I am Ren Drakemore, age 8, the unwanted prince of Arcadia. However, one day, I will be king.
I sit in my workshop, flipping through the final pages of Advanced Techniques in Golemancy, but my mind is elsewhere. Instead, Lady Willow's words echo in my thoughts.
"If you want to change the kingdom, Ren, you must act in ways that cannot be traced back to you."
At the time, I hadn't fully grasped her meaning. But recent events have made it painfully clear: I need a way to operate outside the castle without exposing myself. With my father instructing the nobility to block me at every turn and Fobos constantly watching and interfering in my affairs, I am utterly stifled.
But I've devised a solution to all my problems.
What if I created a separate identity? One that could move freely through the kingdom, build a reputation, and accomplish everything I need, without anyone connecting it to me?
My bodyguard puppet is the perfect solution. Originally designed to protect me, its utility has grown along with my magical control range. The puppet can now operate far beyond the castle walls, even miles into the city. With it, I can coordinate with allies, confront my enemies, and gather information, all while remaining safely anonymous. Best of all, my puppets are disposable. They cannot die, and I have nothing to lose.
The first step is to get the puppet registered at the Adventurer's Guild. This will establish a legitimate identity for it and allow it to complete quests. These quests will help me raise money while also providing invaluable real-world combat experience. There's so much about this world I still don't understand, my encounter with the dreadcoil proved that. If I want to defeat my father and his allies, I need to learn how to fight and survive in real battles.
Next, I need a name. I plan to use the puppet in the shadows, so… "Shadow" seems fitting. Is that too corny? No, it's cool and mysterious. Adventurers often go by code names, so no one will think twice about it.
I stand, gazing at my puppet propped on its stand. "What do you think, buddy? Do you like the name Shadow?"
The puppet doesn't answer, of course.
I place my hand on its chest and cast the mind transfer spell. The puppet jerks upright, pulling itself free from the stand, and stands before me.
"What do you think of the name Shadow?" I ask again.
A voice emanates from the puppet's mask, magically produced despite the lack of a mouth. "Being as I am you, and you like the name, I think you already know I approve."
Shadow tilts his head from side to side, then rotates his joints in turn, testing his flexibility.
"What's it like, Shadow?" I ask curiously.
"It's a little weird having myself call me Shadow," he replies, his tone calm. "But my mobility feels good. It's just… odd not being able to feel anything."
"You can't feel anything at all?" I ask. "That makes sense, I suppose."
"No. Nothing I touch, not even my own weight," Shadow explains. "It's a very strange sensation."
I nod, intrigued by this insight. "Do you have any questions about the plan for registering as an adventurer?"
"There is one thing," Shadow says, his tone thoughtful. "You need to be fifteen years old to register. We're a bit too short to pass for fifteen."
He's right. At eight years old, I'm much shorter than the average fifteen-year-old, and I built Shadow to match my height.
"How much taller do we need to make you?" I ask.
"I'm not sure," Shadow replies with a shrug. "We don't know any fifteen-year-olds. Maybe six more inches?"
"That's as good a guess as any," I say, shrugging back.
Shadow casts a spell on himself, increasing the size of his body and clothes by 6 inches.
"There's also your voice," I add. "You sound like me. You'll need to sound older."
Shadow pauses, adjusting his vocalization spell. "How about this?" he asks, his voice deeper.
"That's a little sinister," I remark.
"And this?" Shadow tries again, adjusting the spell once more.
"Perfect. Older, but not too old," I say approvingly.
"Next, we need to make you taller and match your voice to mine," Shadow says, gesturing toward me.
"Right. I'll have to be the one who registers at the guild since registration requires blood," I reply. "And you don't have any blood."
I focus my mana and casts the two spells to adjust my appearance and change my voice. At the same time Lady Willow reaches the bottom of the staircase and joins us.
"Hello, Lady Willow. I'm heading out for a little while," I say, testing my new, deeper voice.
Lady Willow raises an eyebrow, with an amused smile. "Oh wow, they grow up so fast."
"Humans or children?" Shadow asks, his tone deadpan.
"Is there a difference?" Willow replies lightly, watching as I don an identical set of clothes and armor. "Make sure you go straight to the Adventurer's Guild and back, nowhere else. And use the hidden entrance. The main entrance is likely being watched. Most importantly, be careful."
