《Our Journey Through Radiance》Chapter 4: Reason
Advertisement
"Don't be swayed by emotions. They make you lack perspective." Alex kept on telling Arthur.
He couldn't understand his friend regardless of how long they spent together. He was too much.
What kind of person would become a State Knight?
Their salaries didn't seem high, so he couldn't understand why his friend felt passionate about it.
'He was probably taken in by propaganda.' Alex thought. He could imagine the funny scene vividly.
Arthur would read a poster saying the military NEEDED him, and be swayed by the shallow words.
Maybe he was giving him too much credit…
The enchanter and his best friend were both students of a man who was famous in the lands.
If they told someone who taught them magic, then it would have been the talk of the people there.
Too bad… If only their mentor had allowed it.
'Then I would be relaxing instead of researching.' A tiredness appeared in his eyes as the night fell.
He had been working the entire day tirelessly.
Unlike Arthur, who had a stable salary, Alex was only able to get money through the Adventurer Guild. That said, the rate they paid for his research was a lot more tempting than one could imagine.
He remembered the first research notes he published under his name, which was still being bought around the world. The enchanter felt like a novelist that hit big and became a billionaire.
The Guild had even issued him a 'Black Card'.
Which was considered a spatial device that allowed transactions, payments, and holding lots of money.
Similar to a digital interface you'd see on Earth.
He could even directly take out any value of coins from his bank account… whenever he wanted to.
But this came at a cost of his livelihood.
Even though Alex could have lived well with just his first published research documents, the enchanter continued to try his luck. It wasn't entirely because of his love for knowledge, but also his confidence.
After all, he had awakened a Unique Class.
That being called an 'Arcanist'.
Compared to other Classes, there was only a few who truly awakened Class Skills that were 'unique'.
Not merely a 'Rare' like Dragoons and Samurais.
Even Alex himself had no idea what an enchanted did. Not even sure what his Spirit Essence was like.
It was because he'd only had a partial 'Class Awakening'. Unable to use his inherent base magic.
Instead, he used his Class Skills to achieve feats similar to 'Ether Breathing'. The first was his eyes.
Class Skill: 'Runic Insight', an ability to see through the fabric of reality and see Ether as 'Attribute Runes'. External energy was like a science to him. A change in phenomenons being a result of Runes.
Like heat generating Fire Runes, thus igniting once set ablaze. Admittedly, his application was limited.
Unlike others, Alex had no way of generating Skills like Arthur could. He was left with only this job.
Just like he did with the shield, the Arcanist was good at applying his magical energy onto others.
By writing Runes on weapons, he could empower them. Whether they be tools or Spirit Essences.
An ability he made full use of.
It was no small part thanks to his first Class Skill:
'Magic Prodigy'.
Talent that went beyond the scope of reason.
Alex was able to finish a five layer enchanted shield within a day thanks to this, which was sent off in the hands of an errand running State Squire. After having done his job, he drank an energy juice.
One that was pharmaceutically prescribed to him to lessen the impact of fatigue from not sleeping.
Advertisement
He had been doing a lot of all nighters recently…
This was the last day he was spending on researching the new topic given by the Guild.
A secretly issued request only he was aware of.
Some might even call this 'Forbidden Research'.
Thinking so, the enchanter moved to his desk and started writing the last day of his experiment notes.
Things hadn't went as expected.
He wrote down that topic of discussion:
{National Treasures and Transient Awakening}
His pen moved through the many pages.
Compiling all he had learned to come to a conclusion about this research banned by the five kingdoms. Which was… The whole thing was useless. All theories weren't applicable in reality.
'Transient Awakening' was the state of power that few had been able to achieve in the entire world.
It wasn't the same as Spell Slots, which those who had fully awakened their Classes could create.
There had been multiple researchers like him who were given this task by the Guild over the years.
But only he had a special enlightenment towards it.
It must have been because of his Class, or due to the foreign memories that'd fill his head at times.
Like knowledge of scientific phenomenons other people would normally overlook in their opinions.
Either way, Transient Awakening couldn't be done.
The specifics to actually attaining this temporary strength, one that would leave behind a national treasure, was only fulfilling certain requirements for it… but even that couldn't be done by just anyone.
The first was strong emotions.
Similar to the endlessly passionate Arthur, who was constantly spending his hard earned gold coins.
The second requirement was 'layered thoughts'.
It wasn't enough to just have a strong boost in emotions. One needed many thoughts at once.
