《Relife System: The Unholy Mage》69: His Grace
Advertisement
Leon knew one place that might be safe in this city and very vacant at the moment so there where the group of four headed. The old warehouse of Hector Norman where they planned to steal the Pride of Del Mar.
A few hours passed since the escape from the Honey Saloon and aside from Leon, Zal and Jordi were both afraid and tired. On Leon's orders, none of them is to leave the warehouse unless he tells them so.
Zal was still devastated by what happened with the Pride of Del Mar painting but he at least had two days to blame himself well enough. As for Jordi, the fact that Leon told him that Jessica is his sister… or half-sister in that regard. It meant a lot to him.
Any street vagrant like Jordi would have always wondered what it is like growing up in a family. He had the people of the saloon indeed but an actual family is something he never knew. Turns out that he had an actual family all this time and he never knew… and of course let's forget about the awkward things mentioned earlier this afternoon.
"That's what I am telling you. This other boss is different from the Bull and apparently, there is some bad blood." Zal said.
"And what does that other Boss go by?" Leon asked.
"The Spider."
"Alright… never heard that one before."
"From the name you can understand Leo. The spider has a web, connections, a big trade, someone very rich."
"That almost sounds like an Aristocrat."
"Aye! Someone from the upper society mingling with the affairs of the lower class. A gangster in some elegant suit."
"Come on! You're making it sound like I am up against the Godfather?"
"The what father?"
"Oh! Forget it."
Leon always forgets the fact that this word has no notion of God.
"Alright. There are a few things we must do. Mistakes I need to right before leaving this fucking city."
"What is that, Leo?" Zal asked.
"Jessica and Jordi saved my life. It is only natural that I save Jessica's, I owe her that at least." Leon said, "I also did something I am not proud of. That painting we stole and the Bull destroyed, it is also on me. I was the one who handed it to him."
Zal became silent and nodded.
"I understand how you are going to save the girl but the painting… I am not sure what to do either."
"Simple." Leon replied with a casual smile, "You are going to draw another one. A perfect replacement that can't be thought of as a fake."
Advertisement
Zal made a dull face for a moment before raising his brows, slowly smiling and laughing a few times slowly.
"Good one."
"I'm serious. I'll go bring your tools and the fake you tried to make."
"Come on." Zal stared at Leon with doubt, "With my skill, you think I can copy that?"
"You copied the lady of Grace."
"And it ruined me." Zal spoke as he raised his hand, "I can't. I will no longer compromise art."
Zal walked away as he dug his hand into his messy hair and tried his best to keep his thoughts in order. He was traumatized and can't forgive himself after what happened with the painting the other day.
It was understandable that he blames himself but Leon wanted him to do it.
"I'll get your stuff and see what you can do."
Leon had his reasons too. He was a thief indeed but he worked for a cause he believed in which was to steal and retrieve. What happened with the painting was his sloppiest work ever.
"I just want to get things right, that all." These were the words Leon said before turning over to Jordi, "How is Jessica?"
"She's hot." Jordi said.
"Duh!" Leon nodded.
"I'm saying her fever isn't going down."
"Oh! Well… let's do it then."
Leon approached Jessica who was lying on a few old bellows they could salvage in the warehouse and put his hand on her forehead.
"What are you doing?" Jordi asked.
"A new trick I learned." Leon said and was about to use his magic but looked at Jordi and Zal, "If any of you start talking shit about what I am about to do, I may as well gouge out your eyes."
"Fuck you." Jordi snorted, "Don't you dare take advantage of her."
"Won't be the first, not even the last." Leon smirked and focused as he channeled his inner Mana to his hand.
He has already spent all of the Light Mana he stored in himself so he could only rely on the last remaining bits of sunlight going down through the worn-out roof.
"Alright… let there be Light."
As he said so, Leon's hands radiated.
"Holy…"
It was the first time he willingly showed this to someone with his face not concealed. It surely startled Jordi and attracted the attention of Zal who narrowed them before widening them in shock.
[Light Magic - Healing] was a spell that Leon learned but one thing he didn't really understand about this spell. It is not something your average joe can just sit around and watch.
Advertisement
"Mother of Agartha! Matron of All!" Zal dropped on his knees.
