Chapter 53: The Son of Arcane
4 months ago:
’ The lord has changed ’
For a while now a strange rumour had come to spread across all of Arcane filling the nights with suspicion and dread
How that rumour came to be no one truly knew, for it was a well-known fact that all servants of the manor were sworn to secrecy
Still... it brought back memories of old
To the people of arcane who had lived under the madness of the previous lord, the current so-called scoundrel lord was a saint
And so the rumour of his change brought dread to the people
For it was that very same rumour all those years ago that had brought upon them the fall of arcane
Back when they had witnessed firsthand how the once promising and kind lord fell to ruin, how arcane that had seemed on the cusp of greatness had its wings clipped by its ruler
Silence enveloped the land as its people prayed, and as it had been with the emergence of the rumour all these years ago, a storm erupted crashing unto arcane this time as well
in but a week since the rumour surfaced news of the purge of the capitals black-market spread across the empire
With the central piece of the black market in ruins pandemonium ensued across a multitude of regions as prices spiked and territorial disputes between gangs ensued due to it
Those whitehearts couldn’t possibly understand the consequences of their actions, for to them who lived in a different world how could their act be wrong
To them who lived wrapped gold how could they comprehend that a difference in price of few copper coins starved hundreds to death as they could no longer afford a single loaf of bread
How without central command being transmitted all times that syndicates would fall into conflicts staining the lower districts of the empire red
To this family that lived in the light how could they understand the necessity of the dark, to them they had simply done good taking away the filthy market as extra alongside the demons
However, to those who couldn’t live in the light the darkness seemed to only envelop them further as the storm raged on
That was until new news spread again, a rope of salvation that came down as the storm reached its peak after the massacre of district 8 in the Daren viscounty
’ The central market has re-emerged in Arcane ’
As that news spread and orders surged towards different parts of the empire, what should have ended in total disaster was slowly being steered towards a brighter end
A miracle born through the efforts of the so-called scoundrel lord of Arcane, who having established a new central immediately spent entire fortunes and assets trying to restabilize the collapsing market
Since then, it was an endless stream of events one after another
From urgent aid towards the lower districts of the empire who were affected the most to purges towards the radical groups that existed to sow even greater chaos
the emerging market itself had brought down a tidal wave of new incomers as new shops and markets popped up one after another which later caused the emergence of the Arcanic laws
It took multiple negotiations and meetings but a universal law banning any sort of acts of violence and crime was enacted in Arcane
meanwhile all business where legalised in Arcane as a loophole
Even when swarmed with all these tasks, the lord still invested heavily in capital and his subject’s welfare, be it medicine or education
By the time the storm had passed it was said the treasury of the lord had almost been fully spent, both personal and public yet instead of raising the taxes he had actually decreased it
Even after that he had somehow pulled through as an official notice published showed that the households income that month had only grew larger
In that statement it was said there was still much to do, a market city he said he had wished to build
That day the lord went on a walk
He smiled and checked on all his subjects
He played with the children of the orphanage
Years ago an unprecedented rumour surfaced and Arcane fell
Years later that same rumour resurfaced and Arcane soared
That was the story of the son of Arcane
The greatest lord in its history
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Isabella Pov
" I’m telling you there is something wrong with him!! "
I downed another glass as I listened to Sofia
" You’re ignoring me again aren’t you?!?! I’m not joking around he feels different!! "
Ever since we returned to the hall that was all Sophie has been repeating
" Are you still hung up on that? Sophie honestly how much had you drunk today? "
Trying again with her I decided to tease her, she always changed moods quickly due to that, but it didn’t work
She suddenly quieted down instead and just dragged me to a corner
" Please... "
Watching her like that I could only freeze
Her eyes had lost its spark and she looked terrified
" Please be careful... "
" Hey Sophie what wrong? "
I immediately reached to her fear-stricken face but she simply shook her head
" I tried my best you know? I didn’t want to make you worry... "
" Sophie... "
" But I can’t... I just can’t... "
" Sophie please I don’t understand why are you like this?!?! "
" He... he’s... he isn’t normal "
" He...? Wait Nicholas!? "
" I didn’t see it at first because I was so far away then... but I was close this time... I saw it this time... "
’ Saw it? Something that could scare her this much...
She who with those eyes of hers had seen so much? ’
Watching Sophie thousands of thoughts passed through my head all that always lead to the same awful answer
" Sophie... "
I spoke my voice trembling
" Was it a demon? "
The worst-case scenario and the only one that could make sense right now, I stayed still waiting for the confirmation, yet Sophie instead shook her head
" You of all people would have sensed it if that was the case "
Refuting my claims and throwing away my worries Sophie finally spoke calmly for the first time in a while
However then what, what could have frightened her this much, what did she sense in Nicholas?
It didn’t take long to get my answer though
" The dark spirits where bowing... "
" ....What? "