Sage of the Forlorn Path
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Across Eternity: Book 6 - Chapter 6
🕑 Added 2024-08-27 01:30:38 +0000 UTCBehind the Scenes
After the third round of fights, the tournament was suspended until the next day, and everyone returned home. Sitting at the desk in Valon’s room, Noah was busy replicating the headband he got from Saimallah. He had already used alchemy to create an exact replica, including the engraved runes, and was now applying a suitable ink. As he worked, he scrutinized the formula repeatedly, making sure it did what it was supposed to. For all he knew, putting it on could brand him with a curse. In his long years across the multiverse, he had learned to always look a gift horse in the mouth. Reading the formula was like reading a contract, and he had to be wary of fine print.
Sure that the replica headband was safe, he took a deep breath and put it on. The second the knot was tied, his whole body spasmed and became rigid, leaving him unable to move, as if he were awake during surgery. It was a strange sensation, like every muscle had a weight attached. Fortunately, his heart and lungs seemed unencumbered, so he wasn’t in danger, and he could also still speak, probably so that the user could call for help since they likely wouldn’t be able to remove the headband on their own, but no matter how much he pushed or pulled, he could not resist the invisible binds. Saimallah said that the wearer could only move by keeping their mana energized and flowing at full capacity, so that’s what Noah focused on.
He reached into his inner self, feeling his energy circulating through his system, and began upping the intensity. By increasing one’s energy flow like this, a magic user could gather their strength for a spell quicker and easier. The problem was that doing it wasted energy and resulted in fatigue. Before a race, a sprinter might hop up and down or jog in place to get their blood flowing faster, allowing them to reach their peak earlier, but if they did it too much, they might find themselves out of breath when they needed it.
Noah started with one finger, sending his mana surging through the muscle fibers, and soon could lift it. He could still feel the headband trying to restrict him, but now he could push back. He did the same to his other fingers, soon gaining full control of his hand. The effort required was considerable, but this manner of controlling his mana was not dissimilar to how he could control his clone. Rather than something he would wear like a disguise, he simply had to think of his clone as something that existed within him, under his skin.
He extended his control throughout his body, first adjusting his position in his chair, then, while pouring sweat, he lifted himself up and got to his feet. Just standing up straight and remaining upright was a challenge. Back when he first unlocked his clone ability, he remembered having to reacquaint himself with every muscle required for standing and balance, and those first few steps were like all the times he learned to walk as a baby. All that experience was invaluable. Soon enough, he was circling the room, tweaking the awkwardness out of his movements.
Once he got accustomed to the restraints, he decided to challenge himself. He removed his shirt and began performing his personal workout. Now, it wasn’t just his muscles being strained, but his mana reserves and control. Having spent numerous lifetimes pursuing the peak of physical fitness, he knew how to fight through strain and fatigue, and push his body to its limits and beyond, but this experience was a whole new dimension of challenging. The closest thing he could compare it to was performing weight training in high altitudes and crushing depths.
Eventually, he had to stop and rest, unable to complete his workout. The fact that it was so challenging meant that he was doing something right. He assumed the lotus position on the floor and began meditating to regain his strength. Now that he was no longer moving, the crushing force of the magical restraints eased, while still keeping his mana suppressed. Curious, he decided to practice with his spiritual sense training. The Harajin had a method of invisibility known as Bakudan, in which they would slow the flow of their mana, near to the point of a complete halt, and that stillness would allow them to blend in with their environment, as if reality itself had overlooked them. It also helped hone one’s awareness of the ethereal.
Noah had already made progress in slowing the flow of his mana and his bodily functions, and the headband was helping. His heart dropped to one beat a minute, and he all but stopped breathing. Typically, such a state would be fatal, but the more he slowed down his mana, the more he could forestall damage. Without mana flowing, his cells would stop processing nourishment and oxygen, but they wouldn’t wither and die, for the molecular processes of cell death were also halted. Caught in a near-perfect state of suspended animation, his physical senses operated at the lowest possible level, and he became more attuned to the flow of mana around him, sharpening his spirit senses.
He couldn’t maintain this state for long, and eventually snapped out of it, gasping for air as if he had lost a lung. He had to be careful with this training method, as there was no telling what health dangers it posed. He resumed meditating, slowly replenishing his mana reserves. Once they had reached a decent level, an idea occurred to him. He summoned his clone, feeling it overlap his presence with a copy, but now, he was unable to separate from it. The headband was trapping his mana within his body, making him feel wrapped in a thick layer of insulation.
He pushed against the seal, using his mana to separate from his clone, but it was like he was buried in concrete. He couldn’t project his mana even a centimeter beyond his skin. It was even more difficult than performing his workout, but this was precisely what he wanted. Saimallah said that he and his fellow monks used these headbands to train their projection abilities, and there was no better way than this. As he struggled and strained, the seal began to give, ever so slightly, feeling less like concrete and more like rubber.
Slowly, and with no shortage of effort, he began to pry off his clone, separating centimeter by centimeter. Sitting on the floor, he resembled an animal shedding its skin. Eventually, he and his clone split like dividing cells, but the seal was trying to pull them back together. Moving his clone forward felt like trying to swim upriver, and it was taking everything he had not to be pushed back, let alone advance further. However, he felt himself closing in on something, a sensation, or perhaps it could be called a state of mind. Whatever it was, it seemed to help him project his mana. If he could make this state of awareness easier to access, then his magic would surely grow much more powerful.
Down below, he heard a knock on the front door, and Shannon answered. The brief moment of distraction snapped his clone back as if it had been yanked with a tether. Once again, he was left gasping for air and dripping sweat. He deactivated his magic and ripped off his headband, immediately sighing in relief. That sensation alone was worth the stress of training, as if slipping into a hot bath.
Moments later, she arrived. “My Lord, Sophia is here to see you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Noah panted, “just doing some training.”
