Upon their return to Ayshan, the cavalry squadron disbanded to rest. Mordred took young Richard into the Black Rose Fortress and temporarily placed him in a guest room located in the outer fortress. Soon after, two young maids brought fresh clothes and accessories, and filled a wooden tub in the bathroom with hot water. Marquis Godon had scheduled a dinner to meet with Richard, but before that, he needed to bathe, change, and rest for a while.
The bath and change of clothes were quickly completed, and Richard lay down on the bed. He had about an hour to rest. Despite the exhaustion from the long journey, his mind remained in turmoil, refusing to calm. During the bath, the two maids had been present the entire time. Richard didn’t even have to lift a finger; the process was entirely handled for him. In truth, he had tried to refuse and resist, but the maids easily overpowered him. Though their frames were slender, they possessed strength greater than the village chief’s, rendering Richard completely powerless to fight back. He was obediently scrubbed from head to toe, with even the roots of his hair and the edges of his ears thoroughly cleaned.
The guest room Richard was assigned to was small but had a ceiling five meters high. A narrow window at three meters allowed a bit of daylight to filter through. The walls were made of unpolished obsidian, preserving the raw, unrefined appearance of the stone as it had been when mined. The rough stone surfaces were decorated with tapestries and shields, the tapestries a deep, dark red that Richard couldn’t help but think looked like dried blood. The room was very dim, and without torchlight, even the midday sun couldn’t penetrate clearly, leaving large shadows and a murky gloom. Lying on the bed, Richard felt an eerie chill emanating from the floor, walls, and corners. But within him, there was a fire, the flame kindled by the maids during the bath. At that moment, they had laughed quietly to themselves. Richard, being quick-witted, sensed that their actions had been intentional.
The cold and the fire combined, adding to Richard's sense of confusion. Since leaving Rutherland Village, no, since the beginning of the Enlightenment ceremony, everything had felt like a dream, the world unreal. In the midst of this chaos, a knock at the door sounded: it was time for dinner.
The dinner hall was located within the inner fortress, a long distance from the guest room. Following the maid’s lead, Richard was left with impressions of only vastness and darkness. The towering buildings seemed endless, with long, winding corridors that, though lit, left many areas in shadow, the flickering torchlight doing little to disperse the deep gloom. The path outside, lined with thick plant foliage, further distorted the light, making Richard’s nerves tighten involuntarily.
The castle seemed to be imbued with a subtle presence, an aura that lingered before and behind him, intertwining with every step he took. It made him feel an instinctive repulsion, an unease that he couldn’t quite express.
The dinner hall was not the largest in Black Rose Fortress, but it was certainly grand enough for a duke, with a ceiling soaring fifteen meters high. Despite the many torches mounted along the walls, their light struggled to illuminate the frescoes on the vaulted ceiling. The dining table was twenty meters long, with Richard, dressed in his finest noble clothes, seated at one end. Across the table, a distance enough to seat thirty people, he looked at his father from afar.
He was a man of peculiar charm, always wearing a smile, with hair and a thick beard neatly groomed. Age had left barely noticeable marks on his face, the faintest of lines at the corners of his deep green eyes that shone with clarity. Yet, those eyes seemed to pull you in, giving an almost suffocating feeling. He sat casually, expertly cutting into his plate of roasted lamb chops, eating quickly, occasionally sipping from a glass of red wine. His movements had a strange rhythm, almost hypnotic. Even the most critical etiquette experts would not find fault with his demeanor. Of course, he ate quickly, and perhaps too much, but his grace masked the fact that in mere moments, several kilograms of lamb had disappeared.
Richard had to admit that this was a remarkably graceful and charismatic man, though he could hardly suppress the urge to throw his silver plate at him.
Later, he would come to understand that many others had the same desire to throw things at Marquis Godon’s face.
But for now, Richard held back—not for himself, but for his mother. He still didn’t fully understand the meaning of her wish, but with determination, patience, and wisdom, he knew that one day, he would come to grasp the deeper meaning of that wish.
