The manor's garden was a place of so much beauty and life it was a wonder it was located by the dreary manor. Now power isn't necessarily the issue when it comes to surviving the obsidian sanctum. The problem is the enemies that lie in wait there. Plans and machinations spanning thousands of years, monsters with powers so uniquely destructive that pure force simply isn't enough and a palace full of corrupt nobles preparing to rebel.
Knowledge is the true power and thankfully it's something I have in spades. My years of being a loser had finally paid off. Now I did need to be strong enough to survive and to be honest I was worried at first.
You see Alistair's power in the novel originally came from his insane sword mastery. He was a man who could and had cut the ocean in half. They say hard work will always beat talent, but Alistair had both in spades. Now the problem is I'm not Alistair. I don't have his years of experience, and I lack the time to train myself using the sword. Muscle memory can carry me but not enough to survive. But thankfully I had the greatest invention to ever grace my worldview.
[System Start]
[Alistair Von Harrowvane]
[Title]- Sinner – Others begin with a negative perception towards you and your actions
[Str]: B-
[Dex]: C+
[Intelligence]: A
[Mana]: D
[Endurance]:D
Very rough. Very rough indeed. I smiled a smile so bright I'm sure it scared the maids scattered around the garden. They were probably under the impression that I had just killed a puppy or something.
Not a puppy but I would be killing something in the near future and that would be using these tickets of pure joy.
[Skill Ticket]- Choose any skill from the world of Dusk and Dawn and have it perfectly integrated into your body.
[Trait Ticket]- Choose any trait from the world of Dusk and Dawn and have it perfectly integrated into your body.
These choices would be the decider of my run. I've played this game hundreds of times. There are even stronger skills than this but there's a high likelihood my body would combust upon impact. It wasn't a matter of constitution either. Some skills are given by the gods of this world and to steal one would be akin to signing a suicide note.
[Skill Ticket] Used.
[Kinetra] Selected.
[Kinetra] Level 1- The ability to halt and accelerate the speed of any motion within 1 inch of your body
What this skill lacked in offense it made up for with an ultimate defense. With this much power at my fingertips. I chuckled. This world would become a playground.
I approached one of the cherry blossom trees in the garden, its petals gently falling in the breeze. I clenched my fist, focusing my energy.
BOOM… Any second now… huh.
As I gazed upon the tree. I realized this may be a little harder than I first thought. Maybe saying the n—
"Master Alistair?" a beautiful girl with red hair said nervously.
I glanced up to see a beautiful girl with bright red hair standing nearby, her eyes wide with concern. I probably looked like a lunatic, arm outstretched, glaring at a tree as if I could will it to explode.
"Are you going to cut the tree with your hands alone!! Your amazing Master." she yelled excitedly, somehow bouncing while standing still.
As tempting as it was to indulge her enthusiasm, I had more pressing matters to deal with.
"Take me to the training grounds" I stated my voice firm.
Her excitement faded into nervousness. "O-oh y-yes, no problem, sir," she stammered, hurrying to lead the way.
[POV: Eva]
We walked through the long, opulent corridors of the manor in silence. I stole glances at Master Alistair, feeling a knot in my stomach tighten with each step. I was too terrified to speak, afraid that even the smallest sound might provoke him.
"Why is a beautiful girl like you working as a maid" he asked voice breaking through the silence, startling me.
Was he talking to me? Of course he was. Oh, noooo I'm taking to long to answer. He's going to think I-
Before I could finish the thought, he reached out and gently grasped my hand, interrupting my spiral of panic.
"Anyone there" he teased playfully.
Eva blushed a red so bright it could have replaced the extravagant lamps and chandeliers.
"I am happy to serve this gracious and kind family for taking a useless girl like me" she said depressingly.
We came to an abrupt stop, and Alistair pulled me in front of him. His eyes darkened, the usual pale purple now a deep, intense hue. His expression was far from playful now.
"No one is useless," he growled, his voice so low and commanding that I jumped. "Especially my maid.".
He was nothing like the rumors. Nothing like them at all. Maybe he could…maybe he was different.
"My father died in the war," I said suddenly, surprising even myself. "They called him a hero. But my mother... she didn't care. After he died, it was like I didn't exist to her anymore. Six months later, on my 11th birthday, she hung herself. Her debtors didn't care about me either. If it weren't for the Harrowvane family..." I couldn't finish, the tears spilling down my cheeks.
Tears graced her beautiful face. Her eyes puffy and skin red.
Alistair caressed her face with his hand. Seemingly tracing the tears.
"If you had one wish," he said, his voice low and seductive, "what would it be?
I just wanted to a-
"Ask it" He commanded.
