[Jevan Perspective]
I barely managed to gather my strength and dragged my exhausted body to the nearest chair, collapsing into it with all my weight. "Damn it..." I muttered, before I lost control and vomited more blood. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady myself, to understand what was happening. Why?
Why did that inspector suddenly leave? Why, literally, did he do exactly what I wished he would do? Do I have so kind of power to make wishes co true? No, that’s insane... isn’t it? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this wasn’t the first ti sothing strange had happened when I wished for sothing.
When I wished to gain part of the original Jevan’s mories, it happened too. Strange visions stord into my head, like I was being forced to swallow a life that wasn’t mine. And just like now, it didn’t co without a price. I lifted my hand and wiped my mouth with the back of it, then looked at the dark bloodstains.
All I wished for was sothing trivial that the inspectors would leave with a slight apology, barely even worth wishing for. And now, here I am, sitting as if I might die at any mont. What a wonderful bargain. I raised my head, looked at the ceiling, and laughed.
A voice cut off my choked laughter:
"Why are you laughing like a lunatic?"
I turned to the source and found Raven standing by the doorway, leaning heavily against the wall.
He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he asked directly:
"Where did the inspectors go?"
"They left."
"Just like that?"
"I wished they would leave, and they left."
"This isn’t the ti for jokes."
"It’s the truth."
And so, for the next hour, I sat on a wooden chair and told him everything that had happened since the mont I woke up in Jevan’s body until now. My strange healing powers, that mysterious ability to grant wishes, and my vague theory that every wish cos with a price. I left out one small detail though no need to terrify him by confessing I wasn’t the real Jevan, but rather a parasite from another world inhabiting this dead body.
Raven listened in silence, arms crossed, back against the wall. When I finished, he said:
"I’ve never heard of such an Authority before."
"Authority?"
"Don’t you know what that is? Authorities are supernatural powers."
"So you’re saying I really have the ability to grant wishes?"
"Even if we assu that, it would still be very limited. You’re still at the first stage of assimilation."
"What do you an by assimilation exactly?"
"I should’ve expected a tramp like you wouldn’t know this. But how the hell are you still alive with such ignorance?"
"How about explaining instead of wasting ti mocking ?"
"When soone first gains an Authority, it’s unstable. Your body simply can’t withstand the imnse power. That’s why you need a ritual to seal it, then slowly assimilate it step by step, through what’s known as the stages of assimilation, until your body adapts."
"And what are these stages exactly?"
"They differ from Authority to Authority, and person to person. But the rule is simple: you must act in accordance with the nature of your power."
"Act in accordance?"
"Don’t be an idiot. If your power is to grant wishes, then you must grant wishes."
"You seem to know a lot about this. Has this kind of knowledge beco so common that even an idiot like you knows it?"
"This knowledge is extrely rare, even among the gang leaders of the lower districts."
"Then how the hell do you know all this?"
"Garod told when I first joined the Blood Fang."
"Well, that’s surprising. I didn’t know the boss enjoyed sharing such precious information with new recruits except for , of course."
"That’s probably because your recruitnt wasn’t due to skill, but because Iris requested it."
"And what about that strange water sword you use?"
"It’s a System Piece called Wave blade."
"Could you stop throwing weird terms at ?"
"System Pieces are tools that contain sealed Authority. By using them, you can wield the power without going through assimilation stages."
"Sounds tempting. But surely there’s a price to pay."
"Every piece has its cost. So drain your consciousness, so destroy your body, and so drive you insane."
"So where did you get such a precious piece? Did Garod gift it to you as a welco present?"
He didn’t answer. He simply turned and walked back to his room without a word. I called after him:
"Aren’t you going to answer ?!"
***
[Marcus’s Perspective]
We arrived at Blackstone City, a free sovereign city that bows to no empire or kingdom. The reason is simple: it’s under our protection the Seven. Very few even know of the Seven, and those who do tread carefully, fully aware that getting involved with us is not wise.
Among us are so of the strongest humans on this miserable continent, each with their own motives: so seek revenge like . So hunger for more power. And so are outright lunatics, whose desires and reasons for living or even for not living are impossible to understand. But none of that mattered to . The only thing that mattered was that my place among them would grant power. Enough power to crush this wretched continent.