"Yeah, be careful," Shadow adds, flopping onto the couch. "We'll be here waiting for you."
With a cheerful "goodbye" I put the mask on, finishing the ensemble and head down the staircase into the basement to where the secret hidden entrance is located. Through a door concealed in an old wooden wardrobe I enter a long stone corridor that led to a magically concealed door. With a wave of my hand the stone wall becomes a door that opens up at the base of the castle's exterior wall overgrown with shrubs. The moment I close the door behind myself it disappears into the wall. Then I am off down the street toward the adventure's guild on the main market road.
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Moments after entering the bustling guild hall, I notice a distinct shift in the atmosphere. Conversations quiet, and heads turn in my direction, their expressions ranging from puzzled to mocking. My hood and mask provide anonymity, yes, but they do nothing to make me inconspicuous. In fact, they do the opposite.
As I walk further into the hall, I catch muttered comments: "Who's the freak in the mask?" and "Who the fuck does this shrimp think he is?" Laughter follows, and I hear several adventurers whispering and chuckling about my height.
Clearly, adding six inches wasn't enough.
I force myself to ignore the deluge of critical stares and snide remarks as I make my way to the receptionist's desk. A growing sense of unease gnaws at me, but I focus on the task at hand. I step into line behind a young girl with shoulder-length blond hair, dressed in light armor and tight-fitting clothes that cling to her slim frame. Her right pant leg is torn over a poorly bandaged wound, and the blood-soaked dressing makes it clear she's in bad shape. She looks pale, unsteady on her feet, and nervous.
"Here are the horned rabbit pelts for my quest, ma'am," the girl says softly, placing a bundle of pelts and a quest form onto the counter. Her voice carries a tremor of exhaustion and pain.
The girl's injured leg shakes as she stands, and her eyes dart nervously toward the receptionist. The receptionist leans over to inspect the quest form, then carefully counts the pelts.
"Sorry, Miss Maribel," the receptionist says with an apologetic look. "This quest requires 10 horned rabbit pelts, but there are only nine here."
"One of the rabbits got my leg pretty good," Maribel pleads, her voice tinged with desperation. "Can't you just pay me for the nine pelts so I can get a potion? Please?"
The receptionist's expression softens, but she shakes her head regretfully. "I'm sorry, but I can't pay for partial completion of a quest. It's against the rules."
I understand her position. Quest terms are set by their originators, wealthy benefactors like lords, merchants, or even the king. The receptionist doesn't have the authority to bend the rules.
"Please, ma'am," Maribel says again, her voice cracking. "I can't finish the quest with my leg like this."
Before the receptionist can respond, a large, rough-looking adventurer rises from a nearby table where he's been drinking with his companions. The strong stench of honeyed wine reaches me as he steps closer, a twisted smile curling his lips.
"I can give you the silver you need for a potion, little lady," he says, his voice smooth yet menacing. "You can pay me back the same way you did before."
The room feels colder as he approaches. The predatory gleam in his eyes and the way his gaze rakes over her make my skin crawl. He's like a lion stalking prey, and Maribel's reaction confirms my worst suspicions. Her face pales further, and she refuses to look at him, terror etched into her every feature.
This is wrong. I don't know exactly what's happening here, but I know I need to step in.
"Here," I interject, pulling a potion from my pouch and holding it out toward Maribel. "You can have this for free."
Maribel turned to me, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. "Are you sure? You don't want anything in return?" she asked hesitantly.
"It's yours. You owe me nothing," I replied calmly, placing the potion in her hand.
"Hey, you little brat!" growled the man, his glare fixed on me as he stepped closer. "Butt out of our business!"
Maribel wasted no time. "Thank you, sir," she said quickly, pulling the stopper from the small glass potion. She raised it to her lips and drank. A faint green glow surrounded her wounds as the deep gash on her leg and the smaller scratches across her body healed instantly.
"It looks like she won't need your money," I said evenly, keeping my voice calm as I silently prepared a defensive spell.
I had barely finished speaking when the brute lunged at me, his fist flying toward my face with inhuman speed. My thought acceleration spell was the only reason I could even register the movement in time. Thankfully, I had already cast a barrier spell in anticipation, and his punch collided with it, bouncing off with a sickening crack.
"Ouch," I said smugly, watching him clutch his hand in pain. "Sounds like you broke something, sir. You might want to get yourself a potion."