“Your nose is bleeding.” Noah wiped his nose, revealing a red streak on his hand. “Are you sure you’re well?”
“It was some intense training, but you don’t need to worry. You said Sophia is here? Just her, no Alexis or Cyrilo?”
“No, sir.”
“Interesting. Please show her in and make some tea. Tell her I’ll be down by the time it’s ready.”
“Of course,” she said with a bow.
After Shannon departed, Noah gave himself a quick birdbath with a damp cloth to wipe off his sweat. The training had been intense indeed. He also needed to stop his nosebleed before he saw Sophia.
Downstairs, Shannon led Sophia into the foyer. “Please make yourself at home. Lord Noah is freshening up, but he’ll be down as soon as I pour the tea.”
“Thank you,” said Sophia with a wisp of nervousness. Shannon turned around, but Sophia called out to her. “Wait, Shannon, can… can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“You help Noah perform his magic and experiments, right?”
“That’s right. I am his “lab assistant,” according to him.”
Sophia bit her lip. When she and Noah were at the academy, they helped each other with their research projects, she with her healing techniques and he with his alchemy. He had referred to her the same way. It had been a point of pride for her, that she was able to help him, that he needed her.
“Do you enjoy it? To work under him, I mean?”
“Well, it can be pretty scary at times. When we were in Welindar, he would experiment on members of the Pack, injecting them with various drugs to study their reaction, or slicing them open to see how they worked inside. Early on, I was actually frightened of him, this man who could do the most terrifying things so easily. However, I soon took notice of his skill.
Watching him work, the expertise at his fingertips, it was like watching a masterful performance. Even the act of dissection was artful. He was so knowledgeable, so capable, and he would explain how he used these techniques in the past to help people. My fear quickly turned to admiration, and I realized that Lord Noah could not be judged by such terms as good or evil. He is neither black nor white, but gray at both its darkest and brightest, a gray as deep as the ocean.
Then, I would help him with his alchemy, and the things I learned amaze me to this day. To see the world in its smallest shards, it changes you. Before I met him, I lived in a tent in the grasslands, and now I’m being taught how the universe works and how to turn worthless dirt into priceless gems. It’s both humbling and encouraging. And when he wasn’t fighting the Profane, he was helping Welindar advance in farming, mining, and sanitation, almost rebuilding it from the ground up. For him to know so much, this man who was recognized by the spirits, it was awe-inspiring. I wanted to entrust everything to him, to follow him forever, because I knew whichever direction he went was the right one.”
Sophia knew that feeling painfully well. She missed working alongside Noah, and hearing Shannon experience what she had, having replaced her, it was discouraging. She loved being Cyrilo’s assistant, but it wasn’t the same.
“And I know you’re… closer with him than just his assistant.”
Shannon got Sophia’s meaning and blushed with her ears twitching. “Well, that is true. I swore myself to Lord Noah and Lady Valia, body, mind, and soul. That includes… intimate service, but they never forced me into anything I didn’t want to do. It was I who first offered.”
“What’s it like?” Sophia hated herself for asking it, even before she spoke the words. Again and again, she’d promise herself she’d push Noah out of her heart and devote all her love to Alexis, but this torch she was carrying, she couldn’t release it no matter how much she tried.
Shannon kneaded her hands together. “Well, I definitely need a lot of stamina, but it is wonderful, being able to please my Lord and Lady. I know that you and Lord Noah are also close.”
“We are… were… close, for one night, and then he bowed out for me and Alexis. Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if he had allowed us to accompany him and Valia on their journey. The fact that he never asked makes me wonder if we were ever close at all.”
“I can’t speak on Lord Noah’s behalf or pretend to understand what he thinks or feels. I can only tell you what I believe: trust him. Trust his reasoning. Maybe it’s because you were close that he didn’t want to endanger you.”
Sophia mulled over Shannon’s words, then turned as Noah came down the stairs. “Hello, Noah,” she said with a bashful smile.
“Sophia, so nice of you to visit. What’s going on?”
“Can we talk? It’s important.”
“Of course. Please, take a seat.”
Shannon bowed. “Please excuse me, I’ll start the tea.”
Noah and Sophia sat in the foyer, he in a chair and she on the couch, while Shannon disappeared into the kitchen.
“How can I help?”
Sophia could not meet his gaze. “It’s about what happened to Bella. There is something you need to know. She wasn’t bitten, she was—”
“She got her hands on a bottle of Profane venom that Cyrilo was holding, I know.”
Sophia was shocked. “You know? But how?”
“I was the one who gave her the bottle, though technically, I was just acting as the courier. She was after a special potion and accidentally received that venom instead.”
“Then you know it’s her—our—fault that Bella went on her rampage.”
“You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
Sophia clutched her hands tightly. “But I did know. I knew she had that venom because I helped her transfer its abilities to a vial of Abernathy’s Ichor. I warned her what would happen, how dangerous it was to keep that bottle, and implored her to destroy it. She didn’t listen and told me to keep it a secret. To my shame, I did, and now I have the king’s blood, and the blood of countless knights and soldiers on my hands. Cyrilo said she would take responsibility for anything that happened, but all she’s done is go with the flow, hiding behind lies. Every time I try to talk to her about it, about us facing our sins, she silences me. She did it today, which is why I came to you. I must admit, I’ve lost a great deal of respect for her.
I don’t want to be executed or spend my life in the dungeon for what we did, but I… I have to tell someone. I have to face some kind of judgment. After everything that’s happened, I just can’t sit on this any longer, and if I am to break my promise and reveal this to someone, if I am to be punished by someone, I want it to be you.”
“You haven’t told Alexis?”
Shannon arrived with a full teapot and poured them each a cup. Her maid routine was developing splendidly. Sophia didn’t answer, not until Shannon left.