"Leo! You're… You're a… Holy Man?" Jordi looked at Leon with expressions pale as a sheet.
"Eh?" Leon didn't really know what that was but he shook his shoulders, "More or less."
Leon had no idea what that meant and it didn't feel like the time to ask around. He wasn't even that good at healing since his magic can only deal with minor flesh wounds. In Jessica's case, it will stabilize her.
Leon managed to at least do that. Whatever critical condition she was in will pass now safely even though she doesn't look any better.
"Give her some food from the rations I left. Something easy to chew." He said as soon as he stood up from over her.
"Did you! Did you bless her?" Jordi asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" Leon felt taken aback.
"Bless her. You're a holy man. A brother from the temple?"
"Your Grace. Those who use the skills of a healer are addressed as Your Grace, boy." Zal hit Jordi on the back of his head, "They don't give some cheap ass blessings."
Zal then looked at Leon and smiled.
"Your Grace. It is of absolute honor to be in your presence." Zal bowed.
"Hmmm." Leon widened his lips and looked aside, "This world is too much."
After a minute of silence, Leon decided to speak.
"Keep my secret, will you? My presence in these parts is classified."
"Of course, Your Grace." Zal bowed even deeper.
Jordi looked between the two and spoke.
"Your… Grace. What is classified?"
"It means if I tell you, I'll have to… you know… kill you." Leon said and made an unfortunate expression.
Jordi knew that Leon wasn't lying. He just killed two Dogs as if they were flies.
This was coming in handy somehow.
"Zal, as I said. I will bring you your tools and you see what you can do."
Zal raised his face with a distressed expression before nodding in acceptance.
It was then when Leon finally managed to step out of the warehouse. Right now, he has two tasks to finish and time was of the essence.
First, he headed towards Zal's workshop since it had all the tools Zal needed and the unfinished fake portrait of the Pride of Del Mar. Second, he headed towards the slaughterhouse which belonged to the Bull, Hector Norman. Leon wasn't sure about it but he may find that thing still lying there.
Getting into the slaughterhouse wasn't hard since it had minimal security as if Hector had taken all his men and headed out to his folly. According to the rumors Zal told him, Hector Norman left the city to hunt down a treasure which seems to be the one that the map behind the painting led to.
It was just strange. Gangsters have minimal interest in buried treasures. They don't bother with anything aside from business and territory.
But that wasn't all. Hector Norman not only abandoned his business but his entire position as a Syndicate Boss. He no longer will have the authority he used to have now that his territory is being eaten away by the surrounding bosses, especially this Spider from the Harbor District.
Hector's behavior seemed out of the norm and thus after recovering Zal's tools, Leon broke into the Slaughterhouse.
The place was empty for the most part and Leon was able to search every room thoroughly. From what he could tell, the Bull and his men just took everything they could carry that day and left town.
If they didn't, Ruth wouldn't have managed to get support from the other Boss and defeat Jessica.
The only room that was locked was Hector's office, there was clearly no one inside so Leon swiftly picked the lock and checked for traps before opening the door.
There was indeed some stuff here. Papers, maps, and the scent of burnt paper. It seemed that Hector got rid of all the critical documents left by throwing them into the fireplace.
As for the last room, the secret room behind the office, the one which Leon was actually heading for. He couldn't find a way in but most certainly he can just break in by literally breaking the door in.
And?
He found it.
It was still there thankfully the same as the last time he left it.
"I am… so terribly sorry."
The Pride of Del Mar, the remains of the painting, the one which the Bull ripped off the full portrait.
Leon raised it from the ground, put it on a table, and started checking it out.
What remained wasn't as damaged as he feared but what was lost was almost 40% of the whole portrait. Even if it is someone as skilled as Zal, he will face too much difficulty with it.
"Unless…"
Leon wasn't going to jump to conclusions but he at least has his own ideas on what to do. He wouldn't leave it all to Zal after all.
With everything in place, Leon started to travel back to the warehouse.