"You bastard!" the man roared, his face twisted in fury. His right hand looked grotesque, with several fingers bent unnaturally. He reached for the sword on his belt with his uninjured left hand.
"Enough!" barked the surly woman behind the receptionist's counter. "Bram! There will be no fighting among adventurers, and no fighting in the guild! One more move, and your registration will be revoked!"
Bram froze, his bloodthirsty glare still locked on me. His hand lingered on the hilt of his sword, but after a tense moment, he let it drop and shifted to cradling his broken hand instead.
"Relax, lady. We were just talking," Bram muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. He turned and stalked off toward the table where his drinking companions sat, their laughter cutting through the now-tense atmosphere.
I watched him retreat, noting the lingering menace in his posture. I wasn't sure if adventurers were always this hostile or if Bram's aggression was fueled by excessive alcohol. What I was sure of, however, was that he was a scumbag. Maribel's unsettled expression confirmed it
"Thank you again... ah, what was your name?" Maribel asked sheepishly as she gathered her incomplete quest materials and moved out of the line.
"I am Shadow. Nice to meet you, Maribel, was it?" I responded.
"Thank you, Mr. Shadow," she said with a shy smile before heading toward the quest bulletin boards on the right side of the guild hall.
I stepped up to the desk, where the receptionist gave me a once-over. "And what can I do for you, kid?" she asked, her tone laced with mild skepticism. She was a classically pretty woman whose conservative uniform complemented her sharp features. Under different circumstances, I might have found her attractive, if she weren't looking at me with a mix of suspicion and boredom.
"I'm here to register," I said, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.
sure, I am a kid, but it irks me to called one none-the-less.
The receptionist raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Are you even... fifteen?" she asked, her skepticism cutting deeper than I expected.
Damn it. I should have made myself taller!
I'd spent so much time perfecting my disguise, but clearly, I'd underestimated how tall a fifteen-year-old should be. Having no real experience with kids of any age, my guess had been way off.
Recovering quickly, I nodded. "Yes, I'm fifteen." The truth wasn't important here. It's not like she could prove otherwise.
She sighed and slid a registration form across the counter. "All right. You'll need a name. We use blood samples to register and avoid duplicate entries. Once you choose a name, you're stuck with it."
I paused briefly, then wrote Shadow on the line.
No turning back now. Shadow is my alter ego. I hope I don't regret this later.
"'Shadow,' huh?" the receptionist said, raising an eyebrow but not pressing further. "A bit mysterious, but I get it. Adventurers often leave their pasts behind and take up new names." She shrugged, clearly unfazed.
Maybe she's used to strange monikers by now.
On the form, a small silver plate affixed to the parchment caught my attention. It was labeled with the instructions: Place thumb here.
Following the instructions, I pressed the thumb of my right hand to the plate. A sharp prick drew a drop of blood. Though I was expecting it, the sudden sting made me reflexively pull my hand back, and, without thinking, I tried to stick my thumb in my mouth. Instead, my thumb collided with my mask, startling me.
I froze, regaining my composure while silently praying no one noticed. Unfortunately, I heard the receptionist stifle a laugh.
The silver plate glowed softly, analyzing the blood sample and recording my power level and affinities. The receptionist leaned forward, her eyes widening slightly as she read the results.
"Nine thousand... one hundred eighty-two?" she murmured, almost to herself. Her gaze snapped to me, a mix of awe and suspicion in her expression. "That's nearly the upper end of a C-rank. And... high affinity in all five magical elements? That's unheard of for a new registrant."
I blinked, stunned. I'd figured my magical capacity was decent thanks to my training, but high-level affinities across all elements? That was unexpected. A surge of pride swelled in my chest, and for a moment, I let my mind wander to fantasies of becoming an S-rank adventurer, a hero recognized across the known world, revered as an equal to entire armies.
The receptionist cleared her throat, snapping me back to reality. "Even with those readings, you'll have to start as an E-rank adventurer. Guild policy," she said, her tone returning to its no-nonsense cadence. "To rank up, you'll need to complete at least ten E- or D-rank missions. After that, an assessor will review your skills based on speed, efficiency, and task difficulty.
"Keep in mind," she added pointedly, "failing missions or committing crimes can lower your guild rating. That will make re-ranking take much longer."
"And that will be 5 silver for your registration fee" The guild lady added.
