubtful, but stranger things have happened,¡± Ark said, following the woman. Careful, I sense magic that is targeting us. Ireliex reported. Ark frowned, slowing his pace, his hand ready to cast spark and ignite the sewer. He might not come out unscathed, but he''d have a higher chance of survival than Karja or any would-be assassin. Perhaps sensing Ark''s tenseness, Karja spoke up. ¡°Up aheads a cleaning sigil, so you can put away whatever spell yous about to cast.¡± ¡°It''s quite the system you guys got here,¡± Ark said as he watched the woman stand on a runic sigil that immediately lit up and began magically dissolving the sewer slime and filth off her body. ¡°The Rogue¡¯s Gallery has many hands. Many undesirables,¡± Karja muttered as Ark turned his attention to Ireliex. After having the phoenix examine the sigil and get the all clear, Ark finally stepped forward. He wince, feeling the tingle of electrified magicils that scoured his clothes and bandages free of the rancid feces. ¡°Yous just gonna keep stopping randomly?¡± Karja asked, already moving on. Eventually, a faint echo of music and voices began to touch Ark''s ears, along with fresher air and less fecal matter in the tunnel, Ark was nearly upon his objective. However, it was now Karja''s turn to stop. ¡°Listen, I don''t know what yous plan to do, or what your game is here. But the Gallery doesn''t take anyone in just willy nilly. I can introduce you, but it will be up to yous to gain their trust,¡± Karja said, a look of worry evident on her face. ¡°For now, you''ll just be a contracted I brought in. If you want to be a rogue, well¡­ you''ll have to get your hands dirty. Another thing, The Mask has a way of ferreting out lies.¡± ¡°Thanks for the advice,¡± Ark said, pushing past the woman, ¡°And don''t worry, I''m more of a hands on person.¡± Karja bit the inner workings of her mouth, despite still being unsure about the noble, there was one thing she was certain about. He wasn''t just some ordinary noble brat. She could see it in his eyes, in his mannerisms, and speech. He may have been born as a royal, but his actions were more like akin to a bandit or a slave. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Well let''s see where this goes,¡± Karja muttered. The duo continued on until coming to an apparent dead-end where a large green-skinned humanoid with thick muscles wrapped in dark tattters stood. Despite the hood and dim light obscuring its face, Ark could tell he was being intently observed by the orkkin that was a rare sight in human territories. ¡°Garkagg, he''s with me,¡± Karja said, stepping up to the guard who barred their path. ¡°Hm,¡± The ork grunted, the side of his upper lip rising to reveal a large canine. ¡°News is you botched your mission, got a whole slew of contractors killed.¡± ¡°Aint no sense n sugarcoating it, mission went bad. Now yous gonna open up, or just stand here yapping?¡± ¡°Just saying Karja, Mask ain''t happy,¡± The ork stood to the side, his hand on a nearby sigil on a wall that reacted and opened a nearby wall. ¡°When is he ever?¡± Karja said before beckoning Ark with a nod. Within, Ark was amazed by the expansive black market hideout that was more akin to a bazaar than a den for thieves. More so, was the diversity of the crowd gathered. From elves, gnomes, and even little-foots, there was a hodgepodge of races that weren''t usually welcomed by mankind. And seeing how they were all underground conducting business, it seemed a hundred years did nothing to improve their situation. ¡°Quite a crowd,¡± Ark said, moving swiftly with his hands close to his coin bag. ¡°Too nosy for you?¡± Karja quipped. ¡°Nothing I can''t manage,¡± Ark said, his eyes scanning the local stalls for anything of use. ¡°Surprise by the size is all. How do you all avoid crackdowns?¡± ¡°It''s Lunacrypt, the hub of the Imperial Academy and Magiteck Foundation. Full of upstanding folks that have need of the gallery whether they know it or not. It''s in everyone''s best interest that it stays operating, less it spills onto the streets.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Ark nodded, his eyes more focused on the goods being sold. While there were herbs and alchemical ingredients he recognized, he had neither the means or skill to produce what he wanted, at least away from prying eyes. A few feet, and Ark was climbing a set of marble stairs that led into a rustic tavern, one complete with drunken rabble and bandits winding down. Finally, Karja stopped, the woman having led Ark to a booth nestled in the corner of the establishment where a figure wearing a solid black mask over his face sat around a mound of paperwork. ¡°Mask,¡± Karja said, approaching the man whose head made a robotic sound of gears moving before looking up at the bandit and her plus one. ¡°Oui, Karja! And here I thought you went off and met your maker,¡± The man exclaimed, his voice somehow robotic as if speaking through a filter. ¡°Come! Sit, sit! Tell me how you got ten men killed against a cripple knight and several farm hands.