“She figured it out on her own. Or rather, she simply didn’t believe Cyrilo’s story. She’s keeping quiet because she doesn’t want Cyrilo and me to get in trouble. It’s not fair to her, to have to bear this sin with us. Honestly, I’m no different. I’m grateful to Cyrilo for everything she’s done for Alexis and me, and without her, our literature program has no future. Our dream is to change the world by granting everyone the gift of knowledge, but is noble sentiment enough to make up for what we did? Is it wrong for me to protect her? To protect myself? To escape punishment under the excuse that we’re trying to make a better world?”
Noah took a sip of tea. “I can understand why you would come to me for this, why you sought my judgment, but I am the wrong person to go to for ethical counseling. I have no moral code, no righteous instinct. I have done truly wicked things in the past, and the only regret I feel is the effort I wasted on amoral endeavors that failed to bear fruit. I’m in no place to judge you for what happened.
If you want punishment for you and Cyrilo, tell me this, what will it accomplish? What’s done is done. The dead are already in the ground, and no amount of flagellation will bring them back. Whether you receive punishment or not, nothing changes. None of it matters. It’s all pointless. If you were a violent criminal, unrepentant, or even pleased with the carnage Bella wrought, then for the objective sake of society, I would say you should be locked away or executed. However, that isn’t you. I see your guilt and pain, so it’s not like there is any grand lesson for you to learn by being punished. If you think sitting in the dungeon will make you feel better, relieve you of your guilt, and bless you with a clean conscience, then the punishment is for your sake, not anyone else’s.”
“But though we’ve gone to war with the church, I am still a devout believer in Lumendori. I told Cyrilo that by helping her, I was dirtying my soul in the eyes of God, and that’s how I truly feel. Ever since that night, I’ve been unable to pray, and I feel so alone. I’m left wondering by what right I have to ask Lumendori for protection or forgiveness, having involved myself in the purest evil. Have I turned my back on God, or has God turned his back on me?”
“If God was angry at you, do you not think him capable of clearly telling you? You say you have dirtied your soul in the eyes of God, but that is because you feel that way, not because God appeared and told you. There are two errors that people make regarding their faith. The first is believing that they understand God, that God shares their values and thinks like they do. To think that you can know what God feels, wants, believes, and demands is the ultimate hubris, surpassed only by declaring yourself God.
The second error is taking silence for an answer. When you pray to God and get only silence, that is neither a yes nor a no. It is simply the absence of a response. Whether or not God has heard your prayers is impossible to know, so however you interpret the silence, it is due to your own feelings. If you do something wrong and God doesn’t punish you, does that mean your actions are condoned or forgiven? How could you possibly know if God doesn’t explicitly tell you? God hasn’t deemed you unworthy; you deemed yourself unworthy. Do not try to find meaning in silence. All you hear is your own conscience.”
“So what should I do?”
“First, you should drink your tea.”
Sophia looked at the cup set before her. She hadn’t even touched it yet. She picked it up and took that first sip. “It’s good.”
“You can thank Shannon for that. She has some kind of miracle gift when it comes to teas and soups. I can’t explain it; she gets the flavoring exactly right every single time.” Sophia giggled and continued drinking. Down the hall, Shannon, who was doing her best not to eavesdrop, blushed and smiled with her ears twitching happily. “As for what you should do, I’d say you’re on the right path already. Like you said before, your literature program has no future without Cyrilo, or you for that matter, so if either of you are imprisoned or executed, your dream of changing the world dies. You truly can help people by bringing about the Age of Information. Don’t throw that away to alleviate your guilt.
If you want my judgment, here it is: let your guilt be your penance. Bear it, suffer under it, burn in it. Work even harder now, so that you can help more people than Bella hurt. That is how you pay for your sins, by making a difference, not by sitting in a dungeon. Sophia Rosege, I hereby sentence you to a lifetime of hard labor, bringing mankind into the next age. That is the punishment I bestow upon you. Just make sure you don’t neglect Alexis or anyone else.”
Sophia took a deep breath as she was overcome with relief. Noah told her to endure her guilt, but if anything, she now felt it lighten. A gentle condemnation, a way to make up for her sins, it was exactly what she needed. She gazed at Noah, this man who had changed her whole world. He always knew what to say to make her feel better and lift her out of the bog of despair and confusion. It was just one of the reasons why she loved him.
“Thank you,” she said wholeheartedly before taking another sip of tea.
“You’re welcome. Now, is there anything else you want to talk about? Tell me, how are things with you and Alexis?”
Sophia smiled and blushed. “It’s like a dream. We can finally live our lives true to each other, no longer having to hide, no longer kept apart by family or obligation. Every night, I get to fall asleep beside her in our warm bed, and every morning, I open my eyes, and she’s right there with me. We get to spend our days and nights together, talking, laughing, whispering. If not for you, I don’t think we ever could have been blessed with such a life, with such freedom and happiness. Thank you for everything.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that. You both ended up at the Knight’s Sheath because you were stripped of your rank due to my actions. I’m just glad everything worked out for the two of you, that you’re both happy. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”
As he looked into her beautiful blue eyes, saw her adoring smile, and admired the flawless scarlet of her hair, he felt a stirring in his chest. After all of the one-night stands he had experienced, his evening with Sophia at the academy should not have affected him. He stepped aside, letting Alexis be with her as they were meant to be, and yet, at the moment, he found himself longing for her. She was sweet, loving, courageous, and pure of heart while honest about her desires. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, to caress her, to wake up beside her and see her smile. But was that because of his feelings for her, or his feelings for who she reminded him of?
He had never told her what he and Alexis spoke of that snowy morning, never told her the real reason why he had helped her break free of Galvin. If he did, how would she react? Would she become disheartened, accusing him of toying with her for his own selfish desires because he couldn’t let go of the past? Or would she go with it, try to take up the role of his long-departed wife, forsaking her identity, her future, and her relationship with Alexis just to receive his affection? Neither was an outcome he wanted.
“Sophia, welcome,” said Valia, entering the foyer.
“Lady Zodiac!” Sophia beamed.
