Six Words [Chapters 23-26] (Patreon)

Hey peeps!

Here are the next set of chapters for Six Words! If you want to start at the beginning, go [HERE].

Shami

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Lunar metal weighs twenty times heavier than any other metal known to man.

But once the emperor grants an individual his blessing, they can lift the metal as though its nothing.”

- A quote from ‘Varinth’s Beginnings, a History Book’

            At first, no one responded.

            Then, after several still moments, five women stepped forward.

            I recognized Aiko, Lila, and Weilla as the only consorts I managed to meet while I was in disguise. The other two women were unknown to me—but that didn’t matter. Their fates would be the same.

            Aiko, Garrain’s first consort, was livid, her face red, her gait stiff. She held back tears, her eyes on me and never glancing to the corpses on the floor.

            Kaito was her son, after all. I understood her anger.

            When the five women drew near, Mazun snapped his fingers and motioned for his lieutenants. Jin was one of them—he leapt forward and hesitantly glanced my way, offering a tepid smile. He and the other soldiers removed the bodies scattered around in front of me.

            I dared not move…

            The life essence of five men was still painful, even if I was capable of containing it. Maintaining an air of confidence was important, at least in this moment.

            Kaito’s lunar metal sword was left on the ground. None of the lieutenants touched it—they waited until Mazun himself came to collect the weapon. Mazun then tucked the blade, with its scabbard, into his sash belt.

            Once the floor was clear, Garrain’s consorts approached me.

            I opened my mouth to speak, but that was when Weilla lurched forward and collapsed to her knees, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

            “Please,” she said, her voice shaky. “Please spare my daughters! They don’t deserve your death magic. They’re so young. They can—”

            “I’ve made my decision,” I said. Or at least, I tried to say. Weilla continued to speak, even through my words.

            “—stay with my family, far from Wist Castle.” Weilla wiped tears from her face. “I don’t care what happens to me, so long as my daughters are—”

            I motioned her to stand. “Enough of this. Please, stand.”

            “Do as your lord commands,” Mazun stated. He took his place by my side, his hand on the hilt of his weapon. “You’re making this worse for both yourself and your daughters with this shameful behavior.”

            Weilla choked back sobs. Then she dragged herself to her feet, trembling the whole way. She didn’t look well. She had been sick with worry for the last few days, and not sleeping—anyone would’ve look terrible in those circumstances.

            Fortunately, Weilla didn’t make any more comments. She quietly sobbed, which hurt more than the essence coursing through my veins.

            “Are you going to slaughter us like you did my son?” Aiko asked. All her tears were dry, her rage in full force. She practically yelled every word she spoke. “You’re a vile thief. And a butcher. But you’re most definitely no lord.”

            “Watch your mouth,” Mazun said with a growl.

            Aiko ignored him. “The moment this massacre is over, Wist Castle will collapse under the weight of this hate and death!”

            Mazun drew his blade, but I held out a hand and motioned him away. I didn’t need this—nor did I need Aiko punished. She was grieving, not just for her son, but for the loss of everything she once had.

            After a long sigh, Mazun sheathed his blade. He stayed by my side, as a proper bladekeeper should.

            “I’ve given your fates much consideration,” I said, loud enough for the whole audience hall to hear. “And the only reason I should execute you, or your children, is because I’m afraid of the future retaliation. But I’m not afraid.”

            And a lot of things could be justified—but killing children wasn’t one of them.

            The Warden chuckled in my ear, his tone more approving than dismissive.

            “So, if I’m not going to execute you, then you’re all citizens of my domain.” I took a deep breath and relaxed. “As your lord, I will see no harm come to you—but I also can’t keep you here.” I motioned to the bodies piled up near the walls. “For obvious reasons.”

            Weilla quickly wiped her face, her eyes wide. She offered no words, her breath held.

            Even Aiko seemed surprised, as though none of them had anticipated my mercy.

            “I’ll be sending you back to your families,” I stated.

            “In disgrace?” Lila asked, flabbergasted. “Can you imagine the shame?”

            “If you’d rather die, I can make that happen. Otherwise, I will send you back to your familiars, away from Wist Castle, with some supplies and all of your belongings.”

            Everyone in the audience hall had something to say about that. They whispered and muttered, most of their voice laced with confusion or elation. I hadn’t expected this kind of reaction—I had thought the consorts would be grateful.

            “Thank you.” Weilla once again knelt, and this time bowed her head. “Thank you so much. You’re a forgiving lord. A wonderful lord!”

            Well, at least she was grateful.

            Ketsu slunk around the throne and then took his place at my side—the side not occupied by Mazun. After smoothing his robes, Ketsu leaned in close to me.

            “Are you certain this is wise, Rimon-nox?”

            I gave him a sidelong glance. “I’ve made my decision.”

            The five women were ushered away by Mazun’s lieutenants. They didn’t protest or make a scene. Instead, they went to their children and quickly headed for the doors, clearly ready to leave this place, as though I might change my mind at any second.