Which was why people like his friend were worst candidates. Simple people couldn't achieve it.
You could say feelings and ideals needed a balance, or say that maturity was a requirement.
But even if one managed to do that, there was the last thing they needed to do in order to utilise it.
{The individual in the high emotional state while layered thoughts needs to hold a familiar object.}
One might think that nostalgic item was enough after reading this, but that wasn't what he meant.
By 'familiar', he meant related to their past life.
The national treasures hidden by the five kingdoms and beyond were a result of all of these together.
Remnants left behind by the 'Transcended'.
Thus, the topic was deemed useful for magical technological development, and of battle training.
That last condition was too hard to purposefully do.
He closed the book on the subject and sent his last papers. Alex decided now was best to retirement.
There was already a lot of money in his account.
After stretching his body and getting ready for a good night's sleep, he thought about what to do.
How to enter that famous theatre performance.
If he couldn't get a ticket by normal means, it was only natural he'd get it through different means.
'How about I ask them?' He got an idea.
Rather than doing something illegal, he could just purchase a ticket from the great Theatre Troupe.
They should have at least one left, right?
Alex fell asleep and didn't get out of his bed for two days while thinking about it. He got a good rest.
It was only when his tired mind finally felt fully rested, did he choose to stick his head out of bed.
His enchantment shop sign on 'Closed' the whole time. Letting him laze like it was nobody's business.
Advertisement
Adam decided to get ready for a new day.
He looked at his bathroom mirror and had a look at his clean chin, with eyes that was just like others.
A common colour of brown.
This didn't seem to blend well with his platinum blue hair. Which was the weirdest others had seen.
After all, most people were brunettes or ginger.
Having the natural colour of platinum blue in the hair could be considered a strange mutation, but it wasn't like he would be ousted as a Beast. The qualities he showed was different from them.
Moreover, he was a friend of Knight Arthur. The person with the best reputation in the kingdom.
This proved his legitimacy.
Alex couldn't wait to awaken his Spirit Essence and prove to everyone that he was also a Gaia Human.
The same as the rest of them.
"Hah…" Adam sighed while putting on the clothes he'd made with the collaboration of a good Tailor.
Unlike the kind of leather most wore, he had a lot more wool that had been woven into a shirt for him.
His legs slipped into regular pants you'd see on Earth, which was complete with a fairly long belt.
He took a casual walk through the streets…
Nobody came to greet him, only keeping a good distance while looking at the colour of his hair.
…He was growing sick of this sight.
If it wasn't for Arthur, he would have already left to seek greater horizons. Not be stuck in this place.
Those eyes were piercing…
As if wondering if his hair was dyed or just a natural part of his body. The latter would cause concern.
Although it was common knowledge that there was no such thing as 'Halflings', it wasn't the first time a Humanoid Beast had infiltrated the kingdom as a regular Gaia Human. Disguising their natural look.
Then again, it was also common knowledge that black hair was the sign of a Beast in human form.
This was the only thing keeping them mum…
Even his eyes were brown, rather than a deep blue.
With their suspicion still lingering, Alex ignored them while making his way closer to the palace.
The Tartarus Theatre Troupe were docked there.
He just needed a ticket from them, all else meant nothing. Even if everyone looked at him with scorn.
Well… perhaps it wasn't everyone.
While going, Alex handed some silver to copper coins to some performers that were along the way.
Bards reverently thanked him for his patronage.
'See that. You can even buy relationships.' Alex felt good about himself while socialising with them.
Making his travel there take even longer…
There wasn't much talking besides the 'Thank you' each of them gave while he was giving money.
His image becoming that of a prodigal yet generous enchanter who worked for the kingdom.
A reputation Arthur had no small part in.
He continued until he reached a certain alleyway with a strange sign posted on at the corner clearly.
There was no face drawn for the criminal in question, but the bounty was quite large.
{WANTED
Name: Thousand Face
Reward: 10,00000 Gold
Description: A man who can imitate and become anyone if given enough time to switch identities.]
There was literally a ink figure with no features.
Alex didn't know how someone would be able to catch someone who didn't even have any looks.
Only rumours circulating around the all kingdoms could barely put together a profile for this person.
Apparently, he was a reckless thief who would even steal from Royalty. A fact that would shock most.
Did this man not value his life?
Regardless, this had nothing to do with him.
Just as he was about to leave for the brighter world, a subtle sound in the alley called to him.
He found himself walking further in.
