Saga 2: The Tower of Lies
Time Skip: 6 Months Later.
Location: The Root-Cellar of Gluttony, Floor 5 (The Digestion Pit).
Chapter 15: The Golden Cage and the Paper Bird (Part 1)
Six months had passed since the siege of the Arken Estate.
To the outside world, nothing had changed. The estate was quiet. Duke Valerius was still away on the Northern Expedition (reports said the crusade was bogged down in the mud of the Sloth Continent). Young Master Caelum was dutifully managing the lands.
But underground, everything had changed.
Ren stood on a rock island in the middle of a lake of boiling acid. He was shirtless, his body lean and covered in faint scars. His muscles were not bulky, but they were dense, like braided steel wire.
He held the Prisoner's Shiv in a reverse grip.
Opposite him was a Gluttonous Hydra (Level 18). It had three heads, each dripping with venom.
"Again," Ren whispered.
The Hydra lunged. Three heads struck from different angles.
Ren didn't use Flash Step. He didn't use Shadow Veil.
He simply moved.
He side-stepped the first head. He ducked the second. He parried the third with his bare Gauntlet.
Clang.
His movements were fluid, devoid of wasted energy. This was the result of six months of hellish training. He had spent every night in the dungeon, fighting until his stamina hit zero, then using [Void-Chew] to force himself back up.
"End it," a voice called from the shore.
It was Jax. The orphan boy was now clean, well-fed, and wearing light leather armor. He held a clipboard.
Ren's eyes flashed violet.
[ Skill: Void Presence (Focused) ]
He projected a spike of pure intimidation at the Hydra. The beast flinched for a micro-second.
That was all Ren needed.
He leaped. He ran up the neck of the middle head. He drove the Shiv into the central brainstem.
SHUNK.
The Hydra collapsed, dissolving into bubbles.
[ XP Gained: 900. ]
[ Level 19 reached. ]
Ren landed on the shore, wiping slime from his blade.
"Time?" Ren asked.
"12 seconds," Jax read from the clipboard. "New record. Vargo is waiting in the War Room. He says the carriage is ready."
Ren nodded. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face.
"So today is the day," Ren said. "The Capital."
Location: The War Room (Formerly the Wine Cellar).
Time: 10:00 AM.
The cellar had been transformed. Maps covered the walls. Mana-lamps provided bright, clean light.
Vargo sat at the table, looking healthier than before. Since joining Ren, he had lost weight (mostly due to fear) and gained wealth (due to Ren's alchemy products).
"Report," Ren said, putting on a clean white shirt.
"The profits from the 'Vitality Gum' are up 200%," Vargo said, tapping a ledger. "We are selling it in five cities now under a shell company. The Guild's war chest has 5,000 Gold Coins."
"Good," Ren said. "And the intel?"
Vargo's expression darkened.
"I tracked the seller of the 'Blood of the Vane'," Vargo said. "The payment trail leads to the Capital. Specifically, to an anonymous vault in the Bank of Avarice."
"And the account holder?"
"Sealed. High-level magic. But..." Vargo slid a piece of paper across the table. "I bribed a clerk. He said the person who opened the vault wore the crest of the Royal Academy Faculty."
Ren stared at the paper.
Someone inside the Academy knew about his bloodline. Someone was selling his secrets.
"It's a trap," Caelum said, walking into the room. He was dressed in travel clothes—fine blue silks with silver embroidery. "They sold the blood to lure you out. Now they know you're coming to the Academy."
"A trap is just a puzzle with teeth," Ren said calmly. "If they are waiting for me at the Academy, then I must go to the Academy."
Ren looked at Caelum.
"Are you ready for the Entrance Exams?"
Caelum smirked. He drew a rapier from his hip. The blade hummed with wind magic.
"I'm Level 15, Ren. I'm not the crying brat you met in the hall anymore."
"And the cover story?"
"I am Caelum Arken, Noble Applicant," Caelum recited. "You are Ren, my Retainer. A commoner servant with 'limited' physical talent and no mana."
Ren nodded. "Perfect. The Ring of the False Null will keep my secret. To the world, I am just your baggage carrier."
Ren turned to Jax and Kaelith.
"Kaelith, you hold the fort. Jax, you manage the recruits. If the Duke returns early... go dark. Hide in the Dungeon."
"Understood, Boss," Jax saluted.
Ren picked up his bag. It contained the Grimoire, the Shiv, and a supply of potions.
"Let's go," Ren said. "To the Tower of Lies."
Location: The King's Road.
Time: Three Days Later.
The journey to Oakhaven Capital took three days by carriage.
As they crested the final hill, the city came into view.
It was massive. Ten times the size of the nearest town. It was built in concentric circles.
The Outer Ring: The Slums and Industrial District (Smoke and grime).
The Middle Ring: The Merchant District and Common Housing (Bustling markets).
The Inner Ring: The Noble Estates (White stone and gardens).
The Center: The Royal Palace and... The Ivory Tower.
The Ivory Tower pierced the clouds. It was a massive spire of white marble, floating crystals orbiting its peak. This was the Royal Academy of Magic. The seat of power.
"Look at it," Caelum whispered, looking out the carriage window. "It looks beautiful."
"It looks like a target," Ren muttered.
He activated [Analytical Eye].
Even from this distance, the city was awash in mana. Wards covered the walls. Sensors swept the gates.