¡± The man chuckled, his jovial display anything but. ¡°We ran into¡­ a hiccup,¡± Karja said, taking a seat. ¡°Oh? A hiccup? A bad indigestion that results in ten contractors dead right? Yes yes, I''ve had one of those,¡± Mask said, waving a gloved hand around dramatically before slamming it on the table and scattering pages. ¡°Not! You''re an earner. So I trust you to handle contracts. This, isn''t handling it. This! Isn''t earning. You don''t earn, you aren''t an earner. You aren''t an earner, you¡¯re no use to me. Now I''ve got to close the contract on an easy hit all because you failed.¡± ¡°Like I said, ran into a problem. The old man is a lot more spry than I was told. The guards aren''t anything to scoff at either, there''s a beast lurking around that baroness, one that I wasn''t warned about!¡± Karja snapped, ¡°The next time you send me on a gig, maybe make sure the details are all there before sending me on a suicide run!¡± Mask cocked his head to the side, silence taking the table at Karja''s outburst. ¡°A beast you say?¡± Mask said, rubbing his chin. ¡°You mean they have another knight or an actual beast?¡± ¡°A mage knight! Barely got out with my life. Chopped up the goons you gave me like a scythe through wheat,¡± Karja spat, spinning a tale while omitting all the important details. However, everything she said wasn''t a lie. While Karja spun her story, Ark couldn''t shake the feeling that something was wrong. More specifically, Ireliex couldn''t. ¡°Are you certain it was a mage knight?¡± The Masked man¡¯s skepticism clear as day. ¡°I failed didn''t I? When''s the last time I borked a mission?¡± Silence again, the pair staring at each other. ¡°Hmm¡­ you don''t have a record for coming up short. Very well. This will definitely change the terms of the contract¡­¡± Mask muttered, ¡°I''ll raise the rating and let the client know. In the meantime, mind telling me why you''ve brought this mute burn victim with a staring problem to my table?¡± The focus of the conversation shifted, both sets of eyes on Ark. ¡°He''s-¡± Karja began. ¡°Looking for work, contacts, and resources,¡± Ark said, cutting the woman off and extending his hand towards the man. ¡°I''m Ark.¡± ¡°Very direct, I like that Mr. Ark,¡± Mask said, accepting the handshake. ¡°More people could stand to be more forthcoming with their intentions.¡± However, upon touching the man''s gloved hand, an electrifying tingle snaked across Ark¡¯s skin, his body seaming to heat up in response to the Masked Man''s touch. ¡°Featherling!¡± Ireliex spat as the intrusive feeling was suddenly dispersed. ¡°You¡­you''re not lying,¡± Mask muttered robotically as Karja''s hand slipped down to her axe. ¡°Oh, Mr. Ark¡­ you''re quite an exquisite thing.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Ark muttered. Chapter 17: Dealing with demons Chapter 17: Dealing with demons Silence, Ark and Mask staring at one another while Karja looked on. ¡°Mr. Ark,¡± Mask said, releasing Ark¡¯s hand much to the latter¡¯s dismay. ¡°Of what wish can the Rogue''s Gallery fulfill?¡± ¡°Careful, his words are laced with mana. Miniscule, but it''s there.¡± Ark opened his mouth but quickly closed it, his mind heading Ireliex¡¯s words. A Mephisto? Siren? Gjin? What am I dealing with here? Does he know about us? Ark asked, his mind going over the list of creatures he knew whose preferred weapon of choice were their words. Contrary to many fairy-tales and mouse-world movies from earth, fairies and genies were everything but friendly. ¡°I believe it is a wishmonger. However, It is difficult to discern the true nature of the demon in my current state without revealing myself. But, I am certain he is not aware of our symbiotic union.¡± ¡°Well Mr. Ark?¡± The demon wearing the guise of a man asked calmly. Ark pursed his lips, ¡°I don''t wish for anything, but maybe we can help each other.¡± At his words, Ark could have sworn he saw the demon smile despite the mask he wore to conceal himself. ¡°A quid pro quo? Such a trade only works if you have something to offer me.¡± At his words, Ark produced his pouch of coins, tossing the leather bag with a loud clink that drew the ire of several nearby patrons. Even Karja''s eyes wandered from the duo to the bag of metal. ¡°Here. I need services rendered,¡± Ark said flatly as Mask picked up the bag laden with gold. ¡°But gold is so boring, especially when an interesting man bearing the name of the Great Betrayer shows up on my doorstep. Even more so when said name isn¡¯t an alias.