Chapter 257 – Floor 51: Part 1

  Mathew listened with half an ear while Adelaide explained who the Eclipsed were and why they were a threat to their Clan. Throughout the entire description, Mathew was instead reviewing his reward for successfully completing the previous Floor.

  He had received tiers in three ‘Essences.’

  Essence: Velocity

  Tier 1: Quickstep

  Quickstep transforms the mundane limits of speed, reflexes and coordination into extraordinary feats of agility and precision. Those who possess this ability move with a fluidity that seems otherworldly, their every motion honed for maximum efficiency and grace.

  Essence: Vigor

  Tier 1: Killing Form

  Killing Form is the manifestation of raw, unrelenting physical prowess. It transforms those who possess this ability into a force of destruction by amplifying natural strength to superhuman levels. Shatter bones, rupture defences, and obliterate obstacles with terrifying ease.

  Essence: Resilience

  Tier 1: Fortitude

  Those who possess this ability become the embodiment of unyielding resilience, granting supernatural toughness and endurance that borders on invulnerability. Your body will become a fortress, capable of withstanding immense physical punishment.

  Mathew reviewed the abilities through the burning words that appeared in his mind’s eye only to him. While they were impressive, they came with a downside. He learned that after using Aura on so many people at Eden for so long, he had become exhausted.

  His body required mana and Aether now that he had selected a Discipline related to Mischievous Depravity’s tainted blood. Unlike the Attributes enhancements that the Tower provided, these new physical abilities required mana to use.

  Ignoring the words once again, Mathew focused on Adelaide’s explanation.

  The Eclipsed were a coalition of disenfranchised former members of the various Clans and groups of the three Lineages. Unlike Exaltis, which could trace their heritage directly to their progenitor, Eryn, the Eclipsed heritage was much more muddied.

  Drawn from all three lineages, the Eclipsed were the clanless castoffs and rebels who refused to conform to a system that was built on privilege and obedience to the Clan elders. They wanted to break the shackles and dismantle the system.

  The clans considered them a nuisance that operated on the fringes of society, but there were times when their differing ideology made them dangerous, especially when many of the younger people in the

  Clans felt stifled and oppressed; the Eclipsed appealed to them.

  What made things even more difficult for the clans was the fact that the Eclipsed had no single leader or a set governing structure. They were a loose network of alliances, temporary leaders and shifting groups that would come together for a purpose and disband just as swiftly.

  “…to purchase safe houses across the city. Thankfully, we caught this before it got out of hand. Skimming a little off the top is expected; we can use that as leverage against Vincent, but this was turning into a full-blown coup!” Adelaide said as she tapped her fingernail against the glass top of her desk.

  Adelaide’s office was as sophisticated and impeccable as its owner. The space was well furnished, with an air of authority and refinement. The glass-topped desk was the room’s centrepiece; its clean design and lack of clutter showed how efficient and task-oriented she was.

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  Large windows showed the city skyline behind her; the rising morning sun cast a muted glow through the tinted glass. Mathew, sitting in a chair in front of the glass, turned his attention to the most interesting objects in her office, something that Adelaide took a lot of pride in considering the prominent placement.

  Two large paintings dominated the walls on each side of the office. Both pieces were incredibly well done, at least in Mathew’s opinion. He wasn’t an expert, but he could appreciate good art when he saw it.

  The first painting depicted a vast, turbulent sea under a stormy sky. The waves crashed with violent intensity, and in the center was a ship struggling against the storm. The vessel's sails were torn, and it seemed to be on the edge of sinking, but Mathew could see the determination on the faces of the crew to keep themselves afloat.

  The second painting, on the opposite wall, was of a vast, sunlit field of flowers in full bloom, their vibrant colours stretching into the horizon. The flowers were painted with a precision that made them lifelike, and they almost seemed to sway in the wind.

  In the distance, there was a small, humble house nestled amongst rolling hills.

  “Mathew.” Adelaide called in an attempt to draw his attention back to her.

  “Hm?” Mathew said, lost in the painting. It had a way of drawing him in that spoke to the skill of the artist who painted it.

  “Have you heard anything I’ve said?” Adelaide replied with the beginnings of a frown forming on her face.

  “Not really.” Mathew stated while shrugging his shoulders. He didn’t really care who the Eclipsed were or what they wanted. He was here to do a task and pass through these Floors, and until she gave him a task to complete, he didn’t have anything to do.

  Adelaide let out a frustrated sigh and shook her head ruefully. This new Initiate that she had brought into the Clan was supremely talented and was showing great promise, but his lack of motivation was concerning. She might have had to discipline him if it wasn’t for the fact that he was already showing signs of mastering new Essences.

  That level of genius was practically unheard of in the Clan. The Grand Elders had told her to watch him closely, that no harm could come to their new prodigal son. They needn’t have bothered; she already found herself loathing putting him in harm’s way. As her only Scion, he was the first to carry on her bloodline, and she was very pleased with his performance.

  She just wished he would be a little more interested in Clan business.

  “Do you like them?” Adelaide asked, changing the topic.

  “They’re delightful. I particularly like this one.” Mathew responded while indicating the field of flowers.

  “Who was the artist?” He inquired.

  “I was. That’s my home.” Adelaide said, looking upon the small house fondly.

  “It burned in a fire, so my family and I had to sail to America. I remember the trip being…unpleasant. I hoped to capture it accurately.”

  “You did.” Mathew confirmed. He had been on his share of ships during his time in the Tower, and the painting invoked the feeling of helplessness that came during a storm at sea.

  “Now, if you would please pay attention, I have your next task from the Clan’s Grand Elders.” Adelaide said, and Mathew’s head immediately whipped around to look at her.

  ‘Finally.’ He thought.

  “The Eclipsed becoming involved with one of our business interests cannot be allowed to stand, even one so minor as Eden. If this goes unchallenged, it may embolden them further. While the loss of revenue resulting from Vic’s activities is insignificant, the harm to our reputation if we let this go will become a problem.” Adelaide explained.

  “What would you like me to do?” Mathew asked.

  “You’re to accompany me to see their ‘Chief.’ We will send them a message that their activities have not gone unnoticed and that restitution is demanded. They have been operating out of a warehouse near the harbour. They’ve built quite a little fiefdom there over the years, one that none of the Clans have managed to completely stomp out. They’re like cockroaches; no matter how many you squash, more come crawling out of the cracks.” Adelaide said with disgust. The thought of people going against their Lineage was abhorrent to her.

  “Chief?” Mathew asked in confusion, and Adelaide gave a slight sigh.

  “If you paid attention to the briefing, you would know. The Eclipsed have various Chieftains that run sections of their territories. Think of them as lesser, corrupt versions of our Cities ‘Highborn.’” Adelaide explained.

  The ‘Highborn’ were the rulers of this world’s population. Each major city had a Highborn ruling it, each from one of the various Clans of the Lineage. Some, like New York’s, were Exaltis that most of the normal, none Aether-Blood-enhanced humans didn’t know existed.

  Then, there were others who could have come straight out of a nightmare. Mathew hadn’t been in this world long enough to learn much about them, but the pieces of information he found spoke of immortal monsters that kept cities, even countries, in their thrall.

  “When do we leave?” Mathew asked, and Adelaide finally smiled at his show of initiative. Her Scion may not be interested in Clan affairs, but when he was given an order, he followed it quickly and decisively.

  “Right now. The car’s waiting.”