《A Lullaby For The Damned》 (Nice Dream) Cold. Cold and black. His eyes fluttered to restore his blurry vision. It was an icy cold night. The stars shone in the distant night sky as a tear trickled down the boy''s face. ¡°Where am i?¡± he thought, sitting up and resting against a nearby tree. The boy was lightly dressed in tattered rags covered in bruises and cuts. An icy gust of wind pricked at his skin ¡°Its cold¡± He attempted to stand up however his legs were cold and numb, The boy could not remember a thing. Pushing forth with all his might he jumped up to his feet and began to make baby steps. As if learning to walk all over again. He trudged forward, with unrelenting passion. Until he came across a faint light in the distance. Speeding up his walk he came across an open grassy expanse followed by a grand almighty wall that towered over him. Reaching 100s of metres into the sky was a black metallic wall that wrapped in a circle stretching for miles and miles into the distance. ¡°What is this?¡± he thought, clutching at his head. He was scared. So he ran closer and closer This wall was taller than most skyscrapers. Its surface was smooth and cold, made entirely of dark, weathered metal that stretched across the open expanse for miles, rising so high that the top vanished into the mist. He walked along the wall, seemingly making no progress, as if this structure stretched on forever. But what else could he do? This was the only sign of life he''d seen in these desolate forests and plains, and it certainly seemed safer than the endless darkness behind him. After wandering for a while, he approached an irregularity in the wall. It appeared to be a metal gate. Above the gate were red flashing lights resembling a camera, that pointed toward him, barred in a metal exterior. ¡®Maybe I''ve stumbled upon a secret government base,¡¯ he thought. Why else would such a place exist in the middle of nowhere with such high-end security? He walked closer to the gate until he stood directly in front of it. ¡°H-hello?¡± he nervously called out, unsure if this was a good idea. Hearing no response, he prepared to try again. However, an enormously loud noise erupted, assaulting his ears. ¡°Akhhh!¡± he cried out, moving to cover his ears from the painful sound. A blinding light burst from the slowly separating metal gate. His eyes, adjusted to near darkness, couldn''t handle the sudden brightness. He staggered back, blinded. From the light, three figures emerged in a cautious yet domineering manner. Two of them wore shiny white reflective plates of what seemed to be steel, covering them from head to toe. They looked like some kind of supersuit. In their arms, they held strange, blocky futuristic guns that emitted a faint purple glow and a soft humming sound. The barrels of these weapons were fixated directly on his forehead. In the middle of the two armored men stood another figure, dressed far more lightly. A man, Muscular and towering, battle scars covered his face and arms. He wore a smart uniform with a long flowing cape that fluttered behind him in the wind. On his back rested a large greatsword which faintly emanated a purple light. I looked at the man who stared straight back into my eyes. His eyes, cold and distant. As if looking at his sworn enemy he was full of anger and fear. Clutching the handle of his greatsword He opened his mouth and roared, ¡°ARE YOU HUMAN OR A DEMON?¡± He instantly froze up and could only stand there in utter shock, unable to comprehend what this man was saying, or what was going on. Sweat began to pour from his body as he clenched his hands to try and maintain some sort of composure. His body trembled from some sort of fear. He knew he was in trouble After a few moments of silence, the man roared once more, ¡°HUMAN OR DEMON?¡± Snapping out of his daze, he stammered, ¡°S-s-sir, I don¡¯t know what yo¡ª¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°LAST CHANCE, HUMAN OR DEMON?¡± he shouted again, his grip on the greatsword tightening. Panic flooded through him. He had no idea what to say. How had he even ended up here? Was this really a secret government base? What did the man mean by ''demon''? He was obviously human. His mind raced with confusion and fear. When did this strange nightmare even begin? Ah, right... It started that evening. Back when he saw that cat in the street. ¡ª-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a gloomy and fateful evening. The sun had just fallen below the horizon and the street lights flickered with a faint orange glow. His footsteps echoed faintly as he walked, the world around him calm and still. He had just finished club activities, which was why it was so late. He walked, bathed in the orange glow of the street lamps, taking in the urban scenery. ¡°Haaaaaa,¡± he let out a yawn. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time I quit the club. I mean, they keep me out so late. I¡¯ve got other things to do, you know?¡± He smiled as he thought about his sweet, warm bed. The surroundings were eerily quiet and empty, especially for a city known to be bustling and packed full of people. There was almost no one else about. Checking his watch, it read 8:23 PM. noticing this, he sped up into a fast walk. It was getting late, and he still had to make dinner and pick up ingredients at the local shop. ¡°Meooooow.¡± Stopping in his tracks, he looked down to see a black cat rubbing itself against his leg. ¡°Ah, what do you want? I¡¯ve not got any food on me, you know.¡± The cat stayed persistent, trying its luck. ¡°Ah, shoo, shoo.¡± Moving the cat away, he carried on with his walk. Yet, the cat followed him. ¡°Well, whatever,¡± he thought, dismissing it. Time passed, and the black cat maneuvered over to a certain alleyway, stepping in front of him. ¡°Meoow,¡± it let out. It sat next to the dark alley and looked him in the eyes. The cat had strangely alluring eyes like that of a black hole, which naturally seemed to draw him in. Without realizing it, he found himself following the cat into the alley. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was going or why, but he felt a strong instinct to follow this cat. He flashed his phone¡¯s torch ahead of him and peered down the narrow path. Trash bags and puddles lined the alley, and he cautiously continued onwards ¡°Ah, shit.¡± His phone¡¯s light suddenly Turned off. He tapped on the screen, hoping to bring it back, but it had run out of charge. ¡°Ugh, what crap luck.¡± He could still see, but only faintly, the dimness sent a shiver up his spine. Goosebumps prickled his skin as he pressed on, drawn forward as if something unseen were beckoning him. He took a sharp right turn where the path ended. There, on the cold, wet ground, lay the black cat. A pool of crimson blood spread beneath its lifeless body. Its head had been severed, crushed into an unrecognizable mass of flesh and brain matter. Next to the corpse crouched a tall, human-like figure. The figure slowly looked up. His face twisted and morphed, blood smudged all over his face, bits of skin and fur clung to his teeth and gaping maw. As their eyes met, his stomach twisted violently. He fell to his knees, emptying his insides onto the floor. He fell onto his backside. He couldn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t even scream. A deep, primal fear gripped him as he gasped for air, his heart racing uncontrollably. He trembled, unable to steady himself. The creature rose to its full height. Though shrouded in darkness, he could make out its towering, slender frame¡ªfar from human, yet eerily similar. It groaned, ¡°H-human.¡± The creature¡¯s eyes glistened with hunger as drool dripped from its stained jaws. ¡°S-stay away f-from me,¡± he stammered, scrambling backward with all the strength he could muster, unable to tear his eyes away from the monstrosity. Without warning, it lunged at him with twisted and jerking movements. ¡°Graaaaaa!¡± it screeched. Adrenaline flew through his body. He found the strength to jump to his feet and bolted down the alley. "No. No. No. This can''t be real." He heard the sickening crunch of the creature smashing headfirst into the wall behind him. But he didn¡¯t dare look back. The darkness, followed with the tears flowing down his face, made it nearly impossible to see. His breath came in ragged gasps, and the icy air stung his lungs with every step. The creature regained its form far quicker than he expected and resumed its pursuit, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed. "It''s not human. That thing... it''s not human." He ran faster than he ever had before. He could almost taste the light of safety from the street where he had been walking just moments earlier. "Just a little further... Just a few more steps..." ¡°I can make it!¡± he thought, eyes locked on the faint glow ahead. But before he could reach the street, before even a single finger could escape the shadows, his head did. He felt a slash across his neck, followed by a sudden, weightless sensation. His vision spun as his body dropped to the ground beneath him. He couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened. One moment, he was running. The next, he was airborne. His severed head hit the cold pavement with a thud. The soft orange glow of the street lights flickered in his eyes as his severed head lay motionless on the cold pavement, facing the alley. From the darkness, he watched as the creature emerged from the shadows, its long, skeletal fingers wrapping around his lifeless leg. It dragged his body back into the alley, disappearing into the void. He could do nothing but watch as his own existence faded into the darkness, leaving behind only the blood that painted the pavement in his wake. His vision began to blur. And slowly... his consciousness faded. Chapter 2: No Surprises Pain. That was all he felt as his memories resurfaced. His memories? Were they? ¡°I-im human, i swear¡± He shakily responded The man frowned, seemingly not convinced. The man disappeared in an instant and next thing he knew the heel of his greatsword was bashed against the side of his head with a loud thud and the boy collapsed to the ground. He jolted awake. He awoke to a plain metal room. Nothing but two chairs and a table was held inside. His hands were cuffed and tied behind the metal chair which felt sore and itchy. ¡°Argh, my head kills.¡± he complained Suddenly a woman burst into the room. She was tall and slender with silver hair that flowed down her back, she had piercing amber eyes which burned holes into the boy. She seemed to be in her mid 30s and wore a similar uniform to the man he saw earlier, however she had a silver rapier at her hilt instead along with a silver cape. She sat down opposite him and glared at him up and down before speaking ¡°Where did you come from?