A dark-haired man in torn robes limped through an empty street in the middle of the night, within some abandoned ruins, a forgotten town of a bygone era. The half-right of his body was caked in blood, leaving a crimson trail as he struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
When he reached a crossroad, his feet gave way beneath him, and his vision momentarily turned white as he collapsed onto the ground.
He struggled back onto his feet. Four shadows approached from the four directions of the crossroad, while many cloaked figures bounced atop the tiled roofs of the surrounding wood and mudbrick buildings ranging one to four storeys high.
The man observed all his approaching foes. His attention focused on one particular figure, the shadow approaching from the northern direction of the crossroad.
"Have you no fear of the lesser heavens' retaliation? Of the chaos that this may ignite between the sects and the clans?" The man's voice was weak. He knew he had no hope of survival. He also very much understood that his question was a rhetorical question. He simply hoped that the approaching figure might change his mind.
The approaching figure withdrew a metallic orb from a spatial pouch. His hand channeled aurae into the orb, and a bright warm light illuminated his face.
"Rutzr. You should have accepted our offer. You could have served the Halls, the Allfather, and risen to heights beyond your imaginations," he sighed with disappointment.
The blood-soaked Rutzr shook his head then scrutinized the figure before him. An old acquaintance who he felt deep respect for. Acktaz. Acktaz was a nine feet tall man, of an excessively muscular body. Though his size might be intimidating, his face gave off an innocent impression, due to his large bright eyes and a gentle ever-present smile.
That did not mean Acktaz behaved like a child. His face simply conveyed his reputation in the advancer world-- a man who fought his foes face-to-face, scorning the use of underhanded methods which he felt to be beneath him.
At least, that is why many carry, at minimum, a degree of respect for Acktaz.
These two had cooperated during certain ventures in the past, when their interests aligned. Though he knew that they would never be on the same side, Rutzr had still developed a liking for the man, a sort of friendship. In the end, their loyalties led to this eventuality.
"I am no traitor," Rutzr spat. "You know this of me."
"I only prefer to not have to take your life," Acktaz replied, sorrow in his eyes. "However, a new era is coming. And humanity will suffer unimaginable losses unless the Allfather emerges victorious."
Rutzr closed his eyes, contemplating his life during these final moments. He knew his death was at hand. He was surrounded. Not to mention, he knew that he had never faced the full extent of Acktaz's powers.
"My mother will not receive my corpse, will she?" Rutzr asked.
"No. My orders are for you to simply vanish. You will not be recognizable through any means," Acktaz answered with a frown.
"Though I am in no position to make such requests, I desire to have two wishes. My family must remain safe, and I wish to see your true strength," Rutzr requested, his gaze fixated on Acktaz.
"Very well. If your family members do not display any level of threat to the Halls, then I will ensure their safety as long as I live and breathe."
Acktaz raised his right arm. He wore a metal gauntlet of interlocking golden and silver plates, layered with many inscriptions. His hand opened up and from his fingers protruded concentrated aurae-formed claws, the image of a tiger's claw.
"No one else is to move," Acktaz ordered. The three shadows closing in paused then took a few steps backward.
Rutzr's body inflated with air like a balloon. Before he could expel that air to unleash an attack, he felt a sudden force pulling at his body.
His mind was alarmed. Telekinetic advancers are able to use their divine will to manipulate items from a distance. However, that control can only be described as slow and somewhat cumbersome. Most telekinetic advancers are able to control their flying weapons deftly because they inserted a sliver of their soul into said weapon.
That wasn't all. These telekinetic powers are unable to take control of any advancers, at the shell level and above-- shell advancers' bodies are protected by a passive invisible aurae cloud, thus telekinetic powers are unable to penetrate and take hold of one's body.
For Rutzr to feel his body being dragged towards Acktaz, there was only one possibility-- an origin skill or a well-developed magical art approaching the absoluteness of an origin skill.
Of course, Rutzr wasn't that surprised by the presence of another's origin skill. He himself was being targeted precisely because the Halls was concerned with his origin ability. Still, his heart sank with dread, stemming from his knowledge of the specific capability demonstrated by Acktaz.
Rutzr's body accelerated towards Acktaz's outstretched claws. Though he tried to activate his connection to the environment through his aurae tendrils, he was unable to extradite himself from that primal force pulling at his body.
Desperate, he immediately unleashed the air within his ballooned belly. An otherworldly shriek resounded from his mouth, sending continuous pulsating spherical silvery waves outwards.
Many masked and cloaked shadows perching upon the surrounding roofs became limp noodles and tumbled down the side of the buildings, falling multiple storeys. Those who barely practiced any body tempering arts suffered injuries, and a few even immediately lost their lives, unlucky with the angle at which their head and neck struck the ground.
