JOURNAL Shop

AWAKE. Disrespected.

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prohibits anyone from imitation of company’s work

Prohibition from plagiarism and imitation of ideas

Sorceress Radix Flumen

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Intro

-Ugh. I coughed violently while gasping for air. My left hand immediately reaches for my throat, grasping it tightly. 

Wait…my throat? My head wasn’t split from my body? I slowly reached my right hand up my temple…my chin….my lips…my nose…my eyes…eyebrows…forehead….the top of my head…they’re all there! Tears rolled down my eyes in disbelief. 

-I’m still alive. I said it out loud. 

What came out from my mouth was a bunch of nonsense. I was too focused on checking to see if my body parts were still intact when I forgot to check my surroundings. Looking up from where I lie, all I see was bright sunlight peeking through a giant window. 

-Is this heaven? I wonder. 

Why is everything so bright? Wait, why does everything look so humongous? I tried to sit up. I couldn’t move. My arms? Why are they so chubby, short, and small? With much difficulty I propped myself up and held onto the golden bars. This seems like a crib. The room is so big. Maybe 5 times bigger than the rooms reserved only for nobles and important guests that I used to stay in the Praety Kingdom. Maybe even bigger than the rooms in my tower. This room is a girly room. Everywhere is white laces and pink ribbon. There are children toys lying everywhere in the room. Even a giant pink rocking horse. 

-Oh great. I feel disgusted. 

Looking across the room, I see a pink vanity with a string of intricate golden flowers on the headboard of a mirror. Taking a deep breath, I climbed down slowly holding on the side of the giant baby crib. Perhaps I put too much trust into this body. I couldn’t hold on to the crib and felt myself slipping. The next second, I found myself lying on a pile of warm and fuzzy white fur…err…rug. If I didn’t think fast at the last second, I would have landed on my head. Just when I came back from death, don’t tell me I will leave this world again so soon.

With shaky feet, I wobbled towards the little vanity. Along the way, I stumbled 3 times across the room, almost falling flat-face on the ground if had I not propped my hand against the floor to cushion myself. With clumsy fingers, I clamber up the white stool and sat on the vanity. My jaw dropped. In the mirror was an image of a small baby, probably around 5 months old. I figured, no wonder I couldn’t even speak, crawl, or walk properly. On the baby’s head were little hair the color of amber with a small pointy nose and cute pouty lips. 

-Oh! I gurgles as I smile at the mirror. How the lips are so cute. So pink and precious. I find little children very cute. The reason why I even picked up a kid along my journey. Just thinking about that child makes my blood boil with anger.

In my past life, I heard among adventurers that when someone die an unjust death, their soul seems to wander the earth as if trying to find a source to release their spirit from this world, either by haunting the ones who did them wrong or wanders around lost for eternity. I never believed in such baseless myth or rumors. Such karma. It seems like I became one of those spirit. After my death, I visited all the places I’ve journeyed to. Regarding my ‘love ones’ that isn’t wrong too. 

My parents died before I was born, or so I was told by the people who raised me up. It was a nice old couple. They couldn’t have a child, so they raised me like their own daughter. I didn’t even know they weren’t my parents until they were on their deathbed. When the old couple die, they told me my real parents probably died in one of the invasions by the Kingdom of Figuria. They said they found me crying in a pile of bloody rag in a giant mansion after the Kingdom of Figuria soldiers ransacked the place. Maybe that was the reason why I decided to assist The Praety Kingdom in their fight against the Kingdom of Figuria in the first place.

After the old couple’s death, I locked up their tiny cabin and farmhouse. My old parents weren’t rich, but we survived through fruits, nuts, honey, and livestock which we raised. I sold off half of our beehives, chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, and horses to get enough funding to buy caskets for my parents at the market. The rest, I sold to a poor family, of mostly beggar children. I sold off the farm to the poor family at a price they can afford, basically almost free since they didn’t have that much money. I couldn’t take the dogs with me, so I decided to give our two beloved dogs Mily and Milo to them to care for the barn. The only condition I had for the family is for them to uphold their end of the bargain to take in poor beggar children, feed them, clothe them, and give them a warm bed to sleep in. 

The farm is quite spacious. You can probably build 4 small cabins and it would probably make a fitting place as an orphanage. At first, since I grew up living in the small cabin, I didn’t really want to sell it away. However, seeing how it would take some time for the family to get enough funds to build a cabin and since winter is coming, I decided to let them stay at my family’s cabin. I asked them to watch over the property while I’m away. After paying for the funeral fees, I remembered the family of beggar children would follow me to see my parents off. Since I didn’t know anybody in the town, I decided to leave to go on a journey of my own. I was the type who didn’t like to go out. So often I stayed at home working in the barn. Sometimes I would go into town and give the beggar children some treats I made from the fruit trees. I would have stayed for the children, but the older kids said they would be fine. At that time, I was still around 14. Technically I was still a kid. I still wasn’t sure if they could handle the place right, so I decided to stay around for a year. 

We were a band of orphan children ranging from the age of 3 up to the age of 18. There were those who were older like Serenity, Charles, Sally, Fabrio, and Kallan. All ranging from 19 to 23 years of age who were like older brothers and sisters to us. Kallan, being the oldest would take Fabrio to the city to bring livestock, fruits, honey, and nuts to sell off to merchants in the market. They would buy ingredients, bread, and some food enough for us children to eat. They would bring fabrics home from a textile mill for Serenity, Sally, and the rest of the children to sew to earn some pocket money. Charles would watch over the farm making sure our livestock are kept in check or worse, someone might try to steal our livestock and hurt us. We were a band of orphans trying to stick together, our warmth was each other. 

