1. City Madness

Reports have shown that over the past two decades, mana levels across the continent have been rising steadily. This has resulted in increased monster spawn rates, dungeon formations, and the rise of new powers. Many theorists stated that a cataclysmic event will happen sometime within the next decade; similar to the Draconic Invasion five hundred years ago. The impact on Aetheria will be great, and it is hard to predict the events afterward.

~ an excerpt from 'Extinction is Nigh' by Polley Lawler

Information was king. Atleast, that's what Jack Kellinton had believed.

His information network was based in Elway, the kingdom of magic. But he still knew about new developments in other kingdoms like Welton's Furnace and Garbrandt.

The emergence of new talents, threats, and kingdoms was something he kept in touch for two reasons; one was to ascertain threats and how to prepare and avoid them, and another was to use this information for profit.

However, his spy network wasn't as all-knowing as he assumed.

He laid helplessly, bruised and battered after a vicious battle that destroyed his entire office. Two unknown, hooded figures stared at his prone figure, their faces obscured. All his magic items had been taken; and the artifacts glinted mockingly on one of the robber's hands.

"Keep an eye on him."

The smaller of the two kept a foot on Jack's torso. His brown hair was matted with blood and dust, and his left eye was beginning to swell up. The other perused his destroyed office, looking for anything valuable.

The crime leader's lone eye was aimed at the tiny hooded figure. "Who the hell are you people? Are you from the Omen? I've already told you all I have no intention of interfering with your nonsensical plans..."

For the first time in a long time, he had no clue who someone was. He had a mole within the government that kept track of anybody of significance coming in and out of the kingdom. Soldiers, foreign dignitaries, and powerful mercenaries; nobody escaped his notice. The former adventurer hardly believed such people of power could evade his network that spanned multiple kingdoms.

Jack cursed himself, forgetting that he was a big fish in a small pond. It had been ages since he truly crossed people of significant power.

'If I survive this, I'm killing those idiots responsible for bringing these fuckers down on my head…'

"Maybe we are, maybe we aren't. It's not like you'll find out anytime soon."

He barked out a harsh laugh, before coughing viciously. His mind worked to its limit as he tried to devise a way of escaping, and kept the conversation going for as long as he could. He tried to move, before being forcefully restrained by the smaller figure.

"You think you'll get out of here in one piece? The Royal Family won't sit idly…you're dead. DEAD!" Jack yelled, the veins in his neck bulging in anger. He could only watch helplessly as his base of operations was pillaged.

Of course, this was a bluff on Jack's end. Although the Elway Kingdom turned their heads when it came to his illicit operations and even used his services from time to time, they did nothing to help him. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if they were affiliated with the Royal Family, looking to take his expansive operation for themselves.

"Don't know, don't care. The only thing I'd tell you is that threatening us-" The man's hood fell, revealing a heavily scarred, red-haired man in his mid-forties. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, a vicious smirk visible on his face.

"Is a really bad idea."

He knocked the man out with a kick to the head, and he dispelled the illusion he casted on his face.

Leveled up! You are now a Level 21 (Illusionist).

Change Self is now Level 2.

You have 10 stat points to allocate.

"Oh, sweet! I leveled up!" He opened his status menu, looking at his stats and deciding to invest all of it into INT.

CHESTER EVERHEART

PERK(S):

Underdog II - Slay an opponent with a higher level and superior stat total. +10 to all stats. 10% increased damage dealt to opponents with a higher level or a higher stat total.

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Level: 21

Race: Human (Otherworld Variant)

Class: Illusionist (Unique)

HP: 670/670 (3.3 HP regen/min)

MP: 1370/1370 (6.8 MP regen/min)

PRIMARY

STR- 58 (68)

AGI- 59 (86)

END- 57 (67)

INT- 78 (137)

SPECIAL

CHA- 45 (68)

LUC- 8 (18)

Skills:

ACTIVE

Change Self Level 2

Darkness Level 1

Invisibility Level 2

Minor Illusion Level 1

Mana Blast Level 2

Mana Infusion Level 3

PASSIVE

Sword Mastery Level 1

Advanced Dagger Mastery Level 1

Illusion Mastery Level 2

Mana Mastery Level 2

Poison Resistance Level 2

Chester's features began to revert back to their original form. The red hair faded to reveal medium-length, curly brown hair. He scratched at his stubble, disliking the odd feeling that came with the disguise. He did a quick once-over of the room, checking if he missed anything of value or any hidden compartments. He had found only one, containing some boring documents and a large sum of gold pieces under the floorboards.

