Thud! Thud!
Thud! Thud!
The walking stick offered to me by Lord Hugo was a spiral chestnut cane with a black wolf knob. After the incident, earlier today, I was discharged from the Infirmary and ordered to return to my room.
Watching them bind Klien with shackles annoyed me more than it should. In fact, the entire situation feels off. Instead of blaming a fifteen year old for doing what he needed to do to survive, they should be focused on finding out the reason the barrier fell.
Thud!
My cane struck the ground with an echoing thud and I frowned, reluctant to enter. I glanced down the corridor and two black knights assigned to escort me back stood just ten steps away.
Why does this castle feel more like a prison than home?
Pushing my thoughts aside, I entered my room and shut the door. Seconds later, the heavy footsteps for the black guards could be heard walking away.
"Three out of four anomalies imprisoned in just a week of arrival." I muttered as my eyebrows knitted.
{Do you doubt Lord Hugo?} Lin asked and I tilted my head, juggling the thoughts running wild in my mind.
"I can't tell…" I shook my head. "His reason for imprisoning them is legit but…."
{But what?}
My frown deepened. I already know those destined to die in the academy and the Chosens were safe from this fate. However, today I watched the angel of death appear from nowhere and embrace Klien. His fate was changed abruptly and I'm the only one who is supposed to be able to do this.
If nothing is done, Klien will be tried and executed in this castle, before anyone can do anything about it.
"What should I do?"
That was the most important question in my head. I sat on my bed and looked out the window.
{You do nothing because you cannot do anything. I prefer you focus on what you plan to do with the soul of the black devil you acquired.} Lin reminded me.
Before passing out, I absorbed the black devil's soul but I was yet to refine my core with it. In fact, I don't plan on using it to improve my strength anymore.
"I don't feel safe here." I mumbled with a frown. "My strength is insufficient to protect me. Even if I consume the soul of the black devil, nothing will change."
{Then what do you have in mind?}
"Necromancy." I answered bluntly.
That was the only magic that would help me breach the gap in strength. Reviving monsters like the black devil and having them at my neck and call would make me feel safer.
"Where do you think the bodies of the dead beasts will be dumped?" I asked.
{They are stored and sent to the empire where they are refined into potions, magic gears, and even cultivation materials.} Lin responded.
"That means they must still be in the castle?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
{I believe so.} Lin nodded.
"Good." I mumbled with knitted eyebrows.
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Apart from the daily meal rations I got, no one came to visit or gave me an update on the happenings in the castle. The guards stationed everywhere made it hard to move without being monitored and sending the wrong message could be dangerous so I just played the role of the obedient student and remained in my room.
For the next three days, I cultivated using the abundant souls within the castle and bid my time.
Knock!
Knock!
The creaking sound of my door caused my eyes to flip open. Lord Hugo stood at the door, observing my cross legged sitting posture but with a hint of confusion. This was how people wanted to cultivate but I had no cultivation materials on me.
Getting off the bed and picking up my walking stick, I gave Lord Hugo a small bow and he simply nodded.
"Follow me…" He said and walked away.
Huff!
I exhaled loudly and instinctively reached for my grimoire on the desk but I froze. Even if this man wanted to kill me, this grimoire won't save me in any way. The only magic I can use to fend them off was my death magic and for that I don't need a grimoire.
We made our way through the corridor and headed to a spiral staircase at the otherside of the building which led to Lord Hugo's study room.
This study room was no different from the ones seen amongst nobility, fitted with expensive couches, tables and adorned with shelves filled with towering books. The only difference here was an armor stand, fitted with the most sophisticated magic armor I have ever seen.
The armor shimmered beneath the lantern light, its silver plates were shaped like the polished scales of a wyrm. It had green etchings across the surface that pulsed faintly, as if breathing. The pauldrons curved outward like wings, tipped with emerald crystal and the breastplate bore the symbol of a roaring gryphon carved into it.
'Wind and Earth magic?' I tried to discern Hugo's magic based on the theme of his armor.
Once seated, he reached underneath his desk and pulled out a bow. It was made of bone that pulsated with dark energy and decorated by familiar dark feathers that haunted my dream. The riser was made of a purple gem, through which he familiar presence came from.
"In the military we operate a certain way. The spoils of battle a soldier gains is determined by their effort. Since you killed the black devil, I believe a weapon carved out of its flesh, bone and core belongs to you." Hugo said as he casually pushed the bow to the other edge of his desk.
Our eyes met briefly before shifting to the bow on the table. Reluctantly I grabbed it and my vision went dark for a moment. The world around me transformed into one very familiar and fresh in my mind.
Bodies of black guards littered everywhere and the sky was filled with complete darkness, not even the moon could be spotted. The walls surroundings were illuminated by the torches perched on the castle walls and the devil bird stood right in front of me.
Normally, any other person would panic but I was calm and gave the bow in my hand another look. By the time I looked up, the scene had vanished and I was back in Hugo's study room.
Unknown to me, my eyes carried a purple light that mimicked the aura of the bow in my hand.
"It seems to accept you as it's master. As expected of the boy who killed it." Hugo's words sounded more like a praise and that wasn't a good sign to me. "The devil bow was made from the core, bone and feathers of the devil bird you killed. Like it?"
I nodded casually and glanced at the walking stick in my right hand.
"I'm guessing you concluded I needed a bow because of my new… disabilities?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and Hugo raised his hands in surrender.
"You caught me." He chuckled. "Unlike our chief healer, Madam Lunar, I believe you can still be a magic knight. Just not the kind that fights on the front line." Hugo said and my brows twisted in a frown.
From indifference to kindness. Maybe I'm just a paranoid person but why is he so considerate and all smiles now?
"Thank you!" I bowed slightly. "With my zephyr rings and this weapon, I can truly make up for my deficiencies."
Hugo smiled and nodded before offering me a seat.
"Why don't we have a little chat." He offered with a friendly smile that made my skin crawl.