Zeke found himself in front of a particularly large building. His eyes swept over the metallic letters atop the entrance, boldly proclaiming the name of this establishment.
The Lion’s Den.
Finally, it was time. The past week had gone by quickly. Zeke had been so preoccupied with gathering intel, watching fights in the arena, and tinkering with his spell, that he almost forgot about his promise. Luckily, he hadn’t lost himself completely and still remembered his plan. Today, he...
2023-10-23 13:15:00 +0000 UTC
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Even after a long moment, Zeke was unable to tear his eyes away from the sight in front of him. This place was so very different from what he had expected — from what anyone would expect to find in a desert.
Why was there so much water here?
Zeke’s eyes traced the many canals and waterfalls that dotted the entire city. The crystal clear streams were accentuated by the verdant greenery that seemed to be present everywhere. The palm trees and leafy plants appeared to be complete...
2023-10-20 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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When Zeke woke up the next morning, the first rays of light were already streaming in through the single window of the private room of the carriage. A groan involuntarily escaped his lips as he tried to rise. Zeke looked down and took in the state of his body.
He gasped, seeing the condition he was in. His palms had dozens of scars crisscrossing them. On top of that, his clothes, hair, and body were drenched in copious amounts of blood. There was also a strange acrid taste in his mouth....
2023-10-18 15:27:55 +0000 UTC
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In a lavishly decorated room, a young man with dark brown hair sat cross-legged. Each day, he would remain in that exact posture for hours on end, only taking breaks to eat or to sleep. To an outsider, it would have looked like he was in deep meditation. However, that was not the case.
For the last week, Zeke had spent his time in his Mind’s Library, working on his new spell. Now that he had a deadline to keep, he couldn’t afford to waste time.
At first, he had thought it to b...
2023-10-16 14:05:43 +0000 UTC
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Zeke didn’t respond right away. Instead, he swept his eyes over the inhabitants of the room. The caravan chief was smiling, beckoning him to come closer. The three Grand Mages, on the other hand, had serious expressions. Even Rahul seemed to be on edge.
Why were they even here? Was this a trap for him?
Nonetheless, his face remained calm as he entered. Zeke brought his hands together and bowed fractionally— the traditional greeting in Korrovan. The gesture was returned by the ...
2023-10-13 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The atmosphere had changed ever since the caravan had entered the oasis. Zeke had felt the shift as well. The surrounding flora, beautiful as it may be, seemed to be full of dangers.
“Attention!” Rahul yelled. He was one of the three Grand Mages and the leader of the guards. “For the next hour, I want all of you to focus — no distractions, no playing around. This might only be a silver-level zone, but I am not taking any risks.”
“Yes, sir!” The men replied in unison....
2023-10-11 13:49:41 +0000 UTC
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The sun had just crested the horizon when a train of carriages left through the eastern gate of Kanion. This was one of the regular caravans transporting goods and passengers between the capital to the border.
In one of the middle wagons, two brown-haired youngsters sat in silence, intently watching the new scenery. Those two were, of course, Zeke and Leo. They had managed to get a spot on the earliest ride, despite their late arrival. It hadn’t been all that hard for Zeke to convince...
2023-10-09 13:13:17 +0000 UTC
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Rani took her seat across from Zeke and studied the menu. After a few moments, she looked up with a questioning look. “Can I order anything?”
Zeke nodded.
“Can I order a lot of somethings?”
Again, Zeke nodded.
Rani went back to studying the menu, before deciding on a large three-course meal, not unlike what Zeke and Leo had eaten just earlier.
Zeke was baffled by this. Looking at her slim figure, he hadn’t thought she was such a big eater. Furthermore, ...
2023-10-06 14:31:21 +0000 UTC
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Zeke and Leo quickly made their way to the entrance of the Silkroad Serenity Inn. The guards, posted to either side of the door, looked at them with suspicion but didn’t block their path.
It was no wonder. The two, in their travelworn leather armor, didn’t look anything like the usual patrons of this establishment. Zeke guessed that the only reason they let them through was the fact that the guards could feel their Cores, being True Mages themselves.
Zeke nodded at them as he ...
2023-10-04 13:15:29 +0000 UTC
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After waiting for hours, it was finally their turn to enter the checkpoint. The guards, wearing heavy plate armor, eyed them critically as they approached. The guards’ eyes momentarily paused on their weapons — Zeke’s spear and Leo’s saber. But after a quick glance, they averted their gazes.