¡± she finally asked, her voice calm yet commanding. ¡°I... I don¡¯t remember,¡± He replied truthfully. ¡°I can only remember waking up in a forest.¡± Her eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion. ¡°So, you expect me to believe you went for a nap outside these walls?¡± He couldn¡¯t blame her. He remembered almost nothing. He was just some nameless kid appearing out of nowhere. But still, nothing made sense. Why were they so cautious? Despite the memory loss, was it really that unusual for people to stumble upon a huge place like this? Is this really Earth? She pulled out a thin metal stick and placed it on the table. After pressing a button on the side, it flashed purple, projecting a blue screen above. ¡®Woah, what is that high-tech device?¡¯ Lloyd thought to himself. She tapped and swiped on the screen multiple times before stopping, her eyes widening slightly. She flipped the metal stick around and showed him what was displayed on the screen. What was shown was the picture of a boy. His skin was pale, almost ghostly, with dim silver eyes that reflected light like cracked glass. His face was sharp and gaunt, with hollowed cheekbones and a slightly sunken look. A scar ran across his neck from one side to the other. His hair was dark, pitch black, with subtle streaks of white near the roots. ¡°Wha... is that me?¡± He said, clutching at his neck where the scar lay. Flipping the stick back around, she began to read aloud ¡°Lloyd Eosian. Sixteen. Male. No family members. No criminal offenses. Registered resident of the Eastern District. It wasn''t exactly hard to find you with such a unique scar.¡± ¡°What...?¡± Lloyd¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Is that my name?¡± Her expression softened slightly, but her guard remained up. ¡°Well, your face matches the picture shown here, so¡­ why don¡¯t you remember?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know...¡± he whispered, his mind spinning. How could he be a resident in a place he¡¯d never been to? The only thing he remembered was the day he died. That¡¯s right¡­ Before he died, he was a student of a prestigious school, coming back from club activities. He lived on the outskirts of a city. A city called...? A city called...? Interrupting his train of thought, she sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll drop my suspicion... for now. But I¡¯ll need to run some tests.¡± Standing up, she stepped closer, unlocking his restraints. ¡°Follow me.¡± They walked through dimly lit hallways lined with metal walls that pulsed faintly with purple light. ¡°Excuse me, but I don''t remember a thing about this place. I don''t even know who I am.¡± She glanced over her shoulder for a moment before sighing. ¡°Haaa, it seems you really don''t remember a thing.¡± Continuing, a grim look appeared on her face. ¡°What you''re currently walking in is the wall of the last standing bastion of humankind, which fights and protects against the demons and devils ¡ª Blackreach.¡± A chill ran down Lloyd¡¯s spine as she said those words. ¡°What¡­ You''re saying that outside these walls, there isn''t a single living human?¡± ¡°Not one,¡± she replied before taking out a cigarette and lighting it. ¡°Want one?¡± ¡°I-I don''t smoke.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Before taking a puff, she continued, ¡°I am in charge of the eastern outer wall ¡ª Selene Vale, Vice Captain of the Arcane Watchers.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Lloyd raised a brow. ¡°Arcane Watchers? What is that?¡± ¡°You''ll find out eventually. Inside Blackreach there are 4 walls each in a circular formation wrapping round us for protection. The Outer Wall is the place you''re currently inside off. The outermost wall that separates humans and demons, next the middle wall bordering the outer wall, then the inner wall, and finally the last wall, the king''s capital.¡± ¡®I see, I really am in a completely different place,¡¯ Lloyd thought to himself. ¡°I have one more question.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°What day is it today?¡± puff A delicate stream of smoke flew out from her parted lips. ¡°Earth year 2720, at the summer solstice.¡± "W-what?!" The words escaped Lloyd¡¯s mouth before he could stop them. ¡°Ah, we''re here. What''s the matter?¡± ¡°N-nothing,¡± he swiftly replied. What''s wrong with me? Why am I reacting this way? It''s like I can almost remember something.¡¯ A chilling thought passed through his head for a moment. ¡®No, that''s impossible. Something really must be wrong with me.¡¯ Snapping him out of his thoughts, the Vice Captain stood holding the door open. ¡°Hurry up, kid.¡± They entered a vast chamber where around 20 soldiers in uniforms honed their skills with an array of unique weapons. Blades crackled with violet energy as they struck against training dummies crafted from gleaming, reflective white plates. Nearby, others engaged in fierce duels with metallic weapons that emanated a colourful glow, their movements swift and precise almost unnatural. Taking a closer look, the uniform they wore was really cool. The uniform was sleek and tactical, crafted from a dark, matte material that clung to the body, enhancing agility and movement. It was reinforced with thin, black plating along the chest, forearms, and shins, which faintly pulsed with a soft, blue glow in the dim light. The plating seamlessly blended into the fabric, giving the suit an almost organic, second-skin appearance. The suit was segmented with subtle, flexible armor lines running along the sides and down the legs, designed to protect vital areas without restricting movement, while black leather straps wrapped around the thighs and upper arms for additional gear. A flowing blue cape, weathered and torn from countless battles, draped from the shoulders, fastened by a silver clasp etched with some kind of sigil. Selene smirked as she caught Lloyd¡¯s awed expression. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. They''re my subordinates.¡± As they walked past, the soldiers greeted her with respect. ¡°Morning, Captain!¡± ¡°Captain, come for a spar?¡± ¡°Captain, who''s the small runt next to you?¡± Selene waved them off with a casual nod. ¡°They''re my lieutenants. Makes running the wall easier.¡± ¡®Aren''t you supposed to have only a couple of lieutenants?¡¯ Lloyd thought. She led him through where at the end of the training hall stood a circular platform made of smooth, dark metal. Resting atop the platform was a sleek, black sphere, about the size of a human head, with thin veins of violet light coursing through its surface. "This is an Arcanic Orb," she said, gesturing towards it. "It will assess your compatibility with Malachite and scan your body for any health and physical issues." ¡°Malachite?¡± ¡°Haaaa,¡± she let out another puff of smoke before dropping it and extinguishing the flame. ¡°Malachite is the very power source that has been protecting us from the demons. It¡¯s used for many different things such as the Arcanic Orb, but above all, it''s a weapon,¡± Selene answered with a serious expression. ¡°You''ll understand more later. For now, just place your hand on the orb.¡± Before Lloyd could say anything else, she walked over to another device connected to the Arcanic Orb, which displayed a blue screen. Lloyd hesitated before stepping onto the platform. The moment he touched the cold surface, a surge of energy coursed through his body. A purple glow began to resonate from within the orb as it reacted to him. The lieutenants watching from the sidelines murmured in a slight shock. Selene raised a brow, impressed. ¡°You have... a high compatibility.¡± Lloyd stepped off the platform, feeling oddly drained. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I''ve confirmed you''re human, and not only that, you''re capable of wielding Malachite and becoming an arcanist. Very few can do that, even fewer at such a young age.¡± She crossed her arms while looking him up and down, assessing him. ¡°I¡¯ll recommend you to an Arcane Academy for training.¡± She handed him a smooth black device that resembled a smartphone. ¡°This is an Arc Link. It will allow you to contact me. I¡¯ve already registered my number.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to teach you how it works... do I?¡± ¡°N-no, I remember how to use these.¡± He tapped on the screen, seeing her name: Selene Vale. ¡°Good. Once again, my name is Selene Vale, one of four Vice Captains of the Arcane Watchers.¡± Looking up from the Arc Link, Selene extended her hand, a bright smile appearing across her face. Lloyd felt his cheeks flush slightly as he reached out to shake it. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± he asked. She studied him for a moment before replying, ¡°We¡¯re always in desperate need of more arcanists. Each year, hundreds die, further dwindling our already small numbers. Having someone with talent like you around will be a massive help.¡± She signaled to a lieutenant, the same muscular man with the greatsword. ¡°Sorry to shove this on you, Garrick. Could you escort this kid to his home? He lost his memories.¡± ¡°Of course, Captain,¡± he replied. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll send the details over.¡± Selene turned to face Lloyd, her glowing amber eyes giving him a piercing look. ¡°Get some rest, Lloyd Eosian. We can discuss tomorrow on any lingering questions you may have¡± The heavy iron doors groaned as they parted, revealing the dimly lit interior of the wall. Garrick stepped forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow beneath the pale glow of Malachite lanterns that lined the narrow corridor. His greatsword rested on his back, yet he moved with a quiet grace that spoke of years spent guarding these passages. ¡®This is all happening so fast. I hardly even know who I am and now I''m joining some Arcane Academy?¡¯ Lloyd was slightly baffled Lloyd followed closely behind. Garrick''s footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor as he led Lloyd deeper through winding hallways and steep staircases. The wall hummed with a subtle noise as if it was alive. "This place has stood for centuries," Garrick muttered without turning back. "Fueled by blood, death, and the souls of the damned. It''s easy to lose your way here, no one knows how these walls were erected, so we only know the route of memory ." Lloyd swallowed hard, keeping his eyes locked on his broad back. They reached a heavy steel door lined with layers of runic symbols etched onto the door. Garrick pressed his hand against it, where a purple glow resonated from his palm. With a low rumble, the door slowly open, revealing the inside of the outer wall. "Welcome to the heart of the wall," Garrick said, stepping aside for Lloyd to enter. "The final line between mankind and damnation."
