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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM A TRICKY CHOICE
Adrian was so proud of him and gave him a pat on the back when he returned to the house. He was now ready to go hunting for the ingredients needed for the cure. It was still very early in the morning but Xaden didn’t want to rest. Now that he could access Manna, he could fortify his body to go for a long time without sleep or food. Using the map, he was able to trace the location of Doctor Flexir, Xaden moved through the shadows towards the imposing residence of the Doctor. He accessed the Manna present around the compound and used it to shield himself with the darkness. He wasn’t invisible, but unless someone pointed a direct stream of light in his direction, it would be almost impossible to see him. He was only left with one day to complete his task and this evening, the president's health had deteriorated. He had to succeed at this task by all means.With each step, his heart pounded in sync with the urgency of his task but he forced himself not to let doubt make him lose focus on
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM BREAKING THE ALCHEMIST'S CURSE
[I choose to break the curse on the Alchemist.] He replied to the system.For a few seconds, there was no response from the System, then a list of instructions appeared.[To break the Alchemist’s curse…Access MannaLocate the dark curse binding the core of his powersChannel Manna to the core of his powersDirect the dark curse from his CoreAbsorb the curse.]He was fine with all the instructions except the last one. Absorb the curse? Won’t that be harmful to himself? He didn’t argue though, he knew that he just needed to focus on accomplishing his task.“Before you try to break the curse, let me give you a tip. You’re new to Manna and all it entails so you need to have an anchor.” The Doctor began to speak and Xaden looked at him in confusion.“An anchor? I don’t understand.”“When you access the Manna around you, using it for something small will be of no consequence. But for something of this magnitude, a curse that even I couldn’t break despite my expertise, you need to be groun
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM TIME FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT
It took almost eight hours to successfully grow all the ingredients and when Xaden was done, he felt so tired like he had been drained of energy. “You did well for your first time, and you’re feeling fatigued because you don’t have experience in wielding Manna for this long. Over time, your body will get used to it and you can go several days doing this without feeling anything.” The Doctor said and Xaden nodded. “I’ll be fine. What’s important is getting these back to the president, time is running out, we only have a few hours left to save him.” Xaden said as he wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead. The president was already on death's door by the time he came back with Doctor Flexir and the herbs. His body had gone cold and his eyes were shut and he was barely breathing. Malessa beside her father in tears. When she saw Xaden, she immediately rushed to him, then paused when she saw the stranger beside him. She immediately became alert when she recognised the stranger as one o
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM AN IMPOSTOR
President Adrian stood behind a podium, his expression a mix of joy and relief. He was finally fulfilling the promise he made to his late friend, John, Xaden’s grandfather. He had been given a second chance at life just so he could help Xaden reclaim the Knight Consortium which was his inheritance. The media got his word well. The world watched with bated breath as he prepared to share a deeply personal announcement. The room, filled with dignitaries, press, andsome citizens eager for news, hushed in anticipation. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens of our great nation," Adrian's voice resonated with a gravity that held the attention of the entire audience. "Today, I stand before you not only as your president but as a grandfather who has experienced the profound joy of a family reunited. The man I am about to introduce to you may not be related to me by blood, but I see him as mine. I made an oath to a dear friend of mine to take care of him and today is one of the many ways I w
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM SKIN WALKING
Adrian had just finished giving his speech and went to his office to get some files when suddenly, he found himself in a room in a completely different house. He was confused. He tried to open the door but it was locked. He knocked and tried to shout but got no response. When he turned around, he screamed out of shock and touched his face. His face was different, and not just his face, his body. He recognised the face. This was the face and body of Sylas Eder, the current CEO of the Knight Consortium. Sylas was Adrian’s prime suspect in the murder of Xaden’s parents several years ago though Adrian didn’t have any real proof of the crime being committed. Sylas was the step brother of Xaden’s grandfather, John. After John’s father had died and left the Consortium to him, his mother had remarried a man named Miles Eder. Sylas was Miles Eder’s son from his own first wife and had been an infant at the time. As he grew, he was envious of John’s son. He had fought to have a share in the Knig