¡± He''s probing for information. I''m aware. Ark sent back. ¡°I¡¯m here to conduct business, not discuss my identity. If you don¡¯t want my coin-¡± Ark said, reaching down to the coin purse that was hastily taken by the Masked Man. ¡°Now! Let¡¯s not be too hasty Mr. Ark,¡± Mask said, sitting casually back in his booth with his arms sprayed out, ¡°Here at the Rogue¡¯s Gallery, we can certainly put your coin to use. However the question is, what do you wish-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wish for anything,¡± Ark stated flatly, glaring at the demon as if to say, I know what you are. ¡°You would be wise not to test my patience.¡± All bluffs of course, in his current state Ark was no match for a demon of any caliber, let alone a gjin or lesser wishmonger. ¡°Very well, can¡¯t fault me for trying can you?¡± Mask said with Karja confused by the duo¡¯s interaction. ¡°What can we do for you?¡± A flare of pain erupted in Ark¡¯s heart, his thoughts turning to Liliana and wondering what she would think of him consorting with demons. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Here,¡± Ark said, producing a list of material twenty-four items he would require to kick-start his ki regeneration and help him regain his strength. Mask looked down at the list then back up at Ark, his head cocking sideways. ¡°An interesting list of components. Nearly all of which are poisons? Hunting are we?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Ark replied, ¡°Can you get it?¡± ¡°Since you''ve piqued my interest¡­ I''m curious to see what the great Ark is hunting. Although this amount of coin won''t cover everything on this list,¡± Mask turned to Ark, ¡°Perhaps we can work out a loan?¡± ¡°Hard pass,¡± Ark said, ¡°Get what you can and don¡¯t play me.¡± ¡°So demanding,¡± Mask said, observing Ark, the latter unaware that to the demon¡¯s gaze, Ark appeared as a raging, talking inferno that distorted the nearby surroundings. Beneath his Mask, the demon licked his lips, tasting the succulent rage and excess of raw emotion that lined the outline of that burning flame. Vengeance. Mask could see it as clear as day. ¡°I¡¯ll take your gold Mr. Ark,¡± Mask said, ¡°But you must do something for our services, consider it a surcharge.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Mask placed a black coin on the table with Karja gawking at the item. ¡°Take and keep this on your persons,¡± Mask said. ¡°Wait? That¡¯s it?! He just shows up and you give him a coin like that?¡± Karja exclaimed. ¡°Hush,¡± Mask snapped, silencing the bandit. Ark eyed the metal disk, a sense of disgust emanating from Ireliex who recognized the magical enchantment around the metal object. ¡°And this is?¡± ¡°A token of our association, with it, no harm will come to you, at least not from another Rogue,¡± Mask said, ¡°Carry it with you when you¡­ conduct your business, and I¡¯ll have your items delivered.¡± Ark picked the coin up, observing the thing that seemed like an ordinary memento, but thanks to Ireliex, he knew better. To the unwise, this was merely a membership, a piece of metal inscribed with an image of a hooded figure smiling, but to the demon, it was his food source and power. The item was enchanted to feed off emotions. More specifically pain and suffering, channeling the emotions from the ambient air around the bearer to send back to the caster. AKA, Mask. It even had a secondary enchantment to cease its magical effects on a whim should the holder be compromised. ¡°Clever,¡± Ark said, looking at the demon directly who clasped his hands together. ¡°With what you¡¯ve built here you must have an unlimited supply of power.¡± ¡°Strength in numbers as they say,¡± Mask said, raising his hand and summoning a platter of wine and drink by way of the local barmaid. ¡°Why don¡¯t we celebrate our newfound partnership-¡± ¡°Pass, I¡¯ve got things to do, and so do you,¡± Ark said, pocketing the coin as his peripheral vision picked up the heraldic emblems of Winterfell guards pushing their way towards Mask¡¯s table. ¡°Ah¡­ right you are. Unfortunate. Everyone!¡± Mask yelled, rising to his feet, ¡°Make yourselves scarce!¡± At his order, the population density within the bar quickly waned, moving like a river around the Winterfell guards with Ark blending into the crowd that pushed their way into the bazaar. ***** Ark frowned, eyeing the bar door close. While he would have liked to stick around and eavesdrop on Mask¡¯s conversation with his sister¡¯s guards, there was a more pressing matter he needed to attend to. Time. ¡°Tch, unbelievable,¡± Karja hissed. ¡°It took me years to bust my ass and he just gives it to you.¡± ¡°Envy isn¡¯t a good look on you,¡± Ark said, flipping the coin around his fingers as his eyes glanced around the bazaar. ¡°Whatever,¡± Karja growled, ¡°So what now? Yous gonna shop around?