            The pain of the all the life essence was starting to agitate me, and I knew I needed to wrap up this announcement.

            “Overseer Tamo-kain,” I called out.

            The room was abuzz with more whispers as the wrinkly man strode forward. Before he was halfway to me, I called out my decision.

            “You’re dismissed.” I motioned him away. “I will appoint someone else to be my overseer. You can also return to your family.”

            “What?” the man basked.

            “I don’t need a man of your intensity to oversee the discipline of my people. I understand you wanted to protect the castle, but our values aren’t in alignment. You’re dismissed.”

            Tamo’s face inflated with hot air, as though taking a heat breath to form a massive tirade. But Mazun stepped forward, again with his hand on his blade.

            “Did our lord stutter?” Mazun snapped.

            Tamo shook his head, his words swallowed. Then he shuffled backward into the crowd of people, his eyes on the floor, his hands balled into fists. If anyone was planning retaliation, it was him…

            But I’d welcome it. Tamo had ordered the burning of bodies, and while he might’ve had a reasonable excuse to do so, that kind of wanton disregard for his own people wasn’t something I agreed with. If he came for me, it’d just be his body on pyre out in front of the castle.

            “Magistrate Rein-rah,” I called out.

            He quickly strode out of the crowd, his tall and thin frame difficult to miss. He smoothed his tiny mustache as he drew near.

            Rein offered a deep bow from the waist before standing tall again. “Yes, Rimon-nox?”

            “I’ve yet to meet the other magistrates,” I stated. “But I trust you. This coming week, I want to know everything about the castle and its lands, and I want you and the other magistrates to get me that information. You’re in charge. If, for some reason, someone doesn’t cooperate, inform me immediately. Now is the time for change.”

            Rein bowed a second time. “I’m glad you found our discussion useful. Even if you didn’t follow my advice.” He smiled as he stood straight again. “But have no fear—I will do as you ask.”

            Wist Castle had four magistrates: justice, construction, education, and agriculture. And while Rein was just the Magistrate of Justice, he had been reasonable when I spoke with him, and one of the few people who seemed to keep a level head, no matter the situation. I did trust him. I assumed the other three magistrates would be equally as reasonable, but perhaps that was just wishful thinking.

            I was about to end this meeting, but Mazun shifted in place. He stepped close and kept his voice low when he asked, “What about Ryota?”

            “Who is Ryota?” I whispered.

            “He’s a bladekeeper of Wist Castle. The only one besides me still alive, that is.”

            Ah. I hadn’t met him either.

            “Ryota-zar, step forward,” I commanded.

            A warrior stepped forward, his hand lightly resting on the hilt of his blade, a gesture both casual and confident. He kept his hair longer than most, and though he kept it tied back, it was more a mess of locks than anything proper.

            Ryota also wore ceremonial robes and long flowing pants. His belt was a silk sash, and his top was open enough that I could see the scars along his shoulders. They were the kind of marks that stopped abruptly above his collar bones—right where the heavy plates of his armor would be, if he were wearing it.

            And his hair…

            It was the same brown as Ketsu’s.

            When Ryota approached, he bowed, but only partially. It was the kind of gesture that showed respect but lacked the subservience expected of a retainer.

            “Ryota-zar, can I count on you to help train our castle’s soldiers?” I asked.

            Ryota straitened and then met my gaze directly. “The honor would be mine, Rimon-nox. Better than some of the alternatives you’ve been offering.”

            His tone was light, almost teasing, a stark contrast to the formality of the occasion.

            There was a murmur among the others, a ripple of shock at his informality, especially after I had killed five men without even moving. That was fine. I almost enjoyed Ryota’s sardonic attitude.

            “Contrary to what it might seem, I do desire unity,” I said. “If you’d rather leave, just say so, and I’ll make sure you are also given accommodations.”

            “No, I’ll stay.” Ryota turned his attention to Mazun, and then back to me. “I think we’re in alignment with who you chose to give your unity to. I’m just surprised, is all—Garrain never much cared for me.”

            “I’m not Garrain,” I said with half a smile.

            Ryota huffed out a laugh. “My blade is yours, Rimon-nox.”

            He stepped to the side—not my side—but he did stay close. Ryota watched me more than the others, I suspected he didn’t fully trust me. I didn’t fully trust him, so the feelings were quite mutual.

            “Rikko-rah, step forward,” I called out.

            The physician of the castle deliberately made his way forward. He wore robes with cherry blossoms stitched into the sleeves, which was a indicator of his profession—all trained physicians displayed the season in which they finalized their studies, picking flowers to symbolize their passion for peace.

            He was a slender man with a long face and intelligent eyes. His black hair was cut extremely short, which I had heard was popular for those who delt with blood.

            “Rimon-nox.” Rikko bowed deeply at the waist. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you before.” He stood straight, unafraid.

            “I haven’t met you, but I’ve heard how you conduct yourself.” I lowered my voice as I continued, “And you’re a coward. Don’t hide and wait for problems to resolve themselves. You’re a physician. You mend problems. And as long as you agree, you’re more than welcome to stay here in Wist Castle.”

