“Do you have any plan?” Seraphina asked.
“I have one in my mind. Before that, tell me about your role. Are you some sort of spokesperson for the system?”
“You can say that. The system is quite rigid and doesn’t really have a mind on its own. I am more flexible and can answer more of your questions. I can also give out suggestions or advice.”
“What are you specialized in?”
Seraphina smiled. “Before you, I have assisted dozens powerful necromancer and dark lords. I believe you will need my knowledge someday.”
Malachi’s perspectives of her changed. If she truly had assisted powerful necromancer before, then her knowledge could really help him in the future. It seemed like the dark god was fostering a lot of villains in many worlds.
‘Could I surpass a figure like that someday?’ Malachi shook his head. ‘Anything is possible. Even time could be reversed. I will reach the highest peak of power even if I have to build a mountain of corpses to do it.’
Malachi walked out of his room. He met some servants on his way, but they looked down and did not dare to look or interact with him. Everyone here knew how Aldric treated Malachi. Even though they all pitied him, they did not want to punished by him.
“It’s too bad. This house was his and he should be feeling free here, but instead, he’s caged and tortured here.”
“Shuush. Watch your mouth or you might get yourself killed.”
Malachi heard their whispers as he walked to the garden. There were guards there, but they didn’t greet or even look at him. They treated him as if he did not exist at all.
That worked to his favor as well. He kept walking around as if he was enjoying his time in the garden, but in actuality, he was thinking of a way to escape to this place. It had been more than hundreds of years since he saw his home, he only recall a glimpse of it, but looking at it now, he remembered a small detail.
The garden had some sort of hedge maze made of tall shrubs that were carefully pruned and shaped to create walls and pathways. Malachi and his mother used to play hide and seek here.
And one day, while he was hiding, he found a small gap that led outside.
“This is the gap,” Malachi said. “If I sneak out from here, I can get to a nearby forest.”
Seraphina tilted her head as she sat on his shoulder. “The poison in your body doesn’t seem to be a threat for now. Why are you such in a hurry to cure it? Isn’t it better if you secretly train to become stronger?”
Malachi smiled. Just as he was about to response however, he heard footsteps. Someone was coming.
It was a 7 year old girl with big expressive eyes that seem to hold a hint of sadness making the people around her look at her with pity.
She, however, did not deserve any pity.
She spat on Malachi’s face. “Filth, you shouldn’t stain the beauty of this garden with your presence. Even a fly is more appealing to my eyes. Now, kneel before me and apologize for your mistake.”
Malachi’s expression was cold as he looked at her, but his knees bent. “I apologize.”
Lily raised an eyebrow, quite surprised and amused at the action. “Hahaha, you used to fight back, but now you have known your place. Keep acting that way, filth.” She stomped on the back of his head before leaving.
When Malachi stood up, Seraphina looked at him and ask. “Why are you so easy to bully? Most of the lords I assisted before wouldn’t bend their knees without a fight. Their pride is too high for that.”
Malachi smiled. “If I fight back, she will throw herself to the ground, pretended to be hurt before crying to the guards and tell them that I hurt her. She will then cry to his father. The consequences of that is not worth it right now.”
“My pride can hold on, because I will kill her with the most pain imaginable.” Malachi’s deep eyes flickered for the first time.
Lily was Aldric’s father that he brought when he married Elena. It was one of the reason why Elene considered Aldric to be the perfect man. He was also a single parent like her, but who would have thought it would come this way.
“What about your plan? What are you going to do?”
Malachi looked at the small gap in the hedge. It was so small that no one would notice it if they didn’t take a careful look. “I never tell my mother this, but I usually go to the forest through that small gap. My mother would never let me go to the forest, but I was a stubborn child.” He let out a small laugh.
“As I walk by the forest, going deeper where a child shouldn’t, I found a strange book. When I opened it, I saw pictures of strange demonic creatures. Entities of nightmare with thorns on their tongue and horns on their forehead. My mother only tell stories of fairy tale. Tales of rainbows and unicorns. It was the first time I see something new, so I kept reading the book and it drew me in. That was when I first learned about necromancy. I didn’t learn the craft until my mother died and I was trying to find a way to escape.”
