[Chapter 32 part 1] Light – Vanessa Goldstone

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The assassin was stalking the three chimeras idling in a clearing below. They were hideous, long torsos which ended in huge eyeless rat heads and had eight clawed monkey arms attached.

These deformities didn’t bother him. As with his brethren, revulsion and other emotions had been torn from him. However, the difficulty in identifying vital organs did trouble him. I suppose I’ll go for the heads.

He moved silently among the leafless trees and jumped, releasing nine blades with fury. These impaled the chimeras to the ground like stakes, two in each chest and one in each head.

The assassin landed and readied his twisted dagger. Two chimeras let out screeching, squeaking howls and pried themselves from the earth. Figures, blades through the head and still not dead. He resigned himself to battle.

Minutes later, he lay against a lifeless tree. His body had been torn to shreds, his left leg gone. Making it back is impossible. Once he lost consciousness, it’d be over, which would be soon. Despite his best efforts, he was losing blood.

So here’s where I die. He felt a strange satisfaction. Neutralizing these scouts had been his mission, and he’d completed it. His death would serve a purpose, and that was more than most got. It’s enough, he though as the world faded.

Light opened his eyes. That dream again. He turned and gazed at the twisted dagger besides him.

“Another one?” John Lavinda asked. The man was reading a book in the nearby armchair. I don’t think he’s slept in the last forty eight hours.

“Yes, the assassin.”

Light’s eyes wandered to the three short swords on the night table. They’re called Ninjatos. He’d taken them because he’d recognized them as such. His other dreams confirmed they’d been wielded by ninjas.

That first evening, when he’d woken here in the medical center, he’d been delirious. He vaguely remembered tossing and turning the entire night while John watched over him. It wasn’t until morning that sanity returned.

That’s when the dreams started. He’d experienced them dozens of times over the last twenty four hours. Four deaths, one for each of weapon.

“You were lucky” John commented. “From what you’ve described, none of the former owners died a bitter death. That’s the reason you got off this lightly.”

Light reflected. It’s strange that worshipers of Nuzou were fighting for humanity. “Why’d the Assassins’ Guild oppose Sola? Wasn’t their god fighting on her side?”

“I can’t say for certain since I wasn’t alive back then.” John said, not looking up. “But I can venture a guess. If Sola won, the guild would’ve ended. I presume they couldn’t allow that.”

Light fidgeted as he listened. He was restless, but not because of the dreams. I can handle those. It was thoughts of what he might be missing which were driving him mad.

Last night, Soul, Rose, and Free had dropped by. They hadn’t said anything about the weapons. Instead, they’d described all that had transpired during the last day and a half. Swimming in the sky, witnessing the Leviathan, racing down the Wine Trench, seeing the inner earth, the burning of the worm, Lily’s personal tour of the Isle, Hope’s big upset win… It’d been agonizing.

Light sat up and looked down. The bed and night table had a magic circle etched around them. The symbols glowed white and pulsed with power. He knew it had saved his life, but it felt like a prison.

“How much longer must I remain?” Light asked anxiously. Emerit is giving another lesson today… Must I skip that too?

“You’re free to go.” John answered.

“Really?” Light was in disbelief.

John nodded, “A while ago I confirmed that the Field of Graves’s blight no longer affects you. All that’s left is the mild taint from the weapons themselves, which has already been mitigated through the dreams.”

Light’s attitude did a one-eighty. Wasn’t this whole episode a positive? Sure, it hadn’t been pleasant, but he’d gotten to see ninjas in action, which was priceless. Why don’t more people pick up cursed weapons?

“I sense foolish thoughts.” John declared. He has keen insight. “Did you think yourself the first to plunder the Field of Graves? If looting those weapons was that easy, would they still be standing two thousand years later?”

Good point… “Why haven’t more been taken?”

“Curses aren’t simple things. They resonate with each other and grow. Powerful ones even have a will of their own.”

“The blades in the Field of Graves are not only cursed individually, but collectively as well. That global malediction protects the place, striking down any would be thieves. It’s lethal even to immortals.”

Which explains why I collapsed as we were leaving. “How am I alive?”

“You can thank those past wielders. It’s because they died without regrets. In a way, such lightly tainted weapons didn’t belong among those grudge-filled hills. That’s why you never suffered the full wrath of the Field Of Graves when you took them. It’s also why I was able to sunder their connection to the place entirely.”

“So if I’d taken a fifth…? From a resentful owner?”

John shook his head, “There’s no way the Field Of Graves would ever let such a weapon go. You would’ve perished without a doubt.” Thought so.

The fifth would’ve been that katana. He’d picked up the dagger first. When nothing had happened, he’d started collecting the ninjatos. After accumulating three, he’d eyed larger prizes. That’s when he’d come across a breathtaking sight. A flawless silver blade glistening in the sun.

The only reason he hadn’t grabbed it right away is that, unlike the others, it would’ve been impossible to conceal from his siblings. As he deliberated what to do, he’d remembered Nero’s words. ‘Only take four’.

“So what do I do with these?” Light looked to the night table.

“Keep them.” John answered, flipping a page. “Weapons with ancient history have power. They can even impart skills and knowhow from their previous masters. Enchanting them is the trickiest business, but can have excellent results.”

“Are they still cursed?” He had to ask. That’d been the whole point, and they’d lose value if they weren’t.

