Twilight Initiator(S), Zed, Son of Shadows
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 10
City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory
- Not trusting your future wife is also disrespectful.
Same boat, same situation, that's the first thing that came to mind when I heard those words, directed at me, just for me. She understands my situation and is still willing to accept it because she simply has no other options.
- Really? You should understand it's dangerous, not just for you; your father could be implicated as well.
- My father agrees with me, and I don't have any problems either. Besides, this is the only path available right now.
- When you have the opportunity, you'll leave, that's what I'm basically understanding. A path that's profitable for now, but when things get complicated, will you run?
- No, we would already be engaged.
She shrugged indifferently.
- A wife is supposed to support her husband, right? Why run? You seriously underestimate me…
I don't understand her.
- You have no other options.
- I don't, it's true, but I still find this idea very exciting, I find all of this interesting.
- That curiosity might lead you to your death.
- I've already died once, or almost died, I really thought I was dying. It's not a fun feeling, but still…
She looked at me.
- I want to do it.
I definitely don't understand women. She's committing suicide with me, taking her house with her. If we get caught, who knows what will happen; the worst part will undoubtedly be for me.
- I don't understand you. There are no guarantees, no benefits. One wrong step, and we both fall into the embrace of death.
- There are… think, you're not a simple anomaly, you have a very large future, larger than mine, larger than I've ever seen and can only dream of reaching. I'm nothing compared to you, seriously I'm garbage. Compared to you, I'm nothing, irrelevant. I'll live my life as a woman, have children, maybe rise a couple of ranks and die; that's how my life ends. Of course, I'm being very optimistic considering that bastard from the Empire only wants me to satisfy his sexual desires, I'll always live as nothing more than a sex doll. Lamentable and miserable, I'd prefer to kill myself a thousand times over.
Her eyes sparkled when she looked at me.
- But with you, my future can change. I won't live just a few decades, I'll live much longer, be much greater, be much stronger. What woman in this world doesn't want a bright future? Who would be stupid enough? I'd kill her if I had her close. You're not just an apostle, not at all, but before that, do you know what an apostle is?
- No.
- What is a legacy?
- I don't know.
- Exactly, you don't know. You don't even know the capacity of your powers. According to my deductions, you're a Legacy. Tell me the name of your first rank.
- Twilight Initiator.
- You're not human?
- I don't think so… I'm still not sure, I don't know what I am right now.
I only have ideas, nothing more, no confirmations.
- Legacies are people who can become gods, people not human at all, they're another species, another world or dimension compared to ours.
- You said there are no benefits, you're wrong, of course, there are. There are many, actually, more than I can imagine. If I'm correct, you're a Legacy. A Legacy can have one or more apostles under their command. If you made me an apostle, in a few years we'd be under the same banner, a different banner from the one we're under now. Of course, there are dangers, many actually, but there's no reward without danger, no glory without blood.
Cristina leaned back in her chair, stretched her body, and closed her eyes.
- So, Twilight Initiator, it's a very nice name for the first rank… I'm curious, you know, everyone can enter their soul sea, I can, my father can. Of course, you need to be in the first rank to enter. My soul sea is very small, I can barely move, there's nothing specific in it, it's boring. I bet yours is completely different, it must be extremely large and grand.
- I'm not wrong, am I?
- No, it's as you say.
- Incredible, I'm a little envious, such an incredible power. If you manage to survive, you'll be very great, but right now you're small, and I'm bigger than you. I have to take advantage, you know.
A playful smile appeared on Cristina's face. Her eyes wouldn't let me go, it's amusing, this situation is amusing, this girl is crazy, out of her mind. She's diving straight into the box and doesn't want to get out of it. Curious, now I'm the one who feels curious about her, looking into her beautiful blue eyes, she's determined.
- We could die on the way.
- I know.
- I suppose it's decided then.
- Completely agreed.
We looked at each other and nodded. A small smile appeared on my lips, what a stupid woman. She's crazy, has an ambition for power, wants to reach as high as possible, just like me, we're both stupid. A perfect couple?
The nobleman spent the entire conversation with his mouth shut; sometimes I think Cristina is the one who runs the house…
He looked at us in silence and took out some papers.
He put them on the table, more directly on my side of the desk, he had a solemn look.
Picking up the papers, I read them carefully, basically, it's a political engagement contract, he's giving me his daughter.
- I met you almost two months ago, you're a commoner, a nobody, a homeless child, you don't even know who you are, you know almost nothing about the world, but still, you helped me and saved my daughter. I'm indebted to you for that. I know you're intelligent, I know you're cruel, I know you're all that, I know you have ambitions. I don't care if my daughter marries you, I don't care which god you believe in, I don't care if you're a Legacy or not, I don't care who you are, but… if I find out you hurt my daughter, I will chase you to the depths of hell.
- I'm giving you my daughter, I want you to promise me something.
His eyes are those of a father who cares for his daughter. I feel a bit melancholic; I never received this treatment from my mother or father on Earth, we were very abnormal. This is what having a real father is like.
- You embarrass me, father…
Cristina had a red tint on her cheeks.
- I want you to promise me you'll make my daughter happy.
- I will.