(Self Notes)

[Shadow]

\Mirror/

"speaking"

'thinking'

*action*

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I turned apprehensively. A dark skinned big guy towered over us, dressed in priestly purple and white robes. Along with his purple super saiyan hair he look completely ridiculous. Then he laughed in the most disturbing way, voice demoniacally deep. His eyes rolled in the back of his head as he laughed. I readied myself to fight the monster when he suddenly teleported past us, bowling me and Gray over. I jumped to my feet in time to see his face go somewhat normal and he stopped laughing. He stood in front of Priscilla with his arms wide.

Gray and I gaped as they hugged. They pulled back after a moment and the big guy patted her head. “How ya been Pris, dawg?” he asked, “I’ve been good. So... You just knocked over my new pals.” “Oh shit sorry about that lil’ dudes.” his huge hands patted us both and he smiled at us. Gray growled “The fuck is this?” “Chill you ass out wild brother.”

Priscilla snorted “This is Priest Cocoa of the nearby Church of Mayhem. Cocoa these are my new friends, Gray and Chris.” she said, gesturing. Cocoa raised his eyebrows “A lil’ young ain’t they? Fo’ sure!” I closed my eyes and pinched my cheeks, I need to be sure this wasn’t some absurd dream. *Ouch*

Real huh.

“These the rich playa’s who beat them fool’s asses?” “Yup. They’re B-ranks.” she replied. “That shits wicked cool. Yo, just wanted to greet yo ass. Gots me some funky news.” she grinned “Alright let’s go. C’mon fleshies.” Gray glared, quickly rushing after. I followed.

“Go where? Why do people never explain these things!? And wait, is this guy even speaking the same language? Is this how the Empire talk!?” Gray yelled. “We Priest’s oh they great Mayhem speaks all dey languages of Jareklai.” Cocoa replied.

“We’re going to the Church. In fact, the Church is directly above that strange Will you fleshies were so interested in. The High Priest came by a month ago and had to sealed it up.” Priscilla answered. We hurried through the crowds, people moving respectfully out of the odd Priest’s way. Soon we reached the church.

It was fitting really. White and dark purple, contrasting. There were a few other Priest hanging around, who thumbed up or fistbumped Cocoa as we passed by. They all had somewhat unique looks. Gray just looked with bewilderment and Priscilla was indifferent. Cocoa opened the huge Church doors with ease and we passed through. Walking the corridors.

I felt it then.

Cold and paralytic. Familiar. Funny, I could still remember that Will from twelve years ago. That huge aura that can cover an entire city. SL.

I felt a somewhat manic smile tug onto my face. But stopped myself. This power was too much. I would have no chance, not to mention that place was supposedly sealed and it is possible the so called High Priest is up to something suspicious with SL.

I was then determined to check it out, and to get more powerful. I had plenty of methods but even so, I wasn’t really serious. I hadn’t met any powerful foes after all, well aside from the statue recently. ‘-- your time has come.’

I blinked, realizing I had stopped, the others had long since passed. ‘What the hell...’ I quickly got lost, the inside of the church was much bigger than it appeared and there were multiple floors. It was also pretty much empty, giving it a creepy feel.

I ran down the halls somewhat panicked. The cold aura creeping up my body from the stones bellow. Seeping in. It had the appearance of yellow mist and I followed the trailing mist, searching for the source. It was like wading through ketchup.

I found it, on the bottom floor, at the back of the church, was a room filled to the brim with the yellow smoke. I stumbled through, hand covering my mouth. It was getting colder. Frost forming on my clothes and skin. I found the source, a marked wall. The smoke cleared in a semicircle around it. There was some bad glyph work written on the wall.

With a little work I was able to decipher what it said.

-Seal of The Godslayer (Status: Damaged.)-

I frowned ‘The hell does that mean?’

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Stew held his hands up feebly.

“Hahaha! Look at you, old man.” Alan laughed, stepping over. “I guess that was my fault, I should have been more careful. But damn. Such an impressive artifact.” he held Stew up by his hair and retrieved a vial from his belt. ‘Only three left. Too bad.’