Alex could've went straight to the palace and ignored these tiny sounds, but he was curious.
What was in here?
The deepest parts of the alleyway lead to a dead end, and a stairs to where that noise came from.
He could hear what it was at this point.
'Music…?' The Arcanist walked down the stairs while keeping his card tightly held. It was his life.
There would be no way he'd allow some no-named thief take his possession. Even if beaten out of him.
In front of him appeared a metallic door with an slide opening where the eyes likely peeked out.
He knocked on the door.
"Password." A deep voice came from behind the door. Two eyes looked from the unlocked opening.
"Does this sound right?" Alex took out his card and showed the total value left in his savings account.
Such a deep pocketed customer's wallet was like being blinded by radiance for the mere middleman.
He felt like his eyes would be unable to handle the mighty presence of so many zeros on an account.
"Music to the ears." The man said ironically while opening the door and letting him in with a smile.
He seemed like some kind of ruffian- No… That's…
'Does this place have Scouts?' They weren't that strong, but we're specialised in finding and hiding.
Though that also made it easier for them to be enlisted into thief groups plaguing many kingdoms.
Alex walked deeper in…
He came to see an underground casino where people were betting large amounts without limit.
Some were even being driven out after losing their fortune. Becoming no more than a crying mess.
He felt bad for them…
Especially when he saw one of them was a fellow storekeeper. An acquaintance that recognised him.
The man came out and held his hand.
"A-Alex… You came here too? I mean, yes… of course you did. U-umm… Can I borrow some money? I'll definitely pay you back!" The tailor who owned a clothes store begged with pleading eyes.
But Alex shook him off.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, and the tailor gulped in response while his eyes swam.
"That's…"
"Yeah, you came here to gamble 'more money' so you could get rich quick." The youth spoke blandly.
"You can't say anything. You're rich… And I barely get by with what I earn. I have a daughter. Please, I only need a few thousand gold." The man held on more tight, with desperation growing within him.
Alex patted the man's shoulder.
He made eye-contact with him, and spoke while letting him cling on as much as he felt like doing:
"You screwed up big time."
"I already know that. Just give me some money. I'll do whatever. Please…" The man stared back.
"And lose it in another round of gambling?"
"…You don't know that." After the tailor spine these words, Alex moved to huddle him closer with his arms over the shoulders. He whispered something those playing against the man couldn't hear:
"The one playing you and the one rolling the dice are on the same side. Can't you tell from the way they're looking at each other and laughing behind your back?" These words were like a thunderclap.
The tailor tried to turn his head in rage, but Alex kept him held close so he wouldn't act irrationally.
"They-"
"Cheated. Yeah… but what are you going to do about it? Call the State Knights? You're done here."
"Y-you have a friend in there, right? Couldn't he do something? Anything… just get my money back."
"My friend would lock you up purely for coming here. You know that and I know that. Give up."
"I can't…"
"You'll just have to."
"You lend money to your friend all the time, can't you help me?" The man continued persuading him.
"Stop this… Go home and explain what happened here to your family. And don't you dare ever come back. I know you haven't spent EVERYTHING. You aren't that thoughtless." Alex slapped his back.
The tailor staggered towards the exit weakly, and the Arcanist continued gesturing for him to get out.
The man finally left…
Truthfully, he DID feel bad for the guy, but there was a difference between being nice and being a meek pushover. Money wouldn't solve this man's problems, it would just blow it out of proportions.
The reason a mere tailor came here was out of temptation to get rich even if it meant losing it all.
And what almost happened was exactly that.
If he had given the man money, he would have came back to this place due to not learning at all.
At least poverty would end up ingraining some common sense into the man… if not anything else.
"Now… can you take me to someone worth talking to?" He spoke to the fake player in the crowd
The player looked around with a little panic, but was saved by the dealer in charge of the games.
The moustache twirler asked him:
"And how much 'worth' do you have?"
"At least this much." Alex flashed his card at the dealer, and his jaw dropped upon seeing the digits.
"…I'll bring you somewhere else. Please follow." The man hurriedly took him to the highest echelon.
Alex expected to be treated with respect for all that he was worth, but the situation's reality differed.
He was surrounded by men who had done a proper Class Change to become 'Pirate Class' criminals.
In front of him was the apparent ringleader.
A girl wearing smiling mask. Her iris seemed a little too dark… to the point he couldn't tell the colour.
Was it brown or black?
Regardless, it wasn't like there was anything inherently wrong with those types of eye colour.