When the old couple, my parents were alive they would always let beggar children stay in our cabin and barn. In the winter when there wasn’t much food or warmth, everyone pitched in for farm work and take turn to carry coal blocks from the town. After winter, the children would go back to their tiny little huts in the narrow and dark alleyways of the city. Perhaps they felt that they shouldn’t burden the poor family who took them in for every winter. Kallen and Fabrio had a lot of pride. Kallen, Fabrio, Charles, and the younger children came to help on the farm everyday while my father pay them each with a bit of money that we can afford to and eggs, honey, fruits, and nuts. So, when my parents passed away, all the beggar children came to see them off. The older kids didn’t want to settle down on the farm because they didn’t want to take advantage of me, an orphan like them. I had to do a lot of convincing in order to make them stay. I even pretended to take their money and sell the land when they didn’t have much at all, but it was enough for the funeral fees. After a year staying together, we were practically family. All the children are no longer beggars but farmers. Since everyone turned a year older, besides the 5 oldest, some of us can even go into town and find certain jobs to contribute to the family. 

Meanwhile, I said goodbye to everyone and headed off on my journey. I kind of regretted it now. If I had stayed with the family, I would live happily ever after. However, that chance is quite slim, knowing that the brat who I picked up later in life turned out to be one hell of a pervert and womanizer. Ein Sof Aur, the king of the land of demons. My pupil, the one who chopped off my head. The one who betrayed his own teacher. The lecherous trash with his own special harem and women groveling at his whim. If I can start life once again, I will never want to be in contact with this bastard. A twisted man who will one day murder countless innocents and my family among those sad souls. 

While I sat there lamenting over my past life, I heard someone opening the door. An elegant young lady around her 20s walked in, followed by several servants. Her hair was long and the color of silver, with hints of blue. She was extremely very beautiful, in a soft and fluffy kind of way. She had a blue-ribbon hat on her head with a round green gem on the side of the hat and golden chains dangling down from it. She wore an exquisite blue and white robe with golden thread lining the intricate patterns. Covering outside her robe, she wore a cloak. At the front, tied into a flower knot was a blue round jewel with a blue tassel dangling down. Half of the front of her cloak is blue and gray while the back is white. She was about to walk over to where the crib was when her eyes scanned the room and met mine. I immediately sat frozen. The next second I knew, she ran over and scooped me up in her arms. “My child! Did you hurt yourself? Let mother see now.”

She held my arms and leg up and checked everywhere. She even tried to take my clothes off at one point. To reassure this woman who claims to be my mother, I smile lightly which turns out to be more baby gurgles. 

“Oh, how charming. My poor baby, now how did you get here?” 

She questions me once again. 

“Gugua gugua,” I tried to explain to her once again. 

My mother laugh at me gurgling out nonsense. While the servants all smile. Great. A great sorceress like me is so useless and defenseless in this situation. I’m quite sure that if Ein Sof Aur trash is here, I would be so dead by now. Note to self: I must become the strongest. First, I need to start training harder in human speech and stand up on my own two feet.

“My lady, perhaps the little missus is trying to tell you she wants to practice walking?” a middle age man in his 40s who stood next to my mother mentioned.

Thumbs up old man, you are great. I smiled at the middle age man. Knowing full well that I’m probably 5 months old, I don’t have any teeth to show him. It was a wide, gummy smile. 

“Aha! Our missus always brightens up our days.” said the middle age man. 

“Butler Sebas, you do spoil the young missus too much.” 

A maid a bit older than my mother primly reply to the butler’s words. She wore round glasses with an air of a bookworm and the air around her are full of strict etiquette. 

“My my will both of you please calm down” a maid around my mother’s age said. 

“Elaine, just leave the old couple to their bickering”

Another butler stood next to her also spoke up.

“Thomas!” butler Sebas and the strict maid snapped.

“Alright, alright everyone please relax. Let us all take little Radix out to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the garden.” My mother said with a smile.

“Yes, my lady,” all the servants said in unison as they follow my mother out the door.

Outside my room was a long and spacious corridor. The corridor had dark red carpet and golden framed paintings of flowers, birds, and nature. Mainly all very beautiful sceneries. Along the corridor neatly lies some intricately carved armchair that is so very luxurious. The seat color is bright red. Unlike the chairs I used when I lived with my old parents, which were just plain flat hard wood, they look more like a fluffy pillow cushion. Next to the chairs were filled with bookcases. The bookcases weren’t that big or tall to take up all the spaces in the corridors. It was just enough for a person to grab and sit down to read. To the right side of the corridors, lies full and magnificent windows. The windowpanes were covered in gold and the glass looks so high-class. The materials were superb. Since the windows were so big, it was even easy for a small baby like me to see the beautiful scenery outside the window. Everything was truly lavish. Flowers, tons and tons of flowers.

“My lady, may I?” Butler Sebas asked.

He walked up towards a grand double-door and pushed one side of the door open while Butler Thomas followed suit and pushed open the other side of the door. 

-Wow. I silently exclaimed.

It was such a gorgeous marble balcony. Probably twice or thrice the size of my room. With one big staircase on the right side leading down to the glittering colorful flowers.

“Young missus, what do you think? I think this should be the most beautiful mansion. Even much better than the palace of the Praety Kingdom.” Elaine enthusiastically said as she pinched my cheeks. 

As I was zoning out in my own little dream and gurgles full of happiness, I was yanked back to the harsh reality. What? The Praety Kingdom? I sincerely had thought I would have a new life at another place with a great mother, aunties, uncles, and finally some peace and quiet. 

Growing up with my old parents, I didn’t really know that my original parents were that wealthy. Now that I see what a lavish and luxurious place this is, it is no wonder the Kingdom of Figuria would want to trespass and ransack the whole place. No, it won’t happen. I won’t allow it. Not over my dead body! Since I was still a baby when the old couple found me, it would mean that I only have a couple of months until I turn 15 months old. That would give me around 10, no maybe 9 months to prepare a plan to save my family. 