End of Chapter 2: No Surprises Chapter 3: Beauty Sleep? Not Today! As the heavy iron doors of the eastern wall groaned open, Lloyd stepped into the streets of Eastwatch, the largest city within the eastern district. The city pulsed with life, despite the shadow of the wall looming overhead. Weathered stone and aged wooden houses lined the streets, and the air was filled with the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread. Vendors called out their prices, children weaved between the crowds, and blacksmiths hammered steel with rhythmic precision. Lloyd couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of peacefulness and calm as he followed Garrick through the winding streets. The city was poor, but there was an undeniable unity, a fragile peace held together by the protection of the wall. This was the city that Lloyd had apparently lived in. ¡°Eastwatch is one of the more peaceful areas,¡± Garrick explained. ¡°But further out, past the city, you¡¯ll find places where outlaws lurk. They steal, kill, and survive off the scraps of others. Yet here, the people find joy in the simple things. The safety of the wall... it gives them hope to live a normal life.¡± Lloyd listened in silence, observing the faces of those around him. They looked worn, weathered by hardship, but their eyes glimmered with resilience, trying to make the most of these peaceful days. As they walked through the bustling market district, Lloyd noticed civilians occasionally glancing over at Garrick with a look of respect and pride, while others stopped and thanked the lieutenant for his hard work in protecting the walls, which he dismissed with a nod. Lloyd noticed a surprising smile creep up on Garrick¡¯s usually inexpressive face. ¡°Is this your hometown?¡± Lloyd asked. ¡°No, but it reminds me of the village I was raised in, the peaceful look on their faces and the sense of community.¡± ¡°I see. Where is your village from?¡± Lloyd questioned, trying to break the silence with humble conversation. ¡°It was also in the Eastern District, located just a few miles from Eastwatch.¡± A change appeared on Garrick¡¯s face, though Lloyd didn¡¯t notice it. ¡°Was?¡± Garrick stopped in his tracks and turned around. The remnants of the smile he had before disappeared without a trace, and he gave Lloyd a deep, dark look. ¡°We were happy, and it was peaceful. Until a demon appeared on our doorstep.¡± ¡°S-sorry for asking,¡± Lloyd stammered, a bead of sweat dripping down his face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Most arcanists have gone through something similar, so just think about what you''re saying before blurting stuff out, kid.¡± ¡®This didn¡¯t make sense. How were demons able to get past the walls? And what''s an arcanist, is this linked to the malachite that Selene spoke off earlier?¡¯ Interrupting his thoughts, Garrick stopped at a humble food stall. An elderly woman, her hands wrinkled from years of labor, handed them two bowls of warm stew and slices of bread. Lloyd hesitated, but who knows how long it had been without food in his stomach. He accepted the meal with a quiet nod of gratitude. They sat down at a nearby bench and began eating. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve gotta eat more. If you wanna become an arcanist at the academy, you can¡¯t go looking as pale as a ghost, especially with those skinny arms. You gotta start doing some regular training.¡± ¡°I see. I guess I didn¡¯t look after myself properly.¡± A pitiful look came across Garrick¡¯s face. ¡°Still, that¡¯s one unique scar you¡¯ve got there. Never seen anything like it.¡± Lloyd¡¯s face paled as he thought back to the day before he died. The black cat. The slender demon that chased him. The icy slash he felt along his neck as his vision parted from his body. The way the demon dragged his corpse back with it¡­ ¡°Hey, kid? Are you alright?¡± Garrick¡¯s concerned voice snapped Lloyd out of his thoughts, and his large palm rested against his shoulder, jolting him back to his senses. ¡°Y-yeah, I¡¯m fine. I just feel a bit sick.¡± ¡°Sorry, kid. I should take my own advice sometimes.¡± Moving his hand off Lloyd¡¯s shoulder, Garrick continued, ¡°Anyway, since you¡¯re gonna be going to the academy, I might as well explain to you about the different factions within the walls.¡± ¡°Before that, an arcanist is a person who wields an A-blade, a weapon made from malachite. Malachite is the soul of a demon. Killing a demon is how you obtain their soul malachite. ¡°So, an A-blade is a weapon that is forged from demons?¡± ¡°Precisely, if you can harness the demon''s malachite energy which resides in an A-blade this can give you a huge increase in power. However, it''s dangerous and very few have the talent. Especially when it comes to higher ranking demons¡± Lloyd nodded along Garrick then began to speak of the factions that protected humanity within the bastion. ¡°Firstly, The Arcane Watchers¡ªour job is to maintain order and protect the wall from any high-rank demons that seek to harm the wall, being the second line of defense that protects the humans from the demons and devils. Selene Vale, the one who brought you in, is one of our four Vice Captains, each Vice Captain manning a different side of the wall.¡± Lloyd¡¯s mind drifted to Selene¡¯s cold amber eyes and commanding presence. ¡°The Arcane Reapers,¡± Garrick continued, a bead of sweat running down his face, ¡°They¡¯re more demon than human. Their strength is second to none, constantly making excursions outside of the wall to obtain malachite and fuel the city. They also have a secondary task of discovering weaknesses and different species of demons, as well as finding the root cause for them. However, no progress has been made in the 300 years these walls have been standing in terms of the cause.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Lastly, The Arcane Knights. The weakest of the bunch. They handle internal affairs¡ªoutlaws, criminal activity, and protecting the people from threats within the walls. In fact, on your arc link there is a distress function where you can call arcane knights to your location if you¡¯ve spotted a demon.¡± ¡®That¡¯s handy¡¯ Lloyd thought ¡°In most cities and towns there¡¯s also a knight''s outpost where you can file any suspicious criminal activity and any kinds of information you may hold which can assist the knights in stopping criminal behaviour.¡± Garrick explained Lloyd absorbed the information as they finished their meal and continued their walk through the streets, the world around him feeling more foreign with each passing moment. Finally, they arrived at a modest wooden house on the outskirts of Eastwatch. The single-room home was small and worn, but something about it felt oddly familiar. ¡°This is your place,¡± Garrick said. ¡°Get some rest. Selene will come and update you tomorrow on what you should do next. You¡¯ve got a long road ahead.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you for escorting me here.¡± With that, Garrick turned and began walking away. ¡°Lieutenant garrick.¡± ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s bugging me from what you said before.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°What''s a demon, and what''s a devil? And what''s the difference between the two?¡± Garrick stared into Lloyd¡¯s eyes for a few seconds, as if recounting previous memories. ¡°You wanna know? Truth is, I¡¯ve seen countless demons. High-tier, low-tier, you name it. Killed my fair share too. However, I¡¯ve only seen a devil once.¡± He paused for a second. ¡°Let me tell you, if you ever see a devil, consider yourself a dead man walking. It doesn¡¯t matter what you do. You can run, you can fight, you can even hide. It doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll end up the same. Torn and mangled into infinite pieces.¡± Lloyd swallowed hard, afraid to ask, but his curiosity got the better of him. ¡°H-how did you survive?¡± Garrick gave off an even intenser look. ¡°That day¡­ over 500 Arcanists left the walls to subjugate the devil¡ªReapers, Watchers, and Knights. Out of those 500, 17 survived. Either due to absurd luck, or simply abandoning and leaving the rest for dead.¡± ¡°Which one was it? F-for you?¡± Garrick began to lift up his uniform top. ¡°Absurd luck.¡± He shivered as a smile crept upon his face. What was displayed on his huge muscles was a horrifying scar about an inch wide that ran straight from one side of his waist to the other, as if he had been cut straight in half. Lloyd shivered upon seeing this. ¡°Don¡¯t look so scared, kid. ¡®Til we meet again!¡± Garrick snorted in laughter as he walked off. ¡®He''s more expressive than I expected?¡¯ Lloyd thought, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. His words echoed in Lloyd¡¯s mind. ¡®Now I¡¯m by myself.¡¯ Lloyd looked up at his shabby shack, admiring it. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The dimly lit room was sparsely furnished¡ªan old wooden bed, a cracked table, a half-broken mirror, and a small shelf with a few scattered belongings. He walked over to the mirror, taking a good look at his foreign body. He was about 5¡¯5¡±¡ªfairly short for his age. He was skinny, though not to the point he could see bones. He was wearing fairly tattered rags: braies, sandals, and a tunic. A far cry from the fashionable uniform of the Arcane Watchers. He ran his fingers along the scar on his neck. ¡°Everything feels so surreal.¡± He sat down on a chair, letting his thoughts spiral. His death. The scar. The bastion and its eerie energy. Selene Vale. And the name they gave him¡ªLloyd Eosian. And more importantly, demons and devils. What are they? ¡°Who¡­ am I?¡± he whispered to himself. His eyes drifted to a faint purple glow emanating from a purple shard resting on the table. ¡°When did this get here? Is this malachite?¡± Drawn to it, he reached out and brushed his fingers against its cold surface. The moment his skin made contact, a strange warmth coursed through his veins, sending a shiver down his spine. All of a sudden, images flooded his mind¡ªvisions of fire and darkness, of blood-soaked battlefields and towering demonic figures. A chilling voice echoed in his head, ancient and malevolent. ¡°Y¨Cou¨C Yo-u Mu¨Cst.¡± He grasped his head as a throbbing pain took over and a chilling scream escaped his mouth. ¡°Akhhh, Th- this pain¡­¡± He had never felt anything so painful, not even his head being lopped off compared to this pain. His body trembled, gasping for air. He stumbled back, knocking over the chair, clutching his head. The room spun around him, his vision went blurry as he collapsed onto the floor. The last thing he heard being: ¡°You must help m¨C¡± Before his vision went black.
The Next Day Selene had just finished talking with the principal of the academy. Being an ex-pupil as well as a top one, she held quite a lot of weight with her recommendations, allowing Lloyd to gain an interview with the principal himself despite the academy year already starting two weeks ago. She was on her way to Lloyd''s house to inform him of the news. Walking through the streets of Eastwatch, she thought to herself: ¡®The kid, he¡¯s got high potential, on par with me, maybe even higher. However, that''s where the positives end.¡¯ She began counting on her hand: ¡®Small,¡¯ she lifted a finger. ¡®Weak, looks like he could be crushed by a fly,¡¯ she lifted another finger. ¡®Suspicious,¡¯ despite confirming Lloyd was human, there was an abnormality with his body, though she couldn¡¯t confirm what exactly. She thought, lifting another finger. ¡®Amnesiac,¡¯ lifting another finger. ¡®Poor kid, something terrible must¡¯ve happened to him,¡¯ she sighed. She arrived at Lloyd¡¯s house. She had called prior, but received no answer. Knock knock. ¡°Lloyd, it''s me, Selene. I''ve come to update you on the academy.¡± She waited a few moments. ¡®This kid, he can¡¯t still be sleeping at midday, can he?¡¯ Knock knock. ¡°I¡¯m coming in if you¡¯re not gonna open up!¡± After waiting a few moments, she barged the door open And there, on the floor, lay Lloyd, quietly sleeping. Slightly impressed, Selene joked, ¡°Does this kid not remember what a bed is used for? I¡¯m surprised he managed to sleep like this.¡± Upon seeing this, Selene couldn¡¯t help but feel reminiscent of her younger brother. She felt a pang in her heart as Lloyd reminded her of him. She glanced at Lloyd, eyeing him up and down before sighing and picking him up in a bridal carry. She gently placed him on the bed and covered him with a blanket. ¡®He¡¯s tiny. Just like him, also being about the same age when he¡ª¡¯ stopping her thoughts there, she sighed. She picked up the fallen chair and sat down, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. Puff. ¡°No wonder I was being soft on him,¡± she whispered.