            My words seemed to have weight. Rikko watched me for a long while before bowing a gain. “I would be honored to stay, Rimon-nox. I’ll endeavor to be more proactive.” Rikko stepped back into the crowd, this time refusing to meet my gaze.

            And with that, I had done everything I needed to. But now was the time to address everyone as a whole, and tell them my plans as the new lord of Wist Castle.

            I took a deep breath and then said, “As the Ring Warlock, it’s my duty to handle the land, and thus, the spirits and demons. When I arrived, I made a deal with Mori, Spirit of the Mountain Pass. He has blessed our farms, and thus, the crops have grown green.”

            The gasps that followed my statement were much louder than anything before—even louder than when I killed Kaito and his soldiers. People exchanged wide-eyed looks, shock overcoming some others.

            “That was you?” someone in the crowd asked.

            Ketsu waves his hands in the air. “Calm yourself. Our new lord is speaking!”

            “I want this castle to flourish, so I’ll do everything in power to make it so,” I said. “If you have suggestions on how to make that happen, please write up a proposal and hand it to Ketsu. For today, I have… matters to attend.”

            Fatigue weighed on me. I couldn’t do this much longer without giving away how much this was straining me.

            I eyed Ketsu, and then motioned with a jut of my head. The man was intelligent, obviously. He clapped his heads and then shouted to the room.

            “Thank you all for your attendance,” Ketsu said. “Now that you’re all appraised of the situation, I expect you to work twice as hard for the new future of Wist Castle.”

*六つの言葉*

            It took me a long time to climb the stairs. Ketsu, Mazun, and Ryota prevented anyone from following me as I made my way up the steps, which was fantastic, because I moved more like a crippled grandpa than I did a Ring Warlock.

            Each step caused my joints to ache, of all things.

            “You did really well for your first outing as a Ring Warlock,” the Warden said to me.

            After a few more steps, I shook my head. “I think I confused everyone. They thought I was a bloodthirsty monster at first—a Ring Warlock who wanted nothing more than their deaths.”

            “You kept them on their feet, Rimon-ves. They had idea what you were going to do. Doesn’t that kind of power amuse you? Thrill you? Get your blood flowing?”

            “Thrill me?” I shook my head. “No. I want them to… admire me. Trust me.”

            “Feh.” The Warden’s disdain flooded his words. “How dull.”

            When I reached the fourth story of the castle, I gulped down air and then glanced up to the ceiling. Nothing was there but empty spiderwebs—but I knew better.

            “Kumo,” I called out, hoping the spider could me. “Kumo, where are you?”

            And then…

            The spiders in the castle dropped their invisibility, and I realized there were hundreds of them.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“The emperor forges blades from of lunar metal.

Individuals with the emperor’s blessing can wield them without trouble.

Which means only his bloodline can grant someone the title of bladekeeper.”

- A quote from ‘Varinth’s Beginnings, a History Book’

            The spiders covered the ceiling from one end of the hallway to the other. Dozens of them hung in spiderwebs, and some even clung to the walls. They came in all sizes now, from those the size of a coin, to Kumo, who was the size of a human head.

            Kumo lowered himself on some of his spider silk, his legs working to spin him down to the floor. Once he touched down, Kumo scurried straight to me and then began rubbing his two front legs together in happiness.

            “What’s happening here?” I stared at the ceiling of writhing spider bodies, and then back down at Kumo. “How many siblings do you have?”

            Obviously, the spider didn’t reply. He just stared at me with eight black eyes, their surface so reflective, I saw my face in each one.

            I pet the spider along its hairy back, wishing I could understand the monster. Kumo unfurled two fangs from his mouth and reached for my fingers. I jerked my hand away, but then I calmed myself.

            “You want more essence?” I slowly nodded. “That’s good, because I don’t want this essence corrupting me.”

            Kaito’s essence didn’t feel poisoned, but that was how I felt about him. I didn’t want whatever his essence was going to do to me, even if it meant gaining his swordsmanship. Something about Garrain, and his whole family, seemed vile.

            I tried to cut my hand with my thumbnail, but I couldn’t seem to pierce my own skin.

            “You’re tougher now,” the Warden said in a teasing tone. “Big and strong, like a tree.”

            With a sigh, I placed my thump between my teeth and bit down as hard as I could. It took most of my strength, and my sharpest canine tooth, to slice through my skin. Coppery blood dripped onto my tongue, and I quickly removed my hand and lowered it close to Kumo.

            I thought about all the human essence I had taken…

            And willed it out of me.

            Just like before, my blood shimmered silver as I dropped it onto the expectant spider. Kumo gobbled it up, but after a few mouthfuls, he stopped.

            “What’s wrong?” I asked.

            Kumo hurried to the wall and waved two of his legs. A dozen other spiders rushed over to him, most of them sickly in appearance. There was a spider with seven legs, a tiny spider missing several eyes, and even a spider that appeared to have been half eaten by a bird.

            Kumo ushered these spiders over to me. They all unfurled their fangs and waited.