Ein Sof Aur, you wouldn’t become so powerful if I didn’t teach you anything about my magic. It was my fault for picking up such a vile human. The pupil who I treasured grew up to become the king of demons. My negligence caused the deaths of thousand innocents. I, Radix Flumen a name given by my original parents and Raz by my second parents, will not let you destroy the innocent lives of this world. Both the Kingdom of Figuria and the Praety Kingdom will not be able to hurt the ones that I love. All I want is a peaceful life, why is it so difficult? I’m not interested in taking over any kingdom. Those who have wronged me in the past, I seek no vengeance. I only want to save my family, live a peaceful, and quiet life. However, if you dare to aim your weapons at me…do not blame me. The plan to save my family is in action. First, I must practice magic and become stronger, faster, and the best.

In a fit of anger, my body trembled, and my tiny fist shake at the sky. 

“Oh, seems like someone is eager to have a walk around the garden. Let us all descend.” My mother said. 

“Yes, my lady.” the servants said in unison. 

My mother held onto Butler Sebas’ extended hand for support while her right hand carries me. Together we descended into the beautiful garden. During our walk around this extravagant garden, I noticed a lot of things. On the ground lay bushes and bushes of flowers in different colors. Compares to the flowers I’ve seen in my past life; these flowers can even buy a kingdom. I can’t wait to use these for my experiments later. There also seems to be several fruit trees here and there as well. Surrounded the gardens were tall golden fence which enclosed the property and tall trees which surrounds the fences. If anyone outside try to peek in, it would be almost impossible. 

After the walk around the garden, I felt like I needed a nap. It felt like we’ve been walking for hours. Though in the past, during my journey I ventured far and wide and never really felt such tiredness. Perhaps it has to do with this weak body. My eyelid drooped, and I felt myself sinking into a deep sleep. 

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Chapter 1: Family

By the time I woke up, I’ve already been back in my crib. I sat up and looked at the window in my room. It was night-time. Since there was no one in the room, I began my incantation. I wanted to see if my magic is still working. So far, none of the spells I chanted worked. No wonder. I couldn’t speak well in this baby body. Next, I tried to chant the incantation in my head. I find that this weak baby body couldn’t muster such strong mental willpower yet. My only option is to first make this weak body stronger physically and mentally. I sat with crossed legs and began my meditation. The land in this area is good. It was almost brimming with magic. I could see tiny orbs of mana around the room. I could feel the mana in the air. I closed my eyes, it was easier to pull the mana into my body. After a while, I was content with the amount of mana running through my veins. I felt my senses increasing and my body was more powerful than before. I mentally chanted an incantation in my head and floated down from my crib. Yes, I can talk now. I had enough with the whole baby gibberish.

I walked over to my door and easily open it using my mental power. Outside, the corridor was dimly lit by white bulbs covered with clear opaque glass sticking to the red tapestry wall. The light reflected off the red wall gives the whole hallway a bloody and eerie feeling. The beautiful garden view from the big windows in the corridors is no longer viewable. I can only see a bunch of burgundy curtains with golden tassels covering the windows. I slowly tread on the red and lengthy carpet. At the end of the corridor, there were three hallways. One leads straight to another long corridor while the other passages lead to two different corridors which connects to a door. I decided to keep walking straight. After walking for what seems like 5 minutes, I switched to flying. 

I flew for around 15 minutes at an accelerated speed and finally arrived at a giant metal door. The door appears dark in color with two gold dragon statues on each side of the door. I would describe them: majestic and powerful. If a regular human happened to see this, they would call it: horrific and terrifying. Instead of feeling fear, my blood boiled with excitement. With eagerness, I pushed the door open. 

On the other side of the door, everything is pitched black. The wall on this side are rocky and stretch on for miles. It seems that I am now in a giant cavern. I tread carefully into the tunnel cavern, carefully checking for any traps. Why didn’t I fly? I didn’t want my small 5 months self to get squashed like a bug from some traps that pop out from nowhere. Why am I not surprised how lavish and extravagant everything is now? This cavern must be the biggest cavern I’ve ever explored. There seems to be million amounts of crystals everywhere, with numerous sizes and colors along the cavern and on the ceiling as well. Basically, these crystals can even buy out a whole nation. Ahead, the cavern diverges into 5 smaller tunnels. Gathering my senses, I can feel a faint wind breeze on the 4th path and decides to enter that tunnel. 

After what seems like an incredible amount of time has passed, I arrived at another cavern. I looked around but there isn’t any significance to this area except for the traps in the wall and ground. One wrong move could cost someone their life. However, to me those traps are mediocre child’s play. I walked around the area and found a big boulder blocking the entrance of the cave.

“Forease!” I chant the spell as I push the boulder open. 

This spell adds infinite power to my body. My body is still a bit weaker than I was before, therefore the power was much more limited. However, it was enough just to push a boulder. With a slight tap, I push the boulder to the right and walk out from the cave. 

Earlier inside the cave, I sat down for two hours of rest to consume some of the mana into my body. I could now set a couple of new traits to my body. I further enhanced my senses, speed, and quick reflexes. I also added night-vision because of the dark cavern with hundreds of traps. So now I can activate my enhanced eye scanner spell-trait and scan the area. 

In front of me is a vast field of plain. Using my flight characteristics, I flew up and surveyed the area. An incredible number of tall trees surrounds around this plain. I am quite sure that we are in a forest of some sort. For miles and miles, I can only see densely packed trees. I wonder, how can such a safe hidden place like this can even be found by the Kingdom of Figuria? Well, it could be that the Kingdom of Figuria sent their best fighters and a giant army to this place to ransack the place for its treasures. Several miles of woods cannot stop an army bent on destroying a nation, much less a small castle. In this case, a small estate like my birth place won’t be able to withstand such attack. They will eventually cross the plains, come upon the cavern, and manage to invade my home. I need to hurry up and improve my characteristics and power. It would be wise to start investing my time into arming and building this place. A strong defense will stop intruders from invading. First, I need to polish my illusion magic. I’m too weak to be able to conjure up monsters to guard the area due to this weak body. Yes, illusion magic might just do the trick.

Before when I was in my prior stronger self, I can create illusionary monsters within seconds at tips of my fingers. In my current state, I am but a mere babe. The best illusion magic this body can offer is just magic enough to hide the plains and cavern from sight. Even flying overhead, everyone would just see a dark forest full of thick trees. After casting the best illusion magic I can come up with, I retrace my tracks back to the estate. 