End of Chapter 3: Beauty Sleep? Not Today! Chapter 4: The Demon King’s Workout Plan. A relaxing smoky smell stirred Lloyd awake, His eyes flashed open to see rays of light flashing through the wooden walls. He tried sitting up through the grogginess he felt and to his surprise he saw someone sitting in his shack. Selene Vale, sitting casually in a chair near his bed, a cigarette balanced between her fingers. "You finally up? Took you long enough," she said, exhaling a slow plume of smoke. Her amber eyes flickered over him, scrutinizing. Lloyd sat up, rubbing his temples. "What¡­ happened?" Selene took another drag before flicking the cigarette into a small tray. "You tell me, kid. I found you collapsed on the floor." He hesitated, flashes of the vision still fresh in his mind¡ªthe fire, the demons, the whisper in his head. "I don¡¯t remember much. Just a really bad headache and¡­ something weird when I touched that purple shard." "What? A purple shard? You don''t mean malachite, do you?" "I think so, it all happened so fast." "Where is it, kid?" she spoke with a serious tone in her voice. "I-I''m not sure¡­ as soon as I touched it¨C" Lloyd covered his mouth, feeling queasy from the pain and the horrendous images that had flashed through his mind. "Hey! Are you alright?" Selene exclaimed, standing up from her chair and lending him an arm for support. "Y-yeah, I feel fine, strangely fine even. Just a bit sick." "You feel fine? How large was the piece of malachite you touched?" "It was about the size of my fist." "W-what on earth?" Looking up at Selene, Lloyd saw her striking features twisted into a wide-eyed expression of shock. He hesitated. "What about it?" "Lloyd, you need to be more careful. Quite frankly, with the state your body and mind are in¡­ you could have been seriously wounded." "W-What?" he stammered, his voice unsteady with shock. "This is my fault, I should have explained to you yesterday," she said, her expression soft, a hint of apology in her eyes. Continuing, she explained: "Ordinary people can¡¯t touch raw malachite. Hundreds of years ago, before the bastion was built, most humans developed diseases, and many died just from the radiation emitted from the demons and soul malachite. Only those with resistance to malachite energy were able to survive, allowing humans to evolve to have a natural resistance, leading to people being able to wield malachite. However, despite the evolution, today 95% of people are unable to wield malachite. If they were to touch it, they¡¯d die a slow, painful death." Lloyd listened attentively, taking in what Selene spoke. "So¡­ why didn¡¯t this happen to me?" "It¡¯s thanks to your ability and talent to become an arcanist. However, with the condition you''re in, you should avoid coming into contact with a piece that large. If your body isn¡¯t ready for it, it can mess you up." He nodded slowly, slightly nervous about what she had just said. She sighed before speaking. "Come on, let¡¯s get some food. You look like you might keel over any second," she said, standing up and stretching. The restaurant was a modest place, nothing fancy, but the smell of sizzling meat and fresh bread was enough to make Lloyd¡¯s stomach growl. Selene ordered for both of them, a simple meal of roasted meat, eggs, and thick slices of bread. He dug in immediately, realizing just how hungry he was. "Slow down. The food isn''t going anywhere. You could choke," she jested, watching him devour his food. "Oh, S-sorry," he acknowledged, slowing down his pace. As they ate, the conversation turned more serious. "It¡¯s time I told you more about this place, and the information you¡¯ll need to know before entering the academy." "That would be helpful," Lloyd nodded in gratitude. "Firstly, before you enter, you need to work on your physical strength and endurance. As you are now, it won''t be possible for you to even wield the weakest A-blade. I''ve made a training plan which I''ve sent directly to you. You must follow this strictly each day along with three meals and eight hours of rest." "I see, that makes sense." "I''ve also paid for your tuition fees into the academy, including meals and living quarters. You''ll be able to move in a week''s time if all goes well." "Wha-why? Why would you go this far for someone you just met?" he asked, puzzled. "I have my reasons. It''s not a big deal either. Don¡¯t underestimate the pockets of a vice-captain of the Arcane Watchers," she smirked. Lloyd hesitated before replying, "Thank you." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! At first, he had wondered if it was a good idea to follow through with all of this, but it wasn¡¯t like he had much of a choice. He knew nothing about this world, had no income, and no acquaintances other than Selene. And despite what she said, it couldn¡¯t be cheap to enter the academy. He couldn¡¯t let her hopes down. ¡°Next¡­ I guess I should explain more about the demons. I''ll give you a brief overview, but while you''re in the academy, it''d be in your best interest to complete research on the different species of demons.¡± "Firstly, Lesser Fiends. The weakest class of demon, as well as being the most common. During your time in the academy, you''re likely to face a few Lesser Fiend class demons. Lesser Fiends have no special abilities and are pretty unintelligent, relying mostly on their physical prowess and numbers.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lloyd nodded, carefully listening to what was being told. ¡°Next, there''s Greater Fiends¡ªsmarter, generally more dangerous, as well as being capable of one type of Arcane Magic.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the Archfiends¡ªbeing capable of multiple types of Arcane Magic, some even have the intelligence to converse.¡± ¡°After that, there''s the Eldritch Fiends, which are even worse. High-ranking demons capable of mass destruction. These beings all hold similar intelligence to a human, also capable of multiple magic and being able to use them at the same time. This is due to their profound knowledge and battle sense. Another thing to keep in mind is, numerous Eldritch Fiends work under Demon Kings.¡± ¡°Why would demons work together?¡± Lloyd questioned. ¡°It¡¯s unknown, but it¡¯s possible because of their intelligence. Intelligent demons can understand a difference in strength and have a strong will to survive. It¡¯s also beneficial for Demon Kings as they are useful pawns in their disputes with other Demon Kings.¡± ¡®So even demons have to be wary of other demons,¡¯ He thought, raising a hand to his chin. ¡°And finally, above them, the Demon Kings. The top of the food chain. Each one strong enough to wipe cities. There are said to be limited and few Demon Kings, but no one knows the exact number." ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­ wiping out whole cities?¡± ¡°Except it¡¯s not. However, a Demon King hasn¡¯t been spotted in tens of years, so not many personally know their true strength. But that¡¯s not all.¡± ¡°What else is there?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not something else¡­ The Lower Fiends, The Greater Fiends, The Archfiends, The Eldritch Fiends. Because the strength in these classes can vary, each class has a subsidiary class, other than the Demon Kings, due to how few there are.¡± Selene went on to explain the subclass system used to categorize demons. Each main class of demons (Lesser Fiends, Greater Fiends, etc.) was further divided into seven sub-classes, ranked from weakest to strongest: Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, Duke, Prince, and King. This ranking system was created due to the overwhelming number of demon species discovered. For example: An Imp is classified as a Lesser Fiend with the subclass Baron, commonly referred to as a Lesser Baron-class demon. A Hellhound, on the other hand, is still a Lesser Fiend but ranked as a Marquess, making it a Lesser Marquess-class demon. The reason for this distinction is simple: an Imp is weaker than an average human, whereas a Hellhound possesses the strength of multiple humans, despite both belonging to the same general category of Lesser Fiends. However, this system does not mean that a Lesser King-class demon is automatically weaker than a Greater Baron-class demon. In fact, a Lesser King-class demon is far stronger than even an Arch Baron-class demon. The key difference lies in their abilities: Lesser King-class demons rely purely on brute strength, lacking intelligence or arcane abilities. Greater Baron-class demons, while physically weaker, possess one unique arcane ability. Arch Baron-class demons are even stronger, boasting multiple unique abilities. This makes combat unpredictable¡ªsome physically weaker demons can still be far deadlier due to their intelligence and magic. However, the opposite can also be said, which is why this system was made. ¡°So? Did you get all that?¡± ¡°Slightly¡­¡± ¡°You''ll understand in time.¡±
And¡­ the Devils?¡± Lloyd asked nervously. Selene exhaled, her expression darkening. "Devils are something else entirely. It¡¯s said there¡¯s so little devils that it can be counted on two hands. They don¡¯t follow the same hierarchy. They work alone. No one knows how strong they really are, but at the very least stronger than Demon Kings.¡± I swallowed hard upon hearing this. ¡°What about that incident¡­ where 500 arcanists were massacred?¡± ¡°I assume Garrick told you about this.¡± ¡°Yeah, he did. S-sorry I couldn''t help myself asking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s not like I was actually there. From what I heard, 500 arcanists were sent to subjugate the Devil Of Gluttony, Beelzebub, Lord Of The Flies. I heard 17 survived through sheer luck or maybe just pity from the Devil himself.¡± I stared at her in disbelief. "How did humanity survive something like that? How do we stop Devils from wiping us out?" ¡°You don¡¯t, as simple as that. We simply do not have the power to kill devils. However, the devils leave us alone mostly, as long as they aren''t provoked. The reason is unknown, some people like to believe it¡¯s due to the Leader of the Arcane Reapers.¡± ¡°What about him? Is he so strong that even devils are afraid of him?¡± Lloyd shook at the thought. ¡°Hell if I know. All I know is that he wields the only weapon made from the soul malachite of a Demon King.¡± He let her words sink in. As they finished their conversation, she tossed a small pouch onto the table. "That¡¯s for you. Enough to last you a week. Make sure you don¡¯t waste it." Lloyd blinked at the pouch before looking up at her. "Wait, what?" She stood up, stretching. "You¡¯ve got an interview with the principal of the Arcane Academy in a week. Make sure you¡¯re ready." Still reeling from everything, he watched as she turned to leave. "See you around, kid." As he walked back to his small home, his mind spun with everything he had just learned. The factions, the demons, the dangers beyond the walls. He barely noticed the people around him until he caught snippets of conversation in the market. "Another one gone. That¡¯s the third this month¡­" "The kidnappings are getting worse¡­" Lloyd frowned but dismissed it. It wasn¡¯t his problem. He entered his house and sat down on a chair. Taking out his Arc Link, he saw a message from Selene with the label ~ Training plan. "Haaaa, do I really have to do this?" Lloyd muttered. "Maybe it won''t be too bad!" he exclaimed full of hope while tapping on the message. Displayed on his screen was: 20km run "Impossible." 100 push-ups "I''d prefer to keep my bones in one piece." 30 pull-ups "Is this a training plan to make me fly?" 200 sit-ups He stopped reading and placed the Arc Link down. "Maybe in the next, next life."
End of Chapter 4: The Demon King¡¯s Workout Plan. Chapter 5: Got The Life The frigid cold air bit at Lloyds skin as he dashed through the outskirts of Eastwatch. His breath ragged and rough as he panted through his final few kilometres of his run. ¡°Finally I''m almost finished for the day.¡± He panted The rhythmic noise of his steps soothed his soul, but is quickly drawn out by the sheer exhaustion that is hitting his body. In truth he felt like he''d collapse at any given moment And that''s when he heard it, a faint distance scream which was quick to disappear He paused and gazed over to a distant thicket of trees which bordered the path he ran. A horse and carriage was waiting inside Lloyd sneaked over and hid behind a berry bush. He saw two men lift up a knocked out child who was placed on the front carriage. His stomach tightened. ¡°Kidnappers,¡± he muttered. He trudged over and hid in the foliage. ¡®Shit, what do I do? I can¡¯t call Selene, I left my arc link back at home, but I can''t exactly run back. They''ll probably be gone by then,¡¯ he strained to think, searching for an answer before coming to a somewhat rash conclusion. He dashed over, sneaky but fast and lightly jumped onto the back of the carriage. Inside was filled with cargo and boxes which gave off a sickeningly sweet smell. Lloyd manoeuvred over and hid behind some of the boxes while covering himself in a large cloth rag ¡®Guess being small can come in handy.¡¯ The ride seemed endless, the rhythmic bounce of the wheels over rough terrain lulling him into a daze. When the carriage finally stopped, he forced himself to stay still, listening as footsteps entered the carriage and gradually left. Peering through a crack in the wood, he watched the figures disappear behind a crude hidden wooden hatch in the ground. ¡®Where are they taking that kid?¡¯ From what he saw and heard, there were two men involved in the kidnapping scheme. He slipped out and approached the entrance, lifting the hatch just enough to see below. A dimly lit tunnel stretched downward, the flickering torches casting grotesque shadows on the walls. ¡®Should I enter? Is this the right thing to do?¡¯ Considering his options, he realized he was in the middle of nowhere, with no idea how to get back. As soon as he jumped onto the carriage, he had already left himself with no choice. ¡®Will I have to kill those two men? Can I?¡¯ Taking a deep breath, he descended. The moment he stepped inside, the stench of filth and decay hit him like a punch to the gut. He descended lower before being met with a long corridor. Rows of iron-barred cells lined the sides of the underground chamber. Inside each was a child, gaunt and hollow-eyed. Some were too weak to react, others too terrified to speak. The sight of them made his stomach churn. Scars, scratches, and bruises covered their bodies. Some had already perished, their bodies decaying slowly in the cold, damp air. He slowly approached the cell, his eyes in disbelief. There weren''t just one or two children¡ªthere were tens, possibly hundreds. Each cell was packed with children. Their hollow eyes met his, some too weak to react, others too terrified to even speak. The sight made him feel sick and ill, but more than anything¡­ It ignited anger. ¡®Those two bastards, I''ll fucking kill them.¡¯ Continuing his walk, there were multiple corridors passing through the one he was currently walking in. He took multiple turns before finally seeing more cells lining the sides. Then he saw them¡ªdemons. Shackled, but very much present. Their eerie, glowing eyes followed his every move. Some were nothing more than hunched, misshapen creatures, but others were disturbingly human-like, their grins twisted in amusement. A lump formed in his throat. This wasn¡¯t just some criminal operation¡ªit was something far worse. He was sure it couldn''t just be those two men involved in this. He needed to get out now, find Selene, and get reinforcements. But as he turned to leave, a voice barked behind him. "Hey!" His stomach dropped. He bolted, his heart hammering in his chest. Heavy footsteps pounded behind him. He twisted through the maze of tunnels, but his body was already screaming from exhaustion. ¡®That darn training plan,¡¯ he cursed in his head. A sharp pain exploded at the back of his head. ¡°Akhh!¡± The world spun. He hit the ground hard, his vision blurring. The last thing he saw was a pair of boots stepping toward him before darkness swallowed him whole.
