Right from the moment Ezra had first laid his eyes upon Tanya, he was smitten with her beauty. And it wasn’t just because she had a pretty face. She was the kindest and most caring girl he had ever met but was also brave and headstrong like her father.The only hurdle that stood between them was Tanya’s vow of celibacy since she had promised herself to Ishani. However, things were looking different now, or at least that was how Ezra perceived it.“The royal ball will be a good place to meet new people and learn more about the families who hold influence over the royal court,” Tanya spoke after a long spell of awkward silence.Ezra got his head out of the clouds and nodded. He realized that Tanya was trying to use the invitation to the royal ball as an excuse to get close to the king’s court and hopefully gather some allies. “I hope you do not mind going with a priestess-to-be,” Tanya chipped in, distracting Ezra from his thoughts.Although Ezra felt a little dejected after hearing Tan
Ezra broke off into a sprint and ran after the thief, his eyes following the frail figure of the kid as it disappeared into a shadowy alley.“Get back here, you damn thief!” Ezra shouted as he brushed past the pedestrians, nearly throwing a couple to the ground and causing two bikes to crash into the street lamps.The commotion soon created a blockage on the road, but Ezra had already crossed and was standing at the entrance of the alley. He had watched the kid dip inside, and there did not seem to be any other way out since it led to a blind end on the other side.Clenching his fist, Ezra stepped into the darkness and entered the alley. Almost immediately, a foul stench hit his nostrils. It was dark and damp inside the narrow space, and sunlight only illuminated the area in little patches where there were cracks in the banisters of the adjoining buildings.Only Ezra’s hurried footsteps echoed in the darkness, occasionally interspersed by the squeaking of mice and the soft tapping of
Ezra’s heart raced inside his chest as he realized the grave implications of being apprehended in this situation. If the guards found him standing there with four dead thugs around him, they would get the wrong impression and identify him as the criminal responsible for the killings.“I need to get out of here!”As Ezra tried to look for a way out, the sound of footsteps splashing on the water reached his ears. The guards were coming in hot, and they were soon going to block off his only exit. Without wasting another second, Ezra pulled out an elemental grenade and tossed it into the dark alleyway. It exploded with a white flash, releasing an icy blast that froze the water on the ground, causing the guards to slip on the ice and come crashing down.“God damn it!”“How the hell did this happen?”“Captain…I think we are dealing with a spellcaster!”“Or maybe a Gunner.”Before the guards could break the ice and clamber back on their feet, Ezra jumped on top of a dumpster and used his ma
The only scrolls Ezra had used in his life were low-level summoning scrolls and teleportation scrolls. But the scrolls decorating the shelves inside the glass cabinets were far superior to the ones he was used to seeing.“What kind of scrolls are these?” Ezra asked as he stared at the rolled parchments wrapped in golden and silver threads with different types of bows securing them in place.“These are not your ordinary scrolls, dear boy. The scrolls you see here are Legendary Scrolls! They were crafted by some of the most powerful mages and sorcerers on this continent and are more valuable than enchanted weapons,” Madam Moonfrey replied and slowly made her way to the cabinet in front. Unlatching its glass door, she let Ezra have a good look at the treasures on offer. “Choose any five scrolls of your liking, and we will call it a day.”“That sounds like a poor deal. I am selling ten different crafting components that can only be obtained by killing the undead. And don’t forget there ar
Ezra’s duel was going to be the last one in the opening round. And even though he had qualified for the next round by securing a victory in his first match, he wanted to keep the winning streak going.The crowd gathered in the Arcadium cheered for the rival Gunner as she entered the arena. She was hardly a few years older than Ezra, but her mischievous grin showed that she was confident of securing a victory.King Reginald and his Chief Gunner were watching the match unfold from the stands, but the Chief Court Mage was nowhere to be seen. The crowd, however, had suddenly become a lot more interesting. The proprietor of Silver Threads, Kaelan Agnerius, was sitting beside the owner of the largest apothecary in the city, and in the stands behind them were a group of veteran adventurers.Among the other notable personalities were Captain Legrand, the Captain of the Imperial guards, and a group of wine and textile merchants. Seeing such affluent people among the spectators, Ezra realized
Round two of the Grand Dueling Tournament was set to kick off a week later to give all participating Gunners a chance to take a quick breather and hone their skills. Additionally, this long break would also allow the Gunners to choose a partner for the next round since it was going to be fought in pairs.For now, Ezra had no partners in mind since he barely knew the other participants. In order to keep his identity a secret, he had avoided lingering in the Arcadium for too long, and this distanced him from all the other Gunners.However, after today’s flawless victory against Felicia, the other participants had finally taken note of him, and some were even eager to get acquainted with him and learn a trick or two.Although the veterans considered it below them to mingle with a newcomer who had just qualified for the second round, the other participants were excited to meet the masked stranger who had taken the tournament by storm, upsetting all calculations.As Ezra entered the specia
Everything had been going perfectly so far. Ezra had exercised great caution and treaded with tremendous caution. He had done everything to cover his tracks and keep his identity a secret. Yet, now he found himself in a precarious situation.Staring at the note in his hand, Ezra trembled with rage, his frustration showing on his face. “How did this happen? Who the hell is it?” he grumbled, squeezing the paper inside his palm and turning it into a crumpled ball.Marlin opened his mouth, and his eyes focused on Ezra’s face. He had not been able to read the contents of the note, but judging by Ezra’s expression, it was easy to understand that it did not bring good news.“What did that note say?” he asked.“Someone knows my secret. They know who I am!” In a fit of unbridled rage, Ezra punched the wall, shattering the brickwork and cracking its painted surface. “How the hell did they find out?”“Well, you can be as cautious as you like, but in a big city like this, even the walls have ears
When Ezra had first laid his eyes upon that note on the window sill, he expected the blackmailer to ask him for money or use his influence to upset his chances in the dueling tournament. But Angelo’s offer came as a bolt from the blue.“The Nightshades are a bunch of murderers and thieves. I would not even think about rubbing shoulders with them,” Ezra replied without a second thought.But instead of being angered by Ezra’s response, Angelo maintained his calm. “My Lord, you call us murderers when we are actually just trying to do the devil’s work and get our hands dirty to protect this kingdom. That is really unfair.”“Just how are you protecting the kingdom by killing innocents?” Ezra retorted, staring daggers at Angelo. His twisted sense of right and wrong did not sit right with him. “I never order the killing of innocents. Perhaps you have misjudged my comrades,” Angelo replied in the politest manner possible. “What about those four men killed by your assassin inside that blind a