I head back into the corridor and stop my tracks towards the other two remaining corridors. One forks to the left while the other forks to the right. Thanks to the mana I’ve absorbed from the crystals, my powers greatly increased. I could now customize a few characteristics and traits to my body. I can now see through walls, various objects, and items. The left corridor leads to a set of stairs which spirals downward. The right corridor contains the same stairs, except it leads upward. If I could see the floors above and below me, I would. Alas, I am still so powerless. I made a mental note to also obtain clairvoyance to my list of skills. If I had clairvoyance in my past life, I could have saved myself. When a powerful sorceress like myself is too powerful, I became too arrogant for my own good. Who could have known that the person who I trusted the most could be the one to end my life?

After a bit of hesitation, I decide to pick the left corridor. I need to quickly find every possible opening the Kingdom of Figuria can manage to get through and block them all. Opening the big red door, I glanced down. It was a marble staircase with black metal railings. A long golden carpet with red linings rolls down the stair from the top to the bottom of the staircase. It was dark and eerie, almost as if it shouldn’t be a home, but more of a monster lair. But with my night vision, I was able to see everything clearly. With trudging steps, I descend the marble staircase. 

At the bottom of the staircase, I can see a couple of yellow lamps on the wall lining a corridor. One side of the corridor leads to a path with lights. The other side of the corridor leads to a path of darkness.

I walked towards the path of darkness halfway and then turned around and walked back to where I was. Don’t call me a coward now. If I was the great sorceress I once was, I will run into battle and bash some heads. Feeling ashamed of myself, I walked with heavy steps toward the path with lights. Again, I mentally opened the door and walked through the next corridor. The path forks into 5 other hallways again. Man, this house is like a maze. My poor little feet couldn’t handle that much walking, and I don’t want to waste too much of my stamina. I activate my flight and quickly flew through all the hall ways. One hallway leads to a big and lavish kitchen. One hallway leads to a massive library with thousands and thousands of texts. Another hallway leads to a vast dining room brimming with reds and golds. The tables and chairs are literally golden, and the carpet and curtains are in reds. While flying through here, I stopped to take a bit of a walk around. Boy, I sure did feel like royalty. Growing up with my elderly parents who had taken me in, I lived a frugal life. I didn’t even come into contact with gold until I’ve earned commissions and wealth from all the kingdoms and aristocrats whom I’ve worked for. I didn’t even know about magic or that I had it in me until I’ve left the place I’ve been living my whole life. However, I still love the place where I grew up. It was peaceful place, and there’s no corruption like the wealthy aristocrats and the lands I’ve traveled to. 

The other two hallways led to more hallways. I’m too exhausted to even check anymore. I was growing too hungry as well. I flew back to the kitchen and looked around for any bread. I was digging through the pantry when one of the pots fell from the hanging rack. I blame this body. When I run out of stamina, my body gets weak and I become even clumsier. Let’s just say I return back to be a 5months old baby. I wasn’t even surprised when I started to babble nonsense again. I held and the pan and was about to put it back into place when I heard a voice.

“My lady, what are you doing here in this place?” 

-Uh Oh. I am so screwed.

I held the pan and start banging it on the ground, pretending to be an innocent baby. I can hear the person walking around the kitchen towards me. I did not dare to look up. That is, until I was grabbed from the ground and into the person’s arm. 

It was an old man. Maybe around the age of my elderly parents back then. 

Soon enough, more people came from one of the hallway that I didn’t check yet. Eh…maybe the kitchen staffs? 

“Willis, can you please call the butlers and maid to bring our young miss back to her room?” The old man said. 

I immediately shook my head frantically and pointed to the pieces of bread I just found in the pantry. 

“Maybe she’s hungry!” a young boy looking around 14 yelled out.

“Alright, someone hold our young miss while I cook up some broth for her” the old man chuckled. 

“Dear, give her to me” an elderly lady reached out and held me. “Aw, she’s such a sweetie. I always wanted a daughter.” 

“Mum, you still have me!” the young boy exclaimed. 

“Boy, you always play around and never help in the kitchen. If you have enough cuteness like our little missus, I would consider you a jewel in my eye.” a man in his young adult years exclaimed. 

“Uncle George, if you had enough charisma you would been able to ask Miss Ana out for a date!”

“Charlie, don’t make fun of your uncle!” the elderly lady snapped. 

This family is truly funny. It was truly fun to watch the boy and his uncle “manliness” battle. After around a few minutes, the nice old man came over with a plate of soup and a small spoon. I immediately reached for the spoon and try to feed myself but failed. I was able to eat the delicious warm soup all thanks to the elderly lady who spoon fed me. After eating around 8 or nine bowls of soup, I was truly satisfied. The boy watched me eating that many bowls with a shocked look on his face. After eating, the old couple once again wanted to fetch the butlers and maids to bring me back to my room. But I was way to stuffed to go back to sleep. I immediately reached my hand towards the young boy and had him held my hand. I pointed my tiny little finger towards the hallway they came from and walked to there while holding his fingers. 

“John and Valerie, looks like our young miss had found a new friend” the young uncle George spoke to the elderly couple. 

“Charlie, you take the young missus around to help her digest food then” the old man name John said to his son. 

“Be careful!” “Aw, isn’t this just too charming” his mother said with a smile on her face.

Walking into the other hallway, the boy helped me up the little bits of stairs and gave me a tour of the place. He talked about his home with enthusiasm. There are another 3 hallways here. One hallway belongs to his parents. It leads to his parents’ bedroom, a bathroom, his mother’s tea room, his father’s workroom, and a room that is locked. According to him, they store some magical stuffs in there. Activating my powers, I can see runes and magic spells and texts in the room. There are even weapons and staffs as well. The other hallway belongs to him and his uncle. It includes Charlie’s bedroom, his uncle George’s bedroom, a bathroom that they both share, a playroom where he stores all his toys, a bookroom that belongs to his uncle, and a room where they store food and snacks that he can easily access to without going into the kitchen. The last hallway includes 2 empty bedrooms for guests. According to him, sometimes his cousins would visit from faraway. The hallway also includes a bathroom, a small dining room, a study room full of books, and an empty room with nothing in it. That is on the outside. If a regular person walks by, they would think that it’s empty. However, I can see that it’s a portal. I just remembered he said his cousins do visit sometimes. Maybe this is another way people can enter and exist this place. I took a note of this in the back of my head. 