The other three shadows blocking the three paths of the cross street stumbled, their limbs flailing to keep themselves upright.
Acktaz, however, easily repelled the attack. His hand switched to an open-handed right palm, and all sections of the silvery waves heading towards him froze midair.
"Down." A twist of Acktaz's thick left arm and Rutzr felt a powerful force sucking his body towards the ground. His whole body became more than ten times heavier as he fell flat onto his face, sealing his mouth.
The pulsating silvery waves shattered, raining down aurae that dispersed and returned into the very air and ground.
The bodies that had fallen limp from height regained their ability to move, rising weak-kneed as if waking from a deep slumber. Many wriggled their fingers, clenching then relaxing their hands to confirm that their bodies had returned under the control of their souls.
"Emanant Acktaz," muttered a shadow blocking one of the streets. A somewhat breathless yet soothing female voice tweeted like a nightingale. "Luminary Zeum… will be most displeased with your promise and subsequent action."
The remaining two cloaked shadows walked closer to the orb lamp to reveal another two feminine figures. These two nodded in agreement with the first's opinion.
Acktaz raised an eyebrow for a few heartbeats, somewhat bemused, before snorting in mockery of these three shadows.
"The three of you should concern yourself with your three princes and their forces," he scoffed as he strode towards Rutzr, who remained plastered to the ground by a relentless force.
"Unlike the three of you, Luminary Zeum holds me in high regard. The Allfather demands competence. My reputation has drawn many followers to our cause."
"As for Luminary Zeum, I am capable of providing him with the pleasure he seeks." Acktaz reached downwards and picked up Rutzr-- two clawed hands gripping onto the man's head.
Rutzr flailed helplessly as he felt a flow of aurae infiltrating his head from the metallically-gloved hands of Acktaz. A drag-and-pull sort of sensation created an immense pressure within Rutzr's skull, before the man's head simultaneously collapsed and exploded in a shower of blood.
The bodies of the three feminine shadows all flinched in discomfort.
Acktaz might have a well-regarded reputation for being direct, engaging in 'proper' combat, avoiding underhanded methods in conflicts. However, when he took a life, it was always decisively brutal. That was why Luminary Zeum favored him.
______________________________________
Rein felt amazed by the building complex before his eyes. He never really had the chance to fully come to terms with how large the Jeihr merchant family was back in those days.
Indeed, the Jeihr group of the destroyed Golden Desert Town was but one branch out of many within the Jeihr family. Rein had always known this, but he never truly considered the significance of it. After all, the many branches of a merchant house generally retain a high level of autonomy provided that they remain profitable.
As for vying for influence within the main house? There are both upsides and downsides in doing so. However, given that Meynan was an only child, and a woman… the elders, old heads of the Jeihr merchant family were unlikely to favor her. At least, that was why before the Golden Desert Town's destruction, the arrangement between the Hehr and Jeihr branch was seen as inconsequential.
Well… with the Golden Desert Town's destruction, something must have changed, Rein nodded to himself as he waited for word from the gatekeeper. Rein could only wait patiently at the twenty feet granite stone gate, two thick pillars and a beam with the symbol of Jeihr. He wasn't the only one waiting-- quite a number of other guests were here, likely seeking opportunities.
This Jeihr complex of the main house was truly extensive. It was a good two thousand acres, filled with man-made gardens and various buildings constructed from stone and wood for a multitude of purposes.
As for how the Jeihr merchant family could maintain such a complex within Final Solace City? Rein had heard those on the streets of the city speak of the Jeihr merchant family's extensive links to advancer sects.
Supposedly, many sects employ mortals to transport goods, with their members often secluding themselves to train and raise their powers. While the truly valuable items naturally would be transported by the low number of advancers willing or desperate enough to be porters, sects needed supplies for their weaker or younger members.
Finally, one of the gatekeepers returned, clearly nervous at having to deal with Rein. Rein did not blame the man-- due to his changed physique, he was rather intimidating at eight feet. Most guards of the mortal world are stuck in the mid-inner realm. They knew enough to see that Rein must have tempered his body beyond the mortal realm.
"Sir…" the man muttered. "You will have to forgive me. I… unfortunately, cannot allow you to enter." The guard evasively looked away. "I hope you understand, the situation is-"
"I will be bringing him in." Steward Xeer floated down from above, causing the many mortals to cry out in amazement.
"But… I, yes," sputtered the gatekeeper as he bowed his head and retreated. "As you will, Steward Xeer."
Rein followed Steward Xeer in with a bit of a frown. Clearly, something was afoot within the extensive Jeihr merchant house.
The two travelled over many stone steps and wooden long corridors that crossed over small streams and ponds, through bamboo forests and past small waterfalls. Normally, such a walk should be relaxing for the nerves, but Rein's gut could not relax based on that gatekeeper's behavior.