Lloyd woke up to hunger gnawing at his stomach, his throat dry and raw. His hands were bound, arms stretched painfully high above his head. His body ached from the cold stone beneath him. ¡®What¡­ happened?¡¯ His mind felt foggy and disconnected. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ His head hurt with a slow thumping pain. He felt groggy and numb. ¡°W-Water, I need water,¡± he attempted to crawl forward but to no avail. His hands were tied above his head with long chains. His wrists were sore and red from the tightened cuffs. He was in a small one-man cell, assuming it was in the underground chamber he had stupidly decided to explore, believing he could stop the kidnappers. Who knew this was such a large criminal operation? ¡®Fuck.¡¯ Days passed in a miserable haze, his mind slipping between hunger-fueled hallucinations and bitter reality. The guards only came to toss scraps of stale bread and murky water at him. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Because of his hands being tied, he disgracefully licked the cold grimy floor in order to drink the water, but he had to. He had to survive. Then, one day, they finally came for him. Weathered down and beaten, he stared at the ground. He heard the distant footsteps of someone approaching his cell. ¡®Finally, more water.¡¯ To his surprise, he looked up to see a man unlocking the cell, swinging the door wide open. He unlocked Lloyd¡¯s chains from the wall and threw a bag over his head. ¡°You bastard, let me go. I''ll kill you,¡± Lloyd voiced with all his strength, but all that left him was a faint whisper, barely audible. ¡°Tch, you disgusting creature,¡± the man retaliated, shoving him forward out of the cage. Lloyd was so hungry and thirsty that he didn¡¯t have the strength left to be angry. The man led him through the corridor, holding the chains that tied his hands together. He heard the muffled cries of other prisoners as they were loaded onto another carriage. Hours passed. Maybe half a day. His body felt stiff, but still determined to get through this ordeal. Once the carriage stopped, he was roughly pulled out and tossed between various locations, dragged through unfamiliar places as his mind struggled to make sense of it all. Eventually, Lloyds cuffs and mask were taken off and he was thrown into a tight small wooden cage. Lloyd could hear and see the weeps and cry¡¯s of captees begging for salvation along with the smell of blood and grime. He thrashed and threw his body about to break the walls. However they were too strong, left with no hope he gave up and left The rest to fate. Around 30 minutes passed before more guards came and covered Lloyds head once again as he was dragged out the wooden box and thrown into a brand new metal one, I could hear the murmurs of people talking. When the sack was finally yanked off, he found himself in a large, torch-lit chamber, a cage separating him from a sea of people. Wealth dripped from their clothes, their jewelry gleaming even in the dim light. A wave of revulsion hit him. He wasn¡¯t just a prisoner. He was cargo. A man who wore a suit and a clown mask stood upon the stage with him and began to announce to the crowd of people. ¡°Bid number 67! A small, pale boy found from the outskirts of Eastwatch. Small, but holds a lot of vigor and is sure to be useful in manual labor! Or other labor¡­ if that¡¯s your preference!¡± The bidding began. He couldn¡¯t believe it. The way they placed their offers, chatting idly as if they were livestock. His blood boiled. He pressed his hands against the bars, mustering up all the strength he could, his voice cutting through the chatter. ¡°I¡¯ll kill every last one of you. Don¡¯t forget my face, you sick bastards.¡± He raged with unbelievable hate and fury. Laughter rippled through the crowd. His price increased. Fine. Let them waste their money. He would end them all the same. Then, he was sold. ¡®These damn creatures, treating me like a slave¡¯ Sack Thrown back on his head along with cuffs and dragged back into the wooden box he first resided in. As time passed A man approached, his smile sharp as a blade. He gave Lloyd one glance before signaling his guards. Opening the cage, he was taken away, beaten unconscious before he could even resist. When Lloyd woke up, he was tied with rope to a chair in a dimly lit underground room. His wrists were practically broken from the constant restraints. After a few minutes, a door opened, and the man who purchased him walked inside, along behind him were two guards carrying a table with multiple unique items on top. The rich man stood before him, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "You know," he mused, "I quite enjoy breaking people. Especially ones with a lot of fight in them like you. Let¡¯s see how long you last." ¡°Fuck you,¡± Lloyd spat. The man simply smiled upon hearing this. ¡°Ahh, just place it there. I¡¯ll be a few hours,¡± he said, signaling to his men to place his equipment down. No, that wasn¡¯t just equipment¡ªthose were torture devices. ¡®Shit, this is bad, what is happening?¡¯ The man began to put on thick black gloves and then proceeded to grab a syringe from the table which held a purple liquid inside. He walked over to Lloyd, questioning, ¡°Do you know what this is, boy?¡± Lloyd simply replied with a middle finger, unable to muster any words. The man heartily laughed. ¡°It¡¯s liquid malachite. Do you know what happens if it enters a regular human¡¯s body?¡± Lloyd swallowed hard. Just from touching a piece of malachite, he had fallen unconscious from the pain. ¡°W-What are you trying to say?¡± His voice came out weak and breathless. His captor''s face twisted into a disturbing grin. He aimed the syringe and plunged it directly into Lloyd¡¯s left eye. White-hot pain exploded through his skull. His vision shattered into a kaleidoscope of blinding colors, an inferno of agony searing deep into his brain. A bloodcurdling scream ripped from his throat as if his very soul was being wrenched apart. ¡°You¡ªyou bastard?¡± he choked out, his breath hitching between ragged sobs. It felt as if someone had thrust a knife directly up his skull. A painful sensation coursed through his head and through his body. It felt as though a jagged beetle was wriggling around in his veins and arteries. ¡°First, you''ll feel like there''s a centipede crawling under your skin. After a few minutes, it''ll feel like lava is flowing in your veins. This pain will last until you fall unconscious and die. Ahhh, but of course, I won¡¯t be allowing that to happen,¡± he stated, flicking at the edge of a new syringe, the insides colored a deep, dark red. A sickening heat flooded Lloyd¡¯s veins, writhing and twisting through his arteries. Every heartbeat sent fresh agony lancing through him, as if molten magma was burning apart his skin from the inside. His muscles seized, convulsing violently, his body rejecting whatever unholy force had been injected into him. ¡°And not to forget the other eye!¡± the man exclaimed. He stepped over, tears flooding Lloyd¡¯s blurry right eye as he stared daggers at the last thing it ever saw¡ªan unnervingly wide smile on the man¡¯s face. ¡°I won¡¯t forget this pain or your face,¡± Lloyd feebly mustered, before the man shoved a cloth inside his mouth and drove the silver needle into his last eye. The pressure in his skull built to an unbearable peak. It felt as though molten iron was being poured directly into his brain, searing every nerve, etching its torment into his very being. but the pain only grew, only consumed. Everything went black. He thrashed about, twisting and groaning, as the man continued to inflict pain, tearing off his nails before cutting off his fingers and toes, sticking iron rods in his skin, and ripping the hair off his scalp, screaming for hours and days. Lloyd lost count. He begged for death over and over. When would it end? His body failed him, his screams echoing off the walls, turning him into a bloody pile of mess. Eventually, the pain became nothing. Just a distant foreign feeling, like it was happening to someone else. He didn''t even know what pain was anymore; yet it was all he knew. Until¡­ he died. Surrounded in pitch blackness and nothingness, a distant ethereal voice called out to him, a ray of light. ¡°Lloyd, Lloyd Eosian. Awaken, you are not allowed to die yet.¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± he replied, a strange peace coming from the ethereal being¡¯s words. ¡°You are dead. However, I will grant you power. The ultimate power. You will be the strongest, but weaker than any living being. You, my successor, the most stubborn and hateful in living history.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked. ¡°I am you.¡± He gasped awake, lungs burning, the cold night air shocking him back to reality. His hands shot out, gripping the wooden surface beneath him. The carriage. He was back in the carriage. The same one he had snuck onto before. His heart pounded in his chest. What¡­ What the hell just happened? End of Chapter 5: Got The Life Chapter 6: Stockholm Syndrome Lloyd awoke from suffocating darkness to the noise of a soft rumbling. He was back in the carriage. His breathing hitched as realization struck. Again? He was back in the carriage. The same damn one. His fingers curled into a trembling fist, nails carving deep crescents into his palm until warm blood trickled between his fingers. His body shook¡ªnot from fear, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer, unrelenting rage that boiled within him. His jaw clenched so tightly it felt like his teeth might crack, his breath ragged and seething through bared teeth. His entire body tensed, veins pulsing against his skin, his muscles coiled like a beast on the verge of snapping its chains. His eyes, wide with rage, burned with an intensity that could melt steel. He wasn¡¯t afraid. All he felt was pure anger. And nothing in this world could stop him from tearing apart every last one of those bastards. They tried to break him. Reduce him to cattle. But this time, this time is different. ¡®I need to calm down and think of a plan, how can I get revenge on that prick?¡¯ Lloyd didn''t even consider the option of running, he didn''t care about anything at that moment, he didn''t even wonder why he was still alive. All he held was a deep unrelenting wish to see his torturer dead. This wish is the first thing Lloyd wanted in this world. So he came up with a plan, he would repeat his steps. Follow the kidnappers underground, Purposely get caught, wait a few days, and arrive at the auction house. And that''s what he did. There he sat in a wooden box once again, unable to break free. However this time he had a plan. An ingenious one at that. Gritting his teeth, Lloyd reached down to his left forearm. Pain flared as he ripped off a bandage, revealing an ugly, jagged wound. Within it, nestled deep in his flesh, was the metal shard he had stolen and embedded into his body before being captured by kidnappers. Blood oozed as he clenched his jaw, pinching the shard between his fingers and slowly sliding it out. A fresh wave of agony threatened to pull him under, but he endured. He had endured far worse. Once free, he pressed the bandage back down to staunch the bleeding and gripped the shard tightly. With careful precision, he began to saw through the wooden bars of his box. Each scrape, each splintering crack of wood, was a countdown to freedom. Minutes stretched into hours of unrelenting sawing, these cages were made of the finest oak wood. Then, with a final snap, the bars gave way. Lloyd crawled through the jagged opening, landing softly on the cold stone floor. He scanned the dimly lit room¡ªwooden crates stacked in corners, a single iron door on the far end. He crept forward, his heartbeat steady, his breath controlled. He had no time for hesitation. ¡®Firstly, i need to release the demons¡¯ Lloyd grinned
Lloyd exited through the doorway and The underground prison stank of iron and decay. Torches flickered along the damp stone walls, casting grotesque shadows over the rows of locked cells. But Lloyd wasn¡¯t here for the prisoners¡ªat least, not the human ones. ¡®The demons must be held deeper inside¡¯ Lloyd finally arrived to see two men in iron-plated armor, spears in hand. He hid around a corner. ¡®This must be where the demons are. This is the only place that''s heavily guarded,¡¯ Lloyd thought. Lloyd watched from the darkness, waiting. He had no weapon, no power. Just a body that refused to break and a mind that had already shattered and rebuilt itself. He gripped the shard in his palm and stepped forward. "What the¡ª" Lloyd lunged, ramming the jagged metal into the first guard¡¯s throat before he could finish speaking. A gurgled scream erupted as the man collapsed, clutching his neck. The second turned, eyes wide¡ªtoo slow. Lloyd grabbed the fallen spear, twisting it upward into the man¡¯s rib cage. A choked gasp, a spurt of blood, and silence. This was Lloyds first kill In the walls, he felt nothing. Lloyd stood over their bodies, breath heavy. He wiped his hands on his tattered shirt and picked up the ring of keys from one of the corpses.
