When Mayton opened his eyes, he saw a familiar room. After a moment of trying recall the recent events, he started to look around vigilantly to make sure he was in the place he was thinking. It didn't take him long to ascertain he really was in the simple room at the hunters' shop he cultivated in before, lying down in a bed.
He got up from the bed and tried to get out of the room, but the door just wouldn't budge no matter how hard he pushed it. This made him panic as he started to bang on the door and shout. The ruckus he caused produced results. The door finally opened from the other side.
''Huh? Who are you?''
Mayton was expecting one of the hunters to open the door. But instead of a hunter he saw a blonde little girl wearing a white robe looking at him emotionlessly. Seeing the little girl, Mayton was stunned. There was a natural aloofness to her demeanor that complimented her innocent face. She looked like a beautiful painting that would be ruined if you touched it. But it was, of course, not the looks of the little girl that stunned him. It was just that this girl was suspiciously familiar but he couldn't quite put his finger on where he saw her before.
''You are safe now. I also took the soul collecting orbs containing the souls of your parents. I'll let you see them but for about a week you must not leave the room. Now please excuse me, I am busy with saving your life and can't talk for too long.''
Without giving any time to Mayton for asking questions, the little girl shut the door again. Mayton was trying to figure out the girls identity and before his brain could register the words he just heard, the door was shut on his face.
''Hey! Let me out! Uncles, someone help!''
After Mayton shouted for a while as he banged on the door as hard as he could, he realized that no one was coming to help him get out and gave up. He lay down on the bed once again and continued to think about the little girls identity. Before long he fell asleep again.
His life in the room continued for weeks. In those weeks of 'getting his life saved' or, like he called it, imprisonment Mayton found out several strange things about his situation. For example, he didn't need anything to sustain himself. This was a huge relief for him because otherwise he would just die here. After all, no one answered any of his pleas after his brief talk with the little girl.
Another strange thing was that he couldn't cultivate at all. Even though Mayton's cultivation technique was more effective when practiced under the sun, it, normally, was still possible to use it where ever the cultivator wanted. For some reason the room was devoid of any kind of qi. Him not being able to cultivate presented a rather serious problem. He had nothing to do.
Thankfully, after a few days, one more abnormality sprang into being to save his sanity. Sometimes on the ground sometimes on the walls, words were appearing and disappearing intermittently around the room. Even though he didn't understand the meaning behind the appearance of the words as they seemed to randomly appear without rhyme or reason, reading them gave him a sense of nostalgia and helped him spend his time. Because these words, surprisingly, were written in the language of his past world.
''Hmm, come to think of it my current situation is also similar to the time I was in the dungeons back then. Well at least there isn't any holy li-''
Before Mayton could finish his sentence, he lost his sense of vision as a blinding light suddenly filled every corner of the room. Mayton, after his reincarnation twelve years ago, cursed out loud for the first time.
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Meanwhile, there were important events going on elsewhere in the Flaming Heart City.
The largest square of the city was packed full of people. A stage featuring two burly executioners and a wooden gallows was set at the center of the square. Around the stage, a cordon of guards was keeping the crowd at a safe distance away. The captain of the guards, Filbert, was personally there to make sure everything proceeded without any disturbances.
''Renas Maiken of House Maiken, your crimes are patricide, fratricide and conspiring to overthrow the government. Since you refused to admit your crimes and seek repentance, your punishment is death by hanging.''
A booming voice was heard as Filbert read the verdict to the masses. Execution of a noble was an important matter that needed sufficient justifications, so as to not degrade the whole institution of nobility. Thus Renas was made into the sole scapegoat for the recent events.
While Filbert was reading the verdict, a squad of guards was escorting Renas through the square to the stage. Hearing the verdict and seeing the culprit, the murmurs of the crowd died down for a moment before getting louder than ever.
''Scum of earth!''
''Death to traitors!''
''Kill that scoundrel!''
