The Conciege

(TPOR) Chapter 126: Mr. Smith

Zed sat patiently, staring at the notification in front of him.

Skills

· [Bloodwrath (Mana, blood)].

· [Bloodlust (Aura)].

· [Force (Rune)].

· [Force shield (Rune)].

A part of him had been hoping for more skills. Actually, a part of him had been hoping that he would have developed more skills. He had been hoping to see [Fire Flood] added to his skills. He saw a lot of positive impacts it could bring if he could cast a compound rune in the blink of an ey...

(TPOR) Chapter 125: Langly

“So, what you’re telling me is that this mission was a bust.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And we lost one of our best Olympian power armor along with it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Is there even any good news, at all?”

“Unfortunately not, ma’am.”

Daniel remained seated in the chair. Around him the room was a bright white and in front of him was a holographic projection of a woman in a long, white lab coat. It came all the way down to rest just above...

(TPOR) Chapter 124: The Engine Room

Zed was walking down a white and serene hallway. Beside him, Oliver followed in silence. He spared Zed a glance every now and again but said nothing. Whatever worried him, he did his best to keep it behind sealed lips. Their inquisition with Daniel had gone as smoothly as could be expected. Aside the hiccups where it had seemed like Zed was going to try his mettle against a Rukh rank mage one more time, the rest had gone without any problems.

Oliver was surprised to find himself relieve...

(TPOR) Chapter 123: Totally Casual

Ronda and Kid were sitting in a small room. Its walls were a dark grey color, as if the designer had been going for a gothic theme before whoever was in charge had chosen to stop them. Despite how massive the aircraft was, the room remained small. Its size was large enough to hold two bunk beds on either sides of it with enough space between them for two large men to stand side by side. This served as the rooms for every Olympian. It was designed so that sleeping was the only real use it woul...

(THOB) Chapter 98: Hallowed Enough

“So you leave the battlefield and she reckons it alright to break the chain of command to follow you. But when she starts running for the battlefield, you—No…We… follow her, simply ’cos you find some horse shite sense of loyalty to follow her to her death for the sake of love.”

“Shut up, brother.” Salem sighed, growing tired of Takan’s ranting. “Darvi made the call, not Ezril.”

“’Course he did.” Takan spat. “Reckon he saw no reason to refuse our broth...

(THOB) Chapter 97: In The Dark

Different thoughts went through his mind as he made his way up the tower steps, ignorant of the sisters carrying out their duties in silent sobs and the soldiers who seemed to take it upon themselves to console whoever they could. Half way to his destination he worried who he would find behind the door. Or if he would find anyone at all. He understood more than most the insanity grief could drive a person to as well as the decisions it could make a person take. Lenaria may have begrudged the ...

(TLO) Chapter 97: Another Terrifying Factor

Seth returned to the seminary under the announcement of first light. He returned wearing a new pair of grey joggers, a pair of boots fashioned in leather with a strap across its front, and a new grey cassock. They were gifts from Jabari. if anything, they were proof the man had known the outcome of his training before it began. He strolled up to the seminary gate he was now realizing he had never seen carrying a bag made of leather.

He remembered his conversation with Jabari regarding t...

(TLO) Chapter 96: IronBlooded

From where he sat, nearly a mile away from Seth, Jabari knew the moment the child attained convergence. It was in the singing of Masamune, in the emptiness of Dainik as it repelled the ambient reia drawn to the boy from the very act. In most soul magi, a convergent skill is born from the unity of both body and reia buttressed by the reia belonging to the world around them. That was not the fate he wished for Seth. By his hand Seth would be the very description of self-sufficient.

Any re...

(TLO) Chapter 95: Convergent Skill

Seth had never been so happy to see the long tachi in his life. The moment it got into the range of his awareness he knew exactly what it was. It registered like a king spider’s dying shriek: unmistakable.

He let it hit the ground before snatching it up. Its weight was almost empty compared to what he remembered. In his hands it weighed no more than any sword had a right to. It was a breath of fresh air compared to Dainik and Varmei that weighed him down just by being strapped to his ...

(TLO) Chapter 94: Shit Shit Shit

Shit, shit, shit, shit!

Jabari had got to be kidding him with this level of madness. Seth ducked a swinging tail that took out an entire tree whole, ripping it off the ground.

Aren’t these things supposed to be indestructible, he panicked as he slid across the rough ground, scurried to the side, and came up to his feet.

He faced a single opponent today, one he’d been facing for three days now. So far he’d faced it six times, each instance ending with ...