He opened the door with a key and entered the room The cell reeked of sulfur and death. Within, shackled by thick chains, were beings that barely resemble the living. Their glowing eyes pierced through the darkness, watching his every move. Fear coiled in his gut, but he forced it down. He needed them. And they needed him. He dangled the keys in front of them. ¡°I¡¯m an arcanist,¡± he lied. ¡°If I let you out, you follow my orders.¡± The demons didn¡¯t move, did not speak. But something was wrong. Their expressions weren¡¯t defiant. They were terrified. One, a large hunched creature with obsidian like skin, whispered, ¡°You¡­ You smell like him.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Lloyd¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Are you an ArchDemon? Like who?¡± No answer. ¡®Whatever, an archdemon will be useful¡¯ He clenched his fist. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll let you out, and you¡¯ll do one thing for me¡ªkill every human in that auction house and you''re free to go¡± The demons hesitated. But this was their only chance of freedom, and what demon would jump in joy at the rare opportunity to kill humans, their captors at that. So they nodded along ¡°Alright, but if you lay your hands on any other human than inside that chamber I will personally skin you and cook your flesh and finally feast on you alive.¡± They nodded with more enthusiasm this time ¡®It seems these ones can understand what i''m saying, despite being lesser fiends¡¯ Is what Lloyd thought. However it was more their instinct of fear that understood the words he spoke Lloyd smirked and unlocked the cage.
The auction chamber became a bloodbath. Screams tore through the underground hall as demons descended upon the wealthy bidders, ripping through flesh, tearing apart the men and women who had laughed and bid on human lives. Lloyd moved with singular focus, stepping over mangled bodies as he sought out his tormentor. The torturer¡ªthe man with the twisted grin, the man who had ripped him apart piece by piece. And there he was, frozen in fear at the edge of the stage. His guards in a bout with a demon. A wide smile appeared on Lloyds face Lloyd wasted no words. He lunged, driving his stolen blade into the man¡¯s gut. The torturer gasped, blood pooling from his mouth as he staggered back. Lloyd yanked the blade free and slashed again, and again, and again. He laughed maniacally with joy He didn¡¯t stop until the man was nothing but a heap of shredded flesh. Lloyd turned to look upon the chaos that he brought upon the chamber. ¡°I told you I¡¯d kill you all¡± All the anger that resided inside of him could be set free.
Lloyd walked over to the one of many dead bodies and reached down into the waistcoat of a half eaten man. He took out an arc link and accessed the emergency radar. The arcane knights would come. And they would clean up the mess he had left behind. Lloyd didn¡¯t wait around for them. He quickly snatched a pouch of gold coins and made a break for it.
Slipping through the outskirts of the auction house, Lloyd found himself in a small town outside the eastern wall. The stink of blood clung to him, but luckily it was night and the streets were empty. He put on a long grey robe he stole to cover the blood that clung to him and paid for a carriage heading back to Eastwatch. The ride was silent. His body felt heavier than ever, and the weight in his chest didn¡¯t disappear. His tormentor was dead. The auction was in ruins. So why? !¡±Why do I feel so empty?¡± He Questioned clutching at his heart What was left? Nothing. Lloyd felt hollow. He wasn¡¯t happy, He didn¡¯t feel good. He couldn¡¯t forget the pain he felt. He glanced at his bloody stained hands. Blood that will never never wash away. Lloyd didn¡¯t know what he was like before losing his memories¡­ But Lloyd knew that he was never coming back.
By the time he reached home, dawn was creeping over the horizon. He collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion pulling him under. When he woke, Lloyd was surprised to find a black cat lazily resting on his lap ¡®a cat?¡¯ Lloyd thought while sitting up on his bed ¡®It feels strangely familiar, where have I seen this cat before?¡¯ Lloyd petted the cat which woke on his touch. The cat stretched and let out a large yawn. Unsure of what to do, Lloyd picked the cat up and chucked it outside. After all, Lloyd was busy. He still needed to process what had happened and how he did not die. He also had an interview with the principal of the prestigious¡­ Prestigious academy? Today. Lloyd sat up in his bed, and pondered. ¡®I need to prepare for the interview, I can''t exactly go wearing rags covered in blood. But more importantly, how am I still alive.?¡± He thought back to the moment he died, and remembered a voice calling out to him. ¡°Who was that? What did he mean by I am you?¡± He strained his mind, but came to no conclusion. ¡®Either way this person saved me, I won''t let this chance go to waste again.¡¯ Lloyd then prepared to leave the house. He had 2 missions.
  1. New clothes. His old pair was covered in blood and had to be thrown out and now only owned 1 pair of even more tattered clothes.
  2. Food. Lloyd was starving he couldn''t remember the last time he ate
So he dumped a bucket of cold water on his head. Chucked his rags on and left the house. He walked off into the city centre. Along with the black cat which walked at his side. ¡®It seems it''s going to follow me about. It also has a strange resemblance to the cat I saw in my memories.¡¯ As Lloyd walked around he realised the news had already spread to the local papers. The arcane knights had found the remnants of the underground network, rescued the captive children, and launched a full-scale investigation. The auction was finished. The perpetrators were dead. No one suspected him. ¡®Exactly as planned.¡¯ Lloyd lazily walked into a clothing store. He walked up to the counter where a lady was sat and chucked a gold coin onto the table. ¡°Get me your best¡± He spoke ¡°R-right away sir!.¡± she stumbled quickly dashing to find a measuring tape ¡®Gold coins are a lot more valuable than i thought¡¯ Lloyd exited the store. In a fashionable manner might I add. Lloyd¡¯s new attire was simple yet refined, a stark contrast to the blood-soaked rags he had endured before. A fitted black tunic hugged his frame, its fabric sturdy yet lightweight, allowing for ease of movement. The sleeves, cuffed at the wrists, bore subtle silver embroidery¡ªnothing extravagant, but enough to hint at a sense of elegance. A pair of dark, well-tailored pants accompanied the tunic, secured by a leather belt with a polished steel buckle. His boots, made of supple black leather, rose just past his ankles, their soles reinforced for both comfort and durability. Draped over his shoulders was the most striking piece of his ensemble¡ªa deep midnight blue trench coat, lined with a faint silver trim. The fabric was smooth, flowing effortlessly with his movements, yet heavy enough to offer warmth against the cold air. A clasp at the front, shaped like an intricate crest, held the robe in place, allowing it to billow slightly as he walked. Lloyd smiled. Satisfied with the clothes. He grabbed some food and headed home. A week had passed since he had been captured. And now, he had readied himself for the day, Selene arrived to take him to the academy. She had no idea what happened. It was time to move forward from that incident. If Lloyd could. End Of Chapter 6: Stockholm Syndrome Chapter 7: Fake It Till You Break It The rhythmic creak of the carriage wheels filled the air as Lloyd sat in silence, his fingers tracing the silver embroidery on his cuffs. ¡°We should be Arriving soon.¡± Selene stated she looked at Lloyd up and down who gave her a nod ¡°Although I am curious on how you managed to acquire those clothes. But it''s none of my business.¡± Lloyd jolted, ¡®I should''ve thought this through a bit more, there''s no way someone like me could have acquired money for luxuries like this¡¯ ¡°Still, you seem different aside from the clothes, like a completely new person¡± She gave Lloyd a long hard look ¡°Have your memories started to come back?¡± ¡°Something like that¡± Lloyd murmured, not wishing to disclose too much information. Lloyd trusted Selene however some things were not meant to be told. The trip from Eastwatch to the middle wall had been long, but as the landscape changed, so did the world around him. After exiting Eastwatch and travelling through the open plains for half a day they entered through a large metallic gate used for the convenience of people passing through to the inner or outer wall. The simple wooden houses and dirt roads of Eastwatch were a vast contrast compared to the middle wall city¡¯s, cobblestone streets lined with brick and stone homes, their walls adorned with intricate carvings and banners bearing family crests. Lanterns that glowed with steady, magical light lined the streets, and the scent of fresh bread and roasting meats drifted from grand restaurants that put Eastwatch¡¯s modest eateries to shame. People strolled about in tailored coats and finely woven dresses, their posture upright, their eyes sharp, nothing like the weary, struggling folk of his hometown. This was the city where the academy resided, The largest city in Blackreach capital of the walls some called it, However its true name being Vel''caria. Lloyd kept his expression impassive, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel like an outsider. He was stepping into a world far beyond what he had known. In Fact he still knew nothing of this world and largely acted on whims and instinct. The carriage slowed before an arcanist shop, its windows displaying an array of weapons embedded with shimmering Malachite gems. Selene stepped out first, gesturing for Lloyd to follow. Inside, the scent of oiled steel and polished wood filled his nose. The shopkeeper, a stout man with an eyepatch, recognized Selene immediately and gave a respectful nod. "Vice-Captain Vale, a pleasure as always," he greeted. "What brings you in today?" "I''m here to purchase an A-blade, one for a first timer" Selene replied, glancing toward Lloyd. The shopkeeper sized Lloyd up before stepping behind the counter and pulling out a case. With a flick of his wrist, he opened it, revealing a dagger with a serrated edge, the hilt embedded with a dull red Malachite shard. "This one is forged from the remnants of a Lower Earl Demon called Skritch. Quick, deadly, and good for someone who prefers finesse over brute strength." Lloyd lifted the weapon, testing its weight. It felt balanced, the magic within humming faintly beneath his fingertips. ¡®It''s not like I know what makes a good A-blade so it will work.¡¯ He gave Selene a nod, and without hesitation, she placed a pouch of coins on the counter. "Thank you," Lloyd murmured, slipping the weapon into the sheath at his side. "You''ll need it where you''re going," Selene said. "Come on, we have an interview to attend." Lloyd hesitated at first but he needed this weapon, Lloyd vowed to pay selene back someday.
