Chereads / Athanasios / Chapter 4 - Shrouded in darkness

Chapter 4 - Shrouded in darkness

Mugan River district, Yavet Street, Fierce Eagles bar. The bar's exterior was shaped of solid wood, accompanied with stone base at the bottom, at the interface stood a double swing door with a large sign on top with the title 'Fierce Eagles bar'.

There was a sign on the door which indicates that the bar was closed.

Standing in front of the bar, Luther reached his hands into his pocket and pull out a pocket watch. It was 7.23 a.m.

Why on earth would I come to a bar soo early?, what did I even expect?, how ironic, it's not like I am attending my university!. Luther remarked his obvious ignorance regarding his bar's early visit, it's not like the drunkerds woke up early for the bar like student heading to their school!.

At this point he seemed to hear his sister's voice echoing inside his head "stupid naive brother!", his face twisted into a grain triggered by embarrassment.

He shifted his gaze to a sign aligned beside the other sign, it indicated a list of cockfighting and bug fighting with the gambling odds and limits. He also saw the opening and closing hours settling from 10:00 in the morning to 1:00 after midnight.

Luther fixed his gaze on a certain fight that main event of the weak: a praying mantis vs a scorpion 11 pm two days from now.

Luther settled his mind to come to the bar during the main event. He was almost sure that the bar was merely putting off a front to conceal an outlawed circle of a gathering participants, however he was also convinced that they needn't a cover for a mere gathering, thus, it's highly likely that an important figure is participating this time.

He never wanted to buy a gun, even though there might be a slip chance of success in finding a gathering here, he sought of finding a string that can eventually lead him to one. The simplest way is to aquire the dealer about any clues.

Luther went back to the station and bought a second class ticket back, he took a carriage back to zoul street and back into his apartment.

It was already past 8. Noticing that no one was on his tail, he dashed to his room and changed into a comfortable attire, it was time to descend the decaying land again!.

Luther layed on the bed he closed his eya seemingly sleeping, with the lights turned off and his pandages wrapped around his eyes his vision was blank.

With a brief meditation, he sensed a connection that held him, serving as a bridge to that ominous space. In this state, he could ascend with a mere thought, but it was an inefficient method.

Instead, he wanted to add his mental imprint so he could truly become one with it and ascend there whenever he liked.

Through his studies, Luther learned that a connection and a mental imprint are different. The former represents himself, like a mystical link that doesn't necessarily require awareness. An example is one's own blood, which can be used to cast curses because it holds a mystical connection to the person.

A mental imprint, however, is a connection made to strengthen a previous one, often involving mystical artifacts. This type of connection makes the user and the object one, giving the user control over it as if it were part of their body.

However, forming a mental imprint is not a simple task. It's not suitable for just any weapon or object. First, it mostly applies to weapons with living characteristics. Second, it requires harmony between the master's mana or energy and the weapon. Third, such a connection can only be made when this harmony exists over prolonged use, allowing the aura of the master and the weapon to merge. It's like a mystical bond.

With time, the weapon's aura and the master's aura taint each other, creating a bond where the weapon solely points to and belongs to it's master.

Luther concluded that he had already met the conditions putting in mind the the decaying land attacked the clocked man and didn't harm him, plus he had already mad a connection with it long time ago and he had been tained with it's aura for as long as he could remember, and finally any fool can decipher that it's a very potent and space with a living characteristics.

As Luther mind raced with these thoughts he began to flow his mana into the decaying land through the connection.

A ominous power surged and caused shiver to course thorgh Luther's body, a flame being ignited in his mind and chest making him burn from inside, every attempt of breathing was to no avail, he gasped in pain unable to produce a sound.

His legs thrashing uncontrollably causing his sheets to fall and the bed decend into chaos. His throat started producing a gargling sound and blood gushed out of his mouth contorting the bed and himself.

As soon as his mana reached the decaying land he stopped the fusion. He remained breathless for a few seconds, grasping for air. When his throat finally got cleared he breathed rapidly and uncontrollably as if he tried to compensate a lifespan of air deprivation.

"suc... Succe..ss!" his weakened and harsh voice pearly resonated.

He has successfully added his mental imprint to the decaying land and he could feel it like a limp attached to his body. in other words, he became it's true master.

What a wonderful misfortune to have a magic problem with such a potent possession.... Life has given me the most unique treatment, it's like making me a fisherman in a desert!. Luther betrayed no opportunity to mock his life.

The consequences he just suffered were due to his attempt to channel his mana to create a mental imprint. Even though Luther wielded magic like anyone else, using it could easily lead to his demise.

His body felt stiff and sluggish. He was extremely tired, and every move caused him pain. His mana channels were badly damaged. He stared at the bed and himself, noticing the blood that had seeped from his mouth and nose.

With his sarcastic sense a scene forged in his mind. Him entering a room to find man sitting on the blood-stained bed with his blood-stained clothes. In such a situation, Luther would have ultimately failed to control his mouth, blurting something like "oh honey, is it your period already? " or "even men have periods!, you shall be studied for academic porpuses!"