John looked up with the most deadpan expression, “Yes, to an extent. By reliving their owners’ final moments, they won’t react to you anymore. However, if someone else wields them, they’ll eventually fall ill.” Technically cursed, got it.

“Emerit’s lesson begins in five minutes.” John turned back to his text.

It’s that late already? Light changed and rushed to the Glittering Auditorium. Everyone was already seated when he burst in.

“Look who’s here!” Emerit laughed. “Fully cleansed?”

“Yes, I’ve recovered.” Light installed himself quietly.

“Glad you could make it.” Emerit announced dramatically. “Today we’re discussing implications of being well-known.”

“Fame’s enhancements were originally a natural phenomenon predating the HEAVENLY DAO. As you know, thoughts flow into the Ether, either through nightly dreams or whenever magic is channeled. That malleable conceptual space would react to individuals prominent in the minds of many, focusing around them. They’d grow stronger, age slower, and draw magic quicker.

“After the HEAVENLY DAO gained sapience, it chose to leave these effects intact when it created its path to immortality. That’s why we have similar, parallel systems.”

“One is temporary and the other permanent. Fame is fleeting, its benefits lost when one sinks back to anonymity. Renown is lasting, with every accomplishment furthering your legend. The number of people aware of your deeds is irrelevant. The HEAVENLY DAO is the only witness that matters.”

“Another noteworthy difference: the benefits of fame are finite. At the maximum, it confers strength equivalent to an A rank adventurer. So while world-spanning celebrity might make an ordinary mortal dozens times stronger, a saint would experience only a marginal improvement. The weaker you are, the more it advantages you.”

It stops mattering entirely once you reach immortality. The impact became too minuscule. Skill, equipment, and Sublime Vagaries become the determining factors.

“Any questions?” Emerit finished.

“If an unknown A rank adventurer achieves ‘world-spanning celebrity’, would it double their strength?” Dawn asked. Referring to herself of course.

“Correct.” Emerit answered.

“According to Miki, I now have fans.” Hope said. “Why don’t I feel stronger?”

“Studies have confirmed fame’s benefits work roughly on a ten day rolling average. You’ll detect the effects in the coming week, I guarantee it.”

Kate raised her hand, “There’s something I’ve been wondering for a while. Aren’t Astra’s children too strong? They’ve barely done any adventuring yet were able to completed an A rank quest… How’s that possible?”

“Because doppelgangers have a head start. They automatically inherit a fraction of their original’s legend. It’s to exploit this phenomenon that Sola only created one at a time.”

“Isn’t that unfair?” Kate objected.

Emerit shrugged theatrically, “It’s basically the same as other special status like ‘sole survivor’. The children of immortals benefit from something similar to a lesser extent. Even you have undoubtedly received an XP boost as Lily’s adopted daughter. You can just use common sense for this stuff. Is something impressive or awesome? If it is, then it counts.”

So growing up in the arctic, our coliseum duels, the training against the undead… All those mattered too.

“My turn.” Free stated. “To tell the truth, having two separate systems is needlessly complicated. From everything I’ve learned, the HEAVENLY DAO prefers simple, clear rules. Why’d it keep the enhancement from fame? Why not replace it entirely?”

“Fair question.” Emerit nodded approvingly. “I believe it was for artists and equality.”

“Without the benefits of fame, there’d be far fewer artisans and entertainers. Although producing artistic masterworks does increase renown, feats of strength and bravery are far more effective. Many would forsake their craft to pursue adventuring since immortality is endlessly enticing.”

“Celebrity is a boon to creators. It can extend a mortal’s lifespan by a factor of five, allowing them to slowly earn their way to the wall.”

“The HEAVENLY DAO appreciates art. It has no desire to see best-selling authors and musicians unnecessarily risking their lives. Thanks to this, there are eleven immortals who reached the wall without ever fighting a battle.”

“Those eleven have amazing Sublime Vagaries, right?” Light interrupted excitedly. I know of this.

Emerit smiled, “Indeed. Perhaps because the HEAVENLY DAO can’t stand the idea of a weak immortal, they all possess supreme Sublime Vagaries. The most famous is Alouette Fallister, who can summon characters from her novels to battle in her stead. These abilities make them far more dangerous than any state-sponsored immortal.”

“Back to Free’s question, if the Wall of Legends was limited to those blessed with talent, it would remove a great deal of mystery from the world. Fame is an equalizer which prevents this. Anyone can achieve stardom, and immortality is then reachable through the extra time afforded.”

Famous people are always interesting in some way, either through their deeds or because of who they were. Keeping such people alive suits the HEAVENLY DAO’S purpose.

“Are there any who reach immortality without relying on fame?” Rose asked.

“There are. Assassins regularly do, for example. Many in the Cultivating Realm also forgo——”

Light’s wrystal began vibrating and flashing. Purple, it’s Lily. He had to answer.

“Excuse me.” Light connected the call, and a small figure appeared. “We’re with Emerit. Do you need something?”

“It’s an emergency. Join me at my conference room.” Lily didn’t look pleased.

“All of us?” He asked as the others restlessly listened.

“No, just you.” Lily hung up, leaving everyone perplexed.

“I’m not sure what’s up,” Emerit scratched his chin, “but you should hurry.”

Apologizing, Light raced off. What emergency requires just me? Would it have killed her to offer an explanation? He didn’t like missing Emerit’s lesson.

(continued in part 2)