Richard sat up straighter, awkwardly handling the food in front of him. The meal was abundant—Black Rose Fortress’s kitchen was famous across the peninsula, home to the finest red meat chefs and pastry chefs. But Richard couldn’t discern the taste of the food that passed into his mouth. He had never been trained in etiquette, and his clumsy handling of the knife and fork made it obvious that he was from a rural background. He was completely unaware of the many noble dining protocols. But the newly dressed Richard looked very handsome, and the somber, melancholic air about him was strangely similar to Godon’s. Several of the passing maids stole glances at him. Richard was no longer just a child; in a year or two, he would start to develop the allure of a man.
After elegantly and almost magically finishing more than twenty kilograms of lamb, Godon wiped his mouth with a pristine napkin and smiled, his broad mouth showing a row of dazzling white teeth.
“You’re Richard,” he said.
Richard merely nodded without speaking. He could tell that Godon was stating it as a fact, not asking a question.
Godon smiled again and said, “You’re lucky, because you’re an Akmond; but you’re also unfortunate, because you’re an Akmond.”
Richard raised his head, meeting Godon’s gaze, and said steadily, “I am Richard.”
Godon’s eyes were as clear as water, but few could hold his gaze. Yet Richard held his head high, not backing down an inch.
Godon smiled briefly, then sighed, saying, “Your personality is much like your mother’s! But she never mentioned that your name was Richard Yuege.” It was phrased as a question, but still had the tone of a statement.
Richard hesitated, then finally said, “No.” Now he understood a bit of what his mother’s intentions had been.
“So, you’re still an Akmond, whether you admit it or not,” Godon said. By now, he had finished all the main courses. He waved his hand, and ten maids appeared in a continuous stream to clear away the used dishes, replacing them with fresh ones and bringing out seven different desserts.
As he quickly and elegantly worked his way through the desserts, Godon said, “Let’s talk about something unnecessary. Even the most seasoned nobles can’t fault my manners. Yet those old families still think I’m just a nouveau riche. And then there’s another important figure, the one we call ‘Bloodthirsty Philip,’ whose favorite dish is raw beast meat, served no more than an hour after being cut from the live beast. If it’s a rare breed, the time limit can be extended to a day, and this esteemed gentleman prefers to tear the meat apart with his own hands. Yet those nobles still admit he has real aristocratic bearing. Do you know why?”
Richard shook his head. He knew nothing of the world of nobles. All his knowledge came from Mordred, and the knight was hardly a suitable teacher.
“Because this ‘Bloodthirsty Philip’ is none other than our Holy Alliance’s greatest Emperor! His power is so immense, and his temper so volatile, that the old nobles are too afraid to anger him. Plus, having someone like him in their circle brings a lot of tangible benefits. These benefits are so large that they can’t be refused.”
Richard nodded, understanding a little.
“So, since you’re an Akmond, it’s unfortunate, but you must become powerful, become even stronger! With power, the world becomes your paradise, and without it, anywhere is hell! When that happens, you won’t care if you grew up in the mountains or in the most magnificent castle. You won’t need to pretend, like I do now. These things are illusions, meaningless to you now. What matters is that you become strong! Because you’re an Akmond, blood from the Akmond family flows in your veins! With that surname, people will have high expectations for you. If you’re only a little stronger than the average person, everyone will be disappointed.” Godon’s voice grew louder, and soon it sounded like thunder, each word like a shockwave, shaking Richard’s head and vision.
Richard gripped his knife and fork tightly, no longer caring about the food that fell from the fork and onto his plate, his mind reeling as he stared at the man across from him—still maintaining an elegance in posture, but yelling thunderously in a way completely mismatched with his composure.