After his tour, I wanted to enter the last hall way. The boy took me through that hallway. It really looks like an army base. I’ve seen of an archery range, swords, and weapon storage in the other kingdoms I’ve worked with but never really have it inside my house. That’s because I mainly use magic and hardly any other weapon. Maybe that’s the reason why my head was chopped off in the first place. Magicians are strong in magic and extremely weak against physical attacks. A sorceress like me is the strongest in magic and even though we’re not that weak to physical attacks unlike magicians, if a strong warrior comes close enough to me and stab me…let’s just say it’s not a good sight.

I was an extremely lazy sorceress who was too arrogant. I was too strong that I actually didn’t think that I would die that easily. I even built a giant fortress and locked myself in a tower because I was tired of the clashes between different kingdom that I didn’t want to help either one of them. I thought I was totally invincible. That is, until I was backstabbed by my own beloved pupil. When I was stabbed through the heart, I lost grip of the magical barrier. Which allowed these pathetic soldiers to come into my fortress and was able to climb my tower successfully. When they finally climbed to where I was, they could clearly see Ein Sof Aur cutting my head off. Of course, that’s how the damn brat got away with it cleanly anyways. But enough of how I died, in this lifetime, I will make sure to work on being a strong warrior was well.

In this hallway, I can see a whopping of armors, weapons, and magical fields where one can practice on archery, sword techniques, and various other combats. We climbed up the staircase and walked through a corridor. It was an armory. Full of glistening weapons and armors. There were extremely so many. I took a look at their stats and they are all top notched. I also wonder who makes these weapons. I opened my mouth and asked Charlie. 

“Blacksmith?” 

“Oh…they’re my cousins…you know, the one whose rooms are in the third hallway” He stammered. 

He didn’t want to talk too much about them. Almost as if he’s avoiding the topic. I wonder if they are that scary for him to be so afraid of them. So, I decided to not push the topic. We went back to the kitchen and we were greeted with Charlie’s parents and his uncle George. I stayed for around 5 minutes to give the family some company and then I pointed the way out of the kitchen, indicating I wanted to go back to the other hallways. They were all worried about my 5 months old self’s safety. Therefore, once again Charlie was sent out to accompany me to where I wanted to go. I waved to them and smiled while taking some honey biscuits from the elderly couple. Uncle George gave me a whole bunch of snacks, which Charlie was holding in a pouch for me. Charlie held my tiny little fingers while we walked back to the other hallways. When we came back to the place, I pointed to the dark hallway and gestured Charlie to guide me though. I don’t think I should be cautious about this place anymore. The young boy Charlie will be able to give me a tour of this place in details. Even though I wonder why the kid talks too much sometimes. Being alone as a lost spirit for a long time, I was a bit lonely as well. I guess I was glad for the companionship. 

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The Estate

We retraced our steps back to the hallways. Charlie wanted to take me back to my bedroom, but I immediately refused and pulled the boy towards the dark corridor. It was the one that I didn’t enter earlier because I wasn’t sure if I can trust this place. However, now that I’ve met these people, I realize they are truly kind. Charlie is a bright and chatty kid. He gave me a very long and detail list of rooms in this corridor and what their purposes were. I didn’t really pay attention anymore because at that time I turned on my enhanced vision to see through walls and was able to see enough of what was inside each room. It seems like they are bedrooms. Probably for guards, servants, or even guest bedrooms. There is a portal inside each of these rooms, but I don’t know where they lead to. My magic is still limited due to this weak body. If I have my full magic powers back, I would have seen through what each floors of every doors in this place holds. After we existed the corridor, we came upon another set of stairs. Instead of a marble staircase, this was a real golden staircase with real gold railings. A bright red carpet rolls down to the bottom of the stairway. I held onto Charlie’s hand while also holding onto the railings as he helped me walk down the stairs. 

Charlie suddenly held his fingers to his lips and told me to be very quiet. There, in front of us was a ghostly shadow hiding in the dark corner of one of the three corridors in front of the stairs. A red and gold ghost? After about 5 minutes of silence between the ghost, me, and Charlie a voice came out from behind the “ghost”. 

“What are you doing down here Charlie”? 

         “I’m…I’m me..merely tak…talking our y..young m..miss fo..for a to..tour” Charlie stammers. 

         “Eh?!! The young miss?” The “ghost” jumped out from the dark hallway. 

By instinct, I screamed. Wait, my image. Right. My image as a great and fearless sorceress must not go to waste now. Half-way through my scream I cough and tried to maintain a very dignified image. 

         “Kakaka” the voice behind the ghost snickered. 

         A young woman stepped out from the shadows. From top to bottom she was covered in gold. Or rather, she was wearing a golden armor set of golden armor which covers from her chest, shoulders, and downward to her legs. On her arms she wore golden gauntlets which covers from her hands up to her elbow. For her legs, she wore golden boots which covers from her feet to her ankles. In her arms, she was holding a golden helmet. 

         “So, Charlie, did you get scared?” she chucked. 

         “Humph! I did not!” Charlie exclaims. 

         He folded his arms and tapped his right feet all the while muttering to himself, “So if Iona is here, it also means Eola is here too. Drat!”.  

         The “ghost” came out from behind the young lady. Since the helmet only had two slits for the eyes, it was hard to really see who’s really behind that mask. I squinted at the person for a bit while indicating that their helmet is still on their head. 

         “Oh, Pardon me.” The “ghost” said as she removed her helmet.

         “Hello young miss, my name is Eola and that’s my sister Iona” the “ghost” introduced herself. 