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going home,¡± Ark replied, moving towards the exit. ¡°Hey!¡± Karja snapped, ¡°What about my cure?!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Ark said, raising his brow, ¡°Oh that? I lied, I never poisoned you.¡± ¡°Son-of a-¡± Karja hissed, unholstering her ax only to stop as Ark held up his coin to the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Consider it payback for attacking me,¡± Ark said, turning away from the bandit, ¡°But remember, you¡¯re only alive because I let you live.¡± Karja¡¯s eye twitched, furious at being played. ¡°Consider my offer Karja!¡± Ark called out, ¡°We could have alot of fun together.¡± With those words, Ark left, leaving the bandit to stew in her hodgepodge of emotions that were felt by the Mask who was already receiving dividends from his investment. Chapter 18: Ki refinement. Chapter 18: Ki refinement. ¡°Are you ever going to speak to the twins?¡± Baroness Fey asked as Ark dug into his morning platter of eggs and grounded kernel porridge, completely unaware of his night time excursions. No. Is what Ark wanted to say, instead he sighed. ¡°They¡­ make me uncomfortable,¡± Ark said, ¡°They look at me as if expecting something but I don''t know what.¡± ¡°Well they''re your responsibility. They tell me you were teaching them to read? Maybe you can finish teaching them?¡± Fey offered. Ark clenched his jaw, between running to the city at night, cycling his ki during the day, and pretending to be Loyd, his schedule was packed as is. ¡°You could take them with you to the academy.¡± ¡°I don''t like owning slaves.¡± ¡°Then they''re free, simple as that,¡± Fey said before coughing into her napkin. ¡°I¡¯ll even pay for their enrollment. I don''t like you being alone at the academy. Especially with¡­¡± Ark glanced up, his eyes taking in the woman''s naivatie and touching concern. Freed slaves attending an academy of nobles and wealthy brats? A surefire recipe for disaster. Then again¡­ It wouldn''t hurt to make a statement. ¡°You don''t have the money,¡± Ark said, going back to his eggs. ¡°Well, once we sell this estate we''ll have a nice windfall! Then we can surely have you all attend!¡± Fey exclaimed with contagious enthusiasm before throwing up blood. ¡°Shit!¡± Ark let out, snapping to his feet as Vermel came out with cleaning supplies. ¡°Oops,¡± Fey said, giggling to herself despite her appearance being pale. ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Ark said, finding himself beside the Baroness. ¡°Oh I''m fine. Your concern is touching though,¡± Fey said, hugging Ark while Velmont cleared the table. ¡°How is throwing up blood fine?! You have internal bleeding! You''re -¡± Ark blinked repeatedly, calming himself from his elevated emotions that had taken over. ¡°I''m fine, Loyd, please¡­ just consider what I''ve said,¡± Fey assured before rising from her chair and scurrying away to her room with Vermel¡¯s help. Ireliex¡­ is there anything I can do to help her? Ark asked as he watched the woman leave. ¡°I am not a healer, and neither are you,¡± Ireliex replied, the little chicken on the table eating his eggs. What about resetting her clock? Reverting her time like you did mine? ¡°Given how long she''s been in that condition, the resources required would be waste,¡± ¡°Can you or not?¡± Ark asked, turning to face the chicken whose face was covered in porridge. ¡°I thought you said you didn''t like human cooking.¡± ¡°Humans and their sentimentality¡­¡± Ireliex said, ignoring Ark¡¯s comment. ¡°You would waste years of effort just to prolonged-¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ark said, interrupting the phoenix with a glare, ¡°The pursuit of my goals haven''t made me blind to the suffering of others. Especially not to those who have been kind to me.¡± ¡°You mean to your host, these people are all assets. Things to be used for the greater go-¡± Ireliex replied before tipping over the bowl of porridge and sending the container and herself flying across the room. Ark sighed. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. **** After breakfast Ark sat in his shed he had once used to keep Karja contained. Inside, he eyed the box wrapped with satin that contained a number of ingredients that Mask had obtained for him. Bought in surplus, Ark had spent extra coin to buy a myriad of other items to cover his tracks for anyone looking into his purchases. From the outside looking in, it seemed Ark had bought a numerous amount of poisons and curatives in bulk, nothing out of the ordinary for an alchemist. But, hidden within the box were five important ingredients, potent poisons that ingested alone would kill a grown man. Fortunately, suicide wasn''t on the menu. ¡°I''m not thrilled about this,¡± Ireliex said, ¡°If you hunted, you could use the system to gain power rather than resort to this¡­ alchemy.