            Did… Kumo want me to help his injured siblings?

            After a long sigh, I shrugged and offed up the essence. A few drops went to each one, until I no longer had any life energies to give. Then I stood, though I felt wobbly.

            All the spiders—even the ones on the ceiling—rubbed their two front legs together, almost in perfect sync. It was like they were all clapping, only there was no sound. Silent cheering for what I had done.

            “I need to find a task for all of you to do,” I muttered.

            Then I wrapped my injured thumb with the sash around my waist, and then I headed for my room. Without all the extra essence in my body, I felt infinitely better. However, the events of the announcement played in my head, over and over, and I couldn’t rest my mind, even if my body was ready for yet more sleep.

             I opened the double doors, and dozens of spiders went in with me.

            My gaze fell upon the depictions of Axraksii and Ozeon, their otherworldly forms bizarre.

            “Kumo, your mother was a demon—was she born from a felheen, or a dayvu?” I asked.

            The spider ran over to the depiction of Axraksii carved into the wood around the bed. Kumo touched the image, his intelligence on full display. He understood what I asked, and responded in an easy to comprehend manner.

            “So you’re a descendant of Axraksii?” I asked.

            The spider touched the carving a second time.

            I rubbed the rung on my finger. “So, you like the monster, right, Warden?”

            “I like very few things in this world,” he sarcastically replied. “And the list doesn’t include your pet insect.”

            “I thought you liked Axraksii?”

            “Feh. You clearly aren’t paying much attention, Rimon-ves. I’m disappointed in you.”

            Stomping up the stairs pulled me out of my conversation. All the spiders seemingly vanished, their magic invisibility quite impressive.

            Ketsu arrived at my open door, huffing and puffing as though he had run the last leg of the trek. He wiped sweat from his brow as he hurried to me, a piece of parchment held in his hand. A wax seal had been broken. This was some sort of official message.

            “Rimon-nox,” Ketsu said, breathless. “I have some troubling news.”

            I turned to face him, and gave him my full attention. “What news, Ketsu-rah?”

            “The other Ring Warlock of Rovik Prefecture is on her way here.” Ketsu shoved the parchment into my hand. “She’ll be here by tomorrow evening. That’s less than a day.”

            I held the note, my eyebrows knitted. “Yes. I know. Why are you so panicked?”

            The message on the parchment read:

7th Year of the Ratheer Era, 6th Month, 15th Day

Ring Warlock Garrain Wist,

            Our lady, Ring Warlock Mizuka Banth, is en route to Wist Castle. She apologizes in advance, as she knows that the typical time for meeting is in the winter, but matters of grave importance have forced her hand to travel during the season of Ozeon’s Curse.

            Prepare for our lady’s arrival on the 17th day.

            Your actions in the coming days will determine the fate of the prefecture.

            The wax seal at the bottom was a broken image of a bee.

            I turned over the paper several times. There was nothing else here. Why was Ketsu so frightened? It seemed like a normal letter to me.

            “I don’t understand,” I finally said.

            Ketsu snatched the parchment from my hands and then pointed to Mizuka’s name. “Have you never seen this woman? It’s a stretch to even call her that—she’s an abomination! And power hungry. And dastardly. When she arrives, and finds out that you only have two bladekeepers, and no real support within the castle, she will seize the opportunity to strike at you, I guarantee!”

            There were hundreds of stories of Ring Warlocks fighting each other, especially the warlocks who jointly ruled over the same prefecture. The Teachings of Shoki said the emperor encouraged this behavior so that none of the Ring Warlocks would work together or conspire against him. Obviously, if they were too busy bickering amongst themselves, why would they argue with the emperor?

            “Do you know about Mizuka, Warden?” I whispered.

            The Warden darkly chuckled. “I knew every Ring Warlock. I thought I had made that quite obvious?”

            “Is she an abomination, like Ketsu said?”

            “Who are you speaking with?” Ketsu snapped, interrupting the conversation. He leaned in closer and frowned. “Were you murmuring to me? Because I didn’t half of what you said.”

            “I’m speaking to the Warden,” I replied.

            Ketsu’s eyebrows lifted. Then she shifted his glasses. “Ah. Yes. The voice you claimed to hear. I investigated that, like I said… One moment. I’ll go grab my notes.” He quickly turned on his heel and headed for the door. “Pardon me. I’ll return shortly.”

            He left with as much haste as he had entered.

            Once he was gone, I returned my attention to the Warden. “Well?”

            “Mizuka spoke six interesting words into the darkness when she obtained her ring,” the Warden said with a laugh. “She said—indestructible, queen, hive, control, control, deadly. Isn’t that a fun set of words? Really stirs the imagination.”

            “Indestructible?”

            I caught my breath, my heart hammering.

            Had all the other Ring Warlocks picked words that were defensive? The Warden said the neighboring warlock had picked the immortality as part of his power set, and now this woman—Mizuka—had indestructible?

            Perhaps I should’ve been more careful with my words…

            “Is she indestructible?” I asked. “I mean… My Heat Death will kill her, won’t it?”