         The two young women slightly look similar to each other a bit. They both have a round oval face, with grey eyes and dark brown hair that are not too long or too short, and perfectly straight hair that falls on their back. They are quite pretty. The difference between them is the air around them and the presence they give off. Eola is coolheaded and is the type to think first before they act. While Iona is the one who like to tease others and prefers pure physical strength. Why do I know this? Using my abilities to predict my opponent, I see that Eola has more wisdom than Iona while Iona has more strength and physical damage. 

After chatting with the two for around 20-30minutes, I learn that they patrol the property and the perimeter around the estate just for our safety. Or rather, Charlie was the one talking half of the time, and I just squeeze in a few questions here and there. Half of the time of our conversation was spent on Charlie arguing with Iona and Eola. Even though Eola tend to be more coolheaded, she and Iona really enjoy teasing Charlie. If I manage to survive through the past 15 months, I figure I can teach Iona and Eola magic to protect themselves too. After saying goodbye to the two young women, Charlie silently whispers to me to try to avoid Iona and Eola next time I meet. When I asked him why, he answered, “They are my cousins’ fiancés. Trust me, you don’t want to meet my cousins. They are much scarier than Iona and Eola”. 

         I am curious why Charlie think Iona and Eola is really scary, or that his cousins are truly scary. I can’t wait to see a different side to Iona, Eola, and Charlie’s cousins. I wonder if I am able to start my own powerful army even? If Ein Sof Aur has his own army, I can create my own army made up the people I can trust. I want to protect my family. I want to protect my love ones. I don’t want my mother, Charlie, his parents, his uncle George, his cousins, Iona, Eola, the butlers, the maids, and the rest of this family household to be wiped out due to the greed of mere mortals. 

As we walk through the other corridors, Charlie said the corridor painted yellow at the front is the corridor leading to the maid chambers. The corridor with a painted blue entrance leads to the butler’s chambers. I took a glance at it with my enhanced vision and could see that there are around 10 butler and 10 maid chambers. There are 3 spare rooms in each of the corridor with no beds. They are probably shower rooms and other necessities. The size of each chamber is very large. Probably a bit bigger than my room. In the future, the maids and butlers will probably detest me for shoving so many magic weapons into their room. My mind is already set on creating a strong and powerful army. I am not making an army for war or to hurt anyone. I wish to defend myself and my love ones. I no longer have to become a tool for the Praety Kingdom or the Kingdom of Figuria. I’ve ran away from my fate and refused to accept it. 

For many years, I’ve hidden this secret deep within me. It is a monster within me. The only choice I had was to deny its existence and severed my ties. When I rejected the monster inside me, I have abandoned my destiny and lost my bonds with evil. I was raised by my elderly parents. Growing up, I always thought I was normal. I thought talking to animals and predicting the weather was normal for everyone. Once in a while, there would be someone blessed with a “gift” of magic. Later on in life, those blessed with a gift in magic begins a journey to learn more about the world and improve their magic skills. After my adopted parents’ death, I went on a journey to discover my true potential and to learn more about magic. In the past, I do not know of my birth parents. I didn’t try to look into my origin or try to look for my real parents because I deemed that there would be nothing left. During my journey I traveled far and wide. I was always scammed due to my naïve and innocent nature. I grew up on the countryside and most folks around here are sincere and honest. They are unlike the rowdy or dark places I’ve ventured to. 

One time, I got tricked by a slave ring and almost got sold at a slave’s auction. Most of the slaves were magical creatures and forest folks. Forest folks ranging from elves, gnomes, goblins, trolls, and even dwarfs are often caught by humans and sold to the highest bidders. They are bought by merchants or nobles to do heavy hard work. That’s why most magical creatures and forest folks tend to avoid being seen. I have never come into contact with one while living in the countryside. I only learn about this during my journey. The fact that I was a human but was still caught and sold was a really embarrassing story. Sometimes in slave auctions, there are “rare goods” like demons. Sometimes, these slave traders would even trick innocent young girls and boys and sell them at their auctions. You never know, the buyers at these slave auctions are full of creepy people. 

The magical creatures and forest folks were put to auction and led away by their buyers first. Then comes the young boys and girls and demonic creatures. And that was the first time my demonic magic appeared. In my crazed state, I didn’t know what I was doing until everything was burned to ashes. The screams of humans and fresh smell of blood didn’t faze me. When I managed to gain consciousness, I can only see myself standing in a large pool of blood with bodies around me. The only memory I had after the event is blood on my lips and pure satisfaction. Now don’t think that I killed all those innocent young boys and girls. We were all locked up in a large metal cage, and next to us is the cage for demon creatures. Only when it is our turn for auction would we be let out for the buyers to see and bid. After checking the bodies to make sure all the slave traders were dead, I removed their keys and opened the cage I was in to free the young boys and girls. What greeted me was not gladness but all I can see on their faces are pure horror and fear. They didn’t even thank me but ran. The only ones who kept me company were the demonic creatures. They all hailed me as their leader and thank me for freeing them. While I just collapsed on the ground in shock. 

In fact, the one who taught me high level magic was a rowdy bunch of demons. We journeyed together for a few years until they got tired of exploring and returned to their home in the land of demons. Before they left, they invited me to their homeland and threw me to this old geezer. Zelfe is middle age man but likes to act like a grandpa. Calling him an old geezer is very fitting. He looks young but who knows about his real age. I wouldn’t be surprised if he told me he was 5,000 years old. He treats me like a daughter and protects me in everything. My demon friends do visit me every week and take me to greet other demon creatures. Demons creatures are very simple. They look scary and comes in various shapes and sizes, but they are truly kind at heart. Some humans like games and loves tricking humans but they really mean no harm. I was so gullible that I often fell for a lot of their tricks. Then Zelfe would come and scold them like an elder reprimanding a small child. Often, it’s a very funny scene. Watching a large demon creature bending their head down in a very sad and apologetic way while Zelfe, who’s always in his human form just yammering away is truly funny. His death was a part of my fault as well. I shouldn’t have brought him on my journey and let him come with me to the human’s world.