“So you are going to the forest to find that book?”
“Yes. I also want to kill small animals and collect their souls to cure this poison while I do that. Even though it’s not deathly right now, the poison make my body weaker as it piled up.”
“Are you going to sneak out now?” Seraphina asked.
“No. Not yet. Aldric will know that I escape from this house. He keeps a careful watch on me. I have to bid for my time,” He looked at the sky.
The sky was bright and clear on this evening. There weren’t much clouds covering the blue sky today.
Aldric stood by the window on the fourth floor of the mansion. He was watching Malachi walking around by the garden. Even though he was just a child, Malachi put a small torn in his heart that kept disturbing him. He felt uneasy at the thought of him still alive.
“How do I get rid of that child without looking so obvious? As long as he’s gone, all of Elena’s assets will rightfully be mine, and no one can say anything about it.”
Elena’s assets were too big. She was an extremely wealthy woman and her assets even went beyond this town. The amount of profit her business earns were astronomical and was the major reason why he could obtain his position of power right now.
“If that child grow older, he can take all of the assets from me. In fact, just by him existing I cannot utilize all of the assets to my liking.”
Because the owner of the assets were not proper yet, Aldric could not sell or auction anything major. This restricted his movement.
“Father!” Lily came in his office. “Father! I got great news!”
Aldric’s cold face turned to bright and cheerful. “What is it, darling?”
Lily giggled. “I met that whore-son earlier and I told him to be on his knees. He immediately obeyed me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Un, it seems like he’s scared of me now.”
“Of course, he wouldn’t dare to offend my sweet daughter.” Aldric pat Lily’s head before she ran around in his room with joy.
Though the news sounded insignificant, Aldric actually frowned as he looked at the garden through the window.
Malachi went through his days with the same routines. Waking up in the morning and forced to drink the poisoned tea after Aldric slap him in the face. He didn’t fight back and simply do as told.Whenever Lily came and told him to prostate on the ground, he would do so without a word which made her laugh. He did all this knowing that he would pay them back a thousand time one day.The sky was covered with gray clouds today, seemingly about to rain. Inside the Mansion of the second floor, all of the opened windows began to be closed by the maid. The wind blew quite hard.“It rarely rains in Trilea.” Aldric frowned as he walked through the hallway, gazing at the sky through the window. “Something doesn’t seems right. Especially that kid Malachi. He used to stare at me with anger and fight back but all of a sudden he turned soft and meek. I can’t let my guard down.”Aldric snapped his finger and a maid walked towards him before bowing. “You called, master?”“Check on that boy. Make sur
“I am thankful of this opportunity, father. But I will need a little time to prepare myself. After all, I might not see you and lily for a long time. I will also miss this house.”“That won’t be—““Actually, that’s a good idea,” Thaddeus said. “I am leaving in a few days. In the meantime, you should spend more time with your father. The academy is far from here, make sure you don’t have any regrets after you go.”Aldric couldn’t say anything else after that. He wanted Malachi to leave as soon as possible, but delaying it for a few days shouldn’t be a problem. “But, I sensed some sort of magical presence around you Malachi. It’s been bothering me ever since I entered your room and noticed that. Would you care to tell me about it?”“Magical presence? I haven’t learned any magic yet, professor.”Aldric frowned.“Every person actually has magical presence around them, one is more distinguishable than the others. Yours are the distinguishable type which mean there was a chance that you ma
Divine Empire of Iaionia was a vast empire that revolves around a central religion known as The Path of Divinity. The religion taught that the empire was divinely chosen by the gods to rule over the land and its people. The Divine Emperor was considered the living representative of the gods, and his decrees were considered sacred and unquestionable.The empire’s culture was deeply rooted in its religious beliefs. Devotion to the god was paramount, and festivals, prayers, and sacrifices were common. The Divine Emperor was the absolute ruler, considered divine in their own right. The Emperor’s decision were guided by the Council of High Priest, influential religious figure responsible for interpreting divine will and advising on governance matters.The High Priest was not an easy position to obtain. Every member of the High Priest were extremely talented and skilled magicians in the art of holy magic, said to be capable of creating miracles encompassing an entire town or landscape. In l