“Please, I keep telling you, just call me Valia. What brings you here?”
“I just wanted to talk to Noah about what happened with Bella. How are you feeling? You’re looking much better.”
“I definitely feel it. Most of my fatigue is gone, and I’ll be back and fighting quite soon. If anything, I’m starting to feel a bit restless, afraid I’ll get soft if I keep lounging around like a fat cat in front of a fireplace.”
“I’m glad. I was starting to get worried. It seemed like your recovery was taking longer than it should have.”
“Well, with all the treatment you’ve given me since I arrived, I’m probably ahead of schedule. I can’t thank you enough for that. So, shall we all head to the Knight’s Sheath? I’m craving a drink and some good music.” She then began to laugh and stood behind Noah, rubbing his shoulders. “To think I’d reach this point in my life, spending all these evenings down in a brothel. You’re a horrible influence on me.”
“You aren’t nearly as innocent as you pretend to be,” he teased.
“I was a saint before I met you, and now look at me. But I suppose I should thank you for making things so interesting.” She then leaned down and kissed him, and Sophia tried to subtly avert her gaze and hide the fresh bruise on her heart.
The four walked to the Knight’s Sheath, where the late afternoon rush was starting to boil. As soon as they arrived, Cyrilo snatched up Sophia. “Sophia, there you are! Be a dear and go up to Room 7. One of our customers had a little accident while trying to perform a Flying Sock Puppet and needs your attention.”
“Flying Sock Puppet?” Shannon whispered.
“You’re probably better off not knowing, as am I,” Valia replied.
“Let’s just say that it’s a bedroom maneuver not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for amateurs,” said Noah.
“Noah, could you grab Alexis from the basement for me? Her shift is starting.”
Valia and Shannon went to get some good seats while Noah descended into the basement, following the sounds of blows landing. He found Alexis pummeling her sandbag and working up a sweat.
“You got a nice setup down here,” he said.
“I need to stay in shape,” she said, not turning around and continuing to punch and kick her swinging target. “Most of the customers know not to cause trouble now, and those that do, well, they do it for the attention.”
“I spent a good amount of time down here with Cyrilo, helping to prepare for our special party. I constructed a lot of sex rigs to put the girls on display for their audience.”
Alexis finally turned to him. “You mean you built all those crazy contraptions? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to move those damn things? That big spinning X-shaped one with the restraints was such a pain for me and Lucius to carry up and down the stairs. Cyrilo never seemed satisfied with where we put those things. “No, maybe over there,” she’d kept saying. “Hmmm, maybe we should put it in Lisa’s room.” It was awful.”
“Hey, you said you need to stay in shape.”
“At least I didn’t have to clean them.”
“Speaking of Cyrilo, she says it’s time for your shift.”
“Is it? I often lose track of time in here.”
“It’s a shame you didn’t join the tournament. Even though you’re already silver rank, I bet you would have enjoyed it.”
“I’ll be honest, I do regret it a bit, but…” she trailed off, turning away from her punching bag and unwrapping the bandages around her hands. Seeing that she wouldn’t continue, Noah punched the bag, sending it swinging so far back that it almost hit the ceiling.
“This about Bella?”
Alexis sighed. “I’ve lost fights before, plenty of times, as you can imagine. But Bella, that was something else. I failed, Noah. I failed to protect the Knight’s Sheath, my comrades, the king. I was knocked aside by a monster that defies the laws of nature. No matter how much I train, how much I struggle, what good is it when someone like Bella, who never fought a day in her life, can suddenly become an unholy demigod and crush us like we’re insects? How is that fair? Part of me did want to take part in the tournament, to show everyone, including myself, how strong I am. But… I was afraid I would instead be reminded of how weak I am.”
Noah continued punching the bag in her place. “Since when has it ever been fair? When I was in Handent, I fought a Profane who forced me to fake my death in order to escape, and another captured me like a fly in a web. In Welindar, the battle was lost because I failed to kill Kaisen before he could transform. This is the struggle of fighting against the Profane, the struggle of being outclassed and overpowered. In this war, surviving with just a bruised ego is victory enough. You stood up to that monster, you fought, you survived.
You’re still here because you’re strong, maybe not strong enough to win, but strong enough to live. How many knights and soldiers can say that? How many people in history do you think have clawed their way through the mud, gnashing their teeth and howling in pain, all for that little victory? You being here, after all that bloodshed and horror, is an accomplishment you shouldn’t dismiss.”
Alexis sat down against the wall, watching Noah land blow after blow. She could see the strength and mastery in his movements. She suspected he could tear through that canvas bag with his fist like it was nothing. For him to be forced into a corner, to be bested by these monsters, what did that say about her?
“All I ever wanted was to change the world, to make it a better place where the weak wouldn’t be stepped on and enslaved, where freedom was a right instead of a privilege. I pushed myself, I struggled, I suffered, all for that goal, and survival is the best I could accomplish? If I have to focus only on survival, to be grateful just for staying alive, then how am I supposed to change anything? How am I any different from those who do nothing to fix this broken, corrupt reality?”
“Your loss to Bella does not undo everything you, Sophia, and Cyrilo have accomplished. The literature program you’ve established is a blessing for this world, and you and Sophia managed to take down a gold-ranked knight who was standing in the way of public education. That is no small feat. You’re too young to be focusing on your regrets, on what you couldn’t do. The story of the Bow Mistress is only just beginning. When the war against the Profane is over, they’ll sing songs and legends about you, about how you fought and saved this world. And your clash with Bella? That’ll be a good story for you to tell around the campfire.”
“You think so?”
“I told you before, yours is a destiny of promise, one I wish to see fulfilled.”