 Once every 50 years, all the country and nations would get together to determine who holds the destiny of the “hero” and who holds the destiny of the “demon king”. They search far and wide for children who carries similar destiny. They don’t have to be the true demon king, but as far as they have pure darkness in their magic, they will be eliminated. Ein Sof Aur and many other children were put up for trials. The children with pure holy magic are sent to an elite academy to nurture their magic and become the light of their nation. The ones with average or minor magic will be sent to another academy to become regular magicians. The ones with no magic attribute are sent to another academy to become knights and excels at weapons and swordsmanship. The ones with darkness in their magic will be sentenced to death. This event only happens once every 50 years and every child from all every nation and country are sent to the capital of Aedanstine for trial. As long as people are under 25 years of age, they qualify for the trials. Some voluntarily attend the trials in hope of becoming a magician or even to attend an adequate academy. Attending one of the three academies sets an individual up for job contracts and guarantees them to a life full of wealth and luxury. Many of the lower-class families often would send their children to these trials. Even the upper-class families would send their children to these trials in hope for them to become great magicians. 

Just so you have it, I was in the capital of Aedanstine to restock on food and supplies when I heard of this ceremony. I was watching the big ceremonious trials with Zelfe when a whole bunch of guards demanded me to follow them. Without a choice I went in as one of the trial applicants. I don’t know how long I have been traveling. Perhaps 20 years have passed. Or perhaps even 50 years. I don’t remember. All I know is, I stopped aging after I went to the demon world.  Or maybe even during the first time my demonic powers came about. I rarely took notice. To the guards, I probably look like I’m 18. Even though I wore a disguise and changed my facial appearance, I still cannot change my youthful appearance. 

The trials last around 10 days. Whoever finish first gets to leave early. I was among the last batch of applicants. We were directed to stay in the lodging area for 10 days and could not leave to go anywhere else. It is to prevent escapees who may have dark magic. It was by pure coincidence while walking around in the large lodge house I met Ein Sof Aur. The first time I met Ein Sof Aur, the boy was around 8 years old. Dressed in dirty drags with poor hygiene, probably a peasant or from a lower-class family. A group of young nobles was giving the boy a hard time, so I stepped in and resolved the issue. Or rather, I beat them all up and laughed while they ran with tails behind their back. No need to worry, that horse tail will go away after a few days. The boy quickly mumbles some thank you and walked off while limping. I wanted to tell him I can fix his broken bones, but he seemed like he didn’t want to socialize. I didn’t see the kid until 3 days later when I was walking to the food area to pick up some dinner. The boy was once again harassed by another group of upper-class boys. This time is something about some pretty noble young lady who like him. I almost wiped the sweat off my brows. Boys these days, 10 years old is too young for love don’t you think? 

The rest of the applicants were divided. The nobles and upper-class sat with each other. The peasants and lower-class sat separate from the nobles and upper class. There were no labels on the seat, but the attitude of the lower-class and peasants made it a tradition. No one seems to want to help the young boy. I was about to walk up and become a savior again, but he glanced up and glared at me. So thus, I stood watching quietly waiting to see what the boy would do next without my help. He did nothing but eat. When his food was poured with dirty water, he still ate it quietly. I was tired of watching how this scene play out, so I just took a tray of food and walked back to my room. I could feel the kid’s eyes on my back as I walked out from the dining area. I usually grab food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and eat them in my room. I had to keep my demonic magic a secret and contact with Zelfe every day or else the old man would freak out. It was the 8^th day in the trials. After listening to Zelfe fussing over me, nagging at my indifference easygoing attitude, and how I could have blown my cover by using my magic, I decided to eat in the dining area. 

When I came to the dining area, the area is divided once again. The invisible barrier of status is rather annoying. I decided to plop my self down in the middle instead. Who cares about the eyes around me. I can hardly care what they think. When someone came and put their dinner tray on the seat opposite of me, I didn’t bother looking up. Funny thing when I didn’t ask for trouble, trouble come knocking my door. After 10 minutes, some young upper-class young men who’s probably in their late teens or 20s came over and pressured me to sit with them. When I bluntly refused and mentioned that I already have someone to keep me company by using the person sitting across from me as an excuse, the group laughed. After 10 minutes of pestering, my patience snapped, and I gathered a pile of wind and send them flying across the room. When I looked up to see who was sitting in front of me, a pair of icy gray eyes greeted me. I managed to take a good look at the young boy I’ve seen from a few days ago. He was a rather quiet boy with a cold demeanor. He had icy white hair, so pale that it resembles beautiful white snow. He was strikingly beautiful, like a pure angel someone demonic like me could never touch. For I fear I might bring darkness upon his elegant soul. The rags on his lean frame couldn’t contaminate his dignity and grace. He was beautiful, but cold. I always wanted siblings. The orphans who stayed with me are cute and charming, but they are never this cold. No matter what, their eyes were full of love and warmth. The young boy’s eyes were merciless. I used my magic and scanned over him. He has a deep hatred within himself. He hated himself and he hated the world. His soul contains darkness on the inside while his outer shell resembles that of a pure holy being. I didn’t know how long I stared at him for. I didn’t even know why I opened my mouth to ask for the young boy’s name. By the time I walked back to my room, all I could remember was the name: Ein Sof Aur. 

During the last 2 days, I sat eating all my meals in the dining area. In the same middle section as yesterday. The same person who follows me wherever I go was the young boy Ein Sof Aur. He would quietly sit in the same spot waiting for me to come during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. After eating, I would walk around the premise to digest my food and he would be walking behind me, always staring at my back. As if he was afraid I would leave him around. One time, I flew several miles to see if he can catch up with me. By the time I was walking up the steps to my room, I could see him running up the stairs behind me. I took a glance at the young boy before coldly walking up to my room and closing the door. I could see through the walls that he stood outside my door for around 15 minutes before venturing back down the stairs and returning to his room. When it was finally the day for our trials to take place, the boy was already waiting outside my door. 