There were even some people who were pelting Renas with various things like mud balls and rotten fruits. It didn't matter one bit for the crowd if Renas was innocent or guilty, for them he was just a target for releasing their pent-up emotions about people in power.
Only one group consisting of mercenaries was silently watching. They had the black hammer of House Maiken painted on their shields and armor while the banners of House Maiken and Aras family fluttered side by side above them. At the center of this group, a lithe silhouette belonging to Herdis could be seen wearing a simple white dress with hatred evident in her eyes.
Under the hateful looks of his elder sister and rain of curses from the crowd, Renas got executed. Herdis watched until she saw Renas' lifeless body dangling at the gallows, then left without shedding a single tear for her brother whom they grew up under the same roof.
At night of the same day, some distance away from the square, at the governor's mansion, another, a more private gathering was going on. This gathering was attended by the gentry and the richest merchants of the Flaming Heart City. Unlike the rowdy, uncouth crowd at the square, the guests here were mostly harmonious, despite the obvious scorn shown by the nobles towards the nouveau riche. Wealth didn't mean much for old noble families with ties to the sects.
Governor's garden was well kept and beautiful every day of the year but right now thanks to the lanterns and white flowers used to decorate it, it looked even better. All kinds of pretty women danced around to a festive piece of music played by the best orchestra of the city. Combining the festive atmosphere created by the music, charming dancers skittering about under the moonlight while showcasing their skills and the natural beauty of the garden, it was simply paradise on earth.
At a huge balcony with a perfect view of the garden, guests were socializing while sampling the fine food and drinks provided by the host. Unlike what one may presume, the host of this gathering was not the governor. Since it was the marriage ceremony between Young Master Georg of the Aras family and the Lady Herdis of House Maiken, all the entertainment was provided by these two families. The governor was just letting them use his mansion to boost the prestige of his allies.
''Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? I think before we continue on with the celebrations, we should first conclude the matter we gathered here for. I'll not take too much of our dear guests' time, let us welcome the bride, Lady Herdis, and her soon to be consort, my dear son Georg.''
The patriarch of the Aras family who was also the father of Young Master Georg cleared his throat and said.
Accompanied by the light claps of the guests, Herdis who was wearing a simple but elegant dress, exactly the one she wore earlier at the execution of his brother, and Georg in an extravagant robe entered the balcony. His well groomed short black hair and beard, combined with the accessories he wore that emphasized his wealth and status, the groom looked like he was preparing for this moment for a long time as he walked in slowly with a tense body.
The bride, on the other hand, with his simple clothing and lack of any accessories, instead of a bride, seemed more like a young miss strolling around the city, relaxed, almost nonchalant even. Herdis couldn't care less what the gentry thought about her or her future husband. She was completely relaxed because she already decided what to live for. For achieving her revenge, she was willing to sacrifice her lifetime of happiness without batting an eye.
While all the guests for cheering for the couple regardless of their true emotions, there stood an old man who was watching the procession with a face full of guilt and shame. This was Charbel, now, after decades of proudly carrying the crest of House Maiken, clad in the armor of guard captains with the symbol of the governor on his chest.
This was the condition of the governor for pardoning all his crimes. ''If you agree to serve me, not only I will pardon you, I might even give you a chance for taking revenge'' the governor said to him privately. Charbel was expecting such an outcome, so he accepted the offer immediately. When he forced Herdis to make a huge sacrifice back then, he, himself was also ready to sacrifice the most important thing for him, his honor.
When Charbel saw that Herdis was not grieving nor acting happy about her situation, it gave him hope for their future. He knew that looking defeated would lose them any potential allies they might find among the prominent people of the city. If they wanted to take revenge in the future, they had to endure right now. But if she acted like she was happy, it would be too much for anyone to believe.
'That girl who tried to kill herself for running away from her cruel fate has now grown and facing the whole world by herself' Charbel thought as he heaved a deep sigh.