piratefiction Chapter 363: Another...?
Chapter 363: Another...?
Three days had passed since the fight.
Alaric sat in the garden, finally free of his bandages. Kyra’s medicines and his body’s fast natural healing had worked well together. The cuts on his forehead and the deep wounds on his shoulder were completely closed, leaving only faint pink lines behind.
But inside, his body was still a mess.
He stared at the glowing blue screen floating in front of him. It was a status window that only he could see.
[STATUS] Name: Azhrakhel Kharzeth / Brandon Crimsonveil (Past Life: Alaric Noir)
Race: Draconic-Vampire
Age: ______ Bloodline: [PARTIALLY AWAKENED]
Title: Prince of Blackthorn | Architect of Ruin | The Fallen King
Essence Path: The Path of #$#&##@##
Sub-Paths: Flame, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Shadow
Rank: B- [TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED TO D+]
EXP: 12,020 / 32,500
STATS:
STR: 165 [Temp: 58]
AGI: 165 [Temp: 62]
END: 165 [Temp: 55]
WIL: 165 [Temp: 80]
INT: 165 [Temp: 71]
CHA: 279
Free Stat Points: 243
DP (Darkness Points): 96,400
Some of the temporary stats are creeping up, he noted to himself. The reserves are healing, but I’m still a long way from my real power.
Before he could worry about it too much, small hands grabbed his face and forced him to look away from the screen.
"Big brother Azra!" Anya’s blue eyes glared at him. She looked very annoyed. "Are you even listening?"
Alaric blinked, pulling his mind back to the real world. He reached up and gently ruffled her hair. "Sorry about that. I got a little distracted."
Anya huffed, pulled away, and crossed her arms. "Hmph! I was telling you about Tutor Marris and my history lesson, but you weren’t paying attention at all!"
"Tell me again," he said. He knew better than to argue with an eight-year-old.
That was all the permission she needed.
Anya immediately jumped back into her story about old kingdoms, wars, and a princess who survived an attack to become a great queen. She waved her hands around as she talked, her voice going up and down to make it sound exciting.
Alaric let her voice wash over him while his mind went back to work.
The system shop doesn’t have anything to help fix my magic channels, he thought. I checked yesterday.
There are healing potions, but they aren’t any better than what Kyra gave me. Taking anything stronger might just hurt me more. I just have to wait, let time heal me, and hope nothing goes wrong while I study this kingdom.
"And then the queen said, ’You cannot defeat someone who refuses to surrender!’ Tutor Marris said that’s very important to remember," Anya said loudly. "Big brother, are you spacing out again?"
"The queen refused to surrender," Alaric repeated perfectly. "Very wise."
Anya gave him a suspicious look, but decided he was telling the truth and went back to her story.
A few minutes later, footsteps crunched on the garden path.
Vanessia walked over, followed by a maid carrying a tray of hot tea and tiny cakes on nice plates. The maid set the tray on the small table next to them, bowed deeply, and left without a word.
Vanessia sat down smoothly in the empty chair and poured the tea. "Anya, sweetheart, let big brother Azra breathe."
"But Mama, I was just telling him about—"
"I know. But you can finish later." Vanessia handed Alaric a steaming cup. "I have news."
Anya pouted but went quiet. She grabbed a cake and took small bites, swinging her legs off the chair.
Vanessia looked very pleased with herself. Almost smug.
"The investigation ended this morning. That merchant, Tessa, has been arrested. The people who backed up her story were questioned with truth magic."
Her smile turned sharp.
"Half of them admitted right away that they were paid to lie. The rest broke down under the spell in minutes.
"They all have to pay fines and do community service," she continued, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "Everyone will know they lied, so their reputations are ruined."
"And the other woman?" Alaric asked.
"She paid a huge fine to the city’s charity fund, which is listed under House Valcieri’s name," Vanessia said, her eyes shining.
"She also got an official warning from the Magistrate for setting up the lies. That goes on her public record, so people won’t trust her easily now."
She got off pretty lightly, Alaric thought. She must have a lot of power.
"You handled that really well," he told Vanessia.
Vanessia sat up a little straighter, clearly proud even though she tried to act humble.
"Of course I did. My father is one of the biggest merchant guild masters around, after all."
Alaric nodded and took a sip of his tea in comfortable silence. He looked around the garden at the pretty flowers and the gentle fountain, thankful for the high walls that kept them safe.
It really was peaceful here.
Even though he had been resting easily for days, his mind was still full of questions.
He wanted to know more about the city of Greyford. He wanted to know why there were so many more women than men. And he wanted to know why Revna had come after him on his very first day in town.
But Vanessia spoke first.
"Azra." Her voice grew serious. "Do you know about Greyford’s Royal Academy?"
Alaric gave her his full attention.
"No. Should I?"
Vanessia put her cup down carefully.
"It’s a school for talented young people. Nobles and commoners both go there, though it’s mostly nobles. With your skills, you would get in easily. You’d probably even get a free ride."
"Why bring this up?" he asked.
"Because you can’t stay hidden here forever," she said slowly, looking at him.
"You’re healing right now, but soon you’ll need to figure out what comes next. The Royal Academy would give you training, connections, and a real plan for your future. It’s better than just..." She waved a hand vaguely. "...wandering around."
Alaric thought about what she said, processing the idea.
Another academy?