Godon suddenly quieted his voice, giving a charming smile, and said, “As long as you have enough power, you can do whatever you want, whether it’s meaningful or completely absurd, just like this.” With that, he waved for a maid to approach, grabbed her chest and tore her clothes violently in half, leaving her fully exposed. The maid instinctively let out a scream, but quickly swallowed it, keeping her hands obediently at her sides, showing no attempt to cover her exposed body.
The room’s other occupants—servants, knights, and guards—stood quietly against the walls, like statues. Among them was Mordred, who had accompanied Richard from Rutherland. At this moment, the statues came to life. They still held their standard posture, but their eyes now greedily focused on the naked maid. Though her face was not especially beautiful, her youth lent her body vitality and allure.
Richard stared, stunned. The shock of the scene was overwhelming for a ten-year-old child. His childhood resilience helped him grip the utensils tightly, preventing them from falling.
Godon waved his hand, and the maid dared to pick up her torn clothes, though she did not use them to cover herself. She knelt in her usual pose, bowed respectfully, then exited the dining hall, only daring to turn around once she reached the corridor. She feared that if she ran in a disorderly manner, the consequences would be far worse.
Sure enough, Godon’s voice followed her, “Richard, I had planned to kill someone for you to watch, but I’ve already killed everyone I could during a bad mood a while ago. Speaking of which, there are quite a few spies planted by other nobles here. Too bad I couldn’t control my temper then, and now there’s no one left to kill.”
Richard’s face turned pale. How could anyone speak so lightly of killing? But the servants and knights in the room maintained their usual calm, as if such things were just as ordinary as hunting animals for food.
Only then did Richard sense that faint presence in the castle, a lingering odor—a scent of blood accumulated over the years.
By the time he had finished his meal, Richard had no idea what the taste was. He fought to keep the contents of his stomach from rising, but it was difficult. The smell of blood, once noticed, grew increasingly distinct and hung in the air.
But Richard ate a fair amount. He was growing, and children from the mountains always had a hearty appetite. Godon seemed pleased and said, “The more you eat, the faster you’ll grow. Richard, your mother has a wish she wants you to fulfill, doesn’t she?”
Richard’s expression changed, and he remained silent, giving a silent affirmation. But he didn’t intend to share the details of the wish with Godon. He would only speak of it the day it was fulfilled.
Godon didn’t press him further, saying, “No matter what your mother’s wish is, it’s probably not easy to fulfill. I won’t help you directly, nor will I give you strength. But I’ll give you ample opportunities, chances to become stronger. As for how far you can go, that depends entirely on you. I hope that one day, when you stand before me, you can speak loudly.”
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Richard nodded but said nothing.
Godon pondered for a moment and said, “I’ll find you a teacher. You’ll study under her for the next few years. I hope that when you come back to see me, you’ll surprise me. This is not just for me, but for you, and for your mother. Now, go meet your siblings. It’ll be an interesting meeting.”
Richard didn’t understand Godon’s words, but half an hour later, he would understand that meeting his siblings truly was an interesting experience. The deeper meaning of it, however, wouldn’t be clear until several years later, when he would understand it in the most profound way.
At the time of the meeting, Richard sat rigidly in the high-backed chair, his body stiff as a statue, his eyes slightly turned upward, staring at the painting above the door, completely motionless.
This was a small reception room in the inner fortress, located in another wing of the building opposite the dining hall, only for family use. The room’s decoration was luxurious and extravagant, in stark contrast to the castle’s dark, cold atmosphere. The room was warm and bright, with fixed lighting magic providing daylight-like brightness, and numerous candles placed in large, ornate floating candelabras, not only adding to the visual effect but also contributing a comfortable warmth. On the large sofas to his left and right sat his brothers and sisters. Specifically, two brothers and six sisters. Richard had never imagined he would have so many siblings, and this was just from his father’s side. If he included the cousins with the Akmond bloodline, there would likely be even more.
His brothers sat to his left, his sisters to his right, Richard sitting at the center, subjected to the fiery gazes of those around him, feeling as though he were a rare beast waiting for dissection. Unlike the statue-like stillness of Richard, his siblings were far more boisterous and unruly.
