Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8- My Memories
Chapter 8- My Memories
"..." Cipha squinted her eyes as she looked at Zen. She found him quite intriguing. Aside from the feeling of dread that his powers brought upon her, something about him just didn’t make sense. It’s almost like... She knew him before, but she was certain she had never met him or talked to him before.
But, she could tell that Zen wasn’t an idiot, or a naive boy like everyone else. The light in his eyes was sharp and cunning. It was rare that she came around someone like him, at his age.
"Well, since you are aware. Yes, I approached you for an offer." She said. "I reckon you are looking for a clan to join?"
Zen raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to scout me into your clan?"
He already knew the answer, but to hide that, he pretended like he was clueless.
"No. It is better that you avoid joining my clan. However, I am looking for talented people like you to work with me. I see a lot of potential in you, and I think we could work together."
’She wants me to work with her? Hmmm, interesting. In my past life, we came across each other during one of the expeditions that I joined.’
At the time, Cipha had already created her own group of Hunters, one that Zen ended up joining. That was the true beginning of his story and the journey he experienced.
’Hmm, if I remember correctly, Cipha started gathering her group when she was 16... This all makes sense.’ He mused.
Zen already knew what was going to happen and who the people Cipha would scout. In fact, he could very much help her do that. Finding all the key people of the group. It would change a lot of things.
"Mmmm... What exactly are you aiming to do? Why are you scouting me instead of well... Working with your clan?" Zen asked.
"You’re quite sharp," Cipha said coldly. "Well, I cannot tell you the reason, stranger. But know that it is something that will benefit you."
"How so?"
"You will get access to funding, training, and weapons and armor that you could use. Basically, everything you need to grow stronger."
"And what am I supposed to do in return?" Zen asked.
"Well, all you have to do is work with me. I will tell you the details once we get to it. I know it is hard to accept such a vague offer. But, I promise you that it isn’t anything shady."
"..." Zen stared at her silently for a few seconds as if he was contemplating. In his head, however, his answer was very obvious. Of course, he would join his future wife. This was an opportunity he could’ve not even dreamt of.
It will also open a lot of doors for him. To access all the places in the world he wants to go to, it was necessary that he work with someone who would understand him, and there is no one better than Cipha for that.
"You don’t need to give me an answer now. You can have a day to think about it." Cipha said. "We can exchange contact information, and you can give me your answer when you’re ready."
"... Sure..." Zen replied, still taken aback. ’I’m already getting her number?! It hasn’t even been a day. Fuck, I’m nervous now! Why am I acting like a young boy in love?!’
Using all his effort, he tried to hide his blushing face. When it comes to his wife, Zen was a completely different person. His hard and cold front disappears, and he can completely relax. Even with the current Cipha, who doesn’t know him, he could already feel comfortable around him. That was his wife, no doubt about it.
"Your phone?"
"Oh! Yeah, here..." Zen scrambled to pull his old phone out. The two exchanged contacts.
"Well, it was good meeting you, Zen. I hope to hear from you soon."
Cipha said as she turned around to walk away. However, at that moment, Zen instinctively called for her.
"Miss Cipha." He said.
"Hm?" She stopped and looked over her shoulder.
Zen stared deep into her eyes, and for a second, a myriad of emotions flashed before his eyes. Regret, sadness, guilt, and deep happiness seemed to fill his entire body. He wanted to say something to her... Something he wanted to tell her ever since that moment.
His lips quivered for a second before he smiled faintly.
"No... It’s nothing. Have a nice day."
"..." Cipha squinted her eyes, visibly suspicious. But before she could speak, Zen had already turned around and walked away.
She couldn’t see his face darken as his fists clenched. ’You’re a big coward, Zen. The biggest coward this world has ever seen... You can’t say sorry if your life depended on it, you pathetic bastard.’
***
After leaving the school, Zen immediately rushed back home. He had a lot to do and a lot to plan for. His day wasn’t even halfway done, and he felt like he couldn’t waste any more seconds.
Entering his room, he sat down in his chair and opened the profile again. He didn’t want to waste time checking what this new rune he received was. In his mind, this was possibly the most important thing he had to check. It could very much change all his plans for the future.
’I will practice Bloodmancy after I’m done with whatever this is.’
With that being said, Zen focused on the rune as he started channeling his Soul Essence. To activate any rune, all he had to do was think of that rune, and then his body would do the rest of the work.
The Essence moved in a particular way as his body lit up with a red hue. Then, that light quickly accumulated in his hand.
Zen watched silently and without intervening. His eyes traced every single change happening.
Then, out of nowhere, that energy shot out of his hand up in the air, forming a sphere.
’What...’
The sphere then started growing in size while still suspended in the air. It only stopped when it was big enough to fit him. It was completely blood red, as if it were made out of blood. The menacing aura it breathed into the room sent chills down the boy’s spine.
He halted his breath, looked closer at the sphere, and then back.
"... Is that supposed to be a portal?" He asked himself. Then, he stood up and approached the sphere. He could tell it was harmless since it was... Well, his own rune. But, to experiment, he stretched his hand into the sphere.
As he expected, it disappeared inside, as if it was sucked into another dimension. Zen frowned and then pulled it away.
"Interesting."
Looking around him, Zen decided to just do the obvious thing. He didn’t know where he was going to end up or if it was even a good idea to enter this portal. But, did he have any other choice?
’I should be able to leave if I want, right?’ Zen asked himself, sounding uncertain. ’Tsk, screw it. I need to see what this is all about.’
Then, without wasting any more seconds, Zen stepped into the portal as he let it consume his body. For a second, everything was red around him, and he couldn’t see anything. He felt himself being sucked in toward something, and by the time he regained his composure... The entire world around him changed completely.
The first thing he sensed was the sound of his feet stepping down onto wet ground.
"Huh?" His eyes were filled with red. Everything around him was red: the sky, the horizon, and even the ground he was standing on.
In fact... As Zen looked down at the substance he was standing on, his eyes widened. "This is..."
His face darkened as he realized what he was standing on. There was no doubt, the consistency, the color, even the warm feeling.
’Blood!’
He was standing on blood, endless amounts of it that stretched in every direction as far as the eye could see.
’Is this real blood? Where did it even come from? And what is this world?’ Zen felt so confused and perturbed. But he kept his composure as he finally stared up at the most obvious thing in this entire realm.
An impossibly large structure stood before him, rising into the endless sky. Its width stretched in every direction. The stones were of a red hue, engraved with statues, runes, and windows.
It looked ancient... extremely ancient, and Zen could feel it by purely staring at the tower. It came from a time when records were still not even used. A time when this world was far worse to live in than now.
’Is this the Tower of Athilium?’ He asked, and as if to answer him, he received a sudden notification. freёwebnovel.com
[Welcome to the Tower of Athilium.]
[Choose your starting base weapon.]