Alexis gave a sad smile and hugged her knees to her chest. “Though I complained about it initially, I’ve had a lot of fun here at the Knight’s Sheath. I love living and working with Sophia, I love helping the girls and keeping them safe, I love punishing the arrogant and entitled ogres that come in here and think they can do whatever they want, and I love reading those books on quiet and lazy afternoons. But still, part of me wishes… that Sophia and I had come along with you and Valia on your journey. I was angry at you for what happened, but all this time, I’ve missed you. I missed talking to you, I missed eating with you, I missed arguing with you, and fighting alongside you. Why didn’t you invite us? Why… did you leave us behind?”
“I did invite you, remember? I invited you to become a free agent, to come with me and see what was on the other side of the horizon. You told me you couldn’t be the person I wanted you to be, even though the only person I want you to be is you.”
“But that was before everything changed with Sophia and Galvin, before you knew what kind of woman I am. But at the end of the year, when you told us the truth of who you are, had you invited us to help you find Valia’s brother, to help you fight the Profane in Handent, we would have jumped at the chance, but you never asked.”
“I’ll admit, we could have certainly used a healer and an archer on our team. But I know how Sophia feels about me, and how you feel about Valia. If the four of us traveled together, she and I would have been a distraction to you two, and your relationship would have suffered for it.” He stood over Alexis and held out his hand to her, just as he did when they spoke in the snow. “You two deserved a fresh start, a chance for your love to bloom in the sun instead of wither in our shadows. I apologize for the arrest and messiness that happened after I beat Seraph, but I am glad to return here and see you two living your lives, free and in love. That’s all I wanted for you two.”
And just like in the snow, Alexis took his hand. He pulled her to her feet, and she smiled.
“It’s good to have you back, Noah.”
“It’s good to be back.”
The two of them went upstairs to find another bounty hunter looking for Noah. “Is the Wandering Spirit here?” he’d ask those around him, with the glint of blood money in his eyes. Valia and Shannon were keeping their distance, not wanting to get hassled.
“Can you not kill this one?” Alexis whispered. “Honestly, what you did to the last guy left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“As you wish. I’ll put on a show for everyone.” Noah applied his aged guise and stepped out of the basement doorway, with the bounty hunter immediately spotting him.
“I’m looking for the Wandering Spirit. You know where he is?”
“You too? Well, get in line, because the only one killing that bastard is me,” replied Noah angrily.
“That’s funny, considering you look kind of like his wanted posters,” the bounty hunter replied, showing a flier with a sketch of Noah in his hat and coat.
Noah, who had taken a seat at the bar and lit a gonlief cigarette, huffed in faux annoyance. “Insult to motherfucking injury. He stole my wife and my look, and now I got little shitheads mistaking me for the guy I plan on skinning alive.”
“And who are you?”
Noah flashed his knight emblem. “Jon Doe, knight of Uther and husband of a lying whore. That son of a bitch, Noah, bedded my wife and left her pregnant, so if you think you’re going to rob me of the pleasure of stringing that rat bastard up by the balls, know that you’ll end up dangling right next to him.”
In the back, Alexis maintained a straight face, but deep down, she wanted to laugh. Others were watching the interaction and understood what Noah was doing. They all sat back and hid their grins, not wanting to ruin the fun.
“You may be a knight, but that’s not going to stop me from collecting that bounty. The Wandering Spirit is mine, and if you know what’s good for—”
“What the fuck did you just say to me, little man?” Noah warned, getting up from his stool and approaching the bounty hunter with a murderous glare. “Because I know for a goddamn fact you did NOT just try to tell a gold-rank knight what to do. You know what? Fuck rank. Anyone who talks to me like that, especially when I’m this pissed off, gets skull-fucked.”
He gave the man a hard poke in the chest while smoke wafted from the cigarette between his fingers, then leaned in with bloodlust radiating from every word hissed with his icy voice. “Notice that I haven’t asked your name yet, even though I gave you mine? It’s because you don’t have a name to me. To me, you’re just ‘Bitch’, the sniveling little Bitch who decided to come in here and ruin my evening, talking awfully big game for someone in skull-fucking range. That’s what’ll be engraved on your tombstone: ‘Here lies Bitch. Cause of death: got skull-fucked until his brains leaked out of his ears.’ Shit, I’ll carve the engraving myself. Now I suggest you get the fuck out before I use your eye sockets like a whore’s ass!”
This bounty hunter had spent years doing his job, hunting down criminals like they were beasts and putting his life on the line time and time again, bereft of fear. He had heard plenty of threats before, plenty of warnings about what would happen if he continued his endeavors, and shrugged them off. That said, the man before him was projecting so much hatred, so much sadistic killing intent, that he felt a chill crawl up his spine, a chill he wasn’t sure he had ever experienced before. He promptly turned and left, wanting to get as far away from the Knight’s Sheath and this rapacious lunatic as possible. Once he was gone, everyone in the bar applauded Noah’s performance, and he turned and bowed.
Even Alexis was giving him a soft clap. “That was both disgusting and impressive. Well done.”
“Well, I am an actor, and I take my roles seriously. And this time, there is no vomit to clean up.”
That night, after performing at the Knight’s Sheath and having dinner back home, Noah again met with Berholm in the royal vault to continue his study of the relics.
“You’re in luck. King Galvin has granted me permission to sell you that chandelier. However, he doesn’t know that you’re the buyer. I felt it better to keep your involvement a secret.”
“It’s nice to know that he’s being sensible.” Noah conjured a pouch of gems from his ring and handed them to Berholm.
“So what kind of weapon are you hoping to create with these?”
“Something like this.” Noah sealed the chandelier in his ring and conjured a magic tool, looking like a flashlight, but with a rune-engraved diamond instead of a bulb or glass lens. “This is called an ultraviolet light, or a UV light for short. It can be used to illuminate things the human eye can’t see, like fluids at a murder scene, and in this case, it damages Profane flesh and energy.”
“You mean like holy light?”