Both boys were younger than Richard, yet the looks they gave him were full of raw curiosity, disdain, and hostility—everything but familial affection. Their gazes made the hairs on the back of Richard's neck stand up. Only when he felt the intent to kill did he ever feel like this. The six sisters were of varying ages, the oldest already showing off her developed chest as a sign of her womanhood, while the youngest looked to be no more than five. Their gazes were even more complex—curiosity, but also scrutiny and hesitation. The two oldest girls even huddled together, whispering to each other, casting occasional glances at Richard, sometimes bursting into overly familiar, ambiguous laughter. Their looks contained something more than mere curiosity—something Richard didn’t yet understand but was certain wasn’t the way siblings should look at one another. Soon, Richard would understand: those were the looks a woman gives a man she wants to sleep with.
Richard said nothing, unsure of what to say. His siblings made no effort to converse with him, but instead kept their intense eyes fixed on him. Some eyes were cold and sharp, almost wishing to bore a hole in his body, while others were filled with an almost overwhelming heat, as if they wanted to devour him.
The meeting didn’t last long, only ten minutes, but to Richard, it felt like an entire day—an unbearably long day. When the butler came to escort him out of the parlor, he realized his linen shirt was completely soaked with sweat.
Later, Richard would learn that these ten minutes were more than just an awkward meeting—they were a ritual. They signified his acceptance into the Akmond bloodline, marking him as a member of the Akmond family. It was also an opportunity for family members to recognize and assess one another.
The next day at noon, Richard departed the Black Rose Fortress, surrounded by a small cavalry escort, heading west. After that evening’s dinner, he did not see Godon again. His meeting with his father had been simpler, colder than he had imagined. Richard had never expected much from it, but when it was over and he left Ayshan, he found himself feeling a vague sense of loss. His many brothers and sisters made him realize that he was just another ordinary child of his father.
Yet, Richard quietly clenched his fist, his nails piercing his palm. Two images overlapped in his mind—his many siblings, and the blazing fire.
Suddenly, he felt that his mother’s death had been so pointless.
The journey west was accompanied by Mordred, who spoke little. The trip, which lasted twenty days, felt longer than the journey to Ayshan. They passed through the Dark Forest, crossed the Roman River, and walked along the Pale Mountains for another ten days, passing through the territories of more than a dozen nobles and a large principality, before finally reaching their destination: the domain of the legendary Archmage Su Hailun, the Deep Blue Magic Tower.
Space holds power, and enormous spaces exert tangible pressure.
When Richard finally stood before Deep Blue, he saw how magnificent a 500-meter-high magic tower could be. It wasn’t just a single building; the complex, dominated by deep blue, was nestled against the Everwinter Mountain Range, stretching towards the icebound bay. The main structure was in classic Gothic style, with intricately carved flying buttresses, soaring spires, pointed arches, and swirling clouds of colorful elemental energy and arcane power atop its peaks, giving the tower the appearance of soaring into the sky.
Soon, Richard met Su Hailun, a woman who was not only a legendary mage but also a protector of the Holy Alliance and a dragon slayer. She was also the mentor chosen by Godon for him.
However, when Richard stood before Su Hailun, he realized that she had never agreed to teach him; this entire trip had been a one-sided wish of Godon’s.
Richard now stood in Su Hailun’s magic hall, a dreamlike space. The walls and floor were made of an unknown material, with a deep teal-blue base color, translucent and smooth, like jade or crystal. Looking into the depths, it seemed as if one could peer deep into the material, yet at the same time, it felt as though nothing could truly be seen. Bands of light in various colors spiraled through the room, moving erratically like playful fish, their liveliness almost giving the sensation that the lights were alive.
