Chapter 25 - Toward
Silas ordered the rest to leave his tent. He was left alone with his thoughts.
Looking at the ceiling, he sighed and lay back. According to Roland, his skin would stay that way even if he advanced to a higher circle in the heart.
’It is a shame that I lose this face without ever doing something. But I can use my current face to intimate people. My reputation is already in gutter after my birthday accident. I don’t know how mom and dad will react. But my sister would laugh.’
Silas’s thoughts wandered across.
After lunch, he got out of the bed and wandered around the camp site, seeing greenery. His beating heart was now calm but his mind was still inside that lighthouse, killing children.
[Did you sleep well, Viremont?]
A soft murmur echoed loudly inside his head as if the voice came from his soul. Looking around his surroundings, he spoke to himself.
"Tell me the details. What did you do to me?" His voice was cold and carried a murderous intent.
[Just like I said, we make a deal. I get to live and you get to have knowledge of the sixth circle mage. And you can also kill me in an instant with your thoughts. Can you feel it? The control you have over me.]
A dark whisper followed his every step.
Fear smelled better on enemies.
But right now, the scent of fear thickened on Silas’s body the most. Every step he took, his mind was not calming at all.
Silas closed his eyes and manipulated the energy and mana inside his body. Seeing there was nothing inside, he wandered deeper into the mind.
Inside he felt a power to control. That power was faint and could vanish with his breath.
That must be Thamior’s crest.
"Why didn’t you take over my body?"
[Like I said, the world doesn’t allow this kind of existence.]
Silas nodded, remembering the conversation between him and the old mage.
"And why did you make me take control over your life?"
[Like I said, the world doesn’t allow this kind of existence. Without some kind of safety measurement, I can’t live inside you.]
Thamior said.
Silas went silent and sighed.
"I should just kill you and be done with this." Silas muttered.
[You could. But I suggest you not to do that yet.]
"Convince me, Thamior." Silas said coldly.
[Hahaha... I don’t need to. You are going to face Floen. And I know the inner working of the family. With my help, you can achieve destruction of the family.]
"Not enough to convince me to stop killing you." Silas said. "I could cause destruction on my own. Besides, this is not my goal yet."
[I see. Why don’t you wait until you see my family’s town?]
Silas went silent and Thamior took that as an answer.
***
Late night in the camp site.
Silas stood, staring at the fire pit. He threw dried log into the fire and roasted some meat.
Fragrance of the roasted pork lingered in the air and he took some bite.
"Could use some seasoning."
"Need a drink."
A familiar voice sounded beside him. Without turning around, Silas shook his head. "No need, I need to stop drinking alcohol."
Roland sat beside him.
Luna was sleeping with Ice-pick. Seems like the two girls got closer in the past week.
Silas went into coma for 9 days. Roland on the other hand, woke up after sleeping for three days. According to Luna, he didn’t need healing magic as his body healed itself.
Silas was not jealous about that. He was relief that Roland managed to stay alive.
His thoughts processed was hazy after the explosion but now that he calmed down, he remembered the charred body of Roland. At that time, his mind was that Roland could survive this level of wounds.
He did but he should cast some sort of healing spell to be sure.
There was no sure in lamenting the past. Silas expression was extremely serious. He needed to do better.
After all, he vowed to change the game plotlines.
"I am sorry for not fulfilling my duty, Sir." Roland said, heavily.
Silas was taken back by this. Roland was not the kind of man to speak like this.
Silas observed the young knight and nodded slowly.
"No need. Just continue to improve yourself."
"No. You need to punish me. As a knight, it is a great sin to let the master suffer. I failed my duty. So please punish me so that I can stand myself."
Silas frowned at Roland and sighed. With how much Roland obsessed over Knightly manner, he needed to do something that will make him work and punish.
What should he do? What should he say?
"Can you kill Zeke?" Silas asked.
Roland nodded. "I can."
"And why don’t you use your Fourth circle technique against Zeke?"
"I thought I need to save the energy."
"That is your fault. Inside that small room, I can’t use my third and fourth circle spell. So take this as a lesson and grow. I expect great thing from you, Roland."
"Yes, sir."
"I seriously mean that." Silas pressed. "In the future, we are going to face even more stronger opponent."
"Floen Family?"
"They too but there is something more. I can’t count on Ice-pick. She is a demon and I don’t think I can control her. And as for Luna, she doesn’t scream loyalty."
Roland stared at Silas, frowned and stood up. "You need to open your eyes and listen, Silas. They are all here for you."
Roland left into the darkness to clear his mind.
***
Silas looked at the carriage and nodded. He wore a very formal suit and dressed himself nicely. He also adored a longsword beside him to show his strength.
His face was warped in clean white bandages. He touched his hair and felt it. He decided to grow his hair.
Silas walked toward the front of the carriage and said to Old Gin who was tending the horses.
"Next stop is Floen Town. As soon as we arrived at Floen, I want you to meet up with rest people and buy a house. I don’t want something extravagant. Middle-class house is good enough."
Old Gin nodded. He was a man of few words.
Silas smiled and opened up the carriage and entered inside.
Ice-pick was laying down, snoring in a unladylike manner.
Luna took her seat and was reading her notebook.
Roland didn’t stay inside. He said he needed to clear his mind to approach the fifth circle.
So he stayed ontop of the carriage, guarding them and shaperening his mind.
Silas took gently lifted up Ice-pick head and sat down and lay her head on his lap.
He then looked at Luna and said.
"Let’s start our lesson. We need a lot of catch up."
Luna nodded.
***
Floen Town was located between the central border and southern land of the kingdome. The central nobles poured a lot of resources into building the town so that they could put pressure on the southern land.
At the same time, Floen Family was eyeing on the southern land to devour. Their hunger was bottomless pit.
Because of the influence and support, Floen Town was strong and beautiful.
Silas didn’t plan to stay that long in the Floen Town. His goal right now was to establish the information centre and gathered intelligence on Floen and created a small organization.
There were people bound to be enemies of Floen.
He would also need to in touch with underworld.
’Buy a supply. Create an organization. Establish connection with underworld. I also need to get money as well.’
Silas sighed, looking out at the window. On his side, Ice-pick was punching his arms softly. Must be because he drew on her face.
How can she be carefree? That was a lesson.
She should learn not to sleep beside him.
Silas grabbed her hand and drew even more on her face with the help of Luna.
The next destination is Floen.