(THOB) Chapter 96: The Faithful Departed

The rise of the moon found Ezril in his room conversing with Lenaria. Tonight, she told of the god Berlak.

According to her, some thought him the god of the sun but Rin said he was nothing but a child amongst the gods; weak and not truly a god of anything. Although he had a limited control over the sun and his power rose with it, it did not make him the god of it.

“Sounds like she simply didn’t like him and just doesn’t want to accept he was a god of anything,” Ezril said....

(THOB) Chapter 95: Wanderlust

The next day Ezril sparred alone with Foln, deeming it fit not to put any of the younger soldiers through the morning torment they seemed to be getting acquainted with, so much so that once he had caught them drawing straws upon his arrival. Those who had drawn the shortest had followed him on his request. It reminded him that he’d asked for volunteers only, but to them it was a Sundered command.

“You display only violence,” Ezril told Foln, ducking beneath one of his full swings,...

(TPOR) Chapter 122: Aptly Put

Oliver stared at Zed, flabbergasted.

“You see, Ollie,” Zed explained cheerfully, “to get the level of trust you’re asking from me, it would require a lot. You’ll need to wine and dine me. Show me you care. Take care of my expenses. In summary, no. I don’t trust you that much, Ollie.”

Daniel chuckled. “You have a smart friend.”

Oliver turned a scowl on him but said nothing.

“Alright,” Daniel continued, turning to Zed. “We think you might be a blo...

(TPOR) Chapter 121: Do You Trust Me

Daniel pulled a cup practically out of nowhere and Zed’s jaw dropped.

“How’d you do that?” he asked with exaggerated awe, then turned to Oliver. “How did he do that?”

Oliver shook his head. “Focus, Zed.”

“It’s just…” Zed paused, sighed, then returned his attention to the cup. “Everyone’s acting extra serious today. It feels as if we can’t celebrate saving a young girl from a pedo—wait. Where’s Shanine?”

He turned his head from side t...

(TPOR) Chapter 120: But First...

“So he’s still alive,” Ivan said with a little too much enthusiasm for Heimdall’s liking. Then he barked a loud laugh, one that came from the stomach, full and genuine.

“I don’t see why it should matter much,” Heimdall said.

Both men were seated on a couch in Heimdall’s home. In front of them, Jason stood at ease. Jason had returned from the expedition with Tulip and Francis a day ago and had been given leave to rest. Francis and Tulip, however, had been quick to r...

(TPOR) Chapter 119: VHF Space Ship

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Zed said. “Why are we in a VHF spaceship?”

Oliver rubbed the back of his neck nervously, looking away.

“A lot has happened since we last saw,” he muttered.

“Don’t tell me I went and fainted and now it’s been three months since I woke up and you’ve just been here, by my side, alone, pining over me, praying and waiting for the day when I wake up while you bathed me and kept me clean and protected. Then when everyone gave up ...

(THOB) Chapter 94: Shadow Child

Ezril frowned at the sight before him. This was the tenth time, and yet, there was no difference. Not a stranger to violence? Ezril scoffed, he knows nothing but violence.

Foln swung his sword. The action bore all of his power and nothing of precision. Against better opponents it would have cost him, however, Ezril had chosen the youngest and least skilled of the soldiers he could find. He always warned them before they’d followed him. The person they would spar with...

(THOB) Chapter 93: Catch

Lenaria gave her swords a few swings before sheathing them and leaving the smithy. Ezril walking beside her returned greetings as the soldiers offered them. In the beginning they had drawn constant stares whenever they walked, the sisters surprised to find Lenaria capable of having a friend and one so close at that and the soldiers shocked to find the first bow capable of walking with someone who wore neither cassock nor the priestly war cloak. Now, however, all they were accorded was the occ...

(TLO) Chapter 93: Partially Stupid

Discomfort is a word used only by those who have known comfort. Those who have never known what it means to be comfortable do not understand what it means to be uncomfortable. With no knowledge of luxury, no witness of its occurrence, there will be no envy. This is not to be mistaken for the inability to dream. People will forever dream. There will forever be the hope of something better. A chair to sit on that doesn’t hurt so much. A place to lie and wake without a sore back. Something to ...

(TLO) Chapter 92: Dainik And Varmei

Seth sat on the ground surrounded by the discomfort of his own handiwork. The king spider corpses were beginning to smell and the stench was filling his nose.

He’d woken up about an hour ago healed from his ailments. He still bore his cuts and bruises, and his body still hurt if he moved around too much. But besides that, he was in good health. He breathed better and his muscles weren’t so stiff anymore, merely sore. Despite his questioning, Jabari refused to tell him if he’d help...