'I doubt this guy will be able to track us down…Hopefully that disguise will keep him guessing. We didn't really use any recognizable magic.'

"You got what you needed?" His companion asked. The hood covered the top half of his face, showing pale skin and a distinct frown.

Chester grinned, shaking the backpack full of loot. "I have some nice stuff to pawn off."

They walked into the corridor and down the stairs, being careful to avoid the unconscious bodies as they went. Many of the goons suffered from broken limbs and concussions, leaving the area a bloody mess while the aggressors remained unscathed.

The kingdom of Elway was truly a sight to behold. People of all sizes and races filled the streets, and the two robed individuals slipped into the crowd, not standing out in the slightest. The sky was already beginning to darken, and the light sources installed on the walls provided enough illumination to keep the streets visible as people milled about. Most buildings reached up to three stories tall, and Chester relaxed slightly as he listened to the sounds of the city.

Chester admired the new rings on his hand, and the amulet hidden under his robe. They seemed pretty extravagant and upon inspection, boasted some considerable buffs.

RING OF DEFLECTION

- Low tier spells have a small chance of being reflected back onto the enemy.

- Weight: 0.1kg

RING OF PROTECTION

-5% reduction to all basic elemental damage types.

- Weight: 0.1kg

AMULET OF INTELLIGENCE

-Increases INT by 10

- Weight: 0.1kg

A bit more walking led them to the center of the city, where a roundabout led to the numerous districts and sectors the kingdom had to offer. Signs high above showed the directions to restaurants, shops, and other attractions throughout the kingdom. The brown-eyed man could see several shops and stands that offered all sorts of dishes. The smell in the air made him salivate.

"This looks good. Come, Damien." Chester led them into a smaller restaurant, where they were promptly seated and served by a waitress. Damien promptly took off his hood, and revealed a youthful face no more than twelve years old.

His obsidian eyes glimmered with interest, taking in the sights and smells of the welcoming atmosphere in the restaurant. It was mildly crowded, with a smattering of elves, humans, and half-breeds. The illusionist was wondering why anyone would bother living in villages when the city offered so much more.

'Pesodonia is stuck in the shitty medieval ages. This is like, Harry Potter medieval. I'm cool with this.'

"Welcome to Farside, what can I get y'all today?" She spoke with an accent. A friendly smile adorned her face, and her hair was wrapped neatly in a bun.

"It's our first time here, is there anything you'd recommend?"

The waitress paused for a moment, before listing out their most popular dishes. Chester decided to order the fish with rice, and Damien ordered a simple beef stew with bread.

"Alright, I'll get y'all orders in a jiffy." She bowed her head slightly, off to send the order to the kitchen.

The smaller boy sighed, releasing the tension in his shoulders. "I still can't believe this." He sighed, rubbing his forehead as though he were nursing a headache.

"Hm? Well, yeah, the waitress did have a really nice as-"

A kick to the shins interrupted Chester's reply and he hunched over in pain.

"Not that, you blithering idiot!" Damien hissed. His sharp canines were in full display as he exploded on the man. "I'm talking about how we just attacked and robbed those people blind! It's only been two days since we got here!"

Chester inhaled, before exhaling through his nose. He calmed himself down before he replied. "You're worrying too much, Damien. It's not that big of a deal."

"Of course it is! This wouldn't have happened if we just ran away, but no. Not only did you get us dragged into a brawl last night, you robbed them of everything they had!"

"Look, I know how these sort of guys work. They'll just keep coming and coming until it escalates into something much more dangerous. Nipping it in the bud like this is the best course of action. Besides, we got some money out of it."

The hard headed man spiked his blood pressure further, before Damien deflated and let out a sigh.

"I regret letting you join me. So, so much." The boy put his head down, clearly distressed about the ordeal they went through. He was half-afraid that soldiers would rush into the restaurant and apprehend them at any moment.

"Oh, but this is just the beginning. Yesterday, I found out about an auction taking place at the end of this week. Even when we were on the streets, I could hear people talking about it. It's a big event going on."

