Harem: Rebirth of the strongest shadow mage

Chapter Seven

Ryan's eyes narrowed as he began to interrogate the second guard, his voice firm and commanding. "What is your name, and where are we?" he asked, his gaze piercing the guard's very soul.

The second guard's expression was one of confusion, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. "What do you mean, Young Master sir?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of incredulity. "You have been here for the past seventeen years. You know exactly where you are."

Ryan took a deep breath, his mind racing with the implications of the guard's words. He couldn't disclose to this man that he was reincarnated and not the young master they knew. The guard's confusion was palpable, and Ryan knew he had to tread carefully.

Since he didn't have any knowledge of where he was, Ryan wanted to ask the questions from the guard, so as to know the current situation he was in. He decided to take a more aggressive approach, his voice firm and menacing.

"I don't have time for your questions," Ryan growled. "I don't remember anything since I woke up, but I overheard you two talking about disposing of my body. I know you did something to me, so you better start answering and stop asking questions if you want to live any longer."

The guard's eyes widened in fear as he realized the gravity of his situation. He knew that he had to cooperate with Ryan if he wanted to survive. He took a deep breath and began to speak, his words spilling out of him like a confession.

As the guard's words spilled out of him like a confession, his body began to tremble with fear, his eyes darting wildly around the room as if searching for an escape route. But he knew he had no choice but to cooperate with Ryan, not if he wanted to preserve his own life. And so, he continued to talk, his words tumbling out of him in a frantic bid to appease his captor.

"My name is Gorm," he stammered, his voice shaking with fear. "You are in the Sunblade Castle, and you are the young master of the castle. You were born with the inability to become a mage, a fact that has been a source of great concern for your family."

As Gorm's words hung in the air, Ryan's eyes narrowed in understanding. He could finally comprehend why he had found it so difficult to absorb the world's energy, why his attempts to tap into the mystical forces that flowed through the land had been met with failure. It was because he was born without the ability to become a mage, a fact that had been hidden from him until now.

But Ryan's thoughts didn't stop there. He also knew why the person who had sent Gorm to kill him wanted him dead. It wasn't because of any personal vendetta or grudge. No, it was something far more sinister. The person wanted the castle, the Sunblade Castle, with all its power and prestige. And with Ryan out of the way, they would be free to claim it for themselves.

Ryan's eyes locked onto Gorm's, his gaze piercing and intense. "Who sent you to kill me?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. Gorm's eyes widened in fear, but he knew he had no choice but to answer.

As Gorm began to speak, Ryan's eyes remained fixed intently on him, his gaze piercing and unyielding. But as the guard's words spilled out, Ryan's expression began to shift, his face reflecting a growing sense of unease and disillusionment.

From what Ryan knew, he was aware that he was currently in the Eastern Region, one of the five major divisions of the mage world. The mage world was a vast and complex realm, comprising five distinct regions: the Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, and Central regions. The Central Region was home to the Magic Order, the governing body that oversaw the entire mage world.

Each region, in turn, was controlled by an Imperial Ergon, a powerful entity that wielded authority over every guild within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, each region was comprised of numerous provinces, with the Eastern Region boasting twenty-one provinces under its dominion.

Ryan's thoughts turned to the Flaming Sun Province, the least-ranked province in the Eastern Region. It was here that the Sunblade Family held sway, governing the province with an iron fist. But the Sunblade Family was not the only powerful entity in the Flaming Sun Province. There were other major families, each with their own distinct interests and agendas.

As Gorm continued to speak, Ryan's mind reeled with the implications of what he was learning. He was beginning to realize that his world was far more complex and nuanced than he had ever imagined. The more he learned, the more he understood that he was merely a pawn in a much larger game, a game of power and intrigue that threatened to consume him whole.

Ryan's eyes never left Gorm's face, his gaze burning with an intense desire for knowledge. "Tell me more," he commanded, his voice low and menacing. Gorm swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously around the room before he began to speak once more.

As Gorm continued to speak, Ryan's eyes grew wider with each passing moment, his mind reeling with the shocking revelations about his former self. He learned that the previous occupant of his body had been a mere shadow of a man, a nobody who had squandered his life away in a haze of alcohol and debauchery.

According to Gorm, Ryan's former self had been a crushing disappointment to his family, particularly his father, the head of the Sunblade Family. Despite his family's wealth and influence, Ryan's former self had been unable to overcome the barrier that blocked him from becoming a mage. His father had spared no expense in attempting to help him, purchasing countless pills and elixirs that promised to break down the barrier and unlock his magical potential.

But despite these efforts, nothing had worked. Ryan's former self had been consumed by depression and despair, turning to drink and women as a means of escapism. His reputation had suffered as a result, with everyone in the Flaming Sun Province knowing him as a failure, a man who had squandered his potential and his family's good name.

As Ryan listened to Gorm's words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust and shame. He had never been one to indulge in such vices, and the thought of his former self wallowing in such depravity was deeply unsettling.

But despite the revulsion he felt, Ryan's mind remained focused on the task at hand. He still had no idea why he had been killed, or who had been behind the plot. He leaned forward, his eyes boring into Gorm's.

"Tell me," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Who killed me, and why?"

As Gorm's words hung in the air, Ryan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the revelation. The person behind his murder, Ignisia of the Flarion Family, was not only a member of the rival family of the Sunblade Family but also the woman who was supposed to become the wife of the former Ryan.

A mix of emotions swirled within Ryan as he processed this information. He learned that the former Ryan had harbored a deep crush on the young Ignisia, begging his father to arrange a wedding between them. However, it was clear that Ignisia had never reciprocated Ryan's feelings, likely due to his own inadequacies. As a non-mage, Ryan was seen as useless, especially when compared to the talented and powerful Ignisia, who was a skilled mage.

Ryan's anger simmered just below the surface as he listened to Gorm's words. He couldn't believe that Ignisia, the woman who was supposed to be his betrothed, had been behind his murder. A burning desire for revenge ignited within him, and he knew that he had to take action.

With a fierce determination, Ryan made up his mind to destroy the Flarion Family, to make them pay for their treachery. But before he set his plan in motion, he had one final task to attend to. With lightning-fast speed, Ryan struck out, his hand hurtling towards Gorm's head. The guard didn't even have time to react, his eyes widening in shock as his head exploded from the collision.

Ryan didn't flinch, his expression unyielding as he turned away from Gorm's lifeless body. It was time for action, time to unleash his wrath upon the Flarion Family. With a steely resolve, Ryan headed back to the Sunblade Castle, ready to set his plan in motion. The flames of revenge had been ignited, and nothing would ever be the same again.