"Life is good and grand,
we all travel to are destined plan,
it is time to decide."
A woman looked upon an empty throne room. The existence of the vacant space didn't make her uneasy. In fact it filled her with joy, the pressure of the long day has ceased. A smile creased her face. She was a mature woman one might consider her beautiful for the age of forty, but in all truth she was much older than that. Her life has been long, and she has few friends still alive that knew her when she was young. Immortality might be a dream for most, but to her it's a hassle. She has always dreamed of retiring, yet that luxury has long since slipped her by. When she was young she had people to fill her time, she had a husband who perished years ago, she also had a son, only the gods know what happened to him. Don't get her wrong she tried to find him, but things happen, and nothing came up. Now she's left alone to pursue one of her passions that of reading.
Her collection is feld with hundreds of books from history textbooks, to historical dramas, all the way to fantasy novels. She has always been a huge believer that books should be focused on more than martial arts, yet she knew she was a hypocrite as a very strong martial artist. It wasn't like she could help it; her father was a martial artist, so was his father before him, his father before that, and so on and so forth for as many generations as history can record. It would have been ludicrous for someone of her family not to chase the dream of reaching the peak.
A man with a long gray beard and a bald head bursts through the door. "Aster, I Have received word from your healer friend."
Aster gave a fake respectful bow, staring at him with eyes of daggers, for he dared disturb her. "Grandpa, what is it?" She said with little respect.
This was the very proof that their family was strong. Having two immortals within the span of three generations is almost unheard of.
"Some force has raised arms against the healer's city. He wanted aid from us to track them down, as it is highly likely to be the demon worshippers' work."
"So, then send them aid. I'm sure we can afford losing one squad for a bit. And don't call that jerk a friend he uses me whenever I'm useful to him. As the head elder couldn't you have brought this to the second in command." 233The old man looked pissed, he felt assaulted that his own granddaughter would talk down to him.
"I shall go myself." He said in defiance. "I'll take Peers with me."
Aster nodded, and waved her hand to tell him to leave.
She returned to her romance book that she couldn't keep her eyes off. Even in her old age she thought how nice it would be to have a handsome knight pick her off her feet, and take her to some place quiet to live out her retirement in peace.
Saints hand paced around his office biting his thumb. A million thoughts raced through his head and he couldn't make sense of any of them. Who would raid a heavily defended city just to leave, only stealing one kid. It was beyond his imagination. Also the person Luna mentioned was way too strong to be part of some small group. His main thought was demon worshipers, but he couldn't see both ways on that idea. There was something that came to mind, summonings.
Summoning is one of the hardest and most dangerous spells. Unless you're someone like Zengo who only briefly summons beings to the world, you would require a sacrifice in order to do a proper summoning. Demonic summonings are often different from normal spells, as in you dont require to have learned it in your past life. However they often come at the cost of the casters own life, and the odds are low of even summoning a demonic being. Many have died after summoning lesser beings. But that thought seemed off, if they had the chance why wouldn't they take everyone as a sacrifice.
A knock came from the door.
"Come in." Saints Hand responded.
Leo walked in, his face obviously shaken up. "I'm weak." He says with a frown.
"Yes?" Saints Hand replied.
"Make me strong." He says as if it was the easiest thing in the world. "Please." He added as if that made the statement before right.
Saints hand looked at him wondering how to reply. In truth if someone wants a strength boost there are other ways then training, but they are all dangerous.
"I can help." Saints hand said not knowing if he should. "But this could ruin your life. For one you will struggle to surpass the rank of commander due to the surgeries damaging your magic source, if you can't handle pain you will suffer as well."
The first issue seemed not to concern Leo, as he thought he would never exceed captain for the rest of his life. However the second caught him off guard.
"I'm willing to take that risk." He confidently declared.
"No it's not a risk, it's a certainty, there is a reason no one uses these surgeries much anymore." Saints Hand dissuaded.
"I'm not going to change my mind." The feeling of Leo's chest being stomped in still echoes through his mind, he didn't want to live in fear of being weak anymore.
"Fine, you can't blame me when this is done." He takes a deep breath.
"But first who is the Martial God to you?"
"Never heard of him." Leo responded.
Saints Hand had a questioning look on his face, but he shrugged it off. "Okay, so first I'm going to forcefully open your magic source, then I'm going to make the magic flow through your body like how monsters do it. And finally I will place multiple runes throughout your whole body forcing your rank into the stage of commander."
"That, that sounds painful."
"Painful is an understatement, but the best part is you have to stay conscious during the whole thing. That means no pain killers. Just whatever you do dont go into shock!" Saints Hand emphasized the last bit, as if he was speaking from experience
Leo layed there looking at a dark ceiling, a golden light beams into his eyes. And just like that he felt a blade cut through his stomach. It was the sensation of being skinned alive.
Saints hand's training and expertise shown in his stern face. Most would believe that someone with his gifts wouldn't have trained in any medical field, but they would be wrong. Both in his memories and over the many years he's been alive he has studied and participated in many surgical activities. Each cut was made with perfect precision, each movement unshaken, each and every step done without a single thought of mistake.
Leo screamed with all his might. He was in the most pain he's ever been in. It took his whole will just to stay conscious. And yet the true suffering is yet to come. Saints Hand with a huff released magic into Leo's body, pushing its way through his veins like some kind of parasite. Until he found it, an organ spewing low amounts of magic in every direction.
Though most don't even think where magic comes from, seeing it more as a supernatural force. In truth magic is held within an organ that functions kinda like a liver. Magic can be found in most living things and having it corrupt your bloodstream can cause adverse effects, so the body detoxes itself through this organ called the magicae cor. Hence why it isn't common for humans to use magic. But for some reason some people's magicae cor naturally leaks more magic than others. Giving them the unnatural ability to use it. Animals often are gifted in manipulating magic as a sort of defense mechanism. It is possible to forcefully open the magicae cor by pushing magic into it and expanding the output. You are also capable of doing this safely to yourself over a long course of meditation.
What confused Saints hand is those in his past life didn't have this organ. What they used instead was magic in the air to form spells. Something completely impossible on earth.
Magic began to surge out of his magicae cor like a hole in a dam. It rushed through wherever it could go, but Saints Hand stopped it like a beaver and rerouted it through Leo's blood stream.
If Leo was screaming before, he was now spasming with torture. Saints Hand's ears went numb from the pure orchestra of shrieks. Leo began to roll from side to side as if to put out the burning pain, but Saints Hand was forced to hold him down performing the next step. A tiny jet of magic released from his finger, using it he carved runes into Leo's bones starting with the arms, then the legs, chest, and skull. Normally someone would train in order to enter commander, but this side steps that effectively jump starting his body. Although this surgery is only able to move a captain up to commander, it also has many downsides.
The difference between soldier and captain isn't that much, but the difference between a captain and a commander is vast. Commanders have far higher physical strength as well as a tougher body than captains and it only increases the higher one climes.
Afraid any healing magic would destroy half his work, he stitched him up with a sigh of relief. Leo was unconscious now, Saints Hand knew that was for the best, he almost felt sorry for the kid, but he knew well enough how necessary strength is. Expressly in the times to come.
Leo woke his eyes a veiny red. His whole body felt like it was on fire, each twitch of his muscles was met with a searing pain, his skin felt sore and it ached from the spots where the incisions were made.
All this pain brought a grown man to tears. Someone coughs.
"You're awake, good." His voice is old and wise. "Thought you were dead for a good minute." Saints hand laughed.
Leo turned to the cackling old man, and glared with all his might.
"Nope," Saints Hand flicked his finger back and forth in a disapproving manner, "we agreed, no blaming me, you knew the cost."
"You're a sicko." Leo gurgled out.
Saints Hand grabbed a bottle from his back pocket, and forced a pill down Leo's throat.
The pain eased, in fact everything began to mellow out, as if Leo was seeing the world through blue tinted glasses. He felt like it was even harder to think than when he was in catastrophic agony.
"These are strong stuff." Saints Hand laughed. "Only take one, and only in extreme cases of pain." He said as he slipped the bottle into Leo's back pocket. He drew another bottle of pills out of thin air. "Take these whenever you feel you need them, the average dose for a man of your size is two pills.
Leo was barely lucid enough to understand the numbers, but the rest went over his head. He couldn't help it, the pill made it impossible to focus. It didn't feel good, his whole body just felt numb and staticy, and his mind as stated before was incredibly hazy.
Saints Hand looked like an idea came to mind as he grabbed a sword hanging on the wall.
A shock of fear lit inside of Leo but it was soon extinguished by the all succumbing numbness. Saints Hand limited his strength and slowly struck down, but the sword bounced off Leo's skin with an audible clang. He looked at him with pride as if he was showing off a new toy.
"Ha mk bf hw fjk dnsabjk r r r r r r r r." Leo stammered ununderstandable words.
Saints Hand got up with a dreadful smile and left the room.
The room in itself was a hidden chamber, behind a painting within Saints Hand's office. Leo sat there in the dark room with no sound, no movement, no nothing. Such a scene would drive a man mad if they weren't so high on pills that they couldn't even tell a couple hours went by. After three short hours Leo stood to his feet his whole body began to ache again. He left the chamber with a grunt. Sliping two pills from the red bottle, his pain eased but not to the extent of the other pills. His body still hurt like he was dancing with a fire spirit. Saints Hand was long gone, so he exited the office and was met with shock. Luna sat there leaning against the wall, her sleeping face made him feel like a disgraceful creep. It was only yesterday when the terrible events befell them, and Leo didn't think any of them have truly gotten over it. The whole school had a gloomy air to it. Leo still shutters in fear whenever he thinks of the events. His disciple is gone, most of the staff and guards are dead. Their bodies had to be burned in case they became undead. Leo had a bad feeling the school would not be hosting any classes for a long time.
Through the pain he sat down next to her, looking at the wall as he wondered what would come next.
Leo was shaken awake. A fearful face met his eyes. Luna looked at him like she was staring at a dead man.
"You're alive." She hugged him in the way you hug a friend you haven't seen in forever, an awkward hug. Leo couldn't enjoy it, his body stung, and he felt dizzy.
"I'm alive?" Leo said in a questioning tone.
She let go fast, noticing her error. Her eyes were solid like a rock, as if the past events havent affected her at all, but the messy hair, destroyed fingernails, and half put on makeup would say otherwise.
"I heard you've reached the rank of commander, congrats." She said with a fakely cheerful grin.
Leo in a moment of pain, pulled off his shirt. Luna looked away fast.
"Look." One word, and that's all that was needed. So she did with abhorrent curiosity. Leo's body is covered with tiny scars that look like cigarette burns, but beyond that are many lines of stitches, like she was looking at Frankenstein's monster. He turned his head to the side and through his hair you can see a rune engraved, as though he was some kind of weapon etched with the wielder's will.
"That is what he did to you?" She asked.
Leo nodded, tracing one of the stitches with his finger. "Life will go on." He mumbled.