"Okay, what's that got to do with anything?"

"There's something that I want there." He leaned in closer to whisper to the boy, keeping an eye out for any eavesdroppers. "They're selling Attainium."

Greed shined in his eyes clear as day, and Damien could only raise his brow. His eyes drifted to something underneath the man's robe, glinting in the darkness.

"You mean that fancy metal you have? You're gonna buy it?"

"Ha! I've asked around and the likelihood of us getting the funds to afford that is damn near zero; we're going to steal it." His smile became predatory, and his mind wandered to what he could do with an even greater amount of Attainium.

His own stash of the legendary metal under his robe moved to his will. It crawled out his sleeve and shifted into an iridescent orb the size of a baseball, before returning to its original form; a simple armlet.

ATTAINIUM

- A magic metal that can change shape according to the user's will. It boasts great hardiness and durability. It cannot be destroyed through ordinary means.

- Weight: 2.5kg

Damien looked at him in confusion. "No way in hell am I going to be a part of that. What are you talking about?"

Chester balked at his refusal. "Why not?! You don't know what you're losing out on, man! I'll even split the loot fifty-fifty! Please, I can barely making a fucking dagger out of this."

He changed the armlet into a small knife, about twenty centimeters in length including the hilt. The blade was paper-thin, and wobbled with sufficient movement.

"See? I can barely eat steak with this shit! The only thing I turn it into is either knuckle dusters or a knife to trim my pubes!"

"I'm a part of a noble family! You think I can afford to besmirch our reputation by taking part in a heist?!" He remarked in a harsh whisper, making a disgusted face upon hearing what he used the shape-shifting metal for. "Us vampires are noble creatures of honor, and I won't shame my family by committing a blatant crime!"

The older man made a face, looking at the boy as though he had just taken a large dump on the table. "Yeesh, you're a prude."

'That throws off my plans, then. Is there any way I can convince him? He looks pretty adamant. Look at him, so stupid. Stuuuuupid kid. Doesn't know an opportunity when he sees one. And he's short. Short and stupid.'

Damien stared at him reproachfully. "You're thinking something rude about me, aren't you?"

"Nope." Chester lied shamelessly. "I wouldn't do such a thing."

The boy stared at him unconvinced, and closed his eyes. "Don't forget, this is my journey, which I graciously allowed you to join. Why would I risk myself getting imprisoned over such a thing?"

"Because we're best friends? Honorable vampires wouldn't abandon friends in their time of need, right?"

Before Damien could explode into another tirade, the waitress came back with plates of food. "Here you go. Is there anything else you'd like?"

They quietly shook their heads, and began their meal. The man eyed Damien subtly, wondering if there was a way he could force the boy into his schemes. He thought back to how he used to entice or coerce people into his schemes, but discarded them as it would only serve to alienate his companion.

'Blackmail? I barely know anything about him. Greed? He barely even cares, too busy with all that honor bullshit. I could just threaten him with force, but then I'd feel bad…'

Chester was pleasantly surprised to note that despite his reservations, the food was great. He had feared that culinary techniques would be inferior to the ones of his time, but he enjoyed the food thoroughly and put his worries in the back of his mind.

'Well, it's better than raw meat, that's for sure.'

The vampire was quiet and elegant, enjoying his dish in a much more reserved manner than his companion, who scarfed down the food with eagerness.

Halfway through the meal, Chester politely asked for seconds, and she came in with a second helping of fish and rice.

Soon enough, the two had finished their meals. Chester was beyond full, letting out a quiet burp and patting his stomach.

The total came down to 4 silver, and Chester was generous enough to place down an extra piece much to the waitress' shock and gratitude. The duo left the restaurant, satisfied and ready to return home. He made small talk with his companion, before switching to a much more serious topic.

"Well, I don't need you for this plan anyway. But I still need your help for other things."

Damien turned to the man, wondering what he could possibly need.

Chester continued, walking through the streets as they made their way into a quiet inn closer to the residential areas of the kingdom. He eyed several posters hanging on the walls outside of several shops; few of which were advertising the Lanes Auction House and its upcoming event.

He briefly wondered if posters had even existed during the Middle Ages. Chester thought about how modern-day inventions existed, and the likelihood that humans like him had come from Earth to revolutionize technology.

