The only way to be cleansed of them was death. That was how Soul Scars were seen by the people of this world, yet what Xyrene did not know was that even death could not erase such a scar or rid one of it.
And this was exactly what Cyn understood and was certain of.
Soul Scars were sothing fantastical that allowed their bearer to possess spiritual senses, glimpses of the future, telepathic communication.
Soul Scars had more than one role, especially incarnation and controlling others as if you were dwelling inside them. Many abilities existed, yet there was no information or knowledge about them.
There was too much to learn from just this single session . Cyn decided to leave afterward. His reason for coming was not only this; he wanted to ask about Xyrene’s sudden decision to share him with the King’s other wives.
But she said she would explain it another ti, when the mont was right. Cyn withdrew quietly and did not press further.
The palace was imnse, adorned with golden and silver engravings along the sides, a true architectural masterpiece. Paved outer paths, breathtaking nature, and gardeners tending to the gardens and trees as if they were infants needing ticulous care.
There was a training ground for the palace knights, a training area and a section dedicated to weapons and defensive gear, everything one could need for training. By that he ant human at bags made of slaves.
Cyn observed those training sessions. Most of the knights used the slaves as human punching bags, beating them to the point of death. Many died there, but that was their role in exchange for staying alive. If one possessed trendous will, he could survive five years and earn his freedom.
So of them, at least.
Cyn was sitting on the grass when soone approached him from behind. He was wearing the official knights’ uniform. That person was Kassal, a high-ranked knight. The atmosphere around him was normal, giving no sense that he was unusual.
Kassal greeted him. "Hey!, Cyn. I’m glad you ca. It’s been a month since we last t. Sorry I’m late—still not used to you being the one to call for a eting. Did sothing happen?"
Kassal ca closer and sat beside Cyn. The latter said nothing for minutes and didn’t answer him. Footsteps approached them; it was Miguel, who also apologized for being late. "Unfortunately, there were obstacles. My apologies."
Cyn had gathered the two because he had known them for a long ti. Miguel had betrayed his friend Loyd for Cyn’s sake and for his own. Kassal was a corrupt knight yet a loyal subordinate to Cyn.
For the past ten years, Cyn had not rely watched. He had built multiple connections and established for himself an information network and a bandit network.
Cyn asked Kassal, "How are things going lately?"
Kassal sighed. "Horrible. We’re being struck from every direction—not by the knights or other defense units, but by other bandit networks. Especially in the south, robberies have increased, and we now have competitors. But soon the kingdom will launch a large-scale sweep to clean them out again. That’s why I suggested we pull back a little and observe the coming developnts."
Cyn listened in silence, and Miguel spoke. "I recently heard that a barony in the south was robbed and its entire household killed. Did our network have a hand in that?"
Kassal released a stifled laugh. "Of course. Who else? Our network, Raven Bloodline, is capable of that. We found an unprecedented fortune. We can’t use it now or suspicion will fall on us. I spent a little to buy several restaurants and taverns in the capital, in one of the northern districts. We couldn’t and still cannot move all the money and treasures because of the risk, so I left them in Duncan Duchy in one of the storage warehouses. Don’t worry, they’re well protected."
Cyn said, "Why not move them to a nearby forest and store them sowhere no one knows?"
Kassal replied, "Eyes in the forest are sharper than in the city. Any carriage carrying sothing into the forest will be suspected."
Cyn had not been interested in this kind of work until recently, since it brought them significant inco. Due to his identity, he couldn’t leave the palace whenever he wanted; he didn’t have full freedom. He could be considered a slave as well.
He would try to leave this palace soon, but it was clear how difficult that would be. Perhaps the palace was safer than the outside environnt, especially after learning several things.
Cyn lowered his head slightly and stared at the grass. He asked Kassal, "Do you know how to make Doses?"
Miguel and Kassal were shocked. Miguel in particular quickly asked, "Did you manage to awaken the Scar?"
Cyn cut him off. "No, not yet. I only want a thod to make Doses so I don’t rely on Xyrene to bring them for . Church and Temple mbers are hiding inside the palace. There’s been an increase in guards and patrols lately. I feel suspicion gathering around ."
He continued, "At dawn that day when I returned, I found a note on my desk. It said there is a third party. You know what that ans, Miguel."
