The bath was great, just wish the servants stopped insisting they bathe me. As I washed myself after they left I wondered where all my knowledge came from. 'Carbon nanotubes, nuclear reactors, teleportation magic, the inner workings of the human body. Why do I know all of this? Alexander Kane, Cal Heb, Namor, Einstein, Jessica, Odin.' All the names and thoughts flowed through me like an ocean. I wondered if I would ever remember a time before the village of the dead.
A knock came from the door. I didn't hear it I was too deep in thought. When the door open I was floating above the water with anti light lines over my body. My mind flowing freely I felt every emotion. For the first time I felt fear. 'A memory or knowledge? These people made me feel fear? Or the power?' I thought of things, ignoring the terrified maid as I was too deep in my mind.
The maid who entered quickly left. As she returned with Narma and the duchess family she was still scared. When Narma saw him she finally calmed. 'He is only in deep meditation.' She thought as she finally let go of her blade. The duchess and the maid looked to her and she looked back at them.
"It seems my Lord entered a deep meditation. The black energy is his power. It is not mana or ki however" she said it as if it was normal. Even the duchess's top guards shook with fear as Narma approached him. She gentle touched my leg and my eyes shot open. My deep ice blue irises almost glowed out of the black of my pupils and sclera. I looked to Narma and she kneeled in the water her head facing the floor. I looked to the duchess's family and they had backed up when my gaze fell upon them.
"You my rise Narma" I said as I set my legs in the water and retracted my power. She rose and handed my a towel and I put it around myself. "My apologies Garda. The bath was so relaxing I fell into a deep meditation" I said looking at her with a soft smile. Although false even my eyes smiled. They looked pale and terrified.
"Wha-what a-are y-you?" Her husband who most likely was a warrior was shaking.
"Not really sure what my race is actually" I stated bluntly. "That being said, you need not be scared. Also don't worry about the bandits either. I've taken them over and plan on reforming them into mercenaries. I think they were called the Felldan. Also a beast slaughtered an entire village. I killed it" I said all of this as I used a second towel to dry off my body. "I'll be in mine and Narma's room if you need me Garda" I said as I walked out. Of course Narma followed me like a loyal dog.
Garda stood there with her mouth open along with her husband and the soldiers who followed them. I said those things so casually she didn't know how to respond. She turned to her soldiers and husband. Her face was that of a pale ghostly white.
"Whatever happens even if he just lied the pure power coming off him could kill. Whatever he wants bring it to him. I don't care if you have to melt down mythral into ingots we must not make him our enemy!" She said with slight mania. Her husband nodded unable to speak he had wet himself.
I sat down on the bed cross legged. I then told Narma to wait outside. 'I need to get back into that state!' I let my mind drift relaxing my body. When I opened my eyes I was in a void. No I was in my power, it ebbed and flowed around me. Within it I felt fear, rage, pain, and memory. I moved to a single strand that called to me. I touched it and saw an entire lifetime. It was painful, sad, depressing, and fearful. 'Was that a past I lived? Why was I so weak? How many lives have I lived.
Lives, hundreds of millions of lives! How many more. I discovered worlds with no sun, worlds with endless night! It was beautiful and painful. The more I explored the stronger I felt. I heard something, a whisper. I looked for it and realized it was Narma. I slowly opened my eyes in reality. My power was leaking, the room was destroyed. Guards and soldiers looked at me from inside and outside the castle in fear. The room gaped open and I looked out at the city saying a single word. "Frell"
I slowly consolidated my power into my body. While at the same time using it to rebuild the room. I looked at the duchess with a calm smile. Even my eyes smiled.
"I'm sorry again, how long was I out Narma?" I said as I looked to her making my face and eyes look calm.
"Seven days my Lord" Narma said and I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly.
"I think it would be best if I left before I cause you any more trouble Garda" as I finished she spoke quickly almost in a panic.
"No! Please stay!" She composed herself somewhat. "You are quite strong Lord Kane, to have you leave over such an incident would be an insult to you. Please stay as my guest you clearly are a good man. I of course will pay you." She said it so fast I think only I could understand her rambling.
Inwardly I smiled, she fell for it. 'The greed for power and want of it will always work.' I looked like I was thinking and nodded.
"I need to go do something then. I will return later" I said. She looked relieved and worried at the same time. She nodded and we spoke for a while longer.
The blood covered me again. I didn't enjoy it, I didn't hate it. These brutes would have worked well for my first plan. Conquest was fine, but I prefer to work smarter not harder. Only the subordinates I made remained as we walked back to the city. If I was to marry into that house or kill them and take over saying it was their will. Both were better than taking over by force.