If she had sky blue eyes instead, then it would have been a cause for concern about her being a Beast.
Moreover, he couldn't tell what she was thinking from the mask and way of covering all her skin.
Was she tortured by sickness, or disguised?
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't take that card and throw you out." The masked girl spoke blandly.
If Alex had prepared for a fight beforehand, he may have been able to escape… but this was useless.
He had to act based on the things he had right now. Regret wouldn't help him in this situation.
"Is this enough of a good reason?" Alex slowly reached into his inner pocket and revealed an ID.
The moment they read it, the greedy thugs around him were completely overwhelmed by his brilliance.
"He's a Level 5 Rune Enchanter. There's only one person who could have this…!" One of the Pirates spoke, and masked girl nodded in response. His name was famous throughout the five kingdoms.
"I didn't realise I was meeting a celebrity in the flesh. Please don't hold a grudge over this." The undercover Theatre Troupe member, Fear, showed an elegant demeanour despite wearing a mask.
One could feel the politeness in her voice.
"I wouldn't hold a petty grudge over those. Those who are reasonable people are treated reasonably."
"That's a great line. So… what did you come here for?" The masked girl cut straight to the point.
"I need a ticket for performance in five days."
"And you're willing to pay extra for it?"
"Pretty much."
"Then we have a deal." Alex didn't extend the conversation and let Fear end things with this.
After obtaining what he wanted through means that weren't predicted, he headed to the palace.
The reason for his choice?
He truly meant it when he said reasonable people should be treated reasonably, but that didn't count.
Even if things went smoothly after he revealed his identity, even anticlimactically, not all was well.
Reasonable people don't make underground ramblings rings, and he wasn't a heartless guy.
It was best to let Arthur know of this place.
Advertisement
The Limits of Limitless
Author's Note: So, new author here, nice to meet you from this lovely one sided conversation lol. I was so tired of waiting for the perfect story for me so I decided to write a few of my own. These are basically just to make me happy, but if you enjoy them too that would make me happy as well lol. ______________________________________________________________________________________ So once upon a time, there was a convienent, and slightly cliche, plot device used by a somewhat lazy author.... Which in turn, created an easily made story of how a lucky high schooler posing as a hardcore gamer dies only to resurrect in a fantasy reality, meeting beautiful women, powerful dragons and ancient beings, an assortment of insanely escentric fellows, and a certain over powered ring. Journey with them as they explore the wilderness of twisted imagination. Or for you old timey folk who like their synopsis a bit tame, here you go: Jason, a senor in highschool, is slowly failing school due to not giving a fuck. Like many people now in the year 3056, he is obsessed with the wonderful invention most lovingly called, 'True Virtual Realities'. now by using his obsession with his favorite Virtual Reality game called 'Reality Controlled', which is the first and so called best Virtual Reality ever made. it was basically the all around escape humanity wished for, and he with heaven defying luck came across one of the three cheat items the game developers left for themselves: The Limitless Ring. The ring was a support type item and had the ability to grant wishes, store worlds, clone items, grant skills and easily learn abilities. But those are just a few of the things it could do. Using the ring he successfully became the "best player" and had a herd of fans following him everywhere. It was a dream come true. Until, he was killed from a power surge that fried his brain which was hooked up to the Nerve Capsule, an unsafe prototype of the Dive gear that he bought do to low funds. The end. Or so you would think.... ______________________________________________________________________________________ Author's Note: I was, to be honest, wanting to do a collab, because to me it is sooooooo incredibly boring to write by yourself since you always know what happens next, however no one enjoys a bit of friendly cooperation *sigh* so I'm forced to journey these roads alone.... 'Tis but a sad fate tha' 'is here young'un has t' bear. The cover isn't mine, all rights and stuff goes to its artist and such.
8 249The Lads from Loch Allen
A Highland Scots urban fantasy.Meet Plan Thurisaz: Miss Alice Liddell, an archaeology student from London who happens to possess a potential about which she does not yet know - but someone, somewhere, has noticed it.Yanked straight out of the scene of her own violent death, she's just become that someone's last desperate shot at prising survival from the jaws of absolute destruction, she doesn't know what's going on with this twenty years ago that thinks it's a hundred years ago despite doing cyberpunk, she'd quite like off this wild ride right now please, and it's probably very very fortunate that she fell straight into the laps of a pair of crofter's lads from the far northwest of the wilder, weirder, more dangerous, downright stranger Scotland that she's awakened in.Now she's stuck in a world where folk stories are real, the British Empire never fell, the Highland Clearances turned into a centuries-long low-level war, the cold war was a three-way affair, there are capital-P Powers calling the shots, and she's about to find out that the rabbit hole into which she's been blown by a car-bomb goes one hell of a long way down indeed...Updates on the first and third Saturday of each month.