Stew tried to resist but he was too badly injured, his movements sluggish and abominably painful. A liquid was forced down his throat. Tasteless. He stared blearily at Alan. “Are you going to kill me, or must you taunt me more?”

Alan smirked “Kill you? What use would that serve? But I have an idea of who else to kill...” Stew’s face fell, eyes frantic “Stop. Don’t you dare!” “Are you going to stop me?” laughed Alan. Stew body suddenly jerked and spasmed, a feeling like molten metal flowing through his body. He felt his wounds closing. Organs knitting back together, bones repairing and regrowing.

“Wha-” “Ah, maybe we should leave before some guards show up.” Alan said, he grabbed Stew throwing the half unconscious man over his shoulders. “The guards should have already arrived, what have you done?” Stew murmured over his lessening pain. “The guards like money.” answered Alan, brightly.

“Hmm, without any Hands my old plans are no longer viable. But perhaps with you...” Stew kept his head down, hoping to recover his strength quickly. Initially, killing and replacing that necromancer had been a chore. They lose control of their constructs when they die, but if you kill the constructs first you only end up alerting them.

Tediously, he had penned away the Hands - small humanoids, think goblins - and other fleshy creatures. Killed the necromancer and rushed back for them. He was fast enough, just about. Fast enough to replace the necromancer without looking suspicious, the mask he had used was special, it was primarily used for assassinations. His sister’s sect had been using it for generations, though it was a carefully guarded secret.

He frowned, his recovery was very abnormal. Even with some of the greatest potions, recovering from his particular injuries so fast was impossible. It seemed to have restored him in other ways too, his Will had recovered. Though his body was lagging behind somewhat.

Alan jogged through the streets, approaching a run down looking building. It fit in pretty well, they were in the slums, the abandoned part. ‘What is he planning?’ he thought as a boy opened the door to a series of knocks. Peeking at Alan the boy allowed him through. An older man sat in the old rotten house on a chair in the corner of the room. Alan gestured at the man, and man gestured back, then left. Dropping Stew on the floor Alan took a seat.

“Alright half prince. Let’s make a deal.” “A deal? I won’t help you.” “Oh? Will you say the same when I destroy your precious village? As far as I can tell, despite your brother’s accomplishments - which you are far too proud of - you cherish your real family more. So. Would you rather betray your brother or have all your family and acquaintances die?”

“...”

“To be honest, I’m not really asking you to betray anyone. I was hired to cause chaos here, that is all. How about it then? A Contract.” “Fine.” Stew said, he made up his mind, drawing a blade. A small hand grasped his, crushing. With a yell he dropped the blade, staring into the eyes of the child who had answered the door. The boy glared “No killing. Bad.”

Stew’s eyes widened ‘Impossible.’ the child was able to restrain him, an A-ranker with such ease. Even Chris wasn’t that powerful, and this child was younger. Stew watched the boy carefully. There was something familiar about him. The red hair and dark skin.

‘House Fargoal!’

The man from before was standing behind Alan, his features similar. His crushing aura sapping Stew’s will to fight. With these two monsters he had no chance. He sighed in resignation. “So. What are the Fargoal family doing out here in such a weak country?” Alan nodded in appreciation. “So you recognize them, impressive. Fortunately these two are here to help me with my duties and to make sure I don’t do anything bad. And I guess I’ll forgive your disrespect.” he said, bearing a small smile. “Now. You can tell you haven’t a chance in hell of getting out of here without either joining us or dying. I’ll give you a Fair Contract. I’m feeling generous.”

Stew nodded warily. He was tired. He had a good idea of what they planned to do with him. Political charades. Again.

A ring of silver Will formed above their clasped hands. “I swear I shall not kill or harm your kin and friends unless I am attacked first. I shall not send harm to them intentionally whether directly or indirectly.” Alan said. A glyph formed in the circle on Alan’s side. Stew took a deep breath, he was somewhat unsatisfied with it but he was in no position to bargain. “I swear to follow your orders until the day you die so long as you are hired by the Fargoal family.” his own side formed and the circle disappeared. He felt foreign Will enter his body, settling around his throat.