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM UNLOCKING THE FOUR WINDS
“The martial arts teacher, Wang Yu, is an old family friend. Even before I learnt of Manna, we used to visit there when I was much younger and play around his dojo while Father was trained. Later on, he also became my master for a year before I decided to focus my efforts on Alchemy. But my daughter, Rai, has more interest in martial arts, too much interest if you ask me. So he’s her master now, though for a while, she hasn’t been able to attend class because it’s not safe to commute with the council out to get us. I remember seeing that quote on the oak tree in his field. It was carved into it and I never understood it till now because there have never been cherry blossoms anywhere close to the dojo. It’s a riddle so I assume a cherry blossom tree is what the cherry blooms part of the line means instead of the cherry fruit because obviously fruits can’t bloom.”“Master Wang Yu hasn’t accepted a new student in years, Malessa. He only accepted Rai because he owed me a favour and she w
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM DOMINIQUE
“The sigils are the power gems of each wind. Usually, an Air mage can only control or wield one of the four winds. Those who practise and gain further mastery can wield two, but it is very draining and takes a toll on them, so people usually stick to one. I am the only one who can wield all four winds without consequence. And now you have been given the ability to wield all four. I will teach you to grow your ability and increase the power level of each wind.” Wang Yu said as he began to lead them away from the building and towards the oak tree in the field.“The East wind represents Spring, and brings destruction just as tornadoes are more likely to occur during spring. The West wind represents Autumn, and this wind brings dryness just as the leaves wither in Autumn. The South wind represents Summer because it is the opposite of the North and Summer is the hottest of all four seasons. And the North Wind represents Winter, the coldest season.” He continued to speak.“It requires great
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM SHADOWKIN
In the confines of the presidential office, Dominique stood before President Adrian, her eyes reflecting a mix of remorse and regret. "I want to apologise," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I cannot excuse or justify what Sylas has done. I'm here to acknowledge the wrongs and take responsibility for my part in this. I should have been more observant of him. I know most of these things happened before I got married to him, but I still feel guilty. I know he will never swallow his pride and apologise so I want to do it on his behalf. I will try and talk some sense into him to avoid further disputes."Adrian, though still carrying the weight of the recent turmoil, acknowledged her sincerity. He knew it would be wrong to blame her unjustly because of her husband’s misdeeds, but he was still mistrustful of her intentions.What if Sylas just sent her here to deceive them and get close to them as a spy? Or what if she was actually here of her own accord, but still with nefarious
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- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
PERMANENCE
The deceptively edited video of Xaden's hospital encounter with Ashley spread like wildfire through media outlets, igniting a conflagration of public condemnation against him. This carefully fabricated footage painted Xaden in a villainous light, casting doubt over his character and fueling rampant speculation and outrage. They made it seem like he was harassing Ashley, who was already in the hospital for health reasons.Xaden found himself battered by a relentless storm of negative publicity as the video spawned ubiquitous accusations across news platforms, social media, and gossip channels. This orchestrated smear campaign portrayed Xaden's actions in a distorted manner to turn public opinion against him.Sensing opportunity in the chaos, Xaden's rival Sylas seized the moment to escalate the attacks on Xaden's credibility, calling a dramatic press conference to denounce him publicly. With calculated precision, Sylas exploited the public's appetite for scandal, levying sensational al
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
A LITTLE FORGIVENESS
A nurse rushed in, overhearing the raised voices. "Miss, you need to get back in bed. You're in no condition to be moving around." Ashley allowed herself to be led back to the bed, defeat washing over her. Xaden gave her one last disgusted look before storming out. Xaden strode from the hospital seething with anger. The nerve of Ashley, trying to manipulate him again with her fake tears and lies. After everything she had put him through, he would not fall for it this time. Regret gnawed at his conscience, a relentless reminder of his outburst in Ashley's hospital room. Despite the turmoil raging within him, a flicker of guilt tempered his resolve, prompting him to contemplate the consequences of his actions. Even if Ashley was at fault, the baby was innocent in all this. He didn’t want her to lose the child because of him. He needed to be more careful around her. As he made his way back to the presidential villa, President Adrian was waiting for him anxiously.