“Actually, it’s meant to mimic the effects of sunlight. UV light is what causes sunburns. Unfortunately, while easy to make, it’s not as effective as you might think. The light is too… artificial. It lacks the potency of real sunlight. I tested it numerous times while in Welindar, always trying to improve it, but it was never more than an irritant to the Profane and their parasites. It didn’t help that the lower-ranked fiends can endure the sunlight in exchange for their lesser strength. Even if it did hurt them, the damage was very minor. It was better to just stick with my regular weapons and magic, though I regret that it wasn’t in working condition when Lupin and I fought Kaisen. Perhaps it would have wounded him. These tralt jewels, on the other hand, are great for absorbing light and energy. Using these, I can capture true sunlight, augment it, and use it whenever I need.”
He continued digging through the royal vault, analyzing the various relics. He came across one that interested him. It was a large red feather sealed within a crystal. It looked like a mere paperweight, but Noah could sense immense magical energy within it, and it made him curious. He pulled out his spell cards and used them to examine the relic, causing several magic circles to appear in the air, summarizing the magic within. Watching Noah study the piece, Berholm cleared his throat.
“I hope I can continue to count on you during the tournament. However, there has been a development. I don’t know how you’re manipulating the fights, but out of concern for the safety of the audience, a magical barrier will be erected around the ring from now on to contain the combatants’ spells and prevent outside interference.”
Noah sighed. “I suppose I could dose the church agents with a mild poison before they enter the ring, but that’s not a reliable or subtle method. I also believe the church has hired someone to rig the matches like I’ve been, though I suppose the barrier will also hinder them. I can do it, but it’ll mean putting myself in harm’s way. In which case, I need more incentive.”
“Such as?”
Noah held up the crystalized feather. “I’ll be taking this as a down payment for tomorrow, with the expectation of another two relics of my choice at the end of the day.”
“Three priceless artifacts just to fix a few fights?! That’s outrageous!”
“Or items from the treasury, such as magical materials, and I’ll pay in diamonds. You’ll be rewarding me with the privilege of buying these. Besides, they’ll be put to good use, and the kingdom can have them back after I’m dead.”
“You can have one tomorrow, provided you pay, and for the feather as well,” Berholm reluctantly grumbled.
“Deal. And if you don’t want to part with the relics in here, I’m open to buying other items and materials in the castle.”
“This is the royal palace, not the market. Do not think you can wander the halls, bargain hunting.”
“I’m offering to bankroll your war against the Profane in exchange for enchanted silverware. I saw the extra dormitories being built at the academy, and the training camps for common soldiers outside the city. Such an overhaul of the knighthood and military doesn’t come cheap, and Uther has suffered some costly tragedies these last few years.”
“We don’t need your charity. We can more than pay for our own war.”
“By now, all of the loot from the church raids must be long spent, most likely on the arena, with any remaining money going to repairing damages from the Wassengel battle and the loss of Welindar’s revenue. Either Galvin is going to bankrupt the country, he’ll raise taxes, or he has a new resource to exploit. So which is it?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Yes, it is. I am a gold-rank knight, same as you.”
“When it is convenient for you.”
“If this wasn’t a big deal, you would just tell me. If it was good, you might even boast. The fact that you’re keeping this secret means you’re ashamed of it, or you fear my response. All the more reason I need to know what’s going on. So tell me, how is Galvin funding the war?”
Berholm exhaled. “Part of it is raising taxes on the various nobles depending on their contributions and loyalty.”
“Meaning they can either suck up to him or be bled of wealth.”
“And the rest… is nationalizing the slave trade. The Profane are taking over Handent, which will lead to a shortage of beastman slaves, and demand is already rising at home and abroad. However, there is a steady stream of them arriving in Uther each day.”
“So the garrisons along the border, they aren’t simply fending off the Profane, they’re rounding up refugees fleeing Handent to be sold off?”
“This is war.”
“Well, I can’t judge. I’ve done far worse for far less. Still, I can’t imagine Lupin would approve, nor will Cyrilo or any other beastman in the country. Slavery is already a foundation of Uther, and add the vitriol Galvin has been spewing, and it’ll put an even bigger target on their backs, and they won’t like it. I imagine that’s what concerns you, when things inevitably go south and blood spills. And I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of my earlier warning.”
“No, you don’t. I made your objections clear.”
Noah stored the feather in his ring and tossed Berholm another pouch of gems. “I’ve seen enough for today. Let me know who you need me to deal with tomorrow.”
As Noah departed from the royal vault, elsewhere in the castle, Strauss was attending a private meeting. He stood in his mirrored chamber, facing the reflections of Curcio and Scyler.
“I have received the parasites, all sleeping soundly and waiting to feed. But what of the power reaction to trigger bonding?”
“Not needed. These specimens bond automatically, but for that convenience and power, the recipient will suffer greater vulnerability to sunlight. However, that means that whoever receives them will be as close to a genuine Profane as possible, minus the ability to reproduce,” said Curcio.
“So, you’re abandoning the microscopic parasite concept, then?” Scyler asked.
“Considering all the time and effort they take, I’m shelving the idea for now. Kaisen provided wonderful knowledge, but that method still isn’t feasible for large practice. As a beastman, he was exceptional, so unless we find another unique example like him, it’s not worth the effort.”
“Considering the regeneration serum you already gave me, I have no doubts as to the quality of your work. My old injuries, that not even potions and magic could fix, were completely mended,” said Strauss.
“It’s based on a compound derived from cloned venom, so I’m glad to know it worked. Anyway, have you picked out candidates to receive the parasites?”
“Oh yes, I’ve identified warriors who will create quite a mess once they are imbued with the power of the Profane, whether they want to or not.”
“And Adwith Tarnas? If he is present when the attack begins, defeat will be handed out swiftly and brutally. Whatever pawns you select for the attack are expendable, but I will not tolerate them bringing shame to our race by dying too soon,” said Scyler.
“Tarnas is supposed to be dispatched on a mission before then. He won’t be around to save anyone. And in the chaos, the other knights will struggle to intervene and stop the fiends. Inevitably, they will be vanquished, but mass casualties will be unavoidable.”
