Farewell Moon Keep

Turns out my beggar friend is talkative once you get to know him. The funny thing is he is nicknamed the undefeatable warrior or so he tells me with a self-deprecating laugh. His specialty being guerilla warfare. Or more accurately he won't ever fight when his odds of winning are not 100%. Turns out there is a reason he fears the old warden keep so much. He is the only man to ever manage to defeat him. He got captured when the old warden used incapacitating poison in an enormous area. That must explain why he seems to be shivering every time the old man brings me medicinal wine.

It has been a few weeks since I first was imprisoned here. But to be honest, right now I can't really call it imprisonment anymore haha. While I still am in the same room my shackles are long gone and I even have some cushions for comfort by now. I was also giving my stuff back. Every day Luna visits me, we train for a bit, then I drink with the old man and then talk with my cellmate.

At first, he thought I was messing with him when I said my potential is a splendid 0. Turns out he is a rank 3 warrior, but he has pretty much reached the end of his path. Or so he thought anyway. After our conversations, he now thinks he has a chance to become stronger still. Somehow me not giving up encourages him to fight on. To be honest, while I do have the advantage of divine power, I also firmly believe that there is always a way to progress should one be willing to put in the effort.

Talking to someone without having to play the champion's role is a relief. For some reason, our conversations mostly always come back to the unnamed god bullshit I talked about the second day here. Somehow the idea of worshipping no god at all seems too much for my friend. Yet he has no trouble accepting the idea of worshipping a god that won't provide any blessing at all. When he first wanted me to elaborate on the teachings of said god, I was lost at first. Then I decided to simply share my life philosophy with him. If I had to resume it in a few key points it would be:

- Repay kindness hundredfold and enmity thousandfold.

- Take control of your own life.

- It's never over until you give up.

- Find happiness in small things.

- Don't needlessly create trouble.

Most of these all seem to be common sense in my opinion. Turns out it isn't. Deciding for oneself is considered being naïve here. The path of an individual is commonly accepted to be determined at birth here. Happiness is not encouraged since it is all about serving one's god. Causing trouble is encouraged as long as it is with an enemy god's followers. Finally repaying kindness is only ever worthwhile for members of the same cult or so it seems. Let's just say what I consider normal are aberrant ideas for the people here.

In this manner, I leisurely spend some time. Until today that is. I've been informed that today is the ascension ceremony for the champion. This means that the sectmaster and most officials are all going to be busy overseeing the matter. Luna has assured me that with enough time she will convince her father to forgive me. She's sweet but I don't want to depend only on her goodwill to get a footing here. That would only strain her position in the sect. I know the old dude and he's stubborn. And I don't trust the character of the goddess herself.

[Hey old beggar are you ready to leave this place?]

"Haha, I'm always ready. Problem is it isn't that easy you see. What are you going to do? Ask the warden to release us?"

[How about we simply leave?]

"I still have these chains on me without the key we won't be able to …."

*KACHA*

[Alright let's go.]

"Did you just destroy it barehanded? You didn't tell me you trained this."

[Let's just say I know a bit of body reinforcement magic.]

"Still there is no way we will be able to break trough the doors. There are countless glyphs set-up by the Grey death itself."

[Can't we just destroy it?]

"If only it was that easy…."

Focus. Divine energy. All in my first. Grey isn't here. This is only some remnant magic. Nothing to fear. Focus and….

*KACHA*

[Alright let's go.]

"..."

And so we walk for a bit and finally reach the entrance where we see a familiar face.

[Hey old man.]

"What brings you here young master?"

[Prison break.]

"Hum. I'm afraid I can't allow this just yet."

"Old devil. You are stronger than me. However, I don't mind dying together with your sorry ass. Are you sure you want to obstruct us?"

"It's not that I don't want to, but now is simply not a good time."

[Because every powerhouse in the sect is busy right?]

"Young friend. It has been a pleasure knowing you. Leave this place to me. You've done enough.

"Young master you misunderstand me. I don't mind you leaving, but we aren't done with the treatment."

"He's probably just stalling for time. Let's hurry up."

[Wait. What do you mean?]

"Everyday the medicinal wine I give you includes various poisons. And every day I simply increases the deadliness of it. In a few months this will help you develop an immunity to most poisons. If you do so desire to leave when that time comes, I truly won't mind young master."

"We can't trust him…."

[Old man. What's the deadliest poison you have on you right now?]

"Young master you can't mean to …"

[Hand it over.]

"But young master…."

[I said hand it over.]

*Throws* "Here it is young master but be careful a single drop of this wine would be enough to…"

*GULP* *GULP*

[Alright. If that is all I will take my leave now.]

0_0

We step next to the frozen warden toward the door.

[Right old man. I have a message for Luna. Tell her that I'll be back for her when the time is right. Farewell.]

And thus, we leave the Moon Keep. Luna just you wait. The present me might not be worthy enough to stand at your side. But I'll work hard. I'll definitely come back!