I give a curt nod, acknowledging the rules as I handed her five silver coins for the fee. After a few moments, she hands me a freshly printed guild registration card with his name, Shadow, emblazoned across it.
I guess while I am here I might as well pick out a quest for Shadow to complete. Noticing the mission boards to my right, surrounded by other adventures reading the quest descriptions nailed to the boards. I make his way toward the mission board, murmurs followed me, adventurers whispering about the masked newbie with an unusually high-power reading. As I walk up to the board, I noticed the girl from earlier, Maribel, among those reading over the available quests. As I walk up, she notices me as well.
"Hey, Shadow," she greets me with a smile. "I heard your power rating, pretty impressive. You must be pretty skilled to get a reading like that." She said sounding genuinely impressed.
I nod to her. "Thank you, have you been doing this long?"
"Well," she replied with a chuckle, "I'm fairly new to the guild too. And while I might not be as powerful as you, I'd say I've got useful skills. Rogue-class," she added proudly.
Ren tilted his head. "Rogue-class?" I ask.
Maribel laughed. "Rogue-class' means I specialize in speed, stealth, agility, traps, and dealing precise damage with surprise attacks. Pretty useful against monsters you can't face head-on."
I nod and say "Thanks for explaining. I apricate the offer, and I wouldn't mind doing quests with you in the future. However, being as I am still figuring things out, I think I would like to do a few missions solo. That said, I would love to team up with you in the future."
I feel a bit guilty seeing Maribel's disappointed expression in response to my words. I really would like to work with her, but I don't know how well my puppet will hold up on a real mission. I don't want something going horribly wrong with a witness there to discover what he really is.
Maribel looks back at me with a smile barely covering her disappointment. "Fair enough. Well, be careful out there, Shadow. Even a D-rank mission can be risky on your first go."
we both turn to the mission board, my eyes settling on a wolf hunting request for Lord Griswald's lands. Apparently, a pack of wolves have been killing livestock, a common enough problem, but dangerous when the pack turned aggressive to humans as well. Maribel reached for a simpler request, locating a missing dog.
"This seems a safer choice for someone to broke for healing potions" she said with a wink. "But good luck with the wolves. That's a bold first mission."
I nod, taking the mission slip. Both Maribel and I turn and head back to the receptionist to confirm our chosen quests. After confirming the quests with the guild receptionist, we head out of the guild and part ways, and I head back to the castle.
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A short while later, I arrive back at my workshop in the tower. I hand Shadow the quest contract and his brand-new E-class adventurer's card.
"We're all set, Shadow," I say, removing my cloak, mask, and armor.
"Hunting wolves, huh?" Shadow remarks, scanning the quest details. "Should be easy enough."
"Right. I think you've got everything you need, correct?" I reply, proceeding to list off his equipment.
"Paralyzing short sword?"
"Check."
"Armor with physical and magical resistance?"
"Check."
"Potions, in case I come across anyone in need?"
"Check." Shadow nods. "Looks like we're ready to go. I'll head out soon and aim to arrive in Griswald's domain by nightfall, wolves are more active at night."
"You can borrow a horse from the stables," I offer.
Before Shadow can respond, Lady Willow's voice interjects from across the room. "Ren, remember that your puppet will only possess a fraction of your true magical and physical abilities," she says, walking over to us. Her gaze shifts to Shadow. "Young Master Shadow, please be cautious. Though you cannot die, if you run out of mana or sustain too much damage, you'll leave behind a mangled puppet body. That could be... complicated to explain if discovered."
"I'll be careful," Shadow assures her, placing the strap of his magical bag over his shoulder. Without further delay, he heads toward the hidden exit of the tower.
Lady Willow had approved my plan when I'd discussed it with her earlier. She supports it because it allows me to gain experience without putting my life in direct danger. Her primary concern, as always, is my safety, making me more capable of defending myself. I appreciate that too, but for me, this is about more than survival.
I'm excited by the chance to see more of the world and do new and exciting things. Until now, my opportunities to travel beyond the castle walls have been scarce. Through Shadow, I can finally live the life I've always dreamed of, an exciting life full of purpose and adventure. Even if I cannot experience it directly, Shadow will see it all for me, and his memories will become my own.
As Shadow leaves the tower, I return to my studies, a sense of exhilaration building within me. For the first time, it feels like my life is turning to a new and exciting chapter.