With that idea, Luther burst into laughter, but is was soon interpreted by a pain that steamed from his rips.

He never thought that it would end like this, he didn't expect that it would need this amount of mana to make a mental imprint he thought he could manage it within the safe limits.

I must clean this up at once! Or else, Emma will remind me with it forever and ever! Oh. Right Emma!, I guess I will delay my revenge and spare you for today out of mercy!. He declared in a sarcastic tone, he knew he can't even dream of beating his sister, she was much more powerful than him.

He wrapped the bed sheets and noticed that the mattress was stained as well he took the bed sheets and immediately socket them in a basin of cold water, the cold water prevented the blood from setting into the fabric.

Next, he created a thick paste by mixing salt with a small amount of cold water. He applied this paste directly to the blood stains. The salt worked to draw the blood out of the fibers.

Luther wasn't unfamiliar with this, it was clear that it wasn't his first time in this situation even if it was severe this time, it was still manageable.

After allowing the salt paste to sit for a while, Luther took a bar of soap and gently scrubbed the stained areas using a soft brush with practiced ease. The soap further helped to break down the blood.

After the stains were treated, he boiled a bot of water and submerged the sheets in it, this not only removed any left traces of blood but also sanatized the fabric.

If someone saw me doing this he would clearly mistake me of an experienced maid, why don't I make a book on how to clean and cook?, I am sure I'll earn alot of money. Luther mocked himself even more.

For the mattress the blood wasn't sever he used cold water and soap to clean it and then by using cold water and vinegar mixed together the traces were gone.

Only then did he heave a sigh of relief. He reatreted to his bed, adorned it with outher sheets, and layed.

With a mere thought he ascended the throne he made in the decaying land, he ripped the pandages from around his eyes to have a better vision.

Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind: why don't he just make his own mask that conseals his eyes the way he wishes?.

With this idea he waved his hand close to his head. Shadows gatherd and materialised into a mask, covering his eyes and nose, it was ethereal and pointy reaching his ears. It fit perfectly and looked professionally sculpted.

Even though the mask concealed his eyes, it didn't weaken his vision a at all. He scanned hi surroundings in detail, this time, he saw a graveyard at the direction behind his throne, shrouded in darkness.

He left the throne and went there to take a closer look, however, when he reached it he couldn't cross the vail of darkness, whenever he walks to get closer he finds himself only getting further away, as if reality itself was distorted.

He shifted his attention from the horizon, his gaze pierced several layers of darkness until it settled on a huge temple. A black temple which's surface resembles polished coal, it reflected the starry sky in an ethereal and outwardly scene.

As he marched forward he began to see a symbol that didn't exist before paved itself atop the temple. It was a symbol of an eclipse Subdue the sun, shrouding everything in darkness, the only source of light came from the visible tips of the sun with an indigo-purple hue.

The space is in a processing state ?... It is currently constructing these places after it was a empty decaying and rotten land for god knows how long?...did I trigger this? Luther's mind raced with thoughts as he ascended the long stairs and reached the entrance of the temple.

From his position, he could clearly see the hight of the temple, the platform was soo huge it could take thousands of people, the towering halls and the entrance itself made him Think it was made for gaints. The entrance had a similar veil of darkness similar to the graveyard's whenever he gets closers he only find himself gets further.

The inside of the temple was shrouded in thick layers of darkness as well even Luther's eyes was left helpless, however, the dark layer seemed unable of containing an indigo-purple light steaming from an infinite distance but devoid of details.

"seriously what's wrong with this place, everything is shrouded in darkness!" . Luther didn't conceal his anger.

He walked back to the throne and graped the purple star representing himself. He saw himself laying on the bed innocently sleeping, he looked with focuse as if trying to se something that doesn't exist.

Now that he saw that the decaying land was "constructing" or maybe "fixing" itself, he hoped that he could witness something from here that he didn't the previous time, However, when the scene displayed itself just like before he knew his attempt was met with failure.

Disappointed, he reached his hand to close the scene, however he stopped midway when something caught his attention. He could see his mana channels very carefully glowing al over his body, it was severely damaged. his mana core glowing faintly like a Flame about to extinguish. A series of complicated symbols forming circles and spinning in an arc around his core.

This scene left him dumbstruck, he was indeed sealed of using magic and the seal doesn't seem simple as well!, the complete opposite he can even say it was rather impossible to be noticed by an expert supreme mage!.

At this rate his mind raced with thoughts

Who made this?

For what propose?

And more importantly, why me? What's so special about me, who am I exactly?.

Luther pounderd for a few seconds before snapping back into his senses, he looked at the scene again in a daze.

Suddenly, a figure caught his attention. It was a white fluffy-haired cat with blue eyes sitting calmly at his desk in front of the window watching him carefully while sleeping....