Amidst the garden's tranquility, Aldric's shock was palpable as his trembling hands clutched the edge of the table. The realization of Malachi's extraordinary talent had shifted the balance of power in a way he had not anticipated. The implications of an A grade talent's accelerated rate of comprehension loomed ominously over him."I... I never realized the extent of an A grade talent's capabilities," Aldric stammered, his words faltering with anxiety. Professor Thaddeus observed Aldric with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Father Aldric, is something the matter?"Aldric took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure. "No, it's just... the news about Malachi's talent has taken me by surprise. I never imagined the depth of his potential."Professor Thaddeus chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the underlying tension. "Ah, I can understand your astonishment. A rare gem like Malachi could indeed alter the course of the empire's future. It's a testament to the gods' favor upon this l
“What are you going to do now?” Seraphina asked.“I am going back to the mansion.” Malachi immediately ran to the direction where he came from.Seraphina was confused. He retrieved the book of necromancy. From a logical perspective, Malachi should have run far away from this place and learn the art before slowly regaining his former power. If revenge was what he wanted, he could wait until he gain sufficient strength. With the memories of his past life, that shouldn’t be difficult. ‘So why is he heading back to the mansion now?’ Seraphina pondered.As Malachi sprinted through the forest, clutching the book of necromancy tightly in his hands, his mind raced with conflicting emotions. As they neared the mansion, the sounds of rustling leaves were replaced by the distant murmurs of people. The moon's soft glow began to illuminate their path as darkness settled over the landscape. “Seraphina, fly ahead and inform me if there are any guards.”“The guards are still patrolling,” Seraphina
[You have reached level 20][You have learned “Dark Bolt”][You have learned “Shadow Cloak”][You have learned “Soul Reap”][You have learned “Necrotic Aura”][You have learned “Grasp of The Abyss”][You have learned “Necromantic Art: Stygian Blades”][You have learned “Necromantic Mastery: Cursed Affliction”]Lily's heart raced as Malachi's gaze met hers, his eyes now reflecting a darkness that seemed to devour the very light around them. The room felt heavy with an otherworldly presence, and the air grew thick with tension.The maids gasped in horror, their faces pale as they exchanged fearful glances. The whispers of demonic voices seemed to grow louder, swirling around them like a malevolent chorus.“HAHAHAHA!”Malachi's lips curled into a sinister smile, and his voice carried a chilling edge as he finally spoke. "Lily, my dear, you've stumbled into a place you were never meant to see." Lily took a step back, trembling in fright as she couldn’t process what she saw.“W—who are yo
Aldric's heart raced as he sprinted through the cobblestone streets of the town, his mind racing with a singular purpose—to reach the mansion. The urgency of his mission weighed heavily on him, every step a reminder that time was slipping through his fingers. Unlocking the door, Aldric hurried inside, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. The mansion felt oddly silent and foreboding, the shadows dancing on the walls as if aware of the impending turmoil. Aldric's steps were purposeful, leading him deeper into the mansion's interior. In the main hall of the mansion, Aldric's inner turmoil raged on. His plans to eliminate Malachi had to be executed with precision and speed. He couldn't afford to underestimate the boy's capabilities any longer. “HELP!”Suddenly, he hear his daughter’s scream. “Lily?”“PLEASE HELP!”The desperate plea sliced through Aldric's thoughts like a knife, shattering his focus and replacing it with a surge of panic and dread. The voice was unmistakably Lil