Advertisement
- In Serial12 Chapters
A Friendly Voidling
When a Creature of the Void fails to find friendship among her own kind, she instead sets her sights upon another, human-filled world. Unfortunately, humans turn out to be rather small and squishy things, resulting in a mostly accidental trail of death, destruction and madness as she embarks on her journey to finally make some friends. This is a 25k word inane short story, and makes no attempt at being serious or realistic. It's my first attempt at trying a more comedic writing style. No relation to my other stories, aside from a brief cameo. Cover bodged together with Charat Genesis. Not quite the design I had in mind, but reasonably close. Doesn't contain explicit smut, but does contain references to stuff happening off-screen. May contain traces of gore. Also eels, in varying states of distress. Posted here and scribblehub.
8 163 - In Serial15 Chapters
The Last Evil
Helena Rukh is the Last Evil, the Black Queen, the Leader of the Dark Pact… and half a dozen other equally silly titles. Or at least Rukh thinks they’re silly, but then, she’s never thought of herself as the villain, despite all the things she did back in the War. A war she lost. The treaty was signed. Her attempt to conquer all Reality aborted. Rukh’s retired now, to a hell-hole world called Sansara, a place where it rains ash and chaos-rents mar the sky, though the liquor is surprisingly good. But an old enemy is on her way to end that retirement, to drag Rukh back into everything she left behind. Trouble is brewing and the self-styled good guys are at a loss. Set a thief to catch a thief and all that....
8 190 - In Serial48 Chapters
Records of the Weakest Emperor
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Action, Evil Gods, Evil Religions, Goddesses, Hidden Abilities, Industrialization, Mature Protagonist, Manipulative Characters, Mystery Solving, Mythology, Nobles, Time TravelCalvin Villanueva was once heralded as the savior of the world. His might was unrivaled despite possessing the weakest class in Las Felipinas. But in a cruel twist of fate, his achievements were turned against him and in a span of a single night, he went from experiencing heaven to plunging into the deepest parts of hell.Captured and imprisoned by the Sucklings, an alien invader who came from a different realm. Calvin became their Scribe, the Keeper of History, and ultimately... He arrived at the peak of the weakest Writer Profession and became the Author of Fate. Unfortunately, it was already too late. The world was now in ruins and Calvin only had a single choice in front of him.It was death.He may have chosen death but he had proven before his death that he was indeed the true savior of humanity.Manipulating fate, twisting time and space...Calvin went back to the past for a second chance to turn things around!After countless life and death battles, who was it that snatched everything away from me? Under the tribulation of sorrows and the tossing of wind and rain, humanity may have betrayed me, but I shall save them once again!Bringing with me the memories of my past, those who dare to block my way shall be killed!My return to the summit begins!
8 188 - In Serial8 Chapters
Polly and Drake
Drake has been searching for a job as a personal guard, but wherever he turns, he is kicked out without fail. It's not that he's terrible with weapons, or inattentive. It could be because of his obvious racial heritage. Or because of Polly. With his funds dwindling, the only remaining option is to become one of the Cursed: poor souls that work for the Dragoneye Guild. In other lands, they may be called adventurers, saviors or even heroes, but not in the White Desert. Here, they are shunned and ignored. Depraved people who forsook their humanity for money and fame. With this choice, Drake may not only fall from grace, but also become one of only a few thousands capable of unearthing the secrets of ancient times. If he could get this guardsman notion out of his head. May contain gore, violence, profanity and traumatising content. Taking another shoot at this writing business. I write for fun and when I have time. There is no plan. The story may change drastically from what it starts out - or not. We'll see what happens. Currently, I'm aiming for a Slice of Life with LitRPG elements at a later time.
8 92 - In Serial72 Chapters
An Un-Ideal Eternity
An Un-Ideal Eternity is about a man named Desmond, who is killed, revived, and then finds himself immortal in a post-apocalyptic society. Just because it’s a society doesn’t mean that either he or “they” have to be civilized. And just because a gentleman has become immortal does not mean that he has no dangers to be wary of. The good news is that he’s been afforded some very kind and very generous ministrations from his future-self. The bad news is that all those efforts might still not be enough, to allow our hero, to live in as untroubled and as un-tumultuous a manner as he’d prefer.
8 108 - In Serial33 Chapters
[Discontinued!] Joker With A Heart Full Of Love
After Nogo's defeat, everything went back to normal, including the Glitter Pact's and Rascal. The Joker is weakened by the defeat - but alive. Chloe finds him and helps him to become a better person. But there's still danger, Nogo is somehow back! Can Rascal be trusted?
8 101

