Chapter 7

Freedom. In a way, I had been wanting this. My gladness at being outside the Arena was crushed under the thought that I would have to voluntarily take myself back, but nonetheless I was in the open air. Finally, I could feel the earth and trees around me, almost asking me to use them for something. The Gift I had from being a Crystalborn was immensely powerful manipulation of nature, but I hadn't been training it. Like all skills, it had become weak and near useless when left untouched. With a final look at the hell behind me, I set off, map in hand and sword at my side.

I certainly took my time on the walk to the church. The openness of the High Empire surprised me, and flat plains stretched in every direction, broken only by a rare city or house. With miles of visibility in the bright sunlight and empty land, my destination had already appeared in the distance, a shadow contrasting the blue skies. Not carrying much besides a blade and a map, I felt that it wouldn't be difficult to switch to a brisk jog. The pace of my travel gradually increased as my feet pounded the grassy plains, kicking up dust at my back. On and on I went, until I stood in the shadow of massive, engraved oak doors. The patterns were interestingly complicated for a set of doors. Armed and armored, two shinily dressed guards stood formally at the sides of this door. Guards for a church? I was aware that religion was important here, but this was feeling excessive. When I tried to wrap a hand around the door's handle and tug it open, both guards moved in sync to bar my way with long handled axes.

"Can't just go in there, lad. You need identification, and an accompanying priest."

"Identification?" I could always have mentioned I was here for the Emperor, but it was unlikely he'd find that as convenient as I did. So, I just gave my name, unsure of another path. The plan had been to get inside and fight my way out, but so much for that. Maybe I'd be fighting both ways. "My name is Vite."

"A single name with no purpose isn't enough; you're going to have to keep o-" That came from the second guard, but it was cut off by his gurgles as my sword swept across his neck, spraying red everywhere. It didn't occur to the remaining man that he should move faster than his late partner, so it took me no time to thrust my blade through his armor, metal screeching on metal. Two dead men, and no more guards. Trying the door once again, I was met with a slight problem. It was locked. After a brief scan of both the guards' corpses, it was clear that they did not have the keys, and I was stuck outside. Pacing back to where I had a more complete view of the building before me, I noticed quite a few stained-glass windows across the place, especially nearer the top. Climbing up there would be an option if all else failed. Without Crystalglass on everything to bind me, I could and would use my Gift for things like this. I was a little rusty, but with intense concentration I was able to float several large stones into the air. They moved where I directed them, and currently that was at the doors. Trying to smash a hole through them, I repeatedly pummeled the giant pieces of wood until I reached my limit. The rocks and dirt fell to the dust around me, and I was no better off than when I began, apart from some dents on the doors. I'd need to practice with that. Breathing heavily from the exertion caused by employing supernatural abilities, it was confirmed that I'd be scaling the walls.

As it happens, the walls of a church-although heavily decorated with architectural adornments-are not made for climbing. My grip on the rough exterior faltered several times as my arms stretched to grab any parts of the building that stood out, pulling me slowly up the wall. By the time I got to one of the windows that seemed easier to enter without drawing attention, my breaths were coming out ragged and quick. Climbing was not included in my training thus far and took more strength than expected. Especially when the spot I was going to was sixty feet up. They really took security seriously here. Nonetheless, I didn't let any more time slip through my hands as I examined the colorful window before me. The Emperor had given me a limit of four days, and I didn't want to know what he would do if I failed. Glass reflecting my empty face, my hands ran across it in search of something like a latch to open the panel. None was found, so I worked my sword out of its sheath while balancing in my precarious position. This type of fall wouldn't be one I could easily take. Unstably holding on to a jutting out stone with my left hand, I smashed an opening in the glass, revealing my presence to those who were inside. It was likely a weird sight, some kid peering down on a group of religious fanatics from a window above. I didn't really know if they were religious fanatics, but by the way they were standing in a semicircle around an altar of some sort, it felt safe to make assumptions. Now that they had seen me, however, they would need to die. Yviss couldn't directly mess with religion, even as Emperor, and wouldn't like it if this got traced back to him. If I'd learned anything, it was to never anger Yviss. Though he would always be calm and collected, it made him no less terrifying. With that fear motivating me, I had no reason not to fall into the room with these men, taking advantage of their frozen state of shock and massacring them all. It was for the rest of the Crystalborn's safety, I told myself as blood spattered my clothing and screams echoed. They didn't even resist. Now that I had solved that problem, I could properly examine the space around me. Lavishly decorated, there seemed to be eight different shrines, two on each wall of the square room. That would be one for each of the main deities. Not one to bother with religion, I didn't stay long and went for an opening in the wall that contained a staircase. The entire building felt too quiet. My footsteps were silent as I descended the polished wooden steps, sword ready in my right hand's grip. The next floor didn't have what I was looking for, and I didn't linger there. Everyone on that story got lucky, as I spared them the death I'd given to those above. They either didn't see me or didn't pay attention, and it saved them. Next level down, I couldn't say the same. Time was up for sneaking. On a quick scan, there was about thirty men in here, browsing cases filled with various artifacts. What sort of church has a showroom? Nonetheless, my target was visible in its own glass box mounted on the opposite wall. A sword, simply wrought out of a highly reflective metal. There was close to no decoration on it, aside from a small gemstone placed in the middle of the guard. And yet, anyone could tell that it was a high-quality weapon, and was made to be used. I was no longer doing this just for the Emperor and my people. From the moment I saw the sword, I wanted to hold it. At this point, a wall of men had formed in front of me, all eyes curiously running over my sword and body. If they really wanted to see my current weapon that badly, I wouldn't delay them. Blocking all emotion from holding me back, I began my relentless slaughter. Very few of the men tried to fight back; most were running for their lives. The only way out was the staircase at my back. By the time I was finished, my hair and skin were coated in thick blood along with my clothing, and a carpet of body parts had formed. I didn't exactly regret what I had done, as it was for a greater cause, but I was not pleased. With a way thoroughly cleared, I strolled over to the case containing the sword. One of my hands went out to open the box, but before I could, the sensation of cold steel touching my throat had arrived.