            The Warden continued his dark laughter. “Oh? Worried? Already? I don’t think that’s the part of her power set you should be concerned about, Rimon-ves. She has far more interesting tricks up her sleeve than just being difficult to kill.”

            “Is she… dastardly? Like Ketsu stated?”

            A power-hungry rival wasn’t what I wanted to deal with on my second day as being the Ring Warlock of Wist Castle, but I supposed some problems couldn’t be avoided forever. And, as long as the Warden was being agreeable, I did have a slight advantage. He seemed to know everything about every warlock, which was a huge boon.

            “Oh, Mizuka is quite dastardly,” the Warden playfully said. “She’s ruled the southern portion of Rovik Prefecture for over forty years, and she’s the one who killed Garrain’s predecessor. She was probably going to get him, too, if you haven’t intervened.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“The most important duty owed is to virtue and ideals.

One should always strive for perfection, even if it is impossible.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            This was troubling.

            I wasn’t in the position to fight Mizuka—at least, not yet. Ketsu was correct. I only had two bladekeepers, and not much support in the castle. I had only just revealed myself to be the new lord. People were more afraid of me than anything else.

            If it came to war, who would I rely on?

            Ketsu returned a moment later, carrying a small stack of parchment. He placed them on my table, and then took a seat on the pillow next to it. “Here, Rimon-ves. This is all the information I gathered on the Warden. It isn’t much, I’m afraid.”

            I strode over and took a seat at the table as well. The pillows were soft, and I crossed my legs to be more comfortable.

            “Before I look through this, there’s an important matter I need you handle, Ketsu-rah. I want you to make arrangements to bring my family from the Scarlet Lantern to this castle.”

            Ketsu straightened his glasses. “Hm. Very well. Who all was your family?”

            “All the women who worked there.”

            That seemed to stun Ketsu into silence. He lifted both eyebrows, and then choked back a laugh. “So, twenty courtesans? That’s who you want me to bring to the castle? You do know how that will look, don’t you?”

            After a deep inhale, and a moment to mull over the situation, I nodded. “I don’t care how it looks. They’re my family. I want them here with me.”

            “Are they your biological family?” Ketsu frowned. “They can’t all be, can they?”

            “I don’t care if they’re related to me by blood. They’re my family, and I want them here.”

            Ketsu smoothed his hair and offered a slight smile. “Why don’t I send for two or three at a time? That why no one asks too many uncomfortable questions and—”

            “No,” I stated.

            I didn’t want them to suffer any more. What was the point of having power if I was too afraid to use it? I didn’t care what it looked like—the reality was that they were the ones I cared about. They were my family. And I wouldn’t abandon them because it would make me look bad to keep them close.

            Ketsu bowed his head. “I apologize, Rimon-nox. I will make arrangements to bring them here.” When he sat straight, he sighed. “Perhaps we could use this to our advantage? If you must have your family here, I suggest you allow word to get out that they’re courtesans.”

            “I thought you just said it would make me look bad?”

            “Everyone in the castle will think this shameful, yes. But if word gets out to other territories that your weakness is your uncontrolled lust, your enemies will have a false impression of you. This can be another shield—a way to deceive other Ring Warlocks.”

            That was logical. And it amused me to think my reputation would be one of a lusty lord. Because of my upbringing, I had gotten quite a bit of curiosity out of the way already. There was nothing two or more people could engage in that would shock me, and I certainly wasn’t controlled by my carnal desires.

            “Very well,” I finally said. “I suppose you should spread the word, then. But please—make sure everyone in the Scarlet Lantern is brought here. I want them close, now more than ever.”

            Ketsu stood, bowed, and genuinely smiled. “I will see to it that they’re brought here safe and sound.” Then he held his hands behind his back and sighed. “What do you plan on doing about Mizuka’s visit? I see no way to avoid meeting with her, unless you want to leave the castle.”

            “No. I won’t leave. My best course of action is to be diplomatic. She didn’t like Garrain—perhaps I can find common ground with her, and she’ll enjoy my company.”

            The Warden wheezed out a laugh.

            Ketsu, on the other hand, didn’t look amused. He furrowed his brow and rubbed the tips of his fingers together. It was a long while before he spoke again.

            “She… isn’t beautiful,” Ketsu carefully said.

            “That matters nothing to me,” I replied.

            “Let me rephrase. Mizuka is hideous. Most people can’t look at her for longer than a few seconds.”

            That sounded like hyperbole.

            No one was that ugly.

            I shook my head. “Then I will be the first to maintain eye contact with her.”

            The Warden laughed again, louder and harder than before. I had the feeling I was missing a crucial piece of information. Even Ketsu cringed when I made my statement, as though this were an impossible task that no one could achieve.

            Frustrated, I said, “I will endeavor to make her my ally before she leaves this castle, thus ensuring I have time to grow and build my power base.”

            The Warden couldn’t stop himself. He laughed and wheezed. It was almost difficult to hear Ketsu all the way.

