3 Chapter 3 : Zerik

In the most inner part of the regal artificer sect, at the regal pagoda, A middle aged man with medium size beard was seated in a high place with a long smoke pipe in his hand and an incense burner burning beside him. The room was quite dark. There were only some candles lit up in the dark room. He took a long breath from the smoke pipe then released the smoke in the air before speaking.

"So you are saying you found him inside the treasury hall? But there wasn't anything on him?"

"Yes sect master, so I released him because I thought I should discuss the matter with the sect master before taking any action about Zarek as we already know about his background or more precisely his relationship with….."

"I understand. Thanks for your service, Elder Dray. You may leave."

Elder Dray bowed respectfully before leaving the quarter.

"What is your thought brother?"

"I think we should punish him even if he has the backing of that person. He didn't just break some minor rules, he trespassed into the sect's treasury. Even if he didn't take anything we should punish him after all we have taken care of him for 8 years. He is a part of the sect now. And I don't think that person will come to find us for some minor matter like this." replied the sect master's brother.

"Hmm… I will deal with it myself." Sect master said before standing up.

"Yeah that should be best."

"..." Sect master started walking away.

"Balrus after dealing with the matter come find me I have some other matter to discuss." said the sect master Balrus's brother.

"I will keep that in mind." said the sect master Balrus.

_______________________________

In the cafeteria of the outer court area of Regal Artificer Sect, Zarek was eating his breakfast. The cafeteria was a large open hall with many benches and Zarek was seated in the corner of the hall.

'As far as I know Lavinia Kyra was the wife of the founder of the regal artificer sect, who was a famous artificer known throughout the entire northern continent. And that secret chamber….. it must be her chamber. And those other artifacts in the chamber most probably are her artifacts. I must get back there again. But going there again this soon would be a bit too risky. If I get busted again it would be disastrous. Even though I know someone is protecting me and I was exempted last time because of him, I don't know why he is protecting me. I don't believe I can be safe all the time just because he is protecting me. I can't take it for granted. Who knows what might happen if I misuse it after all I don't even know his purpose of protecting me. And this doll...' Zarek looked at the doll in his waist.

'I still have to test it a lot but it does work like a human. It can walk, it can fight. And its physique is pretty much stronger than mine. It could even use the air splitting punch that I wasn't able to use. I don't know if it was true or hallucination, it seemed like even its muscles could grow like a human. One more thing I discovered is that the voice control isn't so simple. Even if I say something specific to it but didn't mean anything, it can't obey the command properly and makes mistakes. But even if I say some unknown word but mean something it can obey the order. So even if my word does have some meaning but I don't mean anything by that word, it can't obey the order. On the other hand even if my word doesn't have any meaning or it's just some sound but I mean something with that word, it does can obey the order. Almost like it can read my mind.'

A disciple walked forward with his breakfast and sat directly in front of Zarek. But Zarek still didn't take notice of him. So that disciple opened his mouth and said, "Hello, I am Ramir, a new disciple."

Zarek looked up and finally noticed Ramir. Ramir was seated with a big bowl of rice. He was tall. His physique was also quite good but he kinda looked like a muscle head. But his face wasn't too bad. He had long eyes, a sharp face and short hair. He can even be considered somewhat handsome.

"Ah yeah..hello I am Zarek, one of the oldest disciples."

"Ahh so you are one of the most senior disciples here?"

"In terms of status, I am still the same as you, an outer court disciple." Zarek replied and stood up. "I am finished. I will take my leave."

"I am almost finished. Wait for me…." Ramir stuffed his food and said.

Zarek returned to his quarter and made the genesis codex puppet to do some sit ups, push ups and squats etc free hand exercise while sitting on the desk just to confirm if it's muscle can really grow like a human. While he was reading books 4 hour had passed. Zarek stood up from the chair and picked up the puppet. To his surprise the muscle of the puppet did really improve from before.

'Interesting. I think I should name this puppet something for convenience. Hmm….'

"Zerik. Let's name it after my name."

Author's note: I edited some minor details of the technique which Zarek used in chapter 1.