'Who am I kidding, there's literally a hospital! Didn't they think cracking your head open cured headaches in these times? Of course humans like me have been here before.'

Chester shook his thoughts from the barbaric practices of medieval medicine, and remembered what he wanted to say to Damien, who looked at him expectantly as he was lost in thought.

"I need you to make money. I don't care how, but we need enough to continue our trip. It was just dumb luck that we managed to get a carriage that took us to this kingdom. I can't just be the sole breadwinner here, especially with YOU not helping me out."

They entered the inn they were staying at, passing by the receptionist and going up the wooden stairs.

"You can call me an ass or whatever you want, but from what I've seen, it would've taken you months to get here. I've seen where Garbrandt is, and if you tried walking, or working odd jobs to afford the transportation like in Pesodonia, it would take years. Face it; you're better off with me rather than without."

The vampire bit back a retort. Damien did acknowledge that all the funds used so far had been from Chester's own stash, regardless of where and how he got it. The boy sighed, and relented.

"Fine. I'll look for something. Just-don't get me involved in your hare-brained schemes, okay? All I wanted was to go to Garbrandt and see my brother. I can't risk doing anything stupid and being stuck in prison." The vampire asked.

"You have my word. But if you're not picking up the slack, you're going to be my minion." Chester eyed him with a predatory smile, laughing to himself.

"Never!" The boy said, looking affronted at the prospect.

"Come on, I can give you good pay, and if we're really doing good, maybe some healthcare benefits and a pension!"

His words fell on deaf ears, as Chester gradually listed out more inane and unrealistic benefits to get the boy on his side. He figured that with enough time Damien would warm up to the idea of committing some crimes together.

They got into their rooms on the second floor, where Chester left the boy to take a bath in the communal bathing area on the first floor.

The boy checked over their belongings, making sure nothing was stolen. He sat down, taking off his robe and laid down to get some rest. Although the inn wasn't the most luxurious, it fit their budget. The man was thankful that they had enough to pay for a week in the inn.

When Chester returned, he was wearing only a towel to cover his privates. He clutched his clothing, looking warm and relaxed. The man was lean and muscled; clearly in top shape with his abdominals being greatly defined. A few scars lined his body, with one that was especially deep along his trapezius muscle and pec.

"Not gonna rinse off? We've been traveling for almost two weeks now."

"Vampires don't sweat. We don't exude any odor, what's the point?"

"That's still…I don't know, kinda gross."

Damien noticed peculiar markings on the man's shoulder as he dried himself off in the mirror. They hadn't known each other long, and this was the first time he had seen the man naked in the three weeks they knew each other.

"What is that? On your shoulder and back?"

Chester turned, and looked down on his shoulder. On his left, was a portrayal of a ghastly skeleton, wielding two swords. He turned to reveal a large, red draconic figure on his back; similar to a snake, but more vicious and regal in its design.

"Oh, these? You never heard of tattoos before? They're permanent ink on your skin. It's a design, this one's a Japanese skeleton, and this one's a dragon."

The boy's mind seemed to twitch at the word 'Japanese'. But he couldn't quite put a finger on why it seemed so familiar.

Damien's eyes narrowed. "I've heard of tribes that inked their skin, but primarily these were for punishments or branding slaves…Why on earth would you get those?"

He snorted. "Well, I sure ain't a slave. I got these done when I was younger, and thought they looked cool. Simple as that."

The child could admit it did look cool.

Chester went to sleep, wearing little more than his underwear. As he snored, Damien wondered if he had made the right decision banding together with this petty criminal. Powerful, yes. Useful at times, certainly. But his tendency to cause chaos seemed to outweigh the negatives from the vampire's perspective.

His mind turned to why he started this journey in the first place, and his expression immediately soured.

'I truly don't see the point in this. I was fine at home, but Father insisted on it. Stupid traditions…'

His thoughts were full of uncertainty and doubt. Damien had underestimated just how far Garbrandt was; almost on the other side of the continent. It wasn't until the trip to Elway, which took over two weeks, that Damien truly realized the distance he'd have to go to reunite with his brother.

'Only time will tell. I only hope that Braham can shed some light on what I should do.'

His melancholy thoughts were ruined by Chester's flatulence, and he glared at the unconscious man.