            “I hope your plan succeeds,” Ketsu drawled, as though he doubted this would ever work. “Mizuka typically resides in Banth Castle, and she’s quite paranoid about her defenses. If we had any conflict with her, I suspect it would be devastating.”

            I understood. What I needed now was more time to improve my own castle.

            After a long exhale, I picked up the red elk antler from my table and handed it over to Ketsu. This made the man stare at me with a lifted brow.

            “Please have the carpenter make this into an ornament for a shrine. I want to breed red elk here in the castle, to bring back their population to Rovik Prefecture.”

            Ketsu turned the antler over in his hands. “I suppose…” He bowed his head. “Whatever you think is best, Rimon-nox. I will bring this to the carpenter at once.”

            After a quick turn on his heel, Ketsu headed for the double doors. I waited for him to exit before glancing over at the paperwork he provided. The Warden continued snickering, amused by everything that had been said.

            The research Ketsu had done on my behalf revealed a few snippets from historical records of past Ring Warlocks. Most were direct quotes, either from council meetings, or statements made in passing.

“When I became a Ring Warlock, I was instructed by a mysterious voice. It spoke only once, and then never again.”

“I believe the ring is alive. It had a voice, once. Before I spoke the name of my felheen, it whispered. Not anymore.”

“This piece of jewelry is malice made manifest. Sometimes, I swear I hear it whispering, laughing, taunting. But no one else. I may have lost my mind.”

            The last one stuck out to me. It was from a Ring Warlock who had ruled Lop Prefecture over eighty years ago. All this really confirmed was that, yes, the Warden was all the rings. The Warden saw all the Ring Warlocks. At all times.

            And because I had called out to Axraksii, the Warden choose to continue speaking with me, rather than remaining silent, as he had done with all other Ring Warlocks.

            “Thank you for telling me about the essence,” I muttered.

            The Warden didn’t reply.

            “Tonight, I’ll go out into the woods again. Perhaps I can get a bit stronger before Mizuka arrives.”

*六つの言葉*

            This time, I didn’t have to sneak out.

            Once the Eye and the Molar had set, I headed out to the eastern forest. Everyone stopped and bowed as I passed, uttering platitudes and well wishes. It was strange. No one had ever done something like that for me before.

            I liked it—but it reminded me that I had a duty to them in exchange. I would keep them safe.

            Once I reached the outer gate, Jin jogged up to me. He bowed at the waist, so low he almost lost his balance.

            “R-Rimon-nox.” Jin hesitantly stood. “What’re you doing at this late hour?”

            “I have business outside. Don’t worry about me. Just wait for my return.”

            “No one is worried about you,” Jin said with a nervous chuckle. “Not if you’re a Ring Warlock of death. I fear for the demons who cross your path.”

            That made me smile, but only for a moment. The only demon I had met almost shot me through the chest with an arrow. I wasn’t as invincible as I had let on.

            “I’ll return shortly,” I said as I stepped around him.

            The hot evening winds rushed over the farms as I made my way to the trees. My silk robes were wonderful, however. They trapped no heat, and felt icy on my skin whenever the wind played with them. Truly, they were a boon.

            I stepped into the moonlight shadows of the forest and went the same direction I had before—the place I had seen the red elk. What if I saw another? What would happen if I absorbed the life essence of the same creature again and again and again?

            “You’ll become even more like the creature,” the Warden threateningly whispered.

            As I pushed a branch from my path, I frowned. “What do you mean?”

            “You’ll grow hooves. Antlers. Your spine will twist. You’ll lose your thumbs, your fingers. Your mind. And then, when the combined life essence of thousands of red elk courses through you… That will be the moment you become one.”

            The forest seemed darker and colder when he spoke that final sentence. I shuddered, glanced around, and took another path—one away from where I had seen the red elk.

            “So, if I continue to absorb the life essence of many creatures… That won’t happen?”

            “As long as you never delude yourself, you will be fine, Rimon-ves. You’ll be fine.”

            I really didn’t like the way he said that.

            But I thought I understood. The trick was that I could never let one type of essence become to prevalent. I couldn’t absorb thousands of owls, or deer—or people. I had to take in just a few at a time, and focus elsewhere.

            However, since I gained so many benefits from even one death, I doubted it would become an issue. Why would I keep killing red elk? I already had their speed and gracefulness. What more could I need? Antlers wouldn’t help me. Human-made weapons were far superior.

            “What about wings?” I whispered. “Could I alter my body through essence absorption to gain things like wings?”

            But before the Warden could answer, the snap of twigs crunching underfoot drew my attention. I stopped in the middle of a dark shadow cast by a large oak tree. Then I listened.

            People were moving around the forest, their steps slow. They were creeping.

            “Do you know who’s out there?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

            The Warden groaned. “I can’t see them.”

            That didn’t help me.

            Several dogs started barking, their anger echoing between the trees. There was more movement, and men shouting to one another.

            “We found one, boys,” someone called out.

            “Get ’em!”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“The Hantha Imperium is the Tze Empire’s only neighboring nation.