“Excellent. Those puny humans think they’re safe, protected by the Wassengel, but if their fallen king has proven anything, it’s that they are helpless against a foe within their midst.”
“This attack will be just another step in Uther’s descent into oblivion. Soon, my dream will be realized.”
“I expect to hear good news when next we speak, Liege,” said Scyler.
“May my creations serve you well,” added Curcio.
Their images faded from the mirrors, and Strauss stepped into his study.
“Well?” he was asked.
Strauss bowed his head and crossed his chest with his arm. “Everything is proceeding according to your plan, Mistress.”
Sitting behind his desk, Ziradith Herald smirked and got to her feet. “Then they suspect nothing?”
“If they do, they haven’t said anything. For all intents and purposes, I remain their sworn ally, bound in our shared goal of destroying Uther.”
“Aiding the Profane may be the best investment I’ve ever made. They’re the perfect enemy to unite Uther against.”
“Yes, but are you sure this is the best way to build support? Destruction and casualties under Galvin’s watch will turn the people against him, won’t it?”
“On the contrary, it is exactly what we need to silence the remaining naysayers. A bloodthirsty fiend already rampaged through Colbrand and killed the previous king. Where that fool failed, Galvin will succeed, with the whole city there to witness it. Those gripped by fear will flock to him, begging him for protection, while those who lose their loved ones to the Profane will enlist to get their revenge.”
“Speaking of Galvin, I am a bit concerned. I noticed your control over him wavered during the meeting with the nobles. His demeanor breaks every time the Wandering Spirit is mentioned.”
Ziradith scowled. “That bastard humiliated me, forcing me to hide from everyone and stay sealed up, out of sight and out of mind. And how is he still alive?! You put up that bounty, and no one can stick his head on a pike!”
“He’s been killing bounty hunters since he arrived.”
“I’m surrounded by the foolish and weak. At least you’re competent, Strauss. Helping you climb the ranks of advisors to back up my plans has been monumental. If only you could deal with Noah. Every time I even think about him, let alone hear his name, I struggle to contain my hatred, and perhaps it is traveling down the line of control. I can also sense Galvin’s terror widening the cracks in his psyche. Two decades of work and planning nearly ruined because of that vile snake. I was betting on Seraph to be one of the foundations of my war against the Profane, to plant him on the front line with Adwith Tarnas and have them rack up victories while Galvin received the people’s adoration, and now he’s just a shadow of his former self.
As for Galvin, we’re lucky that regeneration serum managed to fix his injuries. Even with the Wassengel, no one would support a blind, dickless eunuch for a king. But no serum could fix his shattered mind.” She looked down at the manacle on her arm, similar in design to the one Galvin used to control the Wassengel, and with a similar purpose. “Still, perhaps it wasn’t without its silver lining. My son was supposed to be my key to the throne, but the little cretin failed me at every turn. Now he’s finally useful to me, and all I had to do was take away his free will and turn him into a good little puppet. This was simply the excuse to do what had to be done. I can feel him fighting for control, feel his resentment, but it’s no matter. He will serve the purpose for his birth whether he likes it or not.”
“There is another thing. Marcus Berholm is getting closer to discovering my identity, and has recruited Boris Veres to help him. It’s only a matter of time before they need to be silenced.”
“Once again, that half-pint bastard is a thorn in my side. Years spent tiptoeing around him, trying to keep my plans hidden. Soon, we’ll deal with him. As for Veres, I have plans for him. He’s going to pay for what his bitch daughter did. Her little tantrum against marrying Galvin was an annoying setback, but she and that little brothel will pay. To think that the monster that killed Leonard was a whore from the Knight’s Sheath! Saved me all the trouble of doing it myself and framing the Profane! Fate smiles upon me! Cyrilo and Noah ruined my life, and I swear, I’ll get my vengeance on them if it’s the last thing I do! It’s only a matter of proper timing.”
As Ziradith cackled about her plans, Noah walked the silent evening streets back towards Valia’s home. Shannon had insisted on transporting him to the palace on her back, but he abstained, telling her that he wanted to do some night fishing and she might scare the fish away. His first catch tugged hard on the line when an attack came, a ring of glowing wind passing through his clone and striking the ground. Noah, walking several feet away in his invisible state, turned and looked up at a nearby building, with his clone mimicking his actions.
“So, assassin, reveler, or bounty hunter?” he asked through the clone.
The shrouded warrior, standing on the roof, formed two more rings in his hands. “Executioner!” He leaped down, swinging the rings like chakram blades.
Noah piloted his clone, having it dodge the oncoming storm of attacks. He could have easily beheaded them from behind, ending their life with their final moments being fear and confusion, but he wanted to study his opponent. The more skilled they were, the more useful an asset they might be. Common trash could be executed, but it would be a waste to kill a potential ally. This warrior was fast and experienced, blending their rapid and complex movements perfectly. Yet, despite their skill, Noah kept his clone out of their range.
“Fight me seriously!” Hearing the voice again, Noah realized it was a woman.
“Very well, I’ll fight you. But if you want me to be serious, you have to earn it.”
He joined back with his clone, and as she reached out towards him for a slash across the throat, he drew his sword and blocked her attack. The ring of energized wind should have broken or at least chipped the blade, but Noah’s sword was enchanted to resist and repel magic attacks. The woman leaped back, hurling her rings at Noah, and he shattered them with two swings of his sword, then closed the distance in the blink of an eye and aimed for a stab to the chest.
She formed two more rings and used them to parry his thrust, then again tried to slash his throat. Noah conjured an illusory handgun and shot her in the arm, leaving it numb and breaking the spell. The gunshot was almost silent, as the weapon the illusion was based on didn’t rely on powder. It was a railgun, using the power of magnetism to launch bullets with deadly power and low volume, the preferred weapon for spies like him in one of his past lives. He didn’t want this fight to draw too much attention.