At one end of the hall stood a throne made from a single block of natural crystal, on which Su Hailun sat. Her feet rested just below Mordred’s chin, and above Richard’s head, placing her physically higher than both. However, no one would think this disrespectful given her legendary status. Su Hailun’s golden hair was loosely tied, and her low-cut, court-style dress exposed her shoulders and ample, snow-white chest. Her skin was so smooth and pale that it seemed almost impossible, and any part of her body would tempt a person to bite it. Naturally, the first temptation would be her full breasts, followed by her face. Her appearance was that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, with a calm and solemn expression, radiating classical beauty as she sat on her towering crystal throne, looking like a goddess newly arrived.
Anyone seeing her for the first time would be unable to reconcile such a young, beautiful woman with the title of legendary mage. Yet even the youngest of mages knew that the Deep Blue Tower had been built over a hundred years ago.
Her hands, crossed in her lap, each wore long finger gloves crafted from magical gold, studded with various gems and intricate patterns. The patterns themselves were small magic arrays, and the gems were rare magical stones, some of which only existed in legends. To anyone knowledgeable, these gloves were powerful magical artifacts, perhaps even approaching the level of divine relics. But Su Hailun had filled all ten of her fingers with them! Her earrings, necklace, and even the hair tie she wore were made of similar magical items.
The crystal throne gleamed brilliantly. Even Richard, who had no understanding of such things, could tell how precious it was. Yet the true worth of this magical hall far exceeded that of the crystal throne. The abyssal crystals used by mages to adorn their staffs were here used for flooring and wall construction!
Standing in the magic hall, Richard felt his senses suddenly expand. Faint currents of energy began to flow into his body through strange channels. As these fine threads of power entered him and were slowly absorbed, Richard suddenly heard the sound of breaking glass in his mind. It was as though a barrier had shattered, allowing his senses to spread out freely.
In the next moment, Richard felt he was standing on an ocean of magic!
This was a dark ocean, devoid of light, with currents moving beneath the surface, ready to silently swallow a whale. If Richard were to fall into this ocean, he would be devoured instantly, without a ripple. Yet at this moment, he was standing on the surface!
The disorienting experience caused Richard’s face to turn pale, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. But the feeling was so real, he couldn’t tell if it was actually happening.
Meanwhile, Mordred and Su Hailun were seriously discussing Richard’s tuition fees.
“The lord requests that, considering past ties, you teach the young master with care.”
“Past ties? Ah, I remember now, your marquis still owes me a lot of materials!”
“The principal amount has already been paid, hasn’t it?”
“What about the interest?”
It was unwise to discuss numbers with a legendary mage, so Mordred quickly changed the subject, playing his second card: “Young Master Richard has extraordinary magical talent.”
“Hmph, every year, dozens of geniuses want to learn magic from me! Even divine favorites, I have to turn away three or four.”
Mordred, with a serious expression, revealed his trump card: “The young master has the blood of the Akmond family running through his veins, and its purity rivals that of the lord himself. No one in this generation of Akmonds can compare.”
Su Hailun’s eyes lit up, causing the entire hall to shimmer as though a dragon had seen treasure. Her voice remained calm, though everyone could tell it was only for show: “Then what can I do?”
“You can do as you please!” This didn’t sound like the serious, bloodthirsty Mordred at all. In fact, it was the marquis’s exact words. Yet Mordred spoke with the same solemn expression, perhaps slightly different from his inner thoughts.
At this moment, Richard’s unusual behavior was noticed by both Su Hailun and Mordred.
Su Hailun thoughtfully said, “The little one was actually able to sense the magic pool of this hall, quite impressive. Hmm, I suppose learning magic from me is more or less acceptable.”
“That’s right!” Mordred smiled, but inside, he thought, This entire hall is made of abyssal crystal! Even a warrior like me can feel the magic strength. What’s so impressive about that? The excuse was too flimsy.
“But that’s not enough,” Su Hailun continued. “Godon’s two planes are decent, I’ll take ten years of revenue from either.”
“Plane time?”