Once again, Rein felt curious as to how Steward Xeer had ended up willingly providing assistance to at least one branch of the Jeihr.
Xeer chose to remain silent throughout, and Rein did not break the peaceful chirping of birds and rhythmic croaking of frogs within the man-made garden spaces of the complex. He understood that Meynan was certain to provide the necessary information.
He soon reached a square of the complex that stuck out like a sore thumb. The zone honestly appeared somewhat dilapidated compared to the other areas. That was, of course, only in comparison.
This courtyard still had a garden and a pond, but the vegetation had significantly less variety in species, and the shapes and types of stone were mostly identical, failing to imitate the 'natural' haphazard appearance of nature. A minimal decorative effort described this square.
"Go ahead," Steward Xeer gestured with an arm towards the primary northern building, its wooden red-colored surfaces carved with man versus beast, their shapes accentuated by pinpoint dashes of jade and sapphire paint.
The doors to the east building suddenly burst open and a woman rushed out in a simple white silk gown. Rein widened his eyes. He was shocked to recognize the woman he knew as Madam Jeihr, significantly older and thinner in appearance. Her hair had turned grey, frayed at the ends.
"Child!" Madam Jeihr grasped Rein's arm. "You're alive! You should take Meynan away and leave this place! My heart will be finally at peace."
"Madam J…" Rein wasn't sure how to address the woman. Perhaps back in Golden Desert Town, there was only one Madam Jeihr. Here, however, there must be many.
"Madam Cehnan," Rein hesitated but finally settled upon addressing the woman by this name he recalled from his buried memories. "I am simply here for a visit."
"Please. You must…" Madam Cehnan begged.
A heart-wrenching scene then manifested as Madam Cehnan collapsed onto the ground and her body spasmed as if she was in her death throes. A bespectacled woman in dark brown and green robes rushed out from the east building and poured a vial of greenish liquid down Madam Cehnan's throat, and her spasms gradually ceased.
"Sir, please forgive this intrusion. Madam Cehnan has been afflicted by a devil's poison." Two maids in rough cloth assisted the bespectacled woman to carry Madam Cehnan back into the east building.
Rein turned his head, scanning Steward Xeer. Xeer had stood in the same spot as when he had sent Rein towards the north building, having taken zero action in the face of Madam Cehnan's episode.
Steward Xeer returned an unflinching gaze.
Rein, somewhat unsettled, headed towards the north building, and two maids opened the double wooden doors.
A folding screen with a water painting of a sea of flowers blocked any direct vision into the building. Upon going around the screen, Rein finally set his eyes upon Meynan, seated around a large, sturdy and polished circular wooden table.
She looked mostly the same. Small red lips, slightly pointed chin, big eyes framed by silky black hair bundled atop her head like a crown. If there was a difference, it would be her significantly more mature poise, her somewhat more pale smooth skin, accompanied by a hint of exhaustion behind those large dark brown eyes. She was similarly dressed in a simple turquoise silk gown that hugged her form-- a color that Rein recalled to be her favorite.
Rein sighed. Their last meeting seemed like a lifetime ago. In reality, only somewhat over a year had passed by.
"So," Meynan softly said in a reproachful tone. "You finally decided to show your face."
Rein wasn't sure how to respond to her words as he sat down on an opposite polished wooden stool the shape of a bulged cylinder.
"How's your father?" Rein asked, hoping to dissipate the tension.
"Dead." Meynan replied, maintaining her soft but rather disgruntled voice.
Rein sank into silence. This he did not expect. Steward Xeer should be a powerful telekinetic advancer. He could see the suppressed sorrow within Meynan's eyes. Part of him wanted to embrace Meynan to comfort her, but Rein wasn't sure where they stood now. Moreover, he had become an advancer, and was not to get too mixed up, too involved in the mortal world.
"Do you know why?" Rein queried.
"Possibly, the devils wanted to infiltrate the Jeihr merchant family," Meynan answered.
Rein did not continue to ask for more details-- it was unnecessary. He could already guess what might have happened. The fallen devils must have devoted a significant amount of forces to capture then possess Meynan's father. Steward Xeer must have been overwhelmed. Somewhere along the conflict, Madam Cehnan must have been infected with a devilish poison, perhaps to ensure cooperation of some sort from Meynan's father.
Rein soon realized that Meynan must likely have felt alone, isolated for the past year.
"You know," Meynan fingers clenched at the hem of her gown. "I sent out search parties to find you. None returned with your corpse, which gave me hope. Now, you suddenly make a miraculous appearance, looking none the worse for wear."
"When I needed you the most…" Meynan's eyes grew wet. "You abandoned me."