Zeke wasn’t surprised, as he could feel the aura of the guards. Their mana fluctuations made them out to be Grand Mages. Even after they noticed their weapons and Cores, they still ignored...
2023-10-02 18:07:59 +0000 UTC
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It had been three weeks since Zeke and Leo had hunted the boars, and their appearance had markedly changed in that time. Most noticeably, the two had upgraded their gear.
After leaving Tradespire with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the two managed to buy several pieces of equipment from the money they earned doing quests. Both were wearing rugged but sturdy leather armor with pieces of metal protecting their vital areas. Leo had also upgraded his weapon and a gleaming red saber...
2023-09-29 14:48:39 +0000 UTC
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The sun had just risen, shining bright in a cloudless sky. It was shaping up to be a warm summer day. Ignoring the idyllic weather, two teenage boys were rushing up the side of a hill, racing toward the top.
The two of them ran at speeds that would have been impossible for a normal person, even on flat ground. Even so, neither of them had any thoughts of slowing down despite the traitorous terrain. Only after reaching the top, did the winner finally come to a halt.
He was a brown-...
2023-09-27 13:34:05 +0000 UTC
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Margret slapped the desk, unable to hold back her shock at Zeke’s words. “What did you say? You want to leave?”
Zeke met her gaze. “Calm down, Margret.”
“Calm down? How can I calm down when you are spouting nonsense, Zeke.”
David, standing right next to her, also seemed troubled by the declaration. It had been three days since Akasha found the promising clue about the black metal, and Zeke had come to the decision that he had to visit that place himself.
...
2023-09-25 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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A pleasant summer wind blew across the grounds of the von Hohenheim estate. It had been two months since the day of the conference. Yet, the once customary hustle and bustle was still absent. Despite having regained a portion of the lost staff, the estate was still far from being back to its full capacity.
The empire’s threat had made it hard to hire anybody. Any normal person would not even consider a job in the estate. Most people would never consider falling out with the empire of ...
2023-09-22 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Who do you like most? Doesn't matter if you like them as a love interest or as a character. I am really curious about this.
2023-09-20 13:44:32 +0000 UTC
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After the Dragon’s words, silence reigned for a while.
Zeke was too shocked to even react. He had tried to talk to the Dragon many, many times. Ever since the latter had forced its heart on him, the uncertainty of his condition had hung like a sword over his head. Yet, now of all times, the Dragon spoke to him so casually, like it was a normal occurrence.
He had to know. “Why now?”
There was a brief moment of silence before the Dragon replied. “I don’t understand t...
2023-09-20 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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She'd lost count of the times she'd looked up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sky she loved. Yet, as always, it remained beyond her reach. No matter where she turned, all she saw was the bleak darkness of the never-ending cave system.
For the first couple of days, she hadn't found it all that bothersome. Claustrophobia wasn't her thing, and the idea of being underground held a certain thrill, reminding her of the adventures beneath Baumgarten. However, as days stretched into weeks, an...
2023-09-18 14:00:53 +0000 UTC
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The mechanical finger completed its rotation, pointing straight up once more. At the same time, a metallic ringing could be heard from the tower below the time-measuring device. Twelve times did the bell toll, reminding everyone that half the day had already passed.
After the last beat, Venus averted her eyes from the bell tower. She would have to take a detour to arrive on time. Today, she could not afford to run into her students. No matter how much she adored them, there was just not...
2023-09-15 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke stood in his office. Through the window, he observed the tiled path leading up to the main mansion of the estate. Today marked the seventh day since the conference, and therefore it was also the last day of the empire’s deadline. Everyone who would stay with him, or even in his employ after today, would draw their ire.
When the news broke, almost all of the newest hires quit on the spot. Zeke couldn’t even blame them, they had only been with him for weeks and he was just the la...
2023-09-13 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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A tingle went up Zeke’s spine as he realized that the entire room was now looking at him. Otto Geistreich’s declaration had ended the official part of the meeting, opening up the floor for whatever he had planned.
“Ezekiel von Hohenheim,” Otto began in a somber voice. “You are charged with treason against the empire. You are hereby ordered to return to Magusburg for your trial.”