The Grand Academy loomed ahead, its towering spires casting long shadows over the pristine white stone courtyard. Ornate archways marked the entrance, and beyond them, the academy grounds stretched endlessly, filled with training fields, lecture halls, and dormitories that rivaled the estates of noble families. It was the heart of arcanist education, where the strongest and most talented gathered to hone their craft. Lloyd followed Selene into the principal¡¯s office, a large chamber lined with bookshelves and relics from past battles. Seated behind a mahogany desk was an elderly man, his broad frame still imposing despite his age. A thick beard covered his face, and his piercing gray eyes studied Lloyd with quiet intensity. He was no mere administrator¡ªthis man had once been the Captain of the Night¡¯s Watch. "Lloyd Eosian," the principal spoke, his voice carrying a weight of authority. "I¡¯ve read your evaluation. Your compatibility with Malachite is exceptional, Your talent is the cream of the crop. But talent alone does not make an arcanist. Tell me¡ªwhat do you seek to accomplish here?" Lloyd met his gaze, his mind flashing back to the torment he had endured, the screams, the pain, the feeling of helplessness. And what about his second chance?, the anger he felt, the joy he found in revenge and the emptiness that corroded his heart after. ¡°I seek purpose.¡± The principal regarded him for a moment before nodding. "I see. A respectable goal for an Arcanist who has lost his memories. Given your abilities, you¡¯ve been assigned to Class A. Normally, your talent would place you in Class S, but there is no room at the moment. Class A, however, is among the best. Do not waste this opportunity." Lloyd inclined his head respectfully. "I won¡¯t." "Good. Your dormitory has already been arranged. Dismissed." On the walk to the dorms lloyd fell into deep thought From Lloyds knowledge Selene told him there were over 1000 Students in Crysmal Academy. There were 3 separate years with classes ranging from A-G including S class being the very top of each year. Normal students joined at the age of 18-20 any later and the amount of progress you make as an arcanist will decrease immensely. However Lloyd being a special case he joined at 16 due to his loss of memories and extremely high compatibility allowing him to join earlier than usual. There were around 30 - 40 students in each class. His A class, the first year being some of the best in his year. ¡®I still know nothing about being an arcanist. But I''ll learn what it means here.¡¯
The Class A dormitory was unlike anything Lloyd had ever seen. His room alone was larger than the shack he had lived in back in Eastwatch. A plush bed, a wooden desk, a wardrobe, and¡ªluxuries he had only dreamed of¡ªa private shower and toilet. The air smelled fresh, untouched, as though it belonged to someone else entirely. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He placed his belongings inside the wardrobe, adjusting the sheath of his new weapon before turning to Selene, who had accompanied him. She gave him a small nod. "This is where I leave you. The teaching assistant will take you to your class. Try not to get into too much trouble." Lloyd smirked faintly. "Of course, Thank you once again.¡± Selene nodded. ¡°See you when the sky turns blue.¡± ¡®What does that mean?¡¯ I stepped out of the dorm to find a young man in academy robes waiting outside, offering a polite bow. "Lloyd Eosian, correct? I¡¯ll be taking you to your class. They¡¯re currently on the training field. Follow me." Lloyd followed without a word. The academy¡¯s training field was vast, stretching farther than his eyes could see. Students dressed in the academy¡¯s uniform¡ªdark tunics adorned with gold insignias¡ªwere engaged in sparring matches, some using A-blades, others doing harsh physical exercises. The instructor, a stern-looking man with a scar across his jaw, paused as Lloyd approached. The teaching assistant cleared his throat. "Sir, this is Lloyd Eosian, the new addition to Class A." The instructor looked him over before gesturing for the students to gather. "Everyone, we have a new recruit. Introduce yourself, Lloyd." Lloyd stepped forward, his gaze scanning the crowd of his new classmates. "I¡¯m Lloyd Eosian." He left it at that, his tone cold and firm. He could feel the stares of his peers, some curious, others indifferent. He didn¡¯t care. He wasn¡¯t here to make friends. The instructor nodded. "Good, Fall in. Training isn¡¯t over yet. You can call me instructor thompson." Lloyd stepped into line, with the uncertainty of his future ahead. He was here now. And Lloyd would find his purpose here. ¡ª------------------------------------------------- ¡°Alright, we''ll finish off there, clean everything up and you''re dismissed until the next period.¡± Instructor Thompson called out However Lloyd could hardly process his words, he was drained and on the verge of passing out. ¡®This is worse than the demon kings training plan¡¯ Lloyd thought looking up at his instructor nervous of future lessons ¡®He''s a devil¡¯ Despite this, this was a fairly standard training session for arcanists which Lloyd had joined half way through. ¡®I''ve got a long way to go, but I''ll catch up soon enough.¡¯ While Lloyd rested on the ground a tall, muscular male walked over to him. ¡®He¡¯s massive¡¯ ¡°You''re Lloyd right?¡± ¡°Thats me¡± Lloyd replied lazily ¡°I see, nice to meet you. I''m Doran Castiel.¡± He spoke reaching a hand down to Lloyd Lloyd grabbed it and stood up while replying ¡°Nice to meet you too.¡± ¡°Since you''re new here I''ve been asked to take you round the campus and show you the different parts of the academy.¡± ¡°I see, that would be helpful, thanks¡± ¡°Anything you wanna see first?¡± ¡°Not particularly. Maybe the cafeteria?¡± ¡°Cool, let''s go there first¡± As they walked off the training grounds, Lloyd and Doran could hear distant mumbling off the other students. ¡°Did you see that? He looks so weak. He barely even made it through half the lesson¡± ¡°He¡¯s tiny as well. And not even 18 yet. What is the principle thinking?¡± ¡°Beats me, they let anyone in if they''ve got an ounce of talent and a powerful backing¡± This didn''t bother Lloyd, precisely because they were right, he was small and scrawny. Didn''t even know how to wield an A-blade and only was accepted due to Selene. Still he wasn''t going to let their expectations of him stay that way. ¡°Ignore them, I respect people like you.¡± Doran huffed. ¡°Huh, why?¡± Lloyd surprised of his words ¡°People like them only work to the bare minimum. Sure they''re stronger than you now, but from what i saw in just this training session, You''re a real hard worker. It''s people like me and you who are going to become strong, so strong that nobody can stop us.¡± Doran smiled at Lloyd. These words cut deep in Lloyd, he wasn''t even thinking of becoming stronger, He was merely running because he had nothing else to do. He trained hard because that''s all he knew how to do. ¡°Is this your purpose? Is that why you train so hard, to become strong?¡± Lloyd questioned ¡°Not at all, Becoming strong is merely a stepping stone for me. One day I will become the Leader of the Arcane Watchers. And single handedly defend this bastion.¡± He laughed as if flaunting how great he was. Lloyd was impressed. At merely his first meeting, he already had grown to like Doran. Doran and Lloyd walked through the academy discovering and learning about various parts of the academy. Doran had been in class 3 weeks before Lloyd so he had some experience. Before they finished up at their final lesson of the day. ¡°Malachite Resonance Training, pretty much enhancing our compatibility with our personal weapons through meditation, sparring or personal practice.¡± Doran answered ¡°I see, I''ve never used an A-blade before.¡± ¡°Oh really? That''s rare to see. No worries though, I can walk you through it.¡± They entered the training hall where multiple metallic dummies lay along with sparring pitches and a separate sound proof room for meditation. Class A students were already training as they entered the room The instructor was standing in the middle of the class ¡°Ah Lloyd, this is a lesson to enhance compatibility with an A-blade. Feel free to choose whichever method you feel you need the most, feel free to ask if you need any help.¡± ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± Instructor Thompson nodded and stepped off ¡°We should probably use the sparring pitches, as surprising as it sounds. The best and fastest way to break through to your weapon is through intense sparring. Don''t worry i''ll go easy on you though.¡± Doran snorted Lloyd had quite the competitive personality, ¡°You''re on¡± He smirked although Lloyd had no idea how to wield a knife. They walked over to an open sparring pitch and Doran talked Lloyd through the steps ¡°Firstly, take the knife out its sheath, give it a swing see how it feels¡± So that is what he did. He took out the dark steel coloured knife, a faint red light emanated within. However, not enough to break through. Lloyd swung it in the air with a right diagonal slash followed by a vertical slash upwards. The weight was light and smooth. Doran picked up an unusually large wooden mace, almost as tall as Lloyd. ¡°You sure it''ll be fine? Not using your A-blade?¡± Lloyd spoke slightly nervous of the immensely large opponent he faced ¡°Of course, an A-blade has no edge if the wielder hasn''t broken through yet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, blame me if you get hurt!¡± Lloyd announced dashing at Doran Doran prepared himself in a stance, As Lloyd approached at unnatural speed he swung upwards aiming for Dorans neck. However Lloyd was too slow. Dorans physical prowess was miles above Lloyds even without his A-blade. Once a user has broken through to an A-blade they will display immense speed and physical prowess which is why Doran was slightly surprised to see Lloyd disappear in front of him ¡®A feint?!¡¯ he thought quickly, twisting his body to protect the back of his neck. Where Lloyd had appeared and struck at. The weapons collided and Dorans wooden mace shattered into a hundred pieces. ¡°Wha- No way¡± he Gasped, staggering backwards from the force he felt from Lloyd. Lloyd jumped back, distancing himself from Doran. ¡°Lloyd, you said you''ve never wielded an A-blade before?¡± ¡°I haven''t even held a knife before. Is this not supposed to happen?¡± Lloyd answered truthfully ¡°No¡­ Lloyd, look at your knife.