“No, Norland time.”
Mordred’s lips twitched slightly, but he nodded. This was pushing Godon’s limits, but it could be accepted. In the grand world system, Norland was one of the higher-level planes, and its time flow was usually slower than secondary planes. Ten years in Norland could equate to over a hundred years in other planes. Godon had already offered an unbelievable amount, which would certainly affect his future expansion plans. After all, Godon’s next target was the imperial capital, the legendary city of Fuside. To make a foothold there, no amount of preparation was excessive.
At this moment, Mordred recalled a nickname quietly circulating among top figures in the Alliance: The Bloodsucker...
Her other famous saying was well known: “I may not be the strongest, but I will always be the wealthiest.”
However, Su Hailun then said, “At the next Prayer Ceremony at the Eternal Dragon Temple, I will offer some help to little Godon.”
Mordred’s heart relaxed, as this aligned with Godon’s limits. But then he felt an odd sensation: such a major decision had been made so quickly, without much negotiation, both sides quickly reaching a deal on the terms.
Truly, they were in sync!
With the most important task now completed, Mordred left. As he left, he couldn’t resist glancing back at Richard, his gaze complicated.
When you stack up over a hundred years of a plane’s total revenue, no matter its form, anyone who sees it will have a complex expression.
Su Hailun gently waved her hand, and the eighteen level twelve or above mages standing by immediately withdrew. Only Su Hailun remained with Richard, still struggling against the magic surging through him. Though his clothes were drenched in sweat, Richard managed to hold on, his resilience honed over years of hardship finally showing its effects.
Su Hailun lightly snapped her fingers, and the magic tide hidden beneath the floor began to calm. The illusions in Richard’s mind vanished. As the focus of the entire magical tide settled on him, even though he was a magic novice, he displayed “extraordinary” magical talent. This was a small trick, one that Mordred undoubtedly saw through, but Su Hailun didn’t try to hide it. There were more sophisticated methods and excuses, but she simply couldn’t be bothered to use them.
Even if the excuse was weak, it was still an excuse. Mordred, though he could see through Su Hailun’s methods, didn’t dare say anything. That was the key.
Richard steadied his breathing and slowly looked up to meet Su Hailun’s gaze. He froze for a moment. Although she was high above him, her imposing aura far stronger than any fierce beast he had seen, this young woman, looking no older than seventeen or eighteen, with a flawless, inviting figure—was she really going to be his teacher?
“Your father has sold your next few years to me.” The way Su Hailun said “sold” was vague. Richard, lacking the ability to clearly understand at this moment, didn’t catch the full meaning of it. Just moments ago, as the archmage and the bloodthirsty madman had bargained, Richard had been enduring the surge of magical power, unaware of everything happening outside.
“From today on, you are my student. You will follow my every command, no matter what it is, without question.” Su Hailun’s voice was firm and cold.
“Yes,” Richard responded. On the way here, he had already learned the responsibilities and obligations of a magic apprentice.
Su Hailun snapped her fingers again, and two high-ranking mages entered to escort Richard out. Since Su Hailun had acknowledged him as her student, Richard showed the appropriate respect and humility, no longer meeting her gaze, as it would be disrespectful. Thus, he didn’t see the strange look in Su Hailun’s eyes—one that was similar to the look an Alaskan polar bear might give its favorite food, the big salmon: lustful, greedy.
It took a long time for the magic hall to be left in silence. After a while, Su Hailun didn’t know if she could stop herself from laughing out loud. Her beautiful little face showed no attempt to hide her delight, and with a swish, she unfurled a magical scroll. The image projected from it formed a 3D magical map, filled with hundreds of coordinates marking various planes.
Su Hailun eagerly scanned the dragon markers on the map, contemplating raiding a few dragon nests to celebrate her good mood today.
“What should I do tonight? Rob a dragon? Rob a dragon? Or rob several dragons?” The beautiful legendary mage was troubled in her own way.