After an undetermined period, Armad opened his eyes to see himself and the man who kicked the bottle the other day, galloping on the same horse. But, while the man was riding freely, he was tied up to the saddle.

His stomach churned and he vomited three mouthfuls of blood before he lost consciousness again.

He woke up two more times, each at different intervals, and each time he would see them galloping at an increasingly faster rate.

When he opened his eyes for the third time, he was no longer drifting but he couldn't move. How long had it been? He didn't know. At some point, they had stopped in what looked like a tent.

You have been caught by Sword Worshippers and would probably end up as a food to their sword.

New quest: escape.

Basic reward: survival

Additional reward: none

His eyes darted to the opposite side of the tent where he could see chairs and a dining table. His first instinct was to determine his exact location. It was easy as long he could see the sun. During this year's cycle, the Equatora would be a constant noon, so the farther you go away from it the darker it became, untie it was a total dark. Anywhere that was more than a couple thousand miles away from the Equatora would experience a night cycle throughout the year.

He managed to push his eyes to the walls but, to his disappointment, the wall was made of a thick fabric that blocked any sunlight. That left him only one choice.

He returned his eyes to the chairs. The closest chair was easier to observe. The man sitting on it was a muscular middle age man with a short beard and a neatly trimmed mustache. He was fair and handsome with wide shoulders and high cheekbones like a real First Worlder. Armad wasn't an expert when it came to clothes but he knew the man's robe was expensive. It's fabric was just unique and embroidered with crystals he'd never seen. This man perfectly fitted his definition of a noble.

The chair next to him carried another man who was less impressive than the first. He looked much younger, probably the same age as him - or slightly older. Armad immediately recognized him as the bastard who kicked away his guard bottle.

The last chair carried a young woman. She looked more noble than even the first man. She was calm and collected with a very smooth and glowing skin. The sclera in her eyes was so clean and white he mistaken it for something else. This coupled with a pitch black iris gave a unique contrast that could bewitch any man - or woman. Her robe was pink embroidered with feathers and stones of different colors.

All three men were bad news, in fact, the only good news was his earlier loot in the dungeon.

+2.8 years to longevity

Total longevity has reached 54 years

Lightning Elementalist has reached level 52

Lightning Elementalist has reached level 53

Lightning Elementalist has reached level 54

Dance of Uncertainty has reached level 5

Lightning Bolt has reached level 9

To summon any spell or sword you need to make the appropriate hand signs and then called the designated spell. If a spell reached level 6, it simply meant you had mastered it enough to use it without making the hand signs. If it leveled up to level 11, you could even omit the recitation. Once Lightning Bolt reached level 11 he would be able to use it without reciting the spell. And once the Dance reached level 6 he didn't need to make the hand gesture to use it.

It was at this time Armad locked eyes with the older man.

The man decided to take the first initiative. "Welcome back."

Armad frowned. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Going straight to the point, I like it." The younger man cut in. "We want your blood."

Armad knitted his brows. Surely they could have taken his blood long before he woke up. Why wait?

As if answering his questions, the older man walked forward and cut Armad's little finger. He removed a small board from his robe and put a drop of the blood on it. As soon as the blood touched the board, the board shone brightly with five different colors. Each color represented a spell and were designed in a circular fashion around both faces of the board.

The woman and the younger man came closer. After what seemed like an hour, the board spoke - or maybe something or someone imprisoned inside it spoke. Armad couldn't be sure. But he immediately recognized the voice as the same voice he'd heard in the fallen city of Bayajidda. The voice that knocked him out, but now it was saying something completely different. It was revealing a secret!

Armad's expression changed from shock to a frown then to an absolute fear and confusion.

His body trembled. If what this voice said was true then...

"Is that true? Who is this Amraikugyu Bayajidda? Is he a vengeful spirit or something?" He asked them, perplexed.

The three looked at each other before they looked at him. This time it was the woman that spoke. "So you can hear it? That's amazing. Tell me, what does it says?"

"It's about Djinns and...." Armad stopped himself. If he told them then they would have no reason to keep him alive. Especially with what was at stake already.

"Go on..." The older man urged.

"And why would I do that? So you can kill me after?" Armad said.

"We aren't going to kill you. Our sister hear saved you from the fallen city of Bayajidda, if we want you dead she would have left you there."

"So you are Nostalgia Nára? Nára like emperor Áyúbu Nára?" Armad asked her.

"What?! Sister, why did you give him your name? That's reckless." The older man asked angrily.

Armad ignored him and continued. "What were you doing in that dungeon? Why did you gave me the spell guide?"

"Only the person who heard the voice in the fallen city of Bayajidda can hear the voice in that board. Without the spell paper you couldn't have escaped and came here. And only you can read the board. We have nothing against you, all we want is what the voice said. Although, I can't promise we will not harm you once you tell us everything." She explained nonchalantly.

"What an honest answer. And why do you think I will tell you even after you told me this?"

"I am a mind mage." She simply said.

"Even if you are a mind mage you can't just budge into my memories. Unless if you are Gifted... "

Armad swallowed hard. He was yet in another worst possible situation.

"Sister?" The older man asked.

"I am done." She said.

"Father will be so proud." The older gulped, giving her an approval nod.

"How should we deal with him?" She asked.

"We can't let him live after learning the secret. How do we kill him?"

"We cut his head off and throw him off a cliff." The younger man suggested.

"Nop, that's too cruel. Remember, we are only doing it because it's necessary."

"Then how about a poison? I have the painless Winter Spree."

"Ehmmm... It will work but I don't want a half-assed job. How about something stronger but painless? Something like Aranean Pee?"

"How about you let him fight little brother Malik?" Nostalgia cut in. "Malik is eleven levels ahead of him, I see no way he would lose."

"No, absolutely not. We have finally completed our mission after so long, I don't want any more trouble."

"Big bro, I just want to see Malik's training..."

"I said no."

"I want to fight him, please allow me, brother." Malik cut in. "You always said I need to prepare for the worst, that I would one day be the Longevity Protector of the kingdom. Well, this is a chance. I will never be someone great if I can't take this little risk. You can't protect me forever. One of these days, I will be alone somewhere far away from home."