...
We rented a modest room in a hotel near the city center. I sat beside Ellery, who seed to be forcing a stoic expression. But in his gray eyes, I caught a flicker of sorrow he couldn’t hide. I almost felt pity for my old companion the one who managed to escape for so long.
And maybe he could’ve kept running longer. But he made one fatal mistake. He settled down. Built a family. Created a weakness. In our world, you don’t just walk away. If you try, your fate is sealed.
Even if you succeed in running, it’s only a matter of ti before we find you and finish what was started. His unique Authority gave him a rare chance though it allowed him to keep escaping, to remain out of sight for years. If not for his foolish choice of forming human bonds, he might have stayed hidden for life.
I stared at him for a long mont, into those eyes that had lost their shine. He still wore that mask of indifference, trying to appear strong. But such a mask couldn’t fool .
...
The next morning, we left the inn for Blackstone’s central district. The shadow cloaked figure walking beside us began to reveal himself. His long black hair flowed over his shoulders, his golden eyes gleaming in the sunlight.
I stopped for a mont, staring at his face seeing it clearly for the first ti. Then I continued walking without comnt. Obviously, his Shadow Authority was weakening. The closer we got to the city center, the weaker it beca, almost vanishing.
Beside , Ellery gawked at the man, astonishnt all over his face. The golden eyed man turned to him and said:
"Why are you staring like that? First ti seeing a face this handso?"
"Actually, I thought you didn’t have a face at all."
"I’m human, after all."
"Human or not, couldn’t you have brought us closer than this?"
"And you know my power weakens drastically inside this city, don’t you?"
"Couldn’t you at least have brought us nearer?"
"Not my problem you decided to run off and hide in so remote village on the edge of the dgar Empire."
We exchanged looks, then walked on in silence.
...
We rented a carriage once Ellery began whining about the long walk. His mood swings never ceased to amaze . Leaving the village, he looked like he was about to cry, and now he complained like a child tired of walking.
I wondered was he trying to win my trust to run away again like before? But I dismissed it. If he wanted to flee, he would’ve done so before entering Blackstone’s borders, when he still had the chance. And now he had a family he clearly wasn’t ready to abandon them.
After about an hour, the carriage stopped before a massive, decrepit mansion, its garden overgrown with wild weeds untouched for years. We disembarked and headed for the front door.
I knocked, and a boy of about thirteen opened. His hair was white as snow, streaked faintly with violet and turquoise. His eyes were a strange blend of sky blue and erald green.
Both I and the golden eyed man bowed respectfully. But Ellery stood still. The boy was no ordinary child he was the Seventh, number Seven among the Seven. The Lord of Crossroads, and our direct superior. He might look young, but his true age exceeded three hundred years.
The Seventh raised his gaze to Ellery and said:
"So, you finally decided to return?"
"As if you left any choice."
"You could’ve kept running."
"And that’s why you threatened my family?"
"Family? Since when do you have a family, and why didn’t you tell ?"
Then he turned to us and asked:
"Why have you co to my ho?"
I took a sealed letter from my coat and handed it to him. He studied the seal briefly, then opened it and read. His face darkened gradually as he read, until he crushed the letter in his hand.
He looked back at Ellery and said:
"They want to punish you."
Ellery answered steadily:
"I’m ready."
"I’ll be rciful. You’ve always been my favorite among this group of fools."
Then he turned to , pointed, and said:
"Go. Get rid of his family."
Ellery’s face went pale, his lips trembling as he stamred:
"They have nothing to do with this it’s my fault alone."
"But they’ll be the ones to pay the price."
Ellery’s hand trembled, sparks of electricity flickering. He was about to move, but the Seventh raised his hand. Suddenly, a strange cage materialized around him. He struggled to break free, again and again, but it was futile. Finally, he collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down as he begged:
"Please, they have nothing to do with this. It’s my fault. Kill if you must... just spare them."
The Seventh said nothing. He simply lowered his hand, and the cage and Ellery vanished. Then he turned back to , pointed, and said:
"Go. End them. Consider it a good chance to deepen your assimilation."
With that, he turned and entered the mansion, shutting the door behind him. I stood there for a mont, staring at the wooden door. Then I straightened my hat, turned, and walked away.
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