8 127Beast Knight
Three hundred years ago, it was humans who triumphed in what became known as The Great Wulvari War. Mankind was losing for most of that war, until one day when a scholar discovered magic. He quickly taught everyone he knew and soon turned the tide of the war. Despite their superior physical abilities and amazing senses, the wulvari were no match for the power of magic. The scholar was heralded as a hero!Now, the humans have built a magnificent kingdom and flourish in the capital of Aldemar. Everyone is happy. Everyone except one wulvari boy, stuck in the slums of that city, trying to survive. He's had a hard life so far, but a chance encounter changes the course of his fate.----------------------------------------------Status: I'm back, guys!----------------------------------------------
8 115The legend of the sun guild.
Durning the age of darkness it was said that four people of great power were born. The first man of great might. Who hunted the monster and saw them as know more than a means to an end. He fought to simply feed his hungry for blood and power. He challenged both the heavens and the darkest depths of hell. He made the world know meaning of the word fear. He was a strongest swordsman of the world. During his time their were few who could say otherwise and by his end their was know to be only one who claimed to be his better. There were none who love the sword like him. And there would be none who his blade would love like him. They said that number did not matter to him. That all who face him blade would die without exception. They is a legend of him bringing death to an empire so he could claim the life of widow of a soldier who died of his own blade in the face death so that the sword man would not now the satisfactory of taking his life. They called him the sword of death. The second was a man of great rage. An noble avenger to the weak and and terror to the strong. He was a berserker but unlike most who would attempt to control they rage he would reveal in the through of it controlling him. He would streak across the battlefield ripping both friend and foe apart alike and he would do so with nothing but his bare hand. They called him an immortal they said the more be bleed the more his power would grow. And they spoke of the power to he he could trade his blood for death. They said that no mortal weapon could kill him and that he would rise to fight no matter the injury. There was a legend of him ripping off his own head and using it to club his enemies to death. They called him the immortal wrath. The third was a woman of madness and magic. She was a hated witch. They say that her only objects was to spread misery and hate. It said she lead many a good man from the right path to one of great evil just to she if she was capable of such things. Her experiments left only detestation in their wake as she tainted the lands in some way worse than the worse then the void or darkness ever could. Her magic was a foul and dangerous thing that saw all her enemy become her enemy. That she enter the territory of both the formed of order and the gods of Chao us would not go. That she played with the energy of the void. Legend speaks of a place where she corrupted the very darkness that that claim both the land and the people. Some say light would flee from her presence in fear of the shadows fate for that was her name she was the fate weaver. The forth was a man. He was simply known as… the hero of the world. But this is not his story. No this is a story that speak of the other three The unrelenting swords man The undying wrath The unquantifiable desire But it mainly speaks of their second life. For the age of darkness has long since pases and the age of fire is coming to a close. But as the age dies a new one must be born. ( the idea is that this story will be told from the perspectives of the bad guys. Their motives ,objectives, rise to power, struggles and what they want to achieve. But yes they are the ‘bad guys’ of the story it’s also probably important to note that for the time being it’s going to be written on my phone then edit later when I have the time and feel like it but you should probably think of whats here as a draft until further notice. )
8 74Corruption {Percabeth Fanfiction}
The life of a princess isn't all it's made out to be. Princess Annabeth Chase of Olympus doesn't enjoy much of her time inside the castle, but knows life outside of it isn't much better. With the wild Insurgents terrorizing her kingdom, her father keeps her inside, away from the ruckus. She has no idea what life is really like for her people until she is dragged into it by a strange man who kidnapped her out of her own back garden.This started as a simple one-shot but I got a bit carried away. With that in mind, please ignore all the plot holes and the weirdly sized chapters :)Image on the cover by @blurry_feather on Instagram
8 60Crows Zero
A Crows Zero story, giving the story with an added character-Serizawa Sumi, cousin of Tamao, is falling rapidly head-over-heels for Izaki Shun. Confrontation much? How's a girl to deal!I just want to say that this story is not mine it belongs to Avalon Shiranui from FanFiction.net Al credits go to her
8 118