I had maximized all my illusion prowess sometimes ago. I can hide my own demonic presence without others finding it out. Somehow my magic powers were too powerful that the representatives from the academies believe I am a high level holy magician, and marked me up to attend the elite academy. I saw Zelfe among the crowd and waved at the old man. When I walked over towards the elite academy area where a few applicants were standing, there were screams among the crowd. Ein Sof Aur, who was the one after me was recorded to carry dark magic within him. I mean, his magic is pathetically weak. How can they even deem such a young boy to have pure demonic magic? It was truly insulting. I almost wanted to burn the whole place down and show them an example of true demonic magic. I took pity upon the boy and decides to save him. It was a wrong move. When a big event like this only happens once in 50 years, you can bet all the big-name magicians and strong warriors will gather. Magicians are extremely weak against close range attacks. Even a great demonic magician like me would even suffer if I was bombarded on all sides by thousands of knights and warriors. Push comes to shove, I was heavily wounded. In order to save me, Zelfe revealed his form as a higher tier demon level 100. He died while buying us extra time to escape. The one thing I regret the most is to lose the ones I love. Zelfe nags and fuss like a grandma sometimes, acts like an old geezer sometimes, but he is like a father figure to me. His death broke my heart. 

I wander around from country to country, hating myself and all the mistakes I’ve have done. I didn’t notice that there was always a small figure following behind me. I am high level magician. I do not need to eat or sleep. It wasn’t until that I was walking through heavy snow during winter that I no longer feel a presence behind me. When I flew back several miles, I can see that same particular young boy whom I’ve saved and Zelfe sacrificed his life for lying covered from top to bottom in a large pile of frozen snow. He was wearing nothing but the rags I’ve always seen him wearing. I didn’t want to lose him like I did with Zelfe, so I quickly constructed a log cabin using my powers and created a fireplace to warm up the boy’s cold body. I hunted some snow wolves that night, the meat went into making a warm soup. The pelts I used to make fur coats, pants, and hats for the boy. I saved the rest of the meat inside my dimensional space vortex where I can store as much as I want and as many objects as I like. It is where Zelfe sometimes stay whenever we didn’t want to attract troubles of him attracting others with his demonic presence. 

After the boy awoken from his slumber, I pointed to the pot of soup without any word. He quietly ate up all the soup. I waited a week for the boy to get better before moving on to the next location. Instead of walking, I flew us to the next town. I can only teleport to areas that I’ve known or been to before. I was full of grief due to Zelfe’s death so I hardly notice where I was going. So moving from town to town, I took it on my responsibility to teach Ein. It seems like the boy didn’t have any parents. Zelfe saved me and the boy so I can’t just abandon him.  

Over the next few years, we traveled as teacher and student. I am his master and he is my pupil. Perhaps I am immortal, for I never age. While my young pupil grew to be even taller than me. We traveled to different places living nomad for several years before I signed a contract with the Praety Kingdom. There were war battles between the Praety Kingdom and the Kingdom of Figuria, who both never seem to get along. I was hired by the Praety Kingdom for several years to build forts and produce magical weapons. The contract states that I would only lend my assistance for the war for only a year. After the one-year contract is over, both side wanted to bribe me to join their side. I am tired of their constant war, so I announced my decision to retire. I took my pupil with me, build a giant fortress, and decided to live the rest of my life in leisure. 

Just so you have it, the Kingdom of Figuria managed to track me down and once again bribe me to join them. I declined. I don’t know what the Kingdom of Figuria said to the Praety Kingdom, but they managed to find me too. This time, threatening me to join them or to die. Perhaps they fear of my powers, perhaps they fear me. They tried many times to forcefully come into my fortress but due to my strong magical barrier, they cannot venture inside. That is, until one day my pupil came back from his trip outside and slit a sword through my throat.  And there you have it. The story of my miserable past, or before I locked myself up in my towers believing that I can finally settle down and have a quiet and peaceful life. 

Back to the present. I snapped out of my thoughts and found myself walking through the last corridor. It leads through a red hallway brimming with small circle lights. It was the living room. There are very antique looking couches. Large and in red and gold. Majestic and elegant. The living room is truly big. There are several golden color tables with several white porcelain glass and a tea set on each table. The long cream carpet further accentuates the pieces of furniture and pretty cabinets which lines the wall of the living room. When we finally walk through several more rooms, we are at the front door of the estate. On the top of our head lies a waterfall chandelier in gold. Red dim lights line the wall up and down. The front door consists of a black polish and blue linings. There were many red locks on the door. I went up and pushed it. It wouldn’t budge. I looked at Charlie in question. The kid smiled and removed a key from his necklace. Or rather, it was a magical necklace invisible to the eye and not removable by anyone else besides its owner. The key is a round magical chip the size of a person’s thumb. It is actually a magical rock enchanted to open certain doors of a building. It came with no surprise to me since I was the one who had the powers to build giant fortresses and buildings. I can also craft magical buildings and magical objects. However, I seldomly sell those since those items would make me the target of several organization thirty for power. Often, I sell them anonymously under the name of “The Nameless”. It’s quite a horrid name, but at that time I couldn’t think of any other names so thus I wrote it down just as a joke and threw the task of finding the right name to my pupil. By the time I awoken from my long nap, the name registered at the merchant’s bureau was ‘The Nameless’. 

I killed most of the buyers, but a few probably managed to run off. Among them is probably the 4^th prince of the Praety Kingdom. No wonder whenever I visit the Praety Kingdom for business the person will always avoid me like I am a disease. 

During my journey My teacher was a demon.

There was no way I could be born under the star of the demon king. This, I have never exposed to anyone. Not even my own pupil. Ein Sof Aur, who was rumored to be the “demon king” by many, is not the true demon king. For I am the true demon king.

The star of the demon king.

I long ignored his request. 

Conquest of the Legionnaire.

Radix Flumen.

[Draft]

 © CEAEN for CHAMPION