Daiden shivered from the cold desert breeze, even from inside his tent. His eyes fixated on the roof, the translucent fabric, and the stars beyond them. He tilted his head to the right, slowly, sighed, and then to the left. He recalled the smallest of details, especially Lina, a fading glimpse of her from when he entered his tent alone. The thought frustrated him. Daiden swallowed a lump in his throat and shook his limbs in a childish tantrum. He sat upright a little later, unable to sleep.

“No, no, I did the right thing…I hope anyway,” thought Daiden, massaging his forehead. He gulped again and lowered his head. The request had tempted him, it still did. He slapped his cheeks, rose to his feet, and exited his tent. In a tremble, he walked towards Lina’s tent, stopping at an arm’s length from its slightly opened entrance. It felt deliberate almost. But even as Daiden touched the fabric, he felt something snap at his fingertips – an image in his mind, of a woman, a familiar woman. “I suppose it’s more than a crush, then.”

Daiden retreated to his tent and sat outside from the entrance. He wearily fell onto the sand and gazed at the stars once more. It calmed him.

“How am I twenty-seven and still a virgin?” wondered Daiden, stifling a laugh. When he closed his eyes, he remembered it in pieces – his growth as an athlete, missing school, being unable to make friends. “Talk about trading away your years of drama and fun…”

Daiden dwelled on the memory and managed a weak smile. “Well, not that I would change anything on a do over.” He closed his eyes again and pictured the woman that had stopped him from entering Lina’s tent. It made him happier for some reason. “Crap…definitely more than a crush! Why am I only noticing this now?”

“Will it be awkward when I see her next?” continued Daiden, in a spiral, curling with confusion. “Ah, ah, this is exhausting…”

With a heavy sigh, Daiden decided to distract from the thought by opening his Mioveroldian Page. He swiped through the information, checking for changes. His head cocked at the sight of a first, once more at another, and gaped at the sight of a third. He trembled.

[You have opened another chapter from the Origin of Takshaka.]

[You have improved your Aeter Persistence.]

[You have earned a title unique to your class, Usurper of the Monarch.]

Daiden froze at the results. He almost fainted from the anxiety but persisted to pull into a state of calm. With a shake, he probed for more information.

[Aeter Persistence (Rare)]

“Interesting…” thought Daiden. He didn’t expect an improvement, not by this much. “Adversity, the greater the adversity, the bloodier the battle; in worship…we walk the path of blood, in worship we strengthen. Or is it simply because I managed to overcome a Natural Monarch?

“I’ll only know more if I manage to battle past stronger opponents in the future. Maybe Rollo was onto something, about pushing our limits over testing within the safety range of our potential.”

Daiden tapped on the information of his new title next.

[Usurper of the Monarch:

In conquest, you have been infused with the blood of Sand King, Erlendur. Creatures of the Sand will weaken in your presence. You’ve improved your affinity with the Sand Elemental. You’ve been blessed with minor resistance to harmful effects from sand aeter.

When infused with enough blood, you might be able to establish a monarchy. It is up to you to change the story of this passage.]

“Establish a monarchy?” blurted Daiden, in a whisper. He read through the information once more, slower this time. “I can’t wrap my head around this…a special title as Takshaka’s Descendant, then?”

Daiden scratched his head in frustration. His body burned with an itch, something restless. But in abrupt realization, he stopped. “Takshaka…Takshaka, the son of the Naga Queen Candidate, from the chapter! This makes sense now…I think? No, I’m sure.”

With a deep breath, Daiden urged his mind away from the thought, refusing to succumb to burden of something outside his control. He returned instead to the scene of his battle against the Sand King, his triumph in breaking past his anxiety, his confidence towards the end. He willed it into his body, the strength from that memory. In time, Daiden noticed his heart ease from the restlessness, into normalcy.

“Skunk and his team bailed me out this time…but the results are far from disappointing. I need to remember it, every day!

“This is your world, your chance, your promise; you’re not ordinary!” thought Daiden, in self-encouragement. “Onto Gis, the Bucher, then. Nobody to bail me out there.”

Finally, Daiden stopped to hold the book in his hand, the Origin of Takshaka. He debated opening it, suspecting why it may have opened another chapter. His mind traced to when Carla placed an armament over his Jade Serpent’s Breath, its transformation into something more. He gave it a few moments and decided against opening the chapter. He remembered his vulnerability from falling into a trance the last time.

“In privacy, on top of a bed, comfortably…” imagined Daiden, while entering his tent. He fell onto the thin mattress with a thud, face down. “For now, let’s get some sleep!”

***

[[

Currency: 1,530 Bloodstones

Deity: Ehedus

Citizenship: Godvildian

Rank: Trainee Soldier

Blessed Title: Usurper of the Monarch

Race: (Sealed)

Blacksmith Bond: Zane Morgul (Vulcan) | Monthly Fee: 200 Bloodstones

--

Class: Takshaka’s Descendant (Normal)

You have inherited the will and story of a mythical being. But you are insignificant without accomplishments. Build your accomplishments and grow into a myth. Ehedus will reward you based on the epic you write.

You are mildly resistant to abnormalities. You are slowly becoming one with the sword.

--

Specialization: Takshakan Swordsmanship (Sword Aeter)

Jade Serpent’s Breath. Verses of Takshakan Swordsmanship (1/7).

Class Items: Book of Dancers (Sealed). Origin of Takshaka (One Chapter).

Granted Skills: Ehedus’ Embrace. Mioveroldian Constitution. Aeter Understanding and Implementation. Mioveroldian Knowledge (Fragment). Aeter Persistence (Rare).

]]