[ Warning: High-Level Detection Array Detected. ]
[ Type: The Eye of Envy. ]
[ Effect: Scans for Criminal Intent and Unauthorized Magic. ]
Ren touched his Ring. Stay hidden.
The carriage rolled toward the main gate.
"Halt!" A guard in golden armor stepped forward. "State your business."
"Caelum Arken," Caelum announced, presenting his signet ring. "Applicant for the Academy."
The guard scanned the ring. "Pass, Lord Arken. And the other one?"
"My Retainer," Caelum gestured to Ren.
The guard looked at Ren. He held up a scanning crystal.
Hum.
The crystal remained clear. No color.
"A Null?" The guard sneered. "Why bring dead weight to the Capital?"
"He carries heavy bags," Caelum said boredly.
"Fair enough. Move along."
The carriage passed through the gates.
They were in.
Location: The Academy District, The "Golden Quill" Inn.
Time: Evening.
The Inn was packed with students. Nobles in silk, commoners in roughspun, all nervous, all waiting for tomorrow.
The Entrance Exam.
Ren and Caelum sat at a corner table.
"The Exam has three parts," Caelum whispered, reviewing a pamphlet.
The Mana Capacity Test (The Stone).
The Written Test (Theory).
The Combat Trial (Survival).
"I can't take the Mana Test," Ren said. "If I touch the stone, I'll break it again or reveal my level."
"Retainers don't take the Mana Test," Caelum said. "Retainers take the Service Trial. Obstacle course carrying weights. Cooking. Basic first aid. It's meant to weed out the lazy ones."
"Easy," Ren said.
Suddenly, the door to the Inn slammed open.
A group of students walked in. They wore uniforms that weren't from Oakhaven. They were crimson robes embroidered with a Phoenix.
[ Analytical Eye ]
[ Group: Students from the Southern Empire. ]
[ Leader: Draven Thorne. ]
Ren froze. Thorne.
The leader was a tall boy with red hair and a cruel face. He looked exactly like the Steward Ren had killed.
"Steward Thorne had a son?" Ren whispered.
"A nephew," Caelum hissed. "Draven. He was sent to the Empire to study, but he transferred back this year. He's a Fire Mage. And a sociopath."
Draven walked to the bar. He shoved a commoner student out of the way.
"Move, trash," Draven spat. "The air near you smells of poverty."
The commoner, a girl holding a staff, stumbled. "I... I was just ordering water."
"Did I give you permission to speak?" Draven raised his hand. His palm glowed with fire.
The Inn went silent. Using magic in the city was illegal, but nobles often got away with it.
Ren watched. If I intervene, I blow my cover.
But Caelum stood up.
"Draven!" Caelum called out.
Draven turned. He saw Caelum.
"Well, well," Draven sneered. "The Puppy of Arken. I heard my Uncle went missing while serving your house. Care to explain that?"
"He stole from us," Caelum said calmly. "He ran away."
"Ran away?" Draven laughed. "My Uncle couldn't run a mile if a dragon was chasing him. I think you killed him."
Draven walked over to their table. The heat coming off him was intense.
[ Enemy: Draven Thorne ]
[ Level: 18 ]
[ Class: Pyromancer ]
"I'm going to find out the truth," Draven whispered, leaning close to Caelum. "And when I do, I'm going to burn you alive."
He looked at Ren.
"And who is this? Your pet?"
Ren looked at the table. He didn't speak.
Draven grabbed Ren's water cup. He heated it instantly with magic until the water boiled.
"Drink," Draven commanded Ren. "A toast to my Uncle."
Ren looked at the boiling water.
[ Quest Triggered: The Bully's Toast. ]
[ Option A: Drink it (Take Damage, Maintain Cover). ]
[ Option B: Fight back (Blow Cover). ]
[ Option C: ...Use Alchemy. ]
Ren slowly reached for the cup.
"As you wish, My Lord," Ren whispered.
As his hand covered the cup, he slipped a tiny shard of [Void-Chew] into the boiling water. The gum contained concentrated cooling herbs (mint/menthol) as part of the recipe.
It dissolved instantly. The boiling water cooled rapidly to a lukewarm temperature.
Ren drank it in one gulp.
He slammed the cup down.
"Refreshing," Ren said deadpan.
Draven blinked. He had heated that water to scalding. The boy should be screaming with a melted tongue.
"You..." Draven frowned. "What are you?"
"Just a thirsty servant," Ren bowed.
Draven glared. He couldn't figure it out.
"This isn't over," Draven snarled. He turned and stormed out of the Inn with his entourage.
Caelum let out a breath. "Show off."
"He's dangerous," Ren said, wiping his mouth. "He suspects us. We need to be careful during the Combat Trial. He will try to kill you there."
Ren looked at the empty cup.
"Tomorrow, we enter the Academy. Stay close to me. The Tower of Lies has many eyes."
End of Chapter 15 - Part 1
Summary:
Time Skip: 6 months pass. Ren reaches Level 19. The Guild is wealthy.
The Journey: Ren and Caelum travel to the Capital for the Exams.
The Cover: Ren enters as a "Retainer" (Servant), hiding his magic. Caelum enters as a Noble.
The Threat: They encounter Draven Thorne (Steward Thorne's nephew/Fire Mage) who suspects foul play regarding his uncle.
The Confrontation: Ren uses alchemy to neutralize Draven's bullying attempt without revealing his magic.