Alan nodded. “Now. You catch some sleep. That’s an order. When you wake up you are to wait for us. You are not permitted to leave this building. Until then.” Alan brushed his shoulders, blood dripping onto the floor. The Fargoal man scrunched up his face, “Mess.” Alan snorted, leaving and closing the door behind him.

After a moment the boy smiled at him, “Your room, elder.” he said leading Stew to the back room, it was empty aside from the bedroll at the center. Stew sighed, climbing in. Too tired to complain, and settled down to sleep.

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Rorry and Linear sat together in the barracks eating. Linear was dripping with sweat, her days training ended. Rorry was somewhat envious, being trained by the daughter of the First Gatekeeper. “The Academy is going to be excepting new studentsss soon! Where the hell is Chrisss!?” Linear muttered to herself. Rorry was worried himself, but they hadn’t been missing that long.

Linear’s whining was beginning to get on his nerves so he tuned her out. He could understand why Chris had avoided her so much. ‘I’m not as annoying as her, am I?’ he thought idly. Though Linear had gotten a lot better recently, the first thing Leipa had done was make Linear stop hissing all the time, at the very least she doesn’t hiss her every s.

Rorry was somewhat worried of other matters. Like Stew. He had said he was going to the city for some business but he didn’t come back. Odd. Then there was the thing with lord Avarin who was killed close to the city. After that massacre many reported seeing a barbarian, and a group of Judge Knights went out to make a thorough search. The king had the whole city locked down, Captain Rihveil had been a little grumpy too and the Apparitions had gone silent. Things were getting interesting.

He watched the door slam open as a green haired youth literally jumped through. “Yo child! Get the fuck out here and exercise, you’ll get fat!” Rorry sighed. Leaving Linear he approached the Fourth Gatekeeper, they had made friends over the past few months. “Tiber what do you want?” “Dude, look at em weakass arms! FUCK!”

I raised my fist “Do you want a demonstration of what these, ‘weakass’ arms can do?” “Hell no! Just playing with you bro, no need to get ya panties in a bunch.” “So, why are you here!?” Rorry asked in exasperation, while lowering his arms.

“I found something shady as phak. There’s a Coraan selling these weird wooden statues at the docks.” he held up a figurine of Sebastian Jareklai, the original founder. I frowned, puzzled. “What’s so weird about them?” Tiber looked somber “They’re encoded with some crazy Will yo. I cannot hack this shit. No one can! It just seems kind of scary you know? These things were completely under our noses, Gatekeepers don’t just stop outright attacks on the city. We’re supposed to protect the people from more subtle things too yo. I mean what if this thing is malicious? We don’t even know! But we can’t restrict it because they’re already everywhere in the kingdom!” he laughed, breathing heavily “Sorry for the long speech yo, just... felt kinda nervous. Anyway, maybe you should avoid them.” Rorry nodded, “I understand. Have you got any other news?” Rorry asked.

“Naw, everything is quiet. Anyways. I gotta get back to work, cya bro.” said Tiber, waving like an idiot. Rorry closed the door carefully, noticing the cracks on the frame he winced.

He turned around, noticing Linear was stealing his lunch. ‘That’s enough.’

“FUUUUUUUUCK YOUUUUU!”

“Gyaaa!?”

*Hissing and shouting.*

*STRIFE!*

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Hadrian noted the movements of the Empire, they seemed to be anticipating something. Laying in wait. The Heiress remained as usual outwardly, though the nobles seemed too busy scheming to realize she had changed. He could tell she likewise had something planned.

His messenger was still missing, 'Incompetent.'

He was in his room, relaxing for the most part, and sat at his desk drinking wine and reading a book that had caught his fancy.

his eyes bulged at the voice. “Ah, Director is there something you want?” he ground his teeth “I don’t need your help. In five years my Felling will be over.” he grunted. It wasn’t all bullshit, things were certainly getting busy but he didn’t trust her, and he wouldn’t wish her on his greatest enemies.

“And what would you get out of this?”

“I’m in no danger. So I’ll have to pass.”

“No we won’t.”

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Thanks for reading, if you can point out any inconsistencies or typos I would appreciate it. Next Chapter we’ll be focusing back to Chris and Gray, no more POV switches for now. Thanks for reading! :3