Zeke’s heart clenched. However, despite the shock, he couldn’t say that he was all that...
2023-09-11 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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There was absolute silence as the messenger spoke. Nobody, not even the empire's delegation, dared interrupt their host's representative.
“My role here today is to act as a mediator and ensure the neutrality of Tradespire is not breached,” the messenger announced, sweeping their eyes over all parties. “We don’t want any part in this conflict and do not intend to take sides. Therefore, any intentional violations of the peace will have grave consequences — for yourselves, your ...
2023-09-08 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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For the third time this month, Zeke found himself in front of that very same building on the second layer. The city hall was the same as always, its white walls as sturdy as ever. However, he barely recognized it today. A somber atmosphere blanketed the usually lively plaza, seemingly infecting everyone.
People were huddled together in small circles, their hushed whispers and nervous glances a clear indication of their unease. At the very edge of the plaza, Zeke found Lara and Albert do...
2023-09-06 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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“What do you need, young lord?” David asked through the open door.
“Come in, I want to talk to you about something,” Zeke said as he got up from his prone position on the couch.
As David entered, he glanced in wonder at the three floating pens that were simultaneously scribbling away on three separate sheets of paper. “Your control is impressive. I hadn’t thought it possible to perform such intricate movements with multiple objects at once.”
“I have my ways,...
2023-09-04 13:15:00 +0000 UTC
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Zeke swallowed dryly. This had been a depressing start to the event. He had been aware that statistically, only one in five Mages would manage to advance. However, seeing it in person was something else entirely.
He glanced at David. The man seemed unrattled by the display, but Zeke wasn’t sure if he should trust his calm facade. Out of all of them, David was closest to the advancement. His core might hit the limit of Grand Mage in the next couple of months.
Would he try to adva...
2023-09-01 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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“I am surprised your family would pay for the VIP seats, Mordred,” Zeke remarked as they made their way through the gate. “That must have been quite expensive, especially for a group of your size.”
Mordred scoffed. “Are you kidding? We are almost 30 people, the cost would have bankrupted my family. Of course, we wouldn’t pay for that.”
“Then how did you get your spots?”
Mordred smirked as he rummaged through the inside of his robes. After a moment, his hand...
2023-08-30 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke stretched as he emerged from his workshop. His joints cracked at the movement. It had been over a day since he had pushed his body. Behind him, his guards were busy stacking up his finished Runes.
“How many did we make, Akasha?”
[Answer]
In the last 41 hours, we have created a total of 80 Enchantments. 40 Gust Enchantments and 40 Levitation Enchantments.
Zeke smiled broadly. This was even better than he had expected. Before, his...
2023-08-28 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke stood in front of the window, looking down at the hustle and bustle. The constant flurry of movements was balm to his nerves. His biggest fear had been that something in the estate might have gone wrong during his absence.
However, nobody seemed alarmed or panicked in the least. This was a good sign. The fact that he had even been worried was strange in and of itself. He really should be putting more trust in his people. After all, he had little to nothing to do with the daily goin...
2023-08-25 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke awoke with a massive headache. He groggily rubbed his eyes as he sat up in his bed. Why did he feel so worn out? How long had he stayed up yester… With a start, he remembered how he had ended up in this situation: The ritual!
“Are you there, Spirit?”
“Answer: I am here.”
“How long was I out?”
“Answer: It has been 15 cycles since the day of the implementation.”
Zeke nodded. This was about what he had ex...
2023-08-23 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The moment Zeke spoke those words, the scene changed. The entire stage of the ritual disappeared from his view to be replaced with a neverending void.
He felt himself fall, but he couldn’t be sure if it was up or down. In fact, he couldn’t be sure of much of anything in this strange place. He couldn’t tell where he was, nor how much time had passed. Not even his Magic responded to his call.
Thankfully, he wasn’t alone in this void. A surprisingly soft, artificial-sounding ...
2023-08-21 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke remained standing in the middle of the ritual, expectantly gazing at the portal above him. However, minutes passed without anything happening.
During Celine’s ritual, spirits had appeared one after the other. Was that the difference between a top-tier offering and his mediocre showing? Zeke hoped that he had not just squandered his only chance.
Even so, he’d rather forgo having a summon all together, than having a creepy Soul eating monster as a companion. The thought of ...
2023-08-18 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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