Shocked and worried by the sensation in her afflicted arm, the assailant launched a blast of explosive wind with her other hand, launching herself up and away like Bower with his fire magic. She flipped through the air, landed gracefully fifty feet away, and then hurled another ring at Noah. He shot it out of the air, shattering it like a clay pigeon, along with each subsequent ring after. Noah then put several illusory bullets in her chest, making her stagger as she was struck with mortal terror, thinking her organs had been pierced. To her credit, she managed to stay on her feet, but Noah swooped in before she could reform her stance. He tossed his sword into the air, grabbed it by the blade, and smacked her upside the head with the handle.
Spitting blood and disoriented, she couldn’t fight back as he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall of a brick building, proceeding to rip away her disguise.
“Bojena Landon, I had a feeling it was you. Your magic gives you away.”
The last time he saw her was just before the Night of a Hundred Heads, when he had been brought to the War Room. Her head was shaved back then, but since her fall from grace, it seemed she was letting her hair grow.
“Unhand me, you godless bastard!” she hissed, trying to loosen the iron grip on her throat.
“And why would I do that? You tried to kill me, remember? Maybe I should just strangle the life from you, or would you prefer a quick beheading? The choice is yours, unless you can give me a reason to spare your life. But I’m curious, weren’t you locked up with the other zealots when my friends at the Knight’s Sheath revealed the church’s conspiracy?”
“I have nothing to say to you!”
Noah punched her in the solar plexus, pushing all of the air from her lungs. She wanted to drop to her knees, but his hold on her was absolute, as though she was shackled to a dungeon wall.
“The gods didn’t protect Seraph from me, so don’t expect them to protect you. Start talking before I grow bored.”
Her breathing ragged, Bojena glared at him. “I and several of my comrades were released under the condition that I help fight the Profane army. We made our escape in the ensuing panic.”
“And went back to doing the church’s dirty work. Let me guess, you were the one who sabotaged Roc’s fight? Oh, Bojena, for shame. You had it all: the respect of your peers, the power of a gold-ranked knight, and a noble purpose in serving the community, and you gave it all up to serve greedy men in robes.”
“Do not mock me for my faith!” She tried to form two more rings, but Noah shot her with his railgun illusion, breaking the spell.
“I won’t mock someone for believing in God, only for believing in men who claim to speak on God’s behalf. Now, why are you trying to kill me? I will be sorely disappointed if it’s just because of all that old business with Seraph and the Knight’s Sheath.”
“I am ready to die for my church, to keep their secrets.”
“Die under your own terms, maybe, but I will not let you slip into oblivion easily. There are so many wonderful, horrible things I can do to make you spill those secrets, to make you bargain for a quick death. You’ll try to maintain your dignity as long as you can. I have no doubt that you’ll put up a valiant effort; you are quite strong, after all. However, you will inevitably break and curse your own stubbornness for not talking sooner.”
He held up his hand and conjured a syringe from within his ring, then gave the plunger a test push to squirt a few drops of the fluid within for Bojena to see.
“Now, what’s in here, I wonder? Liquid pleasure, which will enslave your mind and bend you to my will for the rest of your life, offering everything you have for another taste? Or maybe it’s a vicious toxin that will have you screaming and writhing in pain, biting your wrists in an attempt to kill yourself, with every second feeling like a lifetime spent in the heart of a bonfire? Pick a vein, and let’s find out. Or…” He brought the needle right up to her eye, making her shudder in terror. “I can always go in through the mucus membrane. Yes, that sounds like fun. Now take a deep breath and think of home.”
“Cardinal Phelps! It was Cardinal Phelps! He ordered me to kill you! It’s as you say, because of Seraph and the Knight’s Sheath. Do you have any idea how much damage you caused this country and the church with your sins? Uther was mighty, with a bright future! Then you came along, sowing seeds of discord, driving a wedge between the kingdom and the gods, and crippling our savior! Had you stayed in exile, you would have been left alone, but you being here now will bring nothing but trouble!”
“Seraph overstepped and suffered for it. The clergy overstepped and suffered for it. You are all suffering for the choices you made. It’s as simple as that. That said, I consider myself a sensible, forgiving man.” Noah released Bojena and stepped back. “I don’t want to kill you, and I don’t want to get into a pissing contest with the church. In fact, I would like to form an alliance, so tell me, what do I have to do to make this all go away? What mountain must I move for the church to get off my back and on my side?”
Bojena rubbed her bruised throat. “You can’t be serious.”
“How about diamonds? Do you like diamonds? I’ll give you enough diamonds for the church to build a hundred extravagant cathedrals.”
Bojena paused. “My superiors want Galvin deposed and Seraph put on the throne. Even if he has lost most of his powers, he remains Light’s Emissary, and he’ll be able to unite the nations in this holy war against the Profane.”
“A tall order, one that I will consider. Run back to the church and tell them I don’t want to fight. Why be enemies when we can be friends? Also, tell them I’m looking to buy enchanted artifacts and valuable materials, especially meruleum gems, if they have any they’d be willing to sell.”
“That’s it? You’re letting me go?”
“Assuming you don’t try to kill me again. Otherwise….”
He raised his railgun and put a round between her eyes, causing Bojena to collapse like a puppet with its strings cut. All of the illusory bullets he hit her with before made her flinch in momentary fear, but this was different. At that moment, she felt death in all of its horror. She felt the darkness, the chill, the metallic taste of the end. This man, she had heard so many rumors about him, and he had defeated her so easily, but now she was left to wonder, was Death itself standing over her?
“So many wonderful, horrible things,” Noah mused. He then turned around and walked away, humming to himself as Bojena sat there in the street, her life flashing before her eyes.
Please comment! Tell me your thoughts!
Comments
Itsasecret
There are a few instances of Shannon being used instead of Sophia, in the scenes with both of them