(TLO) Chapter 91: Work Undone

Pain was an old acquaintance, not known well enough or long enough to be called a friend. But he knew it; knew it like a guest at a family dinner every forth night. It was always there in the consequences of his failed daily quest. In a place where he had once lost an arm and a leg. It was also the companion of every soul mage.

Seth sat in the mist, back against a rough tree. His breathing was rapid and he knew it was not because of his breathing technique. He was tired, and bleeding, a...

(TLO) Chapter 90: Quick Step

Seth woke up with a fatigue in his mind but not his body. Reverend Anthony had been driving his brothers hard since they’d left the seminary, pushing them to use their skills beyond what any of the other Reverends ever had. It was as if he was bound to learn all of their skills. But he knew better. This was the inevitable path to Iron. The real question was why the man had barely afforded him any attention.

He’d attained a new skill a few days ago when he completed his daily quest. ...

(THOB) Chapter 92: Was It Worth It?

Morning found Ezril at the smithy after mass. It was as hot as every smithy he had ever had the displeasure of entering. Its walls bore scorches at random spots that had him wondering if the blacksmith shaped only metals or if the man had a propensity to forget the walls were made of stone and brick. Despite the scorch marks, the smithy was in surprising order.

Weapons intended for repairs laid arranged at one corner while the man’s works dangled from nails fastened to the walls, each...

(THOB) Chapter 91: Tarr

The next day proved uneventful, and so did the days that followed. Two days became three, and three became four. In time, seven days grew by with boring, unprecedented monotony.

The days lumbered by in agonizing sluggishness. Ezril found solace only in the nights he spent with Lenaria when she told him tales of ancient times and ancient people.

She rarely had much to say of the Tainted, but her tales proved pregnant with gods. Slowly, he fell into a game of sorts with himself wher...

(TPOR) Chapter 118: No And Yes

Zed woke up with the taste of iron in his mouth and the feel of iron on his back. He wondered what he could possibly have done to have someone place something so cold and uncomfortable on his back.

He paused as he wriggled his back. At first the motion had been involuntary, then it had been intentional. Something about the result told him that he was wrong somewhere.

Oh, he realized, it’s not on me, I’m on it. Color me corrected.

The room around him was...

(TPOR) Chapter 117: No Honor

Outside the forest the sunlight was a welcome reprieve. It was clearly a few hours past midday. The sun was in the early stages of its descent. Evening smiled on them from a distance away. It would be an hour or two more before the horizon would dim into the soulful orange of the evening sky. Despite all this, everyone shared the simple consolation of finally being out of the forest.

“Do you think he made it too?” Madam Shaggy asked no one in particular.

Eitri chuckled bitterl...

(TPOR) Chapter 116: To Occupy Space

“You don’t get it Oliver,” Chris said with a lowered voice. “Something was wrong with him. It was like he was experiencing the blood madness.”

Jason frowned but kept walking. He had built up a trickle of mana in his core now and his body wasn’t as fatigued as before. They had since begun their journey back out of the forest and had been walking for over an hour now. Festus carried Zed’s unconscious body at the front with the Olympian called Daniel, and had said nothing sin...

(TPOR) Chapter 115: He Will Not Die Today

“Or what?” Lady Long Legs asked with a sigh. “Abed’s dead, and what? You think you can slowly take up the role of commander? People might have thought Abed was our leader, but need I remind you that it was the thinking of those who knew nothing of the relationship between us. Abed often gave instructions and we didn’t go against them. Why? Because most times he said reasonable things.”

“They are hiding something,” Madam Shaggy said, undeterred.

“And so was Big Ma...

(THOB) Chapter 90: Bred For This

The midday sun found Ezril walking the grounds of the fort alongside Lenaria. She’d sat in on the morning mass but had only served to assist as priests do. Apparently, priestesses did not have the power to preside over masses. They possessed only as much veneration as priests.

Ezril felt fatigue at the thought of the morning mass. There was a pain in his thumb and fore finger, a side effect from his duties. Pinching Olufemi discreetly had been all he could do to keep his brother’s e...

(THOB) Chapter 89: Night's Blue

At Levlin’s words Teradin barked a derogatory laugh. “Fear will make a man see anything. Apparently, it makes savages see gods.”

“Only one, General,” the scholar corrected, seemingly accustomed to such mistakes. “A goddess. There was no veneration in their address of this… Night’s blue. Perhaps they see him more like a messenger of some god, or even the goddess herself.” He thought a moment. “A harbinger, if you will.”

“A Tainted?!” Bilvion demanded, ange...