¡± He looked down to his knife had turned into a dark crimson red colour ¡°When did this happen? Does this mean I''m breaking through?¡± ¡°No, far from it. You''ve already broken through and harnessed at least 20% of its power.¡± Doran stuttered, Eyes wide in shock. ¡°What?!?¡± Lloyd yelped End of Chapter 7: Fake It Till You Break It Chapter 8: Who knew the big strong guy was an idiot! Lloyds Blade emitted a Dark crimson colour. Doran began to explain what this meant. Essentially a lower fiend A-blade always shone a red colour. However, depending on its shade signified how much of its power the user had access to. Doran walked over to the side and picked up his large mace. He strained, and the mace turned into a Light red colour, almost orange. ¡°Me personally, I have access to 90% of this lower fiend mace, made from an Orcs soul malachite. An Earl class beast.¡± Doran explained ¡°I see, Then does that mean you''ll start taking me seriously?¡± Lloyd smirked ¡°You¡¯re something else, even S class students wouldn''t dare underestimate me.¡± Doran cackled confident in his abilities ¡°Then I guess S class students would tremble in fear at just the thought of me¡± Lloyd exclaimed, dashing towards Doran who held his mace ready. And they clashed and sparred and sparred ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ¡°Alright lessons are over, pack your stuff and I''ll see you tomorrow. I¡¯ve got some big news for you all so be ready.¡± Instructor thompson called out ¡°Haaaaa, haaaaaa¡± Sat on the floor panting was Lloyd Doran extended an arm ¡°You¡¯ve got talent, you just need to work on your stamina and physicality and maybe someday you¡¯ll become strong enough to put a scratch on me¡± He laughed Lloyd reached out and grabbed his hand, lifting himself up ¡°You¡¯re something else, don¡¯t let those words come to bite you when you''re flat on the floor next week.¡± Lloyd joked ¡°Tch, look at how weak that pathetic commoner is.¡± A student said to his group of friends ¡°And a noble assisting a commoner? Doran makes light of our title¡± another said ¡°Commoner?¡± Lloyd asked ¡°There''s a lot more prejudice here than you think, don''t let them get to your head¡± Doran replied ¡°Are you a noble Doran?¡± ¡°Yeah, but bastards like them sully our name¡± Doran huffed ¡°Let''s go back, we all live in the same dorm right?¡± ¡°Yeah, lets go¡± Doran and Lloyd left the training hall and picked up food on the way back, entered the dorm and sat in the lounge area enjoying their well earned dinner. ¡°I can''t remember the last time I ate something so good.¡± Lloyd approved ¡°You''ve never had a burger before? What kinda stuff did you eat back home?¡± ¡°Moldy bread. And soup if I was lucky.¡± Lloyd spent most of his time in a prison cell back in Eastwatch, he didn''t hold many happy memories of his so called hometown. ¡°Ouch that''s tough, on the other hand now that you''re in the academy be prepared for a whole world of joy!. Burgers are only the start of it.¡± Doran exclaimed. ¡®He seems to be quite the foodie¡¯ The same group of boys walks past Lloyd and Doran once again protesting at the sight of Lloyd ¡°Look at that, were even being forced to live with a commoner¡± one of the boys said ¡°Is this the standard here at Crysmal? The so-called greatest.¡± ¡®Am I going to have to deal with this every day? It''s enough in lessons but i''ve gotta live with them. Maybe i should just kill them¡¯ Lloyd pondered ¡°Oi, you bastards, I''m tired of hearing your prattle everywhere I go, if you''ve got a complaint, submit it directly to the headmaster who accepted him.¡± Doran argued, pounding his fist into the table and glaring at them menacingly. ¡°D-doran, I don''t see why you''re wasting your time with a commoner with your stre¨C¡± ¡°Huh? You think I''m wasting my time? Instead of spending Practical sessions making connections and wasting your time on pointless drivel, you should be training and preparing for the upcoming Interclass battle.¡± ¡°Fuck off loser.¡± Doran announced sticking up a middle finger ¡°Tch How uncouth for a noble, i''ll make you pay, both of you¡± The leader spat walking away Lloyd whistled, ¡°They sure are scared off you¡± ¡°They should be chumps like them are worthless, no better than worms in the dirt. They spend their time making friends with other nobles, instead of training against the looming threat of demons.¡± ¡®He certainly holds strong opinions, Not that I disagree with them.¡¯ ¡°Where are you from anyways?¡± Lloyd nervously questioned trying to move the conversation somewhere else ¡°Right here in Vel''caria, I know this place like the back of my hand¡± Doran proudly denounced ¡°Ohhh¡ª Doran and Lloyd chatted until the sun went down. ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Next Day Doran and Lloyd had just entered class A¡¯s homeroom and sat down next to each other. The building similar to a lecture hall ¡°Good Morning Doran!¡± Announced a small skinny girl with short green hair who had just walked up to where they sat and began to take a seat next to Doran. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Ohhh Ivy! This is Lloyd he just joined our class yesterday¡± ¡°Yo, Lloyd Eosian, You two know each other?¡± ¡°I''m Ivy, Ivy Callahan. We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids. I wasn''t in the academy yesterday but I''m glad to see you getting along, Doran always scares off the people who try to get to know him.¡± She giggled. ¡°T-that''s hardly true, I''m naturally good at getting along with people. Right Lloyd?¡± ¡­. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Oh, would you look at that! class is starting!¡± Lloyd Evaded In entered Professor Thompson ¡°Alright class, I''ve got a big announcement to make. Regarding the intraclass friendly, it will be going ahead in two weeks time. I''ll explain the rules now, so listen carefully.¡± To summarize. The Gauntlet trials it was called. A series of games to decide the stronger class. Game 1: Team Clash The first stage of the Gauntlet Trials is a 3 vs 3 elimination battle. Each class will divide themselves into teams of three, and these teams will face off against teams from the opposing class in a series of battles.

Rules & Mechanics:

Strategic Impact:

Game 2: Search and Destroy The second stage of the Gauntlet Trials introduces a strategic and high-stakes challenge where each class must protect their designated leader while simultaneously hunting down the opposing class¡¯s leader.

Objective:

Rules & Mechanics:

Strategic Impact:

¡°That is all, I expect the utmost amount of effort from every single one of you in preparation for this exam. You can hand in your team forms at the front. If you''re unable to find a team, contact me.¡± Thompson finished. ¡°Sir! Which class are we battling against?¡± A random student called out. The instructor glared at the student. ¡°That shouldnt be important, regardless you work and train your very best until the day. I''m done taking questions. Enjoy your free but I suggest you spend it wisely¡± He glared at certain students. Walking off. ¡°He¡¯s grumpy as usual¡± Ivy Frowned ¡°At least we get the day off from theory lessons and we can go back to training!¡± Doran grinned ¡°What about the Trials, shouldn¡¯t we start planning as a class and preparing for them¡± Lloyd replied ¡°That¡¯s true, but our class rep is that brown haired bastard from yesterday who has a thing for commoners.¡± ¡°Then, us 3 should become a team? We can at least train together and prepare for the Team Clash¡± Ivy suggested ¡°Sounds good, let''s hand the form in.¡± Doran stood up and grabbed a form. ¡°Huh? You sure you wanna be in the same team as me? I''ll only drag you down.¡± Lloyd was a bit shocked. ¡°What are ya talking about? You can already spar with me. Sure you can only harness less than a quarter of what I can. But your instincts and battle style make up for it. Give yourself some time and experience and you''ll be at my level soon. Although once you reach that i''ll already be wielding Archfiend A-blades.¡± Doran cackled ¡°For Doran to praise you so much and to be able to spar with him, These signs are already enough for me to recognise your strength, I hope we get along.¡± Ivy smiled extending a hand in Lloyds direction Lloyd slightly flushed. grasped her hand ¡°Likewise¡± ¡®Now that I''m looking, She¡¯s pretty, like an elf from fantasy novels.¡¯ ¡°Alright let''s get this signed then!¡± Doran placed the paper on the table signing his name which then Ivy and Lloyd followed. ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Later that day, in one of Crysmal Academy''s training rooms Ivy, Doran and Lloyd all sat round in a circle Doran took control, seemingly the one with the most experience. ¡°So, from what i''m seeing, we have a tank, an assassin and an archer in our team¡± Doran analysed ¡°Right.¡± Lloyd nodded along ¡°So the plan is¡­.¡± Lloyd focused intensely, prepared to not miss a beat of this plan. ¡­. ¡°I''ll go like Boom!! And take out this guy, and then you will go around and Boooom Take out the second guy and finally Ivy will finish the last one off with a Skadoosh! And that will secure our win to the next round. How¡¯s that, flawless right?¡± He proudly asked as if a dog was waiting to receive a treat from its owner after peeing on the floor. Ivy pressed her hand against her forehead ¡°I expected nothing less from you¡± Lloyd stared blankly, ¡°Wait, you''re not joking?¡± ¡°Huh? That''s rude, why would I be joking? I take everything serious.¡± Lloyd didn''t say a word Ivy leaned over to Lloyd cupping her hand and whispered into his ear ¡®Doran has 0 sense of strategy, basically a meathead.¡¯ Lloyd lifted a hand to his chin ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°Hey I can hear you!!¡± Doran cried out ¡°Well it wasn''t all bad! But me and Lloyd can take over from here.¡± She laughed nervously ¡°Hmph, More importantly let''s get back to training. Strategies involve too much thinking, who needs a plan when i can bust them open with these guns!¡± He smiled lifting up his arms and flexing his burly arms Both Lloyd and Ivy stared blankly at Doran ¡°Hey! Don''t look at me like that its condescending¡± He shrunk ¡®This is going to be a long 2 weeks¡¯ Lloyd sighed ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Somewhere In Crysmal Academy through the howl of an icy cold wind, bathed in the moon''s protective light, There lay a sleeping familiar black cat. Seemingly forgotten about, what is this strange cat? Where does it belong in this story? What is its connection to Lloyd? End of Chapter 8: Who knew the big strong guy was an idiot!