Chapter 5: Interlude: Rumors Trickle

Iteration 1: Prime System, Second Planet: Great Plateau Wilderness – Western Border of White Dragon Kingdom

Alone on a moonless night stood a man in formal robes of rich blue. Detailed symbols and pictures stood out in elaborate gold stitching, illuminated by the countless stars in the sky. He turned his face skyward and spoke:

“Are you sure Trinten is the one you wish to choose? Others would be better suited to be his benefactor. You haven’t added to your direct line in so long. I would be happy to offer any from my Kingdom. I don’t presume to know your will in this butbesides the tragedy, I see this boy’s spirit is rather weak.” He furrowed his brow, uncomprehending.

“He must have had opportunities, yet his weakness shows a lack of ambition,” he continued. “Likely due to too many comforts and advantages. His whole world is mostly soft. Going from that peaceful world to here... are you sure…?” The robed man displayed sincere concern, but slowly his speech had become less confident, his concern changed to a hint of fear.

YES! A booming voice sounded in his head like a clap of thunder as the plateau remained silent.

Wind whipped around in a powerful vortex and the man’s robe cracked like a whip from the sudden gusts; the rest of his body was squeezed like a vise was pressing in on every inch of him. The same heaviness pressed upon his Spirit and Soul, causing the starry night to fade for a moment as his vision narrowed and his body grew weak. Falling to his knees from the pressure, the man in blue lowered himself willingly the rest of the way, face down in the grass.

“Forgive me, Your Excellence. At your word, I serve. Let me make amends and go forth to guide your heir–” The robed man, unable to finish, was cut off again.

No. The voice was kinder this time and the pressure relaxed, no longer oppressive. I have already sent another, and they are taking Pneuma. Attend to your kingdom. I will allow you to observe Trint’s walk through the darkness of the lower Realms, but he is off-limits to all under your rule. You will not help or hinder his Ascension.

Like a passing breeze, the voice and pressure blew away, leaving no trace. In its absence, it left a relieved and yet concerned man in a blue robe. He stood up from the grass and looked skyward again.

I deserve such a treasure. If not for my sworn loyalty, I would send darkness to swallow them. With a gift of that magnitude, I could conquer our enemies then have True Ascension within my grasp. He pushed down those thoughts and with a shiver of fear, he turned his mind firmly from Trinten; not even greed or a longing for power could trump the fear he felt for his Master.

“Even I am but an ant to my Master. Forgive my weakness,” he spoke as he took a step forward and disappeared.

He stepped through space and reappeared in his kingdom, in his private garden. He was still shivering; it was only fitting to be afraid after that reminder of the power wielded by those far above oneself.

The blue robed man paced back and forth, still digesting the news. He was unable to relax, shocked that an heir was being made through adoption, and one from the lowest tier possible. An uninitiated, unaffiliated receiving a paired companion as powerful as Pneuma was inconceivable! Pneuma was supposed to be bonded to his Master. It wasn't enjoyable to consider, yet what could he do? Nothing. He had been warned.

He turned the warning and news over and over in his head. Surely, Master didn’t mean no assistance could be sent.

Maybe just a nudge for the child will be alright – a nudge with a promised favor in return. Surely there will be allowances to help. Just nothing too direct, he thought.

Walking to his study, he wrote a message by hand, sealed it with magic runes, and called his second son by sending a System message.

“Take this to your Aunt Gracious. Tell no one and report directly to me, confirming personally at my study. No System messages. Understood?” He didn’t wait for a response as he closed the door to his study in his son's face.

He didn’t worry as his second son was also the most loyal. The message will find Gracious. She is capable enough to find and ingratiate the new heir to us.

Trinten doesn’t have many friends, and Pneuma shouldn’t hinder Trint from accepting a gift from our family, he thought.

Empirium Dynasty: i3 Branch Headquarters

“I can only imagine you have something interesting to share since you sent one of your little ones to find me,” Jing Lu expectantly asserted.

“Yes, my General. My messengers were used to arrange our meeting. We must avoid this message being tracked by spies or captured in System messages. It had to be from my lips to your ears.” The unknown man clung to the shadows, but the General knew him well.

“A source high enough to destroy us has leaked information about a new heir in the lower Iterations. It is unclear who the heir is or even which dynasty they serve. But the source is interested in binding them to their cause. The news hasn’t spread far yet. If the heir is strong enough, they should soon reach an Iteration in which we have a large enough presence. We should find them and bring them to our side,” the Shadow excitedly shared.

“I know you wouldn’t waste my time. So, tell me, which dynasty do you think this heir is from? Did some powerful clan send their scion down the Iterations as punishment, or are you saying this is about an adoption?” Jing Lu questioned.

“Yes. You are, as always, a step ahead. I received the message that adoption from one of the Core was initiated. They don’t know the details of which level of adoption, but my source is in i1, and they guaranteed this authenticity with a System life contract. I know you don’t care for speculations, but my source believes it was a direct adoption from a Patriarch.” The Shadow daringly ventured to add the last part, even with the fear of punishment for sharing speculation, no matter how good the source.

“Now, now. You know I’m not too fond of rumors. See that you don’t forget who you are speaking to. But you are right,” Jing Lui acknowledged. “The potential of a Patriarch adopting anyone, let alone someone low enough to be vulnerable would be unheard of. I would have you killed if you were joking. Maybe even for the sheer audacity of your claim. No one from an i1 Core Dynasty would adopt just anyone. Let alone a Patriarch being a benefactor. But if that is true…” He trailed off in thought.

“We will act as if this is credible intel,” Jing Lui declared decisively. “If we can gain control over such a rich resource, we will have the leverage to get our Dynasty, or at least my family, to i1. Don’t worry; I will reward all who help find and bring me the supposed heir. Also, send a few of your people with the lower Iteration recruiters. We might just net us this fish in the shallow waters.”

“Yes, catch the fish before it becomes a dragon. My people will go today, and I will send you word. I assume you want to avoid System messages and stick to our little meetings?” the Shadow asked.

He nodded. “Until we can be sure our enemies can’t intercept them with divination, we will use this secure room as necessary.” The General dismissed his Shadow with a wave.

He was left alone in the room. He sent a message to his brother to meet him in this room tomorrow at dusk. They had their machinations to consider—an heir to a Patriarch. The Iterations would be scrambling to control such a prize. Leverage over a Patriarch was hard to come by, and tying themselves to a baby would make them quite vulnerable.

Yes, they could flex their power, but many Patriarchs had been known to distribute great rewards for leverage over each other. The games of Patriarchs were not like those others play. They could move a pawn and end up shifting the fate of trillions.

We are but pieces on their board. the General thought to himself. Theirs to move and sacrifice in their great games. Yet why would one of the great powers tie themselves to someone so weak? An inheritance would follow an heir even through death or Restart. Linking the heir to the Patriarch is too risky. But if even a sliver of a chance exists that I can find them first… Jing Lui’s greedy heart swelled.

Getting back to his Dynasty responsibilities would be difficult after this much excitement. The General decided to take time to meditate and clear his mind by his private pond at his family compound.

Getting his big weight up was not difficult given his Strength stat, but his breathing was still labored as he walked to his home. It took great dedication to gain so much weight in the System.

If the news has reached me, it will surely spread to others. The odds are against us being the ones to find them, but time and all in the Iterations are against this young heir. And time can kill as much as any beast when you don’t have enough of it.