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
SETTING HER STRAIGHT
The news of Ashley's fainting spell spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of speculation and sensationalism in the media. Reporters clamoured for details, eager to uncover the truth behind the dramatic episode that unfolded in the newsroom. Among the throng of journalists, one figure stood out—the elusive and enigmatic Ashley, whose fabricated tale of betrayal and heartbreaking captivation captivated the public's imagination.As the frenzy of media coverage swirled around her, Ashley lay in a hospital bed, her facade of frailty concealing a calculated strategy. She had orchestrated the elaborate charade to garner attention, leveraging the public's fascination with scandal and intrigue to further her own ambitions.Meanwhile, Xaden, driven by a sense of obligation and a gnawing curiosity, tracked down the hospital where Ashley had been taken. Arriving just as the doctor delivered a sobering diagnosis, he observed the scene with a mixture of concern and scepticism.The doctor stood ove
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
ASHLEY'S INTERVIEW
“So Miss Miller, what made you come here today to have an interview with us?” The reporter asked.Ashley was with a handkerchief and was prepared to do all she could to gain public sympathy. It was easy to do since she was pregnant and was already showing. She also came with proof of her marriage to Xaden and the divorce papers as well. This was the plan she had come up with after never hearing back from the president. She had thought that Adrian would make her get back together with Xaden after she had complained to him that day over the phone.She had no idea that the person she had spoken to that day hadn’t been the real Adrian. And even if it had been, the real Adrian knew the real truth behind how Xaden’s marriage crashed. Xaden had come clean to him after the episode with Sylas skin walking in the Villa, and Adrian was in no way interested in bringing Ashley into Xaden’s life after she threw him away like garbage. She figured out that since the president never messaged her back,
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
A NEW PROBLEM
“I don’t understand. We should have been able to find her. We checked every property that was connected to Sylas and that one was the best option. The System said we should follow the forbidden, how else are we supposed to do that?” Malessa asked with a bemused expression.“We thought the forbidden meant his business, but at this point, I don’t think the System meant his illegal businesses. I think it meant forbidden Manna practices, dark spells and things like that. Whatever posed as Dominique didn’t look like it was skinwalking. And there was a weird blade. The blade was very black and seemed to be sucking the light from everything within a metre of it. It also had a red ruby in the hilt with strange lines, I think they were runes that seemed to be filled with blood. It felt wrong, like a black hole draining everything around.” Xaden said and Adrian looked up in shock.“The blade itself was black?” Adrian asked and Xaden nodded.“Damn. This is worse than I thought. Sylas is really g
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
ILLUSION
Xaden's heart pounded in his chest as he burst into the dimly lit warehouse, the stale air thick with tension. This was where Adrian's men said they suspected Dominique was and Adrian trusted their information. When the system gave the riddle to look into the forbidden, they agreed to do a thorough search into Sylas’ illegal business. Definitely, someone like Sylas could never keep his hands clean despite how much the Knight Consortium was worth. Greedy people never considered their wealth enough and Sylas was greedy to a fault and also covetous. This warehouse had been part of the chain of illegal trade Sylas was in charge of. It was in a secluded position and was the most ideal place to hide someone. The flickering light from a solitary bulb cast eerie shadows on the cold, concrete walls."Sylas!" Xaden's voice echoed through the desolate space, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He didn’t bother trying to be silent because he could feel that he wasn’t alone.“Don’t bother trying t
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
NEW TASK TO FIND HER
The reporter he pointed to immediately stepped forward.“Mr Knight, you didn’t spend a lot of time inside, does that mean everything has been resolved? We all expected you to take at least a few hours to negotiate your takeover with the board members.”“Well it seems the board wants to start a fight they can’t finish by denying me my rightful inheritance. This company was established by Knights, built by Knights, and should be ruled by a Knight. I appreciate them holding the fort while I was unavailable, but now that I have returned, they should do the right thing and let me take my place as the last living legitimate member of the Knight family. I hope that answered your question.” Xaden said and pointed to the next person.“Sir, what’s your next move? Will you take this to court? Or let it play out? We want to know how you intend to fight back.” The next reporter asked and he smiled.“They say a magician never reveals his secrets. If I tell you my plans, then they can try to thwart
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
FIRST APPEARANCE TO THE BOARD
When she woke up, she thought she had gone blind because she couldn’t even see her fingers even though she was sure she was holding them in front of her face. She tried to move but there was a clanging sound as the chains she was held down with moved.“Hello!” She screamed into the darkness.She tried to figure out who could have summoned forbidden shadowkin and also ordered them to take her. The last thing she remembered was seeing shadowkin in the alleyway leading to her house. The leader said they knew what she had done, and the only thing she could have possibly done to warrant being seen as betrayal was going to visit Xaden and Adrian. She knew her husband wasn’t a good person after finding out what he had done to Xaden but could he really be responsible for this too? She was confused. She didn’t want to believe that she had been married to a monster all these years but there was no other explanation even if it was a bit confusing because she was sure that Syalas had been asleep
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
SHADOWKIN
In the confines of the presidential office, Dominique stood before President Adrian, her eyes reflecting a mix of remorse and regret. "I want to apologise," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I cannot excuse or justify what Sylas has done. I'm here to acknowledge the wrongs and take responsibility for my part in this. I should have been more observant of him. I know most of these things happened before I got married to him, but I still feel guilty. I know he will never swallow his pride and apologise so I want to do it on his behalf. I will try and talk some sense into him to avoid further disputes."Adrian, though still carrying the weight of the recent turmoil, acknowledged her sincerity. He knew it would be wrong to blame her unjustly because of her husband’s misdeeds, but he was still mistrustful of her intentions.What if Sylas just sent her here to deceive them and get close to them as a spy? Or what if she was actually here of her own accord, but still with nefarious