They have no Ring Warlocks, so their king had to take drastic measures.”

- A quote from ‘Varinth’s Beginnings, a History Book’

            Half a dozen dogs burst from the darkness between the trees and rushed me.

            They were starving, their muzzles wet with saliva and practically foaming. Each was muscled, their coats short, their ears erect, their tails cut short.

            It startled me how fast they closed the gap between me and them. One crunched his fangs down on my left forearm, and another bit my pant leg and then thrashed its head from side to side, trying to knock me to the ground.

            The dog on my arm…

            His fangs barely sank into my flesh, but it was still heavy—at least eighty pounds—and a third dog leapt at my side, hitting me at full forward, its claws shredding through my silk robes as I hit the dirt and leaves.

            A fourth dog lunged for my head. It bit me across the cheek and ear, and I should’ve been torn wide open, but I wasn’t. The dog’s teeth didn’t sink far, and my skin was barely cut by the dog’s fangs.

            I tensed and exhaled, my magic flowing from me like the icy hands of death. Three of the dogs yipped and then fell over, their muscles shrinking, their skin wrinkling, their fur falling out in clumps as their eyeballs sank into their skulls.

            Dead.

            The tree next to me—it twisted and darkened, its leaves falling off en mass.

            I stopped my magic, fearful I’d take out the whole forest.

            There were still two dogs, but they stood still, shaken. Clearly, they were smart enough to know something terrible had happened, but not smart enough to know what or why. I was bleeding, and my clothes were ruined, but I managed to stand.

            The life essence of the dogs and the tree barely hurt.

            Three men burst out of the shadows, each of them carrying a sharp sickle in one hand. Everything made sense now. They were brigands—bandits who roamed the mountains. They had trained these dogs to attack innocent people, and once their target was on the ground, they would come in and finish it.

            Disgusting.

            “Wha?” one of the brigands asked. “W-What happened?”

            The two frightened dogs backed away, their legs trembling.

            “Get in there, ya dumb mutts!” the second brigand shouted.

            The dogs turned and fled into the darkness of the woods. They were smarter than the men, it seemed.

            It occurred to me that I had no weapons, and now ability to fight these loathsome pieces of trash outside of my magic. Even if I was tougher, and faster, my skill was… nothing. I hadn’t even brought a knife with me into the forest.

            One brigand stepped forward, his sickle high.

            Using my Heat Death would end them, but…

            A flash of silver cut through the darkness. Ryota dove forward, his lunar metal blade glittering. He slashed at the first brigand, slicing the man’s arm clean from his torso. Blood gushed onto the leaves, and the man stumbled backward, his eyes wide, his mouth agape. He was so shocked, he wasn’t even screaming—he just stared, his skin paling.

            Ryota didn’t waste any time.

            He stepped forward, his stance firm, and slashed up at the second brigand, his sword cutting through the man’s chin, and then through the skull. The second brigand staggered, fell to the ground, and twitched.

            Ryota’s long hair had come undone while attacking. His long locks fluttered in the evening wind. He actually lowered his weapon, and with one hand, went about fixing it.

            The third brigand stammered something, his knees shaking so badly, I thought they would buckle.

            “You got some pretty bad luck, thief,” Ryota casually said. “Tonight was the wrong night to wander the woods.”

            “I s-surrender.” The brigand threw down his sickle and then knelt. He pressed his forehead into the dirt. “Have mercy!”

             Once finished with his hair, Ryota turned and stabbed the armless brigand who still hadn’t found his voice. The man gurgled out his last breath and then collapsed at the root of the far tree.

            When Ryota lifted his blade this time, the moonlight hit the edge and the sword glowed. It was a magical weapon like no other. It wasn’t even stained with blood—it all rolled off as though the sword couldn’t be tarnished.

            Ryota walked over and stood beside the kneeling brigand. The instant the mountain bandit lifted his head—ever so slightly—Ryota slammed his blade down on his neck, decapitating him. More blood gushed over the forest floor, practically pooling the clearing I stood in.

            One of the vile men had emptied their bowls, stinking up the woods with their death.

            “That man had asked for mercy,” I muttered.

            Ryota examined the pristine edge of his sword and then slowly slid the weapon into its scabbard. When he glanced over, he grinned. “It’s a bladekeeper’s duty to deal with enemies, is it not? We owed this thief no mercy—and I caught him attempting to murder my lord. A swift death was all the kindness he deserved.”

            “You… are talented at swordsmanship?” I eyed the gore all around me. A severed arm. A head. Three bodies and three withered dog corpses.

            Ryota walked over to me. With keen eyes he studied my injuries. Frowning, he said, “I’m talented. That was the only reason Garrain kept me as his bladekeeper.”

            Then Ryota went to grab my arm, but I jerked away from his grasp and glared.

            “Don’t touch me,” I said through clenched teeth.

            He held up both his hands and stepped away. “By my lord’s command.”

            After inhaling and exhaling, I managed to relax. “All my injuries are shallow. They’re nothing.”