Miguel was stunned. Soone else knew about it? Who? He spoke. "Impossible. If soone else knew, you wouldn’t still be here. The number of people allowed to carry Scars inside the palace is extrely small—countable on one hand. And none of the people I know from the Church or Temple show any suspicious behavior or spreading rumors."
Kassal responded. "But since a note exists, soone does know. And that person chose to inform Cyn, aning it benefits him. The sa applies to the third party who didn’t report it to the Church or Temple, aning it benefits him as well.
"Also, the person who sent the note listed three sides. The first is you, Miguel. The second is Lloyd. The third is the unknown person, not counting the one who sent the ssage.
"You know what that ans? If anything, it ans the sender doesn’t know that I, Kassal, or Xyrene know that Cyn is a Scar bearer. aning he’s soone who discovered it by chance and is at the very least ignorant. Do you suspect anyone, Cyn?"
Cyn agreed with Kassal, and Miguel also found so logic in Kassal’s words. Cyn answered, "Not necessarily. I don’t interact closely with anyone, but I suspect one of the king’s wives ntioned by Vance that day. Astrida might be behind this, especially after Xyrene changed her mind about ."
Miguel took a mont to think. "Soone entered your room and dropped a note on your desk without anyone noticing among the harem consorts present that day. That ans the person knows what he’s doing. And perhaps, as you said, one of the king’s wives had one of the favorites sneak into your room and place the letter so you’d see it. aning the sender is soone of high status in the palace. The good thing is that he doesn’t know about the others cooperating with you.
"But as for the third party, who could that be? He didn’t inform the Church or the Temple, nor the knights, aning he knows he wouldn’t benefit from doing so. It seems this person is just an amateur who discovered the matter by coincidence."
Cyn told them to drop the topic for now and forget it. "We won’t reach anything even if we keep discussing it. Patrol rotation is about to end. They will grow suspicious if they find us gathered like this."
Cyn focused on the important part. "We can’t trade or buy Doses because their price is too high, but there must be a thod for making them sowhere. From what I’ve heard, the overwhelming majority of Scar bearers avoid making them and instead find a way to steal or purchase them. Isn’t there an auction in the black market or the underworld where we can find sothing like that? Staying in this palace longer will be negative. Do what you can, Kassal."
Cyn continued, "The ti I can leave without being noticed is from midnight until dawn. That gives six hours at most. Of course, there are tis when I must remain in the palace when Xyrene summons .
"Send so slaves and samples to my lab behind the coastal Hills. As for the money in Duncan Duchy, don’t leave it there. There’s no harm in using it. The kingdom is enormous. Distribute it across our networks. They can buy and open shops selling weapons, cloth, anything—even jewelry. Keep so as reserve."
Kassal nodded and then sighed. Cyn asked him, "What is it?"
Kassal told him, "There’s another issue. It’s still small. I didn’t want to trouble you with it, but it’s better you know. Soone in Agaris has started paying attention to us. Among all the factions there, he chose us—Raven Bloodline—to attack. There have been small fights and minor losses for both sides, but the other side is truly strong. Our branch supervisor there sensed sothing coming and inford that soone is plotting against us."
Cyn’s mind wandered, but his lips moved. "Anything else?"
Kassal answered, "The barony we raided—we captured one of their people and sold him to the black market. Don’t worry. There’s no evidence pointing to us. But I heard the group we sold him to was killed entirely.
"What’s stranger is that this person was recently sold in Agaris in a public auction. And guess who the seller was."
Miguel responded, "It was that man?"
Kassal nodded. "Yes, him. His na is Chibi. Huge, bald, said to be a madman who kills with his fingers alone. He founded a guild and registered it. He attracts strong individuals and they work as rcenaries. They have branches across most of the kingdom. Their roles vary, but their main task is war rcenary work. They send rcenaries to join external wars for large sums of money."
Miguel suggested, "I think this is the right ti to establish an information network inside the palace. Cyn and I can’t access this information. We’re cut off from news of the outside world. We’ll need a report from you about what’s happening, Kassal."
Kassal didn’t speak at first, then finally nodded and said, "He sent a ssage to our branch in Agaris and its contents were sowhat shocking.
"He told them, ’I know you’re being supported from inside the palace.’"
Miguel was stunned, speechless.
Cyn smiled with empty eyes. "So! it’s Chibi. He looks like a nice guy."
Reviews
All reviews (0)