I froze as the blade at my neck appeared, internally cursing myself. Apparently, I had missed one of my kills. Without turning my head, I addressed whoever it was with the weapon.

"I recommend not doing that. Killing me will only go badly," I said with a tone devoid of emotion. A familiar voice came next, though, throwing me off guard.

"I wouldn't kill you. Call it returning a favor, or anything else."

"What are you doing here, Jerric?" Of all people, that was somebody I would never have expected. Supposedly he had been kept somewhere with Yviss during my training after he was relocated from the cell next to me, and I'd assumed he was either dead or near death. Evidently, I had been wrong. Now that I knew it was mostly safe, I stepped away from the weapon and spun to face Jerric, who was looking right back at me with a ridiculous grin that didn't fit the time and place. Smiling around corpses felt disrespectful, but Jerric had never seemed to care for formality in the short time I had known him.

"The Emperor sent me to pick that up," he said while gesturing at the sword on the wall. "So, I'm going to do that."

"Hmm. I might mention that he sent me here for the same purpose." I raised an eyebrow and tightened the grip on my sword. Would I have to defeat Jerric as well? The Emperor had deceived one or both of us. Or Jerric was lying. It seemed safe to discuss Yviss here, considering that it wasn't really any new information to Jerric that I worked for him. My eyes locked onto his sword, which was just a generic weapon like mine, but he held it far less seriously than I did. Even if he had been trained behind my back, I was confident at this point that I could out-fight him.

"Oh. I'm afraid he'll be a little disappointed when you come back empty handed." Jerric laughed amusedly. Looks like he really wanted to do this. Not giving another moment of preparation, my blade was suddenly swinging towards his throat at high speeds. But somehow, it never reached its target. Since when was Jerric this fast? His blade collided with mine, and we went back and forth across the room, parrying, slicing, and deflecting in the drawn-out dance of blades. Neither of us was giving in, and it was going to come down to a test of stamina. His strength began giving out, and I saw a chance to step in and twist my blade, disarming Jerric. As his weapon fell, one of my feet shot out to kick it up towards my free hand. Now I had two weapons, and my rival had none.

"I do believe you were mistaken as to who will go back in shame," I spoke slowly, my words clearly impacting Jerric close to none. Unfazed, he had the idea to sprint at the case with the better sword, shatter the glass with a sharp punch, and pull it out of its case. Both of us were talented swordsmen and could tell something was off immediately. The tip of the weapon was unusually heavy, keeping it mostly pointed at the ground, and a yellow flash had emitted from it at Jerric's touch. I heard the sword fall as Jerric jumped back from the light that was still shining out but didn't entirely register it in my mind. Sheathing my own sword and tossing Jerric's aside, I swiftly swept the glowing weapon from floorboards and admired it in my hand. Perfectly weighted, which brought up the question of why it had looked so strange in Jerric's hand. Had he been doing something wrong? There was also a clean shine on the blade, reflecting the light that had now changed to green for whatever reason. It was a beautiful and disorienting weapon. I almost forgot I wasn't alone in the room, and my instincts flared as I turned and met the incoming strike with this new tool. A clang rung out, and Jerric's eyes looked a bit annoyed that he had been foiled again. My internal conflict was mirrored in his eyes. We used to fight together in the Arena, but it had been ages since then. Whatever sense I had to protect him back then was lost in our separation, and now it was a rivalry for the Emperor's approval. As expected, I disarmed Jerric again, this time following up with a damaging punch to the side of the head. He dropped to the floor unconscious almost instantly. I was a little shocked at that, unaware that I had hit that hard. Maybe my anger at Yviss' manipulative schemes had caused me to put more effort in than usual. I could kill him here. Conflicting emotions raged inside me, one side telling me to end him for my own benefit, while the other part told me it would be wrong to finish off a sleeping opponent. I left him there, taking all the swords with me as I went.