            “I noticed,” Ryota quipped. He lowered his hands. “Allow me to escort you back to the castle. I wouldn’t want you to run into a bear and get medium-shallow injuries now, would I?”

            I rubbed my shoulder and then lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you here?”

            “The soldiers at the gate told me you went off into the woods by yourself. As your bladekeeper, I figured I should give chase, that way I could protect you.” Ryota sarcastically glanced down at the carnage. “Good thing I did.”

            With a huff, I turned my attention to the dogs. “I was perfectly safe.” But then I remembered how I felt about the conflict—how I had no options other than my magic. “Ryota… If you’re talented with the blade, could you… teach me?”

            Ryota smiled wide, the surprise on his face blatant. “You want to learn how to swordfight? Did I hear that correctly?”

            I nodded. “Is that wrong?”

            “I just thought… Don’t Ring Warlocks rely on their magic?”

            “My magic is different. And complicated. I just want the ability to use a blade in case it becomes necessary.”

            Ryota bowed deeply. “Or you could rely on your bladekeepers.” When he stood straight, I realized he was still smiling, as though he had no care in the world. “I mean, that is why we’re here.”

            I stepped through the bloody mess, my sandals half sinking into the gore. It only took me a few steps to exit the clearing, but they were the worst steps of my life. The squish of the blood caused me to shiver. At least when I used my magic, there wasn’t this sickening side effect.

            Holding down my food, I made my way to another clearing before taking a deep breath. The air was fresh here.

            Ryota shadowed me, his steps surprisingly silent.

            “You will teach me,” I finally said. “As your lord, I’m commanding you to do so.”

            With a hand resting on the hilt of his blade, Ryota shrugged. “I will, or course, obey.”

            “If you don’t think you can, at least tell me who taught you.”

            Ryota chuckled. “I was taught swordsmanship in the Hantha Imperium, Rimon-nox. I doubt my instructor would be happy to instruct a Ring Warlock.”

            I turned to face him. “You’re Hanthan?” That explained his lighter hair color.

            “Half Hanthan.”

            I had never met anyone from the Hantha Imperium before. I heard stories of them—how they were savage and strange, and made deals with demons—but they could all be false, for all I knew.

            “Does that bother you?” Ryota asked.

            I shook my head. “No. Not at all. You’re just the first Hanthan I’ve ever interacted with.”

            “I’m fairly certain your historian is also half Hanthan.” Ryota narrowed his eyes at me, his smile almost sarcastic. “Or are you going to tell me that you didn’t know that?”

            “Well… I didn’t know that,” I whispered.

            The Warden’s voice was like ice in my ears. “He thinks you’re incompetent now. What kind of lord can’t tell the difference between the people of his own land and the people of another?”

            Ryota actually seemed to relax. “I’m happy to know this isn’t an issue for you. And you shouldn’t worry—I’ve taught a great number of people how to use a blade. I can teach you as well.”

            “Ah. Good. Thank you.” I motioned to the path. “But… now I think I need to get back to the castle. So I can, uh, rest and absorb things.”

*六つの言葉*

            Ryota walked me to the gates of the castle, nearly silent the entire way. His gait was the same as his attitude—casual. He neither hurried me nor slowed me.

            However, before we entered, I stopped and glanced upward.

            “Is something wrong, Rimon-nox?”

            I gulped down some air. My plan for the evening had been to practice my magic, and while I had killed three dogs, and a tree, I hadn’t done anything else. I had wanted to test out my new strength, and my new speed…

            I should’ve fought the bandits, but my lack of skill prevented me.

            This wall, though, was an easy test.

            “I need to do something,” I muttered.

            With excitement in my veins, I backed away from the gates and faced one of the sixteen-foot-high wall. How fast was I? How capable? How high could I jump up the wall? Red elk were notorious for their running and jumping ability, after all.

            Once a couple dozen feet away, I mentally prepped myself for a leap. Ryota watched from his position near the gates, clearly curious but remaining silent.

            Then I ran.

            I pushed myself forward, as fast as I could possibly go, and was shocked when I nearly slammed my face into the stone wall. I leapt at the last possible second, my reaction speed poor. Almost as if I were still running, I kicked up the wall and went up at least eleven feet.

            My finger grazed the top of the wall.

            Then I fell back down.

            Well, tumbled was a better word. I hit the dirt on my back, completely winded but also undamaged. I was as sturdy as a log, my bones unbroken.

            Ryota rushed to my side. “Rimon-nox? Are you okay?” He knelt and looked me over, baffled.

            I waved him away. “I’m fine, I’m fine.” With a sigh, I remained on the ground, staring up at the top of the wall. “I almost made it, though. A normal person couldn’t jump that high.”

            “Yeah, I saw,” Ryota muttered. He exhaled. “But you’re a Ring Warlock. The lot of you do really strange things.”

            “Maybe if I find more animals, I can jump higher,” I whispered.

            “I can’t wait until you find some really interesting creatures,” the Warden replied. “I don’t think you understand the potential you have, Rimon-ves. Not at all…”