¡± Ark laid out his ingredients. Arteria leafs, a red plum plant with leafs lined with veins that pulsed to the touch. Blood Rose, a rose-like flower with thorny stem that only bloomed in blood and would act as a blood thinner. Erd Root resin, secretions from a large tree commonly found in the southern hinterlands that would turn his blood solid. A night owl egg, a blue unborn night owl whose proteins would bind the ingredients together. And lastly, a bag of dead swamp-mosquitoes whose anti-clogging saliva would allow his impurities to flow freely. All common materials found easily if you knew where to look. Fortunately, Mask did. ¡°Well if you haven''t noticed, there isn''t much to hunt around here,¡± Ark said, picking up a pestle and mortar taken from the manor kitchen and mashing up the mosquitos. Ireliex grumbled. Clearly unhappy. ¡°Kent! Sain!¡± Ark called out, the pair opening the door to peak at Ark busy grinding up several herbs. ¡°Yes sir?¡± Kent asked, eyeing the pot of boiling water and fire pit inside heating a pan. ¡°I need you two to make sure I''m not disturbed. No matter what happens, what you hear, keep the door closed,¡± Ark ordered, discarding most of the acquired materials save for the five he needed. ¡°What if Lady Fey-¡± Sain began. ¡°No. If anyone inquires, tell them it is imperative not to disturb me. All I need is four days,¡± Ark said, pouring the boiling water into the metal box. ¡°If I''m not out in a week¡­ then come get me. But until then, don''t disturb me.¡± ¡°Yes sir,¡± The pair said in unison before shutting the door. ¡°Are you sure you know what you''re doing?¡± Ireliex asked, watching as Ark threw the blood rose and erd tree resin into the boiling container that immediately released a sickly aroma. ¡°There is a reason you failed to kill me despite all of our encounters,¡± Ark said before reaching over and plucking the most important ingredient from Ireliex¡¯s body. A phoenix¡¯s feather. ¡°Ow!¡± The chicken yapped, scurrying away. ¡°Ask before you rip off a feather!¡± ¡°Consider it payback for all my years of suffering,¡± Ark replied before tossing the feather into the pot and preparing the pan to fry the night owl egg. *CHEEP!* ¡°You little thief!¡± Ireliex yelled, performing an angry hop as she realized why the man had proven So hard to kill, ¡°So that''s how you resisted my powers!¡± ¡°Secrets out. Every run in with you was just another excuse to acquire more feathers. Jasper taught me the method, and Liliana made sure I didn''t die¡­ it took awhile but¡­¡± Ark said as he stared at the brewing tea of poison. ¡°We perfected it.¡± Ark frowned, thinking back to the time he once thought he could be sent back to earth with his power intact¡­ ¡°Just hold on Roland, I''m coming for you¡­¡± Before long, Ark combined his materials into the boiling box, the sickly scent in the air now sweet as the chemical reactions took place and turned the once brackish water of festering poison into a steamy blood-like liquid. ¡°Disgusting¡­¡± Ireliex recoiled as Ark dipped his fingers into the mosquito paste and layered his gums. ¡°Trust me, it''s no joy for me either, but this should elevate my recovery by leaps and bounds,¡± Ark said, on the verge of throwing up as he felt the twitching bug legs massage his mouth. ¡°Let''s hope I don''t die.¡± Ark reached down, picking up a mug to take a cup of his bubbling special blend. ¡°Ugh. I can hardly stand to look,¡± Ireliex said, the chicken gagging. ¡°Bottoms up,¡± Ark said, downing the hot liquid in one go. **** Two Weeks later. ¡°My head¡­¡± Ark grumbled, his eyes fluttering open to the sight of a familiar black haired girl sitting on his chest. Except, she wasn''t a girl but a phoenix and roughly the size of a fairy, ¡°Ireliex?¡± ¡°In the flesh.¡± ¡°Hell, how long was I out?!¡± Ark snapped, sitting up in his bed as he recognized his surroundings to be more than just a farmhand shed he had been using. ¡°Two weeks.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Ark yelled, rising out of bed so quickly his body twisted, releasing a crack sound with pain shooting through his body as he hit the floor. ¡°Hells bells¡­¡± Ark muttered, his head pounding with a new found headache as his brain tried to keep up with his strengthen senses. ¡°Well.. at least the ki refinement worked¡­¡± Ark could feel his ki flowing, his inner magicil circuits churning with strength as they reinforced his body. ¡°Loyd! My baby!¡± Fey exclaimed, kicking in his door with a loud bang and hugging Ark who was too sore to react. ¡°Squeezhing! Squezzzin!¡± Ark mumbled, unable to resist the crying woman''s embrace.