As Malachi plummeted from the sky, his figure was a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the open air. The wind rushed past him, whipping his hair and clothes as he descended with startling speed.The distance between him and the ground closed rapidly, and the ground below seemed to rush up to meet him with a sense of impending impact. It was a heart-pounding moment as gravity took hold, and Malachi's mind raced to find a solution to his sudden predicament.Just when it seemed like his fall was destined to end in a bone-shattering collision, fate intervened in the form of a tree. His body collided with the upper branches of the tree, causing a cascade of leaves and twigs to scatter in all directions. The impact wasn't enough to halt his descent entirely. Instead, it served to slow him down and redirect his trajectory.With each successive branch, Malachi's fall turned into a chaotic dance of twists and turns. He bounced from one branch to another, his body contorted in unnatural a
After the unsettling events of the evening, Malachi made his way back to his room within the estate, his footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit corridors. Upon entering, he gracefully sank onto the bed, exhaling a calculated sigh of feigned exhaustion. He sprawled there, his posture a picture of weariness, yet his mind was anything but at rest. Malachi was acutely aware of the ever-watchful eyes that monitored his every move, invisible threads of scrutiny woven throughout the noble’s domain.No sooner had he settled than the door creaked open, revealing a maid pushing a cart laden with refreshments: a pitcher of fresh orange juice, an assortment of fruits, and an array of snacks. She approached with a quiet efficiency, placing the cart beside him with a deferential bow before turning to leave, her movements practiced and unobtrusive.Malachi’s gaze followed her departure, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, appreciating the predictable routine of hospitality—or perhaps, su
In the moonlit garden of the estate, an air of anticipation and amusement filled the air as Malachi and the tall, blonde nobleman faced each other. The gathering of nobles, drawn by the prospect of a light sparring session between the renowned Malachi and one of their own, stood around in a semi-circle, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright glee.The nobleman, his rapier hanging elegantly at his waist, introduced himself with a flourish. “I am Lord Edric, a humble practitioner of the blade,” he said, his voice carrying a note of pride. He offered Malachi a slight nod, the gesture a subtle acknowledgment of respect typically given to a commoner by a noble.Malachi, understanding the nuances of the gesture, responded in kind. He bent his knees slightly and bowed his head, maintaining eye contact with Lord Edric. This posture indicated his respect for the noble’s status, yet it also conveyed his readiness to engage fully in the spar.As they prepared to begin, another nobl
As Malachi stepped into the grand hall of the estate, he was immediately struck by the opulence that surrounded him. The room was a dazzling array of colors and lights, filled with beautiful women in flowing gowns and handsome nobles in their finest attire. Each person there held a tall standing, rulers of their own territories, their power and influence palpable in the air.Surveying the room, Malachi couldn’t help but think that this gathering was much more significant than he had initially anticipated. The small, relatively poor town he had been staying in seemed an unlikely place to draw the attention of such high-ranking nobility. His reputation, it seemed, had spread far and wide, or perhaps these nobles were facing a threat so grave that they were willing to use any means to increase their odds of survival.As he mingled through the crowd, a noble approached him. The man carried himself with an air of authority and grace, his eyes sharp and assessing.“Master Malachi, it’s a
In the heart of the city, amidst the bustling training grounds, Malachi was deeply engaged in instructing a group of new recruits. His methods were unconventional, yet highly effective, drawing a crowd of onlookers who watched in awe. The children he had trained stood by, observing and learning from his every move.As Malachi demonstrated a complex maneuver, a soldier approached him, navigating through the crowd with a sense of purpose. The soldier, clad in the city’s guard uniform, carried himself with a respectful demeanor.“Master Malachi,” the soldier called out, drawing Malachi’s attention. The recruits paused, turning to witness the interaction.Malachi turned, his expression calm and inquisitive. “What is it?” he asked, his tone neither welcoming nor dismissive.The soldier bowed slightly, a sign of deep respect. “I bring a message for you, sir,” he said, extending his hand to present a magnificent letter. The envelope was adorned with gold embellishments, its craftsmanship ind
As Garrick, driven by a mix of rage and desperation, charged towards Malachi, the air around them seemed to crackle with tension. Malachi, his expression unchanging, calmly assessed his adversary. He knew the bandit leader was no match for him, but he also understood the importance of making a statement.In a fluid, almost effortless motion, Malachi extended his hand, summoning the shadows around him. A bolt of dark energy, pulsating with malevolent power, coalesced in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he released the Dark Bolt, directing it straight at Garrick.The bolt tore through the air with a hiss, striking Garrick squarely in the chest. The impact was devastating, the dark energy consuming him in an instant. Garrick’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, a look of shock forever etched on his face.As Garrick fell, a notification flashed.[You have killed a bandit].[You have received 20 soul points]. These acknowledgments of his deed were mere formalities to Malachi, insi
The aftermath of the raid was a scene of chilling efficiency. The bandits, with ruthless precision, gathered the trembling women and herded them back to their camp. The night air was heavy with a mix of fear and resignation as the captives shuffled along, their futures uncertain.At the camp, the bandits, with a twisted sense of hospitality, allowed their captives to clean themselves. The women, still in shock, moved robotically, their minds numbed by the night’s horrors.As the women bathed under the watchful eyes of their captors, Malachi observed them with a detached curiosity. His gaze was analytical, searching for any sign of rebellion or escape plans. But all he saw were broken spirits and defeated bodies.Later, as the bandits gathered around a roaring fire, the leader, a burly man named Garrick, made his appearance. His eyes, dark and calculating, scanned the captives with a predatory gaze. “Well done, boys,” he praised his men. “A fine haul tonight.”Malachi, still in his dis
The city, usually bustling with the everyday clamor of its inhabitants, was blissfully unaware of the new threat lurking within its walls. A group of bandits, cunningly disguised as merchants, made their way through the city gates. The guards, diligent but unsuspecting, waved them through without a second glance. But the keen eyes of the street children, who had learned to notice the unusual in their daily struggle for survival, immediately sensed something amiss.Eli, one of the children who had recently started training under Malachi, narrowed his eyes as he watched the carriage trundle through the streets. “Something’s not right about them,” he muttered to his companions. The group of children, their curiosity piqued, decided to follow the disguised bandits at a safe distance.The carriage, instead of heading towards the bustling market square as one would expect from merchants, stopped at a restaurant near the military barracks. The bandits chose a table outside, ostensibly to enj
The following day dawned with a new challenge for the children under Malachi’s tutelage. As the sun rose, casting its golden rays over the barracks, Malachi led them into the dense forest where the soldiers were already engaged in a hunt. The soldiers, formidable and seasoned, moved with precision and confidence, hunting giant bears, wolves, and other fearsome beasts.“Watch closely,” Malachi instructed the children. “Observe their tactics, their coordination. There is much to learn from them.”The soldiers, aware of their young audience, seemed to take pride in their prowess. They displayed extravagant moves, working in pairs to efficiently track and take down their targets. Each move was a blend of strength and strategy, a dance between predator and prey.The children, wide-eyed with amazement, whispered among themselves, pointing out the soldiers’ techniques and the fluidity of their actions. They were particularly impressed by how even in the face of danger, the soldiers maintaine
After the refreshing bath in the lake, Malachi's demeanor shifted from nurturing to demanding. "Now, we run," he announced, his tone leaving no room for debate. The children, still catching their breath from the earlier exercise, exchanged weary glances but dutifully followed as Malachi set off at a steady pace.The run was grueling. Malachi led them over several kilometers of undulating hills, each ascent more challenging than the last. Then, without warning, he veered off towards a mountainous terrain. The children's legs burned with fatigue, their breaths shallow and rapid. The sun, now high in the sky, beat down mercilessly, adding to their exhaustion.Some of the children began to falter, their steps slowing, bodies slumping towards the ground. Voices of protest rose among them, pleading for a respite. Malachi, however, was unyielding. "Keep going," he commanded. "True warriors find strength even in their weakest moments. This training is not for the faint-hearted."His words, t