"O-oh u-umm I just was wondering, or well thinking, a-"
He rose an eyebrow on his handsome face "Calm down Eva. Why would I hurt a girl like you for asking me a simple question"
I bit my lip, "How is it? The o-obsidian sanctum I mean. I heard they teach you to read and write. And there's clubs to do whatever you want! And m..make friends." She mumbled the last part.
"S-sir wh.. what are you?"
He towered over her looking down on her slim frame.
"All of that is true. The sanctum has anything a person could ever desire and more."
He leaned down, right next to her ear. His breath hot and wanting.
"Would you like to go" he whispered.
It felt like time had stopped for Eva. Never before had she been given a decision of such impact. She felt like no one had ever really known Alistair. How could one be this kind yet have such a bad reputation.
"More than anything" she whispered.
"Then it will be done. You may come with me when I leave for the Sanctum. You look tired go rest. I have some business to take care of" he said with a smile.
"T-thank you, Master Alistair," I stammered, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Before I could stop myself, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, my heart racing as I pulled away.
"I-I HAVE TO GO!" she yelled, her face a deep shade of crimson as she bolted down the hallway.
Alistair chuckled to himself, watching her disappear. "What a girl," he murmured with amusement.
The Harrowvanes famed training grounds stretched before me—acres upon acres dedicated to the art of mastery and survival. The sight was both tranquil and dangerous, cherry blossoms glowing softly against the sinister backdrop of the dark forest. The land seemed deceptively serene, but I knew better; within the shadows, monsters prowled, drawn to the faintest sound of an intruder.
Scorched and shredded practice dummies littered the grounds, likely remnants of Alexander's own twisted training. Even lifeless objects couldn't escape his wrath. But I digress—these grounds had been home to legends like the Behemoth and generations of Harrowvanes before him. Now, I had a particular spirit to summon.
"Alabastar," I called out.
Nothing.
"Alabastar!" I repeated, louder this time. The forest stirred, a faint ripple in the darkness, yet still no response.
My eyes narrowed, their violet hue deepening. "I won't ask a third time."
In that instant, the entire scene shifted. The trees froze, and time itself seemed to glitch as flashes of distorted light flickered in the shadows. Before me appeared a grotesque figure, barely four feet tall, with a porcelain mask covering its face.
"Alabastar, King of Deals, at your service!" he chimed, finishing with an exaggerated bow and twirl.
"And what might a gentleman like yourself be seeking?" he drawled, a sly mockery in his voice. "Eternal riches? Power? Women? Anything you want, within reach."
I scowled. Trickery was Alabastar's specialty; his deals always ended with a soul in his pocket. But I needed something crucial from him. Mana was supposed to flow intuitively, yet my body rejected it entirely. It was clear that my mind was alien to this form, creating a barrier to the very core of my power. There was only one option left: a deal.
"Ohhh, I see it now." Alabastar was beside me in a blink. "Your mana rejects youuuu." His tone lilted with curiosity, almost as if it were the first time he'd encountered something like this.
"What will it cost to fix it?" I asked.
The creature cocked his head, looking me over. "Hmm, well, let's just say this is within my considerable abilities, but... I'm not sure you can afford my price."
I leaned closer, eyes glinting dangerously. "Do you know whom you converse with?"
"Oh, I know perfectly well who you are." His mockery slipped into something almost amused. "In fact, I find myself quite curious about how you know me."
"Whatever the cost, I can pay it."
Alabastar yawned, feigning boredom. "Still not clear what I gain from this. More work than it's worth."
"One favor," I offered. "Anything you want, provided it doesn't harm me or my interests."
He laughed, unimpressed. "Oh, a favor from you?"
The condescension was unmistakable. Alistair's ego would never stand for it. I closed the distance between us, eyes flaring with rage.
"You forget your place," he whispered, barely audible but dripping with venom.
Suddenly, I was on my knees, forced down by an overwhelming pressure that clawed at my mind. My vision filled with fleeting glimpses of death, waves of agonizing pain washing over me. Blood dripped from my mouth as I clenched my teeth, refusing to yield.
Alabastar raised a hand lazily, and with a casual gesture, a tree nearby snapped at its base, its trunk morphing into a sharpened spear hovering inches from my face. It edged closer, mocking, as if savoring the moment. Just when it seemed ready to end me, Alabastar released his grip.
The pressure lifted. I gasped, my heart pounding as I steadied myself.
"Well, well, well," Alabastar purred. "I suppose there's one small task you might be suited for. Consider it a test of your mettle. Deep within this forest, there lurks a three-headed wolf. Rip out each of her hearts and bring them to me, and I'll consider your debt cleared."
He clapped a hand on my shoulder with a condescending smile. "Best get moving. They say she grows stronger with the night. But then..." he shrugged, disappearing in a shimmer of shadows.
"Good luckkkk!" his voice echoed from the darkness, taunting.
The King of Deals would